Chapter 44: A Shared Lunch Between Monarch and Minister
This bad guy isn’t punishing me, but the people around me!
The more Wei Wanlan thought about it, the angrier he got; his chest felt like it was clogged with a stone.
Lunch consisted of relatively light dishes. Considering the Emperor had recently suffered from a stomach ailment, a nutritious meal was prepared, with very little oil and salt. There were also desserts and medicinal meals. Overall, it was quite abundant.
Wei Wanlan certainly wouldn’t go against his body’s needs. After just a few bites, he realized that he really needed to replenish his nutrition. His appetite was piqued, and he began to eat seriously.
Braised mushrooms with green vegetables, delicious.
Sweet and sour spareribs, delicious.
And that yogurt cheese with sprinkled crunchy nuts, even though he didn’t know its official name, was the most delicious!
This dish was sweet and sour; the cheese was smooth and tender, and the crushed nuts enhanced the texture and made it taste fragrant.
Wei Wanlan kept staring at this dessert, hoping Eunuch An would serve him more.
But he noticed the big villain seemed to be looking at his plate.
Wei Wanlan was puzzled: What’s wrong? I didn’t leave anything; I cherish food.
However, fearing Su Jingzhi’s gaze, he quickly lowered his head. He seemed to silently realize that his dessert intake was excessive and dared not look at the dessert anymore.
He ate whatever Eunuch An served him until he was almost full.
He noticed that Su Jingzhi put down his chopsticks but hadn’t eaten much.
This time, Wei Wanlan finally seized a moral high ground. He quickly occupied it:
“The Regent King has eaten too little; like a little cat. Eunuch An, give the Regent King the spareribs and venison. I’m worried he’s eating too little…”
Humph, you know you lack a sense of taste, but you eat so little.
What can you do, get angry? I’m in the right this time!
Wei Wanlan looked at Su Jingzhi with a touch of pride, slightly raising his eyebrows. He felt he had finally won back a round, causing Su Jingzhi to suffer a silent loss.
However, he hadn’t expected the Regent King’s reaction. He actually pursed his lips and ate all the dishes that An Ruyi had served him.
Moreover, the coldness in his eyes seemed to have slightly warmed up.
The Regent King’s expression softened slightly.
——Wei Wanlan was baffled.
This…
This person is toxic; how can he not understand!
I said he was like a little cat; he’s so mighty. He’s been compared to a kitten before; I was being sarcastic, and he’s so stupid!!!
Wei Wanlan helplessly felt like he was punching cotton, angrily swallowing his saliva. In his heart, he hated Su Jingzhi’s stupid behavior and thought he was obtuse.
Su Jingzhi instructed: “Make more desserts next time; the cheese is too rich; I can’t get used to it.”
“Yes.” An Ruyi quickly bowed to take note, “I’ll go tell the imperial kitchen.”
Wei Wanlan’s puffed-up cheeks deflated.
His wide eyes shone brightly as he looked at Eunuch An, this meant that I can eat many kinds of desserts from now on?
Hehe, thank you, richness.
I’ll eat more for you, Regent King.
At this time, Wei Wanlan had already forgotten the resentment he felt towards Su Jingzhi’s previous evasiveness; he narrowed his eyes, happily nodding his head.
Su Jingzhi keenly noticed the little thing’s silly appearance and found it amusing. As the Son of Heaven, he was this happy about eating more desserts; he was easier to please than a child.
Su Jingzhi ate a few more bites, feeling that he had a good appetite today.
An Ruyi certainly didn’t understand the undercurrents of thought between the two; from the surface, the conversation between the Emperor and the Regent King was a model of a wise monarch and a virtuous minister.
Oh my, they always care for each other so much; it’s hard not to ship them!
An Ruyi was shrewd; he sensed that the Regent King had even planned the dishes, meaning the Regent King would definitely come to eat often.
Therefore, if the Emperor didn’t understand, and the Regent King couldn’t say it directly, An Ruyi would proactively join in the fun:
“Later, I’ll not only have the imperial kitchen think of a few nourishing desserts but also ask about the recipes from the Regent King’s residence to ensure that Your Highness will be comfortable having lunch in the Purple Forbidden City daily.”
“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough…”
Wei Wanlan lost his composure, clutching his chest and coughing violently at the dining table. He choked on a grain of rice; at this moment, he was extremely terrified.
——What did he say!!! He wants to come and eat with me every day!!! Can I even eat this meal anymore!!!
Wei Wanlan had completely lost his appetite. He suddenly became listless, as if he had been choked into silence by a grain of rice.
He pushed his plate away with his small hands.
He wanted to cry.
After lunch.
Previously, when 404 was around, it would actively arrange tasks for him; but now 404 was gone, and he wasn’t governing, the long afternoon suddenly became idle; he suddenly didn’t know what to do.
Wei Wanlan left the dining table, slightly lifting his eyelids to consider how to kill Su Jingzhi?
But his eyes immediately met the Regent King’s, scaring him into lowering his head immediately!
Wooo, so scary, his gaze is like a knife.
Wei Wanlan instantly fell into the melancholy of not having 404’s help. He found that he couldn’t proceed with the task on his own.
The Regent King wiped his lips with a napkin.
He actually assigned him a task:
“I don’t have to go to the Zhongshu Province before the seventh hour. An Ruyi, from today onwards, take His Majesty to rest for half an incense stick of time after lunch, and bring him to the study to study after that.”
“Yes.” An Ruyi lowered his head, his expression even more joyful; everyone in the court knew that the Regent King was from a military family, but because his mother was a scholarly woman, he was also a person who could bring peace to the world with his writing; this meant that he would give private instruction to the Emperor.
An Ruyi said repeatedly: “I obey your orders, Your Majesty, please. Please, Your Majesty!”
Why is he always arranging things so clearly for him!
Getting up, eating, taking a nap, and studying; the rules are all set?
——Did you get my permission?
Wei Wanlan was a bit bewildered.
An Ruyi spread out the dragon beddings that he had just folded, carefully smoothing out every wrinkle and gently said, “Maintaining a good schedule will improve Your Majesty’s health.”
Healthy enough to be his puppet for life?
No, QAQ…
Wei Wanlan softly drooped his head, his heart filled with bitterness; he was helped by An Ruyi into the bedding and removed his shoes and socks to rest.
Before going to sleep, he anxiously asked:
“Eunuch An, am I in military training? Will the Regent King make me get up early to run in the future?”
An Ruyi didn’t know what military training meant, but he could guess from the literal meaning and thought for a moment: “It’s possible. But based on Your Highness’s physical fitness, you might not be able to keep up.”
——The Regent King currently needs a small puppet who acts like a real emperor to show that he’s loyally assisting the country, right???
Wei Wanlan’s mind was filled with the words 404 had said before going offline.
【He’s the big bad guy; you’re the little puppet.】
【He’s the big bad guy; you’re the little puppet.】
【He’s the big bad guy; you’re the little puppet.】
404 had indeed teased him.
But 404 had never harmed him.
Therefore, it was unlikely that Wei Wanlan would think of the Regent King’s actions positively.
Because his mind was full of 404’s gloomy tone and many words that seemed real, constantly floating before his eyes:
Five o’clock wake-up, five o’clock wake-up, five o’clock wake-up…
Woo.
——I, the poor emperor who has to go to military training in ancient times, am me.
——It’s because the great minister of my court is a military official.
——If Su Jingzhi was a purely civilian official, it would be so much safer. It’s not without reason that ancient times emphasized civilian officials over military officials, QAQ.
At first, his thoughts were restless even after closing his eyes.
But Wei Wanlan was inherently simple-minded; after only thinking for a short while, he snuggled against the pillow and fell sweetly asleep.
Sometimes, he looked quite naive.
An Ruyi smiled and lowered the bed curtain, creating a warm and safe environment for the Emperor, allowing Wei Wanlan to rest peacefully.
Then he went to the study in the Purple Forbidden City and reported to the Regent King:
“He’s asleep.”
“Mm.”
“His Majesty only slept in the second half of the night; he had a nightmare, which is why he overslept in the morning. Physician Fang checked his pulse twice more; he’s still a bit shaken but much better; he’s still easily frightened.”
Su Jingzhi was silent, then said solemnly, “He’s not taking any medicine?”
“It’s not recommended; it was said that His Majesty’s constitution isn’t very good, and medicine is poison even if it’s only a little,” An Ruyi explained the physician’s words and then bowed, “Your Highness, you will be lecturing His Majesty later, and you have a small court meeting at the Zhongshu Province at the seventh hour. You should rest for a while.”
Several eunuchs worked together to carry in an ivory couch for Su Jingzhi to rest on.
The Regent King nodded.
An Ruyi then withdrew.
However, Su Jingzhi only sat on the couch for a short while, closing his eyes to rest; he reviewed the strategies he would discuss with Wei Wanlan later; the break was short, and the midday rest quickly ended.
…
“Good afternoon, Regent King.”
The study door opened. Wei Wanlan rubbed his eyes and walked in, his clothes neat, except for his slightly messy hair, giving a survival-oriented greeting.
Su Jingzhi responded flatly, then pointed to the desk.
Wei Wanlan walked over, secretly pouting; he felt like he was greeting a puppy; it made him angry.
Two chairs were placed side by side at the desk; the chairs were identical, with high backs.
Su Jingzhi sat in the chair; he looked very majestic.
Wei Wanlan sitting next to Su Jingzhi felt that his chair looked empty.
The nine-year age gap and the difference in size were clearly visible when they sat side by side.
Wei Wanlan obediently pressed his hands on his thighs, straightening his body. When he lifted his face, he smelled a faint woody fragrance from the Regent King next to him. His nails were very clean and neat; he noticed that the big villain was also vain.
Su Jingzhi didn’t understand the little emperor’s focus; he simply placed a piece of paper in front of Wei Wanlan:
“I’m going to tell you about the current situation in the court.”
【Ding——】
Wei Wanlan suddenly widened his eyes.
Two strands of hair gently fluttered in front of his cheeks.
He couldn’t mistake this sound; it was the notification sound of the Sage Nurturing System; it sounded again.
Wei Wanlan excitedly looked up and called out several times in his mind, “404,” “404, are you back?” “404, is it you?”…
But unfortunately, 404 did not respond.
And the Sage Nurturing System before him was also different from before.
The original intelligent assistant was gone; there was no AI to talk to him. What was now presented before Wei Wanlan was a translucent golden screen with many options, visible only to him.
All the content on the screen was written in traditional Chinese.
A large bold line was displayed in the center of the screen:
【Entering Main Task Two: Suppressing Internal Troubles.】
【Please complete it promptly.】