A short time after Shen Shaoheng emerged from the tent, he discussed the deployment with the guards. As he turned around, he coincidentally encountered Ming Yan passing by from the outside.
On that day, he had accompanied the emperor to meet Ming Yan, already aware of the true identity of Lord Mo Hou. Coincidentally, he happened to be an avid admirer of many works by Mr. Mo Hou, having read most of his plays and books. Since that momentous encounter, his gaze towards Ming Yan held nothing but admiration. Now, as he saw Ming Yan passing by, he approached without hesitation, eager to inquire about the progress of Lord Mo Hou’s latest literary masterpiece.
Regrettably, he had yet to exchange a single word with Ming Yan when, to his dismay, he witnessed Ye Yang emerging from the emperor’s tent, supported by palace attendants.
Shen Shaoheng was truly taken aback.
Fifteen minutes ago, he had witnessed the emperor and Yun shijun engaged in an intimate exchange within the tent. Just half an hour earlier, they were entwined in each other’s embrace on the bed, their affection seemingly unparalleled. How, then, could it be that Yun shijun was now emerging alone?
Despite Ye Yang’s beaming countenance and seemingly carefree strides, as if he were on the verge of skipping with each step, Shen Shaoheng couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that something was amiss.
If he recalled correctly, Yun shijun was still ailing at present. How could the emperor…… so heartless! It was utterly excessive!
Shen Shaoheng couldn’t contain the sense of injustice welling up within him on behalf of Ye Yang.
Ming Yan, too, found herself somewhat astonished.
Yet, having weathered many storms, she was well-acquainted with the intricacies of personal relationships. She merely smiled faintly and remarked, “Rest assured, in a matter of days, they will reconcile.”
Witnessing a seemingly destined couple on the verge of parting before his eyes, Shen Shaoheng felt a twinge of sadness. Upon hearing Ming Yan’s comforting words, he couldn’t help but murmur inquiringly, “……Is that truly the case?”
Ming Yan smiled knowingly and said, “Young couples quarrel—it’s a part of life. You’ll get used to it.”
……
Ye Yang experienced the most carefree and joyful days since his arrival in the capital.
The following day, he recovered from his fever, and in the subsequent days, Feng Luan never came to visit him again. As the others set out for the autumn hunt, he spent his time riding horses every day. He had grown fond of the sensation of riding, while Shen Xiangning, accompanied by Ming Yan and Chu Lian, dedicated several days to not only teaching them the art of riding but also imparting a newfound skill to Chu Lian in horseback dog-walking.
Chu Lian’s negative score towards Ye Yang had reset to zero, and while her favorability score for him didn’t reach the heights of Ming Yan and Shen Xiangning, she no longer harbored the same level of dislike as before. Besides horseback riding, they even set up a mahjong table at Shen Xiangning’s place, spending their days playing cards and riding horses, creating a surprisingly pleasant atmosphere.
Until the final day of the autumn hunt.
Ye Yang set up a barbecue grill in the camp, enjoying the process of grilling skewers. Chu Lian, keeping the dog from leaping onto the meat, sat nearby. Meanwhile, Shen Xiangning, propping her chin with her hand, whispered to Ming Yan, “Did His Majesty and Yun shijun have a disagreement?”
Ming Yan responded, “It seems so, doesn’t it?”
She turned her head and caught sight of Feng Luan, along with Shen Shaoheng and the others, returning from the autumn hunt. Palace attendants were nearby, tallying up the game, and Feng Luan seemed to have claimed the top spot once again.
In all seriousness, during these days of the autumn hunt, whenever Feng Luan personally participated, he approached it with unmatched solemnity. The few martial officials accompanying him couldn’t match his skill, and rumors couldn’t help but circulate upon their return. They speculated that the emperor’s recent mood was exceedingly poor, almost treating the autumn hunt as a means of venting frustration. However, no one knew why Feng Luan was behaving this way, and the only person who might have some insight…… was currently joyfully barbecuing, carefree and seemingly without a worry in the world.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Ye Yang distributed the grilled meat to everyone and went back to tending the next round. Shen Xiangning couldn’t help but feel even more anxious, saying, “I inquired with Shaoheng, but even he is unaware of the underlying circumstances—”
“Rest assured,” Ming Yan reassured, “observe those common couples; they may quarrel at the head of the bed, but they make up at the foot. I believe it is the same for the nobility……”
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Ye Yang was brushing sauce onto the skewers when his hair got in the way. He had hastily tied it up in a haphazard bun, and his sleeves were proving inconvenient. Opting for the equestrian attire exclusively tailored for him by Feng Luan, he rolled up the sleeves, revealing half of his muscular arms. Juggling skewers in both hands, he looked up and saw Ming Yan and Shen Xiangning engrossed in conversation. Seizing the opportunity, he couldn’t resist shouting playfully at them, “Don’t be shy! Enjoy to your heart’s content!”
Zlcu Tjc vlvc’a delaf mjamt ktja kjr rjlv.
She figured that Ye Yang was probably urging her to eat quickly, so she took a bite. The taste was exceptional, and she enjoyed it very much, though it was slightly spicy. Glancing over, she noticed Chu Lian had moved her chair next to Ye Yang’s grill, keeping a close eye on the skewers in his hands. The husky was practically drooling, with saliva almost dripping onto the ground.
This is a great opportunity to increase the favorability of the original novel’s female lead, thought Ye Yang.
He coughed and said, “Would you like some more?”
Chu Lian stammered, “Well…… not really……”
Ye Yang grinned at her and asked, “Little sister, is it delicious?”
Chu Lian replied, “It is…… quite delicious.”
“Alright,” Ye Yang said, “I’ll grill two more skewers for you.”
Feng Luan finally made up his mind and took determined steps toward them.
Chu Lian nibbled on the skewer Ye Yang had freshly grilled for her, wanting more but unsure how to ask for another.
Just a few days ago, she was still Ye Yang’s adversary. Though she might not have willingly participated in certain actions, those deeds were carried out through her hands under her parents’ command, and she bore the guilt for them. Despite the recent improvement in their relationship, she hesitated to engage in conversation with Ye Yang, burdened by a sense of remorse.
Now seemed to be a good opportunity to treat Ye Yang kindly.
She bit her lip, hesitating, and held the dog in her arms, rubbing its head. Finally, as a new round of grilling finished, she looked up at Ye Yang with anticipation. After a moment of hesitation, she mustered the courage to speak, saying, “I would like……”
No, she thought about the way Ye Yang usually phrased things and made up her mind.
“Smells so good…… It’s very…… very delicious,” Chu Lian said. “Gimme two more!”
Ye Yang responded, “Sure!”
Before the words had even left his mouth, he turned his head and met Feng Luan’s icy gaze.
Ye Yang’s radiant smile still adorned his face, his mood uplifted. Without considering the need to restrain his smile, and given the rare chance of being so close to Feng Luan after these days, he raised the skewer in his hand and asked cheerfully, “Your Majesty, care for a skewer?”
Feng Luan, “……Hmph!”
Without uttering a word, Feng Luan turned and left, sweeping his sleeves dismissively. Ye Yang was momentarily stunned, furrowing his brow as he couldn’t fathom why Feng Luan had come to this place in the first place.
Shen Xiangning whispered in astonishment, “It appears he is genuinely upset.”
The spiciness of the skewers caused Ming Yan to gasp. She nodded in agreement with Shen Xiangning. Before she could recover, Shen Shaoheng approached them from where Feng Luan had departed. His face bore a wry smile of resignation as he addressed them, “Yun shijun, Ming siji, His Imperial Majesty has matters he wishes to discuss with you.”
Ye Yang looked bewildered. “Why didn’t His Majesty just say so earlier?”
Shen Shaoheng coughed and said, “Yun shijun, today His Majesty finds himself in a less than favorable disposition……”
Ye Yang was even more perplexed.
Following Ming Yan, Ye Yang stood up and accompanied Shen Shaoheng to Feng Luan’s tent. Pondering over it, he still couldn’t fathom Feng Luan’s intentions. Upon entering the tent, Kang Ning stood to the side and winked at him, conveying a subtle message to follow Feng Luan’s lead and not provoke the emperor’s anger further.
The expression was too complex, and Ye Yang failed to comprehend its meaning.
Feng Luan sat upright, dispensing with any formalities as Ye Yang and Ming Yan entered. He chose to forgo their greetings, directing his words solely at Ming Yan, saying, “Zhen already knows.”
Ming Yan blinked and inquired, “Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?”
“Lord Mo Hou shares a deep friendship with Prime Minister Yun, a fact zhen momentarily overlooked,” Feng Luan remarked with indifference. “The Prime Minister’s intricate plans are designed to entice zhen out of the palace, so that zhen can witness firsthand the state of the common folk.”
As he spoke, Feng Luan deliberately shifted his gaze towards Ye Yang, his expression sharp yet complex, as if harboring a hint of resentment. This sudden turn of attention startled Ye Yang, leaving him perplexed.
Wait, what? Enticing him out of the palace? What scheme did his father come up with?
Ming Yan and his father were good friends?
Why couldn’t Ye Yang understand a single word Feng Luan was saying?
“Truly befitting of an Emperor,” Ming Yan smiled subtly. “Your discernment has surpassed our initial expectations.”
Ye Yang scratched his head.
Feng Luan didn’t press further and straightforwardly asked, “Where do you want zhen to go?”
“Yanzhong,” Ming Yan suggested with grace. “In the preceding month, this region experienced a devastating flood. The relief funds, earmarked for such occasions, have just reached their destination. If Your Majesty desires to unveil the reality of the situation, this moment is most opportune.”
Feng Luan had a plan in mind.
With the hunting party away from the capital, it would take some time for news to reach there. This afforded him the opportunity to avoid the prying eyes and ears of various factions in the capital. He could conveniently feign illness here and secretly head to Yanzhong with trusted aides.
Once he returned to the capital, feigning illness might not be as straightforward. With a determined decision, yet lingering doubts, Feng Luan seized the opportunity to seek clarification from Ming Yan. He inquired, “Was it Wei Shi who concealed the matter of the refugees in the capital region?”
Ming Yan nodded. “Deputy Commander Wei has had control over the Military Affairs Bureau for many years. He forbids the appearance of refugees and the destitute in the capital. Even beggars or those in tattered clothes are driven away by his orders. Your Majesty should understand the implications of this action.”
Feng Luan fell silent.
“Wei Shi is but a minor Deputy Commander of the Military Affairs Bureau,” Ming Yan remarked. “The actions he has taken in recent years, the Commandery Prince Jinghuai cannot be unaware of. Yet, the Commandery Prince Jinghuai holds no real power, so where does Wei Shi’s audacity stem from?”
Feng Luan murmured softly, “Zhen shall thoroughly investigate the matter.”
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Ye Yang, who had been on the sidelines, finally spoke up.
“Did my father…… do something?” Ye Yang was somewhat bewildered. “What are you all talking about? Why can’t I understand……”
Feng Luan, “……”
“Your Majesty, do you wish to have Yun shijun accompany you?” Ming Yan was also a bit puzzled. “If so, would you mind explaining the entire situation to Yun shijun from the beginning?”
Feng Luan, “……”
Ye Yang nodded incessantly. “Yes, yes, yes. What are you murmuring about over there? I haven’t understood a single word!”
Feng Luan, “……”
Feng Luan hesitated and turned to Ming Yan. “Is he unaware?”
Ming Yan seemed to understand Feng Luan’s implication only at this moment. She sighed, unable to suppress a wry smile, and explained to both Feng Luan and Ye Yang, “How could Prime Minister Yun bear to use Yun shijun in his schemes?”
Feng Luan, “……”
Ye Yang asked, “Schemes? What schemes?”
Feng Luan said, “It was a misunderstanding…… Zhen owes you an apology.”
「Feng Luan’s favorability score has increased by 25, current favorability score is 73」
Ye Yang, “……”
Ah?! How did this dog emperor’s favorability go back up?!!!
Thank You for the new chapter (๑˙❥˙๑)
ty for reading ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
So good! I should have started this earlier 🙈
im so glad you’re enjoying it! ♡(੭´͈ ᐜ `͈)੭
Hahaha barbecue expert, yes. Master of intrigue, not so much.
LOLOLOL he’s so simple-minded it’s funny!
Ahhh… akhirnya aku sampai di ujung chapterQAQ ini bacaan yang menyenangkan Esme-nim!!! Terima kasih atas terjemahannya♡(˃͈ દ ˂͈ ༶ ) Aku akan menunggu pembaharuan selanjutnya dengan tenang
Your innocence and unawareness is the reason it went up so high 😂😂