Ning Rushen licked his lips. How should he respond…

Seeing that Li Wuting was still standing there without moving, Ning Rushen took a small step to the side and softly invited, “Sit down quickly.” Before it gets cold.

It was only then that Yan Min and Xing Lan recognized De Quan, and they were immediately shocked, falling to their knees in fear. “Y-Your Majesty!”

Xing Lan was the most terrified, her pupils trembling as she mumbled the phrase “Lord Geng and the dog, Lord Geng and the dog…” over and over again, as if in a daze.

Ning Rushen glanced at her, “…” Poor girl.

Luckily, Li Wuting didn’t seem to want to make things difficult for them. He simply said, “Rise,” and then stopped in front of Ning Rushen.

Looking at the person in front of him, Ning Rushen’s cheeks were flushed red from the food, even his lips were glistening and bright, matching the small red mole on his earlobe. In this cold and somber courtyard, he stood out brightly, as if vibrant with life.

There was a certain striking liveliness to him that Li Wuting didn’t recall ever seeing before.

Ning Rushen met the silent gaze, slightly nervous, and pressed his lips together.

He quickly licked his upper lip. Hmm… no food stuck there.

Before he could fully retract his tongue, the person in front of him moved. Instinctively, Ning Rushen leaned back, his lower back pressing against the cold, hard edge of the table.

But Li Wuting merely brushed past him, lifted his robe, and sat down.

In the smoky dusk, Li Wuting wore a deep green casual robe, with dark silk patterns lining the edges. He sat there with an air of understated elegance and nobility.

Only when he raised his eyes did a hint of sharpness reveal itself, like a gentleman concealing his blade.

Then came the calm voice, “Everyone, sit.”

Ning Rushen exhaled slowly and sat down alongside Geng Yan, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Geng Yan had been trying to minimize his presence since they arrived, and even after sitting down, he was silent. Ning Rushen couldn’t rely on him to break the ice, so he had to do it himself.

“Your Majesty, why did you come so suddenly? No one even notified me.”

Li Wuting smirked slightly, “Don’t blame them. Everyone’s busy.”

Ning Rushen remembered the servants busy hanging white cloth: …

After saying that, he casually motioned for Yan Min to guard outside, and sent the still-frightened Xing Lan away. 

“Go to the kitchen and get His Majesty a bowl of soup.”

Li Wuting frowned, “No need—”

But Xing Lan had already dashed off like a rabbit.

“…”

The soup was served up soon after.

It was the broth from the hotpot, thick and milky white, with tender, flavorful pieces of meat floating in it.

Ning Rushen pushed the bowl toward Li Wuting: Go on, eat it, and then you won’t have grounds to scold me anymore.

Li Wuting glanced at it but didn’t touch it. As the emperor, he couldn’t be careless about what he consumed.

Casually, he asked, “What kind of soup is this?”

Ning Rushen replied, “It’s a broth made from ten pounds of bones.”

Li Wuting gave a half-smile, “Oh. If I drink another sip, will Ning Qing lose a couple of ribs?”

Ning Rushen, “…”

What was this? Why had Li Wuting been speaking so sarcastically since earlier? Had he offended him somehow?

He touched his ribs, “It’s fine. I’ve had two meals and I’m about to grow armor.”

Li Wuting, “…”

De Quan, standing nearby, broke out in a cold sweat, thinking to himself.

Oh dear, Lord Ning, please say less! His Majesty is still upset about those rumors you stirred up, and that’s why he came here tonight!

As Ning Rushen rubbed his ribs under Li Wuting’s silent gaze, De Quan cleared his throat, “Lord Ning, actually—”

“My lord!”

Yan Min’s voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard, cutting De Quan off.

Hm? Actually, what??

In an instant, Yan Min rushed in, “My… uh, no, Your Majesty!”

Li Wuting lowered his eyes, “What is it?”

Yan Min reported, “Lord Meng from the Zhan Family Mansion has sent a visiting card and is waiting at the door!”

Ning Rushen was shocked, Someone’s visiting at this hour?

He just wanted to enjoy a hotpot meal!

For a moment, he couldn’t place the name, “Who’s this?”

Li Wuting glanced at him with an unreadable expression.

After a pause, he moved his lips and finally said, “Meng Kebao, the assistant prefect of the Zhan Family Mansion, a relative by marriage to the Cui family.”

Ning Rushen suddenly understood.

King Yama hasn’t come, but the little demon has arrived.

He glanced at the steaming hotpot on the table and then at the people present, himself, Li Wuting, Geng Yan, and now a Cui family in-law waiting outside.

—Everyone who shouldn’t have gathered here was now present.

He took the card, “I suppose I should meet him?”

Li Wuting gave him a look that brooked no disagreement.

Ning Rushen stood up, lightly brushing the card in his hand, “Alright. It’s decided. You’re up, Pokémon!”

“…My lord,” Yan Min softly corrected, “His name is Meng Kebao.”

·

Ning Rushen used the excuse of being bedridden to buy some time.

De Quan and Yan Min took the opportunity to have the servants clean up the hotpot in the main courtyard.

Geng Yan went to another courtyard to avoid being seen.

Thinking of the Cui family, he stormed off angrily, looking more like a vengeful ghost than anyone else.

Li Wuting withdrew his gaze, “Ning Qing wasn’t exaggerating.”

Indeed, he was wild in his behavior, almost mad.

“I never lie to the emperor.” Ning Rushen shamelessly lied, preparing to lay down in his room and pretend to be ill. 

“Isn’t Your Majesty going to avoid the meeting?”

Li Wuting’s gaze fell on his main room, and he suddenly asked, “Is Ning Qing’s house large enough?”

Ning Rushen felt a warning bell go off in his mind, “What?”

“It looks large enough to me.” Li Wuting didn’t wait for an answer and continued talking to himself. When he finished, he chuckled lightly. “I’ve never personally overheard someone conspiring in secret before. I imagine it’ll be quite interesting.”

Ning Rushen: …

What kind of interest is this?

Li Wuting motioned toward him, “Let’s go, Ning Qing.”

…

The main room had a tall, opaque screen, with only a few hollow patterns in the wooden frame allowing someone behind it to see into the room.

Li Wuting, along with De Quan, moved behind the screen.

Ning Rushen, seeing how thoroughly it blocked the view, felt somewhat relieved. He turned and had Yan Min light a lamp at the bedside and burn some medicinal incense in the room.

Soon, a light white smoke filled the room, mingling with the canopy and curtains, casting the room in a hazy, soft light.

Satisfied, Ning Rushen instructed the servant, “Go bring him in.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Yan Min, still nervous, urged, “My lord, hurry and lie down.”

“Alright, alright, I know.”

Ning Rushen loosened his belt, tossing it onto the couch, and with a fluid motion, reached to pull off his trousers.

Yan Min suddenly remembered that His Majesty was still in the room and hurriedly stopped him, “My lord… my lord, no! Just pull up the covers, no one will see you anyway.” There’s no need to undress!

Ning Rushen was shocked, What are you saying, as if I was going to strip completely!

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning to let anyone see.”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“No time, I’ll commit to the act.” Ning Rushen stopped him, quickly slipping off his pants and tossing them onto the stool, then climbed onto the bed.

His scarlet robe draped loosely over his pale inner clothes.

In the swaying curtains and flickering candlelight, the movement of his body seemed to sway with the shadows.

Yan Min was left utterly speechless.

…

Behind the screen, De Quan buried his head low into his chest.

Thin strands of light filtered through the hollowed-out pattern, but he didn’t dare look anywhere or even glance at His Majesty beside him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the emperor’s hand, the joints clear and motionless. He had no idea if His Majesty…

De Quan’s heart skipped a beat, and he cursed himself, Are you crazy? How dare you try to guess His Majesty’s thoughts?

Who is His Majesty?

Not only is he the ruler of millions, but he is also a gentleman of great self-discipline. Whether he saw anything or not, it would be with a perfectly calm heart.

De Quan quickly collected his thoughts and bowed his head, waiting silently.

·

Ning Rushen had just laid down when the guest arrived.

Half of his face buried in the pillow, he saw a man in his forties being led into the room by a servant. The man wore luxurious clothing, his body dry and thin, like a clothes rack in a tailor’s shop.

As soon as he entered the room, his eyes began darting around, clearly harboring many thoughts.

Ning Rushen coughed twice to catch his attention.

Meng Kebao then focused back on him, a worried look plastered on his face, “Ah, Lord Ning, how are you feeling? I heard that you were punished, and I was so worried that I had to come and see you.”

He didn’t forget to stir the pot with a few words, “Why is it so quiet here? Didn’t your colleagues come?”

Ning Rushen shook his head, “Don’t talk about colleagues; even a dog didn’t come.”

Meng Kebao: …

Behind the screen: …

Meng Kebao forced a smile, “Indeed, adversity reveals true friends.”

Ning Rushen, moved, raised his head, “Yes, only Lord Bao treats me well.”

Meng Kebao almost lost his smile, “My surname is Meng.”

Ning Rushen corrected himself, “Sorry, Lord Meng.”

The pleasantries went back and forth a few times.

Just as Ning Rushen was about to doze off from lying down too long, the person in front of him finally showed his true intentions—

“Is it true that you were trying to plead for Minister Geng and that’s why you upset His Majesty?” Meng Kebao looked at him tentatively, “Lord, do you know any insider information?”

Finally, he’s getting to the point. If he didn’t come to it soon, I would have fallen asleep.

Ning Rushen propped himself up slightly, making a face as if he had something to say but was holding back.

Meng Kebao narrowed his eyes, his tone caring yet significant, “Lord Ning is too straightforward, easily manipulated by others. His Majesty… after all, is still young and impetuous, surely in need of a scarecrow to keep watch.”

Ning Rushen looked visibly stunned.

Meng Kebao, feeling smug, feigned sympathy, “It’s a pity, you were once directly appointed by the late emperor, now a pawn caught between two struggles, your life and honor hanging by the emperor’s words… I truly feel sorry for you.”

Ning Rushen was overwhelmed by the emotions.

This stirring up trouble, this undermining, this empathy, this timely help!

He finally understood Li Wuting’s interest. Listening to these remarks in person was indeed quite intriguing.

Ning Rushen eagerly asked, “Then what do you suggest, Lord… Meng?”

“Well…” Meng Kebao’s eyes shifted, clearly plotting something. He then lowered his voice, “If you’re willing, why not visit my mansion tomorrow?”

He straightened up and pretended to cough, “My mansion happens to have a famous doctor who could check on your health.”

Ning Rushen was moved to tears, “Thank you, Lord Meng!”

…

Having achieved his goal, Meng Kebao left with a swagger.

Yan Min, who was standing by the door, entered and Ning Rushen peeked from the bed, “Is he gone?”

“He’s gone.” Yan Min glanced nervously at the still silent screen, “My lord, you should get dressed…”

Thump! A sudden wail came faintly from outside.

The conversation was interrupted. Ning Rushen: ????

He was puzzled, “Uncle Yan, go see what happened.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Just as Yan Min turned around, a familiar figure swept into the room like a whirlwind, closing the door behind him—

Geng Yan stood panting in front of Ning Rushen’s bed, his clothes slightly disheveled, still excited, “Hey.”

Ning Rushen immediately sensed trouble, “…What’s wrong with you? What was that sound?”

Geng Yan wiped the mud from his hands, “I was lying on the wall in the next courtyard, saw that no-good cur, and couldn’t help myself. When he passed by, I knocked a tile off, probably hit him right on.”

Ning Rushen’s mouth fell open: ……………..

Then he slammed his hand on the bed in anger, “Why are you throwing tiles at people in my house!”

Geng Yan also shouted, “I told you, I couldn’t help it! Just pretend the tile fell on its own!”

Ning Rushen exclaimed, “Can a tile fall by itself!”

“Isn’t it up to you to decide what happens with the tiles on your roof?”

As they were arguing, Meng Kebao’s voice came wailing back towards them, “Ow! Ouch, Lord Ning—”

“Stop talking, let me hide.” Geng Yan dropped a line and darted behind the screen.

Ning Rushen tried to warn him, “Wait…”

His figure disappeared behind the screen.

The next second, a surprised belch rang out, “Burp—”

Ning Rushen: …

He was about to tell him that Li Wuting was behind there, too late now.

But soon, the door was pushed open with a bang.

Meng Kebao entered, his head bleeding, his previous politeness gone, almost furious as he looked over.

“Lord Ning, why did a tile suddenly fall from your wall? It broke my head open, was someone doing this on purpose!”

Ning Rushen looked surprised, then weakly coughed, “How could that be? Cough, cough, cough… My servants are all in the front courtyard; it must have been the tile itself.”

Meng Kebao shrieked, “Can a tile fall by itself!”

“Just the other day, a thief climbed the wall and loosened it.”

“……”

The two stared at each other for a while, the room filled with the scent of the medicinal burner, and Meng Kebao’s head started to feel dizzy from the blood loss.

Ning Rushen still stared at him with a pair of clear bright eyes, continuously asking, “Are you alright?” but showing no intention of calling someone to bandage him up or calling a doctor.

Meng Kebao held back his anger, cursing internally. He really has no sense! Deserves to be manipulated.

“Well, I’ll head back to my mansion then. I’ll wait for you tomorrow.”

After saying that, he turned around and slammed the door shut!

·

After making sure he was gone, Ning Rushen got up and dressed.

Behind the screen, there was a slight movement.

Li Wuting then stepped out, followed by a sheepish De Quan and a tail-tucking Geng Yan.

Ning Rushen, finishing tying his robe, turned around; his scarlet clothes loosely draped over his shoulders, his black hair still tangled in the neckline.

Li Wuting hummed a note, looking away from him.

Geng Yan then knelt to apologize.

“You go first,” Li Wuting glanced over him, paused, then added, “Minister Geng might have to endure a few days of inconvenience.”

Geng Yan was startled but quickly realized and kowtowed in thanks.

Ning Rushen watched Li Wuting’s expression.

Under the warm candlelight, his usually cold and beautiful profile seemed much softer than usual. Judging from his tone, his attitude towards Minister Geng must be fairly good?

Ning Rushen suddenly froze.

Could it be that from the start, Li Wuting never intended to let Minister Geng take the blame…

All those setups in the Imperial Study, was he just leading him on?

Just as he thought this, the person in front of him turned to him, “And you—”

Ning Rushen came back to his senses, responding to Li Wuting with a puzzled “Hm?”

Li Wuting slapped his hand on the desk, his voice deep, “Just now, that way of treating people, totally reckless! Reflect on this for a few days.”

After he finished speaking, he swept his robes and strode out the door.

Ning Rushen hadn’t fully grasped what happened when he saw De Quan giving him a cheeky smile and flicking his orchid finger, “Lord Ning, really reckless~”

After saying that, he also left the room.

Ning Rushen: ???????

After everyone had left, he stood there for a few breaths. Suddenly, his gaze flickered, and in the dim candlelight on the desk, he spotted an object.

He walked over to see a pure white jade ring.

De Quan’s previous gestures suddenly popped into his mind.

Ning Rushen held the jade ring in front of the desk, silent for a long while.

Was Li Wuting’s “reckless” actually a way of saying, “You did a good job with this”…?