Soaking in the water, he couldn’t respond to the calls.

De Quan was terrified and turned pale! Just as he was about to ask what was happening, he saw the emperor abruptly stand up—

Li Wuting’s stern brows furrowed, “Where is he?”

Li Jingyu immediately ran ahead, “This way!”

That usually calm figure quickly followed, and the two of them soon disappeared at the courtyard entrance.

De Quan shivered back to reality and hurriedly followed.

…

At the door of the room, the little monk was anxiously pacing in circles.

The door was bolted from the inside, and he knocked again.

Just as he was considering what to use to pry open the latch, the young prince who had just run out quickly returned:

“Imperial Brother, it’s here!”

The little monk turned around to see the emperor striding towards them, quickly bowing, “Your Majesty!”

Li Wuting noticed the tightly closed door.

He stopped abruptly, sensing that the situation was not as he expected, “What’s going on?”

Li Jingyu muttered quietly, “Minister Ning was taking a bath, we called him several times but he didn’t respond.”

“……”

Li Wuting took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Li Jingyu continued, “Could he have fainted or slipped into the water? Could Minister Ning have… turned cold—uh!”

A large hand forcefully pressed down on his head, cutting him off.

Li Wuting stared at the bolted door, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

But it was only a moment before he reached out and pressed against the door, “Ning Chen!”

Still no response from inside.

Li Wuting frowned, then suddenly spoke, “Step back.” He then drew his imperial sword from his waist, aimed at the door seam, and with a clang, the latch fell off. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The room was just a small single room.

Entering, the first thing he saw was a half-open screen.

A scarlet official robe and a snowy undergarment were carelessly draped over the screen, the steamy mist still lingering. Behind the half-open screen, a delicate white arm hung over the edge of the wooden tub.

Li Wuting’s fingertips trembled as he walked around the screen, “Ning Chen.”

The person behind the screen was then fully revealed.

Black hair scattered in the water, clinging to shoulders and arms. Wet droplets glistened like frost, poised to fall. Ning Rushen’s face was flushed, his wet raven feathers seemed to tremble lightly.

Li Wuting’s gaze remained resolutely out of the water.

He pulled up Ning Rushen’s arm with one hand, and was about to check his breath with the other—

But then the latter frowned, his eyelashes slowly lifting:

“…Li Wuting?”

Ning Rushen felt as if he had been sinking in a dream for a long time.

He dreamt that someone was knocking at the door, and then he dreamt that the person knocking was calling another name. In this repetitive and exhausting dream, a sudden force yanked at his arm, pulling him out.

The messy dream instantly dispersed!

His vision refocused, and before him was a familiar handsome face.

He instinctively called out the name, “Li Wuting?”

Upon hearing his name, the grip on his arm seemed to tighten.

Then Li Wuting sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and pulled an undergarment from behind the screen, draping it over him:

“Put this on.”

The undergarment covered most of the frosty whiteness, its end fluttering into the water, getting thoroughly soaked.

Ning Rushen finally came to his senses, realizing the situation at hand.

A rush of warmth surged over him!

He pulled his arm from Li Wuting’s grip and hastily wrapped the undergarment around himself, stepping out of the bath tub. His pale, bare feet left large wet marks on the floor.

The person opposite him opened his tightly shut eyes.

Li Wuting’s gaze fell to his feet, then, seeming headache-stricken, he grabbed the outer robe and draped it over him, then grabbed his arm and flung him onto the bed.

Thump! Ning Rushen, tangled in the clothes, sat down on the bed, looking up at the emperor:

What’s going on, what’s happening?

His mind was a mess.

He didn’t understand why he woke up to this situation.

“Your Majesty, I—” Ning Rushen started to speak, but then he heard faint conversation from behind the half-open screen outside.

“Is Master Ning alright?”

“Imperial Brother didn’t call anyone; it must be nothing serious!”

“Really appreciate the little master’s help—little master, you can go back now, we’ll take care of it here.”

With that, the door was closed with a bang!

Ning Rushen, “……”

In the room with the door closed, the light dimmed. Li Wuting paused in front of the bed, then tossed a towel over, turning to light the lamp at the desk. The dry towel landed on him.

Ning Rushen hurriedly grabbed it to dry his hair. His sleeves slipped down, bunching at the elbows, as his wet hair got tucked into his robe. As he was wiping his head, the light brightened in front, casting wavering shadows across the overlapping front of his robe.

He looked towards Li Wuting while drying his hair, “Your Majesty, why have you come?”

Li Wuting, with his back to him, slightly turned his head, “Jingyu said that Minister Ning was soaking in the water, unresponsive.”

Ning Rushen, “……”

Well said, a few more words and he could send him away.

Li Wuting spoke softly, “Who knew Minister Ning had fallen asleep soaking, even the little monk couldn’t wake you by knocking.”

Ning Rushen guiltily shrank back into the bed, “I was too tired.”

“How did you get tired?”

“I climbed mountains and prayed everywhere.”

“…” Li Wuting, “Oh, prayed for what?”

“For Your Majesty’s blessings.”

Li Wuting was silent for a moment, finally turning to face him. Ning Rushen had straightened his clothes, only his wet hair clung to his shoulders and back, glistening with water.

After he finished speaking, the light and shadow in front of him flickered.

Li Wuting walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, his stern features softened by the warm light: “Is that so? I shall take it that Minister Ning truly meant it.”

What does he mean by ‘take it’?

Ning Rushen leaned forward, “I truly did.”

His extended neck still had water droplets on it.

Li Wuting glanced at it, then pressed his head back down, “Dry your hair, don’t get water all over me.”

Ning Rushen instinctively said, “Isn’t it already…”

He stopped himself mid-sentence. The situation had been chaotic, and when he woke up, he was caught between reality and dreams, not having had time to think things through. Now thinking about it: it was Li Wuting who had pushed the door open when he was in the water.

And he had reached out to pull him up.

At that moment, he hadn’t…

Damn. Ning Rushen shivered, a rush of heat flooding through him!

He sat on the edge of the bed, dazed.

Unaware that from his ears to his collarbone, a faint blush spread.

He was tainted now.

Ah, no, wait, they were both men, so maybe he retained some purity.

Just then, he suddenly heard Li Wuting ask, “By the way, I haven’t pursued the matter yet, does Minister Ning realize his fault?”

Ning Rushen came back to his senses, bowing his head in admission, “Yes… I offended Your Majesty’s eyes.”

“…”

Li Wuting’s brow twitched, restraining himself, “I meant the matter of you calling my name directly.”

Ning Rushen froze, suddenly realizing—

In that moment he awoke, he had indeed called out Li Wuting’s name.

Li Wuting looked at him, “Called quite smoothly?”

Ning Rushen’s heart lifted, “Mainly because it came out smoothly.”

The two looked at each other, one above, one below.

After a long pause, Li Wuting said, “Forget it,” and then put his hand behind Ning Rushen’s head, expertly shaking it to listen for a sound: “I shall take it as Minister Ning’s head was just soaked and not clear. If you speak so recklessly in public next time, I won’t be able to excuse you. The emperor’s name is not to be used lightly, understood?”

Ning Rushen, head spinning, “Yes…”

Li Wuting watched him, seemingly with a hint of a smile.

Then he withdrew his wet hand and stood up.

“Call me by my name at most.”

Ning Rushen didn’t catch on: What?

Li Wuting had already turned and was walking towards the door, his tall figure passing the half-open screen and pushing the door open: “Have someone clean up.”

From outside, De Quan’s voice floated in, “Yes.”

A line of palace servants quickly came in to tidy up the bath tub and screen.

Ning Rushen sat on the bed, watching the silent palace servants in front of him, reflecting in a strangely familiar sensation:

…Did Li Wuting mean that he could call him by his name?

Ning Rushen stayed a night at Shaoguo Temple. The next day, he got up and went for the vegetarian meal. The monks practiced simplicity, so even the emperor’s visit did not call for much fanfare. Everyone was having breakfast in the dining hall.

As Ning Rushen approached, he saw Li Wuting, Empress Shu, and Master Jingxi leaving the dining hall. The three walked ahead, followed by De Quan and a few guards. From a distance, Ning Rushen watched them for a couple of seconds. Li Wuting, sensing something, suddenly turned his way, and their gazes met. Ning Rushen instinctively held his breath. Li Wuting’s expression remained cool, but Ning Rushen thought he saw a hint of a smile before he turned away and walked off.

“……” Probably just a half-awake illusion.

Shaking his head, Ning Rushen tucked his hands into his sleeves and entered the dining hall. Inside, Li Jingyu hadn’t finished his meal yet. Spotting Ning Rushen, he waved, “Minister Ning, over here!”

Ning Rushen walked over, greeted him, and grabbed a plate of steamed buns and vegetarian tofu soup to sit beside him, “Young Highness.”

After exchanging greetings, they both stuffed buns into their mouths. Chewing, Ning Rushen’s mind wandered back to what Li Wuting had said about being allowed to call him by his name. But what was his style name?

Looking at the little figure beside him, Ning Rushen hesitated, then asked, “Young Highness, do you know what the Emperor’s style name is?”

Li Jingyu swallowed his bun, “You want to know, Minister?”

Ning Rushen nodded.

Li Jingyu waved away the attending palace servants, ensuring privacy, then leaned in and whispered, “It’s a long story… You should know, Brother’s name isn’t well-liked. It was given by our late father.”

Ning Rushen pondered; indeed, it wasn’t a good name. ‘Wuting’—implying justice and authority, but prefixed by ‘wu’, negating any possibility of his accession as emperor from the start.

“Why would the late Emperor…”

Li Jingyu spoke gravely, “That involves some deep imperial secrets.”

More secrets???

Ning Rushen grew anxious, “Hmm.”

Li Jingyu continued, “Initially, Father wanted to name him ‘Yuanting’, where ‘Yuan’ means beginning. But he wrote it hastily, and Mother read it as ‘Wuting’ at that moment.”

“…”

“Father, not wanting to admit his sloppy handwriting, just nodded and said: ‘Yes, it’s Wuting.’ So, Brother was named Wuting.”

“………”

Ning Rushen gasped.

That was indeed quite careless—and yet another utterly frivolous imperial secret!

“Minister Ning, what’s wrong?” Li Jingyu leaned in.

Ning Rushen calmed himself, “Nothing.”

Li Wuting really had a tough fate, right from birth.

“What happened later?” he asked.

Li Jingyu explained, “Later, when Brother came of age, Father had passed away. At that time, during the struggle for the throne, no one held the crown ceremony for him. So, Brother chose the style name ‘Chaojun’ for himself.”

—Chaojun.

Despite the foreboding ‘Wuting’, he still aspired to be upright and just, embodying the nobleman’s path.

Ning Rushen mentally repeated: Chaojun. It suited Li Wuting indeed.

After finishing breakfast and hearing an absurd secret, Ning Rushen was about to leave when he suddenly remembered Prince Jingyu’s way of talking—most likely, it would turn into:

He was secretly inquiring about Li Wuting’s style name.

He thought for a moment, then called out, “Young Highness.”

Li Jingyu looked up, “Hmm?”

Ning Rushen, with a heavy heart, “Don’t tell His Majesty that I was secretly inquiring about his style name.”

As soon as he spoke, he regretted it.

Next second, indeed, “So Minister Ning was secretly inquiring.”

“……” No!

Li Jingyu seemed to have gained a secret and quickly scampered off, leaving Ning Rushen to close his eyes in pain at the spot:

He must have been cursed by Shi Yi.

Leaving the dining hall, Ning Rushen felt the need to take a walk, to clear his muddled mind. He wandered around.

Shaoguo Temple was vast; he meandered through courtyards and somehow ended up in a serene garden on the west side.

No one else was in the tranquil courtyard, which featured a lush Bodhi tree adorned with red prayer ribbons.

Ning Rushen walked over, gathering his crimson sleeves, looking up at the tree. A breeze swept through the courtyard, causing the red ribbons and his crimson sleeves to flutter together in this verdant small courtyard—a moment of profound peace.

Suddenly, from behind, a voice:

“Has the layman lost his way?”

Ning Rushen turned to see Master Jingxi standing at the courtyard entrance, with a serene smile directed at him.

“Not at all, just wandering around.”

He paused, “Am I not supposed to be here?”

Jingxi responded, “In this world, there is no place one should not go to. Since you’ve come, it’s by fate.”

Ning Rushen nodded, “Well said.”

Surely Shi Yi, Prince Xuan, and Geng Quan—always scrambling around his mansion—would agree wholeheartedly.

He saw Jingxi still smiling there.

“Master, are you here for something? Then I’ll leave, not to disturb you.”

“No need. I just finished discussing scriptures with His Majesty and saw you wandering here, so I came to ask.”

Ning Rushen thought to himself that he wasn’t wandering like a lost soul…

Thump, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Those few words reverberated through his mind.

Ning Rushen quickly looked up at Jingxi, a shocking suspicion dawning on him:

“Master means…”

Jingxi still smilingly asked, “Has the layman lost his way?”

From afar, the bell sounds drifted through the woods, shaking Ning Rushen’s soul, and after a long moment, he said, “…Yes.”

Jingxi, serene, “The layman still has attachments.”

Of course. How could one forget the first twenty-some years of life? Occasionally, he would even dream of that other world’s life.

Like yesterday, he dreamt he was in a dorm.

Dreamt of the three brothers.

“Does the layman wish to return?”

“I…”

Ning Rushen had never really thought about it. He usually went with the flow, but suddenly, prompted by Jingxi, he asked subconsciously:

“Can I go back?”

Jingxi didn’t speak; only the wind passed through the courtyard.

Ribbons fluttered like waves, Bodhi leaves rustled…

Outside the courtyard, De Quan and the accompanying guards kept their heads down, daring not to make a sound.

Li Wuting stood a step away.

He silently lowered his eyes, his knuckles curling at his side.

Author’s note:

Li Wuting: My cat… QnQ

Ning Rushen: Just chatting casually with the master~

*Chao: The ‘Chao’ of imperial court, and the ‘Chao’ of direction.

Ps. Simplified Chinese and colloquial language are used by default for the fictional setting!

Strictly speaking, discussing language in a time-travel context would require dialogues entirely in classical Chinese, with writings in Kai, Jin, and seal scripts… So let’s keep it simple.