“Alright, qing can go back for now.”

The young man raised his eyebrows and glanced at the emperor who was seated with the clear artitude of seeing off guests, and showed a helpless smile on his face: “Your Majesty avoids this subject like one avoids rats and snakes, but why does this subject still have no resentment?”

Jing Ye glanced at him coldly, what, do you still want payment as well?

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Lu Baizang stood up from the ground, adjusted the sleeves of his robe, and bowed in a salute: “This subject will take my leave.” He turned around, picked up the food box with one hand, and grabbed Lu Huihui, who was immersed in the world of dim sum, and threw it in with the other, his movements a bit rough, causing His Majesty the Emperor to sweat a bit for the little stupid pig.

Throwing it like this would affect the quality of the meat.

As he thought this, the lid of the box was lifted immediately, and Lu Huihui put his two front legs on the edge of the box against the lid, and his small black bean-like eyes flashed, cheerfully indicating that he was intact.

Jing Ye: “…”

Lu Baizang laughed and pressed the little white pig’s head: “When this little beast is not immersed in eating snacks, he’s not that stupid.”

After the two left the palace, and he could no longer hear any movement outside, Jing Ye slapped the table with a dark face: “Ye Mao!”

Ye Gonggong sidled out tremblingly: “Your Majesty…”

“What were you doing just now?”

“This servant…” Ye Gonggong choked for a moment, then his eyes flickered, he toughened his scalp and replied, “This servant accidentally stepped on dog poop and went back to change.”

“…”

So Ye Gonggong was now unable to eat meat for half a year.

In the early morning of the next day, the emperor had his breakfast, and a palace servant entered the hall and said, “Your Majesty, Lord Feng asks to see you.”

Jing Ye’s hand holding the tea paused: “Coming so early?” He looked up at Ye Mao, “See him in quickly.”

Ye Mao responded, and soon, Feng Ling walked in, with a slight hurried pace, he stepped forward and bowed: “Paying respects to Your Majesty.”

“Feng Qing, rise quickly.” Jing Ye put down the teacup, and got up to help him, “When seeing zhen in the future, there is no need for such etiquette.”

“Etiquette cannot be abandoned.” Lord Feng was very stubborn.

“Fine.” Jing Ye sighed, “Do as you like.” There was an intimacy in his tone, and Feng Ling choked when he heard the words, and couldn’t say any more words of propriety.

Jing Ye was still looking at him with a slight smile: “Why has qing come?”

Feng Ling looked at him and then lowered his head: “Your Majesty was seriously ill the day before yesterday, and this official entered the palace today just to see how Your Majesty is recovering…”

Jing Ye was stunned for a while, and felt his heart move. He reached out to hold the hand of the person in front of him, and led him into the inner room: “Then why don’t qing assist zhen with the memorials, just like in the imperial study.”

“Yes.”

So Feng Ling knelt down on the small table and sorted out the untidy memorials. The emperor was still lying on the couch, randomly looking through a memorial.

After reading for the time a small incense stick burnt down, Jing Ye felt bored, it seemed that after returning to his personal quarters, he had no energy to complete official duties at all!

At this time, shouldn’t he be doing something that a normal incapable ruler should do!

So His Majesty the Emperor resolutely threw away the memorial, and took out a copy of “Legend of Hede” from under the pillow (don’t ask him why it was under the pillow).

Feng Ling looked up and saw the title of the book and couldn’t sit still: “Your Majesty, forgive this subject’s bluntness, this book…”

“Zhen knows.” Jing Ye glanced at it briefly and then threw it away listlessly. Looking at the nervous young man in front of him, his eyes suddenly became empty, “But zhen has been feeling dizzy for the past two days, and zhen‘s chest feels tight…..”

Ye Gonggong: …Your Majesty, you actually have such symptoms? Why doesn’t this servant know?

“What?” Lord Feng was shocked, “This official will go to bring the imperial physician.” And as he spoke, he was about to get up.

“Ai, ai, the imperial physician has already said.” The emperor immediately stretched out his hand to hold him down, “It’s just the aftermath of food poisoning, and it will subside slowly.”

“Really? This…” Feng Ling sighed, “What shall be done?”

Jing Ye thought of the Feng family son’s qin music, which was praised by the people of the dynasty in his memory, and smiled, “Isn’t qing quite proficient in music, why don’t you play a song for zhen?”

Feng Ling was startled: “But this subject entered the palace empty-handed, without bringing a qin or a flute…”

“It doesn’t matter.” Jing Ye waved his hand with a smile, and took out a jade flute from under him, “Here is one.”

Feng Ling took it and looked at it carefully: “Isn’t this the green jade flute left by the late emperor? Rumor has it that the music played on it is so beautiful it could overthrow a country…Why did Your Majesty put it on the couch?”

It’s so valuable, so zhen couldn’t help but sleep hugging it.

“Cough, cough…With it here, could you play a song?”

“The divine one has ordered and this subject shall follow the divine decree.” Feng Ling nodded lightly, pressing his slender fingers on the sound holes. “What do you want to hear, Your Majesty?”

“Feng Qing can choose.”

“Yes.” Feng Ling lowered his eyes and pondered for a while, then took a light breath and pressed his thin lips to the flute. Immediately, the flute melody sounded.

It is ‘A Phoenix Comes with Grace to Rest’.

Jing Ye’s eyes flickered suddenly, feeling that it was as if this person changed completely when he played the first note.

It was still the same not very stunning features, but now like pines and cypresses after the spring rain where every green leaf flowed with scorching brilliance, and also like a snow-white gardenia hidden within the leaves, only to finally raise its head to bloom in open air, emitting traces of fragrance that slowly dissipated in the scorching summer night.

People in the world say that “faithful and loyal to the monarch, guarding to death the righteous way” refers to a true gentleman.

The continuing sound of the flute seemed to take on a quality of a dancing phoenix, circling the empty Ping’an Palace and flying straight to the sky.

After a long time, the song was finished.

Feng Ling’s long eyelashes trembled lightly, and he gently put down the flute, as if he was still immersed in the music just now.

“Your Majesty…”

“Your Majesty?”

“…”

Outside the bead curtain, Ye Gonggong, who was enjoying the filial piety of his apprentice’s tea, looked inside, and the sip of tea he took was sprayed on the face of the little eunuch beside him.

Your Majesty! Why did you fall asleep again!

“Teacher.” The little eunuch wiped the tea on his face aggrievedly.

Ye Mao stretched out his hand and patted his head: “Your teacher couldn’t control it.”

“…Yes, teacher.”

Ye Gonggong turned his head and silently concealed the wildly galloping grass mud horse he was sure could be seen on his face, and was about to scream at the moon: This is not going right, Your Majesty! Shouldn’t listening to the melodious music played by a beauty lead to, you know, kissing and touching…or hugging and then blowing this ‘flute’ and that ‘flute’…why did you fall! Asleep! Again!

Falling asleep in everything you do, could it be that you have been up to secret things at night when this servant wasn’t paying attention…

Feng Ling was stunned for a while, then slowly put the jade flute back under the emperor’s pillow. The back of his hand gently brushed against the emperor’s soft cheek at that moment, and his heart trembled.

The first time he entered the palace, it was for the common people of the southwest, the second time was for the emperor’s diligent administration, the third time, and the fourth time, for…

Now, how much thought did he put into entering the palace secretly, all the while avoiding his parents? What for?

There were thousands of thoughts in his heart that he couldn’t voice clearly, or understand fully.

It was just that he couldn’t help but keep looking at him, his hands froze for a long time, struggling, but still he couldn’t help but to…touch.

Feng Ling stared blankly. The morning light that gradually brightened, shining in through the regular window panes, fell on the face of the person in front of him.

The little eunuch sneaked in and said to Ye Mao, “Teacher, Gu Gongzi is here.”

“What?” Ye Gonggong got up and looked inside the curtain, “Ai, can’t these little ancestors come one by one?”

“Teacher, shall I see him in?”

“This…” Ye Mao was in a dilemma for a moment, then flicked his whisk, “See him in!”

Gu Hong was led by the little eunuch, and he calmly stepped in. Ye Mao immediately greeted him, his voice lowered: “Gu Gongzi, you see, it just so happens that His Majesty is asleep.”

“The sun is high up in the sky.” Gu Hong chuckled, “If His Majesty continues to sleep, aren’t you afraid of him hungering?”

Ye Mao: “…” You and Lu Gongzi asked the same thing.

Gu Hong smiled lightly, holding a book in his left hand, took two steps forward, raised his hand, and gently lifted the slightly swaying bead curtain.

On this side Feng Ling was still in a daze, his fingertips almost touching the corners of the emperor’s pink lips, but was suddenly interrupted by a cold and clear voice from behind.

“Lord Feng.”

His hand trembled, and he hurriedly turned around and stood up: “Gu…Gu Gongzi.”

Gu Hong’s brows were curved into a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes: “Lord Feng, why did you enter the palace so early in the morning?”

Feng Ling bowed his head and cupped his hands: “This lower official was worried about His Majesty’s illness, so this official entered the palace to ask after his health.”

Jing Ye was awakened by the voices of the two of them. He sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes: “Hmm? Why isn’t Feng Qing playing the flute any longer?”

Feng Ling smiled and said, “This subject has finished the performance.”

“Ah?” His Majesty the Emperor stared blankly for a long time, then remembered that he had fallen asleep shamefully halfway through, and hurriedly sat up straight to remedy: “Ah! Ah, qing has played wonderfully, it was ‘A Phoenix Comes with Grace to Rest’? Very good indeed, your melody should only exist in the heavens…only, ahem, zhen has never been one for classical music…”

Feng Ling looked at him, his eyes softened unconsciously: “This subject knows, if it could give Your Majesty a good dream, this melody was worth playing.”

“…Ha ha.”

“When did Gu Qing come?”

“Your Majesty.” Gu Hong smiled slightly and raised his hand to salute, “This subject has something important to discuss with Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye had seen the book in his hand, and his expression became serious, “En, zhen understands, qing can come closer. Feng Qing…”

“It’s time for this subject to leave the palace and return to the manor.” Feng Ling understood what he meant, so he bowed and saluted, “Your Majesty please forgive this subject for taking leave now.”

“Fine…” Jing Ye looked at his lowered face and eyes, and inexplicably felt apologetic, “Qing can go back. Ye Mao!”

“Ai, Your Majesty.”

“Carefully send Lord Feng back to his manor for zhen.”

“Yes.”

Feng Ling stepped back a few steps with his hands still cupped, then turned around, and the palace servant stepped forward to lift the curtain allowing him to walk out.

It was just that his footsteps suddenly stopped before the bead curtain, and he turned around, wanting to take another look at the emperor, only to be immediately startled.

He clearly saw Gu Hong holding the emperor’s hand. He had leaned over to sit on the soft couch the emperor was lying on, stretched out his right hand, and hooked a loose strand of hair behind the emperor’s ear. The emperor looked at him in a daze, and so he smiled and whispered into his ear.

There seemed to be a flash of light in those always gentle and respectful eyes, and they turned slightly towards this side.

“Ai qing.” Jing Ye’s eyes twitched, “Why do you have to speak next to my ear?” (TN: ai qing and qing are used interchangeably, the former more affectionate, translating to ‘dear subject’)

Gu Hong smiled and said, “This subject was just afraid Your Majesty couldn’t hear clearly.”

Jing Ye didn’t want to bother with these people anymore, so he reached out to take the book in Gu Hong’s hand: “Everyone is listed?”

“Yes.” Gu Hong lowered his head and watched him open the book, “The night Your Majesty was seriously ill, many officials in the capital were dispatching doormen to exchange news, and the one that moved the most in secret was the Zhao family. There.” He tapped the long first column of the book.

“En…” Jing Ye looked at it carefully, “Gu Qing has worked hard.”

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Gu Hong looked up at him and smiled softly: “Your Majesty supports my Gu family, naturally, this subject will return the generosity manyfolds.”

“…” Jing Ye read on silently, but his brows became more and more furrowed. If it was really like what was recorded in the book, then in such a big court he couldn’t even find anyone who could be used?

Reality was always much more miserable.

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Seeing Li Gongzi leaving Ping’an Palace with an expression of realization and holding the scroll, Ye Mao immediately turned around and ran into the emperor’s bedroom.

Jing Ye was leaning against the bed, still with the expression of “Go, I’ll let you go, no matter how painful my heart is, I’ll let you go as long as you’re happy”.

Ye Mao: “Your Majesty, Li Gongzi has left!”

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The expression collapsed.

Ye Mao hurriedly stepped forward to help the emperor change into a more comfortable position: “Your Majesty’s acting was really good!”

“…” Jing Ye remained expressionless, “Zhen wants to wash my face.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Ye Gonggong turned around and had the maids bring water and towel, wring it dry, leaned over and wiped the emperor’s face carefully, “This servant notices that the eyes of Your Majesty are really a bit dull.”

Well, duh, was my transcribing without sleep all night for nothing?

Ye Mao continued wiping and asked, “Your Majesty, does your throat still hurt?”

“Cough, cough…” Jing Ye swallowed, his voice hoarse, “Slightly.”

Li Qing, if you come back again, zhen would definitely give you the title of the “King of Deadly Cooking”, who had never come before or would ever come in the future, so that everyone in the world would understand that your cooking skills are even more powerful than your face.

The next day, the imperial decree to depose Li Gongzi was sent to Yaoguang Hall. There was also an addition to the emperor’s order: Because of zhen‘s serious illness, the government affairs are to be temporarily managed by the Minister of the Right who shall lead the cabinet, the vermillion ink to be replaced with blue.

When the emperor made this move, there was an uproar in the court and once again there was gossip to be discussed.

The attitude among the common people was still quite the same. They all sighed at how the jade-like gentleman Mr. Tanhua refused to be afraid of using his death to oppose power (although it was the emperor who was poisoned), and finally ended up in a tragic situation of being exiled to a barren land, which only made many infatuated young ladies cry out of heartbreak.

The thoughts of the people in the court were much more varied. Some felt sorry for Li Tingqiu having the ability to serve the country but with no way to do so. Some scolded the incapable ruler but could do nothing. Some took into account the diligent administration of the emperor the past few days and faintly noticed something. There were also those sitting on pins and needles, afraid that their precious son/brother/nephew would be snatched by the emperor to fill the harem…

At dusk, in the western part of the capital.

“You can accompany a friend for a thousand kilometers, but eventually you will have to say farewell.” Gu Hong led the horse behind him and smiled, “The two of them wanted to come to see you off, but after all, they shouldn’t be too ostentatious, so they did not come.”

“I understand.”

Li Tingqiu lowered his eyes, turned around and stepped on the carriage, but then suddenly stopped: “Ruo Shui.”

“En?”

“He…what is he doing this for?”

“What do you say he is doing this for? Why bother with this anymore, you have escaped the cage.”

The young man was silent for a long time, and finally grabbed onto the wall of the carriage and boarded the carriage: “What Ruo Shui said is very true.”

Gu Hong smiled slightly and watched as the carriage curtains were lowered and the wheels reeled, heading down the road to the southwest.

In the palace, Jing Ye could also be said to have relied on Li Tingqiu’s blessing, and finally spent a few days living the life of an incapable ruler.

Life couldn’t be better at all.

If one could ignore some certain people.

After lunch at noon, Jing Ye ordered someone to put down the gauze curtain by the window and laid on the soft couch to read a memorial. Although there was no need for the emperor’s personal approval in vermillion ink, there were some things in the memorials that could not be ignored.

After reading for a while longer, His Majesty the Emperor, who was diligent in government and loves the people, yawned. After a while, he yawned again, then a third, a fourth, and a fifth time…..

Then he fell asleep.

The burning ambergris in the jade cauldron slowly floated into the air. The afternoon breeze evoking good dreams.

Ye Gonggong was serving outside, and seeing this situation, he instructed the little eunuch beside him: “Tell those palace maids to be quiet, His Majesty is asleep.”

“Ai, teacher.”

As soon as the voice fell, a little palace maid hurried in, Ye Mao held the whisk and pointed at her: “Be quieter.”

“Gonggong, Lu Gongzi is here.”

“What?” Ye Gonggong startled, “Quick, go and tell the gongzi that His Majesty is still asleep, change the time…”

“Change what time?” Lu Baizang walked in with a smile, carrying a wooden food box, followed by a few little eunuchs who wanted to stop but didn’t dare. “Ye Gonggong.”

Ye Mao: “…Lu Gongzi, His Majesty is still asleep.”

“Asleep?” Lu Baizang looked in, “His Majesty had just eaten lunch, right? Sleeping after a meal can lead to indigestion, which is not good for the dragon body. I will go and accompany His Majesty for a chat.” After he finished speaking, he raised the bead curtain and was about to enter.

“Ai, Lu Gongzi! His Majesty ordered…” Ye Mao hurried over to stop him, but a certain someone tripped him with his foot, causing him to fall to the ground. Fortunately, a fleece carpet was placed on it, so it didn’t hurt too much.

Lu Baizang chuckled lightly, then lifted the curtain and went in.

Lu Baizang walked quietly to the front of the couch. He saw the sun shining through the soft smoke-like gauze curtain to envelop the emperor in a hazy halo. His long feathered eyelashes occasionally trembled slightly, his thin lips were pursed, and he appeared more gentle when asleep.

Lu Baizang’s lips curved upwards, he bent down and rubbed the emperor’s gentle profile, and placed the food box on the small table beside the couch.

Unfortunately, the food box’s weight caused the memorials that were stacked so high to suddenly become unstable, and they all fell to the ground.

Jing Ye was awakened suddenly by the noise. His eyes adjusting to the sunlight, he turned his head and saw Lu Baizang.

Jing Ye: “F**k!”

“What did Your Majesty say?” The other raised his eyebrows and smiled.

“No, it’s nothing.” Jing Ye felt his eyes twitch and he sat up, “Why is qing here?”

“…” Lu Gongzi blinked and bit the folding fan again: “Your Majesty, twice.”

“What?”

“Twice Your Majesty sees this subject, and all you say is…” Lu Baizang looked aggrieved, “Why did qing come here? Your Majesty hates seeing this subject that much?”

Jing Ye: “…No, zhen does not mean that.”

Lu Baizang squinted at him for a while, then smiled again: “This subject made some pastries for Your Majesty, could Your Majesty try it?”

Jing Ye: “…” He even knows how to make pastries.

“These are all ones that this subject newly came up with. Your Majesty will definitely like them.” Lu Baizang leaned over and smiled.

Really? Jing Ye became a little interested, and lowered his head silently, only to see that after the exquisite box lid was lifted, on the luxurious and beautiful agate plate, lay a snow-white chubby steamed bun.

But steamed buns won’t have a tail that curls, and a belly that shrinks and stretches!

Lu Baizang: “!”

Jing Ye raised his head sincerely: “Qing, zhen doesn’t want to eat raw pork at the moment.”

“…”

Lu Baizang showed exasperation on his face, and stretched out his hand to pick up the “steamed bun” that had curled into an ellipsoid shape: “A moment of carelessness let this little beast startle Your Majesty.”

“Your pet?” Jing Ye couldn’t help laughing. The little guy was lying in the young man’s flat, jade-like palm, flicking its pretty ears from time to time, “Lu Qing has quite the leisurely interest.”

Lu Baizang looked at the emperor’s expression with clear eyes.

When the emperor forced him to enter the palace, he had his attendants throw Lu Huihui into the wasteland when he was off guard, and he was even more disgusted with cats and dogs. A palace maid once raised a stray cat in her room and after being caught by him, it was seized and burned alive in front of the palace gate.

But the person in front of him had smiling eyes. Seeing Lu Huihui open its eyes and sniffing around, he stretched out his right hand with palm flat and the little suckling pig immediately jumped up onto it with short stubby legs.

Jing Ye rubbed its snow-white fluff: it felt so soft, the meat must be good.

…When faced with the question of how to deal with the cute pet Lu Huihui, the former and current emperor undoubtedly maintained an astonishing consistency. It was a pity that the little stupid pig didn’t feel the murderous intent around it at all, still wagging its tail and trying its best to burrow into the embrace that emitted the sweet fragrance of honey pastry and incense.

The emperor poked its round head and smiled softly. Because he had just taken a nap, his hair was not as meticulous as usual, the strands were scattered, his robes were not neat, there was also a sleepy look in his eyes, and his movements were slightly slower than usual, looking rather indolent.

Lu Baizang’s eyes darkened, and he said, “Your Majesty.”

“En?”

The young man smiled slightly, leaned over closer to the emperor’s temples, picked up Lu Huihui with one hand and tossed it behind him. The little piglet landed on the small table accurately, and then with the momentum of “not defeating the Loulan, we shall not return”, plunged into the pile of cakes prepared by the palace servants for the emperor.

“Your Majesty…” The young man’s scent tightly enveloped him, and Jing Ye’s right hand shook: Why was there such a strong flavor of the ambiguous again…

“Why does Your Majesty only look at it, is it better looking than this subject?”

Jing Ye: “…” You have high aspirations, comparing your beauty with that of a pig.

*

In the afternoon, the ice cubes in the copper basin radiated cold air, the mist rising up into the air, mixed with the scent of ambergris, and gradually filled the entire bedroom.

Outside of the bead curtain, Ye Mao and the palace servants had already retired wisely. The hall was silent, echoing the ambiguous moist sounds that made people blush and feel warm all over.

When he was so aroused that his guard lowered, Lu Baizang unwittingly slowly let go of the clamped wrists in his hand, slipping his left hand between the other’s legs, and alternately caressed with light and heavy pressure.

He was just gently biting and kissing the emperor’s flexible waist when he noticed a hand groping over and gently touching his face: “Lu Qing…”

When the emperor called with a voice that was slightly hoarse, it seemed to be full of affection, which was quite captivating.

Lu Baizang reached out and held it without thought: “Your Majesty…”

“Lu Qing.” Jing Ye called again in a hoarse voice, “Zhen wants to see you…”

Lu Baizang couldn’t help feeling his heartbeat taking a drum rhythm, and he subconsciously raised his head to meet the tearful eyes of the emperor.

Then…

“Thump!”

The third time.

Let’s wipe a tear for Lu Gongzi with Ye Gonggong.

“Your Majesty…” Lu Baizang simply propped up his right leg and leaned against the cool fleece carpet, but a certain part of his body was still so hot and swollen so he could only smile bitterly.

“Why are you so heartless to this subject?”

“If qing can keep your body chaste for three months.” Jing Ye closed the torn front of his robes, “Zhen will believe that you have feelings for zhen.” (TN: by chaste I don’t think he is implying that Lu Baizang does it with other people, just stipulating that he must wait three months before they can take it any further)

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“If qing has feelings for zhen, then zhen will not disappoint qing.”

Lu Baizang was surprised at first, then amused, and then the smile turned into a heavy gaze, “Your Majesty is so greedy.”

Jing Ye sorted out his clothes and sat at the small table: “Who in the world is not greedy? Are you not greedy?”

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It was the middle of the night, but Ping’an Palace was still bright with the lights lit.

The four gongzi, Gu Hong, Li Tingqiu, Lin Xiaosheng, and Lu Baizang all sat quietly in the main hall. Except for the palace servants they brought, there were no servants from Ping’an Palace in the hall. Some of the palace servants received the imperial physicians in the sleeping chamber, and some sent prescriptions and ran errands to urge the medicine brewing in the imperial kitchen, and the rest were ordered to go to Junxiang Hall to kneel and pray for the emperor’s health.

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The situation seemed to be getting worse and worse, and most of the officials in the capital have already received news.

Some were happy and some were worried.

However, Feng Ling had no time to care about any of this. When he heard the news, he got up and put on his official robes and ran towards the palace, but was stopped by Madam Feng who asked, “What are you doing willingly getting close to that kind of incapable ruler?”

“Mother!”

“Let him go.” Old Lord Feng stood by the window with his hands behind his back, “If something happens to His Majesty, would we be safe and sound? An incapable dragon is still a dragon. Without a dragon at the head, the world will be thrown into chaos.”

“The capital will be thrown into chaos.” Gu Hong lowered his head and stared at the steam rising from the teacup, “The Jing family line is too sparse. No matter how immoral he was in the past, he is also a proper emperor of the Jing family.”

The young man frowned slightly, “Do you understand, Ting Qiu?”

Li Tingqiu was silent.

“Mr. Tanhua, the emperor treating you like this, aren’t you moved at all?” Lu Baizang said with a smile, “If he could eat that slop you made, it definitely proves his devotion to you.” (TN: tanhua=third place on the imperial palace examination)

Mr. Tanhua raised his head and glared at him.

“What are you glaring at? The dishes you cooked? Even my Lu Huihui wouldn’t eat it.”

Lin Xiaosheng laughed aloud: “Lu Huihui dislikes even you, how could it give face to Ting Qiu?”

“That’s true.”

Li Tingqiu: “…”

The several people naturally went off the topic with “Will Huihui eat a bite if Ting Qiu sacrifices his sex appeal” and other similar scenarios, completely ignoring Mr. Tanhua‘s expression that was turning as black as coal. At this time, a small medicine boy suddenly came in from outside and said to Gu Hong, “Gu Gongzi, my master asks you to go to the side hall to help prepare the prescription.”

“En.” Gu Hong responded and said to the other three: “I’ll leave first, you all can continue to wait. Ting Qiu.” He called to a certain someone who had become lost in his thoughts, “The Imperial Army never came to arrest you, I think it was because His Majesty had already relay word before falling into a coma, that you are not to be punished.”

Li Tingqiu froze, and then turned his face to the side in a sulky manner.

Gu Hong followed the medicine boy to the side hall, and when he looked up, he saw Feng Ling kneeling silently beside the imperial physicians.

Gu Hong was surprised: “Lord Feng.”

Feng Ling raised his eyes and when he saw it was him, he hurriedly stood up and cupped his hands: “This lower official is worried about His Majesty, so I came to wait here. I heard that Gu Gongzi‘s medical skills are very good, please be attentive.”

“But of course.” Gu Hong smiled, “Lord Feng might as well go back to the manor and wait for the news.”

“This lower official…this lower official will rather wait a little longer.” Feng Ling lowered his head, “Gu Gongzi, please go ahead.”

Gu Hong’s eyes flashed slightly, but he still smiled modestly and went in.

The imperial study room.

There was no one here. Holding a stack of documents, the black-clothed guard stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon there were footsteps coming from far to near, and with a creak, the door opened.

The black-clothed guard handed over what was in his hand: “According to the Master’s intention, they have all been recorded one by one.”

The person took it steadily and said, “Good, go back and do not move for now, don’t startle the snake.”

“Understood.”

After a night of chaos, in the end it was a false alarm. The imperial physicians wiped the sweat from their foreheads, put the heads tied to their belts back on their necks, and went back to their respective homes as tired as a dog.

In truth, the most painful thing was the mental torture, alright! For fear that they would be dragged out and executed for not healing the emperor, for fear that the emperor had been cured only for the emperor to say, “How could you useless trash let zhen be unconscious for so long?” or “Zhen‘s head hurts to death, was it you, you little bastards?” and then had them dragged out and executed.

Anyway, the emperor had done all these before.

Ye Mao entered the main hall with huge dark circles under his eyes, and said to the four people in the hall, “His Majesty has summoned Li Gongzi.”

Li Tingqiu moved forward silently, and Lu Baizang asked with a smile, “Did His Majesty say anything after waking up?”

“His Majesty said: That you could extract such a strange poison from everyday cooking ingredients, Li Gongzi is truly a talented person.”

Li Tingqiu: “…”

Li Tingqiu followed Ye Mao to the door of the sleeping chamber, and Ye Gonggong bent at the waist: “Gongzi, please wait a moment, this servant will go in and pass the message.”

The former nodded slightly, and Ye Mao entered the hall and announced, “Your Majesty, Li Gongzi is here.”

“En?” The emperor’s slightly hoarse voice sounded, “Good, let him come in, the sky…cough, it’s almost dawn.”

“Yes.”

“It’s too bright, put out two of those lights, cough, cough…”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Ye Mao sighed and had a little eunuch put out the lights. He came out and asked Li Tingqiu to enter the hall, “Li Gongzi, please come in.”

Li Tingqiu followed Ye Mao past several silk screens, and saw the palace servants coming and going, packing up the cushions that the imperial physicians had been sitting on and the tables used to consider the prescriptions. Finally, Ye Mao stopped in front of a beaded curtain, turned and said to him: “His Majesty wants to be alone with gongzi, so this servant will be waiting outside.”

He nodded, and when the palace servant lifted the bead curtain, he lowered his head and entered the emperor’s bedroom.

He had been here many times. The incapable ruler in the past ignored the government and indulged in song and wine every night, and he would be summoned every few days. Sometimes when he looked at this room, his heart would be full of hatred, hate for the emperor, and hate for himself. The aspirations of serving the country that had never faded for twenty years were buried in this luxurious Ping’an Palace.

Learn the civil and martial arts, to dedicate to the imperial family. How ironic!

Li Tingqiu clenched his fists, raised his head to look at the emperor, but saw that the other was also looking at him.

He seemed to be really ill, his cheeks were pale, his eyes were a little dull, his lips were dry and cracked due to dehydration, and he appeared very haggard. The only little palace maid remaining carefully placed behind him a cushion, and then stepped back with her head lowered.

“Li Tingqiu.” The emperor suddenly called out his name.

“This subject is here.” He bowed and saluted, his expression ice cold.

Jing Ye chuckled: “You really burned that article about…drought management?”

“Since this subject said that he would burn it, he would definitely burn it.”

“…” Jing Ye looked at him for a while, and couldn’t help shaking his head with a smile, “If zhen said, zhen has read your remarks carefully and thought…en, that it is so-so, only somewhat feasible…”

Li Tingqiu raised his head sharply.

“Your Majesty doesn’t need to tease this subject.” Li Tingqiu said coldly, “The article has been burned, so there is no need to argue whether it is feasible or not.”

“Burned? You were actually willing to do so.” The emperor smiled and touched under the pillow, taking out a scroll, “Zhen knew you would burn it, so zhen has kept a copy secretly, how about it?”

The young man was stunned.

“Would an article transcribed by the emperor himself really be lacking?”

“…” Li Tingqiu pursed his lips and was speechless.

“As soon as you go out later, Ye Mao will read the imperial edict: Imperial Consort Li Tingqiu, disrespects the emperor, prepared a poisonous imperial meal that has caused His Majesty to be in danger, to be taken into custody on the same day, and be demoted to a criminal prisoner.”

Jing Ye looked at him, and pointed at the article in his hand with his finger, “And shall be exiled to the southwest.”

There was silence in the room.

“Ting Qiu, come closer.” Jing Ye suddenly beckoned with his hand. Li Tingqiu hesitated for a bit, but walked over, and saw that the other took out another bright yellow object from under the pillow. “Here, zhen secretly issued another decree to you. You are not allowed to see it now, go out and find a place where there is no one else, and then read it alone.”

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Li Tingqiu with the beautiful jade face hesitantly took the imperial decree and the paper the article was transcribed on, and bowed: “Then this subject will take my leave now.”

The emperor smiled and said, “Li Tingqiu, zhen ruined your future in the past, and now zhen will pay you back.”

The young man paused, turned around, and left.

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The medicine was completely applied soon, and a little eunuch came into the room to clean up the mess, and then exited the room after taking care of it.

Jing Ye first scolded Ye Mao, but this time he showed no mercy. He severely deducted Ye Gonggong‘s salary for one month, and ordered him not to eat meat for a month’s duration as well.

The deduction of a month’s worth of salary was nothing, but when he heard that he couldn’t eat meat, Ye Gonggong, who felt as if he was struck by a thunderbolt, immediately knelt on the ground, hugged the emperor’s calf, and with snot and tears running down his face, he managed to haggle one month down to ten days before he finally retreated with an aggrieved expression.

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Jing Ye watched the door close again, turned his head and smiled at Gu Hong: “Qing has seen a joke.”

The corners of Gu Hong’s lips curled slightly upwards: “Ye Gonggong‘s loyalty to his master moves this subject.”

Jing Ye didn’t know what this meant, but he still smiled and went back to the desk to continue approving the memorials.

The rest of the afternoon passed without incident.

When Gu Gongzi came to the imperial study the next day, Jing Ye was no longer alarmed. He waved his hand to let Ye Mao bring refreshments, and went back to handling governmental duties.

The two stayed quietly until nearly evening, when Ye Mao knocked on the door twice: “Your Majesty, Lord Feng asks to see you.”

“Oh?” Jing Ye, who had been bored all afternoon, had a smile on his face when he heard this, “Invite him in quickly.”

“Yes.” Ye Mao answered loudly outside, turned around, and looked at Feng Ling with complicated eyes, “Lord Feng, please go in.”

Feng Ling was frightened by that hesitant and complicated expression of his: “This lower official has only come to hand over the memorial that wasn’t submitted during the morning court. There is no problem, is there?”

Ye Mao’s head shook like a rattle: “No, no, no.” I am just afraid that the emperor will have to drink vinegar on such a hot day like today, “Lord Feng, please go in quickly.” (TN: vinegar is slang for jealousy, but it is not clear whether this refers to the MC being jealous or the MC being subjected to a jealous fight between his two MLs)

Feng Ling immediately pushed open the door and entered the study, where he saw His Majesty raise his head and smile at him: “Feng Qing.”

Feng Ling knelt down and bowed: “This subject pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“Rise.” Jing Ye shook the memorial that he had just finished in his hand and motioned for him to get up, “You came at a coincidental time, zhen was just thinking of you.”

Gu Hong’s hand turning the page paused.

“This subject…is here to hand over the memorial that has not been submitted.” Feng Ling blushed, “Don’t know what orders does Your Majesty has for this official?”

“Come and help zhen sort out these memorials.” Jing Ye knocked on the tabletop in front of the mountain pile of memorials in front of him, “Ye Mao cannot help with these, so zhen must rely on you.”

“Yes.”

Feng Ling was about to step forward, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gu Hong sitting on the side, and couldn’t help being shocked: “Gu Gongzi!”

Gu Hong smiled: “Son of the Feng family, hearing about you cannot compare to seeing you in person.”

“No, no, no…..I am humbled.” Feng Ling hurriedly cupped his hands, “Gongzi is famous all over the empire, and this lower official dare not take this praise.”

Jing Ye finished approving a memorial in his hand then looked up and smiled when he saw this situation: “Gu Qing, stop teasing him, he is very thin-skinned and can’t handle it.”

Every word spoke of protection, they have actually become so intimate?

Gu Hong thought deeply in his heart, but the smile on his face did not diminish.

Feng Ling stood in front of the desk and organized the memorials for Jing Ye. Because of Gu Hong’s presence, he was not as relaxed as when he was alone. He was also hesitant and stammering when Jing Ye joked with him, making His Majesty the Emperor sigh.

When it was almost dark outside, everything was finally done. Jing Ye stood at the door of the imperial study and said goodbye to Feng Ling.

“Always asking qing to take care of these sundries for zhen, you’ve worked hard.”

“Your Majesty’s diligent administration is the blessing of the officials and the common people…” Feng Ling’s words were actually very boring, either the common people this or the common people that, but Jing Ye understood that for a life partner, he had to find such a person.

The emperor smiled and ordered Ye Mao to escort him out of the palace. After seeing the person walking away, he turned around and entered the imperial sedan. Suddenly someone grabbed his hand from behind.

“Your Majesty.”

Fingers interlaced with his own, the hand was slender and the grip firm, with thin calluses on the fingertips that come from practicing calligraphy all year round, but it was still very comfortable to hold.

Jing Ye was stunned for a moment, then turned around and saw Gu Hong’s eyes which were full of smiles, and he was very close to him. The cinnabar red beauty mark in between his brows appeared even more captivating the closer one looked.

“Your Majesty, why not go to Yonghua Palace for dinner?”

His Majesty the Emperor was inadvertently bewitched by beauty: “Ah?”

Gu Hong’s thin lips came close to his ear. Seeing the man’s ear turn red in front of his eyes, he couldn’t help laughing softly: “This subject has something to show Your Majesty.”

“This…” Jing Ye held firm for three seconds, then disarmed and surrendered, “Fine, zhen will go take a look.”

Yonghua Palace was not too far away, so the two walked side by side.

But Feng Ling, who was thought by Jing Ye to have long since returned to his manor, was standing still at the moment, murmuring, “Gu Gongzi…seems to sincerely like His Majesty?”

Ye Mao silently covered his face: Playing with people’s hearts or whatever, it was really too cruel.

Yonghua Palace.

The freshly served tea was at hand, and its fragrance escaped with the steam, bewitching the senses.

But Jing Ye didn’t have the heart to taste it at the moment.

Gu Hong was sitting on the couch, occasionally raising his eyes to look at the emperor who was reading the document by the desk, his fine features blurred from the steam rising from the tea.

After Jing Ye read it once, he carefully rolled it up and put it back on the table.

Gu Hong knew what he intended, but smiled slightly: “What does Your Majesty intend?”

Jing Ye breathed a sigh and tapped the side of his eyes: “Gu Qing should have guessed it.”

When Gu Hong heard the words, he smiled and said, “This was what he wrote without sleep three days ago. Ting Qiu was born in a drought-prone place and grew up there since he was a child. When he heard about the severe drought in the southwest, he wished he could do more. If Your Majesty could make it happen, then that will be a great virtue.”

“Zhen knows.” Jing Ye smiled helplessly, “In zhen‘s opinion, not only must this article be sent to the southwest, this person.” He tapped the piece of paper.

“Must also be sent over there.”

Gu Hong raised his eyebrows and finally became surprised: “Your Majesty is serious?”

“Very serious.” Jing Ye stuffed the scroll into his cuff, turned and walked out the hall.

“Your Majesty’s tea.”

“Not drinking anymore.”

“Then dinner…”

“No need.”

The green jade hanging down the young man’s robe swayed, and soon he completely disappeared from sight.

“Heh.” Gu Hong smiled, “An impatient one.”

“Teacher.” The little eunuch tugged at Ye Mao’s cuff, “The food should still be kept hot?”

“Still.” Ye Mao waved his hand and looked back at His Majesty the Emperor, who was leaning on the armrest in a daze at his desk in the study, “Honestly, can just looking at Gu Gongzi can make one full?”

“Ye Mao.” The emperor inside suddenly came back to his senses and shouted.

Ye Gonggong leaned forward eagerly: “Ai, Your Majesty, please have dinner.”

Jing Ye looked out the window: “What dinner, just look at the time. Let me ask you, does Li Gongzi know how to cook?”

“Li Gongzi?”

“Li Tingqiu.”

“This, how could he know this?” Ye Mao had a feeling, a feeling that something was going to go wrong, “What does Your Majesty ask this for?”

“You won’t understand even if it’s explained, hehe.”

Jing Ye turned his head, a sly and treacherous expression on his face, “Ahahahahaha…”

Ye Gonggong: “…”

After taking a noon nap the next day, Ye Mao had the palace servants wait outside the imperial study as usual, while he entered to serve the emperor himself.

Jing Ye let the other sort out the wrinkles on the corners of his robes for him, and said slowly, “Zhen won’t go to the imperial study today.”

“En?” Ye Mao raised his head in surprise, “Your Majesty is bored? This servant can call someone to place some snacks out in the imperial garden…”

“That’s not necessary.” Jing Ye turned around and walked out, “Zhen is going to Yaoguang Palace.”

Ye Gonggong: “…Yes. Xiao Lizi, get ready!” Your Majesty, could it be that you can no longer bear it?

Then what about the innocent Lord Feng!

Jing Ye took the carriage to Yaoguang Palace. The staff cleaning outside the palace had likely not seen His Majesty the Emperor in so long, so they were frightened into dropping their brooms, while one servant stumbled in to report, and when he reached the door of the palace, he ended up being tripped by the threshold.

Jing Ye: “…”

Soon, the palace servants came out trembling and knelt on the ground: “This servant pays respects to Your Majesty!”

Only Li Gongzi was not seen.

Jing Ye raised his foot and entered the hall. Li Tingqiu sat in front of the desk looking down at a book, ignoring the emperor even as he stood in front of him.

Jing Ye stared at him for a while, and finally pulled out the scroll from his sleeve and put it in front of this man.

“Is this written by qing?”

Li Tingqiu glanced over, couldn’t help twitching his brows, and stood up abruptly to collect the scroll. Jing Ye grabbed his wrist.

“What are you going to do?”

“This subject does not know my place.” Li Gongzi gritted his teeth, “This subject will immediately burn it, Your Majesty does not need to blame others.”

Jing Ye looked at him for a while, then suddenly smiled and said, “You also know that you are guilty?”

Li Tingqiu lowered his head, with a face as beautiful as jade, and holding a trace of forbearance between his brows and in his eyes. The more he was like this, the more people wanted to see him in despair.

“Ting Qiu, zhen will punish you.” Jing Ye stretched out his hand to lift his chin, “Since ancient times, the harem is not allowed to participate in politics, and the concubines should devote all their energy to the emperor’s everyday needs.”

This person’s slender fingers with distinct knuckles curled up with such force that if he had long nails like that of a woman they would have pierced his palms already.

“…Zhen punishes you to use the imperial kitchen in the palace to cook a table of good dishes for zhen. Yes?”

“Your Majesty…” As the imperial sedan was carried all the way to the imperial study, Ye Gonggong began to worry about the emperor’s life, “Why make it difficult for Li Gongzi in such a way?”

Jing Ye yawned: “En? Is this making it difficult for him?”

Of course, something like eating dinner made by Li Gongzi! Your Majesty, you might as well call all the gongzi (and little Lord Feng) together to eat it and die together!

The kitchen is dangerous, so be careful when teasing.

“Don’t worry, the emperor is not anxious, so what are you anxious for?” Jing Ye rubbed his face, “Zhen knows what zhen is doing, alright?”

It was nightfall, Jing Ye had approved memorials for seven to eight hours, and psyched himself up to return to Ping’an Palace to eat dinner made by Li Tingqiu himself.

Only to realize that he was still too naive.

In front of the table, Ye Gonggong glanced at His Majesty the Emperor who had no expression on his face, and after a short pause, he still opened his mouth and spoke with trembling hands:

“This dish…is called hundreds of splendid flowers greeting the colorful phoenix, which means the flying dragon and phoenix are auspicious, and the world is prosperous and peaceful.”

Jing Ye looked down, just wonderful, a pile of elliptical, rectangular, triangular, and square gelatinous objects all competing for beauty on the dish. He wanted to ask Li Tingqiu if he dared to tell which was the dragon and which was the phoenix!

Did he dare!

Ye Mao felt that he would not be able to report the names of the dishes anymore: “Your Majesty, are you really eating it?”

“Of course.” Jing Ye gripped the tablecloth, took a deep breath and smiled, “If he dares to make it, zhen also dares to eat it.”

Ye Gonggong felt that his heart was about to tremble into pieces: “Your Majesty, wait a moment! This servant will go and invite the chef to come!” He rushed out, not caring even as he stumbled and tripped.

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Jing Ye snorted and didn’t stop him. He picked up his chopsticks and chose a piece of pasty looking lump and put it in his mouth.

Chewing, chewing, swallow.

That night, the Ping’an Palace urgently summoned the imperial physicians of the entire imperial medical college to enter the palace, apparently the emperor was critically ill.

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Ye Mao once again took on the important responsibility of escorting the future imperial consort home.

He really didn’t understand, the night was so deep and his face was so red, yet the emperor actually sent him out. Take him away! Throw him on the bed! Press down!

Wasn’t spending a harmonious night a pleasant thing?

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“Ye Gonggong.” Feng Ling suddenly said, “His Majesty…what was he like in the past?”

Ye Mao raised his eyebrows: “Like what the officials said.”

“Is that so?” Feng Ling sighed lightly, “If His Majesty was like what this subject sees now, would so many common people still suffer?”

Ye Mao turned his face away: “There is no need to talk about the past, Lord Feng, please assist His Majesty with all your heart.”

“Of course.”

Inside Yiyuan Hall.

Lin Xiaosheng picked up another account book, flicked it, and opened it to take a closer look.

His book attendant Mo Yan brought a bowl of strange ice-blue liquid: “Gongzi, it’s time to drink the medicine.”

“I drank for so many years, but I don’t see it ever having any use.” Lin Xiaosheng put down the account book in his hand, and rubbed the corners of his eyes with his fingertips.

“Gongzi, don’t say that.” Mo Yan took out a small sachet from the cabinet, opened it, and picked out a small round dried fruit wrapped in gold paper, “If it wasn’t for this thing, how could gongzi end up in the palace?”

After the dried fruit slid into the blue liquid, it seemed to be suddenly given life, gradually stretched, bloomed, and turned into a beautiful ice-blue flower.

Lin Xiaosheng watched quietly, and suddenly said, “I heard that our little majesty is going to summon Elder Gu to return to court?”

“Very so, I wonder what this incapable ruler is thinking of this time.”

“Heh.” Lin Xiaosheng smiled, “Allocating money to the southwest, what a big gesture.”

Jing Ye sat on the brocade couch and looked through the memorials. After a long time, he felt dizzy. It was really not easy to be the emperor.

“Your Majesty, please rest.” Ye Mao bent over, “If Your Majesty wakes up and wants something, this servant will be outside.”

“En.”

Jing Ye turned around and stepped onto the platform, opened the curtains and went to bed.

Seeing this, Ye Mao blew out the lights outside the curtains, and quietly retreated out.

A good night’s sleep.

The next few days were miserable for Jing Ye.

F**k, I finally know why a good emperor would die of exhaustion!

Everyday getting up at 5:00 in the morning!

Everyday approving memorials until late into the night!

Everyday discussing government affairs in court until lunch was missed!

Especially when in front of a group of officials who were as timid as quails, one had to use a smile like a spring breeze, witty and interesting language and powerful restraint and patience, like those mommy teachers in kindergarten to encourage them to open mouths that seemed as if they had never once opened since the Big Bang.

Some officials who have been scared into peeing in their pants, even if they opened their mouths, they would only say “What Your Majesty said is very true” or “What Your Majesty said is very true indeed” or “What Your Majesty said is very…very, very true indeed”.

F**k, do you dare to speak human! If not I’ll have you dragged out in front of a firing squad, believe it or not!

Jing Ye couldn’t vent his anger, so he would flip the table in the imperial study every day.

Three days later, for once there were few memorials on this day, and after it was completely dark, Jing Ye walked out of the imperial study with billowing dark clouds over his head.

“Ye Mao, zhen will not be staying in the imperial study room today, go back to the palace.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Your Majesty.”

A clear male voice sounded.

Jing Ye was startled and raised his head.

The young man in front of him had long eyebrows on his temples, eyes like black lacquer, and a little cinnabar beauty mark on his forehead that did not add feminine beauty, but instead conveyed the meaning of Buddha. This pure and aloof appearance was really like a god or Buddha who was compassionate to the world.

Made one want to pull him off his divine pedestal.

Jing Ye tried his best to hide his bobbing throat which was currently swallowing drool: “Gu Qing.”

Gu Hong raised his eyebrows and smiled: “This subject has doubts in my heart, this subject begs Your Majesty to clear them up.”

“This…” Jing Ye couldn’t help but smile as well, “Then Gu Qing can follow zhen, and we shall talk while walking.”

“Yes.”

The weather was fine that day, and in the evening, the sky was full of stars. The two walked side by side on the palace road.

“What this subject wants to ask is His Majesty yourself.”

“Ah?” Jing Ye was stunned, he didn’t expect him to be so direct.

“This subject wants to ask Your Majesty.” Gu Hong turned his head, “Why did Your Majesty’s temperament change so much?”

Jing Ye was speechless.

Gu Hong suddenly stopped walking.

Jing Ye: “Cough, Gu Qing, I’m afraid zhen can’t…mmph?!”

Ye Mao and the palace servants tacitly stepped back five feet.

Jing Ye immediately closed his mouth tightly, so Gu Hong stretched out his hand and pinched Jing Ye’s waist. The latter gasped, and Gu Hong took the opportunity to dive in, finding and intertwining their tongues.

There were tears in Jing Ye’s eyes: Big brother, you are really ruthless.

“Mmph, mmph…”

Kissing was one of the most intimate gestures in the world. Two people blending each other’s breaths, exchanging saliva, and entrusting the softest place to each other.

Jing Ye was dizzy for a long time before he finally woke up from the snare of the beauty. At this time, their lips and tongues had long been separated. Gu Hong was rubbing against his cheek, licking and kissing the saliva trailing down from his lips, and also had his hand on his waist.

“Uhh…” Jing Ye shed tears for his low integrity, he was actually reluctant to part from the other! Was it because he had been abstinent for too long?!

Gu Hong let go of him slightly and asked in a hoarse voice, “Your Majesty?”

Jing Ye suddenly pinched his chin.

Gu Hong: “?”

“Why do you get to take the lead.” Jing Ye panted angrily and stretched out his hand to wrap around the other’s waist. “Again.”

After returning to the palace, Ye Mao gently summoned the palace servants to serve the meal. After the meal, he gently served the emperor in bathing and changing clothes.

Because the icy aura emitting from the emperor had almost enveloped the entire Ping’an Palace.

What was there to be irritated about. Ye Mao sighed while serving, just because Your Majesty was molested for a little bit, but it was you who snatched people into the palace and indulged in revelry every night. Besides, didn’t you also kiss back?

Jing Ye gritted his teeth angrily, why was his initial reaction so weak! To be overwhelmed by another man’s aura, as a man, he couldn’t accept that!

Both master and servant fell asleep with their own thoughts.

The next day, after attending morning court, which made his life shorter by ten years and after a noon nap, Jing Ye sat in the imperial study and began to approve the memorials.

After an hour, someone suddenly knocked twice outside the door.

Jing Ye didn’t raise his head: “Didn’t zhen tell you to guard outside?”

“Your Majesty.” The person outside chuckled, “It’s this subject.”

Jing Ye’s right hand shook, and the brush left a bright red mark on the approved memorial. He froze, but he still held the brush and added at the end of the memorial:

“This was made by accident on zhen‘s desk, in case you would be afraid, zhen specially left a note.”

Zhen didn’t hear anything!

There was silence outside for a while, and then there was a creak, and the door was pushed open.

Gu Hong was dressed in moon-white robes, appearing tall and slender like a jade tree, and his eyebrows were slightly curved: “Your Majesty.”

“Why did qing come here?” Jing Ye pulled up a smile, “Zhen will talk with you after zhen has finished approving the memorials.”

“Your Majesty is troubled by state affairs, so this subject is here to accompany you.”

Jing Ye: “…”

Gu Hong stepped into the study, put down the tea cups in his hand, placed one in front of Jing Ye and the other on the small table on the emperor’s left side, then took out a miscellaneous book from the bookshelf in the room, and sat down to flip through it.

Jing Ye: “…”

After a fierce inner struggle, he finally kept a hold on his integrity, concentrated his mind and then continued approving memorials.

The room was quiet, only the sound of pages being flipped from time to time could be heard.

Gu Hong turned over another page with his eyes down. Suddenly, he raised his head silently, and looked at the emperor who was writing at his desk.

In the past, those eyes, no matter how beautiful they were, were always murky. Unlike now, they could actually reflect your appearance when they look at you. The edges of his eyes were slanted high, once revealed viciousness and violence, unlike now, which were as warm as spring water.

A few days ago, he asked Lu Baizang, why was he so sure that the emperor had changed? The man stroked the corners of his mouth and smiled like a rogue in the marketplace.

Truly…

In the end he closed the book and put it on the small table, knocked over the teacup on the side of the table, causing it to hit the ground with a “bang”, porcelain shards and tea water splashing everywhere.

Jing Ye’s wrist shook again, and there was another red mark with a beautiful arc.

“…”

“This subject has disturbed Your Majesty, this subject is guilty.” Gu Hong stood up and bowed.

Jing Ye was speechless, twice…..Qing, why are you not staying in your palace and finding a way to escape, and instead running over here to draw attention to your presence in front of this lecherous tyrant with a criminal record! Do you want to be the empress and save the people of this world that badly! If this is the case, I will call Lord Feng over, and you can both play happily together, dammit! @#￥%! ! ! ! !

Jing Ye was too preoccupied with remaining expressionless while cursing in his heart, completely forgetting that the person was still standing there looking at him. When Ye Mao outside the study room heard the sounds, he was immediately energized!

Are you finally going to make a move, Your Majesty?

But why is it still in the imperial study!

In the study, Gu Hong saw that he was just staring at the memorial without moving, so he smiled and leaned down to pick up the shards.

Jing Ye finally came to his senses: “Wait, you don’t have to…”

But it was too late. After Gu Hong picked up three or four pieces, he was finally cut by a sharp porcelain shard. The wound seemed to be deep, and blood was flowing out, streaking down jade white fingers and creating a shocking visual impact.

Jing Ye was embarrassed by this spray of dog blood drama out of nowhere. He let out a sympathetic kiss of pain, and shouted loudly: “Ye Mao!”

“Ai, Your Majesty…” Ye Gonggong arrived fashionably late, and when he came in, he realized that it was not what he thought at all, “This, Gu Gongzi…”

“Scissors, clear water, and silk cloth.” Jing Ye didn’t bother to scold him: “Where’s the medicine?”

“Ai, ai, yes.” Ye Mao hurriedly entered the room and quickly brought it all as ordered by Jing Ye.

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Gu Hong watched him use scissors to cut two pieces of silk cloth, one of which was soaked in water to clean the wound on his hand, and then lightly tapped the bottle mouth to sprinkle medicinal powder over the wound, and then wrapped the other piece of silk carefully around his finger.

Jing Ye looked up at him, thought about it and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Gu Hong suddenly felt that these opening and closing lips looked quite enticing.

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Click, click.

The sound of chess pieces shook away sleep.

Li Tingqiu played white. After placing down one piece, Gu Hong, who was sitting opposite, laughed: “Wrong.”

He took a closer look, and sure enough, he made a mistake. He accidentally lost the whole game, so he simply threw down his white chess piece: “Forget it, forget it, I’m originally not as good as you.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“You’re distracted.” Lin Xiaosheng leaned on the soft couch and smiled, “You’re thoughts are preoccupied, is it because His Majesty hasn’t looked for you for a few days and you miss him?”

“Do not mention that incapable ruler.” Li Tingqiu said coldly, pressing his hands down on the chessboard, “In the morning, the son of the Feng family entered the palace to plead for the people, but he was not punished by him. After noon, he was called into the imperial study again, and he has not come out yet.”

“Oh, the little son of the Feng family.” Lin Xiaosheng stroked his chin, “I heard that he is very good at tou hu. After entering the palace, I can ask him to relieve my boredom.” (TN: ancient banquet game of throwing arrows into a pot, the winner determined by the number of arrows thrown in, and the loser required to drink as punishment)

“Don’t be sarcastic.” Li Tingqiu gritted his teeth, “The Feng family has a clean, honorable name from generation to generation, they do not marry into the imperial family nor are they fawning officials. But now, the palace will have a Feng Gongzi!”

Lin Xiaosheng asked Gu Hong, “Where’s Bai Cang? Didn’t he go last night?”

“He was kicked out of bed.” Gu Hong raised his eyebrows, “Though he came out with a smug face.”

“This is strange. Didn’t he always look down on him? If it wasn’t for the emperor arranging for the palace maids to watch over us, I don’t know how many birds and butterflies would be flying around him.”

“En.” Gu Hong slowly packed up the pieces on the chessboard, “Ting Qiu, if you are worried, go and ask Ye Mao.”

Li Tingqiu’s gaze was heavy, and he got up and walked out: “I know.”

*

“It is thanks to Feng Qing today.” The night was upon them and Jing Ye stood smiling at the door of the imperial study.

Feng Ling bowed his head and cupped his hands: “Your Majesty’s diligence in government is the blessing of the common people. This subject is just a scholar who is willing to serve His Majesty and the common people…”

Ye Mao stood behind Jing Ye and looked at the two of them carefully: their hair was as meticulous as before, their clothes neat and orderly, there was no blush on the face, nor were there any hickeys on the neck.

How strange.

Jing Ye smiled slightly, his long eyelashes covering his pupils: “Towards Feng Qing‘s sincere heart, zhen understands. Ye Mao.”

“Ai, ai.” Ye Mao hurriedly took two steps forward, “This servant is here.”

“Get someone to escort Lord Feng back to the manor.”

“Yes.”

“This subject will retire first.”

Jing Ye watched Feng Ling salute and turn around, following the attendant and gradually walking away. Only then did he take a step: “Go back to the Ping’an Palace.”

Ye Mao assisted the emperor up the imperial sedan. After much thought, he still asked carefully: “Your Majesty, tonight…who should be called?”

Jing Ye: “Ah?”

“That is, uh, the gongzi who shall serve tonight is…?”

Jing Ye was stunned for a moment, then became furious. I already made it so obvious, what are you, blind?!

While maintaining the illusion of warmth and gentleness, he scolded Ye Gonggong and the stubborn stereotypes he represented. The young emperor then said softly, “No need.”

“Don’t ask again from now on. Zhen won’t call the male concubines of the harem again.”

“Your Majesty, this…”

Jing Ye stopped talking and raised his hand to signal the imperial sedan to move forward. Leaving the shocked Ye Gonggong in the night wind alone.

…Oh, please no.

At the fifth watch the next day, all the officials waited in Taihe Hall according to their orders, but the emperor did not come.

After waiting for a stick of incense, there was a lot of discussion in the hall.

“What is His Majesty planning to do now?”

“How do I know that?”

“Is it possible that there is something novel?”

“Who knows, do you still remember that Lord Zhao from three months ago?”

“Ai…aiya aiya, stop talking, if this goes on, it’s better to resign as soon as possible.”

“It’s also hard to resign…”

At the same time, Jing Ye was rushing through the imperial garden, followed by a group of palace maids and eunuchs, headed by Ye Mao.

Ye Gonggong: “Your Majesty, please get on the imperial sedan, it would not be good to hurt your foot while walking there.”

Jing Ye glanced back, turned his head in disgust, and continued to walk forward.

My dear ancestor master. Ye Mao’s heart was full of bitter tears, what new tricks are you going to play that you are so eager and impatient?

Jing Ye just hurried single mindedly on the road, but he didn’t notice that a green corner of a robe appeared from behind the branches and leaves of the shrubbery and trees around him.

Immediately, there was a dull collision sound on the ground, and an embroidered ball, the size of a palm, rolled to the center of the path.

It stopped in front of Jing Ye.

He paused, this embroidered ball looked too familiar.

The person who embroidered this embroidered ball was the eldest daughter of Lord Zhao of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Three months ago, Lord Zhao was charged with “corruption and bribery”, and the whole family was imprisoned. The innocent eldest daughter could have been exonerated, but the emperor saw the embroidered ball with her own name embroidered on it that she had given to Li Tingqiu and ended up being tortured to death in the prison.

Jing Ye took two steps forward and picked up the little embroidered ball.

Immediately afterward, the branches and leaves beside him trembled slightly, and a beautiful man walked out of the shade of flowers.

Even though he had seen it many times in his memory, Jing Ye couldn’t help but be amazed at this moment.

Rumor had it that the young man placed third on the imperial palace examination was talented in obscure arts, learned in martial arts, and was beautiful in appearance. He was called “jade person” by the people of the world. In the palace exam, he once wrote a resplendent article, which won the respect of all the old officials.

So the little emperor who was dozing on the dragon throne woke up and after a glimpse…snatched him back to the harem.

Jing Ye was lost in his thoughts, but then he saw the other standing in front of him, bowing over slightly and saying, “This subject, Li Tingqiu, pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye paused briefly, then bypassed Li Tingqiu and continued to Taihe Hall. When he passed in front of the man, he put the embroidered ball back into his hand.

Li Tingqiu raised his eyes, but only saw the group of palace servants trailing behind Jing Ye, all walking past him with their heads lowered.

Jing Ye sat on the dragon throne with a stern face, and all the officials knelt down together, shouting, “Long live my Emperor!”

Jing Ye waited for the courtiers to stand up again. The Prime Minister of the Right, who was over sixty years old, also stood up precariously, and opened his mouth, carefully thinking of what to say.

“Zhen wishes to stop repairing Xiaoyin Pier from today, and allocate 300,000 taels to help the victims in the southwest.”

All the officials were in an uproar, and the Prime Minister of the Right’s body almost fell to the ground from the shock.

The officials were restless for a while, and then the Minister of Works stepped forward: “Your Majesty, most of the Xiaoyin Pier project is half finished, by stopping the construction now, that would be abandoning the former progress.”

Looking at that fat head and big ears of yours, you must be a sycophantic little villain. Jing Ye thought for a while and said, “Zhen has no interest in it anymore. If you want to construct it, you can continue to do so.”

“This…” The Minister of Works was so frightened when he heard that tone that he fell down: “Your Majesty, please forgive me!”

Jing Ye ignored him, paused, and then continued, “Tang Hongwen, Yin Yuan.”

The officials whose names were called looked at each other, and came out tremblingly: “This subject is here.”

“Zhen orders you both to immediately purchase food supplies and send them to the southwest, and you must leave within three days without error.”

The two of them were so frightened that their legs were weakened, and they hurriedly bowed down and said, “This subject will not fail Your Majesty’s mission!”

“Good.” Jing Ye nodded, showing a measured smile at the right time, and read out the decree he had prepared in his mind in advance, “Zhen decrees the reinstatement of old Prime Minister Gu, who has retired to the southwest under the late emperor, in the position of the Prime Minister of the Left. The old prime minister does not have to leave immediately, but may stay in the southwest to manage the disaster. Zhen promises the Prime Minister of the Left the authority to transfer resources, promote officials, appoint citizens to official positions, execute corrupt officials, with the imperial edict as the proof…”

“…Zhen has finished speaking, do any of you still have memorials to present?”

All the officials were terrified into a daze.

“Nothing? Then dismissed.”

After evening, night fell.

Ye Mao led a group of palace maids and eunuchs to stand guard far away from the imperial study. He saw the light of two palace lanterns coming closer and closer, and when they were fully in sight, he realized that it was Gu Hong.

“Gu Gongzi.” Ye Mao bowed and saluted.

“Ye Gonggong.” Gu Hong said with a slight smile, “Why is gonggong standing here?”

Ye Mao pointed his whisk behind him: “You see, His Majesty is inside.”

Gu Hong looked at the lights in the study: “How long has it been?”

“His Majesty entered the imperial study after taking a noon nap.” Ye Mao sighed, “and has stayed until now. Dinner was also skipped.”

“…” Gu Hong was lost in his thoughts for a while before he turned around and smiled at Ye Mao: “His Majesty has changed so much, isn’t it strange, gonggong?”

“This, well. His Majesty is His Majesty.” Ye Mao squinted, “This servant has served the master for more than ten years, no matter how he changes, this servant must still follow at his side.”

These words were decisive, and Gu Hong chuckled: “I understand, if that’s the case…Ruo Shui will take my leave now.”

“Gu Gongzi, please walk slowly.”

Ye Mao bowed slightly.

Jing Ye sat in the study until late into the night before returning to his palace residence, and was too lazy to bother with dinner.

“Just now, Gu Gongzi came here.”

Jing Ye ate two bites of cake before going to bed. Ye Mao came up to serve him in changing clothes, saying carefully while looking at his face.

“Gu Gongzi?” Jing Ye concentrated, “Is he the youngest son of Prime Minister Gu.”

Thinking of those beauties gave him a headache.

It was enough to have one person to accompany you in life. To find such a group of people, was it not the same as finding trouble for yourself?

Jing Ye suddenly remembered the blushing Lord Feng, who looked upright and delicious, now such a person was suitable to be a life partner…

A little eunuch came in and reported: “Your Majesty, Lord Feng is asking for an audience.”

Jing Ye: “…”

The clothes that had been half taken off had to be put back on again.

After tidying himself up, Jing Ye left the bedroom and came to the main hall. And saw that Feng Ling was standing alone in the hall, seeming to be lost in thoughts.

Jing Ye smiled, raised his hand to stop the little eunuch who was about to announce loudly, sneaked up to Feng Ling and said with a smile, “What is Feng Qing thinking?”

This startled Lord Feng, and he stumbled and almost fell to the ground: “When has Your Majesty arrived? This subject is guilty of not welcoming you.”

“It is of no matter.” Jing Ye smiled and helped him up, “Zhen told them not to announce.” It was such a waste to not tease this cutie a bit.

“The night is chilly, why did qing come here?”

“This subject…” Lord Feng blushed again, “Today during morning court, Your Majesty made a decree to help the people in the southwest, and this official wants to thank Your Majesty for listening to this official’s advice. This official disturbed Your Majesty yesterday morning, and asks Your Majesty to please punish me.”

If you want to compliment me then compliment me, if you want to apologize then apologize, what are you so shy about?

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“It’s natural for a ruler to care about his people. As for punishment, it’s just a trivial matter, why is qing so serious?” Jing Ye thought with some effort before speaking all these ancient style words, “It’s late at night, zhen will send someone to escort you back.”

“This subject thanks Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye watched little Lord Feng salute him solemnly, and then retreat solemnly. Suddenly, he felt that being this emperor was not so tiring anymore.

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