Ning Rushen studied the two plump pigeons for a while, his fingers lightly tugging at their feathers, his throat tightening as he struggled to let go.

Cradling the two completely oblivious pigeons in his arms, he plucked at their feathers while deep in thought: Prince Xuan had said to send a reply, but he hadn’t specified how soon. What if… he bred these two first? Hatch a few eggs, and eventually have a whole flock of little pigeons…

The more Ning Rushen thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He called out to Shi Yi, who was lounging on the courtyard wall. “Pata! Help me put these pigeons in a cage.”

Shi Yi, ever nimble, landed lightly beside him. “Two pigeons today?”

Ning Rushen replied, “It’s Crazy Thursday.” Got them on discount.

By the afternoon, a newly constructed pigeon cage was set up in a corner of the main courtyard.

Dreaming of future banquets featuring all-pigeon feasts, Ning Rushen treated the birds like royalty, feeding them lavishly. “Eat up, eat up. A full belly leads to… inspiration.”

The two pigeons finally realized they were living the life of pampered songbirds. While they flapped their wings in a panic, they couldn’t resist pecking at the grains greedily. “Coo coo coo!”

Nearby, Yan Min observed curiously. “My lord, are you keeping pets now?”

“Mm… something like that,” Ning Rushen answered vaguely, then added, “Starting tomorrow, I’ll be on duty at the Ministry of Rites. I won’t have much time at home, so take good care of them for me.”

“Yes, my lord!” Yan Min responded.

Ning Rushen nodded in satisfaction and cheerfully returned to his quarters.

Once he was gone, Yan Min crouched in front of the cage, inspecting the pigeons closely. After flipping up their tails for a closer look, he muttered, “Huh. They’re both males.”

**

The next day, Ning Rushen attended court.

By this time, the new decree had already reached the public and was likely causing a stir among the noble families in the capital.

As he stood there, his mind raced, calculating and strategizing: How to extract benefits without appearing too ruthless?

By the time the morning session concluded, Ning Rushen had roughly mapped out his plan. Just as he was refining the details in his head, De Quan’s long and deliberate voice rang out: “Court is dismissed—”

Snapping back to reality, Ning Rushen glanced upward.

Li Wuting was rising from his throne. The golden dragon robe he wore accentuated his cold, aristocratic features, exuding an unapproachable majesty.

Ning Rushen stared for a moment, a vague memory surfacing of the day he was unconscious. He seemed to recall grabbing onto something and climbing all over it. If it had indeed been Li Wuting caring for him…

He licked his lips nervously. Could he have used the Emperor’s dragon robe as a climbing post?

Lost in his thoughts, Ning Rushen didn’t notice Li Wuting disappearing behind the hall.

Still pondering, he debated whether or not to report to the Imperial Study.

“Ning daren—” At that moment, Guan Fan approached from the other side, enthusiastically turning him around and steering him toward the palace gates. “Let’s go! Time for the Ministry of Rites!”

“…Fine,” Ning Rushen muttered as he let himself be half-dragged away. Well, Li Wuting hadn’t summoned him, after all.

…

The two chatted as they walked out of the palace gates together.

Their crimson official robes billowed in the wind.

One was the Minister of Rites, the other the newly appointed Overseer of Trade—a third-rank official. Though nominally subordinate to the Ministry of Rites, the position carried nearly independent authority, rivaling that of the Minister himself.

From a distance, other officials speculated as they watched the duo:

With the decree freshly issued and tensions rising among the nobility, these two major players at the Ministry of Rites must be plotting strategies together.

…

On the long path outside the palace, Ning Rushen asked eagerly, “What are we having for lunch today?”

Guan Fan listed, “Braised eggplant, fried delicacies, roast goose!”

Ning Rushen swallowed audibly. “Oh, roast goose sounds good… By the way, I’ve been raising two plump pigeons recently. Once they’ve hatched some chicks, I’ll treat you to an all-pigeon feast.”

Guan Fan offered a helpful tip, “Save a few pigeon eggs for yourself too.”

Ning Rushen, enlightened, shot him an admiring look. Truly, experience spoke volumes—leave nothing out, from top to bottom!

Their cheerful banter continued all the way to the Ministry of Rites.

Ning Rushen’s office had been set up in a separate area. After parting ways with Guan Fan, he entered his room, which was bright, tidy, and well-organized.

Several officials assigned to assist him were already present. Familiar with Ning Rushen, they greeted him warmly, “My lord, this is our first time handling such matters. Any advice on what we should pay attention to?”

Ning Rushen settled into his chair and casually replied, “Make sure you don’t let your tails show.”

“???”

“Oh, no… I mean, be friendly and cooperative. Show sincerity and highlight the benefits.”

The officials exchanged awkward, forced smiles. “Like this?”

“…Forget it,” Ning Rushen sighed. “You all look like weasels with tails.”

**

It was the first day after the decree’s announcement.

Most noble families were still in a wait-and-see mode. By late afternoon, Ning Rushen’s office remained quiet, with no visitors.

Only the scouts sent out reported back, “It seems the household servants of some noble families are observing from outside.”

“My lord, we’re not making any progress this way,” an official lamented.

Leaning back in his chair, Ning Rushen tapped his fingers on the armrest. “Hmm…”

While he pondered, the reporting official wiped his brow nervously. Sitting there with his lowered lashes and composed demeanor, Ning Rushen bore an uncanny resemblance to the Emperor himself during inspections of the Ministry of Rites.

After a moment, Ning Rushen picked up a brush and wrote something down on a sheet of paper. “Take this to my residence and give it to a guard named Pata. He’ll know what to do.”

The official blinked in confusion. Pata?

Half an hour later.

One by one, five or six individuals dressed in luxurious attire entered the Ministry of Rites with name cards in hand.

From a distance, the observing household servants of noble families saw this and quickly reported back to their masters.

Inside the Ministry office.

Ning Rushen waved over the disguised actors—Shi Yi and his crew—who were posing as noble stewards and heads of households. He instructed them to fill out the bidding forms.

“Make up a name… Just don’t use Pata. Yes, fill out those sections too. Go all in on the performance.”

“Once you’re done, line up here. Tonight, I’ll treat you to the Ministry of Rites’ dinner. I’ll let Guan Fan know.”

As they lined up and began writing, Ning Rushen’s gaze swept across the room and landed on a familiar face. Searching his memory, he asked, “Lu Wu?”

Lu Wu nodded calmly. “My lord.”

Ning Rushen turned to Shi Yi, silently asking: Where did you dig this one up?

Shi Yi explained, “He’s a fellow Royal Guard. I saw him eating tangyuan on the street and recruited him on the spot.”

Recalling that Lu Wu had once served the Emperor closely, Ning Rushen gave Shi Yi a meaningful look: This is the guy who replaced you as a personal guard.

But he didn’t say it aloud. Instead, he simply nodded. “Thanks for your help.”

As they filled out the forms, an attendant led in a young man in a deep blue brocade robe.

“My lord, someone from the Lü family is here.”

The young man froze upon entering, startled by the long line of people ahead of him.

Peeking past the crowd, he called out, “My lord?”

Oh, here we go. Ning Rushen leisurely sat up straighter. “No rush. There are six families ahead of you. Please wait your turn.”

“…”

By the time it was the young man’s turn, two incense sticks had burned down.

Ning Rushen skimmed the form the young man submitted. Lü Ke, scion of an old family known for their pastries, with distant ties to the Secretary of State.

After reviewing it, Ning Rushen set the paper at the bottom of the pile.

Lü Ke panicked. “Am I ranked last?”

“Don’t worry. It’s just based on the order of submission.”

In a gentle voice, Ning Rushen patiently explained everything—from the strict selection criteria to the coveted promotional opportunities, advertising benefits, and long-term returns.

He left the young man thoroughly dazed but convinced of his reasoning.

“So, do you think I have a chance of winning the bid?” Lü Ke asked hesitantly.

“As of now, the odds look favorable,” Ning Rushen replied with a disarmingly pure smile. “I’ll post the bids here for public viewing. You’re welcome to come check daily and adjust your offer as needed.”

With his fair complexion, clear gaze, and warm voice, Ning Rushen exuded an approachable charm. Lü Ke found himself captivated.

Lowering his voice instinctively, Lü Ke stammered, “Th-thank you, my lord.”

Ning Rushen offered a faint smile. “Take care.”

After Lü Ke left, the remaining actors and officials in the room turned to Ning Rushen in unison.

Ning Rushen’s expression cooled as he instructed, “That’s how you handle it. Got it?”

Everyone: “…”

You’ve got people stumbling out in a daze.

**

Competition and rumors spread like wildfire.

In just two days, more and more noble families began sending representatives to submit their bids.

One after another, they entered hesitantly and left unsteadily.

Meanwhile, the actors and recruits from the Royal Guard continued showing up daily to “work” alongside Ning Rushen, enjoying the Ministry’s complimentary meals.

Over dinner one evening, Guan Fan couldn’t help but comment, “Lord Ning, how come you’ve brought the whole family along?”

Ning Rushen, shoveling food into his mouth, replied, “We’re about to make a fortune. They deserve some perks.”

Guan Fan, having learned some new slang recently, agreed. “Makes sense!”

The steady stream of visitors kept Ning Rushen busy. For five or six days straight, he went straight to the Ministry after morning court and stayed there all day.

When he returned home at night, he’d glance at the pigeon cage with a single thought: Have you laid eggs yet?

Hatched any chicks?

Yet after a full week, the cage remained empty.

Leaning against the cage, Ning Rushen sighed. A cohabitation without love—no better than scattered sand.

…

While he was engrossed in his pigeon musings, he failed to notice that he’d left a certain someone on the dragon throne entirely neglected for several days.

Back at the palace, in the Imperial Study.

Night had fallen, and the room was illuminated by intricately carved lanterns.

Li Wuting sat behind the imperial desk, reviewing state documents. His sharp features, lit by the flickering flames, cast deep shadows over his face. His thin lips were pressed into a firm line.

The surrounding attendants stood silently along the walls, heads bowed.

The air was heavy with an unspoken tension.

De Quan, standing by, was practically wringing his hands in frustration.

Sigh. How long had it been now? Since Ning Rushen started at the Ministry of Rites, he hadn’t come back even once. It was as if he’d completely forgotten the Emperor!

The sound of a brush being set down on the desk broke the silence.

Li Wuting finished his work, rubbed his temples, and called out, “Lu Wu.”

A shadowy figure immediately stepped forward. “Your Majesty.”

Each Royal Guard serving the Emperor had their own codename and acted as the Emperor’s eyes and ears. Unless something urgent arose, they were only required to report once every seven days.

Today was Lu Wu’s turn.

Li Wuting’s voice was calm. “Speak.”

Lu Wu bowed. “There’s been nothing significant lately. This humble servant has been spending all day at the Ministry of Rites with Lord Ning.”

“…”

A heavy silence filled the room.

De Quan’s heart sank: Good grief! His Majesty hadn’t seen Ning Rushen for days, but this guy was with him every day. Talk about rubbing salt in the wound!

Li Wuting’s voice came again. “Oh? And what has he been up to?”

Lu Wu, unaffected, replied flatly, “Lord Ning has… lured over ten noble families into a bidding frenzy. Everything is going smoothly. He’s also been dining with his entourage on the Ministry’s dime.”

As if recalling the Ministry’s meals, Lu Wu’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

Li Wuting tapped the desk with his fingers. “And after hours?”

Lu Wu recalled what Shi Yi had shared. “After hours, he goes home and tries to make two male pigeons lay eggs.”

Li Wuting: “…”

He acted like he hadn’t heard. “What?”

Lu Wu repeated matter-of-factly, “He’s trying to make two male pigeons lay eggs for him to eat.”

The room was silent for several moments.

Finally, the Emperor’s voice, unnervingly calm, broke the silence. “He has time for such idle pursuits, yet he can’t even report to the Imperial Study?”

“Enough. You may leave.”

Lu Wu bowed and vanished.

In the Imperial Study, De Quan was beside himself with frustration.

Lord Ning! Why can’t you spare a few thoughts for His Majesty?

The court robes Ning Rushen had left behind that day had been washed and neatly stored in the side hall of the study. They hadn’t been discarded or returned. Clearly, His Majesty intended to hand them back personally.

De Quan felt he’d hit the nail on the head. Yet Ning Rushen hadn’t shown up even once!

Parched with worry, De Quan glanced at Li Wuting’s cold expression. Summoning his courage, he ventured, “Your Majesty, if I may… Lord Ning must be so preoccupied that he’s forgotten to report his success. His accomplishments have been remarkable!”

Li Wuting cast him a faint glance.

While he wasn’t sure what De Quan was scheming, the eunuch wasn’t entirely wrong.

After all this time, it was indeed past due for a progress report.

Lowering his lashes, Li Wuting sat in silent contemplation for a moment. Finally, unable to ignore the faint itch in his palm, he relented. “Summon him to the palace.”

De Quan was overjoyed. “Yes, Your Majesty!”

**

At the Ning residence, in the main courtyard.

Unaware that both his pigeons were male, Ning Rushen was crouched by the cage, trying to “arrange a match” for them.

Muttering to himself, he was interrupted by a messenger from the palace. “Lord Ning, His Majesty summons you.”

Ning Rushen turned, puzzled. At this hour again?

Following the young attendant, he made his way to the palace. As they neared the Imperial Study, he saw De Quan hurrying out to greet him.

“Eunuch De, it’s been a while.”

“Ah, Lord Ning! You do know it’s been a while!”

De Quan approached in a few quick steps, leaning in to whisper, “When you go in, ask the Emperor, ‘Your Majesty, where is my robe?’ Got it?”

Ning Rushen: ???

His heart skipped a beat. He didn’t get it—he didn’t get it at all!

De Quan pressed on. “Have I ever steered you wrong? Trust me; His Majesty is clearly waiting to return it personally.”

They reached the door to the study in no time.

Though bewildered, Ning Rushen considered the eunuch’s track record. True enough, he’d never been wrong before.

De Quan whispered one last time, “Remember?”

Ning Rushen nodded hesitantly. “I’ll remember.”

As he stepped into the Imperial Study, he silently repeated to himself: When I go in, I’ll ask—

Your Majesty, where is my robe?