Chapter 4
The palace attendants scrambled to pull Ning Rushen, who was gurgling and bubbling, out of the water, pressing the accumulated water out of him.
Laid flat on the ground, Ning Rushen had yet to awaken. His wet hair and court attire clung tightly to him, his complexion pale as jade, lips tinged with an unhealthy red.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” De Quan directed the attendants, casting a glance around, “First, take Lord Ning over to… the pavilion there.”
A section of pale wrist dangled from the sleeve. As it passed by Li Wuting, suddenly, the emperor spoke, “Wait.”
Ning Rushen was placed on a couch, his wet clothes already changed.
The imperial physician, under Li Wuting’s intense gaze, trembled as he took the pulse, then administered acupuncture. Pondering why the emperor was also here, he heard Li Wuting inquire, “How is he?”
Li Wuting pursed his lips, “Check his head as well.”
“Yes.” The physician dared not ask more, only obediently checked Ning Rushen’s head as commanded. After a while, he reported, “Lord Ning might have previously suffered a head injury, risking latent issues. However, this fainting spell was merely due to excessive drinking and the chill from drowning…”
The physician wisely fell silent.
Li Wuting indifferently commanded, “Everyone, leave.”
His word “everyone” left no room for the palace attendants to stay; they all followed the physician out.
De Quan, unsure of the emperor’s mood, speculated, “Shall I wait outside?”
“Yes.” De Quan bowed deeply, retreating.
Before leaving, De Quan stole another glance at the person lying quietly on the couch—recalling today’s inquiry in the imperial study, the sudden imperial decree, and that subtly deep “Wait” by the lakeside at night.
The more De Quan thought, the more alarmed he became, utterly unable to fathom the emperor’s thoughts.
What exactly were the emperor’s feelings towards Lord Ning?
Soon, all attendants had exited.
In the side hall, only Li Wuting and Ning Rushen remained.
A thin blanket covered Ning Rushen, his snow-colored undergarment nearly blending with his skin tone. His face turned towards Li Wuting, long eyelashes vulnerably drooping.
Li Wuting stood before the couch, eyes downcast in contemplation, “What are you plotting this time…”
The person on the couch unconsciously furrowed his brows.
Li Wuting leaned over, lifting the face, “Did you really damage your brain?”
The person in a deep slumber did not awaken, yet his lips moved slightly, barely forming a word: “Pfft.”
Li Wuting, “…”
He released his hand, pulling the blanket over that half-exposed face, and turned to leave the side hall.
…
Ning Rushen did not know how long he had been unconscious.
Upon waking, only one thought crossed his mind: I’m split open.
His head throbbed painfully, his throat ached, and he couldn’t stop coughing, coughing until he saw stars. Only after a young eunuch handed him a cup of water did Ning Rushen manage to catch his breath after a few gulps.
Looking around, he found himself lying on an unfamiliar couch.
The room was luxuriously decorated, even heated from below.
“Lord Ning is awake,” the young eunuch bowed.
“Who are you?”
“I am Xiao Rongzi, commanded by His Majesty to attend to you. Is there anything uncomfortable, my lord?”
Ning Rushen struggled to sit up, “Everything is uncomfortable… Where is this?”
Xiao Rongzi had never seen someone so blunt, “To answer my lord, this is the side hall of the imperial study. After you fell into the water, His Majesty had the imperial physician examine you and sent a prescription to your residence.”
Falling into the water…
Ning Rushen’s waterlogged brain finally began to work.
He recalled encountering Li Wuting by the lake after the palace banquet, and after parting, he had dizzyingly slipped into the lake.
Ning Rushen muttered to himself, “Not to mention, the flowers by the lake were quite vibrant, and that bridge…”
Xiao Rongzi listened with a heart pounding in terror.
Flowers and a bridge? Lord Ning must have seen the flowers of the other shore and the Bridge of Helplessness!
Unaware of Xiao Rongzi’s horrified expression, Ning Rushen slipped on his shoes and stood up, “May I ask, where is His Majesty?”
Xiao Rongzi looked at him with reverence, “To answer my lord, His Majesty is reviewing documents in the imperial study!”
“Thank you.”
Ning Rushen straightened his attire and headed towards the imperial study.
·
Upon seeing Li Wuting, the latter was meticulously reviewing documents behind the desk. A slight furrow marked his brow, the young face bearing the weight of imperial authority, as if nothing could shake his resolve.
Ning Rushen, now conscious, stepped into the imperial study, his mind and body aching from the ordeal yet undeterred by the physical discomfort. The encounter at the lake, the slip into its cold embrace, and the subsequent rescue—all replayed in his mind as he approached the emperor.
Ning Rushen paused momentarily on the spot.
He had never met another emperor, but if one were a wise ruler, he imagined they would probably be just like this.
“Your Majesty,” Ning Rushen collected his thoughts.
The person behind the imperial desk, upon hearing this, looked up at him, “It seems that not only are you skilled physically, but you also don’t follow the beaten path.”
Ning Rushen, “……”
He retracted his thoughts. What an incompetent ruler!
Taking a breath, Ning Rushen spoke up to confess his fault, “I was unseemly after drinking, disturbing the imperial presence. Please, Your Majesty, punish me.”
Li Wuting hummed, “And how should you be punished?”
Ning Rushen was startled by the question, thinking it was just a courtesy.
After a moment, he ashamedly lowered his lashes, “Just have me reflect behind closed doors…”
A cold, insightful laugh fell, “Heh.”
Ning Rushen, “……”
The memorials on the desk were set aside, and Li Wuting, without bothering with his rambling, said, “The palace gate is already locked. I will have De Quan escort you out. Once you are well, come to the imperial study to serve—understood?”
The last sentence was uttered in a light tone, yet it contained a warning.
Warning him not to defy the imperial edict again.
Ning Rushen obediently bowed his head, “I, I will obey the edict.”
…
However, being compliant was not in Ning Rushen’s nature.
After resting at his residence for a night, he had someone call for the city’s physician the next day.
The physician checked his pulse and reviewed the medicine he had taken, then happily praised, “The doctor who attended to the lord has exquisite skills and uses medicine brilliantly. I am ashamed to admit my inferiority. Congratulations, my lord, you should recover very soon!”
Ning Rushen felt as if a thunderbolt had struck!
He desperately grabbed the physician, “I don’t need to recover so quickly. Can’t it be something that takes ten days or half a month to heal?”
The physician was in a difficult position, “I prescribe medicine, not poison.”
Ning Rushen, “……”
After sending away the powerless physician, Ning Rushen could only lie in bed properly, taking his medicine and recuperating.
News of his illness spread far and wide.
In the following days, a wave of court officials visited one after another, almost breaking down the threshold of Ning’s residence. Under the guise of “visiting the sick,” they came with the intent of fostering good relations.
Ning Rushen declared to the outside world that he was “so ill he couldn’t tell humans from animals,” and had Yan Min send them all away.
What a joke, why would he want to socialize while on sick leave?
…
When Geng Yan entered the courtyard, he saw Ning Rushen, who claimed to be “so ill he couldn’t tell humans from animals,” lying on a soft couch in the sun, the sunlight casting a fine shadow through his lashes onto his eyelids.
The pale blue veins under his skin were faintly visible, his complexion as translucent as porcelain.
“Yo,” Geng Yan greeted, “Look at you, all in disarray.”
Ning Rushen’s eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes to look at Geng Yan, standing in front of the couch, thinking to himself that this kid was really persistent, always putting extra effort into humiliating him.
He lazily pulled the blanket around him, “How did you get in here? Didn’t I have Yan Min turn away visitors?”
Geng Yan matter-of-factly, “Climbed the wall, of course.”
Ning Rushen praised him, “…Hmm, impressive.”
“Eh.” Geng Yan lifted his chin, “Did someone break into your place?”
“What?”
“I saw a gap in the wall of your courtyard, particularly easy to climb over.”
Ning Rushen was at a loss for words, “So you just climbed in?”
Geng Yan, “Yeah.”
“……”
A thought suddenly struck his mind: In this world, there were no paths to begin with, but when many people walk the same way, a path is formed.
Ning Rushen shook his head, “Let’s talk about the break-in later. You specifically climbed in, surely not just to see my face?” he said, lifting his eyes to look at him, his gaze clear and penetrating, showing no signs of the drowsiness from before.
Geng Yan’s expression became serious.
He remembered the news his father mentioned recently. If it was Ning Chen, maybe he could hear some rumors from the imperial court.
Geng Yan, for once, showed a serious side.
Ning Rushen sighed lightly, “I knew it. Is it about…”
Geng Yan took a deep breath, “Yeah.”
Ning Rushen, “Still about the hidden illness?”
“……”
No!!!
Geng Yan exploded, “You dare to bring that up again!!!”
·
That night, Shi Yi once again appeared in the imperial study as usual.
Li Wuting was looking through documents, “Did you find out?”
“Yes.” Shi Yi knelt on one knee, head bowed, reporting, “On the night of the palace banquet, Lord Ning was persuaded to drink a lot. He didn’t spend much time talking with the other officials. The only one he had a private, lengthy conversation with was the son of Minister Geng, Geng Yan.”
The son of the Minister of Revenue, Geng Yue, Geng Yan.
Was this instigated by Geng Yue, or…
Li Wuting’s gaze darkened, “What did they talk about?”
Shi Yi paused awkwardly for a moment, “Uh, it was said to be about a hidden illness.”
Li Wuting, “……”
Shi Yi added, “After the conversation, Lord Ning went alone to the lakeside to sober up. He was staggering, indeed seemed quite drunk.”
Li Wuting pressed his brow, “You mean, the encounter and falling into the water were both accidents?”
“I dare not make unfounded statements.”
“Enough, continue.”
“Yes, these past few days Lord Ning has been recuperating at home. Many court officials from the six ministries have visited, but all were turned away at the door.”
Li Wuting tapped his fingertips on the desk, “Didn’t see anyone at all?”
“He was forced to see one. Geng Yan climbed over the wall and talked alone with Lord Ning for about half an incense stick’s time.”
“What did they talk about again?”
“Still, the hidden illness.”
“……”
Even Li Wuting couldn’t help but react, “The son of Minister Geng has… an illness, and instead of seeing a doctor, he talks to a colleague about it?”
Shi Yi remained silent, his inner turmoil evident:
How would he know!
Although he was a member of the imperial secret police, serving the Emperor by handling the most private affairs— he had never imagined it would be private to this extent! Having to listen to officials discuss their hidden ailments with each other.
The imperial study fell silent for a few moments.
Li Wuting pinched the bridge of his nose, then quickly returned to his usual demeanor, “Is he well now?”
It was clear whom “he” referred to.
Shi Yi replied, “He appears to be still recuperating.”
“Is he pretending to be ill, or is he really not well?”
“Lord Ning appears sickly all year round. From a distance, it is not appropriate for me to inquire too closely. So…”
The Emperor’s calm voice came from above, “Do you need me to teach you how to handle your duties?”
Shi Yi immediately felt a chill, bowing deeply, “Your Majesty, forgive me, I will report to you first thing tomorrow morning!”
·
At night, during the hour of Hai.
Most of the servants in Ning’s residence had already retired for the night.
Shi Yi, familiar with the route, used the cover of dusk to glide across the rooftops and land on the roof of the main house.
He gently lifted a tile to look down but saw the bed curtains drawn around the bed. It was impossible to discern even the silhouette of the person on the bed, let alone investigate whether his illness had truly improved.
Shi Yi lay on the roof, pondering for a while, then had a stroke of inspiration.
He replaced the tile and tossed a small pebble at the window lattice: clack—
Hey, are you asleep?
…
Inside the room, Ning Rushen had just finished drinking the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician and was starting to feel sleepy.
He was just about to fall asleep after tucking in the blanket when he suddenly heard a sound from outside the window: clack.
It sounded like a pebble hitting the window lattice.
Ning Rushen instantly woke up, pulling aside the bed curtains, “Who’s there?”
The room was pitch dark, and it was silent outside.
Was it the wind? He looked out and then lay back down.
Another half an incense stick’s time passed.
Just as Ning Rushen’s consciousness was slowly drifting into light sleep, he suddenly heard another clack on the window lattice!
He abruptly woke up and turned to look outside.
The words Geng Yan had said during the day suddenly flashed through his mind: Did someone break into your place?
“……”
He had been worried about spreading his illness, so he had already sent Yan Min, Xing Lan, and the others away from the courtyard earlier. Now, wanting to call out loudly, he also feared being silenced by a murderer.
Ning Rushen thought for a moment and then slapped the bed to stay alert:
I’m not asleep yet, little thief, go away!
It was quiet outside the window for a long while. Ning Rushen guessed the thief had left, pulled the bed curtains closed, and tried to sleep again.
Another half an incense stick’s time passed.
Very consistently, a clack came from outside the window lattice.
Ning Rushen, “…………”
Ning Rushen jerked awake, nearly on the verge of a nervous breakdown—
Where the hell did this sneaky bastard come from?
Was it really necessary? Was it really fucking necessary to keep testing whether he was asleep or not?!
If you’re going to steal something, just hurry the fuck up!
Furious and dizzy, he decided to just get up and light a lamp: Fine, fine, you don’t want me to sleep, right?
Then nobody sleeps.
The candlelight flickered dimly.
Ning Rushen wrapped himself in a blanket, sitting on a low couch, listening to the “tap, tap” sounds, enduring a night of stiff sitting across from someone until dawn…
The next morning.
Yan Min came to knock on the door to wake people up.
As the door opened, there stood Ning Rushen in a snow-white robe, barefoot, with bloodshot eyes staring straight at him.
Yan Min stepped back in shock, “My lord?”
Ning Rushen still looked a bit dazed, “If you don’t sleep, I don’t sleep, and the King of Hell will have to massage my back.”
Yan Min was horrified, “Ah pish! My lord, what inauspicious things are you saying!”
“…” Ning Rushen came to his senses, took a deep breath, “Uncle Yan, keep watch outside for me, I’m going to get some sleep. And—find ten formidable guards to surround this courtyard starting today.”
Yan Min panicked, “What happened?”
Ning Rushen shook his head tiredly, preferring not to say more. Then he turned back into the room, drew the curtains around the bed, and fell asleep with a thud.
In his groggy sleep, he thought:
I better not let him know where that sneaky bastard came from.
·
While Ning Rushen went back to catching up on sleep, Shi Yi still had to report back.
Li Wuting had just finished the morning court when he saw Shi Yi, with eyes red as blood, kneeling in the imperial study.
“Your Majesty, it seems Lord Ning is truly ill.”
Li Wuting didn’t ask why Shi Yi’s eyes were so red— the imperial guards had their own methods.
He gestured for the report to continue.
Shi Yi’s voice was hoarse, “Lord Ning has suffered greatly from his illness, not sleeping all night.”
Li Wuting frowned, his gaze sharp, “Is it that serious?”
Shi Yi, having endured a night of agony, was emotional as he spoke, “Your servant has not uttered a single lie! Since last night, every hour on the hour, I would throw a pebble towards his window.”
“Every hour, throw one, and then another hour, throw another… all the way until dawn. Every time I threw one, he was awake!”
Shi Yi murmured softly, “Lord Ning’s condition, I fear, is not good…”
The imperial study fell into silence.
Li Wuting looked at the loyal imperial guard kneeling before him, his expression complex, and for a long time, no words were spoken.
