This Official Is So Weak
This Official Is So Weak | Chapter 30

Ning Rushen stared blankly at the cold, handsome face in front of him.

The room froze for a moment, and then a wave of people dropped to their knees with a crash, exclaiming, “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

Li Wuting’s gaze swept over the flushed and bare-chested Northland men in the room. He let out a quiet “Hm,” before his gaze returned to the figure in front of him. It was only when Ning Rushen turned his head that Li Wuting noticed the slightly open collar, revealing a faintly flushed collarbone beneath.

A vein twitched on his forehead as he commanded, “Cover yourself.”

Ning Rushen felt his fingers twitch beside him. Trembling, he hurriedly tried to tug at the thin veil tangled around his body, trying to cover himself up in a dizzy haze.

He gave it a couple of pulls, only to end up loosening his clothing even more.

In the midst of his clumsy fumbling, he suddenly heard a voice in front of him, “Enough.”

Li Wuting rubbed his brow and said, “Fix it in the carriage.”

As Ning Rushen leaned forward, a duster jabbed him back in the chest. “Ow…!” he exclaimed.

With a calm expression, De Quan just happened to stand between them, subtly blocking him from Li Wuting’s sight.

In the brief moment he was blocked, Ning Rushen had already fallen in behind Li Wuting as they walked out the door. As the curtain fell, those inside, including Huo Mian, could only catch a glimpse of him stumbling, only to be steadied by a large hand.

Ning Rushen followed Li Wuting all the way up to the carriage, where De Quan and Yuan Liu stayed outside.

Tripping over the veil as he clambered onto the seat, he heard the emperor, seemingly unable to suppress his irritation, exclaim, “What kind of ridiculous, nonsensical antics are these? As a court official, dressing like this is completely improper!”

Sitting across from Li Wuting, Ning Rushen looked at his stern face and carefully explained, “This was accidentally pulled down; I hadn’t managed to remove it yet.”

“Oh? And how did you accidentally manage that?”

“Grabbed it as a lifeline when I was about to fall.”

The emperor’s gaze lingered on his face for a few breaths.

Then Li Wuting’s expression softened slightly, his voice low as he said, “Remove your so-called lifeline.”

“Yes.” Ning Rushen, already uncomfortable with the veil, lowered his head and started to untangle it as he had been instructed.

The faintly red gauze trailed down his pale neck, wrapped over his shoulders and arms, and was even tucked into a silken sash. As he pulled on it, his loosened collar revealed glimpses of fair, pink-tinged skin and snowy inner clothes.

In the enclosed, shadowy carriage, everything seemed hazy and indistinct.

As Ning Rushen, in a daze, struggled with the veil, his wrist was suddenly caught in a large hand.

The rough, warm fingertips brushed against the soft skin of his wrist.

A tingle shot up his fingers as he looked up. “Your Majesty?”

Li Wuting sat across from him, paused for a moment, then brushed his hand aside, saying, “Come closer.”

Confused, Ning Rushen shuffled over.

A hand reached out, deftly hooking the delicate veil.

Li Wuting lowered his eyes, carefully avoiding looking at the open collar, as he methodically and neatly untangled the veil.

The silk slipped softly against the fabric with a quiet rustling.

Ning Rushen felt as if he were being peeled like a bamboo shoot, layer by layer, revealing the tender core underneath.

A wave of heat washed over him, making him shiver slightly.

A cold, low voice asked, “Are you cold?”

Ning Rushen’s lashes fluttered. “Hot.”

“…” The emperor didn’t respond.

After a moment, Li Wuting finally finished removing the veil, tossing it aside. With a rare show of benevolence, he pulled Ning Rushen’s collar together and tucked the loose ends into his belt.

After tidying him up, he looked at Ning Rushen, who was still sitting there submissively, and couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. “Do you even realize what you’re doing right now?”

Ning Rushen blinked. “Yes, Your Majesty is….”

What was he doing again? After a moment of thought, he said, “Unraveling mysteries?”

Li Wuting: “…”

“Alright, no more talking,” Li Wuting said, turning to the outside and ordering, “Back to the mansion.”

·

The carriage started moving slowly.

In the gently swaying carriage, there was a moment of silence.

The heat in Ning Rushen’s body dissipated a little, and he finally started to come back to his senses. “Your Majesty, why did you come?”

Li Wuting gave him a light glance. “I came to deliver some provisions to Lord Ning. Never expected Lord Ning to be so well-fed elsewhere.”

Ning Rushen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “What provisions?”

Li Wuting tapped his fingers on the small table in front of them, indicating a food box.

Ning Rushen scooted over and opened it, revealing a box of exquisite, sweet pastries, all of his favorites. His throat made an audible gulp. “I… I didn’t eat any provisions, I just went drinking.”

Li Wuting shot him a cold glare. “With your constitution, you don’t know your limits? Are you looking to exhaust yourself and end up bedridden for another ten days?”

Hearing this, Ning Rushen’s face showed a sincere longing.

Li Wuting: “…”

A vein throbbed in his brow as he decided against arguing with a drunk. “Forget it, just eat your pastries.”

Ning Rushen immediately reached out.

Having just come out of the frivolous Huagui Pavilion, his hands had touched various gaming pieces and utensils.

Li Wuting swatted away his dirty hands, saying, “Go wash—” but paused halfway, as he suddenly felt a tickle in his palm.

He glanced at Ning Rushen, then at the pastry box, and after a few moments of internal struggle between his gentlemanly restraint and a hint of indulgence, he picked up a piece himself. Li Wuting, hovering between twenty years of gentlemanly decorum and the impulse to feed a kitten, made his choice.

“Come here.”

His long, jade-like fingers held a piece of pastry, delicate as jade.

No matter which way you looked at it, it was a sight to behold.

With his mind empty, Ning Rushen leaned over and began nibbling the pastry directly from Li Wuting’s hand, taking small, careful bites.

Li Wuting’s gaze softened.

Ning Rushen’s long lashes drooped over his eyes, his fair cheeks puffed up as he ate, immersed in enjoyment.

The irritation that had been smoldering in Li Wuting’s heart was soothed a bit.

Just as Ning Rushen’s lips were about to brush against his fingertips, Li Wuting, maintaining the final boundary of decorum, withdrew his hand.

Not long after, the carriage arrived at the Ning mansion.

The two of them got off.

As De Quan lifted the curtain, he saw Ning Rushen’s cheeks flushed, his gaze soft and glistening with satisfaction, while the emperor beside him looked his usual self, save for a bit of pastry crumb on his fingertips.

Before he could get a closer look, he heard the order, “Take the food box.”

Then Li Wuting extended his arm and guided Ning Rushen inside the mansion.

With practiced ease, he escorted Ning Rushen all the way to the main room, where he finally released him, letting him drop onto the bed.

“Ugh…” Dizzied, Ning Rushen rubbed his forehead against the blanket, then propped himself up.

Xing Lan, who rushed in upon hearing the noise, was shocked at the sight!

After quickly bowing to Li Wuting, she turned to fetch hot water, muttering under her breath, “Master, how did you end up in such a state, such a state…!”

Ning Rushen: “…”

As he watched Xing Lan dart away, his gaze lifted to the figure before him.

Li Wuting stood by his bed, tall and backlit.

Ning Rushen instinctively clutched his belt, bewildered. “Your Majesty, you’re… not leaving?”

Li Wuting chuckled coolly. “Used and discarded?”

“…” Ning Rushen’s mind swirled, thinking that phrase sounded oddly familiar.

Soon, Xing Lan returned with the hot water.

Li Wuting, still standing by, watched with arms folded.

A washcloth floated in the basin, and Ning Rushen reached in to rinse his hands and, not bothering with the cloth, rubbed his face with his wet hands.

Xing Lan was horrified. “Master, use the cloth!”

Li Wuting: “…”

After a bit of a struggle, Ning Rushen finally cleaned his face and hands.

With his mind clearing a bit, he realized he had been quite neglectful in front of the distinguished emperor.

He immediately straightened up. “Your Majesty.”

Li Wuting let out a cold laugh. “Aware of your offense?”

“I was wrong.”

“That’s it?”

“…” Ning Rushen thought for a moment, then pulled at the emperor’s sleeve in his usual way of apologizing, “I was wrong.”

Li Wuting: “…”

After a moment, he let out a long breath. “Fine, I’ll remember this. Next time you slip up, all your offenses will be punished together.”

Ning Rushen nodded eagerly.

Yes, yes, next time’s problem can wait until next time.

Seeing him like this, Li Wuting suppressed the urge to punish him, then turned and left.

Outside the courtyard, De Quan was waiting respectfully.

Seeing the emperor emerge with his robes as immaculate as before, he couldn’t help but sneak a glance, then was called to attention:

“Back to the palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The Ning mansion staff quickly bowed to send him off.

As the carriage started moving back to the palace, Li Wuting lifted the curtain and saw that familiar red veil still lying on the seat, its bold color catching the eye, tinged with a faint, sweet aroma of spilt wine, mildly intoxicating.

De Quan tentatively asked, “Your Majesty, this?”

Li Wuting looked away, sitting to one side. “Put it aside.”

Since he hadn’t ordered it thrown away, De Quan quickly collected it.

Upon reaching the palace, De Quan folded up the red veil and tucked it behind the seat cushion before getting off, feeling rather pleased with his discretion.

·

After Li Wuting left, Ning Rushen took a bath and immediately fell asleep.

He woke up the next morning with a headache that felt like his skull was splitting.

With his head throbbing, he propped himself up and rubbed his temples, wondering: Was it an illusion? Instead of a granny, he’d seen a living King Yama…

His thoughts blurred when Yuan Liu walked in. “Master!”

Ning Rushen, holding on to a sliver of hope, asked, “How did I get home yesterday?”

Yuan Liu replied, “Master, His Majesty dragged you back.”

“…”

That word “dragged” was rather vivid.

With memories flooding back, Ning Rushen finally pieced together fragmented scenes in his mind—the hand pulling away the veil, the food he didn’t eat himself, the darkened bed, and that ominous promise, “Next time, we’ll settle it all…”

Oh no… his head was throbbing again.

“Master?” Yuan Liu leaned in, “Are you going to court today?”

Ning Rushen took a deep breath. “Yes.”

The morning court session was unexpectedly mild.

Mostly routine reports and preparations for the upcoming Duanyang Festival.

Ning Rushen took the time during court to regain his composure.

Afterward, he rubbed his now throbbing head again and headed for the Imperial Study.

Feeling a bit anxious, he wasn’t sure if Li Wuting would hold yesterday’s events against him. When he cautiously entered, he found Li Wuting seated behind his desk, his posture steady and straight.

Ning Rushen greeted, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The man behind the desk looked up, “Come and grind the ink.”

Li Wuting resumed his work without a hint of anything out of the ordinary, as if nothing had happened.

Relieved, Ning Rushen thought: Looks like that’s over.

He busied himself grinding ink.

Soon, Minister Guan from the Ministry of Rites came by to report on the preparations for the Duanyang Festival banquet and public festivities:

“…Everything is being arranged as per usual. Also, for the palace banquet, should the Empress Dowager and Prince Xuan be invited?”

“I’ll have someone ask the Empress Dowager.”

Li Wuting paused, a bit weary, “Prince Xuan is already on his way back.”

Minister Guan bowed, “Understood, Your Majesty.”

As the minister left, Ning Rushen mused, “Prince Xuan is returning to the capital?”

“Yes.” Li Wuting hesitated, then asked, “Has he contacted you?”

Ning Rushen thought of a rather chubby pigeon and said regretfully, “Not yet roasted.”

“…”

Li Wuting, somehow making sense of his nonsensical answer, waved him off:

“Enough, there’s nothing else today. You may leave.”

Ning Rushen nodded and left, but just as he was about to step out, he was called back. “Lord Ning.”

He turned back, “Yes?”

Li Wuting cast him a brief glance, asking, “When you’re done with court, you’re not going out partying again, are you?”

“…” Ning Rushen, learning his lesson, replied, “I’ll head straight home and rest.”

The emperor waved him off, “Go on then.”

·

As he was about to leave through the palace gates, Ning Rushen spotted Huo Mian waiting in the distance.

When he saw Ning, the tall, sturdy figure brightened and waved him over.

Ning Rushen ambled over, “General Huo?”

What now, celebrating his eightieth birthday?

Huo Mian scrutinized him from head to toe, confirming he was still in one piece. “Did you get punished last night?”

Ning Rushen shook his head, “His Majesty said he’d remember it for later and settle all my wrongs together.”

Huo Mian let out a breath. “Good, suspended sentence.”

“…”

“By the way, why did His Majesty show up? Was there an emergency?”

Skipping over Huo’s grim blessing, Ning Rushen thought for a moment, “I don’t think so. I can’t really remember, except that I ate quite a bit of dessert.”

Huo Mian: …?

After a long silence, Huo replied, “I don’t really get it.”

Ning Rushen nodded, “Neither do I.”

Being dragged back to the palace in such undignified fashion, then given pastries and sent back home—was that really all?

Unable to make sense of it, he waved Huo off and went on his way.

Back home, Ning Rushen kept a low profile for a few days.

Five days later, it was the day for Prince Xuan’s return to the capital.

He figured it had nothing to do with him and, after morning court, was about to ask if his presence was needed, when he encountered Li Wuting and Li Jingyu head-on.

From ten paces away, Li Wuting lifted his gaze.

Ning Rushen bowed. “Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Your Highness.”

Li Jingyu immediately ran over, “Lord Ning, we’re going to meet my Second Brother. Come with us!”

“?” Ning Rushen replied, “No need for me… is His Majesty going personally?”

Li Wuting sneered, “I’m going to check if he brought back anything… inappropriate.” If he did, he’d send him right back.

Ning Rushen: ???

Before he could ask what “inappropriate” meant, a small tug on his sleeve made him look down. Li Jingyu was pulling him closer to whisper, “It was Second Brother who told me to bring you.”

Ning Rushen, puzzled, asked, “Why?”

Li Jingyu replied, “To share secrets from… ugh!”

A large hand suddenly reached over and pulled him away.

Li Wuting cast a look at Ning Rushen, “With him talking like this, aren’t you startled?”

Ning Rushen, “What?”

He didn’t have time to react before Li Wuting, holding the squirming Li Jingyu, called to him:

“Come along.”

A familiar carriage waited outside the palace gates.

The three of them boarded, with De Quan attending on the side.

As the carriage rumbled towards the South City Gate, Ning Rushen, glancing around the familiar decor, felt memories resurface:

Like how Li Wuting had pulled that veil off of him.

And how that hand had graciously pulled his collar together.

Ning Rushen glanced at Li Wuting, whose side profile looked cool and composed. Thinking of his gentlemanly restraint and caring character, Ning Rushen relaxed.

He turned to entertain Li Jingyu.

“Young Highness, don’t stuff all the sweets in your mouth.”

“Aww.” Little Lord Ning, can’t I stuff them in?

“Of course I can. Aah—”

Li Wuting, “…”

The carriage rolled on for a while, and Ning Rushen and Li Jingyu finished half a box of sweets, preparing to wipe their hands.

Just as Ning Rushen reached for a cloth, Li Jingyu suddenly turned, “Hm? There’s a cloth here too.”

Ning Rushen looked over, only to see Li Jingyu pulling hard on something… until a long, familiar strip of bright red gauze came out from between the seat cushions—its striking color all too familiar.

The carriage fell silent.

Li Wuting, “…”

Ning Rushen’s eyes widened as he shot a glance at the emperor.

Li Jingyu also turned, asking innocently, “Brother, what’s this?”

In the corner, De Quan shrank down, hiding his face.

Li Wuting remained silent for a long moment before saying gently to Li Jingyu, “It’s a ward against evil, for your Second Brother’s return.”

Eexeee[Translator]

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