Chapter 59

Chapter 59

For the next few days, Lin Ting was swamped with work, his feet barely touching the ground. Finally, after five days, his day of rest arrived.

On this day, he had just risen when Zhang Ji burst in, looking frantic.

“What’s the matter?”

Zhang Ji reported, “My lord, someone named A Qiu is at the door, asking to see you.”

A Qiu? Wasn’t that the Yelang man staying at Nanxiang Temple? What could he want?

“Where is he?”

Zhang Ji replied, “Still waiting at the gate.”

Lin Ting quickly made his way to the front courtyard.

Passing through the screen wall, he saw a familiar figure standing outside the mansion gate, speaking in broken Great Yong dialect as he tried to push his way in:

“I’m looking for Lord Lin.”

He had barely taken a few steps before the guards stopped him. “Halt! Who are you? You cannot force your way into the Lin residence.”

“If you wish to see Lord Lin, you must be announced.” They moved to turn him away.

Lin Ting quickened his pace. “Wait—” He raised a hand to stop them. “He is… a friend of mine. Let him in first.”

Whatever the reason for his visit, A Qiu’s appearance was too distinctive. It wouldn’t do for passersby to see him and start gossiping.

Only then did the guards permit A Qiu to enter.

The moment A Qiu stepped inside, he abruptly knelt.

Lin Ting nearly jumped in alarm. “Wh-what are you doing?” Thankfully, this was inside the residence. If outsiders saw this and rumors spread, his reputation would be ruined.

He bent down to help A Qiu up. “What’s wrong? Why isn’t Yang Gongming with you?”

A Qiu said anxiously, “Lord Lin, Brother Yang has caught a chill. He’s confined to bed, and his condition is not good.”

Lin Ting froze, surprised. “When did he fall ill? He seemed fine when I saw him a few days ago.” But he had no time to dwell on it. He immediately instructed Zhang Ji to prepare a carriage. “Quickly, I must go to Nanxiang Temple.”

In this era, if a cold was not treated promptly, it could be life-threatening.

Moreover, the imperial examination was approaching. If Yang Gongming fell ill now, how could he possibly study in the coming days?

He quickly added another order for Zhang Ji: “Also, find a renowned physician in the city and have him go straight to Nanxiang Temple.”

Zhang Ji rushed off.

A short while later, Lin Ting and A Qiu entered the carriage. With a crack of the whip, the carriage sped toward Nanxiang Temple.

Upon arriving, Lin Ting followed A Qiu through twists and turns in the temple until they reached a remote woodshed.

Lin Ting couldn’t believe it. “He’s staying here?” He remembered Yang Gongming had been staying in a guest room before.

A Qiu explained, “After Brother Yang fell ill, he worried about infecting us, so he moved from the guest room to the woodshed. He wouldn’t even let me take care of him.”

Lin Ting frowned. “But this is no place to live.”

Pushing open the woodshed door, a damp, musty odor assailed them. Lin Ting covered his nose, sneezing several times before daring to look inside.

The room was damp. At the far end, Yang Gongming lay on a straw mat, his face ghostly pale, looking as though he was at death's door.

Lin Ting was about to step forward when A Qiu stopped him. “My lord, be careful. Brother Yang said he feared the cold might be contagious and told us not to get close.”

At this point, if Lin Ting didn’t intervene, Yang Gongming might not make it. He couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

He patted A Qiu’s shoulder reassuringly. “It’s fine. I’ll just take a look.” He walked to Yang Gongming’s side, crouched down, and touched his forehead.

Fever-hot.

Lin Ting turned to A Qiu. “Quick, fetch a cloth and soak it in cold water.”

A Qiu immediately ran out.

Just as he reached the alleyway, he suddenly collided with someone. “Sorry.”

The man eyed him with distaste. “A Yelang man?” He waved a hand dismissively. “Scram.”

A Qiu ran off.

The man, hearing faint noises from inside the courtyard, remarked curiously, “I didn’t expect anyone to live in this hovel.”

His servant urged him, “Young master, this place is too remote. Let’s go back.”

The sound of footsteps crunched over scattered leaves. “What’s there to fear? I just made offerings for success in this year’s imperial examination. If I go back now, my father will just force me to study again. No rush.”

They took a few steps forward and saw the wide-open door of the woodshed. Inside, a young man with features fair as jade knelt beside a straw mat. Upon closer inspection, an ailing form lay on the mat.

“Young master, be careful. That person is ill. Don’t get infected.”

The young master chuckled. “Judging by his threadbare garb, he must be a scholar taking this year’s imperial examination.”

He shook his head. “Hmph, with the exam just days away, falling ill now means he’s probably doomed to fail this year. Let’s go.”

Their voices faded into the distance.

A Qiu returned with a cool, damp cloth, and Lin Ting placed it on Yang Gongming’s forehead.

Just then, hurried footsteps approached from outside. An elderly man carrying a medicine box rushed over and asked, “My lord, did you summon a physician?”

Lin Ting stood and stepped aside. “Yes, please take a look at my friend.”

The physician set down his box, crouched, and glanced at the man on the straw mat, whose flushed cheeks betrayed his discomfort.

“Ah, this young man’s malady struck suddenly.” The physician took Yang Gongming’s wrist and carefully examined him.

Lin Ting and A Qiu stood by nervously.

After a long while, the physician released Yang Gongming’s wrist and stroked his white beard. “Don’t worry, my lord. This young man suffers but from a chill. I’ll prepare a medicinal decoction, and he’ll be fine after drinking it.”

He took out paper and a brush from his box, wrote a full page, and handed it to Lin Ting. “But remember, he must avoid further exposure to cold during this time.”

Glancing at the dilapidated woodshed, he added, “It’d be best to move him to a cleaner guest room.”

“Thank you, physician.” Lin Ting produced silver in payment.

Just then, Yang Gongming in the corner stirred weakly. Seeing the scene before him, he weakly protested, “Lord Lin, please don’t… This unworthy scholar still has some money. You’ve already helped me so much. Don’t spend any more…”

Lin Ting paid without hesitation and had A Qiu fill the prescription.

He crouched beside Yang Gongming and said, "The physician advised you to rest well these next few days. You should move back to your old quarters."

Yang Gongming turned red with embarrassment. "Once I recover, I will repay Lord Lin without fail."

Lin Ting waved it off casually. "Don't worry about it. Just focus on your studies. Once you pass the imperial examination and serve the empire, that will be repayment enough." *As long as you don’t get some crazy idea and run off to Yelang in the future.*

At this, Yang Gongming’s face fell. "But now, with my illness and the imperial examination so near, I can’t even review my books a few more times. I'm afraid I don't stand a chance this year."

Lin Ting immediately patted his shoulder. "Have some confidence in yourself. You’ve studied for so long—everything you need to memorize must already be in your head." It suddenly occurred to him that in the original timeline, Yang Gongming had also caught a cold before the imperial examination. Somehow, he had recovered and still taken the exam, and came out on top.

Thus, Lin Ting didn’t believe for a second that Yang Gongming would fail. High achievers always sell themselves short, too humble for their own good.

After a few more words of comfort, Yang Gongming’s mood improved slightly. "Did A Qiu bring Lord Lin here?"

Lin Ting nodded. "Early this morning, A Qiu came knocking at my residence, saying you had fallen ill. That’s why I rushed over."

Yang Gongming managed a weak smile. "As expected. Apart from the refugees, I don’t have many people to talk to at Nanxiang Temple. A Qiu is pretty much the first friend I’ve made here."

Since they were on the subject, Lin Ting couldn’t help but ask, "When did A Qiu come to Great Yong?"

Yang Gongming recalled, "Two years ago. He fled from Yelang to Great Yong and was taken in by the abbot at the temple."

Suddenly, he remembered something and pushed Lin Ting away. "Lord Lin, you’re the Imperial Examiner for this year’s imperial examination, and I’m a candidate. We need to avoid any suspicion. Please, go back before someone sees you."

With the exam so close, the fact that Lord Lin, despite his busy schedule, had taken the time to visit him already moved Yang Gongming deeply. He couldn’t let Lord Lin get into any trouble because of him.

Lin Ting also realized his impulsive visit may have been unwise. Now that Yang Gongming was awake and the physician had prescribed medicine, staying much longer wouldn't be proper. He prepared to leave.

"Alright, I’ll go now. If anything happens, have A Qiu come find me."

.

On the way back, he called out, "Qingshan."

A dark figure silently appeared inside the carriage.

Lin Ting said in awe, "The Tianxuan Guard’s martial arts are truly impressive. Where were you hiding just now?"

Qingshan pointed beneath the carriage floor.

Lin Ting said admiringly, "How about you show me some moves? After all, I *am* the Emperor’s Personal Bodyguard—I should be able to protect His Majesty’s safety."

Qingshan frowned, then shook his head.

Lin Ting: ?

"Too old."

Lin Ting: "..."

He took a deep breath and waved his hand. "Investigate A Qiu’s background. Go." If this continued, he might just lose his temper and punch someone.

Qingshan disappeared instantly.

---

Meanwhile, in Chonghua Palace, Pei Xingjian dropped a note into the candle flame and glanced at Zhuo below.

"Lin Ting visited Yang Gongming at Nanxiang Temple again today?"

Zhuo lowered his gaze. "Yes. Yang Gongming fell ill, and someone called A Qiu knocked on Lord Lin’s door, leading him to the temple. Lord Lin summoned a physician for a prescription and sent A Qiu to buy the medicine."

A scoff came before him. "So not only did he pay for the treatment, but he also spent time alone with that Yang kid."

Zhao Dehai murmured, "Lord Lin brought Qingshan along." Though the Tianxuan Guard never appeared in public. Strictly speaking, there had been three people in that room.

Pei Xingjian’s expression softened slightly. "Send the imperial physician to give that Yang proper treatment. Let him recover quickly."

"At once." Zhuo bowed, then produced another message from his sleeve.

"Your servant also discovered that someone has been secretly selling imperial examination questions in the capital recently."

Pei Xingjian took the note and unfolded it, revealing evidence of the illicit sales. He read it in the candlelight, then suddenly frowned and slammed his palm on the table. "Outrageous!"

Zhao Dehai startled, craning his neck to look.

When he saw the handwriting, he went pale. Phrases like "recently assigned to the Ministry of Revenue," "young," and "holds no small office"—

Wasn’t this clearly implicating Lord Lin?

"Your Majesty, Lord Lin couldn’t possibly—"

Pei Xingjian cut him off coldly. "Of course it’s not him."

Zhao Dehai breathed a sigh of relief. In his half-century of life, he’d seen all kinds of people. Lord Lin was honest and principled—there was no way he’d do such a thing.

If not Lord Lin, then—"Could someone be framing Lord Lin?"

Pei Xingjian’s eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, as unsettled as his thoughts. "We'll see who dares to act under my very nose."

With the Marquis of Anding gone, those noble families had lost their backbone and were finished as a force. Yet they still had the audacity to overreach.

He laid the note aside and said calmly, "Summon Lin Ting to the palace."

---

Lin Ting had just returned home and was instructing Zhang Ji to deliver spare medicines from the storeroom to Nanxiang Temple when Eunuch Zhao arrived in person, ordering him to the palace.

After a quick sip of tea, he headed straight there.

Upon entering Chonghua Palace, Lin Ting immediately sensed the chill in the hall.

Then he saw Pei Xingjian, whose expression was so dark it looked like he’d been dipped in ink.

??? Now what?

He stepped forward but hadn’t even opened his mouth when Pei Xingjian spoke. "Minister Lin, I hope you enjoyed your little trip today."

Lin Ting stopped in his tracks. "Your Majesty, you know about my visit to Yang Gongming?"