Li Yingtang, after regaining his senses, couldn’t help but slap his fan in anger, exclaiming, “How dare that old thief!”

After venting his anger, he paused and realized something, “…You entered the Chancellor’s Mansion?”

“Yes.” Shi Yi didn’t dare admit that he had sneaked in like a thief. He knelt and said, “Please, Your Majesty, punish me!”

Cui Haoyuan had cleaned up thoroughly on the outside, hiding any incriminating evidence within the mansion. Even if something was discovered during a secret search, it would be difficult to present it openly. If nothing was found, and their identity was exposed, it would put Li Wuting in a passive position.

Unless they struck decisively, it wasn’t wise to act recklessly.

Li Yingtang was deep in thought when a voice beside him said, “It’s fine. We’re just one hour ahead of schedule.”

His cold profile, framed by the blooming white pear blossoms behind him, exuded a chilling aura in the warmth of spring, “Royal Guard, listen to my command. Mobilize the Northern Patrol Division—surround the Chancellor’s Mansion.”

Ning Rushen lay slumped against the pile of firewood, his hands still tied behind his back, resembling a salted fish.

The room was so remote that not a sound could be heard. Time became blurry as the light outside the doors and windows gradually dimmed.

Dusk was approaching.

Ning Rushen moved his limbs slightly, beginning to regret his decision.

He had torn his clothes too much, and now they were letting in the cold wind. His body felt as cold as a fish knife.

Why hadn’t Li Wuting arrived to raid the Chancellor’s Mansion yet?

Surely, he wasn’t holding a pre-raid briefing first.

As he continued to wait, a sudden commotion erupted outside. The wind seemed to carry the sounds directly towards the room he was in.

Ning Rushen’s heart skipped a beat, and he looked up.

The next moment, the door was flung open with a loud bang.

A Royal Guard in the Emperor’s bestowed “Flying Fish” robe stood at the door. His sharp eyes paused for a moment when they fell on Ning Rushen, then he gripped his embroidered spring blade tightly and strode over.

“Northern Patrol Division Commander Yin Zhao, greeting Ning Da-ren.”

It was none other than the head of the Royal Guards.

Ning Rushen pushed himself up using the pile of firewood.

Having sat for too long, he felt a bit dizzy when he stood up, and his black hair fell forward, making his pale face look even more ghostly. “Thank you for your trouble, Commander Yin.”

Yin Zhao, feeling a twinge of pity, helped him up.

Ning Rushen caught sight of the thick fabric of Yin Zhao’s Flying Fish robe and gazed at it longingly…

Yin Zhao, “…”

He took off the cloak he had brought and draped it over Ning Rushen, “His Majesty ordered this.”

The cloak shielded him from the damp cold of the spring night.

Ning Rushen huddled inside the cloak, a bit surprised, “Thank His Majesty for me.”

He glanced outside, “Where are the others?”

“They’ve surrounded the Chancellor’s Mansion and are waiting outside.”

Yin Zhao’s tone was icy as he pressed his sharp brows, acting swiftly, “We must act quickly. I will escort you out.”

Ning Rushen nodded, then gestured towards the ropes on his wrists, “Commander Yin, these.”

Yin Zhao swiftly undid the knots.

Ning Rushen added, “Tie my hands in front, and make sure the red marks I’ve made are visible.”

“……”

Yin Zhao hesitated, then cast a complex gaze full of unspoken words towards Ning Rushen before retying the rope, exposing the red marks on his pale wrists.

With a long arm, he scooped up a contented Ning Rushen and swiftly left.

•

Ning Rushen was carried through the Chancellor’s Mansion.

The family members and servants were all too terrified to leave their rooms, while the guards had been called to the front gate. Along the way, they encountered almost no one.

As they neared the mansion’s entrance, Yin Zhao set him down.

The two of them stood behind a column in the courtyard, with Yin Zhao holding Ning Rushen back, saying, “Wait a moment. We’ll go out soon.”

Ning Rushen turned his head, “What, do you have some kind of grand entrance planned for me?”

Yin Zhao, “………”

“Just watch.”

Ning Rushen obediently looked towards the mansion gate.

The dusk weighed heavily on the horizon, and the lights inside and outside the Chancellor’s Mansion shone brightly. The Royal Guards were lined up neatly outside, facing off against the mansion’s guards.

Cui Haoyuan’s voice rang out from the front, “How dare you, imperial hounds, surround this Chancellor’s Mansion! Have you forgotten the late Emperor’s decree? Are you trying to rebel against your ancestors?”

Ning Rushen glanced at Yin Zhao beside him, adding fuel to the fire, “He just called you a dog.”

Yin Zhao shot him a glance but said nothing.

The Royal Guards outside also remained silent, gripping their embroidered spring blades even tighter.

Seeing this, Cui Haoyuan’s fury intensified, “Fine, fine, fine… I’ll wait this out with you. Even if the Imperial Guards arrive today, they won’t set foot inside this mansion!”

As his words fell, a commanding yet cold voice sounded from outside the mansion gate.

“What if I come personally?”

The entire entrance fell into silence.

Behind the column, Ning Rushen’s eyes widened slightly, Li Wuting?

Through the layers of guards, he saw a figure dressed in dark robes emerge from behind the Royal Guards. Even though his expression couldn’t be seen clearly, his imposing presence was unmistakable.

The Emperor had come in person.

Cui Haoyuan froze, “Y-Your Majesty!?”

Li Wuting stood with his hands behind his back at the forefront, “Cui Xiang, your courage is remarkable.”

“Your servant didn’t know Your Majesty had graced us with your presence. I beg your forgiveness. However—” Cui Haoyuan quickly changed his tone, “Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this? The late Emperor’s decree clearly states, except in cases of treason…”

“Cui Xiang has already violated the late Emperor’s decree, so it no longer holds.”

“Your servant has never defied the decree!”

Li Wuting’s gaze was as cold as the stars, “You dare to imprison an imperial minister, personally appointed by the late Emperor. Do you even acknowledge the late Emperor anymore?”

Cui Haoyuan’s eyes widened in bewilderment.

Personally appointed by the late Emperor…an imperial minister…?

…

Ning Rushen, watching this unfold, couldn’t stop himself from eavesdropping, his eyes stinging from the wind, yet he couldn’t bear to blink. As he was absorbed in the drama, a voice beside him said, “Time to go.”

A strong arm grabbed him, and before he knew it, Yin Zhao whisked him away—

The cloak fluttered with a whoosh.

The lights at the mansion entrance illuminated the two figures.

Li Wuting, who had been facing off with Cui Haoyuan, looked up at the commotion.

He saw a figure carried by the wind, face pale as snow, with disheveled black hair.

Although the dark cloak covered most of his body, the torn scarlet robe underneath was still visible as it fluttered, revealing his thin, white wrists, reddened from the rough rope.

Their gazes met in mid-air.

Ning Rushen’s eyes were misty, his eye corners red as if he had suffered great grievances, his expression pitifully striking.

For a moment, Li Wuting was taken aback.

Though he had heard Shi Yi’s report earlier, seeing it in person was far more shocking.

For the first time, a trace of anger crept into his expression.

Murder, theft, torture of imperial officials… Cui Haoyuan, what won’t you do!

Li Wuting’s face turned icy as he roared, “To dare to use private punishment on an imperial official, Cui Xiang, you really think you can do whatever you please!”

“………”

Cui Haoyuan was dumbfounded.

He stared at Ning Rushen, as if trying to figure out if he was seeing things, “No, Your Majesty, this man…Scholar Ning? When did he come to my mansion? Who used private punishment?”

Li Wuting, seeing that Cui Haoyuan still dared to deny it, sneered, “If it wasn’t you, did he do it to himself?”

By now, Ning Rushen had been brought back to Li Wuting’s side.

Hearing this, he lowered his head and adjusted his cloak, shaking it gently.

Cui Haoyuan suddenly realized he’d fallen into a trap!

His eyes filled with helpless rage as he stared at Ning Rushen, as if he was watching someone pull a dirty trick, “You…! What a vicious scheme!”

The only official entrusted with the late Emperor’s decree.

In a few simple words, he had turned the new Emperor into someone defying the late Emperor’s orders.

What a display of loyalty between sovereign and minister! This was the knife that had pried open his defenses. There was no need for further debate. Cui Haoyuan felt a mouthful of blood surging up, pointing a trembling finger at the pair of emperor and minister…

Li Wuting, however, didn’t spare him another glance. He stood tall with his shoulders broad, as if bearing the weight of the darkening sky.

He raised his hand, “Cui Haoyuan, you have defied royal authority and disobeyed imperial orders. Your crimes are equal to treason.”

“Royal Guards, arrest him.”

With a thunderous sound, the Royal Guards charged into the Chancellor’s Mansion.

…

The glow of fire lit up half the sky.

Within the Chancellor’s Mansion, shouts and cries of despair echoed as the Royal Guards showed no mercy, capturing and searching the premises.

Ning Rushen stood behind Li Wuting, wrapped in his cloak.

The bright flames cast a fierce glow on Li Wuting’s stern profile as he silently watched the mansion, a fire seemingly brewing in his eyes.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.”

De Quan, observing the Emperor’s expression, whispered cautiously, “The Cui family… pardon me, the criminal Cui Haoyuan may have been bold enough to commit such atrocious acts, but at least we now have enough evidence to bring him down.”

Li Wuting’s expression remained cold, “Even when cornered, he still tries to deceive me. It’s clear the Cui family never took me seriously!”

“Oh dear, but hasn’t Your Majesty already dealt with him?”

Ning Rushen, listening to their conversation, couldn’t help but glance sideways.

He noticed the cold, intense aura radiating from Li Wuting and couldn’t resist speaking up, “Your Majesty, there’s no one else here. Do you really need to keep up the act?”

You’re truly a master at this…

The tense atmosphere was immediately interrupted.

Li Wuting and De Quan both turned to look at him.

Li Wuting paused, as if he didn’t understand, “What?”

“Your Majesty, I know you understand my painstaking efforts.” Ning Rushen glanced appreciatively at the now-chaotic Chancellor’s Mansion.

Account books were being carried out one by one; lavish gold and jade jewelry lay scattered on the ground; Yin Zhao’s blade had slashed across Cui Haoyuan’s old face, drawing a bloody smile…

After savoring this satisfying scene of justice being served, he leaned closer to Li Wuting, lifting the corner of his cloak to reveal the torn robe underneath.

“It wasn’t for nothing that I ruined my clothes and spent the afternoon in the cold wind.”

Li Wuting looked down at him.

Ning Rushen, meeting his calm gaze, proudly asked for recognition, “Your Majesty, didn’t I handle this well?”

“………”

After a long silence.

Li Wuting’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, “Mm.”

•

The Royal Guards were left to finish up at the Chancellor’s Mansion.

Ning Rushen returned to the palace with the Emperor, supposedly to give a detailed account of everything.

The Emperor went directly to the Imperial Study.

While Li Wuting sat down to handle affairs, Ning Rushen, whose clothes were still drafty, was taken to a side hall to change.

The one who came to serve him was still Xiao Rongzi from last time.

The torn clothes were removed and set aside, and Ning Rushen changed into a white robe of snow-colored cloud satin. As he tied the sash around his waist, the jade thumb ring was placed back into the waistband.

Xiao Rongzi, with his sharp eyes, immediately lowered his head even further when he saw it.

He thought to himself, Ning Da-ren isn’t out of favor with the Emperor at all—he’s clearly in high favor!

After Ning Rushen finished changing and draped his cloak over his shoulders, he turned to see Xiao Rongzi practically bowing into his knees. 

“Eunuch Rong, are you picking something up?”

Xiao Rongzi’s head shook like a rattle, “No, no… Ning Da-ren, please.”

What’s going on? Ning Rushen blinked, then headed to the Imperial Study.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Li Wuting sat behind his desk, still in his dark robe.

Ning Rushen adjusted his cloak and was about to kneel, but before he could, Li Wuting looked up and said, “Sit. Ning Qing has suffered enough, no need to overexert yourself.”

Ning Rushen, “……”

The last time he’d heard this kind of sarcastic tone was… last time.

He lifted his robe and sat on a nearby low couch, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Li Wuting gave him a light glance.

Ning Rushen’s heart raced. Normally, after bringing down the Cui family, Li Wuting’s mood should be great. But something seemed off. His mood seemed half-good, half-bad.

Just like Li Wuting’s expression now, caught between a smile and a frown.

It made Ning Rushen feel uneasy.

“What does Your Majesty wish to hear from me?” Ning Rushen asked, breaking the silence.

Li Wuting tapped his fingers on the book, “Did Ning Qing go to the Chancellor’s Mansion on his own?”

Ning Rushen nodded.

“And you tore your clothes yourself?”

Ning Rushen nodded again.

“And you tied yourself up?”

“…” Well, not exactly. But Ning Rushen had promised not to betray Shi Yi, so he simply admitted it all. “Yes, I tied myself.”

As for how the Royal Guards found him, he had no idea.

“Heh.” Li Wuting suddenly chuckled coldly, tossing the book aside. He stood up and walked over to the low couch where Ning Rushen was sitting, looking down at him, “You tied yourself up?”

“I didn’t know Ning Qing had such a talent.”

Ning Rushen looked up, meeting his gaze, “Your servant is somewhat gifted in that area.”

Li Wuting’s eyes traveled down his features, finally resting on his pale, delicate neck, where his Adam’s apple seemed to tremble slightly in nervousness.

Li Wuting suddenly reached out—

Swish, the tie of the cloak was yanked loose.

The silver-threaded dark cloak slid halfway off Ning Rushen’s shoulders, draping over his snow-colored robe.

Li Wuting tossed the tie aside and casually ordered, “Tie. Tie it for me.”

Ning Rushen, “………”

He glanced at the tie, then at Li Wuting, “Actually—” He had barely opened his mouth when Shi Yi’s image floated into his mind.

He remembered how Shi Yi had curled up into a ball…

And those large eyes of a young man in his twenties. So young, with his whole life ahead of him…

Ning Rushen moistened his dry lips.

Then, steeling himself, he picked up the tie. “Yes, Your Majesty, I will tie it for you.”

…

Li Wuting stood in front of him, watching silently.

De Quan didn’t dare speak, and neither did the other palace attendants.

The only sounds in the Imperial Study were Ning Rushen’s fumbling attempts to tie the knot. The dark tie wrapped around his wrists, looped this way and that, but it remained loose and messy, without any structure.

Ning Rushen had been fiddling with the tie for so long that it almost looked like he was making a decorative knot.

But it wouldn’t stay secure.

Just as he was tugging at one end of the tie, trying to figure out where to start, a hand suddenly reached over, grabbing the other end—

“Ugh…” The loop tightened instantly, binding his wrists. His arms were pulled up, suspended in mid-air.

The long, slender fingers bent in a sharp movement, gleaming in the light. From wrist to sleeve, everything was as white as frost, making the red marks on his wrists stand out, both striking and ambiguous.

The dark tie wound around his wrist and slipped between his fingers, leaving a shallow mark that disappeared into Li Wuting’s palm.

Ning Rushen looked up, meeting Li Wuting’s sharp and elegant face,

“Does Ning Qing need some help?”

A tassel dangled from Li Wuting’s palm, just brushing against the back of Ning Rushen’s hand.

Ning Rushen felt the tassel tickling his palm, his fingers lightly brushing against Li Wuting’s, feeling a warmth.

He moved his wrist slightly, then nodded and praised, “Your Majesty’s assistance has hit me right in the heart.”

Li Wuting chuckled softly, not too warmly nor too coldly.

As the two of them maintained this strange posture, a cheerful voice suddenly called out from outside the study.

“Royal Brother! I want to join the spring hunt in a few days!”

Prince Xuan’s voice followed closely, “Jingyu, don’t be so loud and boisterous, the Emperor is handling important matters! And I want to go as well…”

The two of them arrived at the door in an instant, and their words abruptly stopped.

Ning Rushen felt the grip on his wrists waver slightly, and he turned his head towards the sound.

In the quiet air, several gazes met.

Li Yingtang stared at the scene in the Imperial Study and blinked.

Six-year-old Li Jingyu also blinked.

Ning Rushen, with his hands still suspended in the air, tried to speak as naturally as possible, “Your servant greets the two Princes—”

The next second, Li Yingtang swiftly covered Li Jingyu’s eyes and mouth, dragging him away, “Come along, Jingyu, don’t look, don’t look… You’re still too young for this.”

Li Jingyu, “Mmmmmm!”

Li Wuting, “………”