klisemfg Chapter 28 "What exactly are you here for today?"
Chapter 28 "What exactly are you here for today?"
The February wind was still a bit biting, making the eyes of the father and son even redder. Lin Yunyue smiled wistfully and patted Lin Shiming on the shoulder.
“You’ve grown up. Go back now, live a good life from now on, and make yourself happy. I heard about what happened yesterday. Don’t worry, you have nothing to worry about, just do it boldly, we will all support you.”
Lin Shiming raised his hand and placed it on Lin Yunyue's hand, which was on his shoulder. The father and son instantly laughed heartily and sincerely.
It was indeed getting late, and there were still personal guards waiting in the suburbs. Lin Yunyue turned around and helped Zhang Ting into the carriage, then mounted his horse.
As he spurred his horse on, Lin Yunyue's powerful voice echoed back on the wind.
"Go back now! I will write to you."
The city gate quickly became empty. Lin Shihe walked a few steps to Lin Shiming's side.
"I heard that your wedding banquet yesterday, the first day of your marriage, caused quite a stir?"
That was no small matter; a favored concubine was demoted, and her children were handed over to someone else. Even the Xuanzheng Hall was almost smashed up.
"...It's really not my fault, it's just too much of a coincidence."
Lin Shihe chuckled lightly, "Alright, I'm not going to scold you. I'm not as naive as our father; I can guess what you're up to. Do it without worry, just let us know if anything happens."
After saying that, Lin Shihe turned around and walked to Ji Tiao's side, leading Ji Tiao into the carriage.
"I'm going back too, I still have kids to take care of at home!"
"...What are you showing off for?" Lin Shiming kicked a handful of sand at him. "I have a child too!"
Unfortunately, not a single speck of mud landed on Lin Shihe, which infuriated Lin Shiming so much that he almost chased after him to hurl another insult.
A soft chuckle came from the side.
Lin Shiming immediately turned on him, enraged, "Lu Yuxi! You want to sleep in the study tonight, don't you?"
Lu Yuxi immediately suppressed her smile and coughed twice. "I just think you and your father look so alike."
"Isn't that obvious? Who else do I resemble if not my dad?"
Wait a minute, something seems off.
"...No! How do I resemble that roughneck of a father? Don't spread rumors!"
Doesn't this seem like it? Pure, straightforward, with a bit of a temper, fearless, and a martial arts master—isn't this personality exactly like a child's?
Aside from being a bit more shrewd like Lin Shihe and having the urge to stir up trouble from time to time, his temperament is really just like that of the Duke of Zhenguo.
Lu Yuxi dared not say those words aloud. He lowered his head and chuckled secretly, then looked at Lin Shiming with his usual gentle demeanor.
"Yes, I misspoke. You are more like your brother, both are smart."
Lin Shiming nodded in satisfaction, forgiving Lu Yuxi for her rude remarks.
The two mounted their horses and slowly made their way back.
But as soon as they entered the city, Lin Shiming scratched his head again, "Why do I feel like something about what you just said doesn't quite make sense?"
Lu Yuxi replied nonchalantly, "No, you're overthinking it."
"Is that so?" Lin Shiming pondered for a moment, but still couldn't figure it out, so he simply gave up. "Never mind, let's go, let's go to the Ministry of Personnel."
Lu Yuxi's eyes were full of smiles. This person's shrewdness to outsiders and gullibility to insiders really combined the personalities of his father and his brother, making him quite likable.
*
Not long after Emperor Longyun resumed court following the New Year, he issued an edict appointing the Crown Prince to oversee the upcoming imperial examination, with Lin Shiming in charge of maintaining order in the examination hall. Although they had been busy with their wedding for the past month, the two of them had also been preparing for it for a long time.
Now that they are married and the exam is just a few days away, they need to hurry up and review the arrangements and procedures they prepared in advance.
The two rode their horses slowly back to the palace. There was no way around it; in the capital, one could ride a horse, but not gallop at will.
Therefore, by the time they arrived at the Ministry of Personnel, it was already 9:45 AM.
In fact, throughout many dynasties, the imperial examinations and metropolitan examinations were sometimes handled by either the Ministry of Rites or the Ministry of Personnel. Before Changping, this matter was always handled by the Ministry of Rites. However, after the incident involving Crown Prince Hua Min, many pedantic officials in the Ministry of Rites, in the name of "filial piety," demanded that Emperor Longyun heed the Empress Dowager's advice and lightly punish the Qin clan. As a result, the imperial examinations were handed over to the Ministry of Personnel.
Since then, the Ministry of Rites has become a mere figurehead, only good for organizing weddings and banquets, and has lost its former importance in the court. If it weren't for the fact that it still holds the title of one of the Six Ministries, this neglected position would probably have been marginalized long ago.
The Ministry of Personnel thus became the de facto head of the Six Ministries. Fang Shihai, the Minister of Personnel, naturally became one of His Majesty's confidants.
As His Majesty's confidant, one would naturally be very good at reading His Majesty's expressions.
Therefore, whenever news of the arrival of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess was heard, Fang Shihai, the Minister of Personnel, would quickly lead a group of people from the Ministry of Personnel to the door to greet them.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess."
"Everyone, please stand up."
Lu Yuxi and Lin Shiming dismounted and stepped into the gate of the Ministry of Personnel.
"No need to be so formal. The Crown Princess and I have come here today to reconfirm the list of candidates who have taken the exam."
Minister Fang readily agreed and immediately had someone bring the roster.
Lu Yuxi handed the roster to Lin Shiming, then drank tea and discussed other matters with Minister Fang. They only got up to leave after Lin Shiming had thoroughly reviewed the roster of over two thousand people.
More than an hour had passed, and Lu Yuxi's stomach was bloated from drinking tea, so she had to relieve herself twice.
With the sun already high in the sky, Lin Shiming was starving and didn't want to take the long way back to the East Palace, so he simply persuaded Lu Yuxi to go with him to Emperor Longyun's place for a free meal.
His father told me that an emperor's meal consisted of dozens of dishes, and that was after most of them were cut down. I'd like to try it.
Lu Yuxi reluctantly complied with his wishes, sending a young eunuch to run to the Huangji Palace to deliver the message, while she and Lin Shiming strolled leisurely behind.
Why do you insist on seeing that register today?
"This morning when I went out, I received a message from Li Yi that someone was found selling exam questions in the Yuandao Bookstore in Qingyunfang, Beijing."
Lu Yuxi stopped in her tracks, her expression turning serious. "What's going on?"
"No rush, let's talk about it together with Father Emperor later."
*
Huangji Palace, Xuanzheng Hall.
Emperor Longyun stared in disbelief at the eunuch kneeling below.
"Say it again, what were their exact words?"
The eunuch kept his head down, his voice trembling.
"Her Highness the Crown Princess said that she has never served His Majesty a meal since she married into the family, which is truly unfilial. Therefore, she has come here today with Her Highness the Crown Prince to serve His Majesty his afternoon meal in order to fulfill her filial duty."
The breathing of everyone in the main hall was somewhat unstable.
Emperor Longyun took a deep breath. "I understand. You may go."
After a long silence, Emperor Longyun couldn't help but ask Li An, who was standing next to him.
Do you believe what he said?
Li An smiled obsequiously, "His Majesty is kind to his juniors, and his son and daughter-in-law are filial and sensible. Such a beautiful story should be widely circulated!"
"You don't need to speak well of him." Emperor Longyun threw the memorial in his hand onto the table. "If I believed him, I would only make a fool of myself!"
Li An continued to force a smile, but this was not a response he could give.
"Alright, we'll deal with whatever comes our way. Go and make the arrangements, and have someone prepare two more sets of bowls and chopsticks."
"The slave obeys the order."
"Wait a minute!" Emperor Longyun suddenly called out to Li An, who had already reached the door. "Have someone else take care of the bowls and chopsticks. Go and do something else for me first."
"Go and replace all the guards currently on duty outside, as well as the eunuchs and palace maids serving inside the palace, with the most discreet ones. Also, summon an imperial physician to wait in the West Warm Pavilion. Go quickly!"
What kind of monster are they treating people like? Li An lowered his head, his lips twitching slightly.
"The slave obeys the order."
*
So when Lin Shiming and Lu Yuxi arrived at Xuanzheng Hall a quarter of an hour later, they were met with everyone looking grave and as if facing a formidable enemy.
Completely bewildered by the commotion, Lu Yuxi beckoned to a eunuch waiting at the door, "What's happened at Xuanzheng Hall again?"
Could it be that the Empress Dowager has come to vandalize things again?
Never heard of it!
The eunuch bowed his head, displaying utmost humility, and said, "Your Highness, this servant was unaware."
"you..."
"Oh, Your Highness!" Li An suddenly strode out of the hall with a big smile and bowed to the two of them, "This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess."
"Please rise, Eunuch Li."
"Your Highnesses have arrived. Please come in quickly. Lunch has been prepared and His Majesty is already waiting."
Lu Yuxi didn't necessarily need to know the result, so she didn't mind Li An's deliberate change of topic.
"it is good."
Unexpectedly, the two had just followed Li An into the Xuanzheng Hall when the hall doors were closed by the eunuchs serving outside.
Lu Yuxi was even more bewildered by this scene, while Lin Shiming raised an eyebrow and gave Li An a meaningful look.
Li An broke out in a cold sweat from that look. He gave an awkward laugh and said, "His Majesty is already in the side room. Please follow me, Your Highnesses."
Upon entering the side room, Emperor Longyun was indeed already seated at a round table laden with dishes.
"My son, I will meet my father."
"No need for formalities. Please take a seat."
"Thank you, Father."
The two stood up, and Lu Yuxi was about to sit down with Lin Shiming, but Lin Shiming went straight to Emperor Longyun's side.
Emperor Longyun's heart trembled slightly. He glanced discreetly at the side room, making sure all the valuables had been removed, before casually asking Lin Shiming, "Why are you passing by my place instead of taking a seat?"
Lu Yuxi looked at Lin Shiming with a puzzled expression. To be honest, everyone Lu Yuxi had met praised him for his intelligence, but he could never have predicted the actions of Lin Shiming, who did not follow the rules.
Right now, he could only sit still under Lin Shiming's gaze. He had no choice; if he didn't comply with Lin's wishes and disrupted his plans, who knew what unexpected consequences might arise?
Lu Yuxi comforted herself, at least this person achieved his goal, and there was still a possibility that he would be left to clean up the mess.
Lin Shiming didn't think that much about it. He really didn't have any special purpose today. He just suddenly had the idea to find an excuse to freeload a meal, and also to report what he had just found out, so as to avoid them having to come back in the afternoon and waste time.
So Lin Shiming smiled brightly, "Your subject will serve the dishes to Your Majesty!"
"...No need." The refusal was very straightforward.
Finally, Emperor Longyun added, "We don't even have this rule when we eat."
The other daughters-in-law might not know, but this one definitely didn't.
He was afraid that the Empress would scold him again for setting rules for his daughter-in-law. After all, the Empress had shared with him the harmonious atmosphere they had shared during breakfast the previous night before going to bed.
Lin Shiming didn't take the Emperor's rejection to heart at all.
"Your subject obeys the decree and thanks Your Majesty!"
"Serving the Emperor his meal" was just an excuse he made up to get a free meal in a legitimate way. He had been worried that Emperor Longyun would really make him serve the whole meal, but now that he didn't have to do anything, he happily returned to sit down next to Lu Yuxi.
But Emperor Longyun was still uneasy.
"What exactly are you here for today?"