Mu Zhan’s sudden appearance, coupled with his cold and accusatory tone, instantly left the Marchioness pale and drenched in cold sweat. She never expected Mu Zhan to be there and regretted the impulsive words she had just uttered, wishing she could slap herself. Without daring to lift her head, she trembled and quickly got off the chair, kneeling down to apologize.
“The humble wife1Referring to oneself as a “humble wife” is a traditional and respectful way for a woman to address herself in the context of the imperial or noble court in historical settings, particularly in East Asian cultures. It is a form of self-deprecating language that reflects deference and humility, acknowledging one’s subordinate status or lower position in comparison to the person being addressed, in this case, the Emperor. pays respects to the Emperor and seeks forgiveness… The humble wife has no objections. It’s just that when speaking with Mingyu earlier, due to maternal concern, I was overly anxious. Mingyu is the humble wife’s son, and naturally, the humble wife wholeheartedly wishes for his well-being…”
The Marchioness trembled with fear, her voice shaking, struggling to speak as she awkwardly defended herself.
However, she was unaware that Wen Mingyu, who was being defended, wasn’t in a much better mood. As soon as Mu Zhan appeared, his scalp tingled, and the chair beneath him felt like it had needles, making him want to jump up on the spot. He turned around, thinking of slipping away. There was no trace of the emotionless and cold demeanor he displayed when facing the Marchioness earlier.
Oh my! The Emperor is here to settle scores with him!
Wen Mingyu’s mind blared with a piercing alarm, and all he could think about was that. But before he could make a move, Mu Zhan had taken two steps and was behind him, a hand firmly on his shoulder, rendering him immobile.
The chilly voice echoed above him.
“But what I just heard seems different,” Mu Zhan’s lips curled into a hint of a smile, more terrifying than a straight face. “You dare deceive the Emperor?”
With a major accusation laid upon her, the Marchioness struggled to catch her breath and nearly fainted. She vehemently denied, almost crawling on the ground, completely devoid of the dominance she displayed moments ago.
Mu Zhan instructed a palace servant to repeat the words the Marchioness had said to Wen Mingyu. The more they were repeated, the more she trembled.
“With that said, it reminds me that the Marquis of Guangyang and his subordinates have been making frequent mistakes. It seems he might be getting old and a bit confused. It’s time for him to retire. Looking at the younger generation, none seem capable of bearing this title. Taking it back is more suitable and provides them with an opportunity for tempering.”
With a couple of seemingly casual sentences, Mu Zhan directly stripped the Marquis of Guangyang of his official position, even reducing his noble rank. Once the Marquis of Guangyang is removed, their family immediately falls out of the aristocratic circle, becoming commoners—an impactful blow.
The Marchioness was completely stunned, feeling as if her soul had left her body. She couldn’t comprehend how, after entering the palace, she had lost everything without persuading the Emperor to benefit the family.
She wanted to plead with the Emperor to reconsider his decision, but the palace servants forcefully escorted her out, denying her any opportunity to speak.
On her way out of the palace, various scenes flashed through her mind. One moment, images of her mistreating and suppressing the young Wen Mingyu surfaced; the next, the noble and dignified appearance of Wen Mingyu from a while ago, with the tyrant standing behind him, indifferent yet exuding a chilling aura…
She couldn’t help but wonder, if she hadn’t let jealousy drive her to mistreat Wen Mingyu in the past, would he now be inclined to help the Marquisate?
The Marquise refused to accept responsibility for the current situation. No, it couldn’t be her fault. Once she brought the news back to the mansion, everyone would blame her—whether it was the Marquis or her children. Yes, it wasn’t her fault. After all, hadn’t the Marquis initially despised this illegitimate son? It was only natural to disdain someone of low birth. Considering her original status, giving birth to an heir for the Marquis was her great honor. Otherwise, how could that illegitimate child have obtained such a position and even entered the palace, reaching the status he had today? Wen Mingyu should be grateful!
She twisted the narrative, disregarding the Marquisate’s initial attitude of offering Wen Mingyu to the tyrant, believing it was a matter of little consequence if he were to be killed.
The Marchioness’s condition was very abnormal; she was crying, laughing, and angry, seeming somewhat insane. However, the palace attendants who escorted her out showed no reaction, as if they hadn’t seen anything.
On the other side—
Wen Mingyu was also in a difficult situation, extremely nervous. After the Marquise was taken away, Mu Zhan waved away the palace attendants, pressed his shoulder, and made him turn around to face him.
Mu Zhan slightly bent down, his eyes fixed on him, revealing no emotions. However, Wen Mingyu felt as if he could read a message from within.
Your turn.
Wen Mingyu’s fur stood on end, and he almost cried out in surprise. Although he might be facing imminent death, a strong survival instinct made him attempt to save himself with a feeble struggle. He didn’t want Mu Zhan to bring up last night, so he quickly changed the topic, dryly smiling and saying, “Is Your Majesty here to help me on purpose? I’m really happy~”
Mu Zhan replied casually, “Partly, but it seems you don’t need much help? You’re quite eloquent, and you managed to upset that woman quite a bit.”
Wen Mingyu pretended to be aggrieved, lowering his eyes and speaking softly, “It’s just a show I put on. She has mistreated me since I was a child, leaving me with a deep shadow. I feel scared when I see her.”
“Is that so? Well, she deserves it now. Those who seek fame and fortune fear losing what they’ve gained the most, especially when they thought you were their shortcut.” Mu Zhan spoke without much emotion, his hand resting on Wen Mingyu’s shoulder as if idly, unconsciously brushing against the side of Wen Mingyu’s neck with a gentleness that seemed like a tender caress.
Wen Mingyu felt a tingling sensation and trembled slightly, but he didn’t evade. He wasn’t sure of the reason behind Mu Zhan’s sudden punishment of the Marquis of Guangyang, but it did provide some relief for him, making him feel somewhat gratified.
After a while, Mu Zhan’s gaze returned to Wen Mingyu, causing a slight tension in his heart.
Sure enough, Mu Zhan was about to bring up the matter. “This incident is not important. I came here to talk to you about last night…”
“Ah! Speaking of which, Your Majesty must be hungry!” Wen Mingyu guessed what he was going to say and hurriedly interrupted, picking up some pastries from the table and stuffing them into Mu Zhan’s mouth. “This osmanthus cake is delicious, and I love it! Really!”
Mu Zhan suddenly had a mouthful of floral fragrance, sweetness filling his mouth. He couldn’t help but frown, but ultimately he didn’t spit it out. He swallowed it with a complicated expression, then immediately grabbed Wen Mingyu’s hands, using one hand to hold them in place. Seeing that he still wanted to speak, the other hand covered his mouth.
Mu Zhan smiled. “Is there anything else you want to say?”
Wen Mingyu couldn’t say a word, at most, he made some muffled sounds, as if he had been kidnapped.
He couldn’t stop Mu Zhan, who continued straightforwardly, “After you got drunk last night, how many times did you curse me as a dog emperor? Do you remember?”
Wen Mingyu’s vision blurred, feeling deceived by alcohol, as if fate wanted to end him.
Perhaps Wen Mingyu’s expression was too despairing, which amused Mu Zhan. A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes, softening the originally cold features, making him seem somewhat gentle. However, Wen Mingyu didn’t notice.
“What do you want to say?”
Wen Mingyu blinked twice, his mind racing. He subconsciously opened his mouth, but he forgot that Mu Zhan’s hand was still covering it. As a result, his lips lightly touched the palm, and the exhaled breath moistened it slightly, creating an inexplicable sense of ambiguity.
Mu Zhan’s eyes darkened, and he involuntarily tightened the hand covering Wen Mingyu’s mouth. Afterward, he slowly released it, taking a seat beside him, waiting for him to speak, as if anticipating a cunning defense.
Wen Mingyu sensed the meaning in Mu Zhan’s eyes and felt a bit more pressure.
He took a deep breath, choosing to ignore the subtle sensations from a moment ago, and began to – defend himself. Mu Zhan had evidently heard his drunken ramblings; there was no denying that. He needed to find a way to salvage the situation using this fact.
“Your Majesty, I absolutely didn’t mean to insult you. A dog, it’s humanity’s best friend, isn’t it? Intelligent, lively, with so many virtues. Your Majesty governs diligently, loves the people, and has a compassionate heart for the world, making you a great and enlightened ruler. When I mentioned… ‘Dog Emperor’ (whispering), I was actually praising Your Majesty. Truly.”
As Wen Mingyu spoke, he stole glances at Mu Zhan’s reactions. Seeing him about to speak, it was like approaching the end of an exam; regardless of how, he needed to write a few more words, as if doing so might earn him a couple more points. Wen Mingyu continued, “Dogs are not only friends but also family, accompanying us throughout our lives. They share meals and sleep with us, and I am particularly fond of dogs, truly.”
Once again repeating and emphasizing with consecutive “truly,” Wen Mingyu nervously stared at Mu Zhan, afraid that he might not believe him.
Mu Zhan’s emotions remained concealed, and he calmly listened to Wen Mingyu’s elaborate explanation. Finally, he said casually, “So, you like sleeping together with a dog?”
Wen Mingyu was stunned, never expecting Mu Zhan to come up with such a comment after listening to his explanation. Mu Zhan’s knack for focusing on key points was truly remarkable…
Though a bit bewildered, Wen Mingyu nodded vigorously, “Yes! I really like it!”
Mu Zhan responded, “Got it.”
Wen Mingyu was left puzzled, wondering just what Mu Zhan had understood.
In the end, Wen Mingyu didn’t figure out what Mu Zhan’s words meant. However, having insulted the Dog Emperor and still lived through it was a stroke of extraordinary luck. Wen Mingyu let out a big sigh of relief.
Everything remained unchanged, as if nothing had happened.
Wen Mingyu suddenly felt that he was quite talented in deceiving himself and others.
Having successfully averted a life-threatening crisis and shared a meal with Mu Zhan, Wen Mingyu returned to his residence. Feeling relaxed and unburdened, he longed to dive back onto his bed, transform back into a lop-eared bunny, and roll around happily.
As Sanxi helped him change into his sleeping attire, a smile adorned his face. He remarked, “Young Master, His Majesty came today specifically to help you vent your frustration. I’m truly happy for you.”
Wen Mingyu had considered this possibility, but he believed he didn’t have any substantial reasons for Mu Zhan’s actions. He considered it more of a whim on the part of the tyrant, as the Emperor tended to act on his own whims. Additionally, it was possible that Marquis Guangyang had gone too far in his actions, irritating the Emperor, who, in turn, decided to deal with them.
Wen Mingyu nodded and said, “Yes, I’m quite happy too.”
Watching unpleasant people suffer certainly improves one’s mood. Happiness can be that simple.
As soon as Sanxi became excited, he began to ramble, “It’s great that everything went so smoothly for the young master. Before, I was worried that the Emperor disliked the harem and kept it empty, so maybe…”
Realizing his mistake mid-sentence, Sanxi’s face turned pale, and he quickly fell silent.
Wen Mingyu was casually listening, but his curiosity was piqued when he stopped abruptly. Come to think of it, he hadn’t heard about any consorts or beauties in the harem. He instinctively asked, “Why?”
Sanxi shook his head reluctantly, wearing an expression that suggested he couldn’t divulge more.
Seeing Sanxi’s reaction, Wen Mingyu guessed there must be some royal secrets involved. Those who knew too many secrets often didn’t live long. He decisively put away his curiosity and reminded Sanxi to be more cautious in the future.
Sanxi nodded vigorously, still afraid that not telling might upset Wen Mingyu. He explained in a hushed voice, “It’s not that I don’t want to share, it’s just that this matter is a taboo in the palace, and I don’t know much about it…”
Wen Mingyu immediately interrupted him, “I don’t want to know, really.”
Sanxi then extinguished the candle, wishing the young master sweet dreams, and exited the hall.
That night, Wen Mingyu indeed slept very well. The small floppy-eared bunny curled into a fluffy ball, making a soft smacking sound with its mouth. Its little short legs even kicked once, clearly enjoying a joyful feast in its dreams.
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