Chapter 69

Chapter 69

The carriage made its way toward the palace gates.

After uttering those words, Lin Ting drifted into a peaceful sleep, his head resting comfortably on Pei Xingjian's thigh, his breathing steady.

Pei Xingjian sat still for a moment, then, as if in a fit of pique, hooked a finger and lightly pinched Lin Ting's cheek, muttering, "You little liar."

Disturbed, Lin Ting instinctively raised his hand and swatted Pei Xingjian's hand away with a resounding 'smack.'

Zhao Dehai, seeing the red mark on the Emperor's hand, was horrified and scrambled to fetch the medicine box.

"Never mind," Pei Xingjian said, stopping Zhao Dehai.

Poor Zhao Dehai could only retreat to his corner, attempting to become invisible.

Pei Xingjian slowly traced a thumb over Lin Ting's cheek, raising an eyebrow. "A tyrant, am I?" He tapped the table lightly. "Zhuo."

A figure instantly materialized inside the carriage.

Pei Xingjian scribbled a note. "Deliver this to Nanxiang Temple."

The figure vanished without a trace.

The carriage rocked gently as it entered the palace gates.

As dusk fell, candles were lit inside the carriage. Pei Xingjian gazed down at Lin Ting's sleeping face.

Perhaps he had enjoyed his meal earlier, for Lin Ting was still smacking his lips in his sleep, looking utterly content.

Pei Xingjian gently patted his back. "Once this matter is settled, I'll take you on a trip."

.

When Lin Ting woke again, he was met with the familiar sight of yellow bed curtains.

Ah, so he had been brought back to the palace again?

He pushed himself up, only for a dull, throbbing pain to surge through his head.

"Ow," he rubbed his forehead. "Did I hit my head on the bed last night? Why else would it feel like it's splitting?"

As he threw off the covers, a familiar scent wafted up.

Taking in the familiar surroundings, Lin Ting confirmed—he had once again been placed in Pei Xingjian's bedchamber.

His face burned with embarrassment. What would the palace staff say if they saw him?

After dressing, he stepped outside and found Eunuch Qing standing guard.

Hearing the noise, Eunuch Qing approached. "Lord Lin, you're awake? His Majesty ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare yam porridge. Shall I serve it now?"

Lin Ting glanced at the empty courtyard. "Has His Majesty gone to court?"

Eunuch Qing nodded.

Lin Ting touched his stomach—he was starving—and asked for the porridge to be brought over.

He sat directly at the table in the main hall.

If Pei Xingjian didn’t mind him sleeping in his bed, surely he wouldn’t mind him using his table for breakfast.

"How did I get here yesterday?" Lin Ting asked between bites.

He only remembered following Pei Xingjian to inspect the capital's military camp and drinking a cup of wine during the meal. After that, he blacked out.

To think just one cup had gotten him drunk...

Commander Huo had warned him the wine was strong, but Lin Ting had assumed it would burn going down—not that its potency was so high.

Eunuch Qing arranged side dishes on the table, all of which had been specially ordered by the Emperor before he left—all Lord Lin’s favorites.

"Yesterday afternoon, His Majesty carried you back himself," Eunuch Qing said. "From what this servant saw, you were completely unconscious from drunkenness."

The spoon clattered softly against the bowl as Lin Ting abruptly looked up. "You mean to say, in full view of everyone, the Emperor carried me from outside Xiangning Hall all the way to his own chambers?"

Qingzi nodded. "Not just yesterday—last time, His Majesty also carried you back."

"This servant has never seen any official receive such favor from His Majesty before."

*Yeah, right*, of course not. Pei Xingjian just wanted his body.

Lin Ting's breath came fast. So, he’d made a fool of himself twice now?

Seeing Lord Lin's conflicted expression, Qingzi grew uneasy. "Wh-what's wrong? Did this servant say something improper just now?"

Lin Ting took a deep breath and pasted on a calm smile. "No, no. Thank you for telling me."

He quickly finished his bowl, set it down, and stepped outside.

The air was chilly, but a thin layer of sunlight barely warmed the air.

Lin Ting glanced at the bright sky. "What time is it now?"

Qingzi followed him out. "It’s already mid-morning (Chenshi)."

That meant court would drag on for hours.

Since the Emperor wasn’t here, he decided to visit A Qiu in the prison at the Ministry of Justice.

He snagged a passing attendant. "Take me to the Ministry of Justice."

The Ministry was quite a distance from Xiangning Hall. Lin Ting followed the servant through a maze of corridors, handed off between guides several times along the way, until he finally arrived at the Ministry after nearly half an hour.

Several days had passed since his last nighttime intrusion. The prison had long since returned to normal; the floor was strewn with fresh, dry straw, crunching softly under his boots.

A Qiu and his accomplices were each held in separate cells. To prevent escape, each cell was surrounded by iron spikes.

Lin Ting stopped in front of A Qiu’s cell. In the corner, a ragged figure hunched, matted hair obscuring half his face buried in his arms.

At the sound of footsteps, the man peered through one half-open eye. When he saw Lin Ting, he lifted his head, revealing a face gaunt and filthy—only his eyes still blazing with defiance.

Lin Ting stood silently for a moment. He had intended to ask the jailer to open the door, but the look in A Qiu’s eyes made him reconsider.

His fingers tightened around the bars, he called out, "A Qiu."

A Qiu let out a weak sigh. "It’s you, Lord Lin."

He crawled to the cell door, clutching the wooden frame as he pulled himself up, his voice a dry rasp. "Is he alive?"

Lin Ting said, "Yang Gongming took gravely ill after returning to Nanxiang Temple."

A Qiu's eyes dimmed, "I failed him."

"Now that I'm captured by you, do as you please—execute or flay me—but please don't take it out on Brother Yang."

Lin Ting snorted coldly, "His Majesty will determine right from wrong. Did you ever consider that your actions would implicate Yang Gongming? Ye Shilv."

A Qiu suddenly looked up, "You know my identity?"

He pressed against the door crack, sniffing, "You reek of some strange scent."

Lin Ting shuddered at the action, stepping back two paces, "Jesus! What are you doing?"

A Qiu glared at him, then suddenly laughed, "So it's you—you're the one who ruined our plan."

Lin Ting was baffled, "What plan?" Hadn't he followed the script they'd forced on him? His mind flashed to the officials in Great Yong's court who had been swayed in the original timeline.

Realization struck, "So you've been scheming since the moment you entered Great Yong."

Pei Xingjian's headaches were no secret; anyone with intent could uncover it. It was no surprise that the Yelang people had noticed, but he hadn't expected their plans to run so deep.

Timeline-wise, had he not intervened, Great Yong would've been crumbling from within, beset by internal strife and external threats, the emperor's headaches spiraling out of control, while court officials dwindled day by day.

A Qiu suddenly asked, "You and the Great Yong Emperor—you're lovers, aren't you?"

Lin Ting jolted in shock, "What—what relationship? Don't talk crap."

A Qiu: "That day in the prison, I saw him holding you. His eyes don’t lie."

Lin Ting: "..."

This is exactly why making scenes in public was unacceptable.

A Qiu suddenly slammed against the doorframe, eyes wild with rage, "You're only by his side because you can cure his headaches. Once he's healed, do you really think he'll tolerate you?"

Lin Ting recoiled, jumping back like a scalded cat.

"He's an emperor—do you think he's capable of real feelings...?"

Lin Ting covered his ears, muttering, "La-la-la not listening. Someone, gag him." The prison was full of loose tongues—better not let rumors spread here.

Before leaving, he cast one last glance at A Qiu.

By then, A Qiu had been pressed face-down by the guards, stubbornly lifting his head to stare straight at him. "Please... go see Brother Yang for me."

.

Exiting the Ministry of Justice prison, Lin Ting checked the hour—Pei Xingjian should have finished court by now—and made his way back to Chonghua Palace.

As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Eunuch Qing rushing out.

"Eunuch Qing, where are you going?"

Qingzi almost wept with relief at the sound of Lord Lin's voice. "Oh thank heavens, Lord Lin, you're finally back! If you'd been any later, this lowly one might've died waiting!"

Lin Ting sidestepped Qingzi's lunge, catching him by the elbow. "What's wrong?" He looked him up and down—no signs of illness. "Did the Emperor scold you?"

Qingzi nodded like a woodpecker.

Gods knew the panic when he'd returned from delivering dishes to the imperial kitchens only to find Lord Lin missing—just as His Majesty returned from court.

The Emperor had been seething with anger since last night, and your absence this morning had wrapped him in glacial fury that had the servants trembling like leaves.

Under that falcon's stare, Qingzi felt he'd seen his ancestors calling.

Chilling. Since Lord Lin's arrival, this was the first time the Emperor had shown such an expression.

Hearing the reason, Lin Ting suddenly recalled A Qiu's words earlier.

Bullshit! Even he wasn't foolish enough to miss A Qiu's attempt to sow discord between him and Pei Xingjian. But speaking of which—had Pei Xingjian's headaches truly healed?

He turned to Qingzi, "Fetch Imperial Physician Wei for a checkup."

Though confused by the sudden order, Qingzi scampered to obey, scurrying away like a startled rabbit.

Lin Ting watched him go. Definitely scared shitless.

The doors of Chonghua Palace stood wide open. Only upon entering did Lin Ting notice Pei Xingjian's piercing gaze.

He paused mid-step, feeling the weight of that stare. Popping his head around the doorframe, he called out cheerily, "Your Majesty, your subject has returned~"

Pei Xingjian's gaze followed his movements. "Where did Minister Lin go earlier?"

Lin Ting stepped inside. "This subject visited A Qiu at the prison."

Pei Xingjian's fingers whitened around the memorial. His Adam's apple bobbed before he managed a toneless, "Oh? What did you discuss?"

Judging by Pei Xingjian's mood, Lin Ting thought better of repeating A Qiu's poisonous words. "Could this subject... not say? It's a secret between A Qiu and me."

...

His familiar herbal scent wafted by as Pei Xingjian closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Fine."

Just then, Qingzi returned with Imperial Physician Wei.

"Your Majesty, this humble physician is here to check your pulse."

Pei Xingjian frowned. "Who summoned you?"

Lin Ting cut in. "Me! I noticed Your Majesty's headaches haven't flared up lately. Are they... cured?"

Pei Xingjian's gaze turned inscrutable. "You wish for me to recover?"

Lin Ting bobbed his head eagerly. "Of course." His future happiness hinged on this man's health—if the cure failed, where would he go?

Instantly, the air around Pei Xingjian turned arctic. Yet he extended his wrist.

Lin Ting frowned in confusion. What now?

Imperial Physician Wei trembled, practically hiding behind Lord Lin's robes for safety.

After the examination and questions about recent symptoms, the physician declared the headaches nearly gone.

"Lord Lin's healing presence must have dispelled the residual toxins in Your Majesty's system. Soon, the headaches should vanish entirely."

At the news, the palace attendants exchanged hopeful glances.

Zhao Dehai was almost overwhelmed with joy to the point of tears. Finally, the day he had longed for had arrived.

Upon hearing the news, Lin Ting's heart leapt with joy, only to suddenly recall the 'curse' A Qiu had cast on him.

—

Damn it, he had ultimately been affected by those words.

In contrast to the lively atmosphere in the hall, the figure before the imperial desk remained motionless, lips pressed tightly together, clearly displeased.

Imperial Physician Wei noticed the Emperor's strange mood and thought: ?

"Your Majesty, is something wrong?" Wei An ventured timidly.

Pei Xingjian felt like he was having a nightmare—otherwise, why would the words "But I must leave" keep repeating in his mind...