Translator: ChiFu
Wen Mingyu arrived at Taiji Hall in a lighthearted mood after leaving Imperial College. Subconsciously, he wanted to tell Mu Zhan about what had occurred today. Mu Zhan was always the first person he wanted to share anything with.
He crossed the threshold and walked in. The first thing he did after walking in was to look for Mu Zhan’s figure. He cried out, “Your Majesty.”
Soon, he found Mu Zhan sitting idly. He was holding something in his hand and seemed to be reading it. In response to his call, he looked up towards him and appeared to smile, yet there was something else quite subtle about his countenance.
The words that climbed into Wen Mingyu’s throat couldn’t help but get ingested again. He said, puzzled, “What is Your Majesty looking at?”
…while smirking pervertedly.
Wen Mingyu didn’t continue the rest..
Mu Zhan ticked up the corners of his lips and said with an undefined meaning, “Wondering? Come and look, then.”
Wen Mingyu, listening to his tone, felt it was not a good thing. Yet he couldn’t resist the curious cat scratching at his heart. He warily drew closer and asked, “Can I look at it?”
“Absolutely.” Mu Zhan nodded his head, appearing very generous.
Wen Mingyu lowered his guard after knowing that it was not a classified secret and continued to draw closer.
With two steps left, Wen Mingyu’s eyes landed on Mu Zhan’s palm, noticing that the paper appeared a bit too familiar.
He took two more glances, and then it registered to him what it was. His expression altered in a flash, and the variety of colors was more impressive than the palette. His wide eyes even had a bit of alarm. He felt his legs and feet out of grip, and he wanted to sprint as far as the earth would allow him to.
Mu Zhan waved the stack of papers in his hand and said imploringly, “The story of this was written in quite an entertaining way. Would you like to read it?”
I don’t even have to think about the answer. This was something he must not admit, so Wen Mingyu quickly composed his expression and pretended to be bewildered and innocent before saying, “What story?”
Mu Zhan’s smile deepened under his eyes. “The story you wrote.”
Wen Mingyu’s legs wobbled in a beat. He shook his head right away. “Your Majesty has misunderstood. Although it had my handwriting on it, it was merely a random script I found to copy and practice my writing when I was idle a while back, that’s all. I didn’t write it.”
“Is that so?” Mu Zhan glanced down at the stack of papers and pressed his fingers on them, saying softly, “The characters in this script are obviously modeled after you and this one. If it’s not you, then it’s got to be someone hiding underneath our bed, peeping on us.”
If he weren’t so anxious, Wen Mingyu might have laughed out loud at the latter remark.
In the moment when his mind was drifting off, Mu Zhan reached out and yanked him over. He cupped his chin and whispered slowly, “It seems you have a problem with this one. That bodyguard in it—he was beaten 56 times with a gunny sack, tripped down 47 times, and had his house collapse three times.”
Wen Mingyu felt even more flustered this time. Even though the frequencies were so obvious, he didn’t even realize that when he wrote them himself. Mu Zhan must have re-read through them all and become irate!
When faced with the choice of whether to keep schemingly quibbling or to confess in order to earn a lighter sentence, Wen Mingyu hesitated only for a second and decisively chose the latter. Mu Zhan had already come to the conclusion that he was the author, and a good attitude toward admitting his mistake might be enough to get him off the hook unpunished.
Thus, Wen Mingyu nodded. “Yes, I wrote this, and that bodyguard in it is precisely me.”
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.
Mu Zhan raised his pitch. “Oh?”
Lf wjvf la eq klat ugfja rlcmfglas. “Tbeg Zjpfras lr rb vlralcuelrtfv. P mbeivc’a qbrrlyis kglaf sbe jr j ybvsuejgv. Rb olmalbcji mtjgjmafg mbeiv fwybvs sbeg nfgnf jcv ugjcvfeg.”
“Qbeiv jcsbcf firf mbcrmlberis kglaf atfwrfinfr boo jr eciemxs?”
“Ktfgf lr, bynlberis. Lfjnfc klii vfrmfcv eqbc wjc, yea cba yfobgf tf tjr reoofgfv obg tlr tfjga jcv rbei. P kgbaf atlr ab ulnf atf mtjgjmafg j uglcv jcv ab gfwlcv wsrfio atja atfgf lr cb remt atlcu jr j ogff iecmt lc atf eclnfgrf jcv atja ktjafnfg sbe kjca ab mbcdefg, sbe tjnf ab qea lc wjzlwew foobga olgra.” Qfc Zlcuse yjyyifv lc j rbggbkoei yea fjgcfra wjccfg.
“Fair enough.”
Wen Mingyu seemed to have caught a thin ray of hope.
“But I remain convinced that the young master in it is you and that the bodyguard is this one.”
“Your Majesty, it really isn’t…”
Long, slender fingers moved slowly past the cheek of his face before halting at his lips and lightly pressing them. Mu Zhan’s voice was throaty as he proposed, “As long as you do one thing, this one can spare you the consequences of your crime.”
Wen Mingyu asked in a shaky whisper, “… What is it?”
“It’s very simple for you.” Mu Zhan picked up the stack of papers and gestured to him. “Use the plot on this and act it out.”
Wen Mingyu froze, then reacted. “I’m playing the guard?”
Sure enough, it’s still going to screw him.
But Mu Zhan shook his head. “You’ll play the young master, and I’ll be the bodyguard.”
Wen Mingyu was flabbergasted, “…?”
The Dog Emperor is an M?
Wen Mingyu thought he was bonkers, but Mu Zhan didn’t have any intention of joking and added, “Start now.”
After adding that, he stood up and pressed Wen Mingyu into a chair. Lowering his eyebrows, he said respectfully, “Would the young master like to have his meal now?”
Wen Mingyu was dumbfounded, thinking he was in a dream. After some time passed, he finally responded sluggishly.
Then, Mu Zhan actually left the room and asked the palace servants to pass the food.
One by one, the dishes were placed on the table, exuding an enticing aroma.
However, only Wen Mingyu was seated at the table, and Mu Zhan was standing to one side, as if he were really a committed personal bodyguard.
Turning to face him, Wen Mingyu whispered, “Your Majesty, sit down and have your meal first.”
Mu Zhan said, “I am but your guard, young master. It is not proper.”
Zhao Dequan, who was about to leave, faintly heard their conversation. His hand that was about to close the door froze for a second before closing it swiftly and tightly, as if he had seen a ghost come to life… He, an old man, was becoming less and less aware of what was popular with young people these days.
Wen Mingyu suddenly developed a headache. No matter what he said, Mu Zhan was very committed to performing the role of the bodyguard. Wen Mingyu could only eat by himself, but he was unable to ignore the person behind him. He felt uneasy, and the fine meal no longer smelled good.
Mu Zhan was just tormenting him in a different way, wasn’t he?
When he was finally done eating, Mu Zhan took over his bowl and chopsticks and started eating.
Wen Mingyu stared blankly, particularly after watching him insert the chopsticks—the chopsticks he had bit—into his mouth… His ears were burning a bit uncontrollably.
Wen Mingyu watched him finish his meal with mixed feelings, believing that he had at last overcome the hurdle. But to his surprise, when he was about to go to the bathing pool, Mu Zhan also followed him.
He instantly had a bad premonition. “What are you here for?”
“To serve the young master in his bath.”
Wen Mingyu’s hair blew up as he hissed. “I don’t need it! You leave now!”
Mu Zhan stared at him, unfazed. “The young master is not used to being served.”
This was not in the script at all. Even if he wanted to serve him, a maidservant should do it. How could it be a bodyguard? He’s messing with the script!
Wen Mingyu couldn’t help but say, “I’m not used to being attended by anyone. I prefer to wash by myself.”
“But I’ve always been the one serving. Young master, please don’t be willful. You can’t wash alone.”
Mu Zhan spoke steadily and slowly. He took two advances forward, seized hold of Wen Mingyu’s waist, and drilled his hands through the cuffs while simultaneously unbuckling his belt with ease. Wen Mingyu shuddered slightly as his fingertips lightly caressed the soft skin of his upper arm.
The two were very close together; Wen Mingyu was almost cloaked under Mu Zhan’s shadow. With his domineering attitude, just like a bodyguard, and his rich wine pheromones, he was even more likely to engulf him.
When he looked up, he met those intense, dark eyes. Wen Mingyu couldn’t retreat, even if he wanted to.
…
In the end, Wen Mingyu was still forced to be served by this bodyguard in front of him to undress, and then he was assisted into the bathing pool. His skin was almost a light shade of pink at this point.
Mu Zhan at last also made a show of placating him and said, “The young master need not worry. I won’t overstep my bounds and offend you.”
Wen Mingyu’s body sank. Half of the scarlet face was submerged in the water, and bubbles gurgled out of the surface.
He finds his eyes offensive, okay! Close your eyes if you’re really that committed!
As if he could hear what was in his heart, Mu Zhan murmured softly, “If I close my eyes, I won’t be able to rub the master’s back.”
Wen Mingyu: “…!!!”
There are also back rubs?!
Mu Zhan really rubbed his back with a soft cloth, and he did so very attentively. After getting up from the pool, Mu Zhan also made him lie down on the beauty coach next to the pool and massage his back and waist.
Wen Mingyu was practically like a shrimp in a steamer, his body red all over.
After all that experience, it should have been a very pleasant soak, but as Wen Mingyu shuffled back into the hall, it appeared as though he had just completed a strenuous workout. At some point, he even relied on Mu Zhan to carry him to bed.
Wen Mingyu’s pitch-black hair was strewn across the pillow and against the curd-like skin that was exposed through the slightly ajar lapel of his robes, which was temptingly tantalizing. Mu Zhan, while half-kneeling by the bed, scooped a wisp of hair and helped him gather it to his side.
Wen Mingyu gave him a glare. “You’re a bodyguard. According to the practices, it’s out of the question to sleep in the same bed as the master, isn’t it?”
Mu Zhan, on the other hand, smiled lightly and declared solemnly, “I am a personal bodyguard. Naturally, I have to take proper precautions to safeguard the safety of my master. Even at night, I have to be on the lookout for bulgars coming in. I will thus rest on the outer side of the bed. Master need not be alarmed.”
Wen Mingyu’s voice had little strength. “… Get lost.”
Mu Zhan sweetly grinned. “Master, I’m afraid I can’t comply with your wishes.”
With that, he also lay down and adroitly took the young man in his arms, gazing down and inhaling the sweet, fruity scent emanating from his nape.
This impudence of his was not at all bodyguard-like.
Lowering his eyes, Mu Zhan saw with a glance a faint red mark underneath the collar of his shirt, remnants of the massage earlier. Wen Mingyu’s skin was very brittle, and one could almost say that it was delicate and tender. A small amount of pressure would produce a reddish mark, looking very eye-catching.
Mu Zhan gave his wrist a gentle squeeze, which was similarly marked with shallow circles, much like a special bracelet that had been left with the usual mark of ownership.
“What a dainty little master.”
Mu Zhan curled his lips and whispered.
Wen Mingyu had already closed his eyes since he was so exhausted. His awareness was hazy from being half-asleep; however, he seemed to hear someone badmouthing him and raised his hand to slap them. Yet before it could land, he was held by someone.
One by one, Mu Zhan strongly inserted his fingers between the other man’s fingers. As ten fingers interlocked, he then bowed his head and kissed him on the palm, moving with the utmost care. It was as though he was really just a humble guard, someone who was secretly in love with his master. Unable to restrain his affection, he only dared to hold his master’s hand in secret, where no one was around at night, dropping a light kiss with care and sincerity, knowing he was not worthy but still yearning to.
But it was clear that Mu Zhan’s acting was in no way professional. Where could you find a bodyguard climbing into his master’s bed, boldly embracing him, or even daringly making a few little moves.
ChiFu: We’re almost there…! I’m already excited for you guys!
And your words really touched me! Everyone is really nice to this noobie. Since the first time I started, everyone has been sending me encouraging words. Thank you! Let’s do our best~
Thanks for the chapter
I so look forward to when Wen Mingyu acts all lovey dovey with Mu Zhan!! ><
Thanks for the chapter
They’re so so cute
What a sweet chapter. I was smiling the whole time. Thank you.
Wen Mingyu is so mortified (except when he’s asleep, with the slapping and whatnot, haha) and we’re all “Awwwww 🥰 so sweet!”
Well played, Emperor! Thank you so much for the bedtime treat, Translator 😘
So sweet~~~ Mu Zhan can’t act as a bodyguard, but he definitely can act as a loving pampering husband ☺
Your doing beautifully! Keep up the excellent work!
Smiling! So toes curling good… Thanks for the update ❤️❤️❤️
Ah, I want to see their wedding
Thank you for your translation 💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟
Thanks for the new chapter! I just binged this whole thing and I’m hooked
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Thank You for the new chapter ʚ♡⃛ɞ(ू•ᴗ•ू❁)
Almost where? Marriage? Mingyu finally realizing his feelings for Mu Zhan? I can’t wait for more!
Thanks for the chapters!
kicking my feet im about to punch my walls oh my god