"Your Majesty, the Master asks you to come in," a servant came out to report.
Mingli nodded. *Creeak.* He pushed the door open.
*Thump!* He knelt on the floor.
Shu Ge'er was startled.
"What's this about?" He hurriedly reached out to help him up.
"You're the Emperor now, how can you still kneel so easily?"
Cao Jun: "He's always been like this since he was a child whenever he caused trouble. Speak, what is it this time?"
Mingli rubbed his nose and silently moved behind Shu Ge'er. "Ye Xiao and Xuan Yue came to report, saying..."
He looked up at his father and continued, "Saying... they encountered bandits. Ming Xi fell off a cliff. They lost track of him." Having said that, he immediately hid behind Shu Ge'er.
The Emperor, who stood above tens of thousands, whose mere glance could make his ministers tremble in fear, now hid behind his dad like a child who had done wrong, peeking at his father.
Cao Jun: "What? Xi'er fell off a cliff and got injured?"
Mingli nodded, then looked surprised. "How did Father know Xi'er was injured?"
Shu Ge'er slapped him. "That's your elder brother! Show some respect!"
Cao Jun: "It's a long story. Simply put, he was saved. He's fine now. He just has to stay there for a few more days."
"Have you investigated the matter clearly? How did a young ge'er who never steps foot outside provoke Jianghu assassins? It's more likely something you or Mingqi stirred up."
Cao Jun, shedding his usual casual demeanor, stared at Mingli and asked.
Mingli stepped out from behind Shu Ge'er and explained seriously: "It was the Rong Di. Mingqi annihilated their tribe, but Prince Huai escaped. He disguised himself as a slave and was bought by Ming Xi. On the road, he tried to take Ming Xi back to threaten Mingqi. Ming Xi refused to comply and jumped off the cliff."
Shu Ge'er's eyes reddened. "He's never suffered like this before. He must have been so scared at the time."
Cao Jun quickly pulled Shu Ge'er into his arms, gently patting his back. "It's alright, it's alright. Didn't you see? Xi'er is fine. This ordeal will teach him a lesson, let him know the dangers outside. He definitely won't dare run around recklessly anymore." He finished by glaring at Mingli.
Mingli stood to the side, shrinking back.
"The Rong Di infiltrated Qing Kingdom? Is Mingqi just sitting around doing nothing?" Cao Jun said sternly.
"If a few people can waltz into Qing Kingdom like this today, it's not impossible for a large force to enter tomorrow. You need to properly clean house."
Shu Ge'er pinched his chest.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch." The previously stern Cao Jun now clutched his chest, crying out.
"Stop scaring the child," Shu Ge'er glared at him.
Cao Jun, with one arm around Shu Ge'er and the other rubbing his chest, said, "I'm not scaring him. Don't believe me? Ask your son!"
He looked up at Mingli. "Right, Mingli?"
Mingli: "Father is right. Dad, please don't be angry with Father. This child will go back and rectify the situation immediately. We will definitely catch these bandits."
Shu Ge'er took Mingli's hand. "Alright, you've come all this way. Stay for a meal before you go. I'll make your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs."
Mingli grinned and nodded repeatedly. "Mmm, mmm, I want two bowls."
Shu Ge'er: "Alright, alright."
The two walked out chatting and laughing.
Cao Jun, still maintaining the pose of holding Shu Ge'er, pouted. "I want braised pig's trotters." Having said that, he followed them out.
[Yunxi Village, West Slope Compound]
*Crash!* A crisp sound rang out as the bowl fell to the ground and shattered, fragments scattering everywhere. Ming Xi stood frozen in place, staring at the pieces on the floor, at a loss.
He was about to squat down and reach for the shards when his hand was suddenly grabbed, stopping him.
Another large, well-defined hand picked up the shard in front of him.
"I... I didn't mean to," Ming Xi said, his eyes darting around, not daring to look at Ling Cang.
He had only wanted to help wash the dishes. He didn't expect the bowl to be so slippery. He lost his grip, and it fell, breaking into several pieces.
Ling Cang stared at his evasive gaze. "Mmm," he said, his voice steady, not angry.
He lowered his head, took Ming Xi's fingers, and gently dried them one by one with a pure cotton cloth, then let down the sleeves Ming Xi had rolled up. "Leave the washing to me from now on."
"Then what... what should I do?" Ming Xi asked anxiously. He was here to repay a debt, not to freeload. If he did nothing, when would he ever clear the debt?
Ling Cang looked down at Ming Xi, who was clearly calculating in his mind, and curved his lips.
"Go water my bean sprouts."
"Ah!" Ming Xi looked up, then reacted.
"Okay, okay! I'll go right now!" He happily turned to get the watering can from the yard.
Ling Cang placed the fragments on the table. The moment he turned away, the shattered bowl quickly fused back together, restored to its original state. Ling Cang picked up the chopsticks with his jade-like hands and began washing them.
Ming Xi, holding the watering can, watered the bean sprouts in the pot while secretly watching Ling Cang wash the dishes. His tall figure stood by the stove, sleeves rolled up, his well-defined large hands gently wiping the chopsticks. His nose bridge was high and straight, his jet-black hair tied back loosely with a single strip of cloth, the rest cascading over his shoulders, lazy and casual. Ming Xi was momentarily mesmerized, forgetting the watering can was still pouring water onto the bean sprouts.
Ling Cang turned his head. "Are you trying to drown my bean sprouts?"
"Ah!" Ming Xi looked down.
The few bean sprouts that had just sprouted were drooping their heads, swaying left and right in the water.
Ming Xi flusteredly tried to support the few bean sprouts, but they drooped again the moment he let go. Ming Xi was so anxious he broke into a sweat.
He turned his head and called out softly, "Ling Cang~."
Ling Cang helplessly shook the water off his hands, came over, supported the bean sprouts with one hand, and with the other shoveled a small amount of soil to place around them. The bean sprouts in the pot instantly perked up.
Ming Xi stood to the side, his eyes reddening. "I'm sorry. I've never done these things before. I'll learn properly in the future."
Repay the debt properly and go home early.
Ling Cang patted his head. "No need."
"Then how do I repay the debt?" Ming Xi looked up and asked innocently.
Ling Cang looked down at the person who only reached his chest, staring up at him blankly, a smudge of dirt on his face. His Adam's apple bobbed. He raised his sleeve, wiped the dirt from Ming Xi's face onto his own hand, and rubbed it.
"Weren't you going to warm my bed?" Ling Cang said.
Ming Xi twisted his fingers together, lowering his head and mumbling,
"But your bed isn't cold. It's much warmer than mine in the capital. It doesn't even need a warming brazier."
Ling Cang: *Slipped up.*
"Yesterday, charcoal was burned in the room."
Ming Xi : "Then today also—"
Before he could finish, Ling Cang interrupted, "That was the last basin of charcoal."
"So I'll have to trouble Xi'er tonight," Ling Cang said with a smiling face.
Then he lowered his head and slowly leaned close to Ming Xi's ear, his voice magnetic. "Warm the bed!"
For some reason, after Ling Cang said "warm the bed," Ming Xi felt his ears burning.
His face felt hot too.
He nodded confusedly and randomly.
"I... I'll go feed Xiao Bai!" He hurriedly ran out as if escaping.
In the yard, Ming Xi squatted, holding a carrot, feeding the white rabbit, but his mind was full of Ling Cang's recent smile and those words: "Warm the bed."
He didn't notice he was holding the carrot too high. The rabbit couldn't reach it, hopping up and down.
Rabbit: This is killing the rabbit! Are you going to give it to me or not?!
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