Li Wuting couldn’t bear to watch any longer and gave a cold shout, “What is this improper behavior!”

The two people on the wall were so startled they tumbled off with a crash, stacking on top of each other like falling bricks: “Ouch!”

Li Wuting approached with a serious face, and Ning Rushen followed with a look that was hard to describe.

As they neared, the lantern in De Quan’s hand illuminated the courtyard wall.

Li Yingtang and Geng Yan, who had ended up in a pile on the ground, looked up in shock: “Your… Your Majesty?”

Recovering from his initial fright, Li Yingtang let his gaze drift between Li Wuting and Ning Rushen, his eyes growing brighter with excitement.

“Lu Wu,” Li Wuting interrupted in a deep voice.

Almost instantly, a Royal Guard emerged from behind and lifted the “esteemed” Prince Xuan in one swift motion.

Prince Xuan yelped, “Ah! Ow!”

Ning Rushen couldn’t help but think, Ah, truly remarkable. Charging in like a bull till the end.

Li Wuting looked down at the restrained Prince Xuan. “What are you doing here? Did the Ning residence lose its main entrance?”

Li Yingtang blinked, “…I was just passing by. I saw Assistant Minister Geng climbing the wall, so I thought this was the normal way to get in.”

Geng Yan turned, utterly betrayed!

Li Wuting’s cold gaze lingered on Geng Yan, who, feeling the pressure, began to sweat bullets. But then, Li Wuting nonchalantly added, “That’s his hobby.”

Geng Yan: “???”

Ning Rushen: “…”

He awkwardly turned his head aside, mentally whispering, Nothing to see here.

Seeing Prince Xuan dragged off to the side by the Royal Guard, Li Wuting looked like he was ready to deal with this “unfortunate incident.” So, Ning Rushen considerately offered, “Your Majesty, I can make my own way back from here.”

Li Wuting seemed to smirk slightly, “Oh? So, Ning Qing has already found a replacement…” Halfway through his sentence, Prince Xuan, who was still being held, craned his head over.

Li Wuting paused, then added, “Fine, off you go.”

Ning Rushen, “?”

Li Wuting’s face returned to its usual calm expression as he glanced at him, “Why are you still standing there gawking?”

Ning Rushen responded, “I’m just here to see Your Majesty off.”

“…”

A large hand reached out, pressing down on his head.

A rough palm brushed his forehead.

A few stray strands of hair fell over his brows, and Ning Rushen’s eyes closed as a ticklish sensation made his shoulders shiver, “Mm.”

A soft voice dropped near him, “No need to see me off that far.”

The hand quickly left his forehead, and when Ning Rushen opened his eyes, he saw Li Wuting withdrawing his hand, glancing briefly toward Geng Yan before departing with Prince Xuan.

As the group disappeared into the distance, only two people remained in the alley.

Ning Rushen looked at Geng Yan with a sigh, “Was it worth it?”

He had already advised him not to climb his wall again.

Geng Yan’s lips trembled with anger, “I wasn’t planning on climbing the wall! I only went up there because I saw Prince Xuan climbing and thought I’d give him a hand!”

“…”

A kind-hearted helper.

Ning Rushen, genuinely, “You deserve the good fortune.”

Geng Yan: “.”

He realized he misspoke and quickly changed the subject, “Huh, are you and His Majesty really out on a night market stroll?”

What did he mean by “night market stroll” with the emperor?

Ning Rushen frowned, “We were working. Checking in on the public, looking at ways to improve the marketplace.”

“But you smell like…” Geng Yan leaned in for a sniff: haw jelly, hawthorn, sweet osmanthus cake. He said, “…a sweet fragrance.”

Ning Rushen stepped back, eyeing him suspiciously, “Are you some kind of pervert?”

Geng Yan: “…”

·

The Dragon Boat Festival holiday lasted three days.

Yet, on the very next day, Ning Rushen was summoned to the palace again.

This time, it wasn’t the Imperial Study, but the Wenhua Hall.

Following an attendant into the hall, Ning Rushen noticed a large wooden table set up in the center, with Li Wuting seated at the head.

Prince Xuan was slumped over nearby, looking utterly defeated.

Like he’d lost his soul.

Ning Rushen gave a polite greeting, unable to resist glancing over, “What’s happened to His Highness?”

Did he get flogged, toes crushed, tortured?

Li Wuting glanced at him, “Tomorrow, he’s returning to Jiangnan.”

Ning Rushen, “…” Oh, that explained it.

He took a seat beside Li Wuting, “Your Majesty, what matter did you summon me for?”

Li Wuting tapped his fingers lightly on the table, “There are many prominent families in Jiangnan. Why don’t you explain your recruitment and bidding theory to Prince Xuan, so he’ll have some direction in managing those families upon returning to Jiangnan—”

“To prevent him from wandering around aimlessly.”

Prince Xuan, “…”

So they were setting a “small goal.”

Ning Rushen eagerly rolled up his sleeves, getting into the swing of things, “Your Highness, do you know what recruitment, bidding, and competitive bidding mean?”

Prince Xuan, “?”

As he elaborated, Li Yingtang’s sullen demeanor gradually transformed as his interest piqued, and he focused intently. “But if… if so many prominent families bid, wouldn’t it be better to let them all join?”

Ning Rushen shook his head, “This is a rare opportunity. Not just anyone can have it.”

Li Wuting gave him a look, “…”

Ning Rushen continued, “Naturally, it should be earned through individual merit.”

Counting on his fingers, he said, “From price competition to quality to strategic planning, everything should be intensified.”

Prince Xuan was wide-eyed, “Oh, oh.”

Although he wasn’t entirely sure what “intensify” meant, he already felt a sense of urgency and pressure.

After explaining it all, Ning Rushen felt parched.

He glanced around, intending to find some tea to soothe his throat when he heard Li Wuting call out:

“De Quan.”

Understanding the cue, De Quan soon returned with a bowl of haw jelly. “Master Ning.”

Oh, how could he…

Happily, Ning Rushen accepted the bowl and took a contented slurp.

Across from him, Li Yingtang glanced at Ning Rushen’s haw jelly, then at his own tea. “Your servant…”

Li Wuting responded coolly, “Did you tire yourself out speaking? What do you need haw jelly for?”

Li Yingtang: .

His gaze lingered longingly on Ning Rushen’s bowl of jelly. Sensing it, Ning Rushen defensively slurped it down faster: slurp slurp…

He drank so fast that syrup spilled down his lips.

Li Wuting’s gaze followed the syrup as it traced a line along Ning Rushen’s jaw, then rolled down his pale, slender neck, disappearing into the red collar of his robe.

Li Wuting’s lips twitched but stopped himself.

The itch from when he’d fed the kitten in the carriage came back. With one quick motion, Li Wuting used a handkerchief to intercept the syrup drop and wipe it away—

Ning Rushen had just put down the bowl, intending to wipe the syrup off himself.

Suddenly, a smooth, soft sensation glided over his neck.

“Mm…!” He shuddered, spilling the rest of his haw jelly.

The syrup, mixed with crushed ice and raisins, dripped onto his collar, soaking the deep red fabric and even dotting his neck with gleaming droplets, making his Adam’s apple bob.

He looked up blankly at Li Wuting, “…Your Majesty?”

Li Wuting’s hand holding the handkerchief froze in mid-air.

Li Wuting pulled his hand back, feigning nonchalance, “How did you spill the jelly?”

Ning Rushen’s lips quivered: You tell me…

The two exchanged a stare, while Prince Xuan observed from the sidelines, eyes sparkling:

Ah, all that spilled… all that spilled is pure sugar!

Ning Rushen didn’t notice the sparkle in the other’s eyes as he looked down at the syrup-stained front of his robe. “Your Majesty, I think—”

“Got it.” Li Wuting summoned an attendant, instructing, “Take him to change his clothes.”

Ning Rushen swallowed his “another bowl, please.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

·

The side hall of Wenhua Hall served as a resting chamber.

Following a young attendant inside, Ning Rushen saw a low couch, with a faint incense drifting from a burner, filling the room with a soft, indescribable scent.

The attendant brought in a change of clothes.

Ning Rushen declined his help, “You can wait outside. I’ll come out once I’m dressed.”

The young attendant bowed and left.

With the door shut, the room grew dimmer, and the fragrance became more potent.

Ning Rushen took a sniff: Smells quite nice.

He slipped off his outer and inner robes and began wiping off the syrup from his chest, his shoulders, and his neck. But suddenly, he felt dizzy, a nausea bubbling up.

Pressing his chest, Ning Rushen frowned:

What’s this? Poisoned incense?

It couldn’t be. This was a hall where Li Wuting occasionally rested; the incense shouldn’t be dangerous.

Maybe he’d just had too much haw jelly and given himself brain freeze.

Thinking as much, Ning Rushen sped up wiping off the syrup.

Yet the dizzy spells kept hitting him in waves.

Just as he finished cleaning up, he slumped onto the low couch, stifling a call for help, unwilling to call the attendant since he was still undressed. He quickly pulled on his inner robe, covering himself in a loose layer.

With the clothes in place, Ning Rushen sank weakly onto the couch, pale-faced, calling out faintly,

“Someone…”

No one heard his barely audible whisper from beyond the hall.

He feebly scratched at the edge of the couch: Help.

“Mm…” With his forehead pressed to the couch, he let out a soft, distressed moan, eyelashes damp, his red outer robe sliding off his shoulder, pooling beside him.

…

Back in Wenhua Hall.

Li Wuting asked, “Did you understand everything he just explained?”

Li Yingtang nodded vigorously, “Understood, completely understood! For some reason, I understood every word Master Ning said.”

“…”

Li Wuting let out a mirthless laugh, “Heh.” Understood a little too deeply.

Li Yingtang grinned shamelessly, rubbing his hands.

After waiting a while, he glanced toward the side hall, hopeful. “Master Ning’s still not dressed?”

Upon hearing this, Li Wuting’s eyelashes lowered slightly.

He recalled how efficiently Ning Rushen had dressed that time behind the folding screen in his quarters.

Falling silent, Li Wuting got up and headed toward the side hall.

Li Yingtang: Oh oh oh, what’s happening?

…

The side hall was just behind Wenhua Hall.

Li Wuting strode over in a few quick steps, finding the young attendant standing respectfully at the door, the hall door shut.

“What’s going on?”

The young attendant quickly bowed, “Your Majesty, Master Ning said he didn’t need assistance, so he asked me to wait outside, saying he’d come out on his own.”

Li Wuting frowned and walked up to the door, calling out, “Ning Qing.”

There was no response from inside.

He was about to knock when he heard a faint, kitten-like whimper, “Mm…”

His fingers tightened, and with a bang, he pushed open the door!

Stepping inside, a faint fragrance greeted him. The curtain near a side pillar lifted with the wind from the door, revealing a slumped figure near the couch.

Ning Rushen lay slouched against the couch, one hand limp on the cushion.

His dark hair cascaded down his back, his pale inner robe slipping off his shoulder, his red robe pooled around his waist.

His partially exposed face was pale, lashes trembling softly.

Li Wuting’s breath caught.

Realizing something, he immediately snuffed out the incense with one hand while lifting the limp figure with the other, calling out urgently, “Someone!”