Chapter 47
Spring time?
Everyone present was slightly stunned. Wu Shanlai didn't know who Chun Shi was calling, and Zheng Wanyun heard the word "student" for the first time. His Majesty had given Xie Ling a name, but it had never been used, so even he didn't know.
Xie Ling was stunned for a moment when he was called, then he came to his senses and walked back, wondering why the emperor called him at this time.
"What's wrong?"
"Your Majesty." The last two words were spoken a little softly, almost against the car window. Even Wu Shanlai, who was far away, did not hear it. He was still curious about who called Brother Xie back with just one sentence.
Zheng Daru is here. He is so arrogant. I don’t know what his relationship with Brother Xie is.
Xiao Huan was displeased when he thought of the buzzing voice of the man surnamed Wu. Especially when he saw Xie Ling was about to pull him, his voice subconsciously lowered. With an unknown thought in mind, Xiao Huan called out Xie Ling's name through the car window.
Seeing Xie Ling coming towards him eagerly, he frowned slightly.
"Aren't we going back to Zheng Wanyun's house?"
"Send someone up and leave."
Xie Ling coughed lightly and was a little surprised: "Your Majesty is going too?"
"I can't go?" Xiao Huan looked at him with a smile.
"Or do you want to go to the home of that guy named Wu Shanlai with Zheng Wanyun?"
Xie Ling was caught off guard by the question and immediately changed his statement: "Of course not."
"I had no intention of going, and was just about to decline."
He paused here and said, "Then Your Majesty, shall I refuse now?"
Xiao Huan said expressionlessly: "Go ahead."
As soon as Xie Ling turned around, he heard His Majesty Emperor Wu say, "Don't make a move."
oh.
Xie Ling recalled the action of pulling Wu Shanlai just now and understood.
Wu Shanlai didn't know who was in the carriage. He watched Young Master Xie walk away and said something, and then he came back.
"Thank you, Mr. Wu, but we are not on our way, so we won't go in to visit you now."
"Next time, hahaha, next time."
His Majesty is already so impatient before he even goes in. If he really goes as a guest, it will probably be a thankless task for the Wu family.
So that's it.
Wu Shanlai felt a little regretful, and seemed not to have expected to be rejected. At this time, he secretly glanced at the carriage.
"Is it because the people in the car won't let me?" He was a little surprised that there was such a powerful guy in the capital. However, although he was a dandy, Wu Shanlai knew his limits and didn't provoke him in person. He just wanted to investigate privately.
At this time, I can only say: "Okay."
"Then Brother Xie, you must come in next time. Let's invite Zhang Jing to get together."
It was completely normal for students to get together after taking an exam, so Xie Ling didn't think much about it and nodded in agreement.
"OK."
"I'll come over when I'm free."
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and because of the carriage behind them, Xie Ling was forced to blink and signal. Wu Shanlai understood and gave way at this time.
When Zheng Wanyun heard Xiao Xie say that His Majesty wanted to go to his house together, he was surprised for a moment, but he still got on the carriage he came in and went back with his wife.
It was finally done. Xie Ling breathed a sigh of relief, waved to Wu Shanlai, and climbed onto the carriage.
"Your Majesty, I have explained everything."
Xiao Huan's face was indifferent: "Why did I hear that you two agreed to meet again next time?"
Xie Ling: ...Isn’t this okay?
He was slightly stunned.
Realizing that he was meddling too much, beyond the normal scope of a monarch, Xiao Huan lowered his eyes, came to his senses and said calmly: "I just think you should spend less time with those playboys, so as not to be led astray."
Oh, so this is what Your Majesty meant. He thought Your Majesty simply disliked Wu Shanlai, although this was no different from disliking him.
After the carriage arrived at the Zheng family's house, Zheng Wanyun got off to welcome the emperor.
Xiao Huan glanced at it calmly and said, "Just like usual."
"Just think of me as being incognito this time."
Zheng Wanyun nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
After Xiao Huan came in, Zheng Wanyun wanted to greet His Majesty and sit in the front hall, but His Majesty asked, "Where has Xie Ling been staying these days?"
Zheng Wanyun came back to his senses: "It's in the foothills courtyard on the left."
Xiao Huan: "Just let Xie Ling show me around."
"Just do what you have to do."
Seeing that His Majesty really did not need to accompany him, Zheng Wanyun withdrew with peace of mind.
Only Xiao Huan and Xie Ling were left in the yard. Xie Ling coughed lightly.
"Your Majesty, please come with me."
It is definitely not comparable to the situation inside the palace, but fortunately, Zheng Daru's family has a good atmosphere and Xie Ling also lives very comfortably. After taking Emperor Wu there, he introduced everything while walking.
“This is where we usually eat.”
"I was doing homework here a few days ago."
“And here, these fish are really funny.”
"One of them was particularly fat."
Xie Ling babble on for a long time before realizing... well, he couldn't help but talk too much just now. Would His Majesty find it noisy?
He quietly shut his mouth and couldn't help but look back.
Xiao Huan listened to the person in front of him talking about his life these days. He should have thought these trivialities were extremely boring, but he was actually absorbed in listening.
When he came to his senses, he saw Xie Ling looking at him quietly.
"Why don't you continue?"
Xie Ling: "Your Majesty, don't you feel annoyed?"
Xiao Huan: "Very annoying."
"But I can listen to it reluctantly."
Is this not annoying anymore?
Xie Ling, who had a little understanding of His Majesty's duplicity, realized it.
"Your Majesty, my yard is ahead."
As soon as he opened the door, Xiao Huan looked up and down.
The environment was a bit cramped, but according to Zheng Wanyun's official position, he could only live in such a house. He looked into the room and found that it was well decorated.
Xie Ling opened the window, put down his umbrella and turned around.
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment."
"I'm going to change my clothes and wash up."
Well, Xie Ling had been in the examination room for a few days and felt uncomfortable all over. He couldn't wait to come back. Fortunately, the master's wife had boiled water before picking him up.
Xiao Huan stood by the window, his body slightly stiff. This guy brought me here just to take a bath? He frowned slightly and forced himself to look away to look elsewhere in the room.
As he looked, he noticed a small potted plant by Xie Ling's window.
The ugly little wild flowers planted in the pots were obviously the work of Xie Ling.
Xiao Huan paused for a moment and saw that this guy actually gave the small potted plant a name.
This guy is really good at enjoying himself. He curled his lips slightly and reached out to touch the wild flowers. He was originally thinking about the autumn weather. He didn't know where Xie Ling got the flowers from, but they were so bright. As a result, when he stretched out his hand, the only yellow flower in the pot suddenly fell down and fell straight into his hand.
Xiao Huan was stunned: ...
How could this thing be a scam?
Xiao Huan stared at the flower for a long time, and for the first time he was speechless. But if this thing fell here, would Xie Ling think that I did it when he came out later?
While he was thinking, there seemed to be movement behind the screen opposite. Xie Ling simply washed up and prepared to come out.
When Xiao Huan heard the footsteps inside, he put away the flower with his fingertips and looked outside.
"Liang Chun."
The leader of the Eagle Guards who was protecting His Majesty in the dark appeared silently on his knees.
Xiao Huan frowned: "Take this pot of flowers away."
Liang Chun looked at His Majesty in confusion, then looked at the unknown wild flower by the window. He picked up the flower and was thinking about where to put it when he heard His Majesty say indifferently, "Send it to my desk."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Liang Chun nodded and disappeared.
When Xie Ling came out, everything in the room was normal. He glanced around casually, but found... strange, why did the flower pot in front of the table seem to be missing?
He remembered that he had picked up a flower that had not yet withered on the ground and seemed to have grafted it onto a leaf. How come it disappeared?
Could it be that the wind blew it away?
It's possible that there's a strong storm outside, and the windows are rattling.
Just as Xie Ling was thinking, he heard His Majesty say, "I'll take away the pot of flowers on the table."
"If you like, ask the greenhouse to grow a few more plants for you to tidy up later."
Xie Ling: …
Um, what?
Your Majesty took it away?
Wait, is your majesty's aesthetic so weird?
He thought about the ugly little yellow flowers with thick leaves, and then about His Majesty's usual aesthetic taste, and his expression was a little strange: Didn't His Majesty usually only grow orchids, plum blossoms, etc.? When did he like this?
It was just a small pot of flowers that he planted when he had nothing to do, so Xie Ling didn't take it seriously. He just said, "If your Majesty likes it, I'll give it to you."
“I’ll plant some more next time.”
The grass is just the weeds that are readily available in the yard, and it is not difficult at all.
But when Xie Ling said this, he suddenly came over and looked around.
"Was it Brother Eagle Guard who just took it away?"
So where is the Eagle Guard?
Apart from seeing Lord Liang when he just crossed over, Xie Ling had never seen the Eagle Guards hiding around him again. He was a little curious: where were they hiding? Why couldn't he see anything?
Xiao Huan was caught off guard when he noticed Xie Ling approaching, and his body stiffened slightly. The young man who had just bathed still had a faint scent of magnolia on his body, and his hair, which had not yet dried, fell on his clothes and separated at the touch.
"Your Majesty?" Xie Ling asked curiously.
Xiao Huan felt Xie Ling leaning over to his side, and then he put his hand on his shoulder.
Xie Ling's vision was blocked and he couldn't see anything around him. He could only ask in confusion.
Xiao Huan came back to his senses and said calmly, "Not in that direction."
Um, aren't you there?
Where is it? He was just about to ask the system to scan to see if it could be seen when he heard His Majesty say, "Raise your head and look at the top of your head."
The location of the emperor's secret guards is almost the most obscure secret. Even Wang Bao, who has served in the emperor's court for many years, is not clear about it. Only Xiao Huan himself knows it.
He originally thought that no one except himself would know about this secret matter, but he did not expect to tell Xie Ling at this time, just because this guy was a little curious.
Xiao Huan looked strange for a moment after he realized what he was saying.
Xie Ling subconsciously raised his head and looked in that direction.
After hearing His Majesty's voice, the Eagle Guard hesitated for a moment, lifted a tile and looked over.
"Thank you, sir."
Xie Ling coughed, not expecting the Eagle Guard to be watching him overhead.
Wait, he just took a bath...
As if he could see what Xie Ling was thinking, Xiao Huan said calmly, "They didn't go there."
"rest assured."
That's good, that's good, and privacy is fine.
Xie Ling heaved a sigh of relief and waved to say hello to the Eagle Guard. After the Eagle Guard put down the tiles and hid again, he realized that he and His Majesty were now too close.
In order to find the Eagle Guard, he just approached Your Majesty directly, which was hard for Your Majesty to tolerate.
Xie Ling took a cautious glance and thought that His Majesty probably didn't notice that he was over the line.
"System, I'm planning to sneak back now. Do you think it's feasible?"
system:……
As long as the host is happy.
Before Xie Ling had time to act, as soon as he thought about this, he noticed that the hand on his shoulder tightened a little.
Xiao Huan paused for a moment, and while Xie Ling was surprised, his eyes passed over his eyelashes and fell on his shoulder.
"It's time to clean your hair."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Uh, I just forgot."
When he came out, he still had the handkerchief in his hand, but he forgot to wipe it because he was busy asking the Eagle Guard. When he came to his senses, he saw a drop of water stain on the clothes he had given to His Majesty, and his eyelids jumped.
Oops!
Xie Ling stepped back immediately, and was about to wipe the water off His Majesty's robe, but His Majesty pushed him aside.
Xiao Huan's throat rolled and he looked at him expressionlessly.
"No need, you should wipe yourself first."
"I'm fine."
There were only a few drops of water stains on his body, but Xie Ling was soaked all over, which looked unnatural.
"Oh well."
Not expecting His Majesty to dodge him, Xie Ling blinked, thinking that His Majesty was having mysophobia again, so he didn't force it and dried his hair first.
Only when Xie Ling withdrew his gaze did Xiao Huan frown.
He paused for a moment as he looked from Xie Ling's neck to her profile, then retracted his gaze. He waited until Xie Ling had fixed his hair before he spoke, "You've already taken the provincial examination and have been selected. Don't be so impetuous in the future."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xie Ling came back to his senses at this point: "So, Your Majesty, am I able to use words now?"
He blinked slightly, looking expectant.
Xiao Huan raised his eyebrows: "Hasn't it been a month?"
He promised to use it in a month, so it was a month later. Calling her Xie Ling today was not... unusual. Thinking of this, Xiao Huan paused, but did not show anything.
…
That night, Xiao Huan made an exception and stayed at the minister's house, but it was convenient as he didn't have to attend the morning court the next day.
Zheng Wanyun did not expect that His Majesty would not only come during the day, but also stay at night. At this time, he and his wife looked at each other.
He was confused in his heart, but Mrs. Zheng looked in the distance and had some vague guesses: Why did she feel that His Majesty seemed to be worried about Xiao Xie?
A thought flashed through her mind, and seeing that the old man was a little hesitant, Sister Zheng pulled his clothes.
"Don't think too much."
"Since your Majesty has left a note stating that there is nothing wrong with you, we can proceed as usual."
Zheng Wanyun had no choice but to nod: "But what are your plans for the evening, Your Majesty?"
Normally, when the emperor visits a minister's home, he should stay in the main courtyard. After all, only the best seat can match his status as the emperor. However, Your Majesty has not come out yet.
Xiao Huan sat on the chair and looked at the sky, then looked across. After having lunch together in the afternoon, Xie Ling couldn't help yawning.
Seeing that he was nodding his head so hard, Xiao Huan simply let him go to bed and picked up a book to read. However, as he was reading, he inadvertently realized that it was already dark.
"Your Majesty, Lord Zheng just sent someone to ask Your Majesty whether you want to move to the main courtyard?"
Because Master Xie was asleep, Wang Bao spoke in a lower voice.
Xiao Huan glanced inside the room and thought for a moment.
"No need."
"I'll just stay here tonight." I'll be going back to the palace tomorrow, so it doesn't matter where I sleep.
Wang Bao paused for a moment, and seeing that His Majesty had made a decision, he went to pass on the message.
After waiting for a long time, Zheng Wanyun hesitated when he learned that His Majesty would not live in the main courtyard.
"Wouldn't that be a bad idea?"
Mrs. Zheng shook her head: "This is His Majesty's will, we just have to obey."
"Go to bed. You have to get up early tomorrow."
The candlelight gradually dimmed at night, and Xiao Huan did not wake up Xie Ling until he finished washing up. The guy was sleeping unconscious on the couch, with the quilt tightly in his arms.
Xiao Huan frowned slightly, reached out and pulled the corner of the quilt. He finally pulled it out a little bit, but just after he took off his boots, Xie Ling pulled it back.
Xiao Huan: ...
This guy!
He took a deep breath and said, "Go get another quilt."
Wang Bao responded and went outside to ask the servant to bring back a new bed. After Xiao Huan spread it on the couch, he went to sleep with his clothes on.
But in the middle of the night, he felt something was wrong. They put a pillow as a boundary between their sleeping areas. They were supposed to have their own quilts and not interfere with each other's. But Xiao Huan suddenly felt a little hot not long after he fell asleep?
When he opened his eyes, he saw that Xie Ling was originally sleeping facing the wall, but for some reason he suddenly rolled over to him, and one of his hands passed over the partition pillow and landed on his quilt.
Xiao Huan reached out to move Xie Ling's arm away and closed his eyes again, but this time a leg stretched out again.
His forehead twitched, and the sleepiness that had been accumulated disappeared due to the disturbance, and at this time the voice was unpleasant.
"Xie Ling?"
The system was almost scared to death when it saw the host's strange sleeping postures.
Seeing that Emperor Wu had an ugly face because of the noise, he heard the dreaming host smacking his lips twice and suddenly muttering to himself.
"His Majesty."
"Protect the emperor!"
Escort?
Xiao Huan's anger dissipated for a moment, and he waited to see what Xie Ling was going to say. But he saw that after calling him, this guy skillfully turned over and slept on the other side, as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Huan: ...
So what did this guy dream about that made him so excited?
When Xie Ling woke up the next morning, he saw His Majesty with dark circles under his eyes, sitting by the window with his eyes closed, and was slightly stunned.
Um?
His Majesty is still reading. But the sky still looks gray, not as bright as in the afternoon.
He looked up and thought he had only slept for an hour in the afternoon, but when he woke up he heard the system's words.
"Host, you have slept for a day and a night."
"It's the next morning at noon."
What?
It was the next morning?! How come he didn't feel anything?
Xie Ling couldn't believe it and even suspected that the system was teasing him.
The system made two speechless electronic sounds, and it didn't even tell Emperor Wu that he had squeezed him so hard that he couldn't sleep all night last night. This guy actually dared to doubt it.
It chuckled. Xie Ling was skeptical, but when he quietly lifted the quilt and stood up to look His Majesty in the eye, he knew that the system was not lying.
Emperor Wu, who hadn't slept all night, looked slightly tired. When Xie Ling saw him, he felt awkward for a moment and asked quickly, "Well, Your Majesty, why don't you sleep on the couch?"
How can we sit here so early in the morning?
Xiao Huan even wanted to sneer.
Sleeping on the couch? This guy keeps turning over, either with his hands or legs, how can I sleep?
The last time Xiao Huan guarded Xie Ling in Qianyuan Hall for a whole night, he had never experienced such a scene. But today he experienced it outside. He pressed his eyebrows slightly.
"No thanks."
Xie Ling: …
Why does this look a bit angry?
He blinked his eyes and said, "It's still early, Your Majesty, would you like to take a rest?"
It's only noon now, and it doesn't look like you'll be attending the morning court today. Why don't you catch up on some sleep?
Xie Ling looked at the opposite side sincerely. Xiao Huan was indeed a little tired. He had not rested in the palace during the days when Xie Ling was taking the imperial examination. He felt sleepy last night, but he did not expect that he would be tormented by this guy and could not sleep well. He paused and said lightly: "Call me in an hour."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, don't worry." Xie Ling nodded and made way.
Xiao Huan's body paused slightly as he lay on the warm bed. He then realized that Xie Ling had just gotten up, and there was still his warmth on the bed where he had slept all night, and even on the quilt.
Xiao Huan thought he would feel a little uncomfortable, but after closing his eyes and lying down, he fell asleep soon after.
The room was quiet, and Xie Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that His Majesty had fallen asleep, he tiptoed over and slightly closed the window.
Well, that's much better.
When Zheng Wanyun came to ask about breakfast, he saw Xie Ling squatting at the door drinking tea. After seeing the teacher, he made a slight gesture.
"And your majesty?"
Zheng Wanyun's voice became a little softer.
Xie Ling pointed inside: "Your Majesty didn't get enough rest last night, so he is resting inside."
"Teacher, don't worry."
rest?
Zheng Wanyun glanced at the time and remembered that when he was in the palace, His Majesty had gotten up at the latest at 1 a.m., but now he was still sleeping.
He was surprised for a moment before coming to his senses.
"Then I'll ask the kitchen to delay the meal time a little."
Xie Ling thought for a moment and said, "Teacher, you and your wife don't have to wait any longer. You can eat something first."
"I will accompany Your Majesty after He wakes up."
Zheng Wanyun knew that this student usually spent a lot of time with His Majesty and was familiar with His Majesty's habits, so he nodded slightly.
"good."
…
Xiao Huan slept very soundly. Perhaps it was due to the accumulated fatigue from many days, he actually slept until noon.
Xie Ling originally wanted to wake up His Majesty after an hour, but seeing that His Majesty had finally fallen asleep, he was a little hesitant, so he waited and waited until now.
Looking at the bright sun outside, Xiao Huan was stunned for a moment and frowned slightly.
"Why don't you call me at Si time?"
Ah? Your Majesty is awake.
Xie Ling said innocently: "I called out once but His Majesty didn't wake up. I saw that His Majesty was really sleepy, so I didn't call out again."
"Your Majesty is already so tired from handling state affairs every day. You should rest for a while. There is nothing important to do today."
Xie Ling was talking nonstop.
Xiao Huan paused as he saw this guy seemed not to be afraid of him.
"Aren't you afraid of being punished by me?"
Over the years, even Wang Bao did not dare to disobey his orders, even if it was for his health.
"What?"
"Do you still want to punish me?"
Xie Ling was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses.
"Then, Your Majesty, how about discussing this with me? Since I am doing this for Your Majesty's sake, can you treat me a little...lighter?"
Xiao Huan choked for a moment, and the anger that was not in his heart dissipated. At this time, he said, "How can being gentle be considered a punishment?"
He leaned back on the couch and suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, what did you dream about last night?" Why were you shouting "protect the emperor" in your dream?
His heart moved slightly.
Xie Ling was at a loss for a moment: Did he have a dream last night?
This time the system testified: "Not only did you dream, you also screamed all night long."
"Emperor Wu was so crowded that he didn't sleep all night."
Xie Ling: ...Wait, it turns out that Emperor Wu didn’t sleep all night because of him.
He had a complicated expression, and was about to speak but stopped. The system's words brought back memories, and after thinking about it, he roughly remembered it.
Oh, it seemed like he did have a dream last night.
He probably dreamed that he and Emperor Wu were walking in the market in disguise, and there were some Huns disguised in the capital who recognized His Majesty and intended to assassinate him.
Then, with the Azure Dragon on his left and the White Tiger on his right, he used the martial arts he had practiced for many years and started to punch wildly, struggling with the assassin. He shouted for protection in a desperate situation.
In the end, in his dream, he was successfully promoted because of his contribution in saving the emperor.
system:……
That’s it?
The host can still deal with the assassin? The system is unbelievable and suspects that the host is teasing it.
Xie Ling scratched his head and felt a little embarrassed: This is just a dream, can't I be bolder in my dreams?
What happened to his body?!
After hearing about Xie Ling's dream, Xiao Huan was speechless. He looked at him carefully for a while and couldn't help wondering:
Even in a dream, I would probably pull him away and let him hide behind me.
With Xie Ling's skills, and with a knife...
Xiao Huan's expression was strange, and it was hard to imagine what he was doing.
There was silence in the air for a while, and Xie Ling felt awkward after he finished speaking.
"Your Majesty, how will you punish me?"
He called His Majesty late and made His Majesty sleep poorly at night. Was this an even greater crime? Xie Ling himself did not expect that he would be guilty of so many crimes just after the exam. He looked desperate.
Xiao Huan came back to his senses and thought that he should enforce the law impartially. Then when Xie Ling looked at him eagerly, he was stunned for a moment and frowned, thinking: Forget it, let him atone for his crime because he bravely protected me in the dream yesterday. After all, he was trying to save me last night.
I'm not such a harsh person.
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