If before it was just a fleeting glimpse, this time it was a real, undeniable sight.
Yun Qing couldn't pretend she didn't see it.
The style of that bracelet is clearly the same as the one I'm wearing on my wrist right now!
Yun Qing abruptly withdrew her gaze. She didn't really want to ask why the little tyrant was also wearing a bracelet, but her gaze had lingered for too long and Xie Rang had noticed it.
The young emperor tilted his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips: "Is the Grand Tutor looking at this red bracelet? I've heard that red wards off disasters and evil spirits. After I bought one for you the other day, I thought it looked really nice, so I bought another one for myself."
Xie Rang was not afraid of her seeing it. After saying this, he even raised his hand so that Yun Qing could see the true face of the red bracelet more clearly. His behavior was open and honest, without any filth.
Yun Qing's body stiffened for a moment. Meeting the boy's clear gaze, she could only reply, "I thought that something like this wouldn't end up in His Majesty's hands."
Does the little tyrant really not know the most common meanings behind the red wristband?
Yun Qing rarely pondered this question so deeply, but no matter how she looked at it, she couldn't find a suitable understanding. Moreover, the historical Emperor Li was incapable of love and affection, so perhaps he really didn't know?
"Shouldn't this be happening to me?" Xie Rang seemed puzzled. He analyzed, "But there are many things that shouldn't be happening to me, and the Grand Tutor never cared before. Why is he so concerned this time?"
The boy's voice was low and calm. He was never pretentious when he was with Yun Qing, so he didn't sound aggressive at all; it was just a simple question.
Yun Qing choked slightly, and after a long while, he said, "It's nothing, I was just overthinking it."
Yun Qing didn't try to explain, and Xie Rang paused for a moment but didn't press the matter. He put his hand down and instead asked about the sachet Yun Qing had given him: "Did the Grand Tutor make this for me himself?"
Yun Qing didn't believe that the commotion around her could be kept from Xie Rang, but there was no point in lying, so she admitted, "Yes."
"The Dragon Boat Festival customs express our hope that Your Majesty will enjoy good health and safety year after year."
Xie Rang happily shook the sachet, then carefully tied it around his waist, saying earnestly, "Thank you, Grand Tutor."
Yun Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Putting aside the little incident, she quickly regained her composure: "There's a dragon boat race today, let's go take a look."
Xie Rang replied happily, "Knowing that the Grand Tutor would say that, I had already made preparations."
The outside world is not like the palace, especially in such a crowded and chaotic place, the safety of the emperor is of utmost importance, and the surrounding area must be cleared. Yun Qing didn't say anything, and sat with Xie Rang in the painted boat to watch the dragon boat race outside.
The festive atmosphere nowadays is much stronger than it is now. On this rare occasion, people prepare with all their heart. Silk ribbons are hung everywhere, and people on the shore cheer loudly, creating a lively scene.
A relaxed atmosphere always helps people forget their troubles. Yun Qing quickly forgot about the red bracelet and started guessing with Xie Rang which dragon boat would be the final winner.
"Later, they surpassed the former... The Grand Tutor guessed wrong again."
Xie Rang smiled faintly and pushed a glass of wine in front of Yun Qing.
The bet between the two was simple: the loser would have to drink alcohol. Yunqing remembered that realgar wine was slightly poisonous, and it was made from freshly brewed fruit wine, which was sweet and slightly intoxicating, like a beverage.
Yun Qing finished her drink quickly, just a small sip per cup, and waved her hand, saying, "I'm not coming anymore... Your Majesty, how did you guess so accurately?"
[I lose every time, what kind of luck do I have?]
The dragon boats were divided into several groups to compete together. Even if you just guessed, you should be able to get it right several times, right? After several rounds, Yun Qing still couldn't get it right even once, and he was very frustrated.
"Good luck."
There was no lying in Xie Rang's words. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. He considerately said, "If the Grand Tutor doesn't want to continue watching the dragon boat race, then let's go and wander around somewhere else."
"No, I'll rest first."
Yun Qing rubbed her temples. She had drunk so much wine that she was a little tipsy and had forgotten whether she should maintain a proper attitude in front of Xie Rang.
Xie Rang wasn't in a hurry. He ordered someone to cook a soup to help him sober up, and then had the pleasure boat slowly rock along the calm lakeside, which would also allow him to enjoy the scenery along the way.
Yun Qing habitually remained silent at this moment. Her eyes, slightly reddened by the alcohol, were gentle and calm, as if she would never be disturbed by anything, no matter what.
Xie Rang had never paid close attention before, but now that he was looking closely, he discovered that the Grand Tutor's bone structure was extremely delicate, unlike the gentle and graceful appearance of a typical woman. Instead, it had a somewhat androgynous quality, and his voice was indeed that of a young man. So even after all these years, he had never thought of it in any other way.
Xie Rang's heart skipped a beat. He almost uncontrollably imagined how stunning the Grand Tutor would look if he dressed as a woman.
But he would never allow anyone to see that scene before him.
Those who knew about the incident and left home were one thing, but if it were anyone else, Xie Rang would be insanely jealous.
Why is Your Majesty looking at me?
After drinking, her thinking became much slower, but Yun Qing had been in officialdom for so many years that she would never allow herself to be completely trapped in a predicament. At first, she deliberately ignored it, but as the boy's gaze became more and more unrestrained, she could no longer bear it.
In the past, the little tyrant had always managed to get away with things without realizing it. After Yun Qing realized that she had been manipulated too many times, even if she was slow-witted, she should have realized that something was wrong, but she just couldn't figure out why.
"I'm thinking... in the entire Da Xi, there probably isn't anyone more handsome than the Grand Tutor."
Xie Rang rested his chin on his hand, slowly drawing out his words, his eyes filled with genuine appreciation, yet his words, like a wolf cub slowly revealing its fangs as it hunts, said: "However, there have always been people in the capital who say that the Grand Tutor is unaware of his own merits."
In officialdom, the most taboo thing is to judge someone by their appearance. Moreover, Yun Qing passed the imperial examination with flying colors and became the emperor's tutor as soon as he entered officialdom. He has played an important role in the young emperor's purges over the years. Those discussions are all private.
However, nothing stays hidden forever, and Xie Rang eventually overheard a few of his words.
He didn't think much of it at the time, but when he started to pay attention, he realized that he had been blinded and hadn't noticed anything.
Yun Qing felt that things were getting increasingly strange, and she narrowed her eyes: "Who told His Majesty these things?"
What she was really concerned about was why Xie Rang had suddenly turned the topic to her.
"I don't remember. I overheard it by chance when I went out of the palace to find the Grand Tutor." Xie Rang lowered his eyes. "But suddenly I felt that they were right about some things."
Yun Qing paused for a moment, then suddenly realized that she couldn't quite see through the emperor in front of her.
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