“Huh… Are you reluctant to let me go too?” Ning Rushen licked his lips, looking mischievous.

“…” Li Wuting pinched the bridge of his nose, a rare trace of frustration crossing his face. “Even the most careful can overlook something.”

In the brief silence, Shi Yi suddenly piped up loyally, “Your Majesty! Do you need this humble… subject to fetch him back?”

Next to him, Yuan Liu and Yan Min gave disapproving coughs, “Ahem!” Reminding Shi Yi not to meddle—doesn’t the Emperor already have his own trusted guards?

Ning Rushen let out a silent sigh: This wasn’t just a minor leak anymore; it was a completely transparent glass dome.

“Enough.” Li Wuting’s headache only worsened from Shi Yi’s meddling.

He relaxed his brow and addressed Ning Rushen, “If another pigeon flies by next time, cook it.”

Li Wuting’s rare humor made his decree sound strangely pleasant to Ning Rushen.

“And,” Li Wuting’s gaze fell to his side, “if your back’s healed, stop lying around all day. Tomorrow, make sure you attend court.”

The saliva that had pooled in Ning Rushen’s mouth withdrew just as tastelessly, “… Understood.”

The long-awaited verdict on the galloping incident was finally out:

Yu Lifeng was dismissed for inadequate oversight; the Yu family’s unruly son, who had terrorized the common folk and dared to speak disrespectfully of the royal family, was sentenced to hard labor to repair the river channels for the people.

All members of the Five City Military Division involved were dealt with accordingly.

In no time, the division went through a massive shake-up. The old noble families didn’t even have time to resist when the next imperial edict arrived, appointing new noble families to fill their places.

Each move was sudden yet methodical, clearly prepared long beforehand.

As for why Li Wuting waited until the interviews ended—

Ning Rushen looked up from the ranks at Li Wuting seated high on the dragon throne and thought: He’s just having some fun.

The imperial edict had been issued, the dust settled.

Even if a few of the old families were unhappy, they couldn’t spare the energy to complain—they were too busy trying to fend off the newly promoted families biting at their heels.

After the morning court session, Ning Rushen as usual headed toward the Imperial Study.

He wanted to discuss his thoughts on the “Hundred Families Meal” reforms with Li Wuting.

Halfway there, he was met by a young attendant with a message: “Master Ning, His Majesty says you don’t need to report to duty today.”

Ning Rushen paused mid-step, “Why?”

Using him and then tossing him aside, no mercy?

“Today, His Majesty will be at the Hanlin Academy, reviewing yesterday’s interview results with the examiners.”

“Oh…”

Ning Rushen thanked the young attendant and turned to leave the palace.

In his crimson robes, he strolled leisurely towards the palace gates, hands tucked in his sleeves. Suddenly, someone called out from behind him, “Master Ning—”

Turning around, he saw Huo Mian striding over energetically.

“I knew I wasn’t mistaken!” Huo Mian approached, his hand instinctively going to clap Ning Rushen on the shoulder. Just as the gust of his hand was about to land—seeing the frail shoulder tremble—he stopped just in time!

Instead, he tapped him twice on the shoulder. “Not on duty today?”

Ning Rushen eyed his hand, “… Yeah.”

Not only not on duty, but he had nearly ceased to exist as a person.

Huo Mian beamed, “Perfect! The assessments are finally over, and this general has some free time too. I’ve planned a little gathering with the brothers. How about you join us?”

Ning Rushen replied politely, “It’s your brotherly gathering, I won’t intrude.”

“But aren’t you practically a brother to this general?”

Without giving him a chance to refuse, Huo Mian draped an arm around his shoulder and led him outside the palace, “Besides, the loyal brothers have been missing you. They were asking about you just last time…”

“We’re playing dice, Liu Bo chess…”

“And there’s good food and drink…”

After Huo Mian’s nonstop persuasion, Ning Rushen, feeling dizzy, finally relented and followed along, “Oh… okay…”

—

Huo Mian took him to a place called “Painting Osmanthus House.”

It was on the east side of the city, not far from the Ning residence.

Inside, the decor was refined and luxurious, much like a modern party venue, complete with private rooms.

Ning Rushen raised an eyebrow, “Didn’t know there was a place like this.”

Huo Mian guided him upstairs with a sly smile, “Hehe.”

Upstairs, they entered the private room, and a group of loyal friends was already deep into their games of chess, dice, and cards, filling the room with excitement.

Huo Mian kicked open the door, “Look who I caught for you all—Master Ning!”

Ning Rushen: ?

Everyone turned to look, erupting into cheers. Among them, a voice exclaimed in joyful surprise, “Hey, he’s alive!”

“……”

What, did they dig him out of the ground?

Huo Mian quickly kicked out the ill-timed remark and turned to Ning Rushen, explaining, “Last time, you were called away before we finished. Let’s have a good time today!”

Recalling the fruits they had generously shared last time, Ning Rushen magnanimously let it go.

He glanced around the room, “What’s that?”

To his side, Right Guard Sun Wu explained, “Oh, that’s cai xuan ge, a game of Promotion. Want to play?”

Promotion? Ning Rushen peered closely, finally understanding: wasn’t this just the ancient version of Monopoly?

He nodded, “This one, this one!”

Sun Wu and the others immediately pulled him to the table, “Come on! Loser drinks.”

Ning Rushen hesitated, “No… I think I’ll pass on the drinking.”

The room was already starting to blur.

Sun Wu, “Hey! If you come here and don’t drink, it’s like you didn’t come at all.”

Another friend simply popped open a bottle with a plonk, wafting it under his nose, “It’s not too strong; didn’t you have a couple glasses last time?”

The sweet aroma of the wine filled the air.

Ning Rushen’s resolve wavered, and he closed his eyes: Dammit, take it away, take it away…

Huo Mian seized the moment, patting his shoulder, “Relax, even if you’re down for the count, we’ll carry you back to the mansion!”

“…”

Ning Rushen’s eyes shot open, “Then… just a little.”

The group cheered, “Heck yeah!”

…

The private room was packed with games.

Ning Rushen played Promotion for a while, then moved on to a few rounds of dice and chess. With wins and losses split evenly, he had downed about eight or nine cups.

The fruit wine was sweet and mild, leaving him with a light, tipsy buzz.

Ning Rushen, having a great time, wandered around the room with a slightly wobbly glass of fruit wine before plopping back down on his seat. His usual porcelain-white face now had a rosy flush, his neck glowing with heat.

He loosened his collar a bit and stretched his neck, exhaling, “Phew, so hot…”

The stretch accentuated the beautiful curve of his neck, his dark hair brushing over his collarbone, revealing a hint of delicate fair skin tinged with pink below the collar.

The warmth of the alcohol made him feel dazed and light-headed.

Huo Mian turned his head, noticing, “… You’re hot? Want some tea?”

Tea? It took Ning Rushen a few seconds to process, and he sluggishly reached for a teacup, “Oh, okay.”

He looked unusually compliant.

The others at the table glanced over, intrigued: Oh…

Sun Wu watched for a moment, then rubbed his hands together, trying his luck, “Want to trade a plum blossom card with me?”

Taking advantage of his moment of weakness!

Next to him, He Liang gave him a slap, “How could you take advantage of Master Ning!”

Then he turned, “Trade me a fish card.”

Ning Rushen blinked at the two of them. While his brain hadn’t fully caught up, his body instinctively smacked them both back with a slap each:

“What’s the difference between you two!”

Smack. His hand stung, “Ouch…”

Ning Rushen sadly blew on his hand, trying to ease the pain.

Everyone: ……

—

Outside the Hanlin Academy, the green-lacquered carriage slowly started off.

By now, the sun had set, and Li Wuting, having finished handling the interviews, leaned against the back of the carriage, resting his eyes.

Inside, De Quan attended respectfully by his side.

After a while, Li Wuting opened his eyes, raised a teacup, and took a sip.

On the low table, a box of pastries was set.

De Quan asked, “Your Majesty, you’ve worked hard today. Would you like a snack? It’ll be a while before you can dine back at the palace.”

Li Wuting glanced at it, “No need, not in the mood for sweets.”

De Quan nodded and closed the lid, then chuckled, “Master Ning, however, never tires of these—he can eat as many as you give him.”

At this, the tea cup lightly clicked back onto the table.

The carriage fell silent.

Li Wuting’s fingers tapped lightly on his knee, recalling Ning Rushen in the carriage on previous occasions: his eyes lighting up at the sight of pastries, savoring each bite with his cheeks puffing out, even licking away the crumbs…

Practically like feeding a cat.

After a moment, he spoke, “He did well with the interviews, but I haven’t rewarded him yet, have I?”

De Quan’s eyes brightened instantly, “Why, indeed not! And if we take a slight detour, we’ll be at the Ning residence.”

Li Wuting’s voice was faint, “Then let’s take the detour.”

…

The carriage detoured and stopped in front of the Ning residence.

Li Wuting stepped out, with De Quan carrying a food box behind him.

The servants of the Ning residence were more than familiar with the emperor’s face by now. Upon seeing the imperial visit, they immediately fell to their knees, “Welcome, Your Majesty!”

Li Wuting waved them off and entered the house.

Yuan Liu approached cautiously, and Li Wuting followed him into the main hall, sitting down and glancing around. Not seeing anyone, he asked, “Where’s your master?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the master hasn’t returned yet.”

“…”

De Quan felt his heart sink.

Li Wuting’s lips tightened, “Oh? Where did he go?”

Yuan Liu knelt, “He went out with the generals from the military.”

There was no response after he finished speaking.

Li Wuting remained seated in silence, but didn’t order De Quan to put down the food box either.

De Quan was on edge, while Yuan Liu was nearly breaking out in a cold sweat.

After a moment of tense silence, Yuan Liu couldn’t hold it anymore, nervously saying, “Your Majesty, may I… may I go fetch the master back?”

Li Wuting, “Do you know where he is?”

“Yes, the guard reported he’s at Painting Osmanthus House, not far from here.”

“Very well.”

Receiving the response, Yuan Liu was about to leave to find him.

But just as he got up, the emperor also rose to his feet.

Li Wuting glanced at him, “I might as well go see myself what could be so entertaining.”

…

At Painting Osmanthus House, in the private room on the second floor.

The group of men from the northern frontier, fueled by alcohol, were even more boisterous than before. Some were in heated games of dice, slamming the table, rolling up their sleeves, shouting louder and louder as they ran out of words, until it became a battle of volume:

“Aaahhh—”

“Aaahhh—!”

“…”

Ning Rushen, with his flushed face and warm ears, was squished in the middle, clutching his head in annoyance. It was so loud!

He was already feeling dizzy from the wine, and now the noise was buzzing in his head. Unable to hold back, he slammed the table with a “Bang!” and stood up:

“Why are you so loud!”

The rowdy group instantly fell silent, everyone turning to look at him.

Ning Rushen, face red, raised his glass and continued, “… Today, we’re here to celebrate our dear friend Huo Mian’s 80th birthday…”

The group, “…”

Huo Mian, seeing the crimson flush spreading down from his collarbone, couldn’t help pulling him back, “It’s not my birthday today, and I’m not 80—”

He pulled him with such strength that Ning Rushen stumbled.

The wine cup fell with a clang.

In his tipsy haze, Ning Rushen grabbed onto a red silk drape hanging from the screen behind him, and… it tore right off, floating down over his shoulders and arms.

The cloth cushioned his fall, allowing him to prop himself up on the table.

The vibrant, delicate drape tangled with his proper official robes, his collar falling open.

Amid this group of rugged Northern soldiers, he was like a striking, vivid bloom.

A few discreet coughs sounded around the room as people averted their eyes.

Yet, Ning Rushen, his brain soaked in wine, didn’t notice.

Wrapped in the long silk, he tugged at it without success. Finally, he tucked the trailing end into his belt and prepared to make his escape,

“Alright, I’m sleepy. Time to head home…”

The guards around him tried to stop him:

“Hey, don’t you want to stay a bit longer?”

“The roast duck platter hasn’t even arrived!”

Ning Rushen waved them off, backing towards the door, “Can’t drink anymore.”

The guards, “But… it’s roast duck…”

Just then, the curtain at the door shifted. Huo Mian noticed, “Oh, maybe it’s the roast du—”

His words cut off abruptly, and the room fell silent.

Hm? Ning Rushen’s eyelids fluttered, his feet continuing their retreat. The next moment, he bumped into a firm chest.

A familiar warmth and faint scent surrounded him.

A steady hand caught his swaying figure.

The hand settled at his waist, with slender, calloused fingers entwined in the delicate red silk of his sash.

Ning Rushen’s waist jolted, and he turned to look.

Only to see Li Wuting gazing down at him, speaking in a low voice, “Having a good time, are we?”