Chapter 29
Ning Rushen stared blankly at the cold, handsome face in front of him.
The room fell silent for a moment, then everyone knelt down in unison, “We pay respects to Your Majesty!”
Li Wuting’s gaze swept across the room full of blushing, bare-chested men from the Northern Frontier, “Hmm,” he grunted. His eyes then returned to the person in front of him. As Ning Rushen turned his head, he finally saw the faint vermilion collarbone revealed under the loosened collar of the other person’s clothes.
He immediately felt a chill, and in a deep voice, he said, “Get dressed.”
Ning Rushen felt the fingers at his side hooking, and with a shiver, he straightened up, dizzy, and lowered his head to pull the gauze draped around him.
He tugged a few times but couldn’t remove it; instead, he made his clothes even more disheveled.
In his flustered state, he suddenly heard a voice in front of him, “That’s enough.”
Li Wuting pressed his temples and said, “Fix yourself in the carriage.”
As he leaned forward, he was suddenly poked back by a whisk. He exclaimed, “Ah…!”
De Quan, intentionally or unintentionally, stood in front of him, his face unchanged.
In the brief pause, Ning Rushen had already followed Li Wuting out of the door, clinging to his back. As the door curtain fell, those in the room, including Huo Mian, could only vaguely see someone stumbling, then being steadied by a large hand.
Ning Rushen followed Li Wuting onto the carriage, with De Quan and Yuan Liu staying outside.
He clumsily climbed onto the seat, tangled in the gauze, and then finally heard the emperor-like figure in front of him unable to contain his annoyance, “What kind of messy things are you playing with? As courtiers, how can you dress so improperly!”
Ning Rushen sat in front of Li Wuting, looking at his cold face, and explained in detail, “This was accidentally pulled down and hasn’t been fixed yet.”
“Oh, how was it accidentally pulled down?”
“When I was about to fall, I grabbed onto it as a life-saving straw.”
The gaze from across the table lingered on his face for a few moments.
Then Li Wuting’s expression softened a bit, and he said in a calmer tone, “Remove your life-saving straw.”
“Yes.” Ning Rushen was also uncomfortable with the entanglement. He lowered his head and began to untangle it.
The crimson gauze wound around his fair neck, over his shoulders and arms, and then tucked into the silver hairband. As he struggled, his loose clothes revealed his fair skin and white inner clothes.
Inside the carriage with the curtains down, everything was blurry and indistinct.
Ning Rushen was fighting a losing battle with the gauze when his raised wrist was suddenly grasped by a large hand.
The rough and warm fingertips brushed against the delicate skin on his wrist.
The itch made his fingertips twitch, and he looked up, “Your Majesty?”
Li Wuting sat upright in front of him, paused, and then pushed his hand away, “Come here.”
Ning Rushen approached, puzzled.
The hand reached out and hooked the thin gauze.
Li Wuting kept his eyes down, not looking at the exposed collar of his clothes, and skillfully pulled the gauze open.
The chiffon rubbed against the fabric, making a rustling sound.
Ning Rushen felt like a bamboo shoot being peeled, gradually revealing its tender core.
He suddenly felt hot all over and started trembling slightly.
In a clear and deep voice, Li Wuting asked, “Are you cold?”
Ning Rushen’s eyelashes trembled as he said, “Hot.”
“…,” Li Wuting remained silent.
After a short while, Li Wuting finally pulled away all the gauze curtains and casually threw them aside. He then kindly straightened out the open collar, tucking it neatly into the belt.
After finishing, he saw Ning Rushen still sitting there, letting others manipulate him, and couldn’t help but feel a headache. “Do you know what you’re doing right now?”
Ning Rushen replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, you are helping your subject…”
What was it again? He thought for a moment, “To unravel cocoons.”
Li Wuting “…”
“Alright, no more talking.” Li Wuting turned and instructed outside, “Back to the mansion.”
The carriage slowly started moving.
The gently swaying carriage became quiet for a while.
Ning Rushen’s restless heat gradually dissipated, and he finally regained his senses, “Why did Your Majesty come?”
Li Wuting glanced at him lightly, “To deliver rations for Lord Ning, but it seems Lord Ning is dining elsewhere.”
Ning Rushen’s Adam’s apple moved, “What rations?”
He tapped on the low table in front of him, indicating the meal box.
He reached out to open it, revealing a delicate and sweet box of pastries, all to his liking. Ning Rushen’s mouth watered, “I… I haven’t eaten any rations either, I’ve just been drinking.”
Li Wuting immediately looked cold, “With your current state, do you not understand moderation? Do you want to ruin yourself and lie in bed for another ten days?”
Ning Rushen’s face showed a simple and straightforward longing.
Li Wuting’s brow twitched. He didn’t want to dwell on this topic with a drunkard. “Forget it, eat your pastries.”
Ning Rushen immediately reached out.
He had just come out of the Huaigu Tower and had handled chess and card tools.
Li Wuting slapped away the dirty paw and said, “Go clean up—” He paused midway, feeling a sudden itch in his palm.
He glanced at Ning Rushen, then at the pastries in the meal box, and then, not forgetting his initial intention, picked up a piece. Li Wuting deliberated between his over twenty years of gentlemanly conduct and feeding the cat for a few breaths.
Then he said, “Come here.”
His slender, jade-like fingers held the exquisite pastry like a jadeite.
Either way, it was pleasing to the eye.
Ning Rushen’s mind was blank at the moment, so he leaned over as he pleased and began to eat small bites from Li Wuting’s hand.
Li Wuting lowered his gaze.
He saw Ning Rushen’s long eyelashes drooping on his eyelids, his soft and fair cheeks puffing up, enjoying the food.
His heart, which had been neglected, was smoothed out a bit.
Just before the lips touched his fingertips, Li Wuting adhered to the last etiquette between sovereign and subject and withdrew his hand.
…
After a while, the carriage stopped in front of the Ning Mansion.
The two got off the carriage.
De Quan lifted the curtain and saw Ning Rushen with flushed cheeks, moist eyes, and a satisfied look on his face. The Emperor beside him had a normal expression, only his fingertips seemed to have some pastry residue.
Before he could take a closer look, he heard the Emperor instruct, “Take the food box.”
Immediately, Li Wuting reached out his long arm and dragged the person into the mansion.
Ning Rushen was carried back to the main house smoothly, and when he entered, he was thrown onto the bed with a “plop.”
“Ugh…” He felt dizzy and rubbed his forehead against the bed before pushing himself up.
Xinglan, who rushed over upon hearing the noise, was startled by the scene!
After hastily greeting Li Wuting, she turned to fetch hot water, muttering repeatedly in disbelief, “How did the master end up in such a state, in such a state…!”
Ning Rushen, “…”
Watching Xinglan run off, he glanced around.
Li Wuting stood tall with his hands behind his back, his figure looming against the light, in front of his bed.
Ning Rushen subconsciously grasped his belt, puzzled, “Your Majesty, aren’t you leaving yet?”
Li Wuting sneered, “Use and discard?”
“…” Ning Rushen groggily pondered; why did that phrase sound so familiar?
Soon, Xinglan returned with the hot water.
Li Wuting still stood by, observing with his hands behind his back.
There was a face towel floating in the basin of hot water. Ning Rushen reached in to wash his face, then rubbed his wet hands on his face.
Xinglan was alarmed, “My lord, use the towel!”
Li Wuting, “…”
After a bit of struggle, Ning Rushen finally cleaned his hands and face.
His mind, in a whirl, cleared up a bit. He realized he had been terribly disrespectful to the esteemed Emperor.
He immediately straightened up, “Your Majesty.”
Li Wuting coldly chuckled, “Do you understand your offense?”
“I was wrong, Your Majesty.”
“Is that all?”
“…” Ning Rushen thought for a moment, then, in a manner reminiscent of his past apologies, he grabbed the sleeve in front of him, “I was wrong, Your Majesty.”
Li Wuting, “…”
After a while, he softened his tone, “Forget it, this time it’s noted. If you make another mistake, you’ll be punished together.”
Ning Rushen nodded vigorously.
Yes, yes, yes, we’ll talk about next time, next time.
Seeing his expression, Li Wuting restrained the urge to punish him, turned, and left.
Outside the courtyard gate, De Quan was respectfully waiting.
Seeing the emperor coming out after only a short while, dressed neatly, he couldn’t help but sneak a glance and was then called up:
“Return to the palace.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The servants of the Ning Residence hurriedly saw off the imperial carriage.
Once back in the carriage, Li Wuting lifted the curtain and saw the bundle of crimson gauze still draped over the seat, strikingly eye-catching. It carried a hint of the sweet wine fragrance from a spilled wine cup, intoxicating.
De Quan tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, this?”
Li Wuting glanced aside and sat down, “Put it aside.”
He didn’t say to throw it away, so De Quan gathered it up.
As the carriage swayed back to the palace, De Quan neatly folded the red gauze and tucked it behind the cushion before getting off the carriage.
Feeling pleased with himself, he thought, “I’m quite clever.”
After Li Wuting returned, Ning Rushen took a bath and went to bed, feeling dizzy. He slept deeply until early the next morning.
Upon waking, he felt a splitting headache. “Did I hallucinate? I didn’t see the old lady, but I saw the living Yama…”
In a daze, Yuan Liu walked in, “My lord!”
Ning Rushen, trying to sound casual, asked, “How did I come back yesterday?”
Yuan Liu replied, “My lord, you were brought back by His Majesty.”
The word “brought back” was quite vivid.
Memories of his death surged in his mind. Ning Rushen finally remembered some scenes—the hand that took away the gauze, the bed obscured by darkness, and the words, “Next time, we’ll be punished together…”
“No… my head hurts so much, it feels like my brain is going to burst.”
“My lord?” Yuan Liu approached, “Are you attending court today?”
Ning Rushen took a deep breath, “I am.”
The morning court was relatively mild.
The reports were mainly about trivial matters from various regions and preparations for the upcoming Duan Yang Festival.
During the court session, Ning Rushen relaxed a bit.
After court, he rubbed his newly grown brain and headed to the imperial study.
He felt a bit nervous as he entered, unsure if Li Wuting would pursue yesterday’s matter. However, when he cautiously approached, he saw Li Wuting sitting upright behind the imperial desk, looking composed and unaffected.
Ning Rushen spoke, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Li Wuting glanced up from his work, “Hmm, come over and grind some ink.” After saying this, he calmly returned to his documents, as if nothing had happened.
Ning Rushen breathed a sigh of relief: “Looks like we’re turning a new leaf.”
He stood aside, grinding ink.
During this time, the Minister of Rites, Guan Fan, came over and reported in detail with Li Wuting about the preparations for the Duan Yang Festival banquet and the folk activities:
“…Everything is being procured according to the specifications of previous years. Additionally, regarding the palace banquet, I wonder if Empress Shu and Prince Xuan will participate?”
“For Empress Shu, I will send someone to inquire.”
Li Wuting paused, seeming somewhat troubled, “Prince Xuan is already on his way back.”
Guan Fan bowed, “I understand.”
After Guan Fan left, Ning Rushen seemed lost in thought, “Prince Xuan is returning to the capital?”
“Yes.” Li Wuting paused and asked, “Has he contacted you?”
Ning Rushen thought of the fat pigeon and said regretfully, “Not yet cooked.”
“…”
Li Wuting inexplicably drew a conclusion from his nonsensical answer and waved his hand, “Nevermind, there’s nothing else today, you may leave.”
Ning Rushen acknowledged and left the study, but before he could exit the palace gate, he saw Huo Mian waiting at a distance.
Seeing him, the tall and straight figure of Huo Mian shook slightly, beckoning to him.
Ning Rushen walked over, “General Huo?”
What’s up, another celebration for turning eighty?
Huo Mian looked him up and down, trying to confirm if he was unharmed, “You went back yesterday, did you not get punished?”
Ning Rushen shook his head, “His Majesty said to record it for now, and punish later with accumulated charges.”
Huo Mian sighed in relief, “That’s not too bad, just a suspended sentence.”
“…”
“By the way, why did His Majesty come? Is there something urgent?”
Skipping over his inauspicious relief, Ning Rushen thought carefully, “It seems not. I can’t remember clearly, I just remember eating a lot of snacks.”
Huo Mian: …?
Huo Mian was silent for a while, “I don’t quite understand.”
Ning Rushen nodded, “Neither do I.”
Being unceremoniously taken back by Li Wuting, eating some snacks, and then being sent back to his residence, was it just to catch him and have snacks?
Unable to understand, he simply attributed it to his new brain not yet fully developing, waved to Huo Mian, and left.
…
Ning Rushen returned to his residence and stayed quiet for a few days.
Five days later, it was the day for Prince Xuan to return to the capital.
That day, he figured he had nothing to do, so after the morning court, he was planning to ask the eunuchs if they still needed him for duty. However, halfway there, he ran into Li Wuting and Li Jingyu.
From a distance of about ten steps, Li Wuting looked up.
Ning Rushen spoke up, “I pay my respects to Your Majesty and Prince Jing.”
Li Jingyu ran over, “Lord Ning, we’re going to pick up Second Brother, come along!”
“?” Ning Rushen asked, “Isn’t that unnecessary… Will Your Majesty personally go to pick him up?”
Li Wuting sneered, “I’m going to see if he’s brought anything he shouldn’t have.” If he has, he’ll be sent back immediately.
Ning Rushen: ???
He hadn’t even asked what shouldn’t be brought when his hem was pulled down. He lowered his head, and Li Jingyu climbed up to him and whispered, “It was Second Brother who asked me to call you together.”
Ning Rushen was puzzled, “Why?”
Li Jingyu said, “To talk about secret matters of the inner palace… Ah!”
A large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed him away.
Li Wuting glanced at Ning Rushen, “Doesn’t Jingyu’s way of speaking make you shake?”
Ning Rushen asked, “What?”
Before he could react, Li Wuting had already lifted up Li Jingyu, who was struggling, and walked forward, calling him along, “Keep up.”
The green bamboo carriage was already waiting outside the palace gates.
The three got into the carriage, with De Quan serving on one side.
The carriage rattled its wheels towards the South City Gate. Ning Rushen looked at the familiar furnishings inside the carriage and felt memories flooding back:
Such as how Li Wuting’s hand had pulled the gauze curtain for him.
And how that hand had elegantly closed his robe.
…
Ning Rushen glanced at Li Wuting, only to see him with a cold and calm profile. Thinking of his gentlemanly demeanor and his love for the people, he felt reassured.
He turned to play with Li Jingyu, “Little Highness, don’t stuff the pastry into your mouth.”
“Ah, can’t Lord Ning do it? Ah——”
Li Wuting, “…”
After a while, as the carriage drove on, Ning Rushen and Li Jingyu finished half a box of pastries and prepared to wipe their hands.
Ning Rushen was about to get a handkerchief for someone.
Li Jingyu suddenly turned his head, “Huh? There are handkerchiefs here too.”
Ning Rushen looked over and saw Li Jingyu vigorously pulling something out! He then pulled out a long scarlet gauze from the seat cushion seam—a familiar and glaring color of gauze.
The carriage instantly fell silent.
Li Wuting, “…”
Ning Rushen’s pupils contracted as he looked at the person!
Li Jingyu also turned his head, “Imperial Brother, what is this?”
In the corner of the carriage, De Quan buried his head and curled up into a ball.
Li Wuting remained silent for a long time before gently saying to Li Jingyu, “Your Second Brother has returned, and this is used to ward off evil spirits.”
