Ning Rushen felt a tingling in his scalp as Li Wuting seriously declared that he wanted to “see him flaunt.”

Li Wuting casually hummed an acknowledgment and quietly turned his gaze back to Ning Rushen, waiting for him to perform.

Swallowing nervously, Ning Rushen muttered, “This is not very appropriate…”

Li Wuting challenged, “What’s inappropriate about it? If it can be shown in public, why can’t you show it to me?”

Do you even realize what terrible things you’re saying?

Silently, De Quan and the Royal Guards also watched him, as if they were all waiting for him to make a big impression.

Finally, Ning Rushen struggled, “I need to be on a boat to flaunt properly.”

The Royal Guards behind him immediately got the hint and rented a larger boat that could fit their entire party. Coming back to report, they said, “My lord, the boat is ready, and it will allow Lord Ning to…”

He paused, subtly skipping over the term, “show off enough.”

Li Wuting, already clutching his jade fan, moved past him towards the boat, “Let’s go, Lord Ning.”

Ning Rushen and Li Wuting sat in the boat, flanked by two Royal Guards at both ends, who were ordered to hold the oars. De Quan and Geng Yan were caught in the middle, keeping quiet of their own accord.

With a push from the wooden oars at the shore, the boat surged forward, creating ripples.

Li Wuting sat sternly, tapping his fingers on the boat’s side, signaling Ning Rushen to hurry up.

Sitting across from him, Ning Rushen awkwardly fidgeted with his fingers, “Let me gather my thoughts first.”

Li Wuting was patient, “Go ahead.”

In the brief moment Ning Rushen gathered his thoughts, Geng Yan looked at the situation, feeling both anxious and exhilarated. So you refuse to row, and now you must flaunt! Look, the Emperor has dealt with you!

His triumphant expression was all too conspicuous.

Ning Rushen caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and couldn’t help but slam his hand on the side of the boat. 

Bang!

Li Wuting looked at his reddened palm, “Is this your preparation?”

“No, it’s not,” Ning Rushen scrambled, holding onto the side of the boat and making things up as he went, “This boat is too heavy, I can’t… flaunt properly. A lighter one like this—” he demonstrated by shaking it, “would allow me to flaunt out.”

Li Wuting’s gaze followed.

Except for himself, the boat did not move.

At this moment, their boat was still quietly floating near the shore, with the lights on the shore scattered across the river’s surface, the dim twilight imbuing them with a hazy glow.

Ning Rushen, in his crimson robes, was particularly conspicuous in the night.

As he shook, the white jade belt tied around his waist drew a curve, capturing the gaze.

He was wholeheartedly performing an ineffective demonstration when suddenly he heard Li Wuting speak, “Enough.”

Ning Rushen stopped and turned, puzzled.

“No need to flaunt anymore.”

Li Wuting closed his eyes and rested the jade fan against his brow, “Row.”

The last command was directed at the Royal Guards. Upon receiving the order, the guards at both ends of the boat finally began to row.

Did he just bluff his way through?

Uncertain, he leaned forward, “How was my performance?”

Li Wuting, annoyed, “Vividly lively.”

“…What does that mean? You’re talking as if I were dead.”

·

The boat continued along the banks of the Huaiming River.

Along the way, they could hear scholars on both shores discussing poetry, full of literary talent. They exchanged views and debated lively, without criticizing anyone under the scrutiny of the public.

Ning Rushen listened in admiration all the way, enriching his mind.

He was propping his chin up, enjoying the riverside scenery when suddenly he heard Li Wuting ask, “What do you think, Lord Ning?”

…Why is he asking me again? Am I Yuanfang?

Ning Rushen straightened up, “The land is spirited and full of talented individuals. After the imperial exams are over, they will all be at your disposal.”

Perhaps thinking of that wonderful vision, he playfully swiped at the air.

Li Wuting, “…”

Unaware of how his words and actions resembled those of a cunning villain, Ning Rushen continued along this train of thought. 

With so many talented scholars entering the court, some are bound to catch Li Wuting’s eye.

His old ministerial self might just be replaced.

Lost in thought, he gazed down.

Li Wuting asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Ning Rushen snapped back to reality, dutifully reporting, “Your Majesty, you’re in disguise this time. If you find anyone you like, you could call them to serve before you.”

Li Wuting’s tone was calm, “Then Lord Ning, you can go to the Ministry of Rites and reunite with your family.”

Ning Rushen: …

How is this topic not finished yet?

Li Wuting, “I’ll find someone skilled in martial arts to replace General Huo, too. That way, your whole family will be even more fulfilled.”

Behind him, De Quan started coughing to clear his throat.

Ning Rushen quickly leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees closer to Li Wuting, “No, I feel most at home by Your Majesty’s side.”

“Oh? What about General Huo?”

“Let him be.”

“…”

“You and your family,” Li Wuting slowly commented, “are like loose sand.”

Ning Rushen bit his lip, slightly embarrassed.

From the side, Geng Yan, who had been confused from the beginning, opened his mouth but didn’t join the conversation.

Thinking about it, he strangely felt like a dog that had come aboard the ship.

…

The boat continued along the riverbank for several miles, eventually reaching the end of the seating area.

The Royal Guards moored the boat to the riverside, “My lord, we’ve arrived.”

Li Wuting hummed in acknowledgment and stood up.

Ning Rushen also stood up.

As the boat swayed with the waves, he faced Li Wuting directly, suddenly losing his balance and lurching forward—

Their toes touched, and one hand landed on the broad shoulder.

Ning Rushen was startled!

His pale fingers instantly wrinkled the green fabric. At the same time, a large hand supported his back, fingers and hair intertwining.

He regained his composure.

Before him was the overlapping and meticulous layers of a robe, a throat knot subtly moving.

He was staring at that throat knot when above him fell Li Wuting’s magnetically deep voice, carrying a serious inquiry.

“Why aren’t you shaking anymore?”

Ning Rushen looked up, meeting the earnest scrutiny in the other’s eyes, “…”

Was he being observed like a lab rat?

He moved his lips, “If Your Majesty has this need.”

“…” The Royal Guards, De Quan, and the dog-like Geng Yan collectively closed their ears.

Li Wuting’s brow twitched, “I don’t.”

·

Ning Rushen returned under the indescribable gazes of the Royal Guards and Geng Yan.

Especially Geng Yan’s face, more expressive and complex than a Sichuan opera mask.

It was like a farewell performance.

Ning Rushen, sleeves tucked in, sighed leisurely. It’s all Li Wuting’s doing, one moment asking him to “flaunt,” the next to see him shake.

Always such bizarre requests.

…

The discussions of poetry along the Huaiming River continued for about ten days.

From the end of the examinations to the announcement of results, a fortnight passed with all the candidates remaining in the capital.

When Ning Rushen dropped by the Ministry of Rites to snag a meal, he inquired, “How did the examinations go?”

The minister shook his head, “Our Ministry only oversees the exams; we don’t mark the papers.” He sized up Ning Rushen, “Oh, but if it were up to Lord Ning, you could certainly handle it.”

In just a few words, he had already included Ning in the scope of the Ministry.

Ning Rushen chuckled dryly, “Much obliged.”

No news came from the palace, and the capital remained as bustling and cheerful as ever, everything seemingly moving forward smoothly.

Until the day the results were announced.

On the day of the announcement, the capital was abuzz.

Whether it was the candidates or the general populace, everyone crowded around the notice board to see the rankings of the new cohort of scholars.

Ning Rushen didn’t join the crowd.

The rankings had already been presented to the Emperor, and as he prepared the ink for Li Wuting, he peeked a few times, still not recognizing anyone.

But he noticed Li Wuting scrutinizing carefully, as if he recognized quite a few names.

Ning Rushen speculated, “Did Your Majesty take an interest in anyone?”

Li Wuting skimmed through the list again, confirming it differed little from his previous life, then set down the paper, “Just familiar with some names.”

Ning Rushen, “Such as?”

Perhaps the response hit the right note, for Li Wuting did not pursue his casual tone but merely pointed out a few names,

“Get familiar with your hundred-family meal.”

Ning Rushen nodded seriously, taking note.

“And this one…” The slender index finger nonchalantly swung, pointing out another name.

Ning Rushen turned to look, “And who is this?”

“The one who praised Lord Ning for his dazzling grace and moonlike charm.”

“…”

Ning Rushen almost twisted his neck!

He looked at Li Wuting’s calm demeanor, and memories of their discussion at the tea stand came flooding back, leaving him speechless.

Could the reports from the Royal Guard be verbatim?

Li Wuting watched him, “What’s the matter.”

Ning Rushen hastily lowered his gaze, sneakily playing up to him, “Nothing, such discussions… I’m not really bothered by them.”

Li Wuting spoke softly, “Lord Ning isn’t bothered, just flipped a couple of tiles.”

Ning Rushen, “…”

Damn, how does he even know about that?

He froze in silence for a moment, then Li Wuting mercifully dismissed him, “Alright, you may leave.”

Ning Rushen took his leave, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Just as he was about to exit the Imperial Study, he was called back, “Lord Ning.”

He turned around, only to see Li Wuting looking at him from a distance, “I grant you permission to stuff a few walnuts in your belt tomorrow.”

Ning Rushen: ?

…

Ning Rushen returned home with a head full of question marks.

Just after arriving, Shi Yi, who seemed unable to appear without causing a disturbance, suddenly climbed through the window, voluntarily showing up in front of him.

“Something big has happened.”

Ning Rushen tensed, “Did you get caught stealing?”

“…” Shi Yi was excited, “I wasn’t caught!”

Ning Rushen looked at him dumbfounded.

Shi Yi came back to his senses, “No, I didn’t steal anything!”

Ning Rushen massaged his forehead, “Alright, let’s hear it.”

Shi Yi then said, “A candidate has accused a fellow student of cheating in the imperial examinations, and now it’s chaos outside.”

Ning Rushen’s mouth fell open in shock.

The next day at court, indeed, there was an uproar!

Ning Rushen stood in line, listening to the reports in front of the hall.

It was said that a candidate from Ying County failed the exams but saw his classmate Xie someone on the list. Recalling the latter’s suspicious behavior beforehand, he reported Xie for suspected cheating.

But since he couldn’t produce evidence, the case was left to the Emperor to decide.

The entire court immediately erupted into a noisy debate.

“Without evidence, it’s mostly just jealousy over failing the exams. Why waste resources!”

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. We should investigate thoroughly.”

The two sides staunchly defended their views.

A portion of the court officials said nothing, simply waiting for the emperor on the dragon throne to speak.

Ning Rushen figured this morning court session would last a long time.

He shifted his stiff body and suddenly felt the small walnuts in his belt. A light bulb went off, understanding Li Wuting’s “favor”—

There was a big issue today at court, and eating some walnuts would help stave off hunger.

He sneakily took one out and crunched away.

The hundred-family meal was tasty, but the small stove in front of the Emperor wasn’t bad either.

In the hall, De Quan, sharp-eyed, spotted it, very pleased. Lord Ning should now understand which is better, the Imperial Study or the Ministry of Rites.

After all, it’s easy to add flowers to brocade, but hard to send charcoal in snow.～

·

In the end, Li Wuting made the final decision.

This case was assigned to the Three Departments for thorough investigation, with the Royal Guards assisting.

After a long morning court session, it finally ended. After court, Ning Rushen went to the Imperial Study as usual, “Your Majesty!”

He was full of questions, sprinting to the imperial desk.

Li Wuting glanced at him, “Having eaten walnuts, you seem much more enthusiastic than usual.”

Ning Rushen, “…”

Li Wuting took advantage, “Speak, what do you want to ask?”

Ning Rushen graciously turned the page, “Your Majesty earlier mentioned that someone would break the news, was this what you meant?”

Li Wuting hummed an acknowledgment, “What does Lord Ning think?”

Ning Rushen thought for a few moments, he knew about the “selling of fake exam questions.”

Since Li Wuting said “accusing cheating” would expose the “fake question case,” that meant the accused was one of the students who bought the fake questions.

He didn’t get the real questions, yet he passed the exam on his own.

Ning Rushen speculated, “Maybe there was some jealousy, and suspicious behavior is indeed true… so the failed candidate simply reported him. But unexpectedly, it led to…”

The exposure of the fake question case.

He finished speaking on his own, and there was no response from behind the imperial desk.

Ning Rushen looked up, only to see Li Wuting watching him, a smile tinged with an inscrutable meaning, “Your Majesty?”

Li Wuting’s tone was slow, “I find that Lord Ning’s mind is like the stars.”

Ning Rushen’s breath quickened, his face heating up slightly, “A flash of brilliance?”

Li Wuting, “Now and then.”

Ning Rushen, “…”

Very clever, but not polite.

…

He let the inhuman words dissipate like a fart.

At least it proved one thing, his guess was right.

Ning Rushen pursed his lips, taking another look at Li Wuting, who still seemed to handle everything effortlessly, as if nothing could escape his eyes.

“Lord Ning, what are you looking at?”

“That the candidate would accuse, was it a last-minute decision after failing? But why did it seem like Your Majesty had anticipated it?”

Li Wuting’s deep eyes watched him.

After a moment, he smiled again and said, “Lean in.”

Ning Rushen, “……”

The lesson from the last time he freely offered his ears was still fresh in his memory.

Facing Li Wuting’s gaze, he hesitated for a moment, then firmly covered both ears.

Li Wuting: ?

Ning Rushen, still covering his ears, leaned in close to his mouth, “Speak, Your Majesty, I’m listening.”

Li Wuting, “……”