After Wen Mingyu and Huo Hongyu got acquainted and eventually became friends, they spoke about more things spontaneously, and some of the topics they discussed were wholly about themselves.
The House of the Duke of Anning lived a considerably more serene existence with fewer limitations than other titled princes and nobility, and in some ways was almost like the common people with their simplicity, wherein they had a familiar household style. This was due to the fact that they didn’t engage in the civil officials’ turmoil. For example, when Huo Hongyu landed in trouble for being excessively thick-skinned, Lord Anning grabbed a rod and pursued him around the house, which was something you wouldn’t dare to fathom in high society circles. Like, do you want to lose face?
Wen Mingyu was entertained as he listened to his many family tales. The Lord and Lady of Anning were still oblivious that their son had thoroughly damaged their image.
Huo Hongyu also complained about his family throwing a birthday feast for him and his parents giving him bothersome writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. However, he was just a dull student who got a headache whenever he read, so why torment him!
“When is your birthdate, by the way? It’s a great time to go out together.”
Wen Mingyu froze for a split second. He actually has no idea. He was unsure of the original owner’s birthday; he was an orphan himself, abandoned in a welfare institute, and had no idea of the exact day he was born, so the director then decided his arrival day would be his birthdate.
In actuality, Wen Mingyu rarely celebrated his birthday. He thought the day was the same as any other, with no distinction or significance.
Before he could say it, Huo Hongyu himself imagined it first. “His Majesty will undoubtedly throw you a birthday feast in the palace. How can you possibly go out, silly me. Remember to invite me when the time comes. I’ll definitely create a surprise present for you, and I guarantee you won’t guess what it is.”
Seeing that he insisted on an answer, Wen Mingyu explained, “I’m not celebrating my birthday; you don’t need to bring gifts, and His Majesty didn’t mention anything about wanting to throw a birthday feast, either.”
Huo Hongyu didn’t buy it. His age, in the future, was indeed only a junior high school student, but in ancient times, it was the time to pick a girl and wed in a few years, so it was not like he was not aware of anything.
After spending all this time together, he could see how Mu Zhan supported and pampered Wen Mingyu, which was evidently unusual—since he was confident that His Majesty liked Wen Mingyu; he just didn’t know how deep this affection was.
Huo Hongyu stated solemnly, “Apart from that, His Majesty has been extremely generous to you, so generous that I can’t believe it. I would have believed someone else was spouting gibberish if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own two eyes. His Majesty didn’t say anything. Is it because he has no idea? The birthdate is a meaningful day that must be done memorably and grandly, so if you told him, things would be different. I have an inkling that he will agree regardless of what you say.”
Hearing this, Wen Mingyu impulsively retorted: “How can that be possible.”
Did he mistake me for some kind of country-wrecking concubine of demon origins?
Huo Hongyu, on the other hand, had no intention of teasing him at all. He couldn’t help but speak softly, “I think, in His Majesty’s eyes, there are only two sorts of people: one is you, and the rest are all monkeys. Oh, no, so none of us can be called human then.”
Wen Mingyu was amused.
Another thing Huo Hongyu didn’t disclose was that, oddly enough, His Majesty had not yet bestowed the title of imperial concubine on Wen Mingyu. Since His Majesty and Wen-gongzi were constantly sticking to each other, he inadvertently assumed he was his beloved concubine. However, only after hearing how everyone was addressing him as Wen-gongzi here and Wen-gongzi there, did he realize that he had no title.
However, Huo Hongyu didn’t believe that His Majesty didn’t appreciate Wen Mingyu because of this. On the contrary, there was a notion that His Majesty placed too much importance on people and so believed that the title was insufficient to leave a lasting impact.
Wen Mingyu eventually revealed his birth date, thanks to Huo Hongyu’s tireless efforts.
“Isn’t that coming up soon?!” Huo Hongyu’s eyes were wide open as he realized he hadn’t even packed a present yet, and they were still on the hunting grounds, so he had to make do with what he had brought. How could this possibly work? It was just too nonchalant and sloppy!
He added, “It’s no concern if I can attend or not, but there has to be a birthday celebration here.”
His attitude was so solid, as if he could foretell the future.
Wen Mingyu burst out laughing.
“If not, I’ll throw a small one for you. I’ll head back and inform my folks!”
He hurried off in a huff as he dropped his declaration. Wen Mingyu couldn’t even manage to stop him.
On the other side.
Mu Zhan was attending to court matters when he took a break in the midst. Zhao Dequan, who was nearby, promptly offered tea and pastries that were mild enough to eat.
When Mu Zhan caught sight of the dainty pastries, he couldn’t refrain from thinking about Wen Mingyu, whose two eyes were sparkling brightly as he was clutching a peach blossom pastry and eating it contentedly.
He likewise took a piece and placed it in his mouth, chewing gently.
Very sweet.
Zhao Dequan could tell His Majesty was in high spirits. And, assuming His Majesty’s thoughts, he said something flattering and smiled along the way: “Your Majesty, this servant recalls that Young Master Wen is very fond of peach blossom pastries.”
Mu Zhan blandly responded.
Zhao Dequan added, “His Majesty truly cherishes Young Master Wen. His Majesty ordered such precious fish to be prepared yesterday solely because of Young Master Wen’s wish to eat it, and Young Master Wen enjoyed it with great delight and satisfaction. It was a blessing for Young Master Wen to have received such good fortune.”
The cooks from the kitchen cooked numerous delectable dishes using the fatter and tender carp yesterday, such as sweet and sour tenderloin, braised carp, and creamy and sweet fish soup.
This fish was a bit spiky with fishbones, but I have to say that the flavor was superb.
When the palace servants served Mu Zhan and Wen Mingyu their meals, they couldn’t help but salivate at the rich and enticing aroma, and the hungry insects in their stomachs awoke.
Soon after the two masters had been served, Zhao Dequan, the highest-ranked foreman among the subordinates, had the privilege of being a food taster. Once he put the chopstick in his mouth, it was simply so heavenly that he even swallowed his tongue. He had followed the emperor’s side and had been lucky enough to enrich his knowledge and enjoy the imperial palace’s meals that His Majesty had eaten. However, this was his first time eating such a delectable fish. It’s no surprise it was so valuable. This was how much gold was lost in one mouthful.
Previously, Zhao Dequan had been worried that something bad would happen to Young Master Wen as a result of Chi Bibai’s aggressive and cruel statements, but after seeing how well His Majesty and Young Master Wen got along yesterday, he realized he had been worrying unnecessarily. If he truly wanted to relent, how could he bring himself to cook such a costly fish just because he wished to eat it.
Mu Zhan ate only a small portion of the fish. He ate hardly anything but watched Wen Mingyu. Wen Mingyu chewed food enthusiastically, yet it was not unattractive. He had an unconstrained and self-willed vitality, and his every gesture and motion was so spontaneous that others couldn’t help but think the food was really tasty, making one have an appetite.
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.
Furthermore, he ate in a comfortable and carefree manner, not at all like sitting before the tyrant, but beside someone dear to him. He was easygoing, with an unassuming and uninhibited front.
Ze Itjc’r wbbv lwqgbnfv lcnbiecajglis jr tf byrfgnfv.
Qfc Zlcuse rjk Ze Itjc tjvc’a fjafc wemt ys atf alwf tf kjr tjiokjs atgbeut tlr wfji. Cr j gfreia, tf rjlv, qfgqifzfv, “Gbfr Tbeg Zjpfras cba fcpbs olrt? Rb, P tjnf rffc Tbeg Zjpfras fjalcu la yfobgf. Ktlr olrt lr gfjiis ogfrt jcv ajras~”
He reached out and removed a slice of fish, a particularly sensitive section, and was about to place it in Mu Zhan’s bowl when his hand abruptly twisted in mid-air and returned to his side, landing on an empty, spotless porcelain plate in front of him.
Zhao Dequan was taken aback and staggered by this scene. Was Young Master Wen teasing His Majesty? Heavens above, he’s too bold!
Mu Zhan did not react much, only raised his eyebrows and continued to look at him.
Wen Mingyu paused, and appeared to just realize the possibility that his actions may be misinterpreted, so he said, “Your Majesty, wait a moment. The fish bone is a little sharp.”
As he spoke, he dropped his head and carefully chose all the fish bones, taking care to keep the fish flesh intact, before picking up the fish and placing it in Mu Zhan’s bowl. His eyes arched and he grinned sheepishly as he said, “This way, Your Majesty can eat it right away without worrying about fish bones. Try it right now. It tastes good~”
His eyes were clear and mellow, like those of a certain small animal. When they gaze at you with such eagerness, no one can refuse.
In front of his expectant eyes, Mu Zhan ate the fish and nodded his head in rare approval. “ It’s good.”
Zhao Dequan noted the tiny curve at the corner of Mu Zhan’s lips and remembered collecting fish bones for His Majesty in the past, but his behavior was distinct from this. What happened after, he immediately witnessed something much more peculiar—His Majesty also took a section of the fish, plucked off the sharp bones, and placed it in the bowl of Young Master Wen.
Zhao Dequan didn’t know why, but he felt compelled to shield his heart, as if he were dead to the world.
Wen Mingyu hesitated for a second as he noticed the additional fish in his bow, then perked the edges of his lips and grinned cheerfully. “Thank you, Your Majesty~”
He had previously imagined the idea of his family putting food on his plate and plucking out the fish bones. He had no idea that going across to this place would enable him to reach this basic warmth.
His eyes were slightly sour. He hastily glanced down and appeared to be eating earnestly, stuffing the fish into his mouth.
Perhaps he was a little cocky, but he truly wanted to shed a tear.
Why is Mu Zhan not his father?
The father’s age is not appropriate. It’s good to be a gege, too, though. sobbing…
If Mu Zhan could hear the thoughts in his heart, he would most likely be unable to smile. He’d also smash the chopsticks in his hand with a single move on the spot, breaking them with a crack by accident.
Immersed in his thoughts, Wen Mingyu was not attentive enough when he ate the flesh later. A fish bone pierced him in the mouth and caused him a tingling sensation.
He made an unintentional frown and cried out in pain.
In an instant, Mu Zhan bent over and inquired, a sullen expression on his face. “What’s the matter?”
It’s so embarrassing. He had just been granted the chance to pluck out the fish bones for Mu Zhan, claiming that he wouldn’t get stabbed, but ended up getting stabbed himself so soon. Having lost his face, Wen Mingyu covered his lips and said nothing.
Mu Zhan: “Fish bones in your mouth?”
Wen Mingyu, too ashamed, didn’t know how to explain. But if he didn’t respond, Mu Zhan would not renounce defeat, so he nodded with tears in his eyes.
Mu Zhan furrowed his brows and grabbed his wrist. “Lower your hands.”
Wen Mingyu obeyed and lowered his hand, thinking he was going to force him to swallow the fish bone using some method. Unexpectedly, Mu Zhan gripped his chin and said, “Open your mouth, this one will take a look.”
That’s, that’s not necessary, is it?
In response to Mu Zhan’s glare, Wen Mingyu could only grumble and open his mouth grudgingly, his heart always feeling odd.
Mu Zhan’s attractive face was close at hand, and the roots of his eyelashes were well-defined and vivid. He had a frigid and upright profile, a straight bridge nose, light-colored thin lips, and he had once taken the initiative to offer a kiss with those lips…
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy Wen Mingyu felt. His entire body resembled a toasted fur ball. He arched his back suspiciously, displaying his teeth and barking milkily, attempting to leap away and run.
He could even feel Mu Zhan’s breath tickling his face, setting off an unbearable burst of itch that made him want to duck his head, but Mu Zhan clamped his jaw and he couldn’t move. Not only that, but Mu Zhan slipped his fingers inside his mouth once he opened it and assisted him in extracting the fish bone.
Mu Zhan had to penetrate quite deep since it became attached to the cheek flesh near the throat. Wen Mingyu couldn’t help but stare, stunned and involuntarily stretched taut, wanting to speak and refuse. However, his tongue accidentally contacted Mu Zhan’s finger, shocking him again and causing him to retreat.
The extraction of the fish bone was quick, but Wen Mingyu felt it took an eternity. Every second seemed like a year, and all of his senses were endlessly amplified.
He was trapped in a situation in which he couldn’t get in or out no matter what path he took. When he tried to shut his mouth, his lips came into contact with Mu Zhan’s fingers, as if he were sending a delicate peck. As a result, he opened his mouth further, as if deliberately exposing his sensitive spot.
Hopelessly, the long lashes shook. All he could do was whimper ambiguously, praying that the torment would end soon.
“There.” Mu Zhan finally said.
The fish bone was retrieved and was pinched between Mu Zhan’s fingers.
Wen Mingyu, too, lost his discomfort and closed his mouth, subconsciously pressing his lips together. He could see Mu Zhan’s wet, sticky finger as soon as he gazed down. Wen Mingyu’s ears burned, and he quickly wiped his fingers clean with a handkerchief.
Mu Zhan did not intervene and simply watched. With his other hand, he touched the end of Wen Mingyu’s red eyes. “Crying from pain?” he asked.
Wen Mingyu froze before shaking his head. “… No”
But just as he was about to continue, he remembered that he had wanted to cry earlier because of Mu Zhan’s behavior, and it was normal for his eyes to be red. This was even more embarrassing.
Thankfully, once he denied it, Mu Zhan dropped the subject and let him finish his meal.
Mu Zhan, however, grabbed the fish by his side and plucked off the bones before handing it to Wen Mingyu. Wen Mingyu, surprised, said, “No, Your Majesty. I can handle it myself…”
“And then get stabbed again?” asked Mu Zhan, raising an eyebrow.
With a look from him, Wen Mingyu shut his mouth, bowed his head, and ate obediently, muttering, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Zhao Dequan, who witnessed the whole process from the sidelines: “…”
He felt like a very, very extra person. In reality, it was completely acceptable for him or the other servant to pick the bones of the fish, as was their duty. But how could Zhao Dequan be so insensitive. So he remained silently in the corner the entire time, attempting to minimize his presence and acting professionally as a backdrop.
Returning to the present.
Because of Zhao Dequan’s words, Mu Zhan reminisced in silence, recognizing that he had actually made numerous exceptions because of Wen Mingyu. He’d done a lot of things he never would have done otherwise. He appeared to be getting more and more unlike himself. Such a lack of limits, indulging people into lawlessness, was not at all typical of a tyrant.
Mu Zhan said abruptly, “This one did over-indulge him and shouldn’t have allowed him to carry on like this without understanding the regulations.”
When Zhao Dequan heard this, his head was filled with doubts.
Rules? What rules? In the palace, His Majesty is the law, and anything His Majesty says is unarguable. Now that he says that, doesn’t His Majesty find that a bit odd and conflicting?
Zhao Dequan, obviously, would only question these doubts in his heart and would never dare to express them out.
Not long after this, Wen Mingyu arrived to have tea time with Mu Zhan. This was also thought to be typical. When Mu Zhan was working, he frequently let Wen Mingyu be at his side, even though each was doing his own task.
When Mu Zhan nudged it over, Wen Mingyu instinctively grabbed a piece of pastry and ate it. The image then overlapped with Mu Zhan’s previous thinking.
After a few moments of idle chit-chat, Wen Mingyu took a sip and returned his gaze to Mu Zhan.
Huo Hongyu said Mu Zhan was incredibly kind to him and permitted him to do everything. If he had proposed it, Mu Zhan would have certainly said yes.
Although this was an exaggeration, he had to admit that Mu Zhan did treat him well, and his actions could be classified as permissive and pampered.
Wen Mingyu certainly didn’t believe that no matter what he said, Mu Zhan would just assent. It was just that, in comparison to others, Mu Zhan was far more forbearing of him.
Wen Mingyu paused and reflected momentarily before saying, “Your Majesty, I was conversing with Huo Hongyu a while ago.”
Mu Zhan’s face was frigid and of little interest.
“We discussed birthdays,“ Wen Mingyu remarked.
Mu Zhan’s face remained impassive. The temperature fell even further when he caught the word “we.”
“Does Your Majesty happen to be aware of when my birthday is?”
Mu Zhan wasn’t the type of person who bothered about his birthday. If he hadn’t reacted so quickly, it would have been plain obvious.
“What date is it?”
“It’s the day after tomorrow,“ Wen Mingyu replied with a smile.
Mu Zhan was slightly astonished. He had not expected it to be that close.
Wen Mingyu bloomed into a little flower with both hands on his chin. He tilted his head and smiled playfully. “May I request a birthday present from His Majesty?
Without dithering, Mu Zhan nodded and asked, “What do you want?”
Wen Mingyu halted for a time, pushing his lips together as though he was having difficulty speaking.
Mu Zhan: “Speak. It’s only a present. This one can afford it.”
“This present, I’m a little greedy; Your Majesty’s schedule is very hectic; it’s best to forget it…” Wen Mingyu faltered, but ultimately confessed under Mu Zhan’s stare. “I want to eat the noodles prepared by Your Majesty’s own hands.”
“Noodles?” Mu Zhan had not anticipated such a present.
“It just suddenly hit me. I don’t truly want it at all. I enjoy everything His Majesty brings me, and His Majesty is already good enough for me. ” Wen Mingyu responded hurriedly and waved his hand.
Mu Zhan directly discarded these words of his and inclined his head in Zhao Dequan’s direction. “The noodles for the first day of existence, they are longevity noodles, correct?”
Zhao Dequan bowed his head and responded humbly, his heart stunned and in turbulent waves once again. Was it His majesty’s intention to say yes?
If he hadn’t recently lost his memories, His Majesty emphasized just now that he couldn’t let Young Master Wen go about his demands any longer and that he needed to teach him the laws. Thus, how could he readily agree to everything Young Master Wen said in a blink? He’ll even prepare the noodles himself! Does it hurt, Your Majesty, if you smack yourself in the face?
“This one can cook you longevity noodles,” Mu Zhan replied to Wen Mingyu, ignoring Zhao Dequan.
The tone was bland, as if it were a minor issue of little importance.
Wen Mingyu froze; he only intended to test the waters; he didn’t expect Mu Zhan to agree at all. Is there someone now who’s going to prepare him a birthday present in person? The famed longevity noodles that everyone eats on their birthdays?!
Wen Mingyu eventually regained consciousness, an astonished expression on his face. He leapt towards Mu Zhan, holding him in a bear hug.
“Your Majesty’s is so wonderful! I really, super like Your Majesty!”
In the heat of the moment, he blurted out without a care in the world.
When Zhao Dequan heard this, his heart fluttered, and his heart couldn’t help but melt as he lifted his eyes and peeked out. Although it was impolite, who could be heartless enough to turn down such a lovely beauty?
Mu Zhan, it seems, did not expect him to say this. His look was dazed for a time before he curled his lips and smiled slightly. It’s just that people’s smiles in general are dazzling, merry, and pleasant, but Mu Zhan’s smile was odd. It was wrapped in darkness, frenzied and gloomy, like a wild beast breaking free from a cage, catching that ray of sunlight and clutching it in its deadly grip.
That’s what you said. You like me a lot. If it ever changes…
***
Mu Zhan was a noble prince with a high status who should never have cooked. However, he was not favored, and as a teenager, he sought a cord from the emperor to travel to the front lines. Since then, he had lived and eaten with a group of troops at the same table. The line between esteem and lowliness has long been muddled in the face of life and death. It was then, too, that he learned to make some simple food.
He walked to the imperial kitchen with the Imperial Chef instructing beside him, so making a bowl of longevity noodles was simple.
The chef stood there shaking in his boots, terrified that if His Majesty was wounded in the midst of the cooking process, he would lose his head. But, to his surprise, His Majesty’s motions showed a hint of proficiency. After a few cautious directions from him, he soon got the hang of it and left him on his own. The end result surprisingly exceeded their expectations.
His Majesty not only rules the land wonderfully, but he can also prepare food, so what use would he be as a cook! The Imperial Chef suffered a little heart attack.
Of course, Mu Zhan was unconcerned about the slight shift in the Imperial Chef’s heart.
As he was boiling the noodles, a little head peered out of the imperial kitchen doorway. His palm was on the door’s edge, showing a set of round eyes and a sneaky doggy glimpse.
Wen Mingyu was so anxious that he couldn’t sit still and came running over.
He didn’t care if Mu Zhan’s cooking was unappealing. It was his first and most important bowl of longevity noodles in his life. No matter how it was cooked, he would devour it with zeal.
He was only a little concerned that something might go wrong because Mu Zhan had never touched a knife or kitchenware before. He also wanted to observe how Mu Zhan looked while cooking the noodles that had been prepared for him as a birthday present.
Wen Mingyu had simply intended to sneak a discreet peep, but Mu Zhan, like a sensor, was so sensitive that he spotted him after his quick peek.
Mu Zhan shifted his gaze upward, catching his eyes and saying, “Come in.”
Wen Mingyu’s fingers pulled at the door unintentionally, dawdling for a moment as though ashamed, but he nevertheless complied and went over.
He walked to a spot near Mu Zhan and, curiously, came to a halt and stared intently.
The Imperial Chef couldn’t help but take repeated glances at this young man. He’d heard a lot of things about him, but this was the first time he saw him in the flesh. He had previously found it difficult to comprehend how His Majesty could have taken a fancy to a young man and given him so much favor. However, when he met him, he immediately knew.
Beauty, regardless of gender, is truly beautiful to the point that anybody who encounters it can’t help but feel drawn to it.
It’s no surprise that His Majesty was eager to cook personally.
The chef felt he had witnessed first-hand untold stories akin to those found in a narrative book.
The longevity noodles required some time to prepare, but Mu Zhan and Wen Mingyu were both quite patient. They both peered closely at the pot, causing the Imperial Chef to lose track of the tension that ensued. He clenched his fist at the noodles. This bowl of noodles had to be a big success!
At last, the noodles are ready to be removed from the pot.
In a thick soup infused with an exquisite fragrance, the steaming hot and fuzzy noodles are neatly topped with bright red beef and emerald green vegetables.
Wen Mingyu sat down and picked up his chopsticks to begin eating. The beef broth was absorbed by the noodles, which tasted fresh and al dente. They were really good, no worse than the Imperial Chef’s, and even much more delicious.
Wen Mingyu bent his head and ate, while Mu Zhan sat aside and had two bites as well. But pretty much all of them were looking at him.
The hot noodles were soft and warm. An unexplainable emotion swelled up in the heart and swiftly filled the entire chest cavity.
Wen Mingyu couldn’t stop himself from thinking.
He seems to be…
A bit sad to go.
ChiFu: When will the line intersect XD
Thank you, supporter for the kofi!
Wu, the baby is sad because he didn’t have a family, but now he has his husband
Thank you very much for the translation 🤍🤍🤍🤍
So don’t go..
Kyaaaa
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Mu Zhan is the definition of “down bad” atp
Thanks for the chapter! <3
Thanks for the chapter
Don’t go… Thanks for the update 🤣❤️
I thought his request was only to test how far Mu Zhan would spoil him. I didn’t understand the importance of longevity noodles until Wen Mingyu got excited enough to hug the emperor. This is one of those times when these two strike me as lonely boys who had nobody until they came together. If this is Wen Mingyu’s first time, I wonder if anyone has ever done it for My Zhan.
Silly WMY still thinks he can leave. As if his own body would let him do that.
Thank You for the new chapter (๑°꒵°๑)･*♡
“In His Majesty’s eyes, there are only two sorts of people: one is you, and the rest are all monkeys.”
That was so cute and so true. MZ knows the truth. Bunnies are superior to apes!!!
then don’t go!!! 😭…… please 🥺