Raising Wolves CHAPTER 07

 

 Raising wolves  

 Chapter 07

Translated by : DANMEI HEAVEN

When Ning Cong saw the person inside the carriage, he was stunned.

Even as someone who had seen countless beauties, he had never encountered anyone like this… like this.

Just sitting there, he was impossible to look away from.

For a moment, Ning Cong couldn’t even find the words to describe him. His greedy eyes roved up and down—if his gaze could solidify, it would have stripped Lu Qingze bare.

Lu Qingze sat composedly in the carriage, his expression neutral as he observed Prince Shu.

The latter’s body had been ravaged by debauchery. His once-handsome face was now sallow and sunken, his eyes shadowed.

A clear case of kidney deficiency.

Lu Qingze asked calmly, "Does Your Highness Prince Shu have any further instructions?"

His pale lips parted slightly. Without the carriage curtain to muffle it, his cool voice fell on the ears even more enticingly. Ning Cong felt a tingle in his chest, his entire body heating up.

This little emperor was truly fortunate!

To have such a peerless beauty merely lecturing him—what a waste!

The beauty even had a teardrop mole under his left eye. When he lifted his gaze, the corners of his eyes were sharply defined, adding a touch of lush allure to his cool demeanor—enough to make one imagine how lovely he’d look with those eyes reddened from being teased in bed.

Ning Cong couldn’t resist reaching out.

Before he could touch Lu Qingze, his hand was intercepted.

Ning Juan’s expression was extremely dark, each word laced with a chilling intensity: "Prince Shu, have you had your fill of looking at Our Imperial Teacher?"

Earlier, he had addressed him as "Imperial Uncle"; now, he directly called him by his title—a clear warning.

After all, this was still the imperial palace. Ning Cong had no choice but to withdraw his hand, though his gaze remained glued to Lu Qingze. His tone was flippant: "No wonder His Majesty has been hiding you away. If I had such a beauty in my residence, I wouldn’t let anyone else see him either."

Lu Qingze’s eyes cooled further.

In his past life, he had been harassed more than enough. Though he couldn’t afford to lose his temper easily, he deeply resented others commenting on his appearance like this.

Ning Juan’s chest burned with towering rage, his face devoid of expression.

Ning Cong said boldly, "I’m hosting a banquet tonight to wash off the dust of travel. Grand Tutor Lu, why not come to my residence as a guest?"

"This humble official is unwell," Lu Qingze replied indifferently. "I fear I must decline Your Highness’s kind invitation."

Instead of being displeased by the rejection, Ning Cong licked his lips excitedly.

Most people looked worse when ill, their beauty diminished. But this Grand Tutor Lu seemed even more striking when sick—his frail, delicate demeanor only made one’s blood run hotter.

Ning Cong grew even more determined to make him his. "If Grand Tutor Lu finds it difficult to travel, then perhaps I should visit your residence instead."

Ning Juan’s gaze was icy as he stared at Ning Cong, a razor-thin edge of malice hidden within: "Prince Shu, know your limits."

"I merely wish to befriend Grand Tutor Lu," Ning Cong retorted, glancing at him dismissively. "As long as Grand Tutor Lu is willing, surely Your Majesty wouldn’t object?"

Lu Qingze hadn’t refused outright earlier—didn’t that imply interest?

Ning Cong looked at Lu Qingze again. Dressed in snow-white fox fur, his cool demeanor softened slightly, his posture upright and impeccable. The thought of pinning such a person down and having his way made his heart itch unbearably.

With looks like this, granting him the position of a secondary consort wouldn’t be out of the question.

Lost in his fantasies, Ning Juan’s lips curled coldly: "Is that so? I suppose Imperial Uncle also merely wished to befriend Imperial Grandfather’s concubine back then."

The moment these words left his mouth, even the brave Changshun, who had followed closely, felt his eyelids twitch.

The other eunuchs silently edged away, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible, fearing they’d be caught in the crossfire.

Ning Cong’s face darkened instantly.

That scandal had subjected him to endless ridicule back then, stripping him of all dignity before he was exiled to distant Shu.

After the late emperor’s death, no one dared mention it in his presence again.

But no matter how much he looked down on this milk-scented little emperor, he was still the emperor.

A flash of murderous intent flickered in Ning Cong’s eyes. With a cold snort, he turned and strode away.

The beautiful attendant who had followed him into the palace hurried after him, calling out, "Your Highness, wait for this lowly one!"

The more Ning Cong thought of Lu Qingze’s face, the more irritated he became when he glanced at the favorite he had been quite pleased with just last night.

Nothing but mediocre trash.

Only after Ning Cong left did Lu Qingze press his fingers to his temples with a slight headache.

The wind outside was strong. The little emperor’s face had turned red from the cold, his expression dark and unreadable. Lu Qingze pulled Ning Juan into the carriage and nodded to the trembling eunuchs: "Return to the Qianqing Palace."

Ning Juan remained silent.

The chill had aggravated Lu Qingze’s throat again. He coughed twice, amused. "It was I who was targeted, not Your Majesty. Why are you giving me such a look?"

Ning Juan’s lips pressed tightly together before he finally spoke: "I just feel utterly useless."

"Your Majesty speaks too harshly," Lu Qingze coaxed. "Didn’t you just drive Prince Shu away?"

Ning Juan’s expression remained grim.

Lu Qingze continued soothingly, "If Your Majesty hadn’t arrived to intervene, who knows how things would have turned out? I’m very glad you came to help me."

In his ease, he momentarily forgot to use the proper honorifics. Ning Juan didn’t point it out, his expression softening slightly—only for his brows to furrow again as he studied Lu Qingze. "That scoundrel won’t let this go."

Lu Qingze noticed the little emperor’s hands were red from the cold. He took them in his own and gently rubbed them, comforting him: "It’s fine. I’m a grown man—it’s not like he can snatch me off the street."

Ning Juan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Lu Qingze’s poor health meant his hands weren’t particularly warm either.

But being held by those cool, smooth hands was like being draped in soft silk. A faint yet tangible warmth seeped through where their skin touched, slowly spreading.

For some reason, the reflexive urge to pull away stiffened and vanished.

Lu Qingze had acted on instinct. It took him a moment to realize—

The original novel mentioned that the tyrant had detested physical contact since childhood. Even until his death, his harem remained empty. Anyone who dared suggest otherwise met a grim fate.

A few overconfident individuals had tried to seduce Ning Juan. The consequence? Whatever body part touched him was severed.

A chill ran down Lu Qingze’s spine. He quickly withdrew his hands and shoved a hand warmer into Ning Juan’s grasp instead.

Last time, it was to teach him calligraphy. This time, it was out of kindness to warm him up. Surely that didn’t count as intentional contact?

Ning Juan: "…"

Holding the noticeably warmer hand warmer, he lowered his gaze to those slender, pale hands, a flicker of dissatisfaction surfacing.

Why hadn’t he continued warming them with his hands?

Both lost in their thoughts, they sat in silence for a while before Ning Juan picked up the thread of conversation: "Not necessarily."

Lu Qingze glanced up. "Hmm?"

"Prince Shu’s reputation for bullying men and women in his fief is nothing new," Ning Juan said stiffly. "Besides, he’s a prince, and you’re a subject. If he insists on inviting you out, you can’t refuse every time."

A fair point.

Lu Qingze rubbed his temples, vexed by this unexpected trouble. "I’ll just refuse. Everyone knows I’m sick anyway."

"And what if, like earlier, he insists on visiting your residence?" Ning Juan countered.

Lu Qingze: "…"

"At least within the palace, under my watch, he wouldn’t dare do anything to you," the little emperor said with unusual seriousness, his delicate face solemn. "You have to come to the palace daily for lectures anyway. Wei Herong won’t tolerate feudal princes lingering in the capital for long. While Ning Cong is here, you should stay in the palace."

There was no other choice. Lu Qingze sighed. "Thank you, Your Majesty. Then, please send someone to the Lu residence to inform my household that I won’t be returning for now."

Ning Juan’s brows twitched slightly as he recalled Lu Qingze mentioning someone at home. He tightened his grip on the exquisite hand warmer. "I’ll send Changshun later. Who should the message be relayed to?"

"Chen Xiaodao."

The name didn’t sound feminine. Ning Juan feigned nonchalance. "Who is he?"

"My residence’s steward," Lu Qingze smiled. "And also like a younger brother to me—a few years older than Your Majesty."

A brother?

Ning Juan pursed his lips, his jade-like little face darkening.

Unaware, Lu Qingze mused on, "Please have Changshun bring some calligraphy models for him too. Xiaodao practices writing daily. In my absence, he’ll have to rely on copying those."

A storm instantly brewed in Ning Juan’s expression, his voice rising a notch: "You teach him calligraphy?!"

Lu Qingze blinked. "Yes. What’s wrong?"

Ning Juan fumed, "Do you even remember you’re my teacher?!"

How could he teach someone else!

Lu Qingze laughed in surprise. "Your Majesty, so you do know I’m your teacher?"

Ning Juan: "…"

The little emperor’s inexplicable anger lasted all morning, lingering even through lunch.

Lu Qingze, convinced he’d done nothing wrong, saw no reason to indulge the child.

Parents without boundaries raised spoiled brats. This little emperor’s twisted temperament needed straightening out. So he calmly proceeded with the lecture, leaving Ning Juan to stew.

Meanwhile, Changshun returned from his trip outside the palace with several packages of medicinal herbs.

The reason for Lu Qingze’s extended stay couldn’t be disclosed. Chen Xiaodao, ever sharp, probed discreetly before dropping the subject. Worried about Lu Qingze’s health, he asked Changshun to ensure Lu Qingze took his medicine and relayed a message: He would take care of everything at home, urging Lu Qingze to rest peacefully in the palace and wait for his return.

The earnest concern in his words painted a picture of deep devotion to Lu Qingze.

The little emperor listened with visible displeasure, sniffing disdainfully. "The palace has every medicine imaginable."

Lu Qingze shot him a glance.

After three seconds of reading, Ning Juan looked up again. "Have the imperial physician prescribe a new formula later. What kind of quack did your ‘brother’ hire? After all this time, you’re still coughing nonstop."

Lu Qingze listened quietly, took a sip of tea, and finally spoke: "Your Majesty, I’ve been meaning to ask since earlier."

Ning Juan: "?"

"Do you have some sort of grudge against my brother?"

"…Hah," Ning Juan’s little face stiffened. "Why would I hold a grudge against a mere steward!"

Author’s Note:

Little Emperor: Sulks with a kittenish pout.

CONTINUE