Chapter 41

Chapter 41

“So, just a scratch?” Inside the hall, Pei Xingjian’s brow furrowed deeply as he stared at the imperial physician with an expression of disbelief.

The physician trembled under his gaze, utterly unsure whether the Emperor desired Lord Lin to be injured or unharmed.

“Yes, Lord Lin has a few superficial scratches on his arm from being clawed. A few days of topical medicine will suffice.” Heavens above, in all his years at the Imperial Hospital, he had never witnessed such a grand spectacle—the Emperor mobilizing every single physician just to treat a mere scratch on Lord Lin?

The rumors were indeed true: Lord Lin was profoundly favored by His Majesty.

After a long silence, Pei Xingjian rubbed his temples. “You may withdraw.”

The physicians waiting in Chonghua Hall scrambled out in a flurry.

The hall fell silent.

Lin Ting cautiously observed Pei Xingjian’s expression, only then belatedly realizing he might have misunderstood something.

“Um, Your Majesty,” he began softly.

Pei Xingjian cast him an indifferent glance.

“Were all those physicians summoned for me?”

Pei Xingjian remained silent. But based on Lin Ting’s understanding of him, silence was affirmation.

A small thrill surged in his heart—so the Emperor truly valued him this much.

Qingzi brought in the ointment. Just as Lin Ting reached for it, a hand moved faster, taking the medicine.

Lin Ting followed the arm and turned to see Pei Xingjian already opening the medicine box, his gaze fixed on him. “Show me your arm.”

Lin Ting obediently revealed the injured area.

A coolness spread over his skin as a familiar yet strange sensation traced his arm. Lin Ting shivered slightly but was held firm by Pei Xingjian. “Don’t move.”

Lin Ting’s heart pounded like a drum. “Oh.” He looked up at Pei Xingjian, finding an unfathomable emotion swirling in his eyes, as dangerous as a moonless forest.

Pei Xingjian suddenly lifted his gaze, and Lin Ting quickly averted his own.

Once the medicine was applied, Pei Xingjian closed the ointment and handed it to Lin Ting. “Keep it dry for a few days,” he emphasized, “especially no fishing.”

Lin Ting wore a crestfallen expression. Well, that took half the fun out of it.

Smoothing his sleeves, he hesitated before asking uncertainly, “Your Majesty, would this count as an occupational injury?”

Pei Xingjian looked puzzled.

“It means getting injured because of work—the employing department should cover medical expenses and such.”

Pei Xingjian understood, his throat working. He couldn’t fathom why, at a time like this, Lin Ting was still thinking about money. A flicker of irritation rose, but it dissipated the moment he met Lin Ting’s hopeful gaze.

“It counts.”

Lin Ting cheered. “Your Majesty, may I ask one more question?”

Pei Xingjian glanced at him. Lin Ting’s eyes curved into happy crescents, smiling brightly.

Oddly enough, Pei Xingjian found himself with a newfound patience.

“Speak.”

Lin Ting said, “About the City Patrol arresting the children adopted by Grand Tutor Zhang—”

Having known Pei Xingjian for so long, Lin Ting honestly didn’t believe he would violently suppress the scholars. If this wasn’t his doing, then some schemer was trying to stir conflict between the court—or the Emperor—and the scholars, possibly even affecting the upcoming imperial examinations.

An attempt to dismantle the court from within—what a ruthless scheme.

“The leader of the City Patrol is the Marquis of Anding,” Pei Xingjian said calmly. Zhao Dehai had already discreetly withdrawn, leaving only the two of them in the hall.

“I never ordered the City Patrol to arrest anyone.”

Lin Ting understood. “So they acted on their own initiative.”

“But why would they do that?” Lin Ting mused, recalling the recent unrest. “To prevent the imperial examinations from proceeding as scheduled?”

As he spoke, his hair swayed slightly, the ends grown longer, like the soft fur of a kitten.

Pei Xingjian unconsciously reached out to touch it, pulling back before Lin Ting turned, his fingertips gently rubbing together.

“Not entirely foolish.”

Lin Ting disliked that remark—he was plenty clever, thank you very much.

“That’s only one reason.” The Emperor returned to the imperial desk, spreading out a memorial and beckoning him. “Come here.”

Lin Ting shuffled closer.

Pei Xingjian tapped a spot on the document. “Read.”

Lin Ting lowered his head and read the contents. In essence, a censor was enumerating the Emperor’s faults, sowing discord in court and fear among the populace. The language was sharp and earnest, without a single wasted word. By the end, even Lin Ting felt Pei Xingjian was indeed an unforgivable tyrant.

Quite the admonition.

Lin Ting spoke up, “But it’s clearly the Marquis of Anding and his men—”

Pei Xingjian had already put down the memorial. “In their eyes, every action of the Marquis of Anding is done with my authorization.”

Lin Ting was shocked. “Then why not—”

“Why not arrest them?” Pei Xingjian let out a cold laugh. “I’ve been on the throne for less than three years. The Marquis of Anding has held sway over the court for many years—uprooting him is no easy task.”

Understood. He was biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment.

Just then, a black-clad figure flew in and knelt before Pei Xingjian.

Only when the mask was removed did Lin Ting recognize Lord Zhuo.

“Your Majesty, I have investigated and confirmed several charges against the Marquis of Anding.” Zhuo produced a small box from his sleeve and presented it.

Lin Ting took it and handed it to Pei Xingjian.

The Emperor opened the box, revealing several slim ledgers inside. Upon flipping through them, the handwriting was uneven, as if hastily written under duress.

Pei Xingjian did not conceal anything from Lin Ting, so he saw the full picture.

Listed were numerous crimes of the Marquis of Anding: selling official positions, seizing land, harming civilians… Each one was shocking.

Lin Ting couldn’t help but click his tongue in disbelief. Compared to the Marquis of Anding, the small gifts he had received back then were utterly insignificant.

Finally, Pei Xingjian tossed the booklet onto the table: “Continue to monitor him. If the Marquis of Anding enters the palace to see the Empress Dowager, report it immediately.”

“Yes.”

After stowing the items, Pei Xingjian suddenly stood up. “Follow me.”

Lin Ting hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of the revelations when he heard the command and quickly followed.

…

Exiting Chonghua Palace, they saw a large, spacious carriage waiting at the entrance.

Pei Xingjian stepped directly onto the carriage, then turned and knocked on the frame when he noticed Lin Ting hesitating. “What are you standing around for? Get on.”

Lin Ting couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, may I ask where we are headed?” Whether it was the Imperial Prison or outside the palace, he wanted to be mentally prepared.

Pei Xingjian replied, “Outside the palace.”

Lin Ting climbed aboard. “Are we going to the Chongwen Library or the Capital Prefecture?”

Pei Xingjian said lightly, “Guess.”

Hmph, Lin Ting grumbled inwardly. Clearly, his headaches had eased up enough lately that he was in the mood to joke around.

The carriage drove out of the palace gates.

Lin Ting sat quietly, watching as Pei Xingjian closed his eyes to rest. He fidgeted slightly, catching Zhao Dehai’s gaze flickering toward him from the corner of his eye.

Lin Ting was puzzled. He looked down at himself, then touched his face—nothing unusual. What was Eunuch Zhao staring at?

Leaning in, he whispered, “Eunuch Zhao, if your eyes are bothering you, you should see a physician promptly. At your advanced age, minor ailments can turn serious if left untreated.”

Zhao Dehai choked on his breath. He wasn’t sick—he was perfectly healthy! The Emperor even had the imperial physicians conduct full-body checkups for them every year.

And since when was he old? He wasn’t even fifty yet!

“Lord Lin, the imperial physician assured me this humble servant is in excellent health and will live to eighty.”

Lin Ting patted Eunuch Zhao’s shoulder, confused. “Then why were you looking at me just now? There’s nothing strange about me, is there?”

Zhao Dehai’s lips twitched. “This old servant was just surprised that Lord Lin didn’t pull out a novel today.”

Lin Ting immediately straightened with solemnity. “I’m on official duty now. How could I read novels?”

Since moving out of the palace, he had enjoyed complete freedom with his novels. At home, he could read as much as he wanted, even falling asleep with them every night.

Having indulged so much, he no longer needed them to pass the time during work. When could he read if not now? Why insist on reading during work hours?

Just yesterday, he had received his salary for the previous month—a thick pouch of silver that made him briefly feel a twinge of shame for his previous idleness. He resolved to work diligently from now on.

Zhao Dehai was stunned.

Never in his life had he seen someone with such audacity. His lips twitched as a faint clamor sounded from outside.

They lifted the carriage curtain to see the entrance of the Capital Prefecture completely mobbed by a crowd.

For the Emperor’s safety, the carriage stopped several meters away.

Pei Xingjian peeked through the curtain, frowning slightly at the continued protests before abruptly standing.

Zhao Dehai freaked out, blocking the door. “Your Majesty, it’s chaotic outside—you mustn’t go out there!”

Prime Minister Yan also hurried to dissuade him. “With so many scholars gathered, things could turn violent. For safety’s sake, if Your Majesty has any orders, your servant and Lord Lin can deliver them.”

Lin Ting, spooked by the dense crowd, quickly agreed. “I think so too.”

Pei Xingjian remained unmoved. “Move aside.”

“Your Majesty!” Prime Minister Yan and Zhao Dehai pleaded earnestly, but the Emperor cut them off. “Say no more.”

Pei Xingjian’s voice was sharp. “They are nothing but a bunch of unarmed scholars. Since when have I ever feared such people?”

The two men exchanged glances, thinking the same thing: Who was the current Emperor? The man who had once stormed enemy camps to take their leaders’ heads. If anyone was in danger, it was the scholars.

And if His Majesty’s headaches flared up, the situation could quickly spiral out of control.

At this thought, their gazes turned desperately to Lin Ting—thankfully, he had come along.

With that, no one dared stop the Emperor further.

Lin Ting, still traumatized by the scholars, hesitated to step out.

Honestly, what could an unarmed person like him do? Besides, he was just a nobody bodyguard—those scholars recognized the Prime Minister and the Emperor, but they wouldn’t recognize him. So, whether he went or not made no difference.

He began, “Then I won’t go—”

Before he could finish, Prime Minister Yan and Zhao Dehai took him by the arms and led him out.

Zhao Dehai resumed his usual cheerful grin. “At such a dangerous time, as His Majesty’s personal bodyguard, Lord Lin must stay by his side no matter what.”

“Absolutely,” Prime Minister Yan chimed in.

Lin Ting: ??? Did anyone ask for my opinion?

Dragged out of the carriage, he stood at the front. Someone spotted them and shouted, “That’s an imperial carriage!”

Instantly, the scholars surrounding the Capital Prefecture rushed toward them like a swarm.

The Tianxuan Guard formed a triple-layered defense around the carriage.

As the crowd drew closer, the scholars recognized Prime Minister Yan and Lin Ting. “You again?!”

“Prime Minister, we respect you. Now that the Grand Tutor has been imprisoned and his son is missing, as the head of the officials, you must make this right for him!”

“We are just small fry, but will you stand by and watch the Grand Tutor’s family suffer?”

Their pleas were so moving they could melt a heart of stone.

Then someone noticed the unfamiliar figure at the very front. “And who are you?”

The stranger had black hair crowned with gold, but his eyes were cold, sweeping over them with an air of regal disdain.

The scholars below were stunned, cautiously observing him.

Amid the murmurs, a sudden cry rang out: “It’s the Emperor! Bow before His Majesty!”

Lin Ting looked toward the voice and saw a familiar face—it was Wang Ya and his group.

“The… the Emperor?”

“Wasn’t it said that the Emperor only cares about his pleasures? Why has he come personally?”

But regardless of how the crowd speculated, everyone’s first reaction was to kneel in reverence:

“We pay homage to Your Majesty.”

Pei Xingjian quietly observed the crowd below. Just a moment ago, they were indignant and questioning, yet now they all knelt in unison.

Such hypocrisy.

“Heh,” the Emperor above said coolly, “what fools.”