In the autumn season, the imperial roundup has begun.
Now it was that season again, and with Mu Zhan at the helm, the hordes poured out like a torrent into the hunting grounds.
Wen Mingyu, naturally, had to follow along too.
Carriages in ancient times were evidently less handy than the future modes of transportation, but as the emperor, it was natural for everything to be the finest. The carriage was magnificent and roomy, with plush cushions, a small table, cupboards, and other amenities, almost like a movable suit. Despite the sparrow’s small size, its five internal organs remain intact and functional.
Thus, on the road, Wen Mingyu didn’t feel too ill; in the process, the carriage rocked and he unwittingly fell asleep.
Two days later, they arrived at the Xing Palace.
The property had always been well-maintained, and it had, of course, been thoroughly prepared anew before the emperor’s coming, so they could stay there straight ahead when they arrived.
Although the palace was merely a temporary abode for the emperor while traveling, it was nonetheless another modest palace among several scattered, with numerous well-arranged jade halls, flying pavilions, and temples.
Wen Mingyu had just walked inside and would be lost without the palace servant escorting him. It was apparent that he needed to re-learn the route. Fortunately, he had an excellent memory and could recall every path he had taken.
Soon after arriving on the first day, there was no rush to start rounding up.
The journey from the palace to the hunting grounds was not far, but it took two days to arrive. It was appropriate to bathe first, wipe off the dust, and then take a little rest afterward.
Wen Mingyu felt relieved after being attended to by his palace servant to dry his long hair. His silky, satin-like hair was beautiful, but it was also quite weighty. After washing, there was no blow dryer, so he had to dry it carefully with a cloth.
Wen Mingyu had longed to chop off his hair several times, but he had only thought about it. There was an old adage that the body’s hair and skin were the parents’. He most likely wouldn’t be able to meet anybody else if he chopped it.
At the same time, Mu Zhan had also taken a bath and discarded his crown. His long, pitch-black hair fell naturally, obscuring his sharp eyebrows and giving him the appearance of being lazy and indolent. His demeanor seemed to have mellowed, like that of a delicate and humble jade-like gentleman, without the threatening impression that a tyrant should have.
He perched on the side of the bed and looked at Wen Mingyu as he urged him, “Come here.”
At a quick glance, Wen Mingyu could tell Mu Zhan desired a sleeping pillow. After all, the fragrance of his own pheromones could soothe him more effectively than any sedative.
With this in mind, he obediently climbed upon the emperor’s bed and deftly crossed Mu Zhan before rolling into the quilt, exposing just a little head with crystal eyes that appeared to be filled with shattered fragments of light.
As soon as he approached him, Mu Zhan sensed the subtle fragrance of fruit, which was so fragrant that one was tempted to peel off the outer skin and take a bite to test if the pulp was as soft and juicy as one anticipated.
Wen Mingyu became aware of a vague and penetrating stare dropping over his head, making him uneasily want to duck his head. However, as soon as he attempted a move, there was a sudden weight on his side. Mu Zhan also lay down and, without further ado, closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
As he tilted his head, he could see the mild fatigue beneath Mu Zhan’s eyes. It wasn’t a particularly enjoyable horse ride or riding a carriage all the way over, not to mention the fact that, in a sense, the emperor was a miserable social animal who had to deal with court affairs on the way.
Wen Mingyu eats while Mu Zhan works.
Wen Mingyu fell asleep by mistake while Mu Zhan was working.
When Wen Mingyu woke up with a jolt, Mu Zhan was still working.
…..
With a guilty conscience, Wen Mingyu cringed in the corner. He felt ashamed of himself for being a salted fish. The experience was like that of playing with your phone while the fellow student adjacent to you was continually answering questions, making it difficult to continue playing games.
He had to keep playing despite his awkwardness.
When he attempted to sleep, he couldn’t resist stealing a glimpse of Mu Zhan before propping his eyes open again. After a time, his eyes wandered exhaustedly again, his upper and lower eyelashes cemented together, while his head leaned and accidentally banged against the carriage side, creating a light noise.
Mu Zhan lifted his eyes to glance over when he heard the sound.
Wen Mingyu awoke with a jolt and glanced up, reaching up unconsciously to rub the corner of his lips, and then, without any warning, he locked eye to eye with Mu Zhan.
… I’d like to die.
So humiliating that he wanted to find a fissure in the earth.
At first, Mu Zhan had been grumpy and unwelcoming about court matters at first. His temples ached, and his heart swelled with murderous intent, but his foul mood was abruptly interrupted by a voice that compelled him to automatically follow the sound. He saw Wen Mingyu get slammed into the carriage wall, startling himself awake, looking befuddled and drowsy, like a ridiculous little stuffed animal.
The hostile air just vanished and gave way to hopelessness.
Mu Zhan couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh, raising the corners of his mouth.
Wen Mingyu was put to shame for dozing off and enraged at Mu Zhan for mocking him. He sat up straight and averted his gaze, pretending that nothing had just occurred, as if that person was not him. He was very guilt-free and knew nothing.
Mu Zhan, on the other hand, showed no regard at all. Rather than complying with the disguise and admitting his humiliation, he simply stated, “Sleep if you want.”
Wen Mingyu was on the verge of death so he could have the dead duck’s rigid beak. He stated that he was especially lively and didn’t want to sleep at all, but Mu Zhan grasped him by the wrist and he was forced to lie down on the soft cushion while Mu Zhan laid down on it as well.
The carriage seats are separated into opposing sides, making it possible for two people to lie down if only seated, but it will be a little congested.
Wen Mingyu was jammed up against the carriage’s wall, slightly perplexed.
What do you mean that I can sleep whenever I want? You are obviously referring to yourself!
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.
It was roomy and comfy enough for one person to sleep on one side. But if he had to squeeze in, he’d transform into a burrito.
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At present, he was in the Xing Palace, reclining on a spacious, comfortable, and soft bed.
Wen Mingyu had dozed and slept a lot in the carriage. Therefore, he first assumed he would be unable to sleep at this time. But he didn’t expect to fall asleep before long.
Halfway to sleep.
Wen Mingyu felt a faint itch on his face, but he was still in the middle of his slumber. His consciousness was hazy, and he didn’t do much critical thinking. He grimaced reflexively, lifted his hand, and swung over. Then he hit on something, a snap, and the noise was deafening.
He sluggishly opened his eyes and blinked twice. When he saw the situation in front of him, he was so terrified that all the sleeping bugs fled in a hurry, and he nearly soiled himself.
Because his hand was resting on Mu Zhan’s face, and his palm dug into the handsome face, causing a slightly sunken pit, quite degrading the emperor’s majestic visage.
He apparently smacked the tyrant while blinded by sleep.
As he discovered this, Wen Mingyu’s eyes widened and his heart hopped in fear. Instead of lying in bed, he was more or less lying in a coffin.
He was dead! It was all over!
A few seconds passed, and numerous thoughts streamed through Wen Mingyu’s mind. He tried to salvage himself by closing his eyes little by little, pretending he was not awake, as if he was just sleepwalking, and quickly pulling his hand away from Mu Zhan’s face.
Regrettably, his heedful little plan cut no ice because as soon as he slipped away, Mu Zhan seized his wrist.
Wen Mingyu shuddered under his breath, as if he were a helpless animal.
He planned to stage a sleep show, but Mu Zhan didn’t allow him to do so. Rather, he willfully reached out and gently caressed his face, brushing the tails of his eyes and pushing his fingers together with gentle pressure. He remarked, totally unconcerned, “You’re awake.”
It was not an inquiry, but rather the tone of a statement. He was fully aware of Wen Mingyu’s sobriety.
Wen Mingyu now couldn’t even put on an act, and he was on the threshold of death, so he blinked his eyes open slyly and caught Mu Zhan’s gaze, wanting to say something to remedy the situation.
“You have the gall to hit this one.”
With a single short statement, Wen Mingyu’s coffin lid seemed to have shut.
Want to weep, woo.
Nonetheless, I must remain on my deathbed for a bit longer. Wen Mingyu, crestfallen, raised his lips, and pleaded, “Your Majesty, I only spotted a mosquito, that’s why…”
Mu Zhan kept silent, merely lowering his eyes and staring at Wen Mingyu. His fingers slid steadily across his face, from the corners of his eyes to the curve of his lips, which were red and pink, like flower petals.
Wen Mingyu, still basking in self-salvation, couldn’t help but mutter, “I was foolish…”
However, due to the finger being too near to his lips, it automatically fell into the space as he parted them.
Wen Mingyu: “… ?”
Mu Zhan’s expression shifted dramatically. His fingertips were wet and drenched in velvety warmth, a sensation he had never encountered before. They even extended from his fingertips to his heart, triggering a surge of throbbing.
He stretched his fingers unconsciously.
Wen Mingyu: “…???”
What exactly is going on here?
How odd.
Wen Mingyu unintentionally spit out the tip of his tongue; it was a pushing back gesture, but it also felt like a tonguing motion.
Mu Zhan grew aware of it, and his eyes narrowed significantly. His fingers clasped together and thrust downward.
“Mhnn…”
Wen Mingyu couldn’t spit out a word, and his mouth was beginning to leak. He thought that the image of his appearance must be a little repulsive, but Mu Zhan didn’t seem to think so, his eagerness welling up in his eyes.
Wen Mingyu was preoccupied with his own drool and couldn’t resist sipping, thus he didn’t catch Mu Zhan’s eyes.
After a fair while, Mu Zhan slowly and quietly retracted his hand, as though he hadn’t had enough of playing.
He wiped Wen Mingyu’s slippery, soft lips with his sleeve, stroking them carefully and methodically for a time until all the glittering and transparent crystals on them were erased, before shifting to his own fingers.
Wen Mingyu didn’t believe Mu Zhan was intending to slay him, but he classified his acts as another kind of security risk. He had a feeling he was about to bounce in the direction of being his bed-warmer, since Mu Zhan had a lingering atmosphere of perversion surrounding him.
For a brief while, Wen Mingyu felt conflicted, hoping that his sentiments were mistaken.
Mu Zhan was offended when he noticed him drifting away. He extended his hand and lightly slapped him on the buttocks as he added, “Seeing that you are so spirited…”
Wen Mingyu’s eyes went round. He’s not going to warm his bed, is he? He’s really exhausted and lacking energy right now!
Mu Zhan, however, continued straight away.
“Go out hunting with this one.”
Wen Mingyu: “…”
Sorry, my heart is too filthy. I’m to blame.
When Mu Zhan declared he was going hunting, he actually dragged Wen Mingyu out of bed, dressed him in tidy, narrow-sleeved riding attire, and proceeded to the hunting area.
Wen Mingyu’s white horse, which he was used to riding, was also brought to the hunting ground. In any case, horseback riding was partly about tacit agreement, and when you get along with each other, you will collaborate better. It will be similar to providing wings to a tiger.
The horses used by nobles are well-attended and well-nourished by specially appointed workers; the atmosphere at the stables is also quite pleasant.
A junior eunuch led over both Wen Mingyu and Mu Zhan’s horses, carrying along their bows and arrows hanging from their saddles.
After turning over and mounting his horse, Mu Zhan glanced towards Wen Mingyu’s direction and said, “Follow along this one.”
Wen Mingyu nodded, “Oh, great.”
Just dutifully ride along.
The imperial hunting grounds are so vast that even at a gallop, you can’t see the edges, and you can’t complete it even if you are riding a horse. The luxuriantly lush trees, the verdant green ground, and the lake water all lend brilliance and beauty to each other. The fascinating landscape, as well as the creatures that inhabit it, is stunningly beautiful.
Mu Zhan, the teacher, has always pursued practical instructions.
When Wen Mingyu didn’t see or detect anything, he peered slightly, as if he had spotted the prey through the woods behind him. He strung his bow and fired his arrow without hesitation or delay, flowing like drifting clouds and graceful water. The arrow’s delivery went out sharply and shattered the air, followed by hissing sounds from tens of meters distant and a thud of something heavy crashing the ground.
They spurred their horses over and soon discovered the shot-in-the-head stag behind a tree.
Surprisingly, it only took one arrow to settle it.
“See what I mean?” Mu Zhan said.
Astonished, Wen Mingyu fell mute. The teacher in the math class, who had merely written the final result without any steps, had basically asked whether he understood. Of course, he had not grasped anything!
Wen Mingyu shook his head frankly.
Mu Zhan gave him a sidelong glance and said nothing further, save that the muscles on his body suddenly clenched and bulged in visible lines of strength beneath the fabric of his riding attire. Before Wen Mingyu could even respond, Mu Zhan had already made a leap of faith, vanishing from his own horse and sitting behind Wen Mingyu.
In the blink of an eye, Wen Mingyu felt his back meet a broad, solid chest.
Mu Zhan’s hands were clasped at the waist, almost hugging him. His hand on his dorsal side held the reins, directing him to ride the horse and steer in the opposite direction, leading them deeper into a deeper part of the dense forest.
Wen Mingyu’s archery skills had already improved significantly under Mu Zhan’s personal tutelage. He had trained against moving targets in the martial arts arena, but he lacked hunting experience. Once he found the knack for it after practicing in person, he could soon begin hunting.
Mu Zhan led him and taught him how to observe the environment and the movement of leaves, how to discern where there was prey, the hiding trajectory of prey, where the vitals of different prey are, how to use the lay of land, and how to feign an attack from the east while striking the west, so that the prey will loosen up and can be killed in one blow…
As everyone knows, the tyrant was notorious for his short fuse, and in reality, Mu Zhan was indeed temperamental. Wen Mingyu often did not know why he was upset or furious, but when he was willing, he could be gentler and more tolerant than anybody else. It was simply beyond logic and above reason that he was almost like a different person.
After Mu Zhan taught him all day, Wen Mingyu, a dull student who listened to the abstruse wisdom of the heavens, felt like he was taking a crash course with special effects, his performance increasing leaps and bounds. An arrow was fired, and unexpectedly, it pierced the vital section of the prey precisely.
He had a feeling he had struck it, but he needed to double-check himself.
Behind the tree, a black wolf lay collapsed on the ground, its gullet punctured by a sharp arrow, its blood soaking the earth beneath it.
The sight appeared bloody and chilly, but Wen Mingyu was unfazed. On the contrary, a surge of warm blood streamed to his skull. There was a rush of adrenaline, and his eyes were wide with delight. It was an indescribable and magical sensation.
Some people might be able to watch this scenario, but even though Wen Mingyu appeared delicate and submissive, he did not hesitate to be soft-hearted. He had previously lived alone and had done everything from kill a chicken to kill a fish. And he was fully aware that he was hunting, so it was impossible for him not to slay anyone. It would be bizarre if he couldn’t do it since he was already here.
Seeing that he had hit his prey, he involuntarily turned his head and gazed at Mu Zhan with two beady eyes, “Your Majesty, I have captured…!”
Because he turned around so abruptly, he understood how near he was to Mu Zhan before the words could even leave his mouth, and he nearly kissed him on the lower jaw.
His pulse skipped a beat, and his muscles stiffened uncontrollably.
The words that were supposed to be uttered were utterly forgotten. He couldn’t stop thinking about Mu Zhan’s strange words shortly before the false estrus period. Mu Zhan was kissed by him. In a trance, the soft scorching touch raced across his mind, as did the tingling feeling when the glands on his neck were bitten and the pheromones infiltrated. It all seemed terribly real.
Mu Zhan: “What?”
As if jolted by an electric charge, Wen Mingyu whirled quickly, lowering his eyebrows and averting his gaze. The thrill of the moment had faded into an indefinable discomfort. Sitting atop his horse, his ears, back, and buttocks felt like they were on fire.
He pointed to the wolf and muttered dryly, as bland as ditchwater, “… I hunted it.”
A palm settled on his head and rubbed it twice. His voice was flat but with a little complimentary smile: “Hm, well done.”
Wen Mingyu’s ears were tickled by the warm breath, as though it wasn’t just the top of his head being caressed, which felt a tad unnatural.
On the way back, Wen Mingyu was wrapped in Mu Zhan’s arms. In his long, dense eyelashes were buried uncertainties and apprehensions that he couldn’t fathom.
Upon learning of their arrival, the palace servants had already prepared the bathing necessities.
Wen Mingyu doesn’t like to be served right by his side when he takes a bath. As a result, he enters the bath by himself and soaks silently in the warm water.
Despite the fact that it was merely training and not deemed as formal horse riding and hunting, after two or three shi chen of riding and firing arrows, his skin was constantly rubbing, and he couldn’t prevent some minor scratches and sore muscles.
When his skin comes into contact with warm spring water, it trails off with a fine twinge.
Wen Mingyu lowered his gaze and discovered a circle of visible red marks on his wrist.
It happened in the afternoon as he was following the trail of his prey. He underestimated the position, causing some muddledness for the horse, and they almost slammed into a tree trunk. They barely escaped it when Mu Zhan seized the reins in time and swiftly altered direction.
Mu Zhan also grabbed him tightly at that point, leaving marks on his wrist. He was just so stressed at the moment that he didn’t even notice.
He examined the red marks that formed a stark contrast with his light skin, as if they were some special type of brand.
Straightening his legs, he saw through the surface of the clear water the delicate golden chain that dangled peacefully on his ankle, which seemed like a corresponding complete set to the one on his wrist.
Wen Mingyu reclined against the bathtub’s edge, closed his eyes, and soaked for a while. His skin gleamed white to pink from the steaming air before he slowly stood up, dried himself, and donned his clothing.
When he stepped back into the hall, Mu Zhan had also finished bathing and was sitting at the table.
In spite of his jumbled thoughts, he subconsciously strolled to the chair next to Mu Zhan and sat down.
Mu Zhan soon spotted the red lines on his wrist and rushed out to touch them. “Did I cause this?”
Wen Mingyu batted his eyes once and glanced at him without saying anything, but it was clear that he was saying: Who else?
Mu Zhan lowered his eyes and observed it. The skin is really too sensitive. With only a little force, it becomes like this.
His palms joined and gently coiled around Wen Mingyu’s wrist. His fingertips gently massaged it with a bit of a pacifying touch, but at the same time, it was like a little snake twisting about, spitting snake venom and displaying its poisonous fangs.
Wen Mingyu couldn’t resist retracting his hand. Mu Zhan, on the other hand, gripped it tightly, and as he moved, the pressure of the confinement grew stronger, rendering him impossible to break free.
“Bring the medicine,” Mu Zhan commanded.
A palace servant promptly replied and exited. They reappeared not long after with a bottle of medicine for surface wounds , which they placed on the table with courtesy.
Mu Zhan opened the container and dipped his fingers into the creamy salve. He smeared it over the red spots on Wen Mingyu’s wrist, gradually blurring them away as he applied.
He was uncertain if it was because he was terrified of pain or something else, but the strength of the application was very mild, so light that Wen Mingyu felt an itch. He couldn’t stop himself huddling his fingers up with a little undetectable quiver.
And yet, Mu Zhan laid his other hand on the huddled up hand, then carefully and forcibly unfurled his fingers one by one, exposing the soft palm’s core. This action seemed to rip off his external shell, directly bumping the soft meat hiding in his innermost section.
Wen Mingyu has no place to hide.
His whole person felt as if he had tumbled and slipped into a rich, mellow wine. His body was sopping wet and engulfed by the thick wine, which permeated him inch by inch, pervasive. His cheeks flushed and steam smoked out; his eyes were all over the place; his consciousness misted; and all he could think of was wanting Mu Zhan to touch him more and rub the back of his neck.
But what remained of his sanity warned him once more that this was unsafe, that if he took a step, he might quickly become addicted and that what would happen later would be unstoppable.
In his mind, there are two miniature villains who are continuously tugging each other down.
The body cannot suppress the shaking.
Mu Zhan looked at him with a murky gaze: “Does it hurt?”
Wen Mingyu looked like he had been drinking, since he looked somewhat inebriated and flushed. His reply was a touch delayed, and he only shook his head after two seconds.
Mu Zhan kept playing with his fingers, as if he were holding some rare and priceless toy.
Wen Mingyu’s fingers flicked and he opened his lips to speak, but in the end he only managed to stifle a few dry words.
“Your Majesty… I’m starving.”
Mu Zhan nodded and very naturally took his hand in his and dragged him up. “It’s also time for an evening meal.”
After stating this, he took Wen Mingyu with him to have their supper.
Wen Mingyu stared down at the two intertwined hands as they walked together. Even though it wasn’t the first time, Wen Mingyu felt embarrassed for unspecified reasons. His body longs to be near Mu Zhan, but his heart resists, unconsciously pulling him away.
There was a voice deep in his heart calling his attention, warning him.
This is a perilous path he can’t risk.
ChiFu: [edited] Sorry everyone, I was out of my body these days and was receiving comfort from my cat’s fluffy tummy. I don’t want to translate with half-hearted feelings. Will try my best to update next week!
Perverted tyrant! btw, all chapters onwards range from 6-7k chinese characters, yay for everyone (not me)!
If you like my work, you may tip me some kofi! ~
im glad you had your fluffy cat to make you feel better, thanks for the chapter! wishing you a good weekend
he’s an angel~ thank you for reading. wishing you a good weekend, too! let’s do our best!
… I could use a tummy of a fluffy cat right about now. When one needs some fluff time to de-stress or relax, nothing beats a fluffy tummy that purrs.
I’ve been wondering… will tyrant emperor ever meet the fluffy white bunny? 🤔
I really hope he does 😌
Ohoho~ (灬º 艸º灬)
Thank You for the new chapter (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤ Take care! ❤ ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ ) And only wanted to say, that Your translation is getting more and more amazing! I think we all can see how much effort You’re putting into this work (=^w^=)
Story about fluffy tummy is the main!
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙
I love it when Mu Zhan wants to teach Wen Mingyu and it’s rewarding for both of them! And I like where the mutual hand awareness and sensitivity is going 🤤
Thanks so much for the chapter!
im glad you’re feeling better <3
thank you for the chapter <3
Fluffy bunny! Wants petting! Hahahahaha! Thanks for the update ❤️
cats really are the best. Thank you for the chapterrr <33
If I tried to bury myself into my kitties tummy, he would latch onto the back of my head and try to eat me 🙂
Also I hope you feel better soon, thanks for the chapter 😊
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Thanks for the chapter