Prince Ning’s Manor
“Did the Prince bring an umbrella?”
Meng Qing peered out the window, reaching a hand out to catch the falling raindrops, and turned his head to ask Dushun beside him.
“This old servant recalls he did not.” Dushun lied without turning a hair or changing his expression.
“Then let’s go pick up the Prince from court!”
Filled with sudden enthusiasm, Meng Qing grabbed an umbrella and hopped outside. To his surprise, the moment he stepped out the front gates, he saw the Prince’s carriage rolling slowly into view.
“Husband, why are you back so early today?”
Meng Qing trotted forward eagerly to hold the umbrella for Ji Yanche as he stepped down from the carriage.
Frowning slightly at the sight of Meng Qing running out in just a single thin layer of clothing, Ji Yanche stripped off his own dark ink-colored outer coat, gently draping it over Meng Qing’s shoulders. With one hand he took over the umbrella, while with the other he lightly pinched Meng Qing’s cheek, asking with a heart full of tender distress:
“Wearing so little, aren’t you cold?”
Knowing he was in the wrong, Meng Qing flashed an ingratiating smile, affectionately linking his arm through Ji Yanche’s and acting spoiled. “You’re here with me, aren’t you?”
Ji Yanche smiled helplessly, deciding not to argue further with this “little child,” and instead shifted the topic. “What did my wife want to do stepping outside?”
“I was worried you didn’t bring an umbrella and wanted to go pick you up. Who knew you’d be back so early today?” Meng Qing muttered under his breath.
“I was eager to see Qingqing, so I rushed back early.” Raising a hand, Ji Yanche took the food box handed over by Chenbi. “I bought some pastries for Qingqing; see if you like them later.”
“I’ll like them, I’ll like them!” Meng Qing’s eyes sparkled as he answered eagerly.
“You haven’t even tasted them yet and you already like them?” Watching his adorable expression, Ji Yanche couldn’t resist teasing him.
“Anything Husband buys, I like.”
The two of them shared a single umbrella, walking slowly along the winding pathway. The only sound in their ears was the steady patter of light rain, making the entire world feel gentle and serene.
“I want to leave the estate!”
Full of irritation, Shinian glared at the two guards standing at the entrance.
“Young Master, without the Prime Minister’s orders, this subordinate cannot allow you to leave.”
Those words again.
A surge of frustration flared within Shinian. He turned and strode angrily toward the study. Ever since his blazing row with Bai Wujou that day, the two of them hadn’t exchanged a single word. Bai Wujou had gone so far as to place him under direct house arrest, forbidding him from stepping foot anywhere outside the Prime Minister’s Estate.
Bang—
Shinian kicked the study door open without warning, the resounding crash startling even Xuexiao, the guard standing nearby.
Bai Wujou, however, appeared utterly unfazed. He didn’t even lift his head, continuing to calmly sip his tea and read his book as leisurely as ever.
“I’m not running away, I just want to go outside for some fresh air.”
Concise and to the point Shinian didn’t wish to waste another word on him.
“Fine.”
Bai Wujou lowered his teacup and looked up at him with raised brows, a flicker of hard-to-detect cunning flashing through his eyes.
So agreeable?
Shinian had no idea what trick he was trying to pull this time.
“I’m coming with you, and I call the shots on where we go.”
As expected, he wasn’t holding back anything good.
Shinian cursed inwardly, though feeling helpless, he had little choice but to compromise:
“Suit yourself, as long as I don’t have to stay rotting in this dump of a Prime Minister’s Estate.”
“Why are we coming here?”
Staring up at the glittering golden plaque bearing the characters [Prince Ning’s Manor], Shinian asked with distinct displeasure.
“You and the Prince’s Consort were trapped together and rescued together. According to the rules of etiquette, it is only natural to visit and check on the Consort’s recovery.” Bai Wujou maintained a calm, steady expression as he explained unhurriedly.
Thinking of Meng Qing’s pure yet seductive face and adorable personality, Shinian quickly accepted the reality of using a trip to the Prince’s Manor as an excuse to get some fresh air.
The drizzle continued to fall without stopping. Bai Wujou opened his umbrella and reached out to hand it over, only to see Shinian who had already set up his own umbrella glaring at him with utter impatience.
“What are you dawdling for?”
The Prime Minister silently shifted the umbrella back over his own head.
“Bai Wujou comes uninvited, begging your forgiveness for the intrusion.” Bai Wujou bowed respectfully to Ji Yanche with a proper greeting, subsequently presenting a box of premium health tonics prepared beforehand. “A small token of our sincerity, nothing much. How is the Prince’s Consort feeling?”
Ji Yanche motioned for Dushun to accept the gift, speaking in a resonant tone, “Your kindness is appreciated, Prime Minister Bai. The Consort has already recovered without issue.”
Catching out of the corner of his eye that Meng Qing kept wanting to talk to Shinian but lacked the courage to break the ice, sitting off to the side with an eager, yearning expression, Ji Yanche felt his heart melt instantly at the sight of his wife’s adorable demeanor. He figured he should pave the way for his wife:
“The rear courtyard of the manor has quite a unique charm in the rain. Would the Consort care to show this young master around?”
Meng Qing’s eyes lit up. Husband, you truly understand me.
“This minister will take his leave.”
With that, he turned and departed alongside Shinian.
“Shinian, thank you so much for that day. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have made it out.”
Walking side by side down the covered veranda amidst the hazy veil of misty rain.
“Look at you, what are you saying? If you hadn’t broken the chains, neither of us would have escaped.” Shinian smiled.
“Right, we were both amazing!” Meng Qing chimed in with a grin.
…Shinian felt a subtle sense that Meng Qing was somewhat different, prompting him to decide:
“Brother, let’s learn new ideology.
Is this some kind of secret code?
“Hm?” Meng Qing looked puzzled. “What?”
Failing to receive the expected reaction, Shinian didn’t feel overly disappointed. True, if Meng Qing were also a time traveler, he probably would have recognized it when I mentioned Taekwondo, rather than waiting until now.
He simply felt that Meng Qing was profoundly different from everyone else here—completely devoid of heavy feudal exploitation, carrying instead a familiar, comforting sense of absolute equality between people.
“Nothing, I was just rambling nonsense.”
“You always speak so untraditionally, you’re quite peculiar.” Yet Meng Qing showed complete understanding, adding with a hint of worry, “Your head was injured before; could this be some kind of lingering symptom? Have you had a physician look at it?”
Oh gosh, is he trying to say I’m crazy?
However, Meng Qing’s gaze was so utterly sincere, shining wetly through the misty fog like a little fawn’s. Armed with an illegal face paired with such a look, Shinian instantly felt every shred of irritation and grievance evaporate, leaving him only with the sudden urge to reach out and pinch those soft cheeks.
Ah, the male lead’s husband sure lives a blessed life.
“Meng Qing, you’re so cute.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Shinian reached out and gently poked the soft flesh on Meng Qing’s cheek.
“Honored guest, you mustn’t…” Huayi, trailing closely behind them, couldn’t help frowning in displeasure. In her eyes, distinctions of status and hierarchy were absolute; what standing did this person have to act so presumptuously?
Meng Qing spoke up to cut her off. “It’s fine, he’s my friend.”
Seeing Shinian offering a sheepish smile after pulling his hand back, and noticing the instant their eyes met that Meng Qing’s earlobes were tinged with a delicate blush as he stammered, “Y-yeah, that’s right.”
“Right, we’re friends.”
Shinian roared internally: So cute! Can I break up the official pairing right now?
[Guest Chamber]
The two of them sat locked in battle across a chessboard, waging a bloodless game of strategy.
“This King is rather curious how did an injury to the head manage to transform a simple-minded simpleton into someone skilled in martial arts?” The corners of Ji Yanche’s mouth curved upward slightly, carrying a playful, probing smile as he fixed his gaze on Bai Wujou.
A flicker of tension tightened within Bai Wujou’s chest, though his expression remained rock-steady, revealing not a single flaw:
“The vast world holds boundless wonders; nothing is truly impossible.”
Ji Yanche offered a faint smile, understanding that this was meant to shield the person in question, and smoothly went along with the gesture. “He saved Qingqing’s life, so this King will let the matter rest. Consider this debt fully repaid.”
Dropping his chess piece onto the board, Ji Yanche watched with amused interest as Bai Wujou played absentmindedly, finally offering a gentle reminder:
“Prime Minister Bai, you’ve lost.”
I lost.
Bai Wujou snapped back to reality from his stray thoughts.
He had long since sensed that something was amiss with Shinian—this person was fundamentally not the original simpleton. Yet he had chosen to turn a blind eye, indulging in the deception and abandoning himself to a sweet, dizzying freefall.
He had already lost losing utterly to someone whose full name and background remained unknown to him.