After assessing his progress in learning, Mu Zhan brought Wen Mingyu to his own quarters.
It happened to be almost dinner time, creating a strange illusion for Wen Mingyu. It seemed as if the tyrant had specifically come all this way just to invite him to dinner.
Perhaps it was because he looked so appetizing. There were previous comments about how, when he was engrossed in his meal, it made the food seem particularly delicious and enticing, igniting the viewers’ appetites.
As they walked out of the hall, Wen Mingyu gazed at Mu Zhan’s figure in front of him. Somehow, he felt like a child being picked up by a parent after school, heading home for dinner. Subconsciously, he asked, “Your Majesty, what are we having today? Is there Crystalized Delight Meat1Didn’t find anything on google but I guess it’s kind of like a honey glazed or caramelized meat dish like braised pork or honey chicken/pork ?”
Mu Zhan’s steps faltered for a moment, and he glanced back at Zhao Dequan, who was following behind. Zhao Dequan hesitated briefly, then quickly caught on. He replied that there wasn’t Crystalized Delight Meat, but mentioned several exquisite palace dishes that would be served tonight, equally delicious.
Wen Mingyu nodded and said, “I like those dishes too.”
However, there was a hint of disappointment in his tone.
It seemed as if an invisible pair of ears drooped down from the top of his head, even his hair lacking its usual vitality, straightforwardly conveying his emotions.
Zhao Dequan couldn’t help but look at him and feel the urge to pat his head, thinking, “Forget Crystalized Delight Meat, I’d give you anything you want. Just say the word, and it’s yours.” Unfortunately, he wasn’t the emperor, so he could only think about it in his heart.
Mu Zhan glanced at him and said, “Indulging in such desires of the palate.”
Wen Mingyu blinked innocently.
However, when dinner was served, Wen Mingyu was pleasantly surprised to find Crystalized Delight Meat on the table. After expressing his gratitude to His Majesty with a crisp voice, he picked up a piece and tasted it with narrowed eyes.
Mu Zhan also picked up a piece, casually chewing and swallowing without much reaction.
As they ate, Wen Mingyu looked up and saw Zhao Dequan pouring wine into Mu Zhan’s cup. The wine flowed down, emitting a tempting fragrance.
Wen Mingyu couldn’t help but swallow and felt a desire to drink.
Mu Zhan sensed the gaze and looked at him. Zhao Dequan respectfully said, “Master Wen, this is fruit wine. As you are not yet of age, it’s not suitable for you to drink.”
In ancient Blue Star, there were age restrictions on drinking – for males, it was upon reaching adulthood, and for females, it was upon turning fifteen.
In terms of age, Mu Zhan hadn’t reached adulthood yet, but due to ascending to the throne and the need to handle state affairs, his coming-of-age ceremony was expedited.
Upon hearing this, Wen Mingyu realized that he had unintentionally voiced his inner thoughts.
Zhao Dequan disagreed, but Mu Zhan wasn’t particularly concerned about these rules and restrictions. He picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and said, “Let him drink. If he gets drunk, he’ll bear the consequences himself.”
Reluctantly, Zhao Dequan also poured some fruit wine for Wen Mingyu and quietly reminded him, “Master Wen, don’t drink too much. It’s easy to get drunk the first time.”
He was afraid that if Wen Mingyu got drunk and acted wildly, it would anger Mu Zhan. Since Wen Mingyu entered the palace, Mu Zhan’s sleep had improved, and his instances of getting angry and killing people had decreased. Zhao Dequan didn’t want Wen Mingyu to meet an untimely end.
Wen Mingyu appreciated the reminder with a thankful smile, but in truth, he wasn’t very worried. He had experience drinking from his previous job, had a good tolerance, and this was fruit wine, which seemed to have a moderate alcohol content. A small cup to taste the flavor wouldn’t be an issue.
With full confidence, he picked up the cup and took a small sip. Indeed, the taste was excellent—rich, delicate, with a slight bitterness on the tip of the tongue, followed by a lingering sweetness that tempted one to take another sip.
Wen Mingyu ate and drank, and unconsciously, he finished the entire cup.
Then…..
He got drunk.
He underestimated the alcohol of ancient times. While drinking, it felt like nothing, but the aftereffect was strong.
His gaze became hazy, his cheeks turned rosy, and the alcohol gave him a beautiful crimson tint. Even his neck blushed, spreading all the way down, penetrating into the depths of his collar. It made one wonder if other areas had turned red as well.
Wen Mingyu sat with a swaying body, appearing as if he could collapse at any moment.
Mu Zhan naturally noticed and chuckled softly.
Frowning, Zhao Dequan asked, “Your Majesty, should I have someone escort Master Wen back?”
Mu Zhan seemed quite interested, tapping his fingertips on the table. “No rush, you may leave first,” he said to Zhao Dequan.
Reluctantly, Zhao Dequan bowed and left.
In reality, Wen Mingyu, even when drunk, remained well-behaved and didn’t show any unseemly behavior. He continued to bow his head, picking up food and slowly eating.
However, the alcohol had numbed his brain, making his hands and feet difficult to control.
Wen Mingyu attempted to pick up a piece of meat, but each time the meat slipped away. He frowned as he tried again, and the meat slid even further.
He furrowed his brows, stared at the meat for a moment, and then switched the chopsticks to his left hand. With a serious expression, he extended the chopsticks again, looking as if he were naturally left-handed.
Unexpectedly and luckily, he managed to pick up the meat. He smiled satisfactorily, ready to take a bite. However, just before reaching his mouth, the meat slipped through the middle of the chopsticks, landing with a soft thud on the table.
Wen Mingyu stared at the piece of meat in disbelief, frozen in place.
A low chuckle came from across the table.
Immediately drawn to the sound, he looked up and, after a moment of contemplation, tilted his head and asked, “Are you laughing at me?”
Mu Zhan made no attempt to hide his amusement and nodded quite frankly, “That’s right.”
Wen Mingyu wasn’t upset either; he just felt a bit disappointed for not getting to eat the meat. Standing up somewhat unsteadily, he walked over to Mu Zhan. Speaking with a slightly slurred and soft tone due to the effects of the alcohol, he sounded both hoarse and tender, as if playfully coaxing.
“Can you help me pick some up?”
Craving the meat so much that he couldn’t manage to pick it up himself, he had no choice but to seek assistance.
After a while, he finally reached Mu Zhan, following a winding path. Sitting down next to him, he gazed at the plate of meat he desired, licked his lips, and then looked at Mu Zhan with an eager expression.
Eyes tinged with red, slightly moist, he gazed up at Mu Zhan, revealing a slender, fair neck. There was an unintentional vulnerability and allure in his expression.
However, this appearance didn’t evoke any trace of pity from Mu Zhan. Instead, it stirred an intense emotion he had never experienced before. His eyes darkened suddenly, and an unrestrained, sinister desire rapidly spread, wanting to… make him cry.
Mu Zhan handed over his wine cup, saying, “Drink this, and then, I’ll help you.”
Wen Mingyu caught the cup but didn’t drink immediately. Instead, he asked, “How do I know you’re not tricking me?”
Mu Zhan raised an eyebrow, “If you’re wary even when you’re drunk, how could you be foolish enough to come over voluntarily?”
Ignoring him, Wen Mingyu continued, “You help me with the meat, and then I’ll drink.”
Mu Zhan chuckled and indeed condescended to pick up a piece of meat, feeding it to Wen Mingyu’s mouth. He took a satisfying bite, cheeks bulging as he chewed and swallowed. Then, he tilted his head back and promptly drank the entire contents of the cup, not leaving a drop.
Mu Zhan watched, feeling a subtle dissatisfaction as if Wen Mingyu had initially intended to drink, and he unwittingly facilitated it.
Mu Zhan poured another cup of wine, and when Wen Mingyu reached out to take it, he playfully avoided him. Mu Zhan directly brought the cup to Wen Mingyu’s lips, smiling seductively. His voice carried an enchanting quality, as if enticing a young boy into the dark depths where an elusive sea monster resided.
In a daze, Wen Mingyu, drawn in by the aroma of the wine, took hold of the cup’s edge with Mu Zhan’s assistance. Since he wasn’t holding it himself, controlling the angle was challenging. Wanting to drink more, he could only bow his head and make an effort to sip a couple of mouthfuls, resembling a kitten nursing.
Unable to drink from the bottom, Wen Mingyu instinctively wanted to grab Mu Zhan’s hand to drink. However, Mu Zhan was a step ahead.
Mu Zhan pinched his chin, lightly pressed the rim of the wine cup against his lips, and poured the wine into his mouth. Whether it was due to unfamiliarity with feeding someone or intentional, the wine poured a bit quickly. Wen Mingyu couldn’t swallow it in time, and the liquid flowed down his mouth, slid along his slender neck, dampening his collar, creating a dark stain. The wine infiltrated unseen places.
Mu Zhan’s gaze darkened, a simmering heat in his throat, and his fingers exerted so much force that the wine cup seemed on the verge of shattering.
With a cup of wine consumed, Wen Mingyu became even more intoxicated. His body swayed, and he collapsed directly into Mu Zhan’s arms, sliding down softly. He used Mu Zhan’s thigh as a pillow, lying comfortably. Like a lazy cat, he turned over slowly, seeking a more comfortable position.
Mu Zhan’s voice was hoarse, “Get up.”
But someone drunk could hardly understand spoken words, completely immersed in their own world.
Wen Mingyu ignored Mu Zhan’s words and instead asked, “Who are you?”
As he became even more intoxicated, the redness at the corners of his eyes deepened, like a vibrant peach blossom unfolding. His eyes, misty and dewy, shimmered with a watery light.
Mu Zhan reached out, touching the corners of his eyes, gently rubbing and smearing a bit of moisture.
He glanced at the water trace on his fingertip and, for some reason, brought it to his lips, giving it a lick. Indeed, he tasted the unique fruitiness of Wen Mingyu, richer than what he usually smelled, with a subtle sweetness that surpassed the flavor of the fruit wine. It was addictive.
Mu Zhan lowered his gaze, his eyes becoming even deeper and more mysterious, a hint of profound brilliance flickering through.
Wen Mingyu didn’t pay attention to his actions but was deep in thought. Finally, he came to a conclusion, “I know who you are.”
The serious and solemn expression on his face seemed as if he had suddenly awakened.
Mu Zhan looked at him, waiting for his next words.
Wen Mingyu stared at him and confidently said, “You are the Dog Emperor.”
Mu Zhan: “.….”
T/N: This is the last update for this week. My semester’s starting so I might not be able to update for a while. Thanks for reading~
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