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Translations of Chinese Boy’s Love webnovels. Only the English translation belongs to me everything else belongs to the original author.

Top Dupe CH 065 Because Of Jealousy Part 1

Meng Yu was just jokingly making a comment, not expecting the other to fall silent, which made this seasoned agent feel a little bit worried—was Gu Xiaowei planning some super big move?

“It should be riding gear.”

Hearing this frank admission, Meng Yu relaxed his anxious heart.

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

“Gu Xiaowei, you’re no exception either; you also like watching narrow waists and long legs.”

“That’s a universal aesthetic.”

“It’s fortunate that President Jiang is so capable this time. That #hahahaha# trending topic was planned by him immediately. Your anti-fans were thrown off by this #hahahaha# and went down quickly, while also attracting a wave of casual fans. Previously, some people thought you deliberately set up a cold and aloof persona, but now… you’re not so aloof anymore.”

“President Jiang… Jiang Yinchuan?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Yeah. The #hahahaha# is still trending online, with more and more jokes, probably enough to keep going all night. Some of them are very likely to have been specially written by President Jiang’s team. They’re quite funny and positive, and they’ve also warmed up the buzz for ‘Counterattack.’ His PR skills are on par with our PR director Li Qian.”

“That’s good.”

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu, who was sitting on the sofa with his head lowered, a wry look on his face, probably dealing with Jiang Yinchuan’s bombardment.

“Luo Yu! You’ve got some skills! Should I buy you a trending topic called ‘Gu Xiaowei’s Princess’?”

Jiang Yinchuan was originally attending a dinner meeting and discussing collaboration with someone when he suddenly saw the anti-fans dancing on the trending topic, making him furious.

This Luo Yu, having suffered so many losses, still naively thought that being upright and honest meant ignoring what was said online.

“The person being princess carried isn’t necessarily a princess. After all, there’s no wife in the wife cake either,” Luo Yu said with a smile. (TN: A sweetheart cake or wife cake or marriage pie is a traditional Chinese cake with a thin crust of flaky pastry, made with a filling of winter melon, almond paste, and sesame, and spiced with five spice powder.)

“What does wife cake have to do with this!” Jiang Yinchuan was so angry he almost drank red wine as if it were Pu’er tea.

“I… should be careful in the future? Try not to be seen with Gu Xiaowei in public…”

“What not in public? Are you in a romantic relationship? Can’t you enjoy yourself openly in public? Are you both involved in illegal business? You said yourself that just because you’re princess carried doesn’t mean you’re Gu Xiaowei’s princess. What are you being careful about!”

Jiang Yinchuan bombarded Luo Yu with a rapid-fire lecture.

“So… why are you angry?” Luo Yu asked in a small voice.

“I’m angry because you don’t have enough crisis awareness regarding possible public opinion. I understand you’ve been heavily criticized before, so you simply threw your phone away and ignored it. You think you’ve never broken the law or committed any moral wrongdoing, so you’re not afraid of gossip. But with the development of the internet, this is no longer an era where the pure can remain pure.”

Jiang Yinchuan’s words calmed Luo Yu. For the first time in either his previous or this life, someone was worried about him and said such things.

“But some negative news can be clarified, and not only clarified but can even turn into a positive thing for you! Some negative opinions can also be guided, provided you give the PR team a chance. Luo Yu, you’re no longer alone. Your achievements are not only yours but also involve the whole company in sharing the risk.”

“Sorry, Yin Chuan. This time, it’s my fault.”

Jiang Yinchuan sighed deeply: “Luo Yu, remember, in this matter, you haven’t done anything wrong. The human heart is like an abyss, and the internet amplifies this abyss infinitely, twisting people’s thoughts, turning normal closeness between friends and quarrels between lovers into dark and twisted things. I’m telling you this just so you know you’re not fighting alone. You and Gu Xiaowei are friends; you should be how you are. If you benefit from your relationship with him, so what? Who knows, he might need to benefit from being connected to you someday? Friends aren’t just for chatting and company; they can help each other’s career too! Don’t mind the online jealousy!”

Luo Yu’s eyes became a bit misty. He covered them and said softly, “Thank you.”

“To put it simply, even if one day you end up dating him, I wouldn’t be helpless on the PR front either!”

“Cough cough… cough cough…” Luo Yu almost choked on his own lungs.

“Look at you! Is this all it takes to scare you? My dinner meeting isn’t over yet. I won’t chat with you any longer.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Luo Yu’s heart still raced because of Jiang Yinchuan’s casual joke. He even suspected that his ears might be red.

He looked at Gu Xiaowei across from him, who had also put down his phone and was looking back at him. Luo Yu quickly composed himself, smiled, and said, “You must have been prepared for someone to record the video of you princess carrying me during the squats at the gathering and uploading it online, right?”

“Scared by the anti-fans?” Gu Xiaowei asked in return.

“No,” Luo Yu shook his head. “Your purpose was actually to give a favor to the production team. Since they used you as a publicity stunt, the production team will have to keep my shots as much as possible and can’t damage my image in the editing.”

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu, remaining silent.

“If it’s just because I once walked in the heavy rain for you, you’ve already given me enough help,” Luo Yu said.

Gu Xiaowei’s brows furrowed.

“But if it’s because we’re close, and you wanted to try what I’ve done, to play around with me, I’m quite happy about it,” Luo Yu said.

Even if Gu Xiaowei was letting him rub traffic, Luo Yu wouldn’t feel it was charity because being good to someone is nothing more than giving—giving companionship, understanding, and support for their career needs.

Jiang Yinchuan was right; Luo Yu didn’t need to feel inferior or lesser before Gu Xiaowei.

They were equals. Whatever help Gu Xiaowei provided, Luo Yu would also do his best to support and help him in turn.

Luo Yu said, “I won’t let you sink alone, no matter which film or role.”

Gu Xiaowei paused and looked at Luo Yu.

He knew how difficult it was to detach oneself from a role, to feel helplessly bound by it, and how to appear normal despite it. Whether it was his agent, Xiao Qin, or even directors like Lin Yue and Xu Han, they never thought a role could imprison his soul.

Only Luo Yu said to him, “I won’t let you sink alone.”

“Because of jealousy,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Huh? Jealousy… of what?” Luo Yu was stunned.

“You’re having fun with them, while I can only watch from the sidelines.”

Luo Yu furrowed his brows and leaned closer to Gu Xiaowei to get a clearer look at his expression.

“You… are actually upset about that?”

Who would believe it, right?

But Luo Yu understood that kind of loneliness.

It was like the time in his previous life when Luo Yu had just adapted to acting in plays and reunited with Sister Cui and some old classmates. They talked about the entertainment industry, and even though Luo Yu had dinner with them, he couldn’t really join their conversations. Although Luo Yu had finally gained confidence, a mere meal made him feel as if he belonged to a different world from them.

Perhaps when he was recording the variety show and interacting with Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing, Gu Xiaowei watching from outside also felt that he didn’t belong to that world.

“Teacher Gu, please rest assured. Acting will always be the focus of my life. Even if my fame increases in the future, and I get more invitations for variety shows, I still want to focus on acting. Participating in this show is, firstly, an opportunity secured by Yin Chuan, and secondly, our ‘Counterattack’ is about to be released, so I need to show my face to the audience.”

“I know,” Gu Xiaowei said, then lowered his head to look at his phone.

But that silent profile made him look like a somewhat lonely child.

Luo Yu raised his hand, almost reaching out to pat his head, only to remember that Gu Xiaowei was a few centimeters taller than him. If he reached out, it wouldn’t be like petting a sheep, but grabbing a wolf’s bristle.

“What are you looking at?” Luo Yu gently tapped him.

“Looking at the difficulty of one-handed handstands. The production team is making a big deal of it, but actually, everyone can do it,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu wiped his face mentally. After the princess carry and squats, Gu Xiaowei’s competitive streak seemed to have only become more endless.

“Jiang Muxing can’t do it, Li Shengyu can’t, and even Deer and Brother Liu definitely can’t,” Luo Yu was quite satisfied with his one-handed handstand.

“I should be able to do it too,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu hesitated for a moment and became worried that Gu Xiaowei might call He Mu, Mick, and the others to line up and have a one-handed handstand competition to see who could hold it the longest.

“Let’s compare. Whoever falls first loses,” Gu Xiao Wei said.

Luo Yu wanted to say “I’ve lost” immediately.

But Gu Xiaowei added, “If you win against me, I’ll take you to see Professor Chen’s play ‘Rhapsody of Changmen.’”

When Luo Yu heard this, his eyes lit up.

Professor Chen was Luo Yu’s acting teacher at the Film Academy and also the benefactor who introduced him to stage plays during his period of decline in his previous life. Professor Chen was renowned for his superb acting skills and his rich vocal performance. The tickets for his play “Rhapsody of Changmen” in which he was the lead role were extremely hard to come by.

“Are you bragging?” Luo Yu didn’t quite believe him.

He had also called Professor Chen to ask for tickets, but Professor Chen had regretfully said that he only had two tickets, one for his wife and one for his daughter.

“Do you mean bragging about having tickets, or bragging about being able to win against you?” Gu Xiaowei looked up at him.

That gaze was gentle and calm, with a hint of a smile, making it hard to associate it with the words of provocation he had uttered.

“Both,” Luo Yu said as he rolled up his sleeves, full of fighting spirit.

Gu Xiaowei also stood up and started rolling up his casual shirt sleeves.

“Set the alarm on your phone. We start in five seconds,” Luo Yu said.

“You set it.”

Was Gu Xiaowei really so confident?

But his ability shouldn’t be underestimated. After all, the guy could make Luo Yu question if he was just a pillow with no weight when it came to deep squats and princess carries.

As the phone rang with a “ding ding ding,” both of them swiftly flipped upside down on one hand.

Oh no, I forgot to tuck my shirt into my pants!

Luo Yu’s shirt fell down, almost covering his head.

But it didn’t matter; Gu Xiaowei was in no better shape. His shirt also fell down… Wow, those abs and that waist… the movie posters really weren’t photoshopped!

Luo Yu admitted to feeling envious.

Each second felt like a year. Ten seconds should have passed by now. Luo Yu’s arm was slightly trembling, but Gu Xiaowei across from him remained steady, seeming capable of enduring another ten seconds.

No, no, no, this isn’t just about a man’s dignity!

This was about Professor Chen’s stage play tickets!

“Teacher Gu, your core strength is quite impressive… Is this the legendary alpha…”

Luo Yu intended to distract his opponent with words, but he didn’t expect Gu Xiaowei to be far more ruthless.

“If you dare say that word, I’ll let you experience it properly.”

Luo Yu immediately shut up.

His face turned red, not just from his trembling arm but also from struggling to maintain balance.

No, he couldn’t fall! He couldn’t fall!

“Senior Brother, if you don’t fall, I’ll come and bite you.”

“What!” Luo Yu almost choked, collapsing with a thud.

While lying on the ground, he watched as Gu Xiaowei gently landed upright, adjusted his shirt, and squatted down in front of him with a refined demeanor, tenderly patting Luo Yu’s head, “Senior Brother, you lost.”

Luo Yu suddenly felt like the thought of comforting Gu Xiaowei by patting his head earlier was quite foolish.

“So this is how you win…?” Luo Yu’s neck and ears were flushed red.

Gu Xiaowei had an expression of natural self-assuredness, “Winning is winning. There’s no rule about how to win.”

Luo Yu gritted his teeth, mentally calling him a “rascal.”

“Losing is losing. Besides, it wasn’t stated what would happen if I lost.”

Luo Yu pushed Gu Xiaowei’s hand away and slowly stood up.

“I’m going to take a shower. I have a program to record tomorrow.”

Luo Yu turned and went to gather his change of clothes.

Gu Xiaowei sat on the sofa nearby, “The tickets are actually already reserved. It’s just after ‘Beast and Rose’ wraps up.”

Luo Yu paused, remaining in his squatting position, and looked at him, “So… whether I win or lose, you would still invite me to see it?”

“Yup.”

“Then what’s the point of this competition? It was a waste of my energy. I could have just admitted defeat,” Luo Yu said, reaching out to push him, but unfortunately, he didn’t manage to move the other even an inch.

“Winning or losing might not be important to you, but it is to me.”

“Does Xiao Qin, Brother Yan, your agent, and Cheng Fei know you’re so competitive?”

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

“You can ask them,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Luo Yu carried his change of clothes into the bathroom and peeked out before closing the door, “Thank you anyway!”

“You’re welcome.”

As Luo Yu started his shower and the water flowed down over his head, he suddenly found himself confused.

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Top Dupe CH 064 Gu Xiaowei’s Squats vs. Luo Yu’s Rainbow Fart Part 2

The changing light and shadow made Gu Xiaowei’s mood seem as elusive as his expression.

“Of course, who doesn’t like that? Didn’t you see how excited everyone was today?” Luo Yu said with as much normalcy as he could manage.

“Alright, I’ll discuss it with Xia Tan.”

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

“Discuss with Xia Tan?” Luo Yu suddenly felt something was off, “What are you discussing with her? Isn’t she still revising the script for ‘Beast and Rose’?”

“Have her add a scene where Lu Pingfeng has a princess carry with Wen Yuchi to fulfill your wish,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Hey, suit yourself. Anyway, Wen Yuchi might not even be played by me,” Luo Yu shrugged.

At this point, Sister Cui became nervous. “Yes, the casting results for that movie will be out in the next couple of days, right? The competition for Wen Yuchi’s role is quite intense… I’m just afraid that the greater the hope, the bigger the disappointment.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Yu tugged at Gu Xiaowei’s sleeve, lifting and dropping it, “Hey, if there’s any inside information, just share it. It would save me from sleepless nights.”

Gu Xiaowei looked down at his sleeve, which had been pulled, and said leisurely, “Well, you’re never the one who can’t sleep.”

Luo Yu tilted his head back and closed his eyes, “True. Besides me, there are also He Mu and Liang Shengqiu as strong contenders. But it’s worse now that Sister Cui mentioned it; I’m feeling a kind of exam-result anxiety.”

“I say it’s you, but you don’t believe me,” Gu Xiaowei said, looking at him. His neck stretched, Adam’s apple moving, and occasionally light swept across, outlining a contour that evoked one’s sense of conquest.

At that moment, Xu Mu was in the car, resting with his eyes closed, when Gao He’s call came in.

Seeing the name flashing on the screen, Xu Mu felt a headache coming on but took a deep breath, composed himself, and answered the call.

“Ah, Mr. Gao! Long time no see. What made you think of calling me?”

As expected, Gao He was calling to ensure He Mu’s on-screen time and exposure.

Actually, Xu Mu’s superior had been quite dissatisfied with the declining ratings. With He Mu’s high appearance fee, they were considering either reducing his fee or replacing him with another popular star. The higher-ups were already assessing the show’s effectiveness.

But Xu Mu wouldn’t share this with Gao He. Dijun Media wouldn’t consider the needs of the production team; He Mu’s value was always their top priority, and making a fuss over the phone wouldn’t help.

“For tomorrow’s shoot, we’ll make sure to take good care of He Mu. We’ve spent so much money bringing him onto the show; not giving him screen time would be a waste of his appearance fee.”

Xu Mu neither made any firm promises nor did he fully pacify Gao He’s emotions.

After hanging up, the head of the photography team sighed, “Actually, it’s not that we didn’t give He Mu a chance. We designed so many segments for him today, but he still didn’t seize them.”

“To be honest, apart from his fans, other viewers have been complaining on the official Weibo, saying that He Mu appeared too often in the earlier episodes and they’re experiencing aesthetic fatigue. They even asked if this show is He Mu’s personal showcase,” another assistant director in the car added.

“I actually like Luo Yu,” the cameraman suddenly said. “Some people are just born for the camera. The moment he appears, I have this strong desire to capture all his expressions and movements. And he’s really handsome.”

“Do you remember that before Luo Yu signed with Yinchuan Culture, he was said to be a dupe for He Mu?” Xu Mu asked with a smile.

“Ha, I used to think that entertainment industry rumors couldn’t be all groundless. But this was the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” the cameraman snorted.

Xu Mu’s phone rang again; it was a call from Director Liu.

“Ai, Xiao Xu! I watched the clips with Luo Yu that you sent. They’re really interesting and engaging! The consensus among me and the others at the station is that we should keep all of his good shots and not deliberately add extra footage. Just make sure that whenever it appears, it shines.”

Xu Mu smiled, “Got it. Effective shots are more important than screen time. We want the audience eagerly waiting for him to appear!”

“Right, we’ll see the audience’s approval based on the results.”

“Understood. Don’t worry, leader.”

After hanging up the phone, Xu Mu estimated that the station really liked Luo Yu. They planned to use this episode of the variety show to boost his popularity and prepare for his role in the upcoming drama.

When the production team gradually returned to the hotel, He Mu’s assistant rushed over to him with excitement.

“Do you know what happened during dinner?”

“What?” He Mu, applying a facial mask, lifted his eyelids. The filming had been physically exhausting today, and he almost fell asleep.

“Look! This is a video I begged a staff member to send me! Gu Xiaowei did ten squats holding Luo Yu!”

He Mu’s eyes widened immediately as he snatched the phone.

The video’s angle was such that it showed only Gu Xiaowei’s profile, but the figure and casual shirt clearly identified him as the person from today. 

“Amazing, right? He’s so steady! Luo Yu must be around 185 cm, but look at how effortlessly Gu Xiaowei holds him! He’s even talking to Luo Yu while doing squats!”

Another makeup artist couldn’t help but come over, “Oh my God! If only all male celebrities followed this standard!”

“This is definitely going viral! Gu Xiaowei has never held a female actress in a scene before; he gave his first princess carry to Luo Yu!”

As soon as this was said, the assistant nudged the makeup artist, signaling him not to mention Luo Yu anymore.

The room instantly fell into an awkward silence.

He Mu felt even more distressed. He knew that whether or not the director requested it, someone would eventually leak the video to marketing accounts, and Gu Xiaowei would drag Luo Yu into another trending topic.

He called Gao He and sent the video.

After watching, Gao He sighed, “He Mu, no matter how much you dislike someone, there are times when you’re powerless. The entertainment industry’s fortune changes with the wind, and fame and risk often coexist. Gu Xiaowei has haters, and many people in the industry envy his position. We don’t need to intervene; others will naturally try to suppress them. But it can’t be us.”

He Mu’s stomach hurt even more.

“Besides, with ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’ ratings declining and your appearance fees being a significant part of the cost, it’s likely we won’t renew the contract for the next season. If other variety shows hear that you can’t boost ratings, your fees will be reduced.”

“What? They can do that? I worked so hard recording the show…”

“Hard work? Gu Xiaowei spends three months on set, and his appearance fees still might not be half of yours for a quarter of variety shows. And if this video of Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu boosts the ratings, you’ll benefit too.”

He Mu gritted his teeth, feeling a sharp pain in his stomach. He hadn’t expected that one day he would need to benefit from Luo Yu’s success.

Yet, he couldn’t refute a single word Gao He said.

Sure enough, around ten o’clock that night, #Gu Xiaowei Squats# trended.

At first, netizens were surprised that Gu Xiaowei’s workout made it to trending, but upon clicking—people went wild.

The marketing account posted a video showing Gu Xiaowei’s side profile holding Luo Yu. The video, surrounded by many onlookers, clearly took place at a gathering.

Not only did Gu Xiaowei squat effortlessly, but he also occasionally talked to Luo Yu.

Luo Yu’s face was flushed red, and he tried several times to cover his face, but every time he tried, Gu Xiaowei would bounce him up.

[Oh my God, is that human strength?]

[Brother Gu and his senior brother finally in the same frame outside the drama! Want to ask Luo Yu if he ever expected to be carried like that!]

[Wow! Does anyone remember the person Gu Xiaowei carried after ‘Counterattack’? Could it be Luo Yu?]

[Brother Gu’s waist isn’t just a waist, it’s the summit of Everest, resisting wind and snow!]

Initially, fans and netizens were amazed by Gu Xiaowei’s impressive core strength and stable arms, but soon, haters began to emerge.

[Haha, Gu Xiaowei is crazy about pampering this wash-out star! Too bad, no matter how much traffic he gets, he’ll never be popular!]

[Yinchuan Culture is the investor for Gu Xiaowei’s movie, right? So, Gu Xiaowei is using his popularity to pave the way for Luo Yu! Truly fallen!]

[Brother Gu is beautiful solo, don’t stir up CP drama!]

[Brother Gu, don’t tie yourself with him! It’s so lame!]

Most fans felt that Gu Xiaowei was usually too aloof and lacked a sense of everyday life. It was rare for him to have a friend, and Luo Yu was handsome and charismatic, which they welcomed. However, a few haters and toxic fans exaggerated negative emotions. Although they were few, their words were sharp and distressing, making neutral bystanders feel very uncomfortable.

Before bed, He Mu saw Gu Xiaowei being attacked by haters for being close to Luo Yu and felt a pang of satisfaction.

In his view, this was all Gu Xiaowei’s own doing.

He held Luo Yu in such high regard—what could Luo Yu offer him, other than trouble?

At this point, after communicating with the director, the show’s official Weibo posted: [Everything for male dignity.]

The Weibo post included a video of Luo Yu saying, “A person here on site can still do it.”

Amidst numerous cries of “Who?” and “You’re teasing us by talking halfway, missing a segment,” Luo Yu smiled without answering.

A staff member from the production team responded in the comments: [Teacher Gu came to watch the filming, and Luo Yu didn’t reveal Teacher Gu’s name at that time to protect his privacy. But Teacher Gu still wanted to prove his strength, so he carried Luo Yu and did ten squats at the dinner!]

After the explanation, everyone understood what was going on.

Gu Xiaowei’s fans quickly shared and promoted the post.

Luo Yu’s fans also gained confidence and went to explain under the harshest criticisms.

During the process of reasoning with haters and discussing the situation, Gu Xiaowei’s fans found they shared the same perspective as Luo Yu’s fans, questioning why the two actors couldn’t be friends and why a friendly game like squats was considered hype. Many fans from both sides successfully allied.

Soon, #Burn, Little Cosmos# and #Male Dignity# also trended, pushing down the previous topic.

Even those who didn’t watch variety shows became interested in “Burn, Little Cosmos,” and fans’ continuous explanations about “Male Dignity” led to “hahaha” flooding the comments.

[Hahaha, Brother Gu isn’t as aloof as imagined! That damned competitive spirit!]

[Hahaha, Teacher Gu has raised the bar for male actors!]

[Hahaha, the humble senior brother says I’m the one participating in the variety show!]

[Hahaha, Luo Yu says he wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide but the junior brother wouldn’t let him!]

Before long, #hahaha# also trended, becoming increasingly popular and attracting viewers.

Most importantly, Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu’s fans had a great time together, and even bewildered passersby wondered why the fan circle was so joyous overnight.

Both Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu were not very immersed in Weibo, but even so, after returning to their rooms, they still made an effort to explain due to the trending topic.

For example, Gu Xiaowei’s agent called.

“Oh my God, how many trending topics are you planning to create tonight? If you want to participate in variety shows, just say so! We should at least get appearance fees, right?”

“I didn’t participate in the recording,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“But you did free marketing for the show,” the agent said, feeling a headache, “Even though not everything is about money, doing this will make many variety shows want to work with you! I just received more than ten calls! Now everyone thinks you’re considering participating in variety shows!”

“Sorry for causing you trouble,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“…Is this really about not being able to rest properly? There are some good variety shows with quality and style. Would you like to consider them?”

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

“Not for now.”

“Then are you going to continue watching Luo Yu in the variety show?”

“En, tomorrow’s the last segment, where he’ll ride a horse,” Gu Xiaowei answered.

“Do you want to see him riding a horse or see him in a riding outfit?”

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The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 056 This Is My Senior Brother

Tang Shen and Su Wenyun exited the palace gates and headed east towards the Hanlin Academy. 

It was close to June, the weather was hot, and it was the afternoon—the hottest time of the day. As they left the palace, the sun blazed down unfiltered due to the lack of trees in front of the palace. By the time Tang Shen stepped out of the palace gates, he was already drenched in sweat. He walked silently ahead when a pleasant voice sounded beside him: “Isn’t Tang daren hot?”

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

Tang Shen paused and looked up at Su Wenyun, asking, “Is Su daren feeling hot?”

“A bit.”

“Then let’s slow down.”

Although they had left the palace, they were still within the outer perimeter of the Imperial City, only arriving at the locations of various governmental offices. There were not many commoners around; most of the people were officials moving between departments. Tang Shen was a fifth-rank chamberlain, while Su Wenyun was dressed in the robes of a fourth-rank official. When lower-ranking officials saw them, they had to stop and pay their respects before moving on.

With a smile in his voice, Su Wenyun said, “I’ve heard of Tang daren‘s name for a long time, but now that I’ve met you, it’s true that seeing is believing.”

Tang Shen looked at him, seeing only a smile on Su Wenyun’s handsome face, without any particular meaning. This was a rare opportunity to interact with Su Wenyun, and Tang Shen’s mind was racing. He also smiled and said, “I am truly anxious.”

Su Wenyun responded, “Why?”

Tang Shen explained, “Su daren, as the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, oversees all the corrupt officials in the world. If I were on your mind…how could I not be deeply anxious?”

Su Wenyun was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. His features, already somewhat delicate, became even more radiant and charming when he smiled.

“Tang daren, you are indeed a witty man.”

Knowing when to stop, Tang Shen smiled humbly and said no more.

Su Wenyun continued, “I’ve often heard your name associated with Fu daren and Wang daren. I understand that you are from Gusu?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Gusu is a wonderful place, full of talent. Many officials in the court hail from Gusu. Without going too far back, the current Governor of Gusu was the top scorer in the imperial examination of Kaiping Year Six and is a native of Gusu. As for the former governor, Liang Song daren, he was a renowned scholar of his generation.”

Tang Shen felt a tightness in his chest as he nodded and said, “Is that so.”

Su Wenyun smiled at Tang Shen and said, “Yes.”

The two fell silent.

When they arrived at the Hanlin Academy, Tang Shen stated their purpose, and the officials at the Hanlin Academy immediately welcomed them inside.

The scholar on duty in the library today was someone Tang Shen was not familiar with. After escorting Su Wenyun in, Tang Shen said, “Su daren, since you have arrived at the Hanlin Academy, Xiao daren will assist you in finding the books. I still have other duties to attend to, so I will return to the palace.”

Su Wenyun replied, “Since His Majesty has tasked you with assisting me, there is no need to be in such a hurry. Why not stay and help me find the books?”

Unable to refuse, Tang Shen followed Su Wenyun and Xiao daren into the library.

The Hanlin Academy held a collection of books from all over the world. Apart from the emperor’s daily records, which had a special place for storage, every other book had a backup in the Hanlin Academy. Even the original copies of the official histories were often placed in the Hanlin Academy for safekeeping.

Su Wenyun was searching for books from three years ago.

He was looking for a wide range of books, including those on astronomy and geography, as well as records of officials’ transfers from that year. When Xiao daren realized that Su Wenyun was seeking records of officials’ transfers, alarm bells rang in his mind. Recalling what kind of formidable figure Su Wenyun was, he quickly said, “The records of local officials’ transfers are managed by the Ministry of Personnel. Even the Hanlin Academy does not have complete records, and what we have is not comprehensive. If Su daren wishes to find them, it might be better to visit the Ministry of Personnel.”

Su Wenyun responded, “It doesn’t matter. His Majesty merely wants to review the events of that year, so it is of no consequence if the records are incomplete.”

Su Wenyun searched for more than a dozen books, far exceeding Zhao Fu’s instruction of “just one book.” But no one dared to say he was wrong. Xiao daren specifically called for a seventh-rank junior official to help Su Wenyun move the books to the Court of Judicial Review.

At this point, Tang Shen was finally free to leave. Now that Su Wenyun was engrossed in a collection of poems by literati from Chuzhou three years ago, he no longer paid any attention to Tang Shen.

Tang Shen left the Hanlin Academy, looking up at the gradually setting sun. A cool breeze blew past, and he suddenly realized that he had broken out in a sweat.

Su Wenyun was looking for many books from three years ago.

Su Wenyun…was looking for books related to Gusu Prefecture from that year!

Standing at the gates of the Hanlin Academy, Tang Shen felt a chill in his heart and a dryness in his throat. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

That evening, Tang Shen brought a jug of wine to the Minister Residence.

Wang Zhen was painting in his study. When Tang Shen arrived, he skillfully picked up the inkstone and began grinding ink for him.

Tang Shen had done this many times before, so he was quite adept at it. Wang Zhen merely glanced up at him and said nothing. The pair—one painting, the other grinding ink—worked in silence. The only sound in the study was the occasional crackle of a burning candle. Wang Zhen finished his ink chrysanthemum painting and said to Tang Shen, “Little Junior Brother, why don’t you add an inscription to this painting?”

Tang Shen was startled. “Me?”

Wang Zhen smiled and said, “Yes, go ahead.”

Tang Shen, handed a brush, looked at Wang Qin’s ink chrysanthemum painting and, after some thought, inscribed a line of poetry in the upper left corner.

“Plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I see the southern mountains at ease.” Wang Zhen read aloud, then said, “Write your name as well.”

Tang Shen added “Tang Jingze” beside the verse. Wang Zhen took the brush from him and wrote “Wang Zifeng” next to his name, then stamped it with his seal.

And so, the ink chrysanthemum painting was complete.

Seeing that Tang Shen had brought wine with him, Wang Zhen asked, “You came late today, little Junior Brother. I’ve already had my dinner; have you eaten?”

Tang Shen replied, “I have.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhen looked at Tang Shen in slight surprise.

“Then let’s save this wine for another time.”

Wang Zhen did not ask why Tang Shen had come today, as if he had already accepted the explanation he often gave: “Little Junior Brother missed me.” After finishing the ink chrysanthemum painting, Wang Zhen asked Tang Shen to grind ink for him again as he began to write. Under the candlelight, Wang Zifeng’s serene, ethereal face resembled that of a celestial being. He wrote quietly, each stroke of his brush exuding a sense of effortless grace.

Tang Shen gazed at Wang Zhen, gradually becoming lost in thought. Little by little, his mind grew calm.

After completing his calligraphy, Wang Zhen asked, “Little Junior Brother, you were staring at me so intently. What did you see?”

Tang Shen replied, “I saw Senior Brother illuminated by candlelight.”

Hearing this, Wang Zhen lifted his head and looked at Tang Shen.

Tang Shen said, “This time, the candlelight made you, my senior brother, clear and distinct. I see you fully; this is my senior brother.”

Their eyes met, and Wang Zhen smiled. “Haven’t I always been your senior brother?”

Satisfied, Tang Shen left the Minister Residence.

Wang Zifeng would protect him.

…Even if Su Wenyun or Zhao Fu truly discovered something, Wang Zifeng would definitely protect him!  

For no particular reason, Tang Shen reached this conclusion. Out of his trust in Wang Zhen, he didn’t even consider how Wang Zhen could possibly protect him from an emperor if Zhao Fu really wanted to harm him.  

However, in the days that followed, it seemed as if Tang Shen had been overthinking—worrying too much!  

As June arrived, Zhao Fu’s health improved, and he resumed attending court. On the third day of June, a local official from the south came to the capital to pay homage, bringing with him a pure white deer, which caused quite a stir in the court. Zhao Fu, whose health had just recovered, was so delighted upon seeing the deer that he immediately descended from the throne and approached the white deer to touch its small antlers.  

“This… could this really be a white deer?”  

The local official bowed and said excitedly, “Your Majesty, last month, a villager under my jurisdiction found this deer in the forest. There is an ancient saying: when a king’s benevolence spreads far and wide, a white deer will appear! I dared not delay and brought this divine deer straight to you. Your Majesty, this is an auspicious omen!”  

In the court, the officials exclaimed, “Your Majesty’s blessings extend to all living beings, and heaven has sent down this auspicious sign!”  

After accepting the white deer, Zhao Fu’s mood greatly improved. The slight pallor on his face disappeared overnight. Feeling cheerful, he began generously rewarding those around him. Not only did the concubines in the harem receive gifts, but even the eunuchs who served him were also rewarded. Tang Shen and the two other junior chamberlains were also given rewards.  

After the morning court session, Zhao Fu personally went to the animal enclosure to see the deer and said to Tang Shen, “Jing Ze, look at this deer, even its eyelashes are white.”  

Zhao Fu’s attitude towards Tang Shen hadn’t changed at all.  

On the other hand, Su Wenyun had not interacted with Tang Shen again.  

It seemed that the task Zhao Fu had given Su Wenyun had nothing to do with Tang Shen; it was indeed just his imagination running wild.  

Breathing a sigh of relief, Tang Shen began to reflect. To be honest, even if his relationship with Liang Song were to be exposed, it wouldn’t be a big deal. After all, Liang Song was just his enlightenment teacher, and he now studied under Fu Wei. Even if Zhao Fu found out that he had been Liang Song’s student, the most likely outcome would be that Zhao Fu would distance himself from him, preventing him from any important official posts. But unless Zhao Fu was extraordinarily petty, he wouldn’t go out of his way to make things difficult for Tang Shen.  

Moreover, after Liang Song’s death, Tang Shen had wasted no time in coming to Shengjing and apprenticing under Fu Wei, practically branding the words “I want to sever ties with Liang Song” on his forehead.  

Unless Zhao Fu really had divine insight, he shouldn’t associate Tang Shen’s reason for coming to the capital to work with Liang Song and his associates.  

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

This matter had kept Tang Shen on edge for half a month. Looking back now, the only benefit was that it brought him closer to Wang Zhen. For the first time, Tang Shen felt that he and Wang Zhen had laid everything out on the table and truly had a conversation.  

In July, during his days off, Tang Shen took a few days’ leave and headed north to Ningzhou.  

AN: Old Wang next door: Today, my little junior brother was rather sweet.

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Top Dupe CH 064 Gu Xiaowei’s Squats vs. Luo Yu’s Rainbow Fart Part 1

Gu Xiaowei was pressed to sit beside Luo Yu, who smiled as he peeled apart the chopsticks and sanitized the utensils with hot water.

Soon, the stewed chicken soup was served. The aroma was so appetizing that it makes one wonder how it was made, and the oil on top had even been skimmed off beforehand.

Everyone quickly shared the pot of chicken soup.

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

Then a variety of dishes were brought to the table: sweet and sour fried fish, stir-fried meat with chili peppers, and egg-pumpkin flowers.

Luo Yu watched as Gu Xiaowei took a bowl, blew on it, and then took a sip.

“Is it good?” 

“En, very fresh,” Gu Xiaowei nodded and took a few more sips.

“Here, eating requires quick reflexes! Don’t be too reserved; reserved people end up hungry!” the director said with a laugh.

So everyone began to compete for the dishes. When a pot of yellow bean stew with pig’s trotters came around to Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu, only the yellow beans were left.

Next, a plate of stir-fried kidney came out. While everyone was still busy with the pig’s trotters, Gu Xiaowei subtly moved the plate of kidney to their side and scooped several spoonfuls for Luo Yu with the serving spoon meant for the chili meat.

“That’s enough, that’s enough!” Luo Yu said, holding his bowl.

Liu Songtao looked at this scene with amusement, “How could it be enough? Teacher Gu saw that you used too much strength today and is giving you a good supplement!”

“Oh! Brother Liu, you’re driving a car again?” Deer teased. (TN: innuendo/vulgar joke)

Liu Songtao felt wronged, “With a lady present, I never act out of line. Don’t set me up.”

At this moment, Dingdang held up half a cup of juice towards Luo Yu. “Brother Luo, you’ve worked hard today, with princess carries and squats. I toast you with juice instead of wine.”

“It’s all for the sake of the show. And you’re not heavy… I’ve carried Deer as a contestant before. Who remembers Deer’s two pots of steamed chicken?” Luo Yu laughed.

Deer quickly changed the subject, “Speaking of princess carries, you once claimed that someone could carry you and do ten squats—who is this person? You owe us an explanation!”

Li Shengyu was also very curious, “Yeah, if you don’t give an answer now, the director might cut this part from the show and fans will come asking on your Weibo. Let’s see how you’ll respond then.”

Jiang Muxing tilted his head and thought, “Brother Luo can do a one-handed handstand, so can Mick. Is the person Brother Luo mentioned Mick?”

Mick nearly choked on a piece of vegetable, “It’s not me, absolutely not me. As long as it’s not Deer’s weight, I can carry it! But with ten more squats, you guys don’t want your knees, but I want to keep my knees!”

“So who is it?” Jiang Muxing asked curiously.

At this moment, Xu Mu placed a small cup of wine on the table and said loudly, “Luo Yu, you’ve left us a big hook for the show—so you have to give us an answer! If you were just making it up, that’s fine, drink this cup of wine. If not, let that person come out and prove it!”

Xu Mu had already had two drinks, and with a flushed face from a day’s filming, he thought Luo Yu was great and would surely become very popular. He wanted to have some fun with him.

Luo Yu didn’t dare look at Gu Xiaowei beside him and took a deep breath. “Alright, I…”

He was thinking that although his drinking capacity wasn’t great, at least Sister Cui and Gu Xiaowei were there to watch him. But before his hand could reach the cup, Gu Xiaowei stopped him and said, “Alright, I’ll do it.”

Everyone was stunned, thinking Gu Xiaowei meant he would drink the wine for Luo Yu. As Director Xu was about to say he was joking, Gu Xiaowei stood up, unbuttoned the first button of his shirt, and loosened it slightly.

His profile made his neck line appear taut, and several people present swallowed in unison. Dingdang was also mesmerized.

Luo Yu tilted his head, looking at him, but Gu Xiaowei bent down, wrapping one arm around Luo Yu’s shoulder and the other under his knees.

“Um…”

In the next second, Gu Xiaowei lifted Luo Yu from his seat.

At that moment, all eyes were on them.

“Ah…” Sister Cui turned around and saw the scene, dropping her pork ribs.

“Ten squats?” Gu Xiaowei looked down at Luo Yu in his arms, his lips curling slightly.

“Really going to do squats?” Mick stood up, not believing it! With Luo Yu’s weight, even he wasn’t sure he could manage! How could Gu Xiaowei be so confident!

The room filled with rising cheers, and some people couldn’t resist taking out their phones.

“One.” Gu Xiaowei started squatting, his gaze still fixed on Luo Yu.

Luo Yu’s long legs quickly touched the ground.

“You… don’t overdo it…” Luo Yu was genuinely worried he might hurt himself, “I wasn’t actually… I can drink that cup of wine!”

“Two.” Gu Xiaowei’s voice was very soft, with the hint of a smile even more evident.

“I know you’re great! Seventh degree in Sanda! Strong waist!”

“Three—praise more if you can, I don’t mind you being exaggerated.”

In the first two squats, Luo Yu was completely stunned. But by the third squat, he felt Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder and waist strength, experiencing the tension and firmness of the muscles and bones, vividly feeling the strength of another male.

At first, everyone might have thought Gu Xiaowei just had the strength to lift Luo Yu, but now no one doubted that ten squats were no problem for him.

“Is that it?”

“Ah… do you still need more praise?” Luo Yu was bewildered.

“Four.” Gu Xiaowei squatted down and when he stood up, he bounced Luo Yu slightly, scaring him into grabbing his collar, “Earlier you praised ‘strong waist,’ Senior Brother, do I have no other merits?”

“Yes, yes, yes—” Luo Yu looked for help from his tablemates, but Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing were so lost in excitement they nearly cheered with everyone else.

Fortunately, Dingdang reminded him, “Pheromones! Boyfriend power!”

“Right, right, right, you’re explosive—pheromones—” Luo Yu shouted.

“Five.” Gu Xiaowei completed another squat, looking as if he still had energy, “That’s it?”

As he seemed about to bounce him up again, the cheers around continued. Luo Yu hurried to continue with compliments, “Boyfriend power is off the charts!”

“So who’s my boyfriend then?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice was low, and before Luo Yu could respond, he loudly counted the next number, “Six.”

Luo Yu was completely stunned, feeling like the moon had suddenly crashed into the Earth’s core, everything was turned upside down.

“Senior Brother, your vocabulary for praise isn’t enough,” Gu Xiaowei’s voice sounded as usual.

As if the earlier emotional turmoil was just Luo Yu’s illusion.

“You’re an excellent actor, your lines are memorized perfectly, a model for us all.”

“Seven. Is that something Director Lin said?”

“Who said it doesn’t matter, praising you is what matters. Also, your taste is superb, unlike me, who only knows to pair a white T-shirt with jeans.”

“Eight—”

“You’re elegant and intellectual, demonstrating the ascetic temperament perfectly, giving the audience endless imagination about ‘losing control and indulgence.’” Luo Yu said, awkwardly digging his toes into the ground.

“Nine.” Gu Xiaowei paused again, “If I don’t do the tenth, will you have to stay in my arms?”

“Ah?” Luo Yu’s ears turned red.

He didn’t understand why he was so affected by someone younger than him.

“Hurry and think, Senior Brother, your stock of compliments is running low.”

The people around had started applauding.

“Impressive! I thought Teacher Gu was just a great actor, but his physical strength is incredible!”

“Too intense, too intense, feels like I can’t keep up!”

Director Xu was completely dumbfounded, regretting in his heart, wishing he had persuaded Gu Xiaowei to appear on the show more! Even if it wasn’t to be a guest, interacting and appearing as an audience member would have been great too!

And now, this scene would certainly skyrocket the ratings!

“Ten.” Gu Xiaowei completed the last squat and set Luo Yu back in his seat.

As he sat down, Luo Yu felt his head heavy and his feet light.

Gu Xiaowei, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened, methodically buttoning his shirt back up and rolling his sleeves down.

Everyone continued to discuss, and the director suddenly stood up, clapping his hands, “Teacher Gu is so relaxed with us, treating us like his own. Anyone who recorded video, keep it for yourself and refrain from sharing online! Let’s keep some suspense for this episode! Thank you all!”

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei, who was eating a piece of yam. His eating pace wasn’t fast, but the way his jaw and Adam’s apple moved gave off a strong masculine charm.

“I still have some kidney slices here. Do you want to have some?” Luo Yu asked.

“Are you saying that ten squats require a supplement?” Gu Xiaowei’s gaze shifted, and though it seemed no different from usual, Luo Yu felt a hint of mischief in those eyes.

The director sighed, “Ah, it looks like I’ll have to drink this cup myself…”

But unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei took the cup back and raised it towards the director. “Director Xu, I thank you for your hospitality and care. I really enjoyed watching the shoot today.”

Director Xu quickly raised his own cup. “Not at all. Teacher Gu’s help with our show has been significant! Everyone on set today, from the staff to the guests, is in high spirits, largely thanks to your presence!”

The two clinked glasses and drank, and the atmosphere at the table became lively again.

Luo Yu’s ears felt muffled, as if he was hearing everything through an invisible wall. His heart was still lingering on the moment when Gu Xiaowei held him while doing squats.

He understood that Gu Xiaowei knew he couldn’t handle alcohol well, so he didn’t want him to drink that cup.

Even the ten squats seemed to have a touch of challenge in them.

But that line, “If I don’t do the tenth one, you’ll have to be kept in my arms,” was too much. Every time Luo Yu thought of Gu Xiaowei’s seemingly cool but subtly tempting way of speaking, his heart rate quickened, and he felt a rush of blood to his head.

Logically, he hadn’t even drunk any alcohol.

Could it be the chicken soup? Or too much kidney slices? Or something else stimulating?

“Did you know Xiang Chao once held Cheng Peiyun while doing a hundred squats?” Gu Xiaowei said in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“What?”

So if he really got chosen to play Xiang Chao, he’d have to hold Gu Xiaowei and do squats?

“So, I need to prove myself first. Otherwise, people will only remember you holding me for squats, but no one will know I can also hold you,” Gu Xiaowei said with a smile.

Luo Yu was both amused and exasperated. “Did Cheng Peiyun know you were so childish when he picked you to play him?”

But deep down, a sense of disappointment emerged that he’d never felt before. Luo Yu realized he seemed to have hoped and expected that everything Gu Xiaowei did and said just now was from the heart, and had nothing to do with Cheng Peiyun, Xiang Chao, or any characters they might portray.

“Don’t you think Cheng Peiyun also wanted to prove his endurance and explosive power by holding Xiang Chao?” Gu Xiaowei’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“I’m convinced,” Luo Yu said, covering his eyes and turning away. He was hiding his disappointment, afraid that Gu Xiaowei would notice and ask him what was wrong.

“Pumpkin cake, do you want some?” Gu Xiaowei asked softly.

His voice was sincere, without a hint of mischief.

The light from the farmhouse fell on his brows and nose. Despite the noise around, his glance, like a passionate firework across the moonlit waves, made Luo Yu want to lift the dark curtain of night and see what was hidden behind it.

“No, I’m full enough,” Luo Yu said, trying to act as normal as possible.

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu, his gaze deepened by the lively atmosphere, as if trying to see through his heart.

“I’m really full. If I eat more, I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” Luo Yu said with a smile.

“Okay,” Gu Xiaowei nodded and withdrew his gaze.

After the meal, the director didn’t schedule any more activities and advised everyone to rest well, as they would be filming the final challenge—equestrian skills—tomorrow.

Those who had drunk and have driven over called for a ride service.

Sister Cui, who hadn’t drunk, was able to drive Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu back to the hotel.

On the way, Sister Cui said with a smile, “I felt like Director Xu was about to cry earlier.”

“Why? Was today’s recording not good?” Luo Yu asked in surprise.

“Because we couldn’t give Teacher Gu any on-screen time! Didn’t you notice? Whether it’s Teacher Gu or Luo Yu, your variety sense might be only half, the other half depends on the support of your colleagues. But when you two are together, even chatting makes for a delightful watch.”

Luo Yu half-jokingly said, “Should I buy you a bag of spicy chicken feet?”

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

“Chicken feet are fattening. You’d better get me duck necks,” Sister Cui replied.

Luo Yu nudged Gu Xiaowei with his elbow, “You definitely need to shoot such a scene—give the female lead a princess carry and do squats on the edge of life and death!”

“You like it?” Gu Xiaowei turned to look at him, the streetlights outside casting shifting light over his face.

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The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 055 Finding Amusement

In early May, Emperor Zhao Fu of the Kaiping era suddenly fell ill with a severe migraine and collapsed on the dragon bed.

Zhao Fu had long suffered from migraines. More than a decade ago, he had a serious illness because of it, and after recovering, he became devoted to seeking immortality. Zhao Fu’s migraines had recurred every year, and perhaps due to his advanced age, this time the migraine came on with a vengeance. He canceled the morning court and handed over the affairs of the court to the Secretariat while he rested in the Funing Palace.

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

Tang Shen, being the chamberlain, did not get a day off because of this.

Every day, the chamberlain and the junior chamberlains had to stand guard outside the Funing Palace. They couldn’t record much, but they had to keep watch. By evening, they were required to report to the Secretariat on what they had observed that day. Tang Shen would report, explaining any significant events, whether the emperor’s condition had worsened, whether the emperor had anything to say to the ministers, and what the emperor planned to do the next day—whether he would continue to cancel court sessions or come up with other ideas.

After guarding outside Funing Palace all day, Tang Shen and the two junior chamberlains left. The other two left the palace through the side gate, but Tang Shen took a detour to Qinzheng Hall.

Qinzheng Hall was where the ministers from the Secretariat would stay when they were in the palace.

The daily affairs of the court were first sent to Qinzheng Hall, where the officials from the Secretariat would review them, write their suggestions, and then submit them to Emperor Zhao Fu. After Zhao Fu reviewed them, he might provide his own responses and send them back to Qinzheng Hall. If the ministers had no objections, the documents would be passed on. If they had other suggestions, the documents would be resubmitted for Zhao Fu’s further review.

Tang Shen arrived at Qinzheng Hall, entered through a curtain flower door, and looked up to see a palace door adorned with four plum blossom door nails.

After entering, Tang Shen was led by a junior official to the room of Left Vice Chancellor Chen xianggong.

“Lower official Tang Shen, pays respects to Chen xianggong.”

Chen Linghai was reviewing a document when he heard the greeting and looked up to see Tang Shen. The junior official bowed and then left the hall. Chen Linghai, holding the document in one hand, looked at Tang Shen with great interest. He smiled and said, “Tang daren is here.”

Tang Shen bowed and said, “I have come to report on my duties.”

Tang Shen then explained what had happened in Funing Palace that day. In fact, there wasn’t much to report; Zhao Fu had lain in the palace all day, not meeting with any officials or moving around. By evening, he had instructed Tang Shen to inform the Secretariat to continue handling the court affairs and then took the medicine prepared by the imperial physician and fell into a drowsy sleep.

After listening, Chen Linghai said, “Tang daren, you’ve worked hard.”

Tang Shen was slightly surprised. This was his first time meeting Chen Linghai, yet Chen Linghai seemed oddly familiar with him.

The Secretariat had four chancellors: the Left Chancellor, the Right Chancellor, the Vice Left Chancellor, and the Vice Right Chancellor. The two chancellors were the top-ranking ministers, while the two vice chancellors assisted them. Chen Linghai was one of the vice chancellors. They were the true ministers of the Song dynasty. Apart from them, the heads of the six ministries of the Department of State Affairs were also respectfully addressed as “ministers.” Wang Zhen was one of these “lesser ministers.”

Tang Shen was puzzled but said, “I am merely doing my duty.”

After finishing his report, Tang Shen took his leave from Chen Linghai and prepared to exit the palace. However, just as he stepped out of Chen Linghai’s room, he encountered a middle-aged man with a small mustache, dressed in a second-rank official robe, walking from the opposite covered walkway. The man looked surprised to see Tang Shen. At this moment, Chen daren came out and greeted, “Meng daren.”

The newcomer turned out to be Meng Lang, Minister of Rites.

Meng Lang looked at Tang Shen, his gaze more direct than Chen daren’s. He scrutinized Tang Shen for a long time, even though it had been he who had read Tang Shen’s name at the imperial examination, announcing him as the third-place scholar of the Kaiping 27th year. But now, he pretended not to recognize him and deliberately said loudly, “Chen daren, who is this? Why have I never seen him at Qinzheng Hall?”

Chen daren replied, “This is Chamberlain Tang Shen, Tang daren.”

Minister Meng played along, “Oh, so it’s Tang daren. What brings Tang daren here?”

Tang Shen: “…”

“In response to Meng daren, His Majesty is unwell, and I have come to report on my duties.”

Minister Meng stretched his words, “Come to the Secretariat to report, but only report to Chen daren? What about the rest of us?”

Tang Shen: “…”

Minister Meng: “Tang daren, you mustn’t favor one over the others. We all care about His Majesty’s health. So, you should start by reporting to me, and after you’re done, I’ll take you to report to Ji daren, Xu daren… and the others.”

Tang Shen: “…”

What kind of people are these?!

At first, Tang Shen thought Meng Lang was intentionally making things difficult for him.

However, Minister Meng eagerly took Tang Shen to see the current Left Chancellor Ji daren, but he wasn’t there. He then tried to find Wang daren, and coincidentally, Wang daren wasn’t there either. Thus, two of the most powerful officials, the first-ranked ministers, were absent. But Vice Chancellor Xu daren was in. Xu daren was an elderly man with graying hair and a kindly smile. After learning who Tang Shen was, he smiled warmly and stared at him for a moment, saying, “What about the heads of the six ministries? Don’t forget to visit the Ministry of Revenue last.”

Minister Meng smiled slightly, “Indeed.”

The heads of the six ministries were second-ranked officials, and unlike the four chancellors, they didn’t each have their own office; they shared. Minister Meng was quite mischievous, taking Tang Shen to the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of War, before finally arriving at the shared office of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites.

Minister Meng pushed the door open, and Wang Zhen looked up, raising an eyebrow when he saw Tang Shen following behind Meng Lang.

Minister Meng said, “Wang daren, an official from the palace has come to report.”

Wang Zhen stood up, walked over to Tang Shen, and smiled, “Junior Brother.”

Minister Meng was astonished, “So Wang daren and Tang daren are actually fellow students? I’d almost forgotten.”

Tang Shen: “…”

I see your thick skin matches the official robe of your second rank!

Wang daren leisurely said, “Since you’ve come to report, let’s hear it.”

Tang Shen respectfully recounted Zhao Fu’s condition once more. His tone was gentle, his expression calm, neither servile nor arrogant, composed and poised. However, the more humble his attitude was, the more he cursed inwardly.

After hearing this, Wang Zhen said, “His Majesty is unwell, and we, the officials, have failed to relieve his worries; this is indeed a dereliction of duty. Minister Meng, I’ve heard that during the Zhou dynasty, there was an ancient ritual where a platform was built in the palace for reciting sutras for nine days to pray for the emperor’s health. This was traditionally performed by the High Priest, but now, it seems only you, Minister Meng, are suitable for this role. I’ll write a memorial to submit to His Majesty tomorrow, asking for his approval to let Minister Meng pray for His Majesty’s health. Such a good deed, I’ve always kept it in mind, but alas, I don’t manage the Ministry of Rites; it’s your fortune, Minister Meng.”

Meng Lang was stunned, “I’ve never heard of such a ritual in the Zhou rites.”

Wang Qin replied seriously, “There is, it’s in ‘The Erya’.” (TN: the earliest surviving Chinese dictionary or thesaurus, dating back to around the 3rd century BCE. It is an ancient reference work that explains and categorizes words in Classical Chinese. The name can also be translated as “refined” or “elegant” in a more general sense, emphasizing sophistication and clarity.)

Meng Lang: “Really?”

Wang Zhen: “Really.”

Meng Lang: “…”

Meng Lang: “I just remembered something at home, so I’ll take my leave now. I won’t disturb Wang daren and Tang daren’s conversation any longer.”

Minister Meng turned and left immediately. Tang Shen had never seen a high-ranking official change face faster than turning a page in a book.

Wang Zhen tidied up his things and said, “Let’s go.”

Tang Shen didn’t react immediately and looked at him blankly.

Wang Zhen smiled, reached out, and brushed back a strand of hair stuck to Tang Shen’s forehead from sweat, saying, “The palace gates will soon be locked. I’m not on duty tonight. Unless, little Junior Brother, you want to stay at Qinzheng Hall?”

Tang Shen: “…”

“Let’s go, let’s go.” He had long wanted to leave!

Riding in Minister Wang’s carriage, Tang Shen hitched a ride, and the carriage clattered away from the palace.

Wang Zhen explained, “The Qinzheng Hall isn’t as busy as you might think all day. Last month, the hall was preoccupied with the construction of three official roads to the north. It wasn’t until May that the workload decreased. Among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Rites is the least busy. Before you came, whenever you are responsible for drafting memorials to convey the Emperor’s decrees to the Qinzheng Hall, if Meng daren happens to see you, he will deliberately bring you over to show me.”

Tang Shen asked, “Ah, why?”

Wang Zhen looked at Tang Shen, his eyes smiling, “You don’t understand?”

Tang Shen thought for a moment and said, “Is it because I’m your junior brother?”

“It’s because our handwriting is somewhat similar,” Wang Zhen sighed. “It’s been more than a year since you passed the imperial examination, yet Meng daren, with nothing better to do, still remembers! Normally, when you don’t come to the Qinzheng Hall, it’s fine, but today you came, so he deliberately wanted to play a trick on you. Actually, it wasn’t to trick you; he was teasing me and just happened to involve you.”

This statement directly pointed out that a year ago, the reason Tang Shen was able to place third in the imperial examination was largely due to Wang Zhen’s efforts behind the scenes.

Tang Shen remained silent for a moment and then said, “Thank you, Senior Brother Zi Feng.”

Wang Zhen looked at him for a while before asking, “Have you had dinner?”

“Not yet.”

“Then come to the Minister Residence and join me.”

After having a meal of Jiangnan delicacies at the Minister Residence, Tang Shen returned home. He calculated his future days of serving in the palace and realized that about every three days, he would have to go to the Qinzheng Hall!

Ah, what a troublesome affair!

Tang Shen was already mentally prepared that whenever he went to the Qinzheng Hall to report, he would likely be teased by Minister Meng and other high-ranking officials. But three days later, when he went to the palace for duty, he heard from Li Shu that Meng daren of the Ministry of Rites had actually gone to the Temple of Heaven to chant scriptures and pray for Zhao Fu!

Li Shu said, “I heard that Minister Wang mentioned an ancient Zhou ritual. Originally, Minister Meng didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was just Minister Wang’s nonsense. But who would have thought that the next day, Minister Wang actually brought an ancient book and showed it to Minister Meng. Minister Meng was so astonished that without a word, he went to the Temple of Heaven that very afternoon.”

Tang Shen responded, “…I see.”

There was no way that anything Minister Wang said could be wrong.

Three years ago, Liang Song had once told Tang Shen that in his lifetime, he had only met one person with an eidetic memory, and that person was Wang Zhen.

With the troublesome Meng daren gone, when Tang Shen went to the Qinzheng Hall to report, the most he would face were a few glances from the powerful officials, but no one would deliberately tease him to amuse themselves with Wang Zhen.

Half a month later, Zhao Fu’s health gradually improved.

That afternoon, Tang Shen and the junior chamberlains waited outside the Funing Hall, when they saw a young figure in a deep red official robe approaching from a distance. The Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Su Wenyun, was summoned into the Funing Hall by Zhao Fu, and the two of them talked inside for nearly half an hour.

Before Su Wenyun came out, the chief eunuch Ji Fu exited the hall and said, “Tang daren, the Emperor requests your presence.”

Tang Shen immediately entered the hall.

Zhao Fu was lying on the bed, his cheeks thin and his complexion weak. When he saw Tang Shen enter, he said, “Jing Ze, you served in the Hanlin Academy for a long time and are quite familiar with it. Fei Ran needs to go to the Hanlin Academy to fetch a book for me. Would you accompany him?”

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

Tang Shen’s heart skipped a beat. He bowed and said, “I accept the order.”

Zhao Fu smiled, “Fei Ran, you may go with him.”

Tang Shen raised his head, and his gaze happened to meet Su Wenyun’s.

A flash of light passed through the man’s bright and radiant eyes as he looked at Tang Shen. Hearing Zhao Fu’s words, Su Wenyun smiled gently and said, “Yes.”

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Top Dupe CH 063 Twin Stars Part 2

Gu Xiaowei reminded, “Don’t forget to report to President Jiang. With such a coveted role, be careful not to get cut off.”

Sister Cui immediately came to her senses and ran to a private place to call Jiang Yinchuan.

“Xiang Chao, it’s Xiang Chao! I was once infatuated with his heroic figure too!”

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

Jiang Yinchuan, although calm, seemed to have choked a bit while drinking tea, “You guys are amazing. Just filming a variety show and being noticed by an outdoor sports brand, and now acting an Olympic champion? Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on it. Producer Liang is an old acquaintance of mine.”

Hearing this, Sister Cui’s heart raced even more.

“For a drama, if there is Xiang Chao, there definitely can’t be a lack of Cheng Peiyun. Who will play Cheng Peiyun?”

“Director Liu and Producer Liang favor Gu Xiaowei. And Xiang Chao’s role was also facilitated by Gu Xiaowei’s presence!”

“Oh—” Jiang Yinchuan’s tone was meaningful, “It seems he really wants to be a twin star with Luo Yu.”

The show’s recording continued as He Mu’s team watched Director Liu and Producer Liang leave, as if they were invisible.

The little assistant had a bad premonition; He Mu’s next quarter’s publicity fee might not be very high.

Fortunately, He Mu didn’t notice that Director Liu had come and gone, or he would have been very upset.

He Mu finally reached the last black square, hoping it was neither a princess carry nor a one-handed handstand, just something that hadn’t appeared before.

No more time to waste, He Mu randomly picked a black square and opened it to reveal “2.”

Deer smiled and said, “Thanks to He Mu for opening up a new map. This is a task that hasn’t been revealed before. Let’s see what it is—”

Everyone eagerly awaited.

“It turns out to be this, which is actually very simple—drink this bottle of black water within one minute! Fortunately, it’s not 2.5 liters or 1 liter, but 500 milliliters!”

At this moment, the staff pushed over a small cart.

On the cart was a glass bottle containing black liquid, which reflected a hint of purple under the sunlight, with some small particles inside.

“It’s all poison. What’s the essential difference between 500 milliliters and one liter?” Jiang Muxing looked at the color in fear.

“Of course, there is a difference. 500 milliliters might be enough for just one person to drink. One liter might mean the whole team has to drink.” Luo Yu had already understood the production team’s habits.

“Then let it be 500 milliliters.”

“Uh—” Li Shengyu took a step back, covering his mouth.

“Sheng Yu, are you okay?” Jiang Muxing hurried to help him.

This task was clearly designed for Li Shengyu, who had a clean freak persona. He couldn’t tolerate the black, bubbling liquid that looked like it might turn into marsh gas at any moment.

Mick glanced at Li Shengyu, maintaining his own persona, “This must’ve reminded him of the feeling of ‘warrior, you have it.’ Drinking this detoxifying holy water…”

“To cure the clean freak?” Liu Songtao chimed in.

“No, to cause diarrhea tonight.” Mick’s face showed no sympathy.

Seeing their discussion, Luo Yu raised his hand and asked Deer, “Just to be safe, Brother Deer, could you reveal the ingredients? It would be bad if something goes wrong.”

“Don’t worry, it’s just scorpions, centipedes, cockroaches, and a bit of mucus…”

“Ugh—” Li Shengyu ran towards the trash can, and Luo Yu quickly went to get bottled water and tissues, with Jiang Muxing jogging behind him.

Deer didn’t expect his random concoction to have such an effect. “It seems… Sheng Yu’s cleanliness obsession isn’t just for the show…”

“What’s inside?” Mick asked with emphasis.

“The color comes from mulberries, with a bit of soy sauce mixed in. The taste comes from… let me see, bitter melon, lemon, cilantro, and garlic blended together. Everything else is fine, but the garlic is a bit harsh; how many days will it take to brush that taste away?” Deer looked at He Mu. “So, what’s it going to be… drink it or admit defeat?”

He Mu thought, it’s just drinking a bottle of dark liquid, right?

If he doesn’t drink it, his persona would be ruined. The online trolls would definitely jump to conclusions.

He took a deep breath. “Start the timer!”

As he took the first sip, his taste buds nearly exploded. He had truly overestimated the production team’s sense of decency—what the hell is this!

It was bitter, sour, astringent, and had a weird taste. As he swallowed it, he wasn’t sure if he would pass out.

But at this point, he had to finish this hellish drink!

After the recording ended, he was determined to make Dijun Media give the director a piece of their mind!

He kept pouring it down, forcing himself to ignore the taste, but the more he drank, the more nauseous he felt.

Deer clapped while watching the timer being handed to him by the staff. “He Mu, Mick, and Liu Songtao’s team took a total of eighteen minutes to complete the task! It’s a tie! The outcome will depend on the next round!”

As soon as Deer announced it, He Mu dashed towards the trash can, vomiting uncontrollably.

After hearing the results, Li Shengyu called Deer over to a corner and asked, “Why do I feel like our team was a bit faster? Just Luo Yu’s ten princess carries saved almost forty seconds, and Jiang Muxing rolled higher numbers on the dice.”

Deer patted Li Shengyu’s shoulder. “You’ve made quite a splash. I can imagine that when the show airs, your team will be even more popular. But there’s a reason for the director’s arrangement. If your team won this round and the last one, tomorrow’s shoot would be unnecessary. The show wouldn’t even be long enough.”

Li Shengyu sighed and glanced at Jiang Muxing, who was chatting with Luo Yu in the distance. “I’m afraid Jiang Muxing might be upset because he performed so well today.”

“He understands. That kid has always been considerate and hasn’t caused any trouble for the production team. With this highlight, the director will definitely keep him in mind.”

Li Shengyu nodded and returned to his teammates.

At this moment, Luo Yu didn’t see Sister Cui’s excited expression and was unaware that he might be cast as an Olympic champion. He was chatting with his teammates as usual. “Jiang Muxing, are you better at rolling the dice or other things? Like playing cards, poker, or mahjong?”

Jiang Muxing, with his hands in his pockets and his dimples becoming more pronounced as he smiled, said, “I’m not great at playing cards. My luck is just really good; I often end up with the best hands.”

Seeing that Jiang Muxing was unaffected, Li Shengyu exchanged a reassuring glance with Luo Yu.

The director then had the teams reshoot some scenes, especially the one where Luo Yu supported Dingdang up the stage, meaning they had to film it from all angles.

Luo Yu didn’t think much of it, but Dingdang was embarrassed. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have drunk water earlier.”

“Two sips of water aren’t that heavy. Come on.”

Luo Yu stood on the board and extended his hand towards Dingdang, then effortlessly lifted her up. It was smooth and dreamlike.

The director watched the scene on the screen, smiling with a maternal expression. “The male lead of a drama should be held to this standard; otherwise, there’s no desire for romance.”

The other staff members laughed.

Meanwhile, He Mu sat on a chair, looking green. His assistant kept bringing him hot water and milk tea.

But besides them, only Mick and Liu Songtao came over to ask.

If it had been when he first started on the show, the director and other staff would have already gathered around to show concern.

He Mu couldn’t figure out how to describe his feelings.

“Just now… while you were recording, Director Liu and Producer Liang from the station came by.”

He Mu immediately sat up. “How long were they here? Did they see me drink that ghastly thing? Did they say anything?”

For example, did they praise his dedication?

The assistant shook his head. “They didn’t say anything, just left…”

He Mu, feeling dejected, muttered, “I was hoping they’d see how hard I worked for this show and not cut the budget for next season’s fees…”

The assistant looked down, opened his mouth to say something about seeing Producer Liang add Luo Yu’s agent on WeChat, but fearing He Mu’s reaction, quickly shut up.

At that moment, Gu Xiaowei and Sister Cui came over with paper bags.

“Come, everyone, you’ve worked hard. Have some snacks and drinks to fill your stomachs. There’s sweet and unsweetened milk tea.”

Li Shengyu, having just vomited, felt much better with some food. 

“Thanks. I’ll have the sweet milk tea,” Li Shengyu said, taking it.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei asked, “Have some snacks too, matcha and molten salted egg yolk.”

Li Shengyu paused. Gu Xiaowei’s voice was deep and pleasant, and very gentle, not at all like the “keep people at a distance” image portrayed by the media.

“I’ll have the matcha one.”

“Alright.” Gu Xiaowei found the matcha snack and gave it to him.

Jiang Muxing’s eyes lit up. “I want the sweet milk tea! And the molten salted egg yolk snack!”

Sister Cui, who liked Jiang Muxing’s straightforwardness, handed him a sweet milk tea with bubbles. “Here you go—sweet, with tapioca balls.”

“Thank you, Sister Cui.”

An attractive manicured hand reached out with a paper bag containing snacks, accompanied by a smiling voice, “Here, the molten salted egg yolk ones.”

Jiang Muxing looked up to meet Gu Xiaowei’s gentle gaze and said earnestly, “Thank you, Brother Gu.”

“En.”

After Gu Xiaowei walked away, Jiang Muxing tugged on Li Shengyu and said, “Brother Gu smiled at me just now. So that’s what his smile looks like!”

Li Shengyu was jolted by Jiang Muxing and choked on the matcha powder, sneezing continuously.

Sister Cui also distributed food to the director and other staff, including Liu Songtao and Mick.

At this time, He Mu’s takeout arrived. He looked at it and found only a few types of his usual drinks and some snacks.

“Why didn’t you order more? It’s a waste of goodwill.”

The assistant kept his head down, thinking, but according to your requirements we should be prioritizing your needs first.

When He Mu first joined the show, he had also bought food and ordered takeout for the staff like Sister Cui. Later, due to dissatisfaction with the crew’s meals and no improvement despite several communications, He Mu stopped doing such favors.

Unexpectedly, this let Luo Yu pick up the advantage.

He Mu immediately lost his appetite. He instructed his assistant to distribute the milk tea and snacks to those who hadn’t received any.

He maintained a good attitude, making sure to have other assistants take photos while distributing the food, to avoid Luo Yu claiming he was considerate of the staff online while his side lacked promotional materials.

By the time all the supplementary shots were finished, the sun was almost setting.

“Today’s shoot went smoothly. I’ve booked a farmhouse restaurant. Let’s all go eat some local dishes! Anyone interested, follow along!” The director waved his arm, and everyone responded happily.

Luo Yu turned to Gu Xiaowei. “Shall we go together?”

Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing gathered around. “Of course, we should!”

“I haven’t had a meal with Brother Gu yet!”

Gu Xiaowei nodded.

He Mu had no interest in the farmhouse restaurant and, having drank such a large cup of dark liquid, was feeling uncomfortable. He decided not to go.

The assistant returned and told him, “The director agreed and told you to rest well.”

“That’s it? Nothing else?” He Mu asked.

“No… The director said he was worried that returning too late might affect tomorrow’s shoot, so he asked those who wanted to join the dinner to head out quickly.”

He Mu got up from his half-reclining position and sat up. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”

Back at the hotel, he planned to call Mr. Gao; today’s shoot had been quite frustrating.

On the other side, the group heading to the farmhouse restaurant set off in high spirits.

On the way to the farmhouse, Sister Cui excitedly informed Luo Yu about the possibility of playing the Olympic champion Xiang Chao.

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei beside him, feeling this sounded like an unrealistic dream. “Really… is it true?”

“There’s a high possibility. If I were Cheng Peiyun, who else could be more suitable to play Xiang Chao than you?” Gu Xiaowei said.

“That’s the fencing arena’s twin stars!”

“So are we,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

For some reason, things that once seemed distant and out of reach to Luo Yu suddenly felt like they could be their future, just because Gu Xiaowei affirmed them.

Although it’s called a farmhouse, it’s not in the outskirts but rather at the foot of a nearby mountain.

Everyone spontaneously arranged their chairs and sanitized the bowls and chopsticks.

Xu Mu also had two bottles of good wine set out, saying that those who wanted to could have a few sips, while those who didn’t had the options of soda and fruit juice.

As a guest for this episode, Luo Yu naturally had to sit at the same table as Li Shengyu and the director.

Meanwhile, as a visitor, Gu Xiaowei sat with Sister Cui and the staff.

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

As soon as he sat down, Xu Mu personally came over to invite him to join the others.

“Teacher Gu is Luo Yu’s friend, so of course, he should sit with Luo Yu. Our production team also has to thank you for recording the VCR!”

“Director Xu, you’re too kind. I should be the one thanking you for not minding that an outsider like me is watching your shoot.”

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