Wen Zhong obeyed the summons and moved into the palace.
The old man had a habit of sitting in courtyards to bask in the sun. Since he could not enter the palace courtyards as he pleased, he found a side hall instead, sat cross-legged on its stone steps, warmed a pot of wine, and sipped from a Wine Cup.
Zi Shou found Wen Zhong and sat down beside him without saying anything.
Wen Zhong saluted him, a teasing edge in his voice. "Not playing your Goat-Carriage Visit game today, Your Majesty? Have all the butterflies and bees flown over to this old subject instead?"
Only after moving into the palace did he learn that the tabloid rumors about the Goat-Carriage Visit, attracting bees and butterflies, and the Romantic Arrow were all true. He had nearly whipped out his lash on the spot.
In the end, however, he had lowered the lash in his hand. Such behavior might draw criticism, but who did not lust after beauty?
King Zhou was a man, not a god or an immortal. No one was perfect. If his affairs in the Imperial Harem did not harm the country and its State Altars, Wen Zhong could let them slide.
Zi Shou was rather embarrassed. He hemmed and hawed for a while, wanting to ask something but not knowing how to begin.
Wen Zhong looked impatient. "This old subject came here to drink. I will not discuss affairs of state today, just for this one day. If something is weighing on Your Majesty's mind, you may tell me."
Though he wore an expression of distaste, his words revealed boundless concern.
King Zhou had most likely encountered some difficulty but had no one to confide in.
The consorts in the Imperial Harem were virtuous and kind, but they