Chapter 45 I only like you.
Ning Wujie looked suspicious, obviously not believing what he said.
Wen Xing held his forehead in frustration, blaming himself for having established himself as a "tyrant" too steadily and having an image that was too "unruly and vulgar". As a result, in this kid's mind, even his shocking habit of "liking old men" became a possibility!
But he did say something that caused Ning Zheng to misunderstand.
He could only bite the bullet and defend himself: "I did ask your father to come and serve me, but that was just a joke. I never meant that!"
Ning Wujie's eyes turned from suspicion to shock, as if to say: You actually said that!
Wen Xing's scalp tingled at the look in his eyes. He immediately straightened his face and made another serious excuse: "I swear! I really, really don't like old men!"
"Old Man" Ning Zheng: ...
Realizing that his precarious reputation seemed to be saved, his frown suddenly relaxed and he actually breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, His Majesty has not yet reached that level of abnormality.
Ning Wujie didn't seem to be completely convinced. Instead, he stared at Wen Xing for a long moment before asking quietly, "What about Ning Buhuo? Does Your Majesty like him?"
Ning Buhuo:?
Why did he feel that this was weird?
Shouldn't Wujie be protecting him? Why does his tone sound more like he's recommending him?
But then he thought, as long as it meant replacing his brother, he would… willingly do it! He straightened his back, a look of tragic determination in his eyes.
Wen Xing looked at Ning Wujie's gloomy, scrutinizing, and threatening expression, and her heart skipped a beat. Unbelievably, she said, "I only like you."
As soon as he said this, even he was stunned.
Why did he have to explain this to Ning Wujie?
But on second thought, he even let out some self-destructive words, and this family still refused to rebel. If he continued to provoke them, it would probably only add a few more perverted labels to his already notorious reputation.
Although he doesn't care about fame.
But for some reason, looking at Ning Wujie's face he just couldn't admit that he liked the old man, or that he liked having a threesome with the two brothers.
Just thinking about it gave him goosebumps.
Ning Wujie's body stiffened noticeably when he heard this.
Like...him?
Wen Xing clearly saw that the tip of the other person's white ear was quietly stained with a thin layer of red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Wen Xing's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly, a look of malicious amusement rising in his voice, "I feel... no one is as pretty as Ning Qing."
He thought he would see the redness on the tip of Ning Wujie's ear begin to spread to the earlobe or neck, but surprisingly, he didn't.
Instead, he saw Ning Wujie's face turn cold, and the redness that had just appeared disappeared again.
A layer of frost covered Ning Wujie's face, and his eyes suddenly became sharp.
Huh?
What's the problem?
Didn’t you used to blush when someone complimented you on being pretty?
Ning Wujie's heart quickly cooled down.
What on earth was he expecting?
This tyrant just likes his appearance. Isn't this something he has known for a long time?
Ning Zheng's pupils shrank when he heard this.
So the rumor that His Majesty is madly in love with Wujie is actually true?
But......
He recalled the ambiguous traces he had just seen on Ning Wujie...
He suppressed the heat in his eyes and decided to save his son from danger, so he kowtowed to the emperor and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness to my son."
"But now there are rumors spreading everywhere, saying..."
He hesitated, looking troubled.
Wen Xing understood his expression and said, "Just tell me what you want to say. I will forgive you."
Ning Zheng said with a sad expression, "They say that His Majesty has imprisoned the Empress Dowager for Wu Jie, and that she is a disaster for the country."
He looked at Wen Xing earnestly, "If Your Majesty truly loves Zhong Wujie, for his long-term future and his reputation, I implore Your Majesty to let him return to the northwest."
Ning Zheng said this as a test.
If the emperor really had some sincerity towards Wujie, he would understand that loving someone means thinking about the other person. Perhaps he would listen to these heartfelt words and let Wujie go.
But if the emperor is really as crazy as the rumors say, then he...
He could only think of a way to calm His Majesty first, and then personally take Wujie back to the northwest. By then, even if His Majesty realized his mistake and was furious, it would be too late.
Big deal...
Ning Zheng made a desperate move, and for the sake of his son, he would establish his own territory and rebel!
Wen Xing narrowed his eyes.
He had issued a clear order that no one in the court was allowed to discuss Ning Wujie, and no other officials were present on the night when the empress dowager was imprisoned. So who spread this news?
Oh.
Even though they were under house arrest, they still didn't forget to stir up trouble.
Ning Wujie frowned upon hearing this. "Dad, you've only been back in Beijing for a few days? Where did you hear these groundless rumors?"
As far as he knew, his father had been stationed at the border all year round and had no close friends among the civil servants in Beijing. Even when he returned to Beijing, he mostly interacted with his old military colleagues.
Ning Zheng's face didn't look good.
"It doesn't matter where I heard this. What matters is that you can't bear this stigma!"
Wen Xing glanced at Ning Zheng.
He always felt that what Ning Zheng said was not as simple as the previous rumors of "using beauty to serve the king".
There was a dangerous glint in his eyes as he ordered, "I command you to tell me everything clearly."
Ning Zheng noticed that the emperor's usually lazy tone had suddenly become a bit more severe. He then received Ning Wujie's questioning gaze. He hesitated and thought for a moment before calming himself down and said, "If what I have said has offended the majesty of heaven, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
"This morning, the Minister of War, Xu Chongyun, led several officials from the Ministry of War to the Marquis' Mansion to offer condolences and rewards regarding the Ningyuan Army's victory over the Shuofeng Army—"
Coincidentally, some former members of the Ningyuan Army in Beijing also came together to visit Ningyuan Hou.
So for a while, the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion, which had always been deserted, became lively.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Wu Jing was chatting with Ning Buhuo about Ning Wujie's recent situation when Xu Chongyun interrupted, "Come to think of it, I saw Young Master Ning as a child in the military camp. The eight or nine-year-old boy was always covered in bruises. Old Marquis Ning's reputation for strict household management is truly well-deserved."
Ning Buhuo laughed and said, "At that time, Wujie had just lost his mother, and he was always looking for people to fight. Wu Jing had almost become his personal punching bag!"
Another general joined in the commotion, slapping Wu Jing on the shoulder. "No wonder I saw your face covered in bruises all day long. It must have been beaten by that wolf cub three years your junior! You're so useless!"
"Go to hell!" Wu Jing and the general laughed and cursed.
However, an official in the room sneered, "I never thought that the arrogant little wolf cub from the Ningyuan Army would become the apple of His Majesty's eye and a powerful favorite."
"She's truly spoiled to the skies. Even the Queen Mother has to avoid her."
As soon as he finished speaking, the speaker was given a cold look by Xu Chongyun and immediately shut up.
Xu Chongyun said coldly, "Everyone, don't forget that His Majesty has issued a clear order not to discuss Ning Wujie. What's the matter? Do you want to follow the Wang family and lose your official hats?"
Ning Zheng frowned slightly when he heard this, feeling something was wrong, and then he saw that the officials present had all stopped talking.
As if fearing that the officials present would continue to speak without restraint, Xu Chongyun stood up and saluted, "Lord Ning, we have completed our official duties. We have troubled you for a long time and now we are leaving."
Ning Zheng sent the guest to the door, with doubts in his mind.
Only the former members of the Ningyuan Army were left in the guest hall.
After the military officials left, Wu Jing watched them go and snorted in dissatisfaction, "I hate these civil servants the most. They always say things with hidden agendas, and they're so annoying!"
Seeing Ning Zheng's furrowed brow, a general finally couldn't bear it anymore and stood up and said, "Old Marquis, Han Jin has received great favors from you, so I won't hide some things from you. You, the eldest son, and Brother Wu have just returned from the northwest, so there may be some things you don't understand."
"What they just mentioned was a recent rumor, saying that Your Majesty had a dispute with the Empress Dowager in Tangquan Palace over Ning Wujie, and that Your Majesty had placed the Empress Dowager under house arrest for him. Although Your Majesty claimed that the Empress Dowager had violated an astrological taboo and was forced to move west, the court officials knew the truth."
Han Jin sighed. "Originally, we thought it was a joke when the rumor spread that Wujie was using her beauty to serve the emperor. But now it seems that His Majesty is fighting with Wang Shi to the death over Wujie. I'm afraid he has gone crazy. I'm worried about Wujie..."
Han Jin didn't say anything else, but how could Ning Zheng not understand?
It would be fine if he was just a simple favorite. When the novelty wears off one day and His Majesty wants to favor another beauty, Wujie will naturally be able to escape unscathed, and the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion will also be able to keep him safe.
But now...
This is not just a favored minister, this is comparable to a concubine who brought disaster to the country! She can be compared with Baosi and Daji!
If any party strife occurs and the consequences of shaking the foundation of the country are revealed, it will all be blamed on their Wujie family!
How could an eighteen-year-old boy like him bear such a charge?
Ning Zheng clenched his fists fiercely, but he remained calm and said, "Thank you for telling me this, but these are just groundless rumors. Since it involves His Majesty, it's best to be cautious in what you say and do."
The generals all bowed and said, "Don't worry, old marquis, we will never spread any rumors."
"We are all brothers, so we naturally know that Wujie had no choice."
Wu Jing: ...
That actually...
He opened his mouth, but stopped talking.
He wanted to say that Ning Wujie might not have been forced to do so, but he didn't dare to say it.
What would happen if the old marquis knew that the one he loved terribly was not just His Majesty?
Just by thinking about it, Wu Jing could guess how furious Ning Zheng would be. He might even skin his good brother alive.
...Forget it.
Wujie, you're on your own.
*
After listening to Ning Zheng's story, Wen Xing and Ning Wujie exchanged glances and understood.
Ning Wujie looked at Ning Zheng and said in a warning voice, "Dad, I know you are always very observant, but this time, please don't become a knife in someone else's hands."
Wen Xing leaned back lazily, sinking into the soft pillows, and said quietly, "I ordered the Queen Mother to move to the temporary palace because of the taboos of the celestial phenomena, and I deposed the court officials because they deserved it. These are only about the country, not Ning Qing."
"Who on earth wanted you to think that I did all this because I loved Lord Zhong Ning and had gone insane?"
Ning Zheng's pupils shrank suddenly when he heard this, and a chill instantly ran up from the soles of his feet.
Although he didn't completely believe the story, the person behind the scenes clearly understood his deep love for his son. From his perspective, regardless of whether the rumors were true or false, he was determined to rescue his son.
If a mistake is made and His Majesty becomes furious, the Ning family will turn against His Majesty.
So who is it that wants them to turn against His Majesty?
The answer is obvious.
Thinking of this, Ning Zheng broke out in a cold sweat. After all, he had even thought about "rebellion"!
He can rebel for his son, but he must never let others use him.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his surprise and suspicion. "I was overly anxious and neglected my duty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Wen Xing said lazily: "You also love your son dearly, I don't blame you."
Ning Buhuo heard something else, which means that His Majesty is not that crazy about Wujie?
Does this mean that they still have room for mediation?
A glimmer of hope ignited in his heart, and he cautiously probed, "Your Majesty, the Marquis' Mansion was previously deserted, and Wujie held an important position and was burdened with official duties, so he has been bothering Your Majesty in the palace for so long. Now that my father and I have returned to the capital, I think Wujie should move back to the mansion to live. This would firstly fulfill his filial duty as a son, and secondly, avoid gossip from outsiders that would damage Your Majesty's reputation."
Before he finished speaking, Ning Wujie stared at Ning Buhuo, as if he wanted to stare through his brother.
Ning Buhuo was stunned for a moment when he received his brother's warning look, but then he reacted and gave him a reassuring look: "Don't worry, I won't be reckless this time! I need to take it slow, I understand!"
In short, I will get you out of the palace first, and then we can make long-term plans.
Ning Wujie: ...
Just as he was about to refuse, he heard Xing Youyou say, "No."
Both Ning's father and son were stunned.
Wen Xing glanced at the two of them and once again acted like a tyrant, "Now that he's gone, who will warm my bed?"
Ning Wujie was assassinated by the Queen Mother's men last night. How could he let someone leave the palace again? It was safest to stay under his nose.
The Ning family's father and son's pupils trembled violently.
Warming the bed?!
It's already the end of spring. Who among the good people still needs a proper bed warming?
What this tyrant said was certainly not serious!
"Boom!" It was as if thunder exploded in Ning Zheng's mind.
He once again thought of the ambiguous mark on Ning Wujie's body, and his legs went weak and he almost fell.
Ning Buhuo was heartbroken, his body burning with pain. He looked at Ning Wujie with tears in his eyes, and said with a twitch of his lips: "Your Majesty... If Your Majesty does not abandon me, I..."
"Shut up!" Ning Wujie rubbed his eyebrows and interrupted the idiot Ning Buhuo in a stern voice.
He opened his eyes again and looked at his father and brother with eyes as cold as ice: "I'm not leaving, don't try to persuade me."
Ning Zheng covered his heart which was in great pain: "Wu Jie...you..."
Ning Buhuo burst into tears.
Don't you even want to try?
He understood that Wujie was afraid that they would repeatedly mention asking him to leave in one day and make His Majesty unhappy.
His younger brother has been sensible and opinionated since he was young, and he takes care of everything on his own.
He was five years older than Wujie, but he was not as thoughtful as his younger brother.
Thinking of this, he could no longer hold back the tears in his eyes, and two lines of tears rolled down silently.
Wen Xing: ...
What's wrong with the Ning family father and son? They are both rushing to offer themselves to the man.
Is this too "loyal"? !
Since this family refused to rebel, Wen Xing was too lazy to make any more provocative remarks about the tyrant. It seemed that it would be of no use other than hurting himself.
So he said, "No need. What I said yesterday was just to tease you. I only want Ning Qing."
He yawned and waved his hand, saying, "You guys can leave."
He was very tired after tossing and turning last night and was woken up early in the morning. He wanted to take a nap, so he walked towards the bedroom.
Ning Buhuo watched the emperor's departing back, then looked at Ning Wujie who had left with His Majesty. A huge sense of loss welled up in his heart.
It seems that exchanging myself for my brother is a completely unworkable option.
He wiped the tears from his face vigorously, but his eyes did not dim. Instead, they rekindled a more determined fire.
Wait, Wujie, brother will definitely save you from the fire pit.
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The author has something to say: 5j: (anxious) (nervous) Is it possible that he... likes me as a person?
Stupid King (squinting): You’re overthinking it.
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