Chapter 59 Mimi's breasts are all red from being scalded. Lord Deer is madly in love with her.

Although Lu Wensheng had already given Shen Hegui permission to ask for leave to go home and take a shower, he was well-versed in the ways of the workplace and knew that giving special treatment would inevitably arouse jealousy and dissatisfaction. Therefore, he specially brought a lot of delicious snacks to court, intending to share them with everyone.

Starting from Luanshu Hutong, it takes nearly 45 minutes to ride a horse to the palace gate.

Lanterns swayed in the thick darkness of night, and horses' hooves broke the silence of the long street.

When Lu Wensheng arrived outside the palace gate, most of the court officials had already gathered. They were huddled together in twos and threes, rubbing their hands and pacing back and forth in the spring chill, talking in hushed tones.

Zhan Xingxiu was talking with his colleagues when he caught sight of Lu Wensheng out of the corner of his eye and was visibly startled. He quickly stepped forward: "Why is Lord Lu here at court? Shouldn't you be at the Ministry of Rites preparing for the imperial examinations?"

Lu Wensheng dismounted gracefully and beautifully. She said, "I am a clean person. Yesterday afternoon, when His Highness came to find me, I took leave to go home and take a bath. I originally planned to go directly to the Ministry of Rites, but when I went out, I found it was too early, so I came here instead."

As she spoke, she took several oil paper packages off her horse. “I brought some matcha cakes, dried fruit, dried meat, and spicy snacks. Would you like to try some, sir?”

Zhan Xingxiu looked down at the tiny green pastry, about the size of a thumb, with great curiosity, and asked, "What is a matcha cake?"

He had never seen such lush green pastries before!

Lu Wensheng: "It is made by stunting and grinding tea leaves after they have been shaded, drying them, and then adding sugar, milk, and flour. It has a low bitterness. I made it with my mother last night."

Zhan Xingxiu picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, chewing it carefully. Then her eyes lit up: "The tea aroma is wonderful, sweet but not cloying, neither bitter nor astringent, it's wonderful! Delicious!"

Several officials who were chatting nearby suddenly heard someone exclaim, "Wonderful! Delicious!" and they all unconsciously gathered around.

To avoid making a fool of themselves at the morning court session, most people ate dry food like steamed buns and pancakes for breakfast, and dared not eat too much. With the bumpy ride on the road, what was five or six parts full would quickly turn into only one or two parts.

Therefore, the matcha cookies and other snacks that Lu Wensheng took out were instantly devoured.

Lu Wensheng glanced around, a triumphant smile on his face, and went to get several more packets to distribute to everyone: "Since you gentlemen like them, you may as well have more."

"He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's gift is bound to him." From today onward, no one should make a big deal out of her taking a shower for such a trivial matter! Although she also felt it was rather inappropriate.

Amidst the harmonious and joyful atmosphere, the soft murmur of conversation broke out behind Lu Wensheng's back.

"It's delicious!"

"Yes, it tastes even better than Qianweilou's! This candied fruit is sweet but not cloying, Lord Zhao, please try it!"

"It's delicious. What were Lord Lu and Lord Zhan talking about just now?"

"It seems that Lord Lu is very clean, so he took a bath with His Highness the Crown Prince."

One of the newly arrived officials, not even having time to swallow the pastry in his mouth, choked several times, "Brave warrior, how dare you bathe with His Highness! Aren't you afraid of freezing to death in the bathwater!"

"Hey! What's the big deal? Let me tell you, during the first month of the lunar year, this Lord Lu confessed his feelings to His Highness!" He lowered his voice. "I'm only telling you this, so please don't tell anyone else! Lord Lu was pursuing His Highness, and His Highness couldn't stand it anymore, so he made him the chief examiner! Who would have thought that the imperial examination questions would be leaked and he wouldn't be able to keep him locked up."

"So Your Highness is willing to bathe with Lord Lu and be completely honest with him? Does this mean you've been caught?"

"impossible!"

"Exactly! It's probably just a small incentive to keep this Lord Lu working for him. Just like you and me, if we can effectively prevent the late spring cold snap and spring drought, my mother will bestow a memorial archway upon my family, and your family will be rewarded with a mansion!"

"Tsk tsk, Your Highness is trying to get something for nothing! Lord Lu's infatuation is destined to be wasted."

"With such a sharp mind, Lord Lu, why not focus on building your career!"

"How old are you and me? How old is Lord Lu? He's only eighteen this year! If he's not thinking about dating at this age, he won't have the energy to date when he gets older!"

The fragmented words circulated among the ears and dissipated in the morning breeze.

Lu Wensheng led his horse to a secluded spot, counted the remaining paper bags, and was about to find someone to lead the horse to the Ministry of Rites when Feng Yi arrived in a hurry.

"Lord Lu, His Highness requests your presence!"

Lu Wensheng skillfully handed over the loose silver and said with a smile, "Eunuch Feng, you've come at just the right time. I was just worried that no one would help me lead my horse to the Ministry of Rites."

Feng Yi gave the little eunuch behind him a wink, signaling him to fetch the horse, but then turned away to refuse, saying, "Lord Lu, you're too kind. It's my honor to serve you."

Seeing that he wouldn't accept it, Lu Wensheng had no choice but to take out two packets of matcha cakes and hand them over: "They're made from tea leaves harvested before Qingming Festival, have a taste."

Pre-Qingming tea is already expensive, and these cakes made with fresh tea leaves are even more rare and precious. Feng Yi was overjoyed: "Lord Lu, you are too kind!"

Lu Wensheng: "By the way, the snacks in the saddlebag are for the officials of the Ministry of Rites. Please help me distribute them."

Feng Yi: "Don't worry, Lord Lu, I will personally go to escort you to His Highness."

Lu Wensheng thanked him, "Thank you for your trouble, sir!"

Dozens of eyes silently watched Lu Wensheng leave. The hushed conversations were no longer restrained, and the crowd immediately erupted into a frenzy, with the rumors becoming increasingly outrageous.

"What! Lord Lu actually dared to force His Highness to bathe with him!"

"Have you heard? Lord Deer is obsessed! He caught a deer and forced His Highness to bathe with it!"

...

Lu Wensheng was completely unaware of the newly emerging rumors. When she entered Zhaowu Palace, Shen Hegui was having breakfast alone.

The sky outside the hall was a deep blue, while inside, candlelight flickered.

Shen Hegui, with his long, black hair loose and wearing a nearly translucent moon-white inner robe, said gently, "Sit down and have a meal together."

The sight of beauty suddenly caught Lu Wensheng's eye, causing his throat to tighten and him to swallow hard. His gaze involuntarily fell on Shen Hegui's deep V-neck before quickly returning to the soup dumplings, chicken and shrimp porridge, and fish ball soup that he should be looking at.

She replied, "Okay!"

I gave her the perks before dawn, so this trip was worth it!

Steaming hot mutton soup dumplings were placed on an ornate silver platter and pushed in front of Lu Wensheng.

Shen Hegui asked with concern, "Why did you choose to attend the morning court session instead of going to the Ministry of Rites?"

Lu Wensheng paused in his bite of the bun, put down his chopsticks, and quickly pulled out a small coin and several oil paper bags still warm from his body: "A few days ago, the manager of the farm in my hometown sent over some tea powder. Last night, I was bored, so I made them into tea cakes. I was thinking of Your Highness and wanted to pay my respects as soon as possible, so that Your Highness could also taste this fresh tea."

Shen Hegui raised his thick eyebrows. The unpleasantness of being suddenly awakened from his lingering dream was quietly dispelled. He said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

So this is what it feels like to be remembered. He likes it! And he also likes that unfinished dream from earlier!

Unfortunately, just as things were about to get going, Feng Gou woke her up, and she was in pain from the swelling.

Looking back now, doing that kind of thing with Lu Wensheng doesn't seem so unacceptable after all.

Shen Hegui politely sampled several pieces of tea cake, his slender fingers casually fiddling with the sleeping Xiao Yuan, as if asking unintentionally, "You like raising turtles so much, do you even bring it to court?"

"Everything I try to raise dies, but this one survived." With this made-up excuse, Lu Wensheng reached for the fish ball with his chopsticks.

Those fish balls are so white and round, they must taste delicious!

He flipped Xiao Yuan over, then gently flicked it with his finger, and Shen Hegui watched it spin as he wished. His eyes darkened slightly.

That yellow turtle is such an eyesore! It actually slept in Lu Wensheng's sleeve! He's never even slept in it!

Xiao Yuan was sleeping soundly when it suddenly felt dizzy and smelled a horrifying odor. It woke up instantly and screamed, "Host! Quickly... put me back in!"

Why is it working for the male lead?! I feel like throwing up!

Xiao Yuan's scream suddenly rang out, startling Lu Wensheng so much that the fish ball he had just picked up flew directly into Shen Hegui's deep V-neck.

Lu Wensheng: "Don't shout! Your brain will explode!"

Xiao Yuan: [A conditioned reflex, I can't help it! Help me! Help me!]

The sudden, intense heat caused Shen Hegui to freeze abruptly as he fiddled with Xiao Yuan's clothes, his gaze falling towards the depths of his own garment.

Xiao Yuan wailed: [Aaaaaah! Host, your fish ball flew into the male lead's collar, and his breasts are all burned red! It's over, it's all over!]

Lu Wensheng, holding jade chopsticks, sat there speechless for a few seconds before rushing forward and quickly tearing open Shen Hegui's inner robe. Without thinking, he reached out and asked, "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Wow! I'm really famous! Oh no! What kind of crime is this?

Such blasphemy? One hundred strokes of the cane, and exile for three thousand li!

Or was it a plot to murder the crown prince? Slaughter by a thousand cuts?!

After touching the pink flower repeatedly, Lu Wensheng's breath hitched again.

Wait, something seems off!

It's supposed to be red! Why is it yellow instead?!

Lu Wensheng stood frozen in place, head down, caught in a dilemma, not daring to look up at Shen Hegui: "I was anxious and worried, and I offended you."

What sins did she commit in her past life to be bound to such a treacherous system?!

Shen Hegui's eyes were deep and dark, suppressing a turbulent desire. He closed his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing heavily, and said in a deep voice, "Could you please remove your hand first? I have to go to court in a little while."

The fish ball that caused the trouble was shaken out by Shen Hegui and gently placed aside.

Lu Wensheng recoiled as if burned, quickly pulling his hand back and saying repeatedly, "I'll get it right away, I'll get it right away."

Strange, Shen Hegui didn't hold it against her? It seems he really values ​​her, he's so tolerant!

Put yourself in her shoes; if someone touched her little flower while she was eating breakfast, she would definitely go crazy! Go crazy in front of her!

Lu Wensheng was about to step back when Shen Hegui suddenly grabbed his wrist, his brows furrowed: "You still have the dark, damp, fishy smell of another animal on you!"

Lu Wensheng lowered her head and sniffed herself, puzzled: "No." She smells wonderful.

As she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered the small white snake hidden in her sleeve, and quickly broke free to lie: "After parting with Your Highness yesterday, I came across a snake stall while taking a walk on the street, so I bought a snake to cook. I must have accidentally gotten it on me." Is Shen Hegui a dog with a nose?

Shen Hegui paused in his actions of playing with Xiao Yuan, his thin lips trembling slightly: "You... like to eat snakes?"

Lu Wensheng, unaware of the seriousness of the matter, casually remarked, "Spring snakes have many parasites, which I don't particularly like, but snake meat soup does taste quite good. When the snakes are fatter in the future, I plan to buy a few more to make soup, and then send a bowl to His Highness to try!"

"No need!" Shen Hegui's voice tightened: "I don't need snake dishes."

"That's a pity!"

"I'm going to change my clothes. You eat by yourself."

"Okay!" Why does it seem like I'm not happy? It must be my imagination!

Behind the screen, Shen Hegui, filled with anxiety, sat upright on the bed, rubbing his forehead in thought.

Lu Wensheng actually likes snake soup? If he finds out in the future that Lu Wensheng's true form is a snake and his love for him disappears, will he still think about stewing him?

If we have an argument in the future, will I use the parasite as an excuse to push him away? If I explain to Lu Wensheng that he is clean and doesn't have parasites, will Lu Wensheng listen?

No! He had to find a way to control Lu Wensheng's feelings for him. Human emotions come on strong and go without a trace, and are easily influenced by outsiders and external affairs!

He gave himself to Lu Wensheng, promising a lifetime together; to break that promise would mean the end of his life. Lu Wensheng was human, so breaking the promise wouldn't seem to have any consequences.

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Author's Note: Normally, the imperial examinations would involve locking the examination hall for over a month, meaning candidates wouldn't have to attend court. [doge emoji]

Pink flowers, you should be able to understand them, right? [Facepalm peeking]

Wow! As I lay down, I suddenly saw thunder, hugged it and inhaled deeply. I'll see if I can get more tomorrow.