Translator: ChiFu
At lunchtime, Wen Mingyu chatted with Mu Zhan about the events at Imperial College. Naturally, he recalled that the headmaster had bowed to him and asked, “Was the headmaster aware of things?”
Mu Zhan nodded. “Yes, this one has summoned him and talked about it before you entered school. If something happens, he’ll deal with it.”
It was then that Wen Mingyu realized what he had done in secret previously—and perhaps there was more. His heart fluttered, and before he had time to think of anything, his body moved first, moving over to kiss Mu Zhan. He smiled after and said, “Your Majesty is so good.”
He had said that sentence a long time ago. However, back then, it was an act, whereas now it is genuine.
Mu Zhan naturally saw it, and the smile in his eyes stayed undiminished.
Wen Mingyu asked again after eating for a while. “Does anyone else know?”
“It depends if you want to or not,” Mu Zhan said.
That was to say, not many people were currently aware of it. Even the teacher who was teaching him wasn’t aware of the ins and outs of the situation.
After giving it some thought, Wen Mingyu said, “I still don’t want to. The atmosphere at the school is quite good right now. If they knew who I was, it would be impossible for others to get along with me normally.”
Mu Zhan agreed. This layer of consideration was also on his mind when he first reviewed the list of enrolled scholars to see what kind of family they came from. It was best to keep right and wrong and fame and fortune apart inside Imperial College. It was better for the students, and he also wanted Wen Mingyu to study in a clean environment.
Now, it was enough to prove that all these considerations were necessary, and that Wen Mingyu was indeed faring well in Imperial College.
“See the headmaster if you need anything, and don’t be afraid of trouble. The most important thing is that you are happy.” Mu Zhan was a very biased person and rightly said so.
With a smile, Wen Mingyu nodded. “I will, and I’m happy right now.”
Mu Zhan considered almost everything on his behalf. In the past, he used to make plans for himself because, in the end, he didn’t have any relatives, so he could only depend on himself. But now he was being protected in the ivory tower, cradled in the palm of his hand, and was treated as though he were a priceless treasure.
The former Wen Mingyu would have never thought that such a day would come. The life he had envisioned was one in which he successfully masqueraded himself as a Beta and lived his life alone.
Wen Mingyu felt good and was really happy now.
At this moment, Mu Zhan also asked him, “What do you want to eat later?”
Wen Mingyu: “Hot pot!”
No hesitation, with a crisp voice and eyes that shone as if they would glow.
Hot pots were something he had long heard about but had never actually tried. In the middle of the table, a steaming hot pot, soup boiling, a variety of fresh ingredients heating in the pot, a rising white mist, and family and friends gathered around, relishing in the moment, all in the midst of a chilly winter’s day.
Mu Zhan nodded and said, “Okay.”
In the imperial kitchen were chefs from all around the country, and of course there were those who were best at making hot pots. The pot base was particularly elaborate, featuring a special recipe that was painstakingly boiled with a variety of ingredients.
For the evening meal that day, the hot pot was served, with a charcoal fire burning underneath the pot, divided into nine compartments: spicy and fresh, bone broth, and sweet and sour tomatoes… It could be eaten in a variety of flavors, and the dipping sauces were also plentiful.
One by one, the palace servants served the fresh vegetables and arranged them around the hot pot. It was dazzling how many plates and dishes there were.
Thinly sliced beef and mutton, all fresh and beautifully red and white, and placed next to them were seafood plates: fish, crab meat, fish balls, fresh scallops, oysters, squid, red prawns, and more. On the opposite side were the delicate, milky-white mushrooms and verdant jade-like vegetables like blooming flowers.
Not only was it mouth-watering, but it was also visually appealing and had an artistic beauty to it.
The soup in the hot pot boiled over, and the rich aroma kept coming, tickling one’s mouth and tongue.
As a matter of fact, it should be them giving the dishes to the palace servants; they would cook them, place them in the bowls, and the two would be in charge of eating them. But the essence of making a hot pot lies in cooking the meat yourself. Once cooked, dip the ingredient into the sauce, blow, and deliver it into the mouth, and the smell of meat would give an unfathomable sense of satisfaction.
Therefore, Wen Mingyu and Mu Zhan personally added the contents to the pot themselves to cook. They added whatever they wanted, tried all kinds of pot flavors, scooped them up when ready, and put them in the other person’s bowl before putting it on their own.
Although the nine compartments had their own advantages, Wen Mingyu still preferred the spicy pot base and liked to add everything inside; even the vegetables were not spared. In no time, he was so spicy that it felt like he was drunk. With flushed cheeks and a forehead seeping a thin layer of sweat, he was forced to spit out his tongue like a little milk dog and hiss.
Mu Zhan’s eyes darkened seeing him like this, then he looked normal as he pushed the bowl of milk tea over.
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.
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In front of Wen Mingyu, there was an exquisite and luxurious white jade milk tea bowl inlaid with gemstones, with some chilled ice cubes at the bottom to further relieve the spiciness, and of course, it tasted great.
Wen Mingyu took a sip and instantly squinted his eyes. His expression was filled with fondness, as evidenced by the popped-up rabbit ears of his.
Mu Zhan laughed, finding it cute. “Don’t drink too much.”
Wen Mingyu obediently nodded his head. “Okay.”
Still, who could resist eating a spicy hot pot without a refreshing drink. When your mouth is numb and hot, a sip of chilled drink goes hand in hand with it, and it would be a blast. There was something even more special about iced drinks and ice cream in the winter.
Wen Mingyu accidentally drank the whole bowl. Licking his lips, he was still unsatisfied.
Should Mu Zhan not drink, then he will steal his.
Hm, the stolen ones tasted even better!
It was a great experience to eat with such abandon, but Wen Mingyu suffered later on. After consuming too much hot food and chilled drinks, an hour after the meal, he began to feel a vague knot in his tummy.
Mu Zhan: “…”
A similar expression of speechlessness could not help but appear on his face. To be capable of rendering the great tyrant dumbfounded, Wen Mingyu was as formidable.
The summoned imperial physician came, and after the diagnosis, Wen Mingyu was supposed to drink medicine. However, he ate too much, and if there was another bowl of medicine, he would probably vomit, so it was decided to use ointment instead.
The imperial physician excused himself after explaining the application procedure for the ointment.
Nobody knew that this ointment was applied by Mu Zhan himself. Wen Mingyu covered his tummy and grunted in pain as the imperial physician explained, so he couldn’t listen properly. Mu Zhan, on the other hand, listened with great attention.
Later, Mu Zhan took the person to his arms, loosened his robes, and applied the creamy ointment to his tummy. The ointment quickly heated up as he gently rubbed and pressed it away with his palm. Wen Mingyu found the slightly warm temperature to be very comfortable. He no longer grunted in pain anymore but instead eased up and lay peacefully in Mu Zhan’s broad embrace. He even partially closed his eyes and nodded off after a bit.
Mu Zhan continued to rub him for a while before stopping. He placed the man on the bed, helped him gather up his lapels, and then planned to wash his hands.
But as soon as he got up and before he could take a step, his arm was hugged by Wen Mingyu, who was half-awake. Even though he couldn’t open his eyes, he managed to subconsciously say in a drowsy voice, “Thank you, wifey.”
Due to the drowsiness, the voice had a rustling, milky sound, soft and sweet, tickling one’s ears.
Mu Zhan looked down and corrected him, “It’s hubby.”
Wen Mingyu’s thick eyelashes drooped and fluttered just a little, like a clutch of delicate, light feathers, sweeping unobtrusively across the heart. An intolerable itch caused the heart to pound.
Mu Zhan half-knelt by the bed, suddenly not wanting to move. After a while, he bent down and gave Wen Mingyu a kiss before heading out to wash his hands and attend to official matters.
Wen Mingyu’s sleep wasn’t long, and after feeling his tummy warm and much soothed, he got up to write his schoolwork that was due tomorrow.
Mu Zhan watched him as he got up and asked, “Doesn’t your stomach hurt anymore?”
Wen Mingyu beamed and said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Mu Zhan nodded and said lightly, “No more hot pot from now on.”
Wen Mingyu’s smile collapsed and withered. “Don’t! The hot pot was so good. Doesn’t Your Majesty like it as well?”
Mu Zhan said, “Next time you’ll be folding yourself again from a stomach ache.”
Wen Mingyu: “I’ll eat less. I’ll eat the clear soup pot.”
“No milk tea.”
“But…” hot pot and milk tea go well together. You can’t have one without the other.
“I’ll just drink a little. You can keep an eye on me.”
Wen Mingyu fluttered his eyes and looked at him with a sheepish, pouting look, an expression saying, I beg of you.
Mu Zhan glanced at him. “I can’t keep an eye on you.”
It would be hard for him to refuse when he showed a pitiful expression, just like now.
Wen Mingyu couldn’t understand. Thinking that he didn’t believe him, he quickly promised him. “If you say I can’t drink, I will be obedient and not drink.”
“Obedient?”
Mu Zhan appeared to have thought of something as he slightly narrowed his eyes. “If you fulfill one request of mine, I will let you eat hot pot and drink milk tea.”
Wen Mingyu readily agreed. “Alright!”
He just nodded without even listening to what was asked of him. He was thinking that Mu Zhan couldn’t possibly make any unreasonable demands. If it was really difficult, he would just deny it. Let’s just eat it first.
“Don’t worry, it’s an easy ask for you,” Mu Zhan remarked softly, smiling. “Call me hubby.”
Wen Mingyu stiffened, displaying an accusing look as though he was trying to rob him of his wife.
Mu Zhan was cool and composed as he leaned back idly on his chair. “You promised.”
Wen Mingyu moved his lips, but didn’t call out.
Mu Zhan bided his time.
Wen Mingyu thought. Isn’t it just one word? How hard could it be!
Ears reddening, as soon as he closed his eyes, he broke the jar and spilled, “You are a beautiful person with a big heart, wifey, and no one in the world can match you… Hubby.”
In the beginning, he spoke with vigor and might, but at the end, like a leaky balloon, his voice whooshed and fell, as if descending from a cliff.
Mu Zhan paused and didn’t respond, as if he hadn’t heard.
Wen Mingyu felt that there was nothing to be bashful or embarrassed about with the first call. He opened his eyes and boldly said, “Who is my hubby? Of course, it’s the one who lets me eat hot pot and drink milk tea, the one who accompanies me to everything I eat, the one I like.”
Then, there was a silly addition: “Wouldn’t you say so?”
Mu Zhan persevered for a while but still couldn’t hold back. He laughed out loud and said, “… Yes.”
With the completion of the request, Wen Mingyu went forward to hug Mu Zhan, leaning down and nuzzling against his face. What’s wrong with letting the pampered, high-strung beauty call him hubby once in a while? He was going to be called “wife” later anyway, and he liked to paste himself on his wife.
Mu Zhan momentarily froze when he felt the soft touch of his cheek nuzzling his skin, feeling both cool and warm, yet also a tad bouncy. He must admit, it felt very good.
After clinging to him for a while, Mu Zhan reached out to cup his chin. He kissed him on the lips and said slowly, “Just this is not enough.”
Immediately, the pasting changed. Wen Mingyu was wrapped around his waist and sat on Mu Zhan’s lap, and they shared a long kiss. Had it not been for the fact that they both had things to do, the situation would have undoubtedly become indescribable once more.
Wen Mingyu’s lips were red and swollen, and his heart was pounding too fast. He resumed writing his schoolwork while Mu Zhan bowed his head to review the memorials, although he did so much more slowly than usual. Lifting a palm to his brow, he let out a soft breath, forced himself to relax, and then slowly reverted to his normal level of efficiency.
The next day.
When he arrived at Imperial College, yesterday’s test papers had already been marked by the teacher and given to the teaching assistant to distribute. A few students volunteered to assist, and together, they distributed the papers.
A tall, lanky young man walked up to Wen Mingyu, handed over the paper, and said with a smile, “Wen Mingyu, you did very well on the exam.”
Although they attended the same class in school, Wen Mingyu didn’t interact with him. He only vaguely remembered that his surname was Cai. So, he said rustily, “Thank you.”
But the young man stayed put and continued, “I’m Cai Xinhan. If you don’t mind, can we be friends?”
Wen Mingyu couldn’t always refuse. He could only nod politely. “… Ah, yes.”
Cai Xinhan was about to say more, but at this exact moment, Ye Xu walked to the entrance of the room, casually jerked the cop on his head, unclipped his cloak, and tossed it to the attendant. He patted the snowflakes on his body and said cheerfully, “It’s warmer here in the school, but it’s freezing to death out there.”
He looked up and met Wen Mingyu’s eyes. “What are you doing blocking the doorway? You didn’t even take off your cloak, aren’t you afraid of being suffocated?”
Wen Mingyu was indeed a little warm. He didn’t have the time to take it off because he was talking with Cai Xinhan. He then took it off and handed the cloak to the attendant. Ye Xu then pulled him into the corner of the room in front of the smoked cage, where he squatted down and put his hands on top of it weakly, warming them up as they conversed.
Turning back, Wen Mingyu saw that Cai Xinhan had furrowed his brow after Ye Xu appeared, seeming quite displeased, only to cover it up again and walk aside to chat with others.
Ye Xu tapped him on the shoulder. “What are you looking at?”
Wen Mingyu shook his head. “Nothing.”
Somehow, there seemed to be an increasing number of people encircling the smoked cage. Wei Chen, Chu Shuli, and Shao Yan all came together and squatted down to bake their hands, resembling small woodland animals gathered around a bonfire for warmth, appearing oddly adorable.
It suddenly dawned on him that they had never really specified wanting to be friends with each other. Rather, without realizing it, they coalesced into a small group, often chatting naturally as you said one sentence and one sentence from me.
Today, Wei Chen’s gaze still fell on him with abnormal frequency.
Wen Mingyu was puzzled. “What is it?”
Wei Chen solemnly shook his head and said, “It’s nothing. I was just studying you.”
Wen Mingyu was at a loss, but considering that Wei Chen often blurted out strange speeches, he didn’t give it much thought.
Ye Xu abruptly changed the subject, saying with great interest, “Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. You all want to hang out? There are lantern riddles, lion dances, pyrotechnics, and more. With so much activity, it would be a shame not to check it out.”
It must be said that Wen Mingyu was a little moved, but he didn’t agree in one breath and first talked to Mu Zhan. After all, his present circumstances made it unsafe for him to leave.
He went to Taiji Hall and spoke about it, expressing his desire to go.
Mu Zhan, with a cold face, then fired three questions in a row. “Where to? Which classmates? How long before you come back?”
Wen Mingyu was confused by his questions, inexplicably remembering a certain future emoji, and wanted to laugh a little.
Suppressing a smile, he tried to flatten the corners of his mouth as he looked at Mu Zhan, saying——
“I mean to ask, would you like to join me, Your Majesty?”
–
The author has something to say:
Mu Zhan: Where are you going? Who are you going with? What time will you be back? Do you still love me when you get back?
*squats in the entrance hall. Grumpy cat emoji.*
Jade Cub: Going together?
Mu Zhan: It’s a date! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
My reactions while reading this chapter:
> aiyo horny teenagers!
> Mu Zhan won’t beat the father allegations!
> Mu Zhan is learning from our rabbit!! Lao gong~
ChiFu: thank you for waiting! No more stock of chapters! Will have to work hard building them up!
It’s also the Lantern Festival a few days ago! Lantern Festival is the traditional valentine’s day~
Now our Emperor also knows some romantic tricks, not only political
Thank you for your translation 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Thank you for the chapter!! (人´∀｀)｡ﾟ+
No don’t take away the hot pot! His milk tea face sounds so funny 😂 He’s lucky servants aren’t getting beheaded for making too much. I think Mu Zhan’s status as a ruthless tyrant is in danger hahaha.
Nah, it’s still wifey!
Thank You for the new chapter ( ꈍᴗꈍ)❤️
Thanks for the chapter
Thank you for the chapter.