Ding Huang suddenly thought of his daughter in this deep palace, unable to see a way out for the time being, and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. Just in this moment of distraction, suddenly a voice was heard from behind, asking faintly, "Who is in the hall?"

Ding Huang felt that the voice sounded a bit familiar. He was stunned for a moment, and then heard Zhang Kuo say earnestly, "The Emperor will come here in a while. Little Consort, please rest in the inner room, it's cold outside. Wait for your servant to find out who is in the hall, and I will come back to inform you."

The jade water curtain inside jingled with the sound of jade pendants, as if a flowing stream was moving, and then turned back. The footsteps and breathing seemed to be mesmerizing.

At first, only a delicate white hand was seen lifting the jade beaded curtain. The tassels retreated like flowing water. Then a person turned his head to look this way. The white cotton robe was cinched at the waist, with the belt hanging loosely, draping on the thick, soft carpet, as light as a dream that would be awakened by a slight movement.

Ding Huang didn't know what had happened. Or rather, he knew he would see this person again in the past two days, but no matter how many times he imagined an embarrassing, angry, or tricky encounter, it would never be more unresponsive than the way they met now.

How could Shangguan Mingde, who had once made him hate to the bone, who should be waiting for an audience outside the city at this time, and who had a vicious mouth and a lowly background, appear in the Qianwan Emperor's bedchamber, loosely and lazily wrapped in a white robe worn when just waking up from sleep, as if he were the real master here?

Actually, if it were someone else, Ding Huang would quickly realize what was going on. No matter how absurd or obscene, it was not something he could not accept. In the royal family, there was no shortage of absurd things hidden under the royal dignity throughout the ages. It was very normal for the Emperor to like a few pretty boys. Not to mention the Emperor, it was also very common for ordinary court officials to keep beautiful boys and entertainers at home.

...But what if it was Shangguan Mingde!

Ding Huang was stunned at once. It was Shangguan Mingde who reacted quickly, raising that bit of familiar, indifferent and mocking smile, and asked respectfully, "How are you, Lord Ding?"

Ding Huang retreated half a step: "You? How did you..."

Mingde sat down on the chair, propped his chin, and stared at Ding Huang: "Which place is flooded again? For what local people has Lord Ding come to plead this time?"

The way he sat down was extremely loose, lazy like a kitten who had just woken up. His hair was casually tied behind his head, and the loose strands circled on his snow-white cotton robe at his shoulder, with his eyes slightly upturned, indescribably delicate and sharp.

Ding Huang said angrily, "This old official is here by the Emperor's order to wait for His Majesty in Qingzhen Palace!"

Mingde let out a long "Oh", and asked with a smile, "Then what about General Lin?"

In a flash of lightning, Lin Bing suddenly understood this question that had been puzzling him for a long time.

Why had the military pay and supplies for the Hanbei camp never been delayed since Shangguan Mingde arrived?

Why was the credit that clearly belonged to him forcibly transferred to someone else by an imperial edict?

Why did the Qianwan Emperor "take great pleasure" in him and gladly reward him with the world's troops and military supplies?

"I will hand the person over to you, and you will return the person to me intact"... It turned out that the suppression war that was delayed to the Huai River was not only to suppress Prince Dongyang Jinyuan, but the key was to create a military merit that could be boasted for an unknown young master from a famous family in the capital city!

And he, who had perfectly cooperated with this play, was considered the greatest meritorious official in the Qianwan Emperor's heart!

In an instant, an idea flashed through Lin Bing's mind. Perhaps even if this war was lost, as long as he could ensure Shangguan Mingde's safety, all other issues would not be issues, right? Everything from beginning to end this year was nothing more than a lavish feast using the country to entertain the beauty!

Mingde was still looking at Lin Bing with a smile, propping his chin with his fingers that looked like they were carved out of jade, so delicate that they seemed to break if held in the palm. So weak and indulgent, almost unlike the young general in white silver armor who had fought alone for three thousand miles.

If it were a few years ago when he was hot-blooded, perhaps Lin Bing would have been angry, would have jumped up and down, and would have turned his face on the spot. But now everything was different. He had endured in the bitter cold frontier for so long, had seen through the ways of the world and human relations, and had long known how to conduct himself.

He slowly opened his mouth: "...This subordinate... This subordinate is here by imperial decree, not knowing what orders the Emperor has. I met Lord Ding on the way and came together with him."

These words were actually said very skillfully. Everyone knew that Shangguan Mingde and Ding Huang were at odds. Lin Bing's words were equivalent to drawing a line with Ding Huang, who had come together with him.

It goes without saying that one was an official, although he seemed to be infinitely favored, his wealth and honor were all at the Emperor's whim, and the lives of his entire family were in the Emperor's hands.

The other, however, was a real bedmate. Even Zhang Kuo had to serve him diligently and could not neglect him. Whoever he disliked, he could whisper a few words in the Emperor's ear and act coquettishly. Who was close and who was distant was clear at a glance.

Mingde nodded, "So that's how it is. But the Emperor hasn't come, and it's almost time for lunch. The two lords are waiting, so why not have a meal first?"

Ding Huang was startled, and then said with great righteousness, "Without the Emperor's permission, how dare this old official dine in the palace! This old man cannot do such a disrespectful act to the ancestors of our dynasty!"

But Mingde persuaded him without any concern, "Lord Ding, there is no need. Even the current Son of Heaven has no reason to let his officials starve. Besides, the Emperor has always been generous. Lord Ding, you make it seem like the Emperor has mistreated you. It would sound really bad if word got out!"

As he spoke, he jumped down from the tall camphor wood chair with a smile, instructed Zhang Kuo to serve the meal, and waited at the door. Seeing the palace servants entering in a line, he personally went to set up the tables and chairs and arrange the dishes.

Ding Huang took a big step back, turning his head to the side with a solemn expression: "Lord Shangguan, what do you mean by this? It's not unheard of for outside officials to dine in the palace, but the Department of Ceremonies always keeps detailed records of which concubine hosted and which official was invited, and it requires the Emperor's permission before and after. Lord Shangguan, if you dine here like this, under which concubine's name will the Department of Ceremonies record it?"

Just as he finished speaking, Mingde happened to take a soup bowl from Zhang Kuo's hands. The half-inch thick blue and white porcelain bowl had just reached Mingde's hands when Zhang Kuo saw fine cracks appear in it before his eyes.

The veins on the back of Mingde's hand bulged and then subsided. He turned his head, a gentle smile on his face: "Lord Ding is joking. There are indeed taboos against concubines hosting outside officials, but as the Emperor himself said, Qingzhen Palace does not belong to the inner palace. What's wrong with me hosting a meal for you two lords here on behalf of the Emperor? Does Lord Ding believe that our imperial family can't even afford to treat our officials to a meal?"

Ding Huang choked on his words, unable to say anything more.

He had clearly stated that he was hosting the two of them on behalf of the Emperor! For Mingde to dare say this in front of everyone in Qingzhen Palace meant that he truly had the authority to do so. Refusing further would likely earn him the displeasure not of Shangguan Mingde, but of the Qianwan Emperor himself.

Lin Bing took his seat without a word. Glancing at Ding Huang, he smiled and said: "Lord Ding, come. They say that being an official nowadays makes one poorer and poorer, and a good meal has to be spread out over several days. It's a rare chance for us to see what the Emperor eats daily. Lord Ding, don't pass up this opportunity."

Mingde looked at him and coughed a few times, chuckling softly: "General Lin is truly an upright official."

But he left the other half of his words unspoken. This lunch was not prepared for the Qianwan Emperor. There was a special small kitchen in Qingzhen Palace dedicated to making dishes to Mingde's tastes. The Qianwan Emperor had a heavy northern palate and could eat salty and spicy foods, but Mingde had an authentic southern taste. Eating with the Qianwan Emperor would make him vomit immediately after the meal.

The Qianwan Emperor doted on this little one and always lavished him with the best in material goods. A small kitchen was set up in Qingzhen Palace with twenty top chefs recruited from the south. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and southern specialties were sent to the palace daily. Just his food and clothing allowances were equivalent to a third of the entire inner palace.

The eunuchs from the Department of Ceremonies had once calculated that the ingredients discarded by the small kitchen in Qingzhen Palace were more than ten times the amount actually used, yet the dishes produced each day were only a tenth of the Qianwan Emperor's portion.

Zhang Kuo always knew how to serve this little ancestor to avoid setting him off. If the Qianwan Emperor's meals were placed in front of Mingde, this little ancestor would skin him alive.

So the portions Ding Huang and Lin Bing were eating now were the same as Mingde's usual fare - light and slightly sweet southern flavors. The main dish was a bowl of jade rice porridge for each person, served in a small white jade bowl. It looked unremarkable but was a special supply with an annual yield of less than a hundred catties.

Ding Huang looked at the bowl of porridge, scooped up a spoonful to eat, and suddenly his expression changed.

Before he could speak, Mingde immediately asked with great concern: "What's wrong, Lord Ding? Is this precious rice not up to your standards?"

Ding Huang had never eaten rice this salty in his life, as if ten catties of salt had been poured in. It was so salty he could barely speak: "...This old official... This old official has also eaten jade rice, how could it be so... so..."

Mingde ate his porridge slowly and leisurely, smiling with refined elegance: "Lord Ding is truly extravagant. This special supply of less than a hundred catties per year is beneath your notice. I wonder what kind of rice Lord Ding eats at home. It must be a heavenly existence."

Ding Huang's face turned purple with rage. He slammed the table and stood up in fury: "Lord Shangguan, there's no need for such petty tricks!"

Mingde frowned and asked tactfully: "What does Lord Ding mean by that?"

"If you look down on this old official, there's no need to use such vulgar tricks to humiliate me! --"

Before he could finish, a young eunuch's shrill announcement came from the door: "The Emperor has arrived--!"

The Qianwan Emperor strode in with great strides. Before the layered announcements from the eunuchs outside had finished, he had already lifted the curtain with one hand and turned in directly from behind the screen.

Zhang Kuo hurried forward to take his coat, whispering: "Your Majesty, you're finally back." He added in an almost inaudible voice: "...The little noble put something... in Lord Ding's bowl..."

The Qianwan Emperor's eyelid twitched. Knowing Mingde's temperament, even adding arsenic would be going easy.

Zhang Kuo quickly added: "A handful of salt!"

The Qianwan Emperor almost burst out laughing. Seeing Ding Huang and Lin Bing hurriedly getting up from the table to kneel, and Mingde watching him while biting his chopsticks, he quickly suppressed his mirth and ordered: "Rise, beloved officials. What's this, enjoying some delicacies?"

He went over to take a look. Lin Bing followed behind respectfully, saying: "We are honored by Your Majesty's banquet invitation, and we ate in trepidation and fear."

The Qianwan Emperor went straight to sit beside Mingde, putting an arm around him and taking his hand. He scooped up a spoonful of porridge and brought it to his own mouth, laughing: "Turns out the porridge has gone cold from all the fuss. It's no longer edible. Take it away."

Only then did Ding Huang let out a sigh of relief. But before he could breathe in, he saw Mingde's face darken. Mingde flung away the spoon the Qianwan Emperor had eaten with. It hit the ground with a clang, shattering into several pieces.

The Qianwan Emperor was not angry. He watched as the palace servants came to clean it up quietly, then slowly said: "What's wrong with me that you despise me so?"

Mingde snorted, broke free from his grasp, and disappeared behind the screen in a few steps, parting the jasper bead curtains. He was wearing a loose white cotton robe, casually tied at the waist. The warmth of his body still lingered faintly on the fingertips, carrying an indescribable ambiguity and charm.

The Qianwan Emperor couldn't help but look back at the bead curtains for a while, lost in thought, before turning his head and saying with a faint smile, "The older he gets, the more unruly he becomes!"

Ding Huang and Lin Bing didn't know how to respond and could only smile and gloss over it. The meal had lost all flavor. It was obvious that the Qianwan Emperor was in a bad mood.

In just a short while, several palace servants came one after another to report in low voices about the young consort in the inner chambers, whispering for a while before withdrawing. When the meal was almost over, the Qianwan Emperor couldn't sit still any longer and found an excuse to dismiss Ding Huang and Lin Bing.

Ding Huang was angry in his heart but couldn't show it, so he could only snort and leave in a huff. Lin Bing, however, stayed behind a step and was stopped by the Qianwan Emperor as he was about to leave, "Minister, wait a moment."

"Your subject is here."

"You have a good relationship with Mingde?"

Sweat immediately formed on Lin Bing's forehead. What does it mean to have a good relationship? When the emperor asks you if you have a good relationship with his bedmate, how do you answer?

Lin Bing could only chuckle and say, "On the battlefield, we look out for each other, so of course there is..."

The Qianwan Emperor nodded and suddenly asked, "What did you see today, Minister?"

Lin Bing looked up and saw the Qianwan Emperor fiddling with the jade prayer beads beside his hand. His words sounded fine, but his face was cold and expressionless.

Lin Bing lowered his head, "Your subject came to the palace today by imperial decree, had an audience with Your Majesty, and was fortunate to be granted a meal. As for the rest... there was nothing else."

The Qianwan Emperor nodded, stood up, and strode towards the inner chambers, leaving behind a sentence that floated over with the wind and disappeared in an instant.

"--Minister, remember that there was nothing else. Don't forget these few words..."