Behind the tightly-covered potted plant, Ning Rushen’s heartbeat gradually settled down. He lowered his head to tug his sleeve back into place:

So there was a bit peeking out after all…

The next moment, the sound of little feet came closer:

“Eh? Where did Minister Ning go—”

Rustle! The leaves in front were brushed aside by Li Jingyu.

Ning Rushen froze instantly, completely still like a chicken.

“Imperial brother, do you think…”

“I think your homework is still too little.” Li Wuting’s calm voice came through. “Have you already forgotten what I just said?”

“…”

Li Jingyu obediently bowed his head, “This prince will go back to study.”

The sounds outside faded as the group left.

Ning Rushen leaned against the stone wall and let out a long breath.

But then, rustle!—light spilled in as the leaves in front of him were pushed aside.

Li Wuting stood there, framed by branches and leaves, his defined and handsome features brought to life in the vivid light.

Ning Rushen held his breath, “Your Majesty.”

Li Wuting said, “Not coming out? Have you grown roots in there?”

Ning Rushen scrambled to move the potted plant aside.

He struggled, his slender hands bulging with veins, while the rustling leaves brushed against his head, frizzing up his hair.

Unable to watch any longer, Li Wuting reached out, easily pulling the plant away. “Come out.”

Ning Rushen glanced up in awe, “Your Majesty has such strong arms.”

“…” Li Wuting.

Crawling out, Ning Rushen straightened his clothes and then heard a question:

“Do you really need to take hide and seek so seriously?”

“I bet on freshly baked cakes.”

There was a brief pause. Then Li Wuting said softly, “That’s risking Ning Qing’s life.”

Ning Rushen: .

He nodded in agreement, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving my life.”

Li Wuting glanced over, “Just a casual thank you?”

Ning Rushen was stunned for a moment.

Glancing at Li Wuting’s expression, he slowly raised his hand and solemnly bowed:

“Thank—Your Majesty, for saving my life?”

Li Wuting: “…”

His gaze remained silent and steady on Ning Rushen.

Sensing a faint foreboding, Ning Rushen touched his nose sheepishly and said, “Then… how about I share half my cakes with Your Majesty?”

Li Wuting commented, “Taken from the emperor, used for the emperor.”

“…”

What nonsense! That was half his life!

The two stared at each other in silence.

Suddenly, Li Wuting reached out.

Instinctively, Ning Rushen’s shoulder flinched, and he closed his eyes. A light touch swept over his head:

“If you can’t think of anything now, owe it to me and pay me back next time.”

When Ning Rushen opened his eyes, Li Wuting had already withdrawn his hand, holding a leaf he had plucked from Ning Rushen’s hair.

“Oh… yes.” Ning Rushen touched his head: So there was grass growing there after all.

Carrying his surviving cakes, Ning Rushen returned to his mansion.

The anxiety of facing Grand Tutor Ji and “silently copying ancient texts” rose again.

Over the next few days, Ning Rushen devoted himself to silent copying whenever he finished work. From High Mountains and Flowing Water to The Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage, he copied everything.

And, of course, he slipped in some personal “content”—like how cabbage buns supposedly originated in Yuchuan.

During one of these sessions, Yan Min came in with tea and glanced at the writing. Startled, he said, “This is the first I’ve heard of this!”

Ning Rushen, without lifting his head, said, “That’s because I made it up.”

“…” Yan Min was shocked, “How can you make things up like that?!”

Ning Rushen casually replied, “Isn’t history created by the working people?”

Yan Min opened his mouth but paused, confused: It didn’t sound wrong, but something felt off.

Ning Rushen spent a few days creating like a “Divine Brush Ma Liang.”

As expected, Grand Tutor Ji was preoccupied with discussions about the Cabinet with Li Wuting and hadn’t come to collect his debt.

Instead, Fan Wan found time to visit him at his mansion.

“Minister Ning, long time no see.”

If Fan Wan hadn’t brought it up, Ning Rushen wouldn’t have been reminded of the last time they parted, when he had climbed into Fan Wan’s carriage only to be dragged out by Li Wuting in front of everyone.

Ning Rushen sighed, “Take a seat.”

Fan Wan, clearly remembering as well, said, “About last time, Minister Ning, please don’t take it to heart. If my carriage allowed you a good nap, then it was my carriage’s good fortune. If you don’t mind, you’re welcome anytime—”

As he spoke, the tree canopy above them rustled slightly.

Ning Rushen glanced up: …Could it be another wall-hopping “visitor”?

“What’s wrong?”

Fan Wan followed his gaze but saw nothing unusual. However, he inadvertently noticed something strange at the wall.

“Minister Ning, there’s a large gap in your wall.”

Ning Rushen tensed instantly, worried that Fan Wan might also decide to scale the wall. “Oh, that’s for thieves to climb.”

Like the one who just passed through.

“???”

Fan Wan was stunned: This was the first time he’d heard of someone leaving a path specifically for thieves!

He exclaimed, “No wonder Minister Ning is so successful at a young age. You clearly understand how to live harmoniously with everyone.”

“…” Ning Rushen said softly, “Exactly.”

After some small talk, Fan Wan got to the point.

“Minister Ning, about the ancient texts you mentioned last time…”

“I’ve only copied half so far,” Ning Rushen said. “But I promised Grand Tutor Ji that he would get to read it first once I finished.”

Fan Wan deflated, “Of course, that’s only right.”

Ning Rushen glanced at him and suddenly had an idea.

“There’s a compromise.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll dictate it to you while you write. That way, you get a sneak peek at the text without breaking my promise to Grand Tutor Ji.”

A pause.

Then Fan Wan exclaimed, “Brilliant!”

Ning Rushen pushed the brush and ink towards him, “Isn’t it?”

Half an hour later.

Ning Rushen sipped tea, watching Fan Wan finish the last stroke of a character. He couldn’t help but admire, “As expected of the new top scholar—your handwriting is both fast and beautiful.”

“It’s done.”

“Such profound stories.”

Fan Wan was still immersed in the text, clutching the pages with shining eyes. “I’ve gained so much today. Minister Ning, may I treat you to dinner to show my gratitude?”

“Oh, there’s no need…!” Ning Rushen shyly swallowed, “But where should we eat?”

His hands unconsciously gripped the edge of the table, his eyes glowing with anticipation. Fan Wan, taller than him, couldn’t help but smile at the expectant look on his face.

“Wherever you like—”

Before he could finish, a voice came from outside.

“Minister!” Yan Min entered with an attendant.

The attendant, upon seeing Fan Wan, nodded politely and then bowed to Ning Rushen:

“Minister Ning, His Majesty awaits you outside and summons you to accompany him.”

Ning Rushen froze: Outside? For what?

And…

He glanced reluctantly at Fan Wan: He hadn’t even eaten yet.

The attendant suddenly cleared his throat, his expression subtly odd. “His Majesty instructed me to tell you… that this time, the ride is in the golden carriage.”

—!!!

Ning Rushen shot to his feet!

Wasn’t that the golden nest he dreamed of revisiting?

“This humble servant will answer the summons immediately.” Ning Rushen turned to Fan Wan, who looked stunned. “Thank you for the invitation. Next time, for sure.”

With that, he followed the attendant out.

Fan Wan: ???

The imperial procession stopped at the Eastern City’s Military Division, just one street away from Ning Rushen’s mansion.

The golden carriage gleamed brilliantly in front of the division headquarters, with the street cleared and imperial guards stationed five steps apart in every direction.

The dazzling sight left Ning Rushen in a daze:

…This must be what dreams manifesting into reality looks like.

His heart pounding, he climbed into the carriage, lifted the curtain—only to find that Li Wuting wasn’t there.

Li Jingyu sat inside, swinging his little legs. “Minister Ning~”

Ning Rushen: ?

He sat down. “Your Highness, where is His Majesty?”

“Imperial brother said he had business at the division and told me to wait for him here.”

“Oh. Then does Your Highness know why His Majesty summoned me?”

“I don’t know.” Li Jingyu replied, “Imperial brother was checking my studies in the palace when a Royal Guard came to report something. After a few words, he decided to come to the Eastern City’s Military Division.”

Hearing “Royal Guard,” Ning Rushen’s first thought was Shi Yi. But since Li Wuting came to the division, it was likely another guard reporting some important matter.

The little prince swung his legs again. “This is my first time riding this type of carriage with imperial brother. It’s so comfortable~”

Ning Rushen’s attention was pulled back.

Skillfully, he pulled out a pile of blankets, stacking them around both Li Jingyu and himself:

“This servant also finds it comfortable.”

The two sprawled out simultaneously, letting out a satisfied sigh: “Ah—”

After lounging for a while, Li Wuting still hadn’t returned.

Li Jingyu asked, “By the way, Minister Ning, where did you hide during our last game of hide and seek?”

“…” Ning Rushen hedged, “A rockery.”

Li Jingyu regretted, “Ah, I was so close!”

Ning Rushen pressed his lips together: Exactly, so close yet so far.

“Also, I owe Minister Ning a secret.”

“What secret?” Ning Rushen was instantly intrigued.

What secret could there be that even he didn’t know about himself?

Li Jingyu sat up. “This is something I found when I snuck into my second brother’s mansion. It was hidden under his desk. Oh, imperial brother is coming back, so look quickly.”

With that, he handed Ning Rushen a neatly preserved piece of paper.

“What’s this?” Ning Rushen looked down at it.

Li Jingyu leaned closer, “Heehee.”

Ning Rushen: …

Ning Rushen: ???

Author’s Note:

Li Wuting: Just keep my cat tucked away in this golden nest; nothing will go wrong.

Little Prince: Heehee.

Ning Rushen: …?

Managed to get a bit more written. Collapsing now.

Little Jingyu is still pure, but the “cat” might not be.