Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Lin Ting’s heartfelt lament effectively silenced the Marquis of Anding.

The Marquis, bristling with indignation, never imagined such audacity—to demand the immediate stripping of his command over the City Patrol. He could only sputter, "You impudent whelp! You impudent whelp!"

Lin Ting wiped his tears and glanced back at the assembled ministers, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. According to the Emperor’s words yesterday, there should have been allies planted among these officials. Why hadn’t they emerged yet? Couldn’t they see he was on the verge of collapse?

Noticing the ministers behind him frozen in place, Lin Ting strategically cleared his throat and tossed out the question: "Does anyone have anything to say?"

Only then did the Emperor’s planted chess pieces snap to attention—a close call, they had nearly botched it.

Censor Zhang Quan was the first to step forward. "Your Majesty, if the Lin residence, right under the imperial walls, can suffer such an incident, then this subject believes the Marquis of Anding’s training is indeed inadequate. He should be dismissed and confined to his estate pending investigation and resolution."

No sooner had these words left his mouth than several other censors immediately chimed in. "This subject also believes the Marquis should be temporarily relieved of his position as head of the City Patrol."

"I concur. If such an incident can occur at the imperial city’s doorstep, who’s to say they won’t dare to steal into the Imperial Palace next time?"

"The City Patrol’s defenses are shockingly lax—they couldn’t even detect a common thief!"

The debate escalated. The Marquis of Anding, his mustache askew with fury, cast aside all decorum and began to argue back.

"Censor Zhang, just recently you came bearing gifts to my estate—and now you dare to kick me when I’m down?"

"Vice Minister Zhou, have you forgotten who resolved the matter of your sister’s marriage?"

"If I am at fault, let His Majesty judge me! What right do you ungrateful wretches have?"

"Don’t you know what’s good for you—"

The court descended into chaos, clamoring like a bustling marketplace.

Lin Ting quietly edged away. A brawl between a bunch of energetic old men? As someone who struggled with an 800-meter run, he’d better keep his distance. Getting injured would be most unfortunate.

Only when the Emperor above slammed the imperial desk with a thunderous "Enough!" did the boisterous hall instantly fall silent.

The ministers, who had just been shouting and glaring, immediately dropped to their knees. "We await Your Majesty’s judgment."

Those who had been watching the spectacle with detached amusement were caught off guard by this move. *Wait, you all knelt without even consulting us? What are we supposed to do now?*

In an instant, they too plopped down like falling dumplings, thudding to their knees. "We await Your Majesty’s judgment."

Within moments, the Marquis of Anding stood alone in the hall, a lone crane among a flock of chickens.

Lin Ting settled into a comfortable position to enjoy the show, relishing the sound of the Marquis losing his composure.

"You—you all—ahhhhh!"

Lin Ting calmly remarked, "Disrespect before His Majesty—that’s an aggravated offense."

The Marquis, as if finding an outlet for his rage, lunged straight for Lin Ting.

Lin Ting yelped in alarm and dashed toward Pei Xingjian, while the ministers immediately rushed forward to restrain the Marquis. "Marquis of Anding, you mustn’t! Such disrespect before His Majesty!"

"It’s an aggravated offense!"

The court instantly dissolved into pandemonium once more.

Pei Xingjian watched the rowdy assembly below, along with Lin Ting frantically scurrying behind him, and felt a headache coming on. With a wave of his hand, the Tianxuan Guard stepped forward from both sides to restore order.

After a three-sided scuffle, the hall finally quieted.

Pei Xingjian declared, "The City Patrol failed to detect the fire at the Lin residence in time. As its head, the Marquis of Anding is guilty of dereliction of duty. He is hereby suspended from his position and confined to his estate, forbidden from leaving without permission."

The Marquis protested, "Your Majesty, but—"

"Thus concludes the court session."

The Emperor’s unyielding tone cut off any further argument. The ministers filed out in an orderly stream.

Lin Ting followed Pei Xingjian out of the Taihe Hall and spotted the Marquis of Anding approaching from a distance. But before he could get within a few steps, imperial guards intercepted him and escorted him away through another exit.

Back in the Chonghua Hall, Pei Xingjian resumed reviewing memorials, while Lin Ting naturally took his place as a silent fixture beside him.

Time passed quietly, but Lin Ting fidgeted impatiently.

Was that it for the Marquis’s punishment? Just stripping his position and leaving it at that?

Wouldn’t that be letting him off too lightly?

The memorial resting on the imperial desk was repeatedly opened and closed by someone, though the culprit remained oblivious, his gaze distant as he drifted off in thought.

Pei Xingjian bit back his annoyance. "Keep fiddling with it like that, and you’ll rub the memorial bare."

Lin Ting blinked. "Huh?" He looked down—the gilded edge of the memorial had lost a bean-sized piece under his absentminded fiddling.

Embarrassed, he withdrew his hand. When he looked up, he met Pei Xingjian’s piercing black eyes.

Lin Ting jerked back as if scalded.

Wh-what was this? Why did he suddenly feel so warm?

Noticing his reaction, Pei Xingjian softened his tone. "What’s on your mind now?"

Lin Ting replied, "Are we really letting the Marquis of Anding off like this?" Though his position as head of the City Patrol had been stripped, it still felt far too lenient.

As soon as he spoke, Zhao Dehai threw him a panicked glance—*Oh, Lord Lin, these are His Majesty’s secrets! How could you just ask outright?*

Lin Ting finally realized his mistake. He was just a lowly personal guard—what business did he have meddling in imperial secrets?

As the ancients said, *the more you know, the sooner you die*. He shouldn’t have asked.

"Your Majesty, this subject should not—"

"I have already ordered the imperial guards to surround the Marquis’s estate," Pei Xingjian interjected.

Lin Ting’s eyes widened. Pei Xingjian had laid down his brush and now sat upright in his chair. "Patience. Preparations have been made. All will be revealed tomorrow."

Caught off guard by this revelation, Lin Ting’s mouth hung open, the word "ask" stuck in his throat.

He turned to Zhao Dehai, only to find the eunuch had already clapped his hands over his ears, perfectly embodying the phrase *"I didn't hear a thing, nothing at all!"*

Lin Ting: "...Ha, why didn't you say so sooner?"

He felt uneasy, wondering why the Emperor had so casually revealed such a classified plan to him. Wasn’t His Majesty worried Lin Ting might blab?

Or perhaps—this was some sort of test for him...

The piles of petitions on the imperial desk were once again being disturbed by someone’s restless hands, fingers picking at the gilded edges, leaving behind a grating sound.

The noise made Pei Xingjian’s ears hurt. "Lin Qing, if you’re idle, come and grind ink for me."

Lin Ting reluctantly withdrew his hand.

While silently marveling at the Emperor’s workaholic, overzealous tendencies, he hesitated over whether to just ask outright.

In the end, curiosity overpowered reason. Lin Ting inched two small steps closer to Pei Xingjian.

He thought he was being discreet, but Pei Xingjian noticed every little movement.

Lin Ting whispered, "Your Majesty, does this count as learning your secrets? Once this matter is resolved, will I be silenced?"

The moment the words left his mouth, a large, warm hand suddenly covered the back of his head. The warmth spread from his scalp to his chest, sending a shiver through him.

Pei Xingjian let out an exasperated sigh, turning Lin Ting’s head to face him. "I’ve always wondered—how exactly does that little brain of yours work? Every word out of your mouth manages to stun everyone."

Lin Ting pouted. "Well, that’s what people say."

Pei Xingjian: "Who says that?"

*The storytellers say.* Lin Ting silently retorted, not daring to say it aloud. Instead, he muttered, "Just hearsay."

Pei Xingjian released him, studying Lin Ting seriously. "I confide only in those I trust."

It took Lin Ting a moment to process the Emperor’s words. This meant the Emperor trusted him, knew he wouldn’t spill the secret, and thus felt safe telling him—and wouldn’t silence him.

Instantly encouraged, Lin Ting mimed sealing his lips. "Your Majesty, rest assured, my lips are sealed. Not a single word will escape me."

Pei Xingjian: "..." *No need for that. If I dared to say it, it’s because I’m confident I can handle him. Besides—*

Without realizing it, Lin Ting had leaned in, bringing his ear close to the Emperor’s lips. "What?"

Pei Xingjian glanced at that round head of his—where knowledge entered but never stayed—and swallowed his words. "Never mind. Go practice your calligraphy for a few pages."

Lin Ting: "Ughhh—!"

...

The next day, Lin Ting arrived at his usual hour, standing beside the Emperor as he reviewed memorials.

The hall was as quiet and peaceful as always. Eunuch Zhao hovered by the entrance, basking in the warm sunlight as he dozed off.

Suddenly, a shadowy figure knelt silently outside the hall. "Your Majesty, this lowly one, Commander Zhuo of the Tianxuan Guard, requests an audience."

Lin Ting, who had been dozing, jolted awake. Looking ahead, he saw Eunuch Zhao clutching the doorframe in fright.

Both hurriedly straightened their appearances.

Pei Xingjian allowed Zhuo to enter.

"Your Majesty, someone has struck the grievance drum at the Capital Prefecture, claiming to accuse the Marquis of Anding of using Your Majesty’s authority to extort money and embezzle iron ore..."

The clear voice echoed through the hall. Lin Ting jolted fully awake—this was all part of Pei Xingjian’s plan. Each charge, one by one, was a grave offense that could seal the Marquis’s fate.

Pei Xingjian listened calmly, his eyes chillingly cold. Setting down his brush, he stood. "To the Prefecture."

Lin Ting and Eunuch Zhao hastily followed.

As the carriage approached the prefecture, Lin Ting peered through the curtains and was truly astonished by the sight before him.

The entrance was packed with layers of people, jamming the gates shut. Upon closer inspection, they were the scholar-protesters—many of their faces familiar to Lin Ting.

He even saw Wang Ya in the crowd.

He couldn’t help but worry about their civil service exam chances. While others focused solely on their studies, what were these three doing, always first in line for trouble? Did they want to pass or not?

Closing the curtain, he sighed. "Why’s everyone here gawking?"

Pei Xingjian suddenly looked at him. "How unlike Minister Lin to be so eager. So you’re here for the spectacle too."

As he spoke, he flicked Lin Ting’s head lightly, causing a few leaves to flutter onto the carriage floor.

Lin Ting tugged at his sleeve, nodding toward the bustling crowd at the gates. "As a certain famous person once said, it’s human nature to love a good show."

Pei Xingjian nodded thoughtfully, as if understanding yet not quite. "Ah, so it’s in Minister Lin’s nature."

Lin Ting couldn’t shake the feeling that this was an insult. Was he being mocked?

He whipped his head toward the Emperor, about to ask, but found him gazing out the window.

He followed his gaze.

At that moment, the City Patrol troops had surrounded the crowd from both sides. One of them stepped forward, pointing at the man who had struck the drum, and ordered, "Arrest him."

The outer patrolmen began pushing inward.

The encircled scholars immediately closed ranks around the accuser.

"What are you doing? By the laws of Great Yong, commoners may sound the grievance drum to seek justice!"

"They’re from the City Patrol—in cahoots. They must have conspired long ago!"

"You’ll have to kill me first before you step past!"

Neither side backed down, the standoff teetering toward bloodshed.

Lin Ting squirmed in his seat, but seeing Pei Xingjian sitting calmly, he couldn’t help but speak up. "Your Majesty, they’re about to brawl out there."

Pei Xingjian glanced through the window, then stood abruptly. "Let’s go."

Lin Ting’s stomach dropped, and he hurriedly followed.