LOT - 15

His mouth moved: "Well... I really didn't mean it. You can look, but why did you have to touch?"

The Emperor sneered, lowering his gaze: "You are mine. How can I not touch you? Do you know what happened to the last person who injured me?"

Rong Mu swallowed.

Shang Cizhou said darkly: "I dismembered him and fed him to wild dogs in the mass grave."

Rong Mu raised his eyes, a trace of barely detectable grievance in his gaze: "Your Majesty is frightening me again."

"I love frightening you." Shang Cizhou's face was cold. "Turn around. I'll apply the medicine."

How could this work! One touch nearly killed him... What was wrong with this white lotus original body? Did it have to be this sensitive? Help!

Rong Mu reached toward the Emperor: "This servant will do it myself—"

Shang Cizhou glanced at him: "With those short arms?"

Rong Mu: "My arms aren't short! I can reach!"

The Emperor didn't know whether he had grown accustomed to Rong Mu's rambling, chaotic self-address, or truly enjoyed teasing this chirping little creature. With one hand, he pressed Rong Mu down: 

"Cooperate a little, and we can finish faster. Otherwise, by tomorrow morning, they'll have fabricated that I did it ten times in one night."

Rong Mu fell silent, knowing he couldn't out stubborn this tyrant. After a while, he said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Then... hurry up."

Shang Cizhou raised an eyebrow, watching the young man's face full of endurance yet forced submission. A long-absent feeling of amusement welled up in his heart.

His clumsy appearance in his bedchamber was amusing. Waiting eagerly for dew in the morning was amusing. Throwing little tantrums at him yet coming back to coax him was even more interesting.

Rong Mu habitually stepped on his bottom line, but since their first meeting, Shang Cizhou had never again harbored murderous intent toward this little assassin.

He even gradually developed the intention to keep him alive long-term.

The imperial palace lacked no sweet dew, but it lacked things he could keep alive, and people who could make him feel pleased.

Shang Cizhou withdrew his thoughts, his deep eyes fixed on the young man's bare back. The bruise from the table corner was not small, somewhat red around the edges.

Truly fragile skin and tender flesh—such a small bump had become like this.

Shang Cizhou scooped a finger of medicinal ointment. His breathing inexplicably paused, then slowly moved toward the wound.

The body beneath his hand trembled slightly. Shang Cizhou saw Rong Mu unconsciously bite his own hand, eyes tightly closed in endurance.

His eternally unmoved indifference wavered abruptly. His brow furrowed slightly, and his movements became imperceptibly gentler.

The bedchamber was utterly quiet. Their breathing rose and fell alternately. Rong Mu gritted his teeth and asked: "Is Your Majesty finished?"

After a while, Shang Cizhou withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened: "Done."

The crystal-clear ointment gleamed faintly under the lamplight. Rong Mu hurriedly shivered and pulled up his clothes. But in the next moment, in the quiet bedchamber where only their breathing could be heard, a faint sound of water emerged.

Shang Cizhou's eyes instantly sharpened, almost immediately looking toward the source of the sound.

Rong Mu: "..."

Bi Jiangxue, please have some backbone! Be more reserved!

There was no third person's presence in the room. Shang Cizhou's eyes looked toward the half-open window. A night breeze passed, carrying the sound of Bi Jiangxue rustling in the hall, water rippling with a light splashing sound.

"I thought we had another guest coming," Shang Cizhou looked at Rong Mu and smiled for an instant. "I was thinking, if I accidentally killed someone and frightened you, what would I do? It turns out it was just Bi Jiangxue rustling in the wind. This flower is indeed somewhat interesting. My headaches have eased considerably recently. No wonder Attendant Rong also loves it so."

Rong Mu let out a heavy breath of relief. When he raised his eyes again, he had suppressed that soul-shuddering feeling. Hidden cold sweat at his temple, he lightly hinted: 

"Since Your Majesty knows this servant loves it, you must be gentler with Bi Jiangxue. Without this flower, this servant fears he would die of sorrow immediately."

Shang Cizhou's expression showed no suspicion whatsoever. He only smiled lightly: "The Buddhist lotus is precious. Even without Attendant Rong's instructions, I must care for it well."

Rong Mu slowly exhaled.

...The tyrant was extremely sharp. He had finally muddled through.

The Son of Heaven treated the Imperial Medical Academy as decoration all year round. An urgent summons in the deep night—everyone knew clearly which noble person in the Ziyuan Hall needed treatment.

Several days passed. The rumors in the Great Shang imperial palace had already changed from eight times in one night to Attendant Rong being unable to withstand His Majesty's torment and about to be abandoned.

Rong Mu sat on the wooden corridor. The red marks on his neck had faded. His slightly upturned eyes focused on appreciating his large flower pot, still harboring lingering fear from that night when Bi Jiangxue suddenly stirred.

His original body, Bi Jiangxue, seemed even closer to Shang Cizhou than he was.

Rong Mu listened to Ming Chun's words, his brow moving slightly: "...Abandoned?"

Who said that? That tyrant didn't know what medicine he had taken wrong recently, treating him much better than before. At night, he didn't hold him so tightly when sleeping either.

Ming Chun said anxiously: "Young Master, quickly think of something. What if His Majesty truly no longer likes the young master?"

Rong Mu said indifferently: "Rest assured a hundred times. His Majesty needs me now more than ever."

During this period, not only the harem but also the front court had faintly transmitted some news. Every day at the imperial desk, Shang Cizhou processed no fewer than eight hundred memorials regarding him.

All of these were petitions urging the Emperor to be clear-headed, not to violate the way of yin and yang, and to expel this male demon from the palace early to take in proper ladies instead.

Rong Mu had seen the Emperor's face darken for several days. At first, he thought Shang Cizhou was angry about these petitions. Later, after asking Lang Xi, he learned that the person was not angry about the memorials themselves, but about what lay behind them.

The Changling Guard had served the Emperor for many years. Which aristocratic family didn't have two sisters among their children? When these people served before the Emperor, they inevitably revealed the truest information to Lang Xi.

It turned out that some officials' petitions were more or less urged by their own daughters. These fathers were probably still in the dark, thinking their precious daughters had finally seen the light and were preparing to marry the Emperor!

Only a very few people knew that in private, these noble ladies' circles were all inquiring about one thing: if His Majesty truly abandoned Attendant Rong, then this devastatingly beautiful Young Master Rong, upon leaving the palace, could perhaps continue a good marriage with themselves.

Rong Mu looked incredulous: "I didn't expect to overdo it and create new troubles for His Majesty."

A way to deal with romantic rivals that had never been imagined had appeared.

Ming Chun's face was blank, only able to sweetly speak well of Rong Mu.

"As long as the young master and His Majesty are well, we people below are also happy."

Rong Mu nodded: "As long as I am here for one day, I will hold the front. Rest assured."

But Ming Chun was startled: "The young master plans to leave?"

Rong Mu only smiled silently, not replying to Ming Chun.

His identity was unclear, his position delicate, and he wore the identity of Bi Jiangxue with constant trepidation, afraid of being discovered and burned.

Besides, those court officials probably wished to dispose of him immediately upon seeing him... His greatest reliance was only the Emperor. This was also where Shang Cizhou's control was formidable.

In the favor of an emperor, the one at fault is never the emperor—only the one who bewitched him.

According to this tyrant's initial temperament, he would probably have been devoured without a trace by now, only to be kicked out after being used up. Being able to keep his life would be good. But during his time in the imperial palace, with food, drink, and sun to bask in, the outside rumors not only didn't trouble him but were all blocked by the Emperor.

The noble ladies wept secretly for him. Shang Cizhou's expression grew gloomy for him. Even Rong Mu himself, seeing this situation, would have to call himself a "calamity."

The days of being a salted fish little flower were too comfortable. The imperial palace was luxurious, nurturing both people and flowers to radiant health. If this continued, the closed off Bi Jiangxue would eventually want to bloom.

***

This evening, Shang Cizhou returned from outside. The Ziyuan Hall, as the Emperor's bedchamber, was close to the front court. If Rong Mu walked out a few more steps, he might even encounter some current high officials.

"Your Majesty, won't you eat something? I just finished a bowl of bird's nest," Rong Mu said with a smile.

Shang Cizhou stopped and looked at him: "I feel that Attendant Rong's life has been quite comfortable recently."

Rong Mu hurriedly waved his hand: "No, no. This servant only went to play cards with the three gentlemen of the Xi Qing Palace when idle. In the afternoon, I returned to the Ziyuan Hall for lunch. At night, I specifically wait for Your Majesty to return to sleep together. This servant's days are also quite busy." By the end, he could barely hold back his smile.

The Emperor's face indeed turned cold. He strode over and pinched Rong Mu's cheek.

Rong Mu's cheeks puffed out, his enunciation unclear: "What are you doing now?"

Shang Cizhou narrowed his eyes: "Kicking me while I applied medicine—I endured it. Rising earlier than you every day for court—I endured that too. These past few days, I've had to process memorials related to you constantly. I'm so busy I wish I could split into three people. Yet Attendant Rong enjoys himself freely in the Ziyuan Hall, growing rounder by the day."

Rong Mu's eyes widened: "Your Majesty can say what you will, but no personal attacks! Where am I round? I'm clearly extraordinarily slender."

Shang Cizhou released his hand, pinching his fingertips: "I say you are, so you are—I suddenly remembered that tomorrow I must leave the palace. For Attendant Rong's health, you will come with me then. Take a good walk outside."

Rong Mu was about to agree immediately, but in the next moment his spine straightened.

Leave... the palace?

No, no—this wasn't the palace exit he had imagined! He had to bring his large flower pot when he went out. Since the spring flower-viewing banquet, he knew he had to recharge with his original body in the sun every noon. If he went out alone with the Emperor, wouldn't that be metaphysical danger every minute!

Shang Cizhou saw Rong Mu's troubled expression, his mood becoming more balanced: "What, unwilling?"

Rong Mu coughed, saying softly: "Your Majesty... this servant's injuries haven't healed yet, so I won't accompany Your Majesty on the bumpy journey..."

Shang Cizhou said indifferently: "Whether your body has healed or not—would I not know?"

Ming Chun, hearing this from a distance, silently blushed again.

Rong Mu hurriedly waved his hand: "No, no—"

Shang Cizhou wasted no more words with him: "It's decided. Prepare early tomorrow. Wear light, convenient clothes. I'll take you out of the city to ride Wuzhui."

Rong Mu saw there was no way out and hurriedly grabbed the Emperor's sleeve: "Your Majesty, wait!"

Shang Cizhou turned back.

Rong Mu changed tactics: "This servant's face is too conspicuous for horseback riding. Could Your Majesty prepare a carriage for this servant... and when we reach a secluded place, this servant will ride with Your Majesty."

This strike hit the tyrant's weakness precisely. Shang Cizhou indeed considered it seriously, then slowly said: "Agreed."

Rong Mu's mood instantly soared. Tomorrow when the Emperor set out, who would care if there was a pot of flowers in his carriage! Bringing Bi Jiangxue, he would let this little country flower see the outside world's customs. Don't just absorb dragon energy in the imperial palace all day, only thinking about how to bloom!

Thinking this, Rong Mu felt this was his first true "date activity" with the Emperor. His interest rose again, and he chased after the Emperor asking eagerly: "May this servant know what Your Majesty is leaving the palace to do tomorrow?"

Shang Cizhou's steps paused. He turned sideways and smiled at Rong Mu: "Some days ago, I instructed Li Suichuan to investigate something. He didn't find the thing, but flushed out a group of rats underneath. I have some free time, so I'll go watch the excitement."

Rong Mu also said happily: "I also love excitement. So where exactly are we going? Is it fun?"

Shang Cizhou's tone was low, the corner of his mouth hooking up mischievously: "Fun. We're going to the imperial prison."

Rong Mu: "...?"

Shang Cizhou, are you okay?​