Translator: ChiFu
Mu Zhan went through his book.
The mutual love-hate relationship between the two male leads was still a work in progress. Mu Zhan was reading the first book he wrote. Because it was primarily created to face-slap and transmit sweet sensations, there was obviously no dearth of interactions between the male and female leads in the book.
Even if Mu Zhan had seen it, he purposely read it in front of him!
“He grabbed her wrist and shoved it up against the wall as a scorching heat kindled in his heart. He lowered his head and kissed her, then sucked and nipped her delicate petals. Unable to keep his emotions in check, his eyes held unrestrained passion. Then, her garments slipped off, exposing her shoulders, which were like creamy white jades…”
Wen Mingyu immediately erupted, his face going red in an instant. He stretched out to seize the book, but Mu Zhan restrained him as he read it out loud. Despite the fact that his low, matte voice was soothing to hear, the things he said made Wen Mingyu wish to dig a hole to bury himself in.
The person who complained earlier that Mu Zhan wasn’t reading his script was a fool!
How wonderful it was not to see it, but you have to read it this time.
When it was recited, he recognized how shameful it was, even if he hadn’t felt it while writing it.
He didn’t have any firsthand knowledge of those things, so all he could do was make up some explicit but ambiguous information based on the books he had seen. After writing a bunch of made-up drivel, he felt a little pleased with himself for writing them quite nicely. But now, he understood how mistaken he had been.
There had to be no one between him and Mu Zhan; either he find someone to shark him or Mu Zhan right away.
Feeling tense, Wen Mingyu was so anxious that the edges of his eyes went reddish, and he was on the verge of sending Mu Zhan to his deathbed.
Mu Zhan stopped reading after a few lines and asked calmly, “You write books solely for people reading them. A crowd of individuals buy and use your books, so why can’t this one then peruse them?”
Wen Mingyu was surprised. “I’m not…”
Mu Zhan raised the script and swayed it twice in his hands. “Simply put, this one is just another common reader. Why are you behaving so ardently? Do others see you in such a bearing?”
Wen Mingyu was perplexed, thinking of the time when Wen Changlan and he were discussing the writing. He just felt a little fidgety at the time, and there wasn’t really any other response.
So…it was his double standard?
Why?
Wen Mingyu gave it a lot of thought, but he couldn’t make sense of it. But deep down, he knew that if Mu Zhan hadn’t read the words out loud, they wouldn’t have meant anything. He couldn’t help but move quickly to bite him.
Wen Mingyu stayed with Mu Zhan every day and never got bored. He went to court while hiding in his sleeve pocket to observe and get ideas. When he wasn’t required to appear in court, Mu Zhan would deal with government affairs while he wrote the manuscript, completed his homework, and went about his business.
Although Mu Zhan demanded that he remain in view at all times, he did not forbid him from doing anything either. Wen Mingyu was content and doing what he enjoyed.
Due to the book’s popularity, the bookstore in the capital sold out, and he profited greatly. His modest coffer grew larger and larger, and they had amassed 100,000 taels. Since printing was regarded as high-tech and relatively rare in ancient times, books were inherently expensive, costing seven times as much for a book of words, which was equivalent to approximately 2,000 yuan in modern times.
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.
Efjvlcu kjr j mbrais joojlg, rb raevfcar ogbw qbnfgas-raglmxfc tberftbivr tjv ab ybggbk ybbxr jcv wjcejiis mbqs atf qjufr atfs cffvfv ab ifjgc. Lfcmf, atf fwqfgbg njiefv atf ilafgjgs bg jgalralm rxliir bo atf ecvfgqglnlifufv yea uloafv rmtbijgr jcv ujnf atfw ogff aelalbc jcv ibvulcu. Ze Itjc tjv qgfnlberis bgvfgfv atf yelivlcu bo j qeyilm rmtbbi, jcv cbk j ijguf cewyfg bo raevfcar tjnf yffc jvwlaafv.
While Wen Mingyu knew nothing much about the ancient world, he did understand the importance of studying in order to pursue a wider path in life. Even though he occasionally tried to be lackadaisical, he still pushed himself to pay attention in class since he didn’t want to waste Mu Zhan’s time.
He was serious when studying, and he was relaxed when resting.
He didn’t have to conceal it from Mu Zhan, so he easily changed into a rabbit to frolic. Often, by not suppressing your natural instincts, it was easy to restrain yourself and act foolishly.
Rabbits loved drilling into little crevices, such as those found under beds, on soft couches, in empty vases, or in small crooks… Where there are cracks, they like to drill. It felt very awesome to squash himself into a ball.
The seam was just so freaking charming.
Wen Mingyu whirled around and raced into a corner, attempting to cram himself in, his fat butt puckering up and trembling twice. His puffy fur was all squeezed. When he crammed himself tightly within, his face was somewhat distorted, his round eyes cocked upward and constricted into slits, yet he still appeared to be quite delighted.
Wen Mingyu was stuck for a time, his eyelids drooping with drowsiness. They snapped open twice, then opened gently once more before closing fully. He was tucked in a corner, asleep.
When Mu Zhan raised his eyes to glance around mid-grading a memorial, he saw that someone had vanished. His eyes quickly lost their light. Outside the hall, there were palace guards posted. There was no way any of them couldn’t have noticed if someone or a rabbit had gone outside.
Without requesting assistance from the servants, Mu Zhan rose to his feet and started looking for Wen Mingyu by himself in the hall.
After some searching, he was eventually located in the space between the cabinet’s back and the wall. What had been a soft mass of snow was now virtually compressed into a pancake.
The rabbit was pulled out of the space by Mu Zhan, who then silently regarded it while lifting the scruff of its neck.
Still sleepy, Wen Mingyu was full of security and at ease in the little space. When he was dragged out, he didn’t wake up right away. Still half-squinting, his velvety ears meekly draped to the side of his cheeks like a plush doll.
When his consciousness gradually returned two minutes later, he noticed the enlarged, handsome face in front of him. Stirring his hindlegs, he blinked his eyes, stretched his little paws forward, and blinked again before recognizing that Mu Zhan appeared to be… angry.
Being stared at by those profoundly dark eyes, Wen Mingyu quickly wimped out in seconds. His rabbit ears twitched a little; he tilted his head, made a mild, rather ingratiating babbling sound, and sold some meng.
Mu Zhan appeared to smile gently as he narrowed his eyes in his direction. Then, as Wen Mingyu exhaled in relief, thinking he had dodged a bullet, the fluffy rabbit’s bum was spanked.
The lop-eared rabbit instinctively attempted to hide it out of fright, but sadly, the paws were too small to do so…
Biting hands in grievance.jpg
Putting the rabbit in his hand, Mu Zhan prodded it before saying, “Know your mistake? Will you hide again next time?”
The lop-eared rabbit dutifully nodded, expressing that he understood his mistake—but would dare again the following time!
With his head lowered and his eyes gleaming, he wasn’t terrified at all.
Mu Zhan noticed it as well, and the corners of his brows jumped. “It’s time to work on your calligraphy,” he added bluntly, without further room for explanation.
The lop-eared rabbit made a noise and was then sent behind the screen by Mu Zhan.
In a matter of seconds, a slender pale hand reached out and snatched the clothing away. There was a slight friction of garments pressing against each other before a young, handsome teenager came out. His eyes were still a bit red at the corners, the obvious sign of having just woken up.
Like learning, calligraphy was unending. It also stabilized the heart throughout the process.
Wen Mingyu was probably excluded from this, though, given the fact that Mu Zhan was staring at him.
Today was even more different.
While working on his writing, Wen Mingyu became sidetracked. When his ink was skewed, the whole sheet of paper was spoiled. Mu Zhan had an additional ruler in his hand at some point. He said flatly, like a real teacher, “If the heart is not fully committed, a punishment shall be issued.”
Wen Mingyu reluctantly extended his hand. He reflexively retracted it as the ruler struck, hitting nothing.
Mu Zhan smiled. “No more hitting here then.”
Upon hearing that he wouldn’t hit, Wen Mingyu’s eyes lit up, but he immediately made a face. Had he overlooked a word?
Still pondering, Mu Zhan had already gone behind him.
Unguarded as he was, a drop landed below his waist.
Wen Mingyu almost instantly exploded. If he were in his rabbit form, he would already be gazing roundly, arching his back, and barking ferociously, his fluffy fur preparing to burst into flames and expand in size.
He wasn’t a child. Even though it didn’t hurt too much, how could he hit him there. It was a more useful punishment than anything else. Because it worked so well, the next time he became distracted, he would remember it and never dare to commit mistakes again.
Sure enough, Wen Mingyu was so concentrated the remainder of the day that he didn’t allow Mu Zhan the opportunity.
Mu Zhan’s expression remained unchanged. Finally, he proofread his calligraphy and made appropriate comments.
Wen Mingyu wasn’t quite persuaded and had a nagging suspicion that this man was hiding some factor that couldn’t wait to stir some trouble.
As time passed, Wen Mingyu ended his manuscript, while Wei Yingwu and Wen Changlan were prepared for departure to the frontier.
Before sending them off, Mu Zhan hosted a banquet.
The banquet had a relaxing atmosphere. Wen Mingyu practically never stopped grinning. Up until the last formal farewell, at which point he couldn’t help but sense a small wave of regret and reluctance.
Though they hadn’t known each other for very long, Wei Yingwu was the first friend he had made here. The idea that he might not see them for a while made him feel a little blue.
Curling his lips, he smiled at Wei Yingwu and Wen Changlan. “I wish you a safe voyage and good breezes.”
Wen Changlan agreed gently, and Wei Yingwu beamed, his face devoid of melancholy: “Good brother, see you at the spring festival!”
Wen Mingyu nodded.
After the banquet, Wen Mingyu and Mu Zhan returned to Taiji Hall together, took a bath, and then got ready to retire to bed.
Mu Zhan saw his not-so-explicit mood and suddenly said, in a low voice, “Didn’t this one mention before that he would merely teach you for a short while.”
Wen Mingyu glanced over and nodded, a little perplexed as to why he was talking about it now.
“These are the final two days. From the day after tomorrow, this one will not be teaching you.”
“Is it Gong-boshi and the others?” Wen Mingyu subconsciously inquired.
“No.” Mu Zhan reclined leisurely against the head of the bed, reaching out to pinch his ear and gently rubbing the red mole. After a small pause, he finally spoke again: “You’ll be attending Imperial College in the future.”
Wen Mingyu looked at him, shocked. “But didn’t Your Majesty say…”
I can’t leave your line of sight.
Before he could finish the rest of his words, his ear was rubbed harder than before. He couldn’t help but let out a low hum.
“To provide you something to do so you won’t constantly be thinking about anything else.” Mu Zhan’s gaze sent a warning: “There are quite a few people under this one in the Imperial College; thus, it is pointless for you to flee.”
Wen Mingyu instantly affirmed, “I didn’t want to run away, really.”
Mu Zhan sneered. “Is that so? The preceding escape was exceptionally smooth. There is such an abundance of forbidden guards in the Xing Palace that even if someone turned into a rabbit, it would still be difficult to escape—yet nobody seemed to notice. Must have put a lot of thought into the preparations, don’t you think?”
Wen Mingyu felt guilty and was stared at till he lost all feeling in his body. He was unable to help but crook his neck in an attempt to deny; he was at a loss for words. After all, it was indeed the truth, but…
“When Your Majesty cooked longevity noodles for me, pulled me out of the cabinet during the palace insurrection, and soothed me, I’d already made up my mind not to leave. Formerly, I was always in fear that Your Majesty would learn about my other appearance and kill me. Now that I don’t have that fear, however, it stands to reason that I won’t go—or, to be more precise, that I wish to stay here.”
Wen Mingyu’s dewy eyes were sparkling. It was like a stream that had been showered in sunshine, clear and warm, unpretentious and guileless.
Mu Zhan’s heart palpitated as he caressed the skin at the base of his eyes. He looked straight at him and murmured carefully, word by word, “Remember what you said.”
Wen Mingyu nodded without thinking twice. Because of the circumstances in the past, he used to say a lot of forced and half-truth words. Yet as time went on, he spoke more and more truths. There was no more falseness in his heart.
He truly wishes to stay here. He likes it very much here.
ChiFu: yeahhhh sorry, my laptop was throwing a fit since it’s too hot earlier. lmao
I have a stockpile now!!! (around 10 parts!) I finally don’t have to hurry my butt to work work work XD so I started a goal! Wow, right! The goal appears once a month! Accomplishing this goal will generate two chapters (in parts). If you’re interested, you can look in my kofi~ why still in parts? because it doesn’t look good if there’s a one full chapter besides (1) or (2) right??? also one full chapter is 5-6k XD
? did the chapter change names between part 1 and 2?
yes, deliberate! since there’s no rabbit mint mention here, i figured I can change it to fit the content of the chapter better. do tell ChiFu if it’s confusing tho~
ah okay. thought maybe it was the wrong chapter since there was no rabbit mint in the name or text
Thank You for the new chapter ♡(ŐωŐ人)
Let’s go to the college!
Thank you for your translation 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
Oh my gosh, they’ve gotten so close and that was a genuine acknowledgement of Wen Mingyu’s appreciation for Mu Zhan looking after him. Being cared for in both forms has turned Wen Mingyu sincere and honest. I wonder what Mu Zhan think when he asked why his opinion about the book mattered, and lil bunny couldn’t think of an answer?
Thanks for the update 🤣❤️🤣❤️🐇
Thanks for the chapter