Translator: ChiFu
In disbelief, he straightened his back. The script is still unfinished.
Wen Mingyu was currently in a bind.
He had intended to ask Wen Changlan if he could keep Mu Zhan in the dark about the script. However, as soon as he stated so, Wen Changlan inadvertently cast a quick glance towards His Majesty, who was nearby, and the intent was crystal clear.
Wen Mingyu’s eyes and shoulders slumped. He could understand very well, but he simply couldn’t help thinking about it.
It felt like Mu Zhan would see red and faint on the spot if he saw it.
At this moment, Wen Changlan also added, “I’m not fooling around. It doesn’t even feel like this is the first time you’ve written something like this. It’s quite fresh and engaging.”
Wen Mingyu received praise, but before he could bask in his accomplishment for a second, he realized that it seemed it wasn’t really the first time he had written one. He had previously created another villain based on Mu Zhan.
Execution.
He nearly lost sight of the fact that this should never be known.
But he could be considered to be practically inseparable from Mu Zhan and unable to leave Mu Zhan’s field of vision. How could he secretly destroy the manuscript?
Wen Mingyu scowled and wore a mask of pain.
Wen Changlan: “…?”
Wen Mingyu grudgingly waved his hand to show that everything was alright.
Thankfully, Mu Zhan did not read the script he had prepared, despite the fact that he knew what he was doing, and probably because he was busy with state matters. While feeling relieved, Wen Mingyu was also subtly unhappy. Mu Zhan was curious about what he had written, wasn’t he? Normally, most people would be intrigued.
After some time spent alone and depressed, Wen Mingyu decided to focus on writing the script.
The conclusion of the preceding heart-stoppingly sweet text has already been composed and delivered. Now, Wen Mingyu was about to begin a new draft of the earlier intended story about two old adversaries who loved each other.
Since he accompanied Mu Zhan to court while hiding in his sleeve pocket, he witnessed the actual imperial court, which greatly inspired him. Naturally, he did not input reality into the script. He merely sought to describe the atmosphere of the hall, where dark currents and swords were drawn amongst various cliques.
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.
There are two male leads in the story.
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While he was still frozen, the person in the bed made murmuring noises and requested water. The servant, however, was nowhere in sight. So, the young heir simply poured a cup, gathered him into his arms, and gave him something to drink. The so-called “little devil” has never performed such a task before. He felt almost possessed, as even he struggled to comprehend it himself.
Without the young lord’s knowledge, they had their first encounter. The young heir was visibly in an unsettled mood. To the amazement of the marquis, when he came back, he decided to start studying diligently for the imperial exams.
A few years later, they participated in the same year’s spring exams. In the final imperial examination, they received the highest rankings for scholars and were ranked among the tops. They both entered the Imperial Academy and worked their way up to positions of authority in the imperial court.
Because of their childhood ties, two men who served different princes and held opposing positions were known to be mortal enemies. They regularly potholed each other and went toe-to-toe over state matters.
The young lord recommended altering the law, but the young heir’s family belonged to a traditionalist school and was strongly against the reform, which jeopardized the interests of the nobles. The young lord, having failed to change the law, lost the holy favor. While others took advantage of this change to suppress and cast stones on the fallen, the young heir didn’t, nor did he permit his subordinates to do so as well, on the grounds that there must be mutual balance and that with the young lord gone, His Majesty would be leery of their presence.
Because of political reform, the young lord was once accidentally saved by the young heir after being wounded in an assassination attempt. He yelled that his modification had impeded the paths of numerous people and would cause him harm. The young lord, however, was exceedingly firm. So what? Change is unavoidable, but it will take time. It will take 10, 50, or even 100 years. Although I can’t witness that day, I believe things will be quite different in the future.
In his eyes was a flashing twinkle, and not even the dawning behind him could blanket half of it.
That scene caused tremors in the young heir’s heart. He would never forget it for the rest of his life.
The young lord’s prophecy came true, and he really did not see the day the reform would be successful due to his infirmity. Despite continuing to take tonic for his fragile body, he was unable to stop working day and night. Overworked at the end, he passed away at the age of twenty-nine, never having wed.
His political reform was partly effective and produced positive outcomes. His departure caused the faction of the young heir to lose some of its ferocity.
Ten years after his death, the young heir also passed away from disease. His mouth mumbled the name of the young lord just before he departed, as if he had seen the familiar figure in the emptiness.
Even though the two men had been mortal enemies for their whole lives, devoted to their professions, and engaged in decades-long conflict, without one another they could not have accomplished what they did or reached that height.
Even their parents, brothers, and close friends would misunderstand their actions and thoughts, but only that person could first understand. He was an old enemy, but he was also the person in the world who knew him best.
Both men dying at the end fit the predetermined outline. It looked BE, but in Wen Mingyu’s mind, it was the ideal conclusion. Both have struggled for what they desire in their careers while also harboring an irreplaceable foe and confidant, as if they were their other spiritual selves in their hearts. Most people would never be able to accomplish this in their lifetime.
The most challenging aspect of writing was describing their verbal brawl and tit-for-tat in court. It had to be suspenseful while also showing the intelligence and exceptional talent of both parties, as well as the hazy emotions seething undertow.
To create their rivalry scenes, Wen Mingyu carefully studied the real-world court, devoured a lot of literature, consulted reform bills, the histories of imperial dynastic changes, famous people from the previous dynasty, people with lofty ideals, and so on. As a result, he came up with a ton of ideas.
Although it wasn’t very long, he wrote it for more than two months when the script was stuck in the middle of research until he ultimately finished it and gave the manuscript to Wen Changlan.
Wen Changlan was assigned to his book and acted as its editor. He accepted the position in part to get to know Wen Mingyu and in part because he was truly intrigued by Wen Mingyu’s book.
The preceding book had a novel-like premise, a seamless plot, and committed emotions, which made it a very calming read. This one addressed the challenges of the imperial court and also involved a change in law, with some of its ideas well worth a closer consideration, surprising Wen Changlan even more.
The first audience was Wen Changlan, who promptly set up for it to be printed and sold after reading it and realizing that he still didn’t have a full expression of its beliefs.
Wen Changlan praised Wen Mingyu for his script and offered to have him present His Majesty with a copy.
Wen Mingyu was deeply touched, so he adamantly declined.
Although he wrote it in an obscure way, it was still a message of pure love. Given how observant Mu Zhan was, he would undoubtedly recognize it at first glance. Hence, wouldn’t it seem strange for him to reveal such a text?
Wen Changlan was unable to offer it to His Majesty once he understood he was unwilling to do so. In his mind, he considered staging an accident to allow His Majesty to view the script, but he quickly realized that he didn’t need to do it personally and that His Majesty would soon know, making it impossible to claim that he had really read it.
When Wen Mingyu changed into a lop-eared rabbit and was carried to court by Mu Zhan in his sleeve pocket, this was repeated several times after the first.
Wei Yingwu’s giddy heart grew more enticed as he noticed the lovely lop-eared rabbit. When he arrived at court, he couldn’t help but bring his pretty, tiny pink bow just to give it to the rabbit of the emperor. He thought it would look lovely with a bow tied loosely around its ears.
Wei Yingwu then pleaded for an audience following the completion of the meeting.
After bowing, he stared straight at Mu Zhan’s sleeve, his eyes unable to show restraint.
Wen Mingyu, who was peeking over the edge of the sleeve pocket, noticed Wei Yingwu, with whom he had a good relationship. Wen Mingyu was quite thrilled to see him. Furthermore, when he looked at Wei Yingwu, he was like a strong, small hill. Now that he was palm-sized, when looking up, he would feel that Wei Ying was a humongous giant. The visual effect was extremely shocking, so he couldn’t help but give Wei Yingwu a double look.
Wei Yingwu was unaware that it was a friend he was familiar with. He was amazed and grinned with happiness upon seeing the adorable rabbit with drooping ears, very docile, and with smart, dewy-like eyes staring at him the whole time.
“The rabbit that belongs to Your Majesty has been staring at me and seems to really like me.”
As soon as his voice subsided, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop abruptly by two degrees. The back of his neck was exposed to a chilly wind, which caused gooseflesh to run down his back.
Sensing danger, Wei Yingwu searched about. He felt strange. There shouldn’t be anything in the Imperial Palace.
Then, with great gusto, he presented the little pink bow he had brought with him.
Mu Zhan rudely declined, his expression icy. “Grab your stuff and leave, and also he doesn’t like you.”
“The little rabbit evidently likes me just fine… His Majesty has a little bit of stinginess,” not believing him, Wei Yingwu murmured disgruntledly.
Even icier than before, Mu Zhan’s eyes stabbed like razor-sharp daggers with ice picks. “What did you say, Wei Yingwu?”
Wei Yingwu quickly became ashamed, dropped his head, and begged for forgiveness. “Forgive me; this humble minister has sinned. This humble minister was only joking.”
Mu Zhan sneered. After fining him his wage, he told him to get lost.
On His Majesty’s order, Wei Yingwu, who wanted to remain and watch the lop-eared rabbit, was forced to turn around and leave in dismay. When he got back to the general’s home, the first thing he did was rush over to his cousin’s place to air his grievances. His face was so aggrieved that he was about to become a fierce man, breaking down in tears.
Wen Changlan took a look at his wrinkled face and pushed it aside in disgust. “You already lack intelligence, and your appearance makes you appear even more idiotic. Gather yourself, or you will have a runny nose later.”
Although it wasn’t thundering or running, Wei Yingwu, who originally did not want to cry, had to let go of his voice this time in order to battle Wen Changlan.
“Get lost,” Wen Changlan remarked icily.
Wei Yingwu not only didn’t get lost, but he also purposefully approached and wailed into his ear.
He wailed for a while, and as a result, his kid Erha heard the wail and instantly scampered over, asking with an enthusiastic face and tongue jutting out—what’s so hot and buzzing? This uncle wants wellness too and absolutely must not let things slip!
Thus, the monotonous wail of one man changed into an instrumental duet between one man and one dog in unending succession.
The soft tranquility that had always graced Wen Changlan’s face cracked and collapsed a little. He attempted to turn around and return to his room in his wheelchair, but one man and one dog followed him like a little tail.
Wen Changlan was so incensed that he finally couldn’t restrain himself. He simply confiscated Wei Yingwu’s rabbit mint as well as the husky’s big bone.
This turned one man and one dog into a true wailing, hugging, and grieving duo. Surprisingly, their appearances and behaviors matched consistently, as if they were long-lost brothers or members of the interspecies family.
ChiFu: It seems to me that the young lord is still oblivious about his feelings, and the young heir is always running behind a certain someone’s figure. sigh
I can imagine the sleeve pocket, but I don’t know about others. I have a link here.
It was late, but thank you for the kofi, VitaB! Happy new year too~
Thank you for the chapter.
That sleeve pocket link was very cute.
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Thank You for the new chapter ♡ฅ(ᐤˊ꒳ฅˋᐤ) Happy CNY to You! ❤
Thank you for the update 🤣❤️🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇
This book always makes me feel refreshed
Thank you for your translation 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
“My bunny does not like you! Go home 😤.”
Can’t blame Wen Mingyu for keeping his (potentially revealing) writing from My Zhan. The Emperor does not let things slide when Wen Mingyu wishes he would 😆
Thanks for the chapter
Thank you so much! I greatly enjoy this story (◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。
Are you on a hiatus
I will be back on Friday <3