Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Inside the Capital Prefecture yamen, Lin Ting sat at the head, with Capital Prefect Xue Ping beside him.

The commotion caused by the aristocratic young master and the scholar bickering on the streets was truly undignified, so Lin Ting had them brought back to the yamen.

They had argued the entire way there, continuing even after entering the main hall.

Young Master Zhao was furious, threatening Yang Gongming with thirty lashes. Yang Gongming, however, refused to yield, vowing to expose Young Master Zhao's misconduct and make him a disgrace to the world.

Though there were only two of them, their quarrel filled the hall with the clamor of a crowd.

The yamen runners stood sternly on either side, while Lin Ting at the head seat calmly sipped his tea.

After about half an hour of bickering, Xue Ping, seated beside him, grew increasingly anxious. Glancing at Lord Lin, he saw him watching the two argue as if it were a play.

After another moment, Xue Ping couldn't take it anymore. He rose and approached Lin Ting. "Lord Lin, what should we do with these two?"

If this continued, he had no idea how long they would keep arguing—he was getting a headache.

"No hurry," Lin Ting said. "Let them continue." He would wait until they exhausted themselves.

So Xue Ping had no choice but to return to his seat and wait.

After another fifteen minutes, perhaps having worn themselves out, the two finally quieted down. Seizing the moment, Lin Ting cleared his throat loudly and interjected, "Gentlemen, are you done fighting?"

The two glared at each other but said nothing more.

Lin Ting continued, "Now, speak one at a time. What are your demands?"

Young Master Zhao immediately declared loudly, "This penniless scholar intentionally crashed into my carriage. He must be severely punished!"

Yang Gongming, unwilling to back down, bowed respectfully and said, "Lord Lin, I truly did not mean to collide with him. It was an accident. I beg you to look into this carefully and clear my name."

"Alright, I see." Lin Ting beckoned Xue Ping over. "Go and see if there are any witnesses nearby."

Xue Ping paused. "Witnesses?"

Lin Ting clarified, "People who saw what happened."

Xue Ping understood and left with his men to search.

Soon, he returned with an elderly woman.

The woman knelt in the hall. "My lord, this lowly woman was selling vegetables at the crossroads today and saw these two collide."

Lin Ting sat up straight. "Madam, please recount what happened."

The woman recalled, "At the time, the young master on the left was driving his carriage down the road, while the one on the right was reading a book and accidentally bumped into it." She then pulled a broken piece of wood from her basket.

"The horse was startled and crashed into a nearby pillar. This is the broken piece from the collision."

Young Master Zhao immediately strutted like a winning rooster, pointing at Yang Gongming. "With both witness and evidence, what else can you say?"

Yang Gongming glared back. "You—"

Lin Ting banged the gavel. "Silence! This is a courtroom—no shouting."

The two promptly fell quiet.

Lin Ting then asked, "Madam, think carefully. Is there anything else you missed?" While poor scholars often fell victim to schemes from noble scions, if Yang Gongming was truly at fault, Lin Ting would have to enforce the law regardless of Young Master Zhao's intentions.

The woman pondered for a moment before suddenly exclaiming, "Ah, yes! I remember that carriage was going way too fast." She pointed behind her. "Er Gou was transporting goods and nearly got overturned by it!"

Lin Ting immediately raised his voice sternly. "Who is Er Gou?"

A bare-chested man stepped forward from the crowd. "My lord, I am Er Gou."

Lin Ting said, "Tell us everything you saw."

Er Gou knelt and glanced at Young Master Zhao. "I was pulling a cart loaded with flowers to sell at the intersection when this nobleman's carriage suddenly sped past—almost as fast as a horse at full gallop. By the time he saw people, it was too late to stop."

He then looked at Yang Gongming. "This scholar and another were steering a vegetable cart through the crowded East Street intersection. They got down to carry baskets across, but this one was reading and lagged behind. When he heard the carriage, it was too late to dodge."

Lin Ting then called several other bystanders who had been at the scene, and their stories matched up.

Thus, the facts were clear.

Finally, Lin Ting announced his judgment: "First, Young Master Zhao's carriage was moving too fast. Had it been slower, it could have stopped in time. Second, Scholar Yang was reading while walking and failed to notice his surroundings, leading to the collision."

One was speeding down the street, the other lost in a book—no surprise they collided.

"In this matter, both of you are at fault. Young Master Zhao, your careless driving was the primary cause, so you bear the main responsibility."

"As for Yang Gongming, reading while crossing the street makes you secondarily responsible."

Young Master Zhao immediately protested, "Lord Lin, this ruling isn't fair! I am the second son of the Zhao Duke's household—aren't you afraid of my father's anger?"

Ah, another one playing the family card.

Clearly, he hadn’t learned from the Marquis of Anding’s example. In such sensitive times, the wise laid low—not brawled in the streets.

Lin Ting was unafraid of the Zhao Duke. He slammed his teacup down. "Oh? You wish to intimidate me with your father?"

Young Master Zhao lifted his chin proudly, as if waiting for Lin Ting to back down.

Lin Ting narrowed his eyes. "Do you know my current position?"

Young Master Zhao sneered, "The Imperial Examiner for this year's imperial examination."

Lin Ting pressed, "And who do I answer to?"

A flicker of hesitation crossed Young Master Zhao’s face. "...The Emperor?"

Lin Ting scoffed. "So you do understand. Today, even if your father himself came, I would still punish you all the same. Bailiffs, take Young Master Zhao out for twenty strokes of the rod, and Yang Gongming for ten."

Young Master Zhao was stunned. "Lin Ting! Don’t think you can abuse your power just because the Emperor favors you! You’ll regret this!" The bailiffs seized him and dragged him away.

His struggling figure soon vanished from sight.

Moments later, screams of pain rang out from the courtyard.

Prefect Xue trembled with fear and whispered to Lin Ting, "Lord Lin, he is the Zhao Duke’s son! What if he’s seriously injured? How will we explain this to the Duke?"

Lin Ting took a sip of tea, puzzled. "Why should I explain anything? The Zhao Duke had better worry about explaining himself to the Emperor."

Scholars had long despised noble scions for their malicious schemes. By tomorrow, this incident would spread across the capital. Once the literati put brush to paper, how would the Zhao Duke dare show his face before the Emperor?

This punishment would serve as a warning to all scheming noble scions.

When he went out again, both men had already been caned.

Zhao Heng was beaten until he wished for death, and Lin Ting ordered him dragged back to the Duke of Zhao's residence.

As for Yang Gongming, though he had received ten strokes, there was no outward sign of pain on his face. When Lin Ting approached, he even managed to bow and say, "Thank you, Lord Lin."

Lin Ting patted his shoulder. "Be cautious these next few days. With the imperial examination approaching, those aristocratic young masters have long had their eyes on you."

At this, Yang Gongming sighed in frustration. "I'm just an ordinary provincial exam first-place scholar—dirt-poor and unimportant. What could they possibly want from me?"

Lin Ting's lips twitched. Ordinary—first-place?

Did this man misunderstand the meaning of "ordinary" or "first-place"?

"Still, rest assured, my lord. I won’t let them succeed."

Lin Ting escorted Yang Gongming outside the government office, where a cart loaded with vegetables stood parked. A man stood beside it—likely Yang Gongming’s friend.

Yang Gongming pulled the man forward. "A Qiu, this is Lord Lin, also the Imperial Examiner for this year’s imperial examination."

When the man turned around, Lin Ting finally got a clear look at his face—thick eyebrows, large eyes, and straw-colored hair. Surprised, he asked, "He’s not from Great Yong, is he?"

Yang Gongming scratched his head sheepishly. "A Qiu is from Yelang."

Yelang? Lin Ting went instantly on alert. "Why is a Yelang man here?"

In recent years, Yelang and Great Yong had frequently clashed in war, making their peoples as incompatible as oil and water.

Yang Gongming explained, "Though A Qiu is from Yelang, his family suffered disaster long ago—his parents and siblings all perished. He wandered alone to Great Yong and now lives at Nanxiang Temple, usually helping the abbot deliver vegetables to officials in the capital."

Suddenly, he slapped his forehead. "Ah! We still have to finish delivering this cart of vegetables today—we’re running late. Lord Lin, we must be going now."

Lin Ting watched them go, then suddenly called out, "Qingshan!"

A dark figure instantly landed beside him.

Lin Ting jumped. "So the Tianxuan Guard really exists?" He had only tried calling out of curiosity, never expecting someone to actually appear.

Qingshan bowed expressionlessly. "What are your orders, my lord?"

Lin Ting said, "Investigate A Qiu."

"Yes." The shadow vanished in an instant.

...

The next day, Lin Ting entered the palace as usual, first checking in with Pei Xingjian before preparing to head to the Ministry of Revenue.

Just as he turned to leave, Pei Xingjian said, "Today, you will remain in Chonghua Hall."

Lin Ting turned back. "But the Ministry of Revenue’s affairs—" His peripheral vision caught Zhao Dehai winking at him again.

Hm?

Zhao Dehai grinned. "Speaking of which, Lord Lin has been so busy at the Ministry of Revenue these past few days that he’s nearly forgotten his duties as a personal bodyguard."

Lin Ting glanced sideways and saw Pei Xingjian silently going through petitions, head lowered.

Not a word was said,

but the message was clear.

A realization struck him—Pei Xingjian was displeased with how little time he’d spent serving him lately.

"I understand." He then walked to Pei Xingjian’s side and took his usual position.

Returning to the imperial presence, Lin Ting felt something was different.

For instance, while he focused on preparing ink, the moment Pei Xingjian’s hand rested on the inkstone, his gaze unconsciously followed.

Those fingers were long and elegant, the tips bearing thin calluses, the wrist strong.

When Pei Xingjian’s finger tapped lightly against the brush holder, Lin Ting’s body shuddered, causing a few drops of ink to spill from his hand.

Pei Xingjian’s gaze shifted toward him.

Lin Ting hurriedly wiped the mess with a cloth. "My fault."

Damn it! What had he been thinking just now? Why had the scene from *Qiyuan Festival* suddenly flashed through his mind?

Truthfully, he still hadn’t answered Pei Xingjian’s question from that day and had no idea how to bring it up. He couldn’t shake the feeling that speaking it aloud would lead to something terrible.

Especially these past few nights—he kept seeing a handsome face appearing near his bed in his dreams, leaving him embarrassed when he woke up, unsure how to handle it.

Every morning, he had to sneak away to wash his undergarments.

In contrast, Pei Xingjian remained as composed as ever. Aside from his occasional migraine episodes, he truly carried himself with the imperial bearing of an emperor in normal times.

Lost in thought, Lin Ting’s hand stilled mid-motion.

Pei Xingjian noticed, laid down his brush, and covered Lin Ting’s hand with his own.

"Minister Lin, what are you thinking about while staring at me?"

The sudden warmth enveloping his hand startled Lin Ting, who instinctively tried to pull away—only to be held firmly in place.

"What this servant was thinking was... rather indecent. I fear it would sully Your Majesty’s ears."

No sooner had he spoken than that hand yanked his wrist forward, forcing Lin Ting to lean down and meet Pei Xingjian’s gaze.

"Tell me."

Just then, the doors of Chonghua Hall burst open, and an excited figure rushed in.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty—great victory at the border!"

Prime Minister Yan stopped dead at the sight before him, the victory report slipping from his fingers and hitting the floor with a thud.