It might not have been Mu Wan’s imagination, but he felt that Ning Bumo had become much more clingy lately.
In the past, Ning Bumo would often hover around him, but it was not like this. As long as they were together, there was always a gaze fixed upon him.
Mu Wan was no stranger to being watched by others, but Ning Bumo’s gaze always made him feel somewhat unnatural.
After this happened several times, Mu Wan decided to have a serious talk with him.
“Why do you keep looking at me?”
“Do I?” Ning Bumo looked up from his book. If the book pages had not remained unturned for a long time, his statement might have held some truth. As it stood, it felt like an attempt to cover up a mistake.
However, the tone of his counter-question was so sincere, as if he truly did not know his gaze had been fixed on Mu Wan.
Could such an absurd situation really exist?
Mu Wan was puzzled, but since the gaze could not be used as evidence, he decided to shift the topic and give the man something to do so he would stop staring at him.
“Didn’t you send people out a few days ago to find flowers that bloom out of season? Was there any result?”
Ning Bumo put down the book. “They found one.”
“And the result?”
“It was located at a residence outside the city. By the time my men arrived, the place was already abandoned, leaving only some traces of habitation and a single blooming peach tree.” Beyond that, there was no other useful information.
“Those people are quite cunning,” Mu Wan muttered.
The reason he had given Meng Song the method for “withered wood returning to spring” was because the phenomenon was so rare that it would not happen easily; he had hoped to follow the clues to find the people who took Meng Song. He had not expected them to be so vigilant; in just one night, they had completely cleared away their tracks.
“It seems there will be no news from that side for now. But isn’t the Winter Hunt approaching? Why don’t I see you making any moves?” He hoped Ning Bumo would go out and stay busy so he would stop staring at him, as it made the atmosphere in the room feel strange.
“There is no rush. We can just follow the others when the time comes. Compared to that, I have something to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“We have been married for quite a while. If we only address each other by name or title in public, it seems a bit too distant and somewhat strange.”
“Then what should you call me?” Mu Wan asked curiously.
“Wanwan.” Ning Bumo looked at him, his expression serious.
Having voiced the nickname that had lingered in his heart and on his lips countless times over the past few days, Ning Bumo felt an instant sense of relief. Once he had said it once, the second time came naturally.
“Let’s just call you Wanwan, how about that?” After saying it smoothly, he added as if to cover his tracks, “Of course, I will not let you suffer a loss; you can call me by my name as well.”
“Who would want to call you that?” Mu Wan instinctively retorted, before feeling that something was off. “Don’t you think it sounds weird?”
“Do you?” Ning Bumo countered. After a moment, he answered his own question, “Perhaps it is because we have not used it enough, so we are not used to it. If you hear it a few more times, you will surely get used to it.”
This pushy attitude left Mu Wan stunned for quite a while.
In all three of his lifetimes, Mu Wan had never been addressed with such intimacy; Ning Bumo was the first.
Yet, he had also underestimated a person’s ability to adapt.
Ever since he proposed this, Ning Bumo had taken it very seriously. It was one thing for him to call him “Wanwan” in front of others, but he even kept it up when they were alone.
“Isn’t it enough to call me that in front of outsiders? Why do you have to call me that when we are alone?” On the day before they left for the Winter Hunt, Mu Wan could not help but ask.
“So, it is acceptable to address you this way in public?” Ning Bumo seized the main point.
Mu Wan paused, feeling as if he had been outmaneuvered. However, since Ning Bumo had been calling him that so often over the past two days, he had grudgingly gotten used to it. He hesitated for a moment but did not deny it.
A smile appeared on Ning Bumo’s face. “Understood, Wanwan.”
So, the man had not understood the implication at all.
Mu Wan felt helpless, but thinking it over, it was just a nickname; it did not seem to be a big deal.
Forget it, he could call him whatever he wanted.
The journey from the capital to the South Garden was not short. As the Prince of Jing, Ning Bumo’s carriage traveled with the Emperor’s entourage.
With guards clearing the path, the procession stretched on endlessly.
Mu Wan observed for a moment and, seeing no one he recognized, closed his eyes to rest in the carriage.
Cultivators were indifferent to heat and cold, so the environment had little effect on him. However, Mu Wan liked to adopt a specific state at specific times. Since winter snow lay outside, he felt an unprovoked drowsiness, clutching a hand warmer as he drifted off to sleep.
After spending half the day this way, the grand procession finally came to a halt.
What followed was the tedious task of arranging their accommodations. The Great Yong had an imperial palace at the South Garden, and the accompanying officials were accommodated accordingly. Ning Bumo and Mu Wan had their own private courtyard. Once they arrived and the guards they had brought secured the area, they finally had a private space of their own.
“Rest for today. Tomorrow, for the ceremony, we will be busy again,” Ning Bumo said.
Given their public images, it was naturally inappropriate for Ning Bumo and Mu Wan to participate in the hunt. At most, they would observe the ceremony and watch the performances of the other soldiers.
That was what he had thought, but there were always those who intentionally sought trouble.
After a commotion, the guards stationed outside entered the courtyard and reported to Ning Bumo, “Your Highness, it is the Commissioner. He says he wishes to see you to express his gratitude.”
The Commissioner was none other than Wei Yuan, the one who had brought the victory report. He was also one of the protagonists of this Winter Hunt. The Emperor had stated clearly that the purpose of the hunt, besides showcasing the elegance of the Great Yong youth, was to reward the soldiers who had been victorious in the battle against the Tieshan tribe.
“Gratitude? What kind of relationship do I have with him that warrants a special visit to express his thanks?” Ning Bumo sneered. He did not need to guess to know Wei Yuan’s true intentions.
In the past, when they were at court, Wei Yuan had repeatedly advised that Ning Bumo’s control over the Wolf Cavalry should be reduced, stressing that with such a formidable force, any general could achieve an overwhelming victory against the Hu people. He spoke as if the Wolf Cavalry had not been recruited and trained by Ning Bumo himself.
Perhaps in Wei Yuan’s eyes, Ning Bumo’s defeat and his own success served as the ultimate validation of his claims.
“In truth, if Ning Yu were not so young, I would have already considered handing over military authority.” However, the power transitions in the Great Yong were too frequent, and the enemies outside the borders were watching like tigers. Ning Bumo had intended to propose this only when Ning Yu was married and his power was stabilized.
But while he could afford to wait, some others could not.
Unwilling to use these words to cause Mu Wan distress, Ning Bumo said directly, “As a crippled Prince, it is best I have no interaction with a high-ranking official like him. Tell the Commissioner to get out.”
Outside the courtyard, Wei Yuan was conversing with passing colleagues.
He was currently the favorite in the Emperor’s eyes. Everyone knew how much Ning Yu needed a subordinate to achieve victory and win the support of more officials, and Wei Yuan happened to be that suitable person.
Seeing him, everyone was willing to give him face, though they were surprised to see him standing outside the Prince of Jing’s courtyard.
“Is the Commissioner here to see the Prince of Jing?”
Wei Yuan nodded, his face masking his arrogance. “Indeed. Achieving this victory has something to do with the information about the Tieshan tribe provided by Captain Du. It is a pity that he has gone to Lingnan, which is too far for me to express my gratitude. I can only do so by speaking with the Prince of Jing.”
He spoke politely, but everyone knew his character.
He was not here to express gratitude; he was clearly here to show off before Ning Bumo.
The other officials did not know what to say, but they were curious about Ning Bumo’s reaction.
Would he be angry, or would he feel humiliated?
Curious to see the drama, the group did not leave immediately. They lingered outside the courtyard until the guard returned with the reply.
“The Prince said he has nothing to discuss with the Commissioner. He says you should get out.” The guard repeated Ning Bumo’s words verbatim, his cold face adding a sense of humor to the situation.
No one had expected the Prince of Jing to be so disrespectful, even insulting a high-ranking official to his face.
The onlookers stared in disbelief, and some almost could not stifle their laughter. Realizing they could not afford to offend Wei Yuan, they quickly pinched their arms to suppress the spreading smiles.
Wei Yuan’s face turned bright red.
The gazes of others that he had enjoyed just moments ago now felt as if they were scorching him.
He had not expected Ning Bumo to be so dismissive, actually telling him to “get out.”
He is a cripple! How dare he?!
Wei Yuan wanted to retort, but he had not completely lost his mind; he knew he could not insult Ning Bumo, so he could only vent his rage on the guard. “The Prince is a royal of the highest order; how could he use such vulgar language? You must be fabricating this!”
The guard did not even look at him.
The Commissioner must not be in his right mind. If not for the Prince’s permission, how could he dare to speak in such a manner?
He simply turned his gaze toward the other officials who were still lingering and continued, “The Prince also said that he and the Princess Consort enjoy quiet. As government officials, you should not linger here; it is not in accordance with the rules.”
The others did not have military merit to boast of, and fearing that Wei Yuan would hold a grudge if they saw him lose face further, they hurriedly agreed and turned to leave, leaving Wei Yuan glaring at the guard and the courtyard behind him, his fists clenched tight, before he left in fury.
Ning Bumo!
He had better be a cripple for the rest of his life. Do not let me find an opportunity to kick you while you are down!