After chatting with Sanxi for a while, Wen Mingyu waved his hand and said he needed to rest for a while. He walked to the bedside and collapsed onto the bed.
His entire body sank into the soft brocade quilt, as if lying in the midst of clouds.
Although he had safely returned, his legs still felt a bit weak now.
The tyrant’s aura is too terrifying, even stronger than any alpha he has ever encountered before. If such a person were placed in the interstellar era, he would undoubtedly be at the level of a marshal.
Today, he was lucky to be unharmed, but who knows what will happen next time? He definitely does not want to encounter the tyrant again.
Wen Mingyu climbed up from the bed and knelt down, sitting back on his heels. With hands clasped together, he bowed sincerely and closed his eyes, hoping that the heavens would hear his prayers.
But unfortunately, it seems that the heavens did not hear his words.
Because, within two days, the tyrant summoned him again.
At that time, Mu Zhan was reviewing official documents, and there was only him in the study. The palace attendants, including the chief eunuch Zhao Dequan, were all outside the door.
The air was exceptionally quiet.
Oppressive and stifling, as if there were no living soul around, only a chilling, pallid, and profoundly silent atmosphere.
In the past, what he desired was precisely this undisturbed quietness. Noise only made him suffer from headaches and irritability, and only taking a life could bring him some relief. But at this moment, he suddenly felt an inexplicable restlessness, finding it hard to tolerate this deathly gloom and stillness.
He wanted to see some vibrant colors.
Inject them into this pitch-black void.
Inexplicably, he recalled that face with a radiant smile, soft features, innocent and pure, a cleanliness that could be seen through at a glance. It was too beautiful, evoking an irrational desire to destroy and tarnish.
Beautiful things are often fragile, like that slender and elegant swan’s neck. With a gentle grasp, faint red marks could be pressed out, easily breakable if held in the palm of the hand.
There was also that faint fruity fragrance, enticingly sweet with a strange yet familiar sensation. It unexpectedly evoked a calm and tranquil emotion within him. Unconsciously, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep, a deep slumber overtaking him.
Mu Zhan’s pale fingers gently hooked and lightly tapped the tabletop, producing a crisp sound, slow and rhythmic, one after another. He lowered his eyes as if examining the official documents on the table, yet his gaze was hollow and desolate, devoid of any vitality.
After a while, he lifted his eyelashes slightly, and a subtle gleam flickered in his long and profound eyes. There was even a hint of a curve at the corner of his lips.
He wanted to see that person.
To witness him being pulled from a radiant glow into a dark and dirty quagmire by the black withered vines he himself extended, irresistibly claimed as his own.
An intense and sudden impulse overwhelmed his entire mind.
Therefore, Mu Zhan commanded Zhao Dequan to bring the person to him.
During the wait, Mu Zhan frowned, becoming increasingly irritable and restless. Unable to endure any longer, he stood up, walked out in large strides, his robes stirring up a chilly wind.
Coincidentally, Wen Mingyu arrived at that moment.
The two unintentionally locked eyes.
Wen Mingyu hadn’t expected him to come out and was momentarily stunned. Then, he immediately revealed a bright smile and spoke in a crisp voice, “Your Majesty.”
As if he had been longing to see Mu Zhan.
A gentle breeze brushed past, carrying a familiar scent. In an instant, Mu Zhan’s pent-up restlessness seemed to calm down.
While Wen Mingyu wore a faint smile on the surface, his heart felt uneasy. He followed the tyrant slowly into the study.
The palace attendants remained outside the door, still separated, and the air was eerily quiet.
Wen Mingyu’s heart raced, and in the next moment, it seemed to explode, almost forgetting to breathe.
The tyrant stared at him with the eyes of a ferocious beast fixated on its prey and said in a low voice, “Come here.”
Wen Mingyu walked over stiffly, obedient but with trembling legs.
He stood in front of Mu Zhan, his face innocent and obedient. When he saw Mu Zhan reaching out to him, he didn’t shy away. He made an effort to resist the urge to close his eyes and escape.
Of course, he was afraid that the tyrant might strangle him, but moving around recklessly would only make things worse. The carefully laid groundwork for his disguise would be ruined. More importantly, he didn’t sense any intent to kill.
Mu Zhan’s hand landed on the top of his head, and then, in an awkward motion, he patted it.
He had made the right bet.
He secretly sighed in relief.
However, why did this feel a bit like… petting a puppy?
Wen Mingyu was quite bewildered. Due to the somewhat gentle actions on his head, he felt a bit ticklish, and the instincts of a small animal began to stir, making him want to nuzzle against Mu Zhan’s palm.
But he resisted with all his might, allowing Mu Zhan to pat his head.
Fortunately, Mu Zhan only patted a few times and then stopped, returning to his seat to continue with official matters. Wen Mingyu was then arranged to sit on a chair on the side.
An afternoon passed, and they had dinner together. With slightly full stomachs, they returned to their respective quarters.
Wen Mingyu: “……???”
He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was not quite right.
After this incident, the tyrant summoned him frequently. Each time, Wen Mingyu’s heart pounded like a drum, as if he were walking on a tightrope along a cliff.
But it had to be said, humans have a strong ability to adapt and accept. He found himself gradually becoming numb to the situation.
Inside the study.
The tyrant was reviewing memorials, and he sat there on the side, playing the role of a mascot.
He really didn’t know why the tyrant often summoned him. Did he find him pleasing to the eye and enjoyed having him around as a pleasant sight, lifting his spirits?
But sitting there like that was really boring, and he had to make an effort to resist the urge to yawn.
With both hands propping up his chin, he idly counted the squares on the door.
As he counted along, his eyes inadvertently shifted to Mu Zhan.
When he realized and was about to look away, Mu Zhan noticed and turned his head to look over.
Wen Mingyu was momentarily stunned, then immediately smiled as sweetly as if he had just eaten honey. Cupping his face with both hands, he bloomed like a flower, tilting his head slightly. It seemed as if he wasn’t accidentally looking over but rather enjoying the sight of Mu Zhan.
“Your Majesty, today you are still so handsome and noble, unparalleled in demeanor, and no one can compare.”
Mu Zhan, upon hearing this, displayed no reaction on his typically impassive face, as if Wen Mingyu had just let out a trivial remark.
“Do you find it very boring?” Mu Zhan asked.
Wen Mingyu’s eyebrows twitched, and he earnestly shook his head, saying, “No, being able to witness Your Majesty reviewing memorials is my honor.”
Mu Zhan completely ignored his words and ordered, “Zhao Dequan, bring a plate of grapes for him.”
Wen Mingyu was taken aback… was there such a good thing?
However, when the steward brought a plate of grapes and placed it in front of Wen Mingyu, Mu Zhan said, “Peel the grape skins, I’ll eat them later.”
Wen Mingyu’s smile froze. So, it was to give him something to do, not to waste any labor—a truly resourceful emperor.
Well, being fed and housed in the palace, peeling grapes should be part of the deal.
Wen Mingyu obediently complied, picked up a grape, and started working for the emperor.
Peeling grape skins could be a somewhat troublesome task. If one didn’t control the force properly or became impatient, it was easy to create uneven surfaces, making the grape flesh look unsightly. Some people even avoided eating grapes because they disliked the peeling process.
However, Wen Mingyu was patient. He didn’t rush to do anything else and meticulously peeled the grapes. He did it so delicately and beautifully, with the thin skin coming off, leaving the grape flesh intact. The grapes were round and plump, crystal clear, exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
As he slowly peeled, the grape flesh piled up in another clean porcelain dish, resembling a collection of sparkling and dazzling gems.
Although this task wasn’t very difficult, the only challenging part for him was that he could only look but not eat. Unfortunately, these specially selected grapes for the emperor were all of the highest quality, each one a delicacy with full juice, rich sweetness, and a tempting appearance that continuously enticed.
Wen Mingyu was seriously tempted, discreetly swallowing several times, his eyes showing a hint of agony.
Really wanted to eat.….
He stared at the grapes with eyes almost emitting a green glow.
Halfway through peeling, there was a sudden loud noise from nearby without any warning. Wen Mingyu was startled, his hand shook, and the grape fell to the ground, rolling away with a clatter.
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