Voices echoed anxiously in the hallway outside, “It seems like there’s no one here…”

The sound of footsteps gradually moved away towards the staircase.

Inside the room, Li Wuting slowly released his hand from covering Ning Rushen’s mouth.

He lowered his eyes only to see the person in front of him with flushed ears, strikingly red, and his waist trembling slightly.

Ning Rushen turned his head with a trembling waist, “Your Majesty, I…”

Li Wuting spoke before him, “What’s the matter, can’t you handle such intense maneuvers?”

Li Wuting didn’t rush him, his gaze settling on a screen in the room, waiting quietly.

Besides being an emperor, Li Wuting was also a dignified gentleman.

He rubbed his reddened ears, waiting for the heat behind him to fade, then slowly regained his composure and said,

“I saw some suspicious scholars and followed them here to see what was going on.”

Witnessing how “casual” his following was, Li Wuting chuckled, “Heh.”

“…”

Ning Rushen diverted the topic, “I heard them dealing in leaked examination questions.”

The room fell silent for a few moments, “I know.”

“?” Ning Rushen widened his eyes.

You know and still let people trade? To boost the GDP of Da Cheng?

His gaze was too straightforward.

Li Wuting glanced at him, “It’s a leak, but not entirely.”

Ning Rushen pondered, “A riddle being leaked?”

Only part of it is leaked, and the rest is left for people to figure out?

“…” Li Wuting, “What’s being leaked are fake questions.”

This was a case from a previous era.

He had already had the Royal Guard monitor the situation, just not expecting the location to be here.

Until he saw the words “Moon Fairy Dwelling.”

Ning Rushen was shocked as he digested this twist-filled plot, then looked around, “Where are Eunuch De and the guards?”

“I didn’t have them follow; only the Royal Guard and I know about this.”

Li Wuting looked at him, “Now, you know too, Ning qing.”

Ning Rushen admired, “A tiger grows wings.”

Li Wuting moved his lips as if to say something but then held back. He walked to the window and pushed it open slightly to look down.

Just as he did, a head squeezed in front of his chest.

Ning Rushen skillfully stuck to the crack of the window, “I’ll take a look too.”

Li Wuting, “…”

When he came up, he stopped trembling.

Outside the window, the street in front of the inn was visible.

The young scholars who had just rushed out of the inn were faintly heard conversing, “It’s just old and creaky, it makes noise with the wind.”

“That scared me… let’s hurry up.”

There was no more movement outside the room, perhaps the person behind it had hidden to avoid trouble.

Li Wuting spoke lightly, “They’ve gone.”

Ning Rushen closed the window and followed, “Hmm, yes.”

…

The two made their way downstairs without encountering anyone.

When they reached the lobby on the first floor, the previously lazy attendant suddenly straightened up. He composed himself and bowed to Li Wuting.

Ning Rushen blinked in surprise, looking at Li Wuting.

Li Wuting eyed the front, “Royal Guard.”

So the “in disrepair” was heard from here.

Ning Rushen exclaimed, “There are actually reliable people in the Royal Guard!”

As soon as he spoke, both paused.

Ning Rushen closed his mouth; silence was golden at this moment.

In this frozen silence, they returned to the carriage.

De Quan, seeing Ning Rushen return, beamed, “Oh~ Lord Ning has returned with His Majesty again?”

Ning Rushen lamented, “If I hadn’t followed His Majesty, I might not have come back at all.”

De Quan was instantly confused.

What happened, did they go to a shady place?

They resumed their seats in the carriage.

As the curtain fell, they continued towards Ning Mansion.

The carriage had moved a short distance when Li Wuting’s voice suddenly broke the silence, “Among those scholars earlier, there may truly be talented individuals. Yet, I chose to let the situation unfold…”

“What does Ning qing think?”

Ning Rushen, who was reaching for another pastry, nearly choked.

Of course, he had been peering through the window crack.

Facing Li Wuting’s gaze, he said, “Talented but without virtue, they would only be scoundrels if they entered the court.”

Li Wuting, “……”

Li Wuting looked at him again, his expression inscrutable.

Ning Rushen straightened his waist under his scrutiny, “What is Your Majesty looking at?”

Li Wuting nonchalantly replied, “Looking at what kind of ‘son’ Ning qing is.”

Ning Rushen: ?

·

The carriage stopped not far from Ning Mansion.

Ning Rushen alighted and encountered Shi Yi coming out, “What are you doing here?”

Shi Yi approached, “Manager Yan didn’t pick you up and was afraid you’d been kidnapped, so he sent me to find you!”

“…”

Silence filled the green bamboo carriage behind him.

Ning Rushen whispered, “Stop talking.”

Your bandit leader is sitting right behind.

Shi Yi, puzzled, “What’s wrong? Hey, that carriage looks familiar…”

Ning Rushen turned him around, “Let’s go back to the mansion, back to the mansion.”

…

Shi Yi’s return to the imperial presence seemed indefinitely delayed.

Ning Rushen, however, had to attend court as usual the next day.

After court, Huo Mian was ready to drag him off to the general’s mansion again. Remembering De Quan’s nearly crumpled eyes, Ning Rushen unusually found his wisdom, “Maybe next time, I’m attending His Majesty today.”

With that, he headed for the Imperial Study.

Upon being announced and entering the Imperial Study, he was greeted by De Quan’s overly flowing gaze.

Ning Rushen paused, “…”

The flow was a bit too much, somewhat cloying.

Li Wuting looked up from behind his desk, “What are you doing here?”

Ning Rushen replied, “I came to serve at Your Majesty’s side.”

Li Wuting tapped on the desk, “Aren’t you going to the general’s mansion to admire the valor of my Da Cheng soldiers?”

“Not today, I’m not accustomed to the local conditions.”

“……”

A few moments passed behind the desk, “Fine, come here and grind ink for me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ning Rushen approached, just as he was about to start, an announcement came from outside, “Your Majesty, Prince Xuan requests an audience.”

Li Wuting’s brow twitched, “Let him in.”

Soon, Li Yingtang entered with a fan, “Your Majesty, the weather is nice today, why not—eh? Lord Ning is also here.”

Ning Rushen, “Prince Xuan.”

Li Wuting looked at him indifferently, “What is it?”

Li Yingtang got back on topic, “The weather is fine, and I’ve prepared a feast at the mansion, I invite Your Majesty to grace it with your presence.”

“Heh, is the royal brother using emotional tactics again to avoid going to his fief?”

“…There’s no such thing.”

Li Wuting silently regarded him.

Li Yingtang sighed eventually, “Fine, I’ve prepared a table. The empress mother isn’t here, and neither are my brothers, just me alone…”

Li Wuting, annoyed, interrupted, “Alright.”

Seeing Li Wuting preparing to leave for Prince Xuan’s mansion, Ning Rushen made to sneak away.

However, Li Yingtang suddenly stopped him, “Oh, Lord Ning. You come too.”

Ning Rushen: ?

He waved his hand, “Thank you, Your Highness, but I’d rather not.”

Li Yingtang, “Come on, Jingyu has been missing you for a long time.”

…What happened to “alone without brothers”?

Ning Rushen glanced at Li Wuting.

Seeing no refusal on his behalf, he reluctantly nodded, “Yes.”

·

Prince Xuan’s mansion was in the east of the city, rebuilt from the former mansion of the Second Prince.

The mansion was grand and backed by lush woods.

Stepping through the gate, the interior boasted carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and verdant alcoves, with magpies and parrots hanging under the eaves, exuding a poetic charm.

Ning Rushen didn’t know why Prince Xuan had included him.

But considering Prince Xuan’s eccentric character, it seemed reasonable.

He followed Li Wuting into a small courtyard adorned with flowering crabapples.

A stone table was set in the courtyard, with Li Jingyu snacking there.

Seeing them, Li Jingyu ran up happily, “Imperial brother!”

Crumbs fell from his hands.

Li Wuting stretched out an arm, flipping the little one toward Li Yingtang. Li Yingtang caught Li Jingyu’s arm, brushing the crumbs back onto his own clothes, “Hey, Jingyu.”

Ning Rushen, “……”

Such profound brotherly love.

Li Jingyu turned his head, “Lord Ning is here too!”

Ning Rushen looked at his cleaned hands and greeted, “Young Highness.”

After exchanging greetings, they sat around the stone table.

Li Wuting seated Li Jingyu beside him, and as Ning Rushen was about to leave a seat for Prince Xuan, the latter swiftly took the seat across from Li Wuting!

“……” Ning Rushen touched the stone stool.

Was the stool too hot?

With only one seat left, he sat down beside Li Wuting.

There was still some time before mealtime.

Li Wuting began to quiz Li Jingyu on his studies.

Ning Rushen was munching on a pastry when a folding fan poked his arm. Turning, he saw Li Yingtang leaning in, whispering, “I heard you were with Huo Mian at the general’s mansion yesterday, then His Majesty called you back to the palace?”

…Who’s leaking these details everywhere!

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Li Yingtang’s curiosity was ignited, “What did His Majesty call you back for?”

Manipulation? Bondage? Punishment??

Ning Rushen, “He called me back to collect junk.”

Li Yingtang was stunned, “…What?”

The two, each with their own mental images, chatted incomprehensibly for a while, until Li Wuting finished questioning Li Jingyu about his studies.

“Go ahead, Jingyu.”

Li Jingyu hopped off the stone stool.

Li Wuting looked toward Ning Rushen, “What are you talking about?”

Ning Rushen, tasting Prince Xuan’s reaction, “Things that Prince Xuan wouldn’t understand.”

Li Wuting’s brow furrowed slightly, “That covers a wide range.”

“……”

Li Yingtang: ??

Li Wuting, “If there’s something, talk to me.”

Li Yingtang no longer pursued, “Oh, okay.”

Ning Rushen stood up, “I’ll take the young highness for a walk elsewhere.”

“Alright, don’t go too far.”

“Yes.”

…

As Li Wuting instructed them not to stray too far, Ning Rushen took Li Jingyu to the adjacent courtyard.

This courtyard was also arranged with great taste.

Li Jingyu, familiar with the place, pulled Ning Rushen around, explaining, “There used to be a big peach tree here. Second Imperial Brother broke it climbing, and then it was gone.”

Ning Rushen was astonished, “Such a big tree can be broken?”

Li Jingyu, “No, it was Second Imperial Brother’s leg that broke, so Imperial Brother had the peach tree moved to the palace.”

“……” Ning Rushen didn’t know what to say, “Wow.”

Li Jingyu led him around again, then they circled to the side of the courtyard wall.

The wall was carved with many hollowed-out designs, some shaped like peach blossoms. The gaps were large, allowing one to see through to the neighboring woods, offering a distinct charm.

As Ning Rushen admired the courtyard wall, he suddenly saw Li Jingyu dash over, skillfully stuff himself into one of the openings, his torso hanging from the hole.

“……”

The maids were horrified, “Young Highness!”

Li Jingyu waved, “It’s okay, I used to hang here often.” After saying this, he looked expectantly at Ning Rushen, “Can Lord Ning do it?”

Ning Rushen carefully assessed, “I can’t do that, but I can stick my head in.”

He then found a taller gap and stuffed his head through.

“……”

The two stuck in the hollowed-out wall, facing each other.

Li Jingyu spoke first, “Lord Ning, I think it’s a bit cramped.”

Ning Rushen, “I feel the same, Your Highness.”

They looked at each other for a few seconds, then both tried to move.

“…Ah, I’m stuck.”

The pupils of the maids dilated in shock.

·

In the crabapple-filled courtyard.

Li Wuting and Li Yingtang sat by the table, spring light scattering pink petals around, creating a picturesque scene.

“Your Majesty, there’s no rush to go to the fief, I think…”

“There’s no need to talk about the fief anymore.” Li Wuting sipped his tea, eyes lowered, “The situation in the capital is not simple, staying here does you no good.”

Li Yingtang sighed twice in frustration, helpless. He could only concede, “Then, I’ll depart after the imperial examinations.”

Li Wuting considered for a moment and tentatively agreed.

Speaking of the imperial examinations, Li Yingtang mentioned, “By the way, I heard Your Majesty appointed Lord Ning as the examination officer for the meeting exams?”

“Yes, what about it?”

“Isn’t Lord Ning’s head injured, is that okay?”

Clack, the tea cup was set down.

Li Wuting recalled something, seemingly tugging at his lip, “He just doesn’t remember things… his mind is fine.”

As they were speaking, a maid ran over in a panic, “This servant greets Your Majesty, Prince Xuan!”

Li Wuting, “What’s the panic?”

“Your Majesty, it’s terrible! Prince Jing and Lord Ning are…”

Li Wuting’s brows furrowed, and along with Li Yingtang, he rose to his feet.

…

When the two arrived in the courtyard next to the one they were in, led by the maid, they saw the two figures neatly stuck in the carved window, still casually chatting.

“Young Highness, when you said ‘used to hang here often,’ how long ago was that?”

“About when I was four or five.”

“That means you’ve grown since then, Your Highness.”

Li Wuting, “……”

Li Yingtang, “……”

Li Wuting’s vein throbbed, he walked around to the opposite side of the wall.

On the hollowed-out wall, Ning Rushen and Li Jingyu were talking, waiting for someone to help them out, when suddenly the light dimmed—

Ning Rushen looked up, straight into Li Wuting’s stern, shadowed face.

“……” Gulp.

In the slightly suffocating silence.

Li Jingyu stretched out a hand, “Imperial brother, help.”

Ning Rushen squeaked, “Your Majesty, help.”