LOT - 13

The bottom ones were slightly old and worn. The higher one went, the newer the lanterns became. The marks of time's passage were quite evident. Rong Mu looked up—only one level of compartments remained before the Emperor filled this place completely.

For an Emperor who managed countless affairs daily, this project must have taken seven or eight years of effort.

He withdrew his gaze and said: "Your Majesty's hobby is truly unique."

Shang Cizhou narrowed his eyes: "I am questioning your crime."

Rong Mu: "Yes, this servant knows. But this servant did not trespass. Your Majesty said this servant may move freely through the harem. The Gilded Hanging Lantern Tower should count as part of the harem, should it not?"

Shang Cizhou said coldly: "You know not whether to live or die."

Rong Mu frowned: "Can't Your Majesty speak properly with people?"

"I cannot. Does Attendant Rong still intend to teach me how to speak? Those who made me speak properly are all dead."

Rong Mu nodded with feigned fear, walked forward two steps, and simply sat down beside the Emperor.

"Rong Mu."

Rong Mu lowered his eyes and picked up a bamboo strip: "I'm here."

Shang Cizhou looked at his own leg, which had been squeezed off half the meditation cushion, and said dangerously: "Do you think I truly dare not do anything to you?"

Rong Mu laughed: "Then Your Majesty should get used to this servant more. Without me, I doubt anyone would dare take on this job of offending all the officials. I haven't even settled the score with Your Majesty for making me bear such a bad reputation."

The young man was entirely calm, with a faint lotus fragrance about him. Shang Cizhou slowly settled his heart. "How did you find this place?"

"I asked Ming Chun, then begged a guard brother to show the way."

Shang Cizhou made a long "oh" sound. "My people have quite been bought over by Attendant Rong."

Rong Mu set down what he was holding and turned to look at him: "This servant has bought no one. Nothing in the world is difficult for one with true sincerity. This servant is simply accustomed to being kind to people. In this palace where human affection is thin, everyone is grateful for even a little kindness, so they all look after this servant."

Shang Cizhou suddenly laughed: "You? You are kind to people?" His tone abruptly shifted, cold: "Then Attendant Rong, calculate for yourself—how many times have you quarreled with me? Could it be that in Attendant Rong's eyes there are only others, and you do not place this Emperor in your eyes at all?"

Rong Mu paused for a moment, only saying: "Then is Your Majesty kind to this servant?"

Shang Cizhou looked at him.

Rong Mu said: "Between Your Majesty and me, it is all exploitation. This servant lives in daily fear of provoking Your Majesty's wrath, therefore I do not draw close to Your Majesty. Today as well—this servant drank and socialized for Your Majesty, yet upon returning, Your Majesty carelessly forced bitter medicine on me. This servant felt depressed, therefore I provoked Your Majesty."

Shang Cizhou pressed down the corner of his mouth: "Attendant Rong still has reason?"

Rong Mu laughed, his voice clear: "Your Majesty, please forgive. If Your Majesty is a bit kinder to this servant, this servant will also be kind to Your Majesty. The nature of our relationship is clear to both of us. I only hope Your Majesty lives ten thousand years without worry, guarding the country safe and sound. When that time comes, this servant can also retire with merit accomplished."

All expression suddenly vanished from the Emperor's face. Rong Mu thought he had spoken to this point—the Emperor should at least know he meant no harm, only wanted to coax him into being a bit happier. He hadn't expected that in the next moment, a large hand pressed against his neck.

Rong Mu's back thudded against the table corner, the pain making him clench his jaw tight.

...What was wrong with this madman now?!

On Shang Cizhou's face was a numb gloom Rong Mu had never seen before. The smile at the corner of his mouth had completely disappeared. He slowly drew near, his voice low and hoarse: 

"Do you also think I am terribly mad... Rong Mu, you yourself are still a mass of fog. The only reason I haven't killed you yet is that I want to know exactly what kind of existence you are. But if you keep stepping on my bottom line, I cannot guarantee I won't lose patience and take your dear life."

Rong Mu's face flushed red with some asphyxiation. This tyrant loved to pinch people's necks when his temper flared. If he were still in his original body right now, he would absolutely be getting his flowers brutally crushed!

He raised his hand, grasping the Emperor's knuckles, his voice faint: "...Your Majesty."

Shang Cizhou remained unmoved, his eyes like suppressed abyssal whirlpools.

Rong Mu's right hand struggled at his side, suddenly grabbing a handful of colored paper. In a flash of inspiration, he looked up and opened his mouth: "Ci Zhou—"

Shang Cizhou's entire body stiffened.

Rong Mu tried with difficulty to shift the topic: "Shang... Ci Zhou, is that Your Majesty's given name?"

The hand at his neck slowly loosened. Rong Mu's back hurt and his throat burned. He thought to himself that he had truly suffered great misfortune in this Great Shang imperial palace.

"You are presumptuous."

Rong Mu took a deep breath: "This servant has been presumptuous more than once, so... is this truly Your Majesty's given name?"

Shang Cizhou's face was cold as he looked at Rong Mu indifferently: "So what if it is, so what if it isn't."

The atmosphere eased slightly. Rong Mu secretly let out a breath: "It sounds very nice."

Shang Cizhou said nothing, his brow peaks moving slightly.

Rong Mu's eyes were sincere as he praised: "This servant thinks it sounds very nice... Has Your Majesty calmed down now?"

"...This servant ruined Your Majesty's lantern and provoked Your Majesty's displeasure. Today this servant must certainly make amends to Your Majesty. What was said earlier was not entirely about asking Your Majesty to devote yourself to state affairs—that was public-mindedness. Your Majesty took in this servant and gave me warm dew to drink. As for this servant's private feelings, I only wish that under this servant's companionship, Your Majesty could relax even slightly. Then this servant could be considered 'worth the value.'"

Shang Cizhou looked at Rong Mu for a long while before slowly opening his mouth: "Attendant Rong is truly a remarkable person."

Rong Mu hurt in front and back, yet still had to maintain his professional fake smile: "Your Majesty overpraises. Your Majesty wait here a moment. This servant will make amends with a lantern for Your Majesty."

...This dog temper was impossibly difficult to coax!

Rong Mu made a fierce mental note, lightly coughed to clear his throat, rubbed his back behind him, then bent over the desk, picked up the tools, and began to work.

The young man's long hair fell behind his back. His unique silver-belled hair tie made slight sounds with his breathing movements. Since its construction, no one had entered this Gilded Hanging Lantern Tower. Every level, every lantern here was made by Shang Cizhou's own hands when his heart was troubled.

The flower lanterns were of all colors and types, quietly placed in their small compartments. In the corner of each lantern was marked Shang Cizhou's name.

Everyone in the palace knew this was his place. No one had ever dared enter, let alone make a lantern for him.

The image of Rong Mu calling his name echoed in Shang Cizhou's mind, deep confusion buried in his eyes.

Was it the effect of Bi Jiangxue?

In that instant, his mind was clearer than at any other moment, as if a voice warned him not to be impulsive, not to casually harm the person beneath his hand.

The Emperor favored black robes, appearing especially unfathomable in the night. Rong Mu glanced at him from time to time, lest he suddenly attack again.

But until he stumblingly glued the lantern together and spent ages drawing at the bottom corner, the other still maintained that absent-minded posture.

Rong Mu silently sighed for this mad Emperor, raised the remade lantern in his hand, and stuffed it into Shang Cizhou's hands like offering a flower.

"Your Majesty, look. Are you satisfied? In the past, Your Majesty was always alone here. How can one make beautiful lanterns when in a bad mood? Staying by oneself often makes one even more unhappy."

Shang Cizhou casually received it. His eyes fell on that ruined, elongated stroke. He saw that a small dot had been awkwardly added to it, and beneath that another stroke added. After those two lonely characters, a clumsy, childish "Rong Mu" was appended, with a small lotus flower drawn as annotation.

"The writing is truly ugly."

Rong Mu mentally recited three times "this is the Emperor," then set down the wolf-hair brush: "If Your Majesty does not like it, then return it to me."

As he spoke, he reached out to take it, but the Emperor dodged, and he pitched forward directly onto the other's broad chest.

With the weight of two people pressing down, Shang Cizhou frowned and extended one hand to support himself. Rong Mu scrambled to find purchase on top. He was slender of build; Shang Cizhou only moved his other hand to press him still.

Since they had come to know each other, they had never been this close.

The tower full of lanterns surrounded their pupils. Rong Mu's handsome, spirited face was also captured within. The young man's eyes were panicked yet brightly sincere. Shang Cizhou tried not to guess at this person with conspiracies and schemes, and suddenly somewhat understood Rong Mu's true intention in coming here.

This stupid little thing who didn't know where he came from, walking such a long way in the dark, then dawdling and saying all that nonsense—he wasn't teaching him how to do things or currying favor.

But rather, it seemed simply, purely, to come make him happy.​