LOT - 10

As the initial shock settled, Rong Mu pinched the golden ivory ball in his hand. Surprisingly, he said nothing, only offered Yan Hualing a word of thanks for the information, then turned to leave.

Yan Hualing couldn't help but call out: "Aren't you afraid?!"

Rong Mu turned back. Standing amidst the sea of flowers in his green attire, he made no effort to compete with them for beauty, instead revealing an elegant, unworldly bearing.

For an instant, Yan Hualing thought she saw a flower stem standing perfectly straight.

"I am afraid, but His Majesty favors me. If the young ladies already have beloveds in their hearts, then they need not fear, His Majesty's eyes see only me, and will not look upon others," Rong Mu's voice was exceptionally gentle and pleasant. "Enjoy yourselves slowly. I shall return first."

His words were neither servile nor overbearing. The surrounding noble ladies more or less heard them clearly, and with slight understanding of their meaning, they recognized the exquisite, bodhisattva-like consideration of this Consort.

Yan Hualing's expression grew complicated. Just as she was about to turn and speak with her companions, she saw a circle of usually unattainable young ladies with flushed faces, gazing obsessively at Rong Mu's departing figure... They had clearly been admiring His Majesty just moments ago!

Even the three consorts in the pavilion who barely interacted with others couldn't help but stand up, watching the direction in which that person had left.

Yan Hualing took a deep breath.

They had all wondered since childhood what kind of husband they might marry one day, wishing to pile all beautiful imaginings together.

Unfortunately, most men nowadays were arrogant and self-important, always thinking of themselves as the head of the household. Thus the noble ladies could only dream in their chambers, fantasizing about one day meeting a gentle, refined husband who would respect his wife.

Before, it had truly been only imagination. But now, it was as if the dream person had stepped out from the mirror.

This Young Master Rong, what a talent for "winning people's hearts."

***

Rong Mu walked extremely fast, not even realizing when he had left Ming Chun behind.

Leaving the spring flower-viewing banquet was partly because Yan Hualing's words had inexplicably agitated him, and partly because he wanted to return to the Ziyuan Hall as quickly as possible.

It was already noon. He had been out for nearly an hour. His sixth sense told him he must hurry back to crouch beside Bijiangxue to replenish his solar energy, or else something terrifying like a person transforming in broad daylight might occur.

Amidst his swirling thoughts, he suddenly recalled the morning dew the Emperor had handed him before leaving this morning.

The Emperor had known he needed to drink dew upon waking and had specifically ordered Lang Xi to collect and prepare it, so he wouldn't have to squat in the flowers every day like a lunatic "eating breakfast"...

What kind of person was this tyrant, exactly?

Rong Mu shook his aching head. The wine he had just consumed was only now beginning to cause trouble. In the blink of an eye, he crashed into a tree that he should have been able to avoid.

But the expected pain never came. A calloused palm cushioned his forehead. Rong Mu raised his dizzy head and saw an extremely unfamiliar face.

But in the next moment, he immediately realized who this was.

"Consort, I trust you have been well." The man withdrew his palm and cupped his hands in salute.

Rong Mu slowly made an "oh" sound, looking at the exquisite black armor before him. "So it was General Li... General Li, are you waiting for someone here?"

Li Suichuan did not look at Rong Mu's face, but glanced sidelong at a nearby tree. "Merely passing by."

Or rather, His Majesty had ordered him to investigate this person. Having found nothing, he had no choice but to approach again.

Rong Mu nodded: "Then I won't block the General's path. I'll take my leave."

Just as Li Suichuan was about to speak, he watched with wide eyes as Rong Mu walked out a perfectly straight curve, heading directly for a small lake by the roadside.

Seeing that swaying figure, his pupils contracted sharply. Just as he reached out, a luxurious black sleeve moved faster than him, shooting out to grab the muddle-headed young man who was about to cause trouble.

Li Suichuan froze, then immediately reacted and lowered his head: "Your Majesty, please forgive—"

As he spoke, the corner of his eye inadvertently caught the pattern on Rong Mu's robe corner. The complex and unique double-petaled lotus design flashed in Li Suichuan's eyes.

Shang Cizhou ignored him, his expression subtle as he grabbed the wilted Rong Mu and spun him around, then sniffed forward. "Lang Xi."

Lang Xi hurried forward: "Your Majesty."

Shang Cizhou: "Go back first and prepare sobering medicine. Do not add a single grain of sugar."

Lang Xi hurriedly withdrew.

Being lifted by the Emperor again, Rong Mu's collar pressed against his neck. Uncomfortable, he tugged at his collar, as if only now noticing Shang Cizhou.

"Mm? Your Majesty, hello there. Have you eaten?"

Not a trace of smile appeared on Shang Cizhou's face: "I sent Consort Rong to attend a flower-viewing banquet, not a wine-tasting."

Rong Mu waved his hand: "Nowadays, what occasion doesn't start with a couple drinks to break the ice?"

The attendants stood at a distance. Only Li Suichuan, who clearly heard this sentence, lowered his head further.

Only now did Rong Mu belatedly feel his head spinning. He only wanted to hurry back to bask in the sun and recharge.

 So he slapped the ivory ball against the Emperor's chest and opened his mouth: "This servant has successfully completed his mission, tricking... uh, winning back the banquet prize from Miss Yan. Your Majesty can show off your affection to the court officials to your heart's content. Including Your Majesty's three blue, green, and red. None are more beautiful than this servant."

Li Suichuan, standing nearby, truly couldn't remain any longer. He begged forgiveness and turned to vanish from sight.

The Emperor's body seemed to carry the scent of Bijiangxue. Rong Mu felt the discomfort from being too far from his original body slightly ease. Then he raised his hand and patted Shang Cizhou's arm: "Your Majesty, do you know how to carry someone? Move both your hands. Don't carry me like you're holding a potted plant."

Shang Cizhou was silent for a moment, but ultimately threaded his other arm, which had been behind his back, through the crook of Rong Mu's knees, effortlessly lifting him up.

A comfortable sigh escaped the young man's mouth.

Shang Cizhou's face was cold: "Don't make strange sounds with that voice."

Rong Mu patted the Emperor's shoulder with the ivory ball again: "I would if I could... Back to the bedchamber... Walk in the sunlight. This servant needs to sunbathe, to grow taller."

Shang Cizhou's palm was full of the sensation of slender weight. It seemed he had never carried someone like this before. His entire being radiated an awkward, dark aura. The image of this person nearly falling into the small pool just now flashed through his mind.

Li Suichuan had appeared steady since childhood but was actually extremely calculating, never meddling in others' affairs. Shang Cizhou had almost forgotten what he looked like when anxious.

From palace maids to attendants, to his young general. Who in this palace wasn't a shrewd person? Could it truly be because of this face?

It seemed that except for him, Rong Mu could get along harmoniously with anyone.

The Emperor's lips pressed downward: "You dare negotiate terms with me. If I hadn't happened to pass by, your lunch would have been the black mud at the bottom of the pond."

Rong Mu was about to say that Li Suichuan was also there, but then remembered how terrifying this person was when jealous, so he silently swallowed the words.

Feeling Bijiangxue's presence growing closer, his heart grew more settled. Opening his eyelids warmed by the sun, he stared unblinkingly at the tyrant before him.

This Emperor had sharp, long eyebrows, beneath which grew a pair of extremely cold, heartless eyes, cold-hearted and mad. He truly couldn't imagine what this person would look like if he genuinely fell in love with someone.

Shang Cizhou also glanced at him. In the instant their eyes met, it seemed as if purple light flowed through Rong Mu's pupils.

That extremely pleasant, lotus-like delicate fragrance lingered at his nose again, but Shang Cizhou's mind stabbed with pain for a moment.

Frowning, he stepped over the threshold of the bedchamber. The young man in his arms suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

"Your Majesty."

Shang Cizhou made an acknowledging sound. "Speak."

Rong Mu looked at him, his tone light as he asked the question that had been pent up in his heart: "Your Majesty stands above ten thousand people, but has there ever been a moment when you treated someone with sincerity?"

Shang Cizhou abruptly stopped in his tracks.