The palace servants, in a fluster, pulled Ning Rushen out of the water, squeezing out the accumulated water from his body.

Ning Rushen was laid flat on the ground, still unconscious. His wet hair and imperial robes clung tightly to him, his complexion pale as jade, and his lips tinged with an unhealthy red.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” De Quan directed the palace servants and glanced around. “First, carry Lord Ning to… the pavilion over there.”

A pale wrist slipped out from the sleeve. As they passed in front of Li Wuting, the emperor suddenly spoke, “Wait.”

Ning Rushen was placed on the couch, his wet clothes already changed.

The royal physician, under Li Wuting’s watchful gaze, nervously took his pulse and applied acupuncture needles. He was silently wondering why the emperor was present when Li Wuting asked, “How is he?”

Li Wuting pressed his lips together, “Also, check his head.”

“Yes.” The royal physician dared not ask further and obediently examined Ning Rushen’s head. After a moment, he said, “Lord Ning previously suffered a head injury, which may have left lingering effects. However, this time, his collapse was due to excessive drinking and cold from drowning…”

The royal physician fell silent at the right moment.

Li Wuting calmly said, “Everyone, leave.”

When he said “everyone,” the palace servants in the hall did not dare to linger and left with the royal physician.

De Quan, unsure of what to do, tried to gauge the emperor’s expression. “Then this servant…”

“Wait outside the hall.”

“Yes.” De Quan hurriedly bowed and backed out, sneaking one last glance at the person lying quietly on the couch—he recalled the questioning in the Imperial Study today, the sudden transfer decree, and that low voice in the night by the lake, saying, “Wait.”

The more De Quan thought about it, the more anxious he became, unable to figure out the emperor’s intentions.

What exactly is the emperor’s attitude toward Lord Ning?

Soon, all the palace servants had left.

In the side hall, only Li Wuting and Ning Rushen remained.

A thin blanket was draped over Ning Rushen’s body, and his snow-white inner garment almost blended with his skin. His face was turned toward Li Wuting, and his long lashes drooped weakly.

Li Wuting stood by the couch, looking down and pondering, “What are you plotting this time…”

The person lying on the couch furrowed his brow unconsciously.

Li Wuting bent down and lifted his hand to turn Ning Rushen’s face towards him, “Did you really knock your brains out?”

The unconscious person did not wake up, but his lips moved slightly, forming a faint word: “Pah.”

Li Wuting, “…”

He let go of his hand, pulling the blanket to cover half of Ning Rushen’s face, and turned to leave the side hall.

…

Ning Rushen had no idea how long he had been unconscious.

When he woke up, only one thought crossed his mind: I’m falling apart.

His head was throbbing, his throat was sore, and he couldn’t stop coughing as soon as he breathed in, coughing so hard that stars appeared before his eyes. It wasn’t until a nearby eunuch handed him a cup of water that Ning Rushen drank a few sips and finally recovered.

Looking around, he realized he was lying on an unfamiliar couch.

The room was grandly decorated and even had an underfloor heating system.

“Lord Ning, you are awake.” The young eunuch bowed.

“And you are?”

“Your servant, Xiao Rongzi, under the emperor’s orders, is here to watch over you. Does Lord Ning feel any discomfort?”

Ning Rushen struggled to sit up, “Everything is uncomfortable… Where am I?”

It was Xiao Rongzi’s first time encountering someone so straightforward. “To answer my lord, this is the side hall of the Imperial Study. After Lord Ning fell into the water, the emperor summoned the royal physician to examine you, and a prescription has been sent to your residence.”

Fell into the water…

Ning Rushen’s waterlogged brain finally started functioning again.

He remembered going to the lakeside for a breeze after the palace banquet, where he encountered Li Wuting. After parting ways, feeling dazed and disoriented, he had slipped into a lake.

Ning Rushen muttered to himself, “Come to think of it, the flowers by the lake were blooming quite beautifully, and that bridge…”

Xiao Rongzi, listening from the side, was terrified.

Flowers? Bridge? Lord Ning must have seen bianhua and the Naihe Bridge of the underworld!

Ning Rushen didn’t notice Xiao Rongzi’s horrified expression and slipped into his shoes, standing up. “May I ask, Eunuch Rong, where is His Majesty?”

Xiao Rongzi looked at him in awe and replied respectfully, “To answer my lord, His Majesty is in the Imperial Study, reviewing memorials!”

“Thank you, Eunuch.”

Ning Rushen tidied his clothes and headed toward the Imperial Study.

·

When Ning Rushen saw Li Wuting, the latter was sitting behind his desk, meticulously reviewing memorials. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his youthful face exuded a composed, imperial demeanor.

It seemed nothing could shake him.

Ning Rushen stood still for a moment.

He had never seen another emperor, but if this was what a wise ruler looked like, it probably wouldn’t be much different.

“Your Majesty,” Ning Rushen composed himself.

The person behind the imperial desk looked up at him and said, “It seems Lord Ning not only possesses great skills but also walks unusual paths.”

Ning Rushen, “…”

He takes it back. This one’s a fatuous ruler!

Ning Rushen took a deep breath and spoke to apologize, “Your subject misbehaved after drinking and disturbed Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”

Li Wuting gave a casual hum, “How should I punish you?”

Ning Rushen was taken aback, thinking he was just being polite.

After a moment, he lowered his eyes in shame, “Then punish your subject to reflect behind closed doors…”

A cold, knowing laugh interrupted him, “Ha.”

Ning Rushen, “…”

The memorials on the desk were set aside, and Li Wuting ignored his rambling. “The palace gates are already locked. I’ll have De Quan send you out. Once you’re well, report to the Imperial Study for duty—understood?”

The last sentence was spoken in a light tone but carried a subtle warning.

A warning not to defy the imperial decree again.

Ning Rushen obediently bowed his head, “Your subject obeys.”

…

However, if Ning Rushen could truly behave, he wouldn’t be Ning Rushen.

After resting at home for one night, the next day, he called for a local doctor.

The doctor took his pulse, examined the medicine he had been prescribed, and praised enthusiastically, “The physician who treated my lord is exceptionally skilled, and the medicine is masterful. As a humble doctor, I am ashamed to say I could not match it. Congratulations, my lord. You should recover quickly!”

Ning Rushen felt like the sky was falling!

He grabbed the doctor in despair, “I don’t need to recover so quickly. I need something more nourishing… Do you have anything that takes ten days or half a month to heal?”

The doctor was troubled, “What I’ve prescribed is medicine, not poison.”

Ning Rushen, “…”

After sending away the helpless doctor, Ning Rushen had no choice but to lie in bed, drinking his medicine and recovering properly.

His illness quickly spread.

In the following days, ministers from all six ministries flocked to his residence, almost wearing down Ning Mansion’s doorstep. Under the guise of visiting the sick, they were really looking to form alliances.

Ning Rushen claimed that he was “so ill he couldn’t tell humans from animals” and had them all turned away by Yan Min.

Just kidding, why 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, basking in the sun. Sunlight filtered through his eyelashes, casting a delicate shadow on his eyelids.

Faint green veins could be seen underneath, and his skin was so white it looked almost translucent, like porcelain.

“Yo,” Geng Yan called out, “Look at you, all pathetic.”

Ning Rushen’s eyelashes twitched as he opened his eyes to see Geng Yan standing by the couch. He thought to himself that this kid sure was persistent, always going out of his way to insult him.

He lazily pulled the blanket around himself, “How did you get in here? Didn’t I tell Steward Yan to turn guests away?”

Geng Yan answered as if it were natural, “I climbed over the wall.”

Ning Rushen praised him, “… Impressive.”

“Hey,” Geng Yan pointed his chin up, “Did a thief break into your place?”

“What?”

“I noticed there’s a crack in your courtyard wall. It makes it really easy to climb over.”

Ning Rushen was at a loss for words, “So you climbed in through that?”

Geng Yan, “Yeah.”

“…”

Suddenly, a saying popped into Ning Rushen’s mind: There wasn’t a road in the beginning, but as more people walk, it becomes a road.

Ning Rushen shook his head, “We’ll talk about thieves later. You didn’t climb over just to admire my visage, did you?” He glanced up, his eyes clear and sharp, with no trace of the earlier drowsiness.

Geng Yan’s expression grew more serious.

He recalled the news his father had recently mentioned. If it were Ning Rushen, he might have heard some rumors from the emperor’s side.

Geng Yan took a deep breath, “I came because…”

Ning Rushen sighed, “I knew it. Is it about…”

Geng Yan inhaled sharply, “Yes.”

Ning Rushen, “Still about the hidden illness?”

“…”

No!!!

Geng Yan exploded, “You dare bring that up again!!!”

·

That night, Shi Yi appeared in the Imperial Study as usual.

Li Wuting was flipping through a book, “Have you found out?”

“Yes.” Shi Yi knelt on one knee and reported with his head lowered, “On the night of the palace banquet, Lord Ning was heavily persuaded to drink and did not spend long speaking with other ministers. The only person he privately conversed with for an extended period was Minister Geng’s son, Assistant Minister Geng.”

The son of Minister Geng of the Ministry of Revenue—Geng Yan.

Was this under Minister Geng’s orders, or…

Li Wuting’s eyes darkened, “What did they talk about?”

Shi Yi paused awkwardly, “Uh, from what I heard… it was about, um, a hidden illness.”

Li Wuting, “…”

Shi Yi continued, “After they finished talking, Lord Ning went to the lake alone to sober up. He seemed quite drunk, as he was unsteady on his feet.”

Li Wuting pressed his temples, “So you’re saying that both the encounter and falling into the lake were accidental?”

“Your servant dares not speculate.”

“Fine, continue.”

“Yes, Lord Ning has been recovering at home these past few days. Many ministers from the six ministries have visited him, but they were all turned away.”

Li Wuting tapped his fingers on the desk, “He didn’t see anyone?”

“He was forced to meet one. Assistant Minister Geng climbed over the wall and spoke privately with Lord Ning for about half the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.”

“What did they talk about?”

“Still… the hidden illness.”

“…”

Even Li Wuting couldn’t help but ask this time, “If Assistant Minister Geng has… an illness, why not see a doctor? Why talk to a colleague about it?”

Shi Yi remained silent, feeling conflicted inside:

How should he know!

Though he was a royal guard, dealing with the emperor’s most private matters, he never expected it would get this personal! Having to listen to ministers talk about hidden illnesses was not what he signed up for.

The Imperial Study fell silent for a few moments.

Li Wuting rubbed his nose, soon returning to his usual self. “Has he recovered?”

It was clear who “he” referred to.

Shi Yi replied, “He still seems to be recovering.”

“Is he faking it, or is he really not well?”

“Lord Ning always looks frail, and your servant couldn’t get too close to investigate. So…”

The emperor’s calm voice came from above, “Do I have to teach you how to do your job?”

Shi Yi immediately jolted, kowtowing, “Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your servant will report to Your Majesty first thing in the morning!”

·

Late at night, the hour of the pig.

Most of the servants in Ning Mansion were already resting.

Shi Yi, well-versed in the layout, swiftly moved across the roof of the main house under the cover of night.

He carefully lifted a tile and peeked down, but the bed was surrounded by curtains, and even the shadow of the person on the bed was indistinct, let alone whether the person was truly recovering.

Shi Yi lay on the roof, pondering for a moment before a clever idea struck him.

He replaced the tile and tossed a small stone at the window lattice: Pata—

Hey, are you asleep?

…

Inside the house, Ning Rushen had just finished drinking the medicine prescribed by the royal physician and was starting to feel drowsy.

He tucked in the blanket, ready to sleep when he suddenly heard a soft “pata” sound against the window lattice.

Ning Rushen woke up immediately and pulled back the bed curtains, “Who’s there?”

The room was pitch dark, and outside was dead silent.

Was it the wind? He looked around and then lay back down.

A stick of incense later.

Ning Rushen’s consciousness was gradually slipping into shallow sleep when he suddenly heard another “pata” sound at the window!

He abruptly woke up, turning to look at the window.

Geng Yan’s words from earlier suddenly surfaced in his mind: “Is there a thief in your house?”

“…”

Lately, he had been afraid of passing on his illness to others, so he had already sent Yan Min, Xinglan, and the others outside the courtyard. Now he hesitated to shout for help, worried that he’d be silenced.

Ning Rushen thought for a moment, then slapped the bed twice, loudly alerting:

I’m not asleep yet, little thief, better leave!

Outside, it was quiet for a long while. Ning Rushen guessed the thief had left, so he pulled the bed curtains shut and tried to sleep again.

Another stick of incense later.

From the window, there came a steady “pata.”

Ning Rushen, “…………”

Ning Rushen shot up in bed, almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown—

Where on earth did this thief come from?

Is this necessary? Is it necessary to test again and again whether I’m asleep?!

If you’re going to steal something, just do it already!

He was so angry that his head was spinning. In the end, he got up and lit a lamp: Fine, fine, you won’t let me sleep, huh?

Then no one will sleep.

The dim light of the candle slowly filled the room.

Ning Rushen sat on the low couch, hugging a blanket, listening to the “pata” sounds outside. He stubbornly stared down the other side for the entire night until dawn…

The next morning.

Yan Min came to knock on the door to wake him up.

When the door opened, he saw Ning Rushen standing barefoot in the doorway, dressed in white underclothes, his eyes bloodshot as he stared directly at him.

Yan Min was so startled that he stepped back, “M-Milord?”

Ning Rushen’s expression was still a bit dazed, “You don’t sleep, I don’t sleep, King Yama gives me a back massage.”

Yan Min was horrified, “Ah, no! My lord, why are you saying such ominous things!”

“…” Ning Rushen snapped back to his senses and took a deep breath, “Uncle Yan, guard the door for me. I’m going to take a nap. Also—get ten strong guards to surround this courtyard from today.”

Yan Min, panicked, “What’s happened?”

Ning Rushen shook his head in exhaustion, not wanting to explain further. He turned and went back inside, pulled the bed curtains shut, and collapsed into sleep.

In his drowsy dreams, he thought:

It’d be best if he never found out who that sneaky thief was.

·

While Ning Rushen caught up on sleep.

Shi Yi still had to report back.

Li Wuting had just finished the morning court when he saw Shi Yi kneeling in the Imperial Study, his eyes bloodshot.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Ning appears to be truly ill.”

Li Wuting didn’t ask why Shi Yi’s eyes were red—royal guard had their own ways of handling things.

He gestured for him to continue.

Shi Yi’s voice was hoarse, “Lord Ning is suffering greatly from his illness, unable to sleep for an entire night.”

Li Wuting frowned, his gaze sharp, “Is it that serious?”

Shi Yi, having endured the night, was now emotional and blurted, “Your servant speaks no lies! From the hour of the pig last night, I threw a stone at the window at intervals of a stick of incense.”

“At intervals, I threw one stone, then another, then another… all the way until dawn. Every time I threw one, every time, the man was awake!”

Shi Yi muttered softly, “Lord Ning’s health must be in serious decline…”

The Imperial Study fell into silence.

Li Wuting looked at the loyal royal guard kneeling at his feet, his expression complex, and for a long time, he didn’t say a word.