After Ning Rushen spoke, the three of them fell into a subdued silence. The air was subtly tense, but it was hard to pinpoint the exact problem.

After a moment, Ning Rushen carefully extracted his sleeve from Prince Xuan’s grasp. “Even iff you want to argue… don’t pull on my sleeve.”

Li Wuting rubbed his temples, realizing belatedly that the topic had been derailed, focusing unexpectedly on Ning Rushen.

“Enough, go back and pack. I’ll give you a few more days, but don’t keep dragging this out.”

Li Yingtang, seeing he couldn’t linger any longer, reluctantly agreed. “…Yes. Then, may I ask Your Majesty to return that stack of papers to me?”

Perhaps thinking that he was about to leave, Li Wuting was magnanimous, “Granted.”

Li Yingtang instantly perked up, “Ha! I knew you hadn’t thrown them away!”

Li Wuting turned his head and ordered a guard, “Go retrieve Prince Xuan’s belongings.”

Watching the sad figure disappear down the palace steps, Ning Rushen reflected, “Why bother?”

He turned to Li Wuting, curious, “Your Majesty, what exactly is that stack of papers? Why can’t I see them?”

It seemed like a Pandora’s box.

Li Wuting’s usually calm face flickered with a brief disturbance before he looked stern, almost fierce, “It’s nothing. Didn’t I tell you to speak less with Prince Xuan?”

Ning Rushen gaped: …

He was clearly dragged into this conversation.

Standing on the palace steps, one above the other, Li Wuting could easily see the neat row of small white teeth and the tip of Ning Rushen’s tongue as he opened his mouth.

“…Why are you opening your mouth so wide?”

Ning Rushen’s tongue flicked, “Discussing with Your Majesty.”

As if speaking without making a sound counted.

Li Wuting, “…”

He stared at Ning Rushen’s open mouth, his fingers curling slightly, but he couldn’t help reaching out to touch that chin, pushing it up, “No need, it’s disturbing my eyes.”

Ning Rushen, “Mm…!”

Nearby, De Quan sneakily watched: Oh dear~

·

Prince Xuan was scheduled to leave for his fief the next day at noon.

It felt more like an execution than a journey.

Ning Rushen, having attended the morning court, figured he had enough time and decided to see him off. As he was leaving the palace gate, he was stopped, “Minister Ning!”

Turning, Ning Rushen saw the young Li Jingyu stepping out of the gate, followed by the aloof Li Wuting:

“Is Minister Ning also going to see off the Second Imperial Brother?”

“Yes,” Ning Rushen responded, then remembered Li Wuting’s advice to speak less with Prince Xuan. He touched his nose and looked towards Li Wuting, “Just seeing off,” implying he wouldn’t talk.

Li Wuting, “…”

Li Jingyu looked from one to the other: Is this something that needs to be explained to the emperor?

After a thought, he suggested, “Since Minister Ning is also going, why not join us?”

Ning Rushen blinked and looked at Li Wuting for approval.

Li Wuting casually said, “Jingyu has spoken, get on.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, and the young prince.”

Ning Rushen turned to Yan Min waiting outside the carriage, took a snow-white cape from him, and instructed, “You go back to the mansion first.”

Afterward, he followed Li Wuting into the imperial carriage.

…

The carriage traveled through the capital and stopped outside the city gate.

Li Yingtang was indeed still waiting at the station, not having left yet.

Dressed elegantly in a moon-white robe, a jade fan in hand, he looked lonely as the distant snow.

The serene loneliness turned vivid as Li Yingtang saw Li Wuting and Li Jingyu alight from the carriage, his eyes brightening, “I knew you would come to see me off… Oh! Minister Ning came too?”

His gaze intensified upon seeing Ning Rushen.

As soon as Ning Rushen stepped down from the carriage and met that gaze, he almost stumbled. Remembering Li Yingtang’s dejected departure the day before, a phrase popped into his head:

Rekindling from ashes.

Ning Rushen chuckled awkwardly, “Prince.”

Li Yingtang rubbed his hands and leaned forward, his actions quickly halted by a sharp, frosty look from Li Wuting:

“I see you are quite spirited; no need for us to send you off then.”

He restrained himself appropriately, “Of course there is a need.”

The brothers stood for a few moments, Li Wuting’s tone softening, “Have you said goodbye to your mother?”

Li Yingtang tugged at his lip softly, “Yes, yesterday…”

Ning Rushen watched the brothers chat about family affairs, and tactfully walked away, hands in his sleeves, to admire the rural scenery.

The vast wilderness, the breeze on his face.

After a while, he heard Prince Xuan’s voice from behind, “Minister Ning.”

Ning Rushen turned back to see the family chat had ended.

Li Yingtang unfurled his fan with a swish, “Walk with me, I have something to discuss privately with you.”

Ning Rushen: ?

Li Wuting’s eyes darkened slightly, a hint of wariness emerging, “Whatever it is, say it here.”

Li Yingtang, “It’s a secret between women.”

Li Wuting, “…”

Ning Rushen, “…” Who’s having a woman’s secret talk with you?

Both fell silent, especially Li Wuting, whose expression was dark as nightfall. At that moment, his robes were tugged, and Li Jingyu looked up confusedly:

“Does the emperor dislike Minister Ning spending time alone with other brothers?”

“…”

Li Wuting picked up Li Jingyu.

He glanced at Li Yingtang with a light warning, “Go have your secret talk then.”

·

The countryside offered a vast, unobstructed view.

All attendants remained back, leaving only Ning Rushen to stroll with Prince Xuan.

He glanced at Prince Xuan’s profile, puzzled over what ‘women’s secrets’ they could possibly share.

After walking a distance, Li Yingtang finally sighed and spoke, “Leaving the capital, I’m most concerned about two people, my mother and His Majesty. My mother has His Majesty to look after her, but His Majesty handles everything alone… it really worries me.”

“…”

No, you’re the one who’s most worrisome.

Ning Rushen didn’t know what to say, so he just responded, “You and His Majesty are close as brothers.”

“That’s natural.” Li Yingtang smiled, “Outsiders always suspect our relationship, not believing in the brotherly affection within the royal family. But I know what’s true and false, my heart is clear as a mirror.”

He pointed to a faint scar near his eye, “Have you noticed this scar?”

Ning Rushen had seen it from their first meeting.

The scar was subtle but noticeable. On Prince Xuan’s handsome face, it was like a flaw on beautiful jade.

He asked, “This is…?”

Li Yingtang explained, “You should know, His Majesty’s mother is the Empress Dowager. My life was given by my mother and saved by the Empress Dowager, and protected by His Majesty.”

Ning Rushen tuned into the juicy details, listening quietly.

“If not for the Empress Dowager, I wouldn’t have this scar but would have lost my life.”

Li Yingtang looked into the distance, lost in memory:

“In earlier years, when the former Crown Prince dominated, he repeatedly harmed his siblings. One year, it snowed heavily in the palace. I was still young, and my mother was confined to her quarters as punishment. All her attendants were sent away by the former Crown Prince, and he locked me in an abandoned palace. I nearly froze to consciousness…”

“His Majesty and the Empress Dowager searched the entire harem for me, and it was the Empress Dowager who finally pulled me out of the snow…”

A gentle breeze rustled the grass underfoot.

On the open field, only Prince Xuan’s calm and distant voice could be heard.

Ning Rushen listened as he spoke from rescue to recovery, talking further and further until he couldn’t help but interrupt, “Your Highness.”

Li Yingtang paused, “What is it?”

Ning Rushen tried to bring back the focus of the story, “So, this scar is from?”

“Oh… this!”

Li Yingtang seemed to remember, “This was when the Empress Dowager found me, she was so excited that her fingernail accidentally scratched me.”

Ning Rushen, “………”

He looked at Prince Xuan with an indescribable expression:

Your heart isn’t a mirror; it’s more like a funhouse mirror, completely off the main point.

They stood silently for a few seconds.

Li Yingtang brought back the topic, “In any case, His Majesty is used to bearing everything himself and isn’t good at expressing his emotions. Since you’re often by his side, I hope you’ll be more perceptive.”

Ning Rushen nodded, “Of course.”

Li Yingtang sighed twice, relieved and pleased, “If you have any requests, feel free to ask me.”

“It’s all part of my duties, I…” Ning Rushen was awkwardly spouting polite nothings, but suddenly paused, “I just want to know, what exactly is that stack of papers?”

Why was everyone so secretive about it?

Li Yingtang, “……”

He was about to speak when something occurred to him, patting Ning Rushen’s shoulder, “Next time, let His Majesty tell you himself.”

Ning Rushen: ?

·

After their talk, they returned to the station.

Li Wuting surveyed them, “Done talking?”

Li Yingtang, refreshed, “Yes!”

“……” Li Wuting frowned slightly, looking thoughtfully at Ning Rushen, then waved to disperse the crowd, “It’s time to depart.”

The auspicious time of three-quarters past noon was nearing.

Li Yingtang finally boarded the carriage with reluctance and departed.

After sending off Prince Xuan, everyone returned to their carriage.

As soon as Ning Rushen sat down, Li Wuting’s voice faintly arose beside him:

“What did you talk about?”

Ning Rushen pulled the snow-colored cape from under Li Jingyu’s bottom, wrapping it around himself, “Just some small talk.”

Li Wuting looked over at him.

Ning Rushen remembered Li Yingtang’s convoluted and bizarre heartfelt words and couldn’t help speaking well for him, “Prince Xuan is genuinely simple-minded. If he offends Your Majesty in the future, it’s truly unintentional.”

“……”

Li Wuting’s brows sank, pondering the definition of “simple-minded.”

After a moment, he assessed carefully, “Did he say something to deceive you, or ask you to help with some strange things?”

Ning Rushen leaned closer, curious, “What strange things?”

As the carriage passed through the city gate, the light dimmed.

His snow-colored cape was strikingly visible up close.

The carriage jolted slightly, and Ning Rushen’s leaning figure also swayed, his breath and hair stirring lightly, carrying a faint tickle.

Li Wuting lowered his eyes to look at him, “Give…”

Just as he began to speak, the carriage light brightened again.

Immediately, Li Jingyu’s little head popped up from behind, resting on Ning Rushen’s shoulder, eyes wide, “What strange things?”

“……”

Li Wuting looked at the two pairs of eyes before him and fell silent for a moment, “Nothing, sit properly.”

The two retreated: “Oh.”

…

The carriage entered the heart of the capital.

Traveling through the downtown area, they headed towards the direction of Ning Mansion to return to the palace. After a while, Li Wuting asked outside the carriage curtain, “Where are we now?”

“Master, we’re nearing Dongsi North Street.”

“I’m going to the East City Commandery. Stop up ahead.”

Ning Rushen peered through the carriage curtain, “Where is this? Should I get off here?”

Li Wuting, “……sit back down. We’re not far from your mansion, I’ll let you off at the next street corner, just a street away from your home.”

Listening to his words, it seemed he had measured it out for him.

Ning Rushen sat back down, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Soon, they reached the next street corner, and the carriage stopped.

Ning Rushen stood to say goodbye, and Li Jingyu peeked over, asking, “The emperor has official duties, should I also get off?”

Li Wuting said, “You’ll come with me.”

Li Jingyu nodded in agreement. Ning Rushen looked at the two brothers, bowed, wrapped his cape around him, and got off.

Outside the carriage was a long street market.

Various stalls lined the street, neither too quiet nor too noisy, turning a corner at the street’s end led to Ning Mansion.

Since he had nothing else to do, Ning Rushen strolled and looked around.

As he walked a bit further, he suddenly heard commotion ahead—a rapid mix of horse hooves and alarmed shouts from pedestrians. Turning his head, he saw a young man in fine clothing galloping down the street.

The fierce horse dashed by, rapidly closing the distance.

Ning Rushen, startled, quickly stepped aside!

Nearby pedestrians and vendors also scrambled aside in panic, causing chaos in the street:

“Get out of the way!” “Move, move the cart!”

The domineering horse swept by like the wind.

Ning Rushen had just retreated to a stall when a cart unexpectedly came crashing from an angle, “Watch out!”

The cart clanged against the side of the stall.

At the same time, the cart frame heavily slammed into Ning Rushen’s waist, “Um…!” He cried out in pain, supporting himself on the edge of the stall, his knuckles whitening from the force.

His dark hair hung down, half-covering his face.

Only his slender, trembling shoulders were visible, the snow-colored cape revealing the crimson official robe underneath.

Surrounding pedestrians instantly paled: an imperial official.

The vendor pushing the cart collapsed to his knees, “This commoner has collided with a noble, spare my life! Spare my life!”

Ning Rushen, in pain but composed, waved a hand, “It’s not your fault. My residence is just ahead, help me call someone.”

“Yes, sir!”

In that brief moment before the vendor ran for help.

Ning Rushen finally gathered himself, surveying the chaos around, “Two streets away is the East City Commandery. Who dares be so bold?”

A merchant cautiously replied, “Your honor, that’s Young Master Yu from the Yu family, they oversee the East City Commandery.”

Ning Rushen had no recollection of these noble families.

Usually traveling by carriage to and from the court, aside from a few colleagues, he didn’t recognize anyone else, let alone the scions of noble families.

He hadn’t expected to encounter a street-galloping nuisance right outside his home.

In the midst of conversation, Yan Min and Shi Yi quickly arrived.

Yan Min, upon seeing him, exclaimed, “My lord, how have you been so mistreated!”

…What mistreatment, it was just a bump.

Yan Min yelled again, “My lord, your face is even paler than before!”

Ning Rushen closed his eyes, his breath thin, “Shush.”

Your voice is too loud, it’s shaking.

He climbed onto Shi Yi’s back, patting his shoulder, “First take me inside, then call a doctor.”

“Yes.” Shi Yi carried him away swiftly.

The whooshing wind brushed past their ears. Ning Rushen, lying on Shi Yi’s back, pained but finally lucid, thought:

Isn’t the Yu family one of his many supporters?

·

Back at Ning Mansion, Ning Rushen lay on the bed, gasping for air.

The doctor arrived at the mansion soon after.

After removing his outer robe and revealing his undergarments, a severe bruise was visible on Ning Rushen’s side, a startling contrast against his fair skin.

“The lord has taken a serious hit, luckily no bones are injured.”

After examining him, the doctor took his pulse, “My lord is frail, with poor circulation. In addition to the topical ointments, I’ll prescribe some medicine for internal use.”

“Um…” Ning Rushen, buried in the pillow, thanked the doctor and sent Yan Min to get the medicine.

Exhausted, he lay on the bed and fell asleep for a while.

When he groggily woke up, the medicinal decoction was ready.

Xing Lan brought the medicine over, the sour bitterness assaulting his senses.

Ning Rushen stared at the dark bowl, took a tentative sip, and shuddered as if his soul had left his body! It was as if he had seen a vision.

Xing Lan still asked, “My lord, does it taste good?”

Ning Rushen closed his eyes, “I must have hallucinated just now, seeing an old granny holding the bowl…”

Xing Lan gasped: That’s Meng Po!

“Set it aside for now, I won’t drink it.” Ning Rushen couldn’t take it anymore, his little kitten couldn’t handle such bitterness.

He turned to see Shi Yi standing at the door.

Ning Rushen estimated that he couldn’t attend court the next day and said to Shi Yi, “Please ask for a leave of absence for me.”

He wasn’t sure about the proper procedures for requesting leave from the court.

But no matter, Shi Yi would certainly know.

Shi Yi indeed nodded and left.

…

In the palace, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Li Wuting returned from the East City Commandery, having dealt with a heap of state affairs, and just settled down in more comfortable everyday clothes.

“Has Jingyu been sent back?”

De Quan bowed, “The young prince has safely returned home.”

Li Wuting hummed in acknowledgment, then paused for a moment. He then sat down by a low table and casually picked up a scroll to read.

De Quan, gauging the emperor’s mood, ventured a guess, “Minister Ning must have also safely returned home.”

A noncommittal grunt fell from in front.

Li Wuting said nothing, just turned the pages of his book.

The hall was quiet for a while until a slight noise came from outside the hall door. Li Wuting looked up to see a familiar yet long-absent figure approaching—Shi Yi returned to the long-unvisited Hall of Mental Cultivation, bowing his head.

Li Wuting’s brow furrowed slightly, “Why are you back?”

“Your Majesty, Minister Ning asked me to request a leave of absence for him; he won’t make it to tomorrow’s morning court.”

“What happened?”

“Young Master Yu from the Yu family was riding wildly in the streets, and Minister Ning was injured.”

The room fell silent.

De Quan’s heart skipped a beat: Just mentioned Minister Ning’s safely return, how did he get injured!

Moreover, it happened after separating from the emperor.

That means…

He sneaked glances at Li Wuting, whose expression was unreadable, showing no emotional turmoil. But with his years of experience, the mood was probably not good.

After a few breaths of silence, Li Wuting spoke, “How is he? Has the doctor seen him?”

Shi Yi replied, “He was seriously injured but not fatally. The doctor prescribed medicine, but Minister Ning finds it too bitter to drink.”

“…”

Li Wuting was speechless, then slightly irritated, “He refuses to take his medicine, does he expect—”

“…Does he expect me to feed it to him personally, Ning Lang?”

The content of the storybook flashed through his mind, seamlessly fitting into the scene.

Li Wuting pinched the bridge of his nose: …

He calmed himself and finally stood up, “Since it happened after I asked him to alight, let’s go and see him.”

De Quan, smiling sheepishly, said, “How could it be blamed on Your Majesty? It’s all because of that arrogant Young Master Yu, so unreasonable! But if Your Majesty visits Minister Ning, I’m sure he’ll be so delighted that he’ll drink his medicine right away!”

Li Wuting, bothered by the repeated mentions of “taking medicine,” sighed.

“Let’s go.”

·

Inside the main house of Ning Mansion.

Ning Rushen had just had medicine applied to his waist, wearing only an undershirt with a thin blanket draped over his back.

He was lying down when suddenly a shout came from outside, “Ning Chen!”

Then Geng Yan burst in like a whirlwind, “What happened? I heard from your steward that you were injured? I called a few friends, and we were going to invite you out!”

Ning Rushen covered his ears, “Lower your voice… What were you planning to do?”

Geng Yan, “We were going to hang out.”

“…” Ning Rushen let go of his ears, “What?”

He must have misheard.

Was the pup talking about something dangerous?

Geng Yan, “Hang out! Isn’t that what you taught us?”

Ning Rushen opened his mouth, speechless.

Geng Yan, oblivious to his bewildered expression, continued planning, “Now that you’re injured, you can’t hang out. By the way, where did you get hurt, and how?”

Ning Rushen smoothly bypassed the topic, “My waist, I got hit.”

Geng Yan hissed, “Can I see?”

Saying so, he leaned over, hands lifting the edge of the thin blanket.

A chill breeze sneaked in, making Ning Rushen shiver, “You should…” Just as he was about to ask Geng Yan to stop, he suddenly heard a commotion outside, followed by a dimming of light at the door.

Two quick, urgent sounds came: Ahem!

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

Only to see Li Wuting standing at the doorway, looking towards him, accompanied by the frantically signaling De Quan and the silent Yan Min.

Across half the room, their gazes collided.

“…”

By the bed, Geng Yan met that gaze, his hand inexplicably trembling, then gently laid the blanket back down.