Ning Fu didn't understand the meaning by the random non-sequitur by His Majesty but he could see the faint glare in his eyes. 

He lowered his own eyes in mortification. 

Not because he felt that he had let down his liege but because the one glance he had taken at the monarch at such a close distance had been more than enough to his heart soaring and thumping.

The monarch's face was flushed because of the wine and the slightly reserved eyes along with that glare that felt more like a reproachful gaze from a lover did something to Ning Fu's inside. 

This one glance was enough for Ning Fu to gasp in amazement. 

Generally, he never looked at the monarch's face because it was taboo to do so even if he knew from his time spent with the monarch that the other person wouldn't mind such trivialities.

However, looking at that small face from such close quarters left him speechless. 

He wondered that if the late emperor's and the Empress Dowager's son was so beautiful, how mesmerizing would it have been if they had a daughter.

The girl's beauty would have been enough to topple entire dynasties. 

Thankfully, the Empress Dowager only gave birth to this one child who sat at the highest position of power in their kingdom. 

Otherwise, the Imperial Capital would have been turned upside-down if the gender of the person in question was female. 

"Your Majesty?" In such a situation where he was as unfamiliar with it as a fish was to flying, Ning Fu fell back on the social courtesies that had always helped him get out of a pickle. 

At least, that routine was familiar to him unlike the bdump, bb.u.mp and b.u.mp b.u.mp of his heart which was somersaulting inside him. 

Su Li felt even more irritated at the way Ning Fu addressed her and flicked his forehead. 

"Do you really plan to spend the entire night scowling and scattering away the girls? If you do that, how are we supposed to find out anything?" 

Ning Fu tried hard not to let his heartfelt words come out of his mouth, but in the end, he couldn't stop himself and lowered his voice, "Your Majesty, how about we leave this unsightly place and go back? This official feels that it must be sitting your eyes." 

Even though his words showed proper respect and reverence to the monarch, Ning Fu felt that the reason he wanted the monarch to leave wasn't something as inconsequential as not waning the said person to spend more time in the establishment.

However, he unconsciously s.h.i.+ed away from taking a look at his own heart and wondering as to why did everything the emperor did elicit such an unusual response from him. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

Su Li looked at the Unit Commander and when she noticed his eyes darting around and his chin tucked inside his chest, she wondered if the other person wasn't feeling well. 

She stretched her hand to touch his forehead and gauge his temperature. 

Before Ning Fu could do more than blink at the irrelevant thoughts His Majesty seemed to be thinking, he felt a cold hand at his forehead and when he looked at the arm attached to the hand and then from there to the face, he became as still as a statue. 

The monarch didn't seem to realise the breach in etiquette and tsked, "It doesn't seem like you have a temperature. What are you so bothered about?" 

When no response was forthcoming, she pouted her lips and cajoled, "I don't get time to spend out of those heavy robes and the heavy duties that come along with it. Let me just enjoy myself tonight since I have this chance." 

Ning Fu didn't have a response to those words and silently berated himself for folding under the wheedling of a person who was younger to him by at least half a decade. 

By this time, Baozhai had also returned with a waiter in tow and everyone placed their orders and the piping hot food arrived in a matter of minutes. 

Though the food was a simple affair, Su Li was happy to eat something that was greasy and spicy since generally, the Imperial Kitchen made it a point to server her light food which didn't have that much oil content. 

All of them ate and drank to their heart's content and just as they were on their last leg of enjoyment, Zhou Sheng suddenly placed his wine bowl on the table with a resounding pak. 

When everyone turned towards him, he smiled and turned towards Su Li.

"Young Master, how about we enjoy this pleasant atmosphere some more upstairs?" 

His words were akin to a bolt of lightning out of the blue for the Head Commander of the Shadow Guards and the Unit Commander of the Devil Snare Army. 

Both of them had thought that this farce would come to an end soon enough and they could heave a sigh of relief once the monarch left this place. 

However, Zhou Sheng's words put an end to those plans and both of them turned to glare at him.

Still, the monarch seemed to be enjoying himself and didn't seem to care about propriety or decorum because with a resounding slap on the table he agreed, "Yes, yes. We will do as my good brother says."