Chapter 185: Hold On, Imperial Advisor! I, the Emperor, Have Recovered 22

Chapter 185: Wait, Grand Mentor! I Have Fully Recovered 22

"What does master mean? This subordinate will remain master's shadow guard for life."

"I'm not testing you. I'm genuinely asking—if I were to set you free one day, what would you want to do?"

Lin Huaiqing thought Xiao Xuan was just pledging his loyalty out of fear of punishment.

But Xiao Xuan's reaction showed no signs of insincerity.

"No! This subordinate doesn't want freedom. I only want to stay by master's side, protect master, and follow master's orders."

Provoked by Lin Huaiqing's words, Xiao Xuan immediately knelt despite his injuries, speaking in an almost pleading tone as he professed his loyalty.

"Hey! What are you doing? I was just asking. Why are you reacting so strongly? Get up."

As Lin Huaiqing helped him up, Xiao Xuan paused, as if something had occurred to him.

"Master, is it because of the Grand Mentor that you want to send me away?"

"Why would you think that?" What did this have to do with Qin Hanyue?

"If that's really the case, I'll never appear before the Grand Mentor again or get in his way. Please don't send me away, master!"

Xiao Xuan's face, on the verge of tears, would make anyone want to reach out and soothe him.

Shadow guards usually didn't reveal their true faces, and Lin Huaiqing had forgotten that Xiao Xuan was just a child a few years his junior.

At that moment, Lin Huaiqing felt as if bewitched, staring blankly at him while wiping away the tears at the corners of his eyes.

"Alright... I won't send you away. Never."

Hearing Lin Huaiqing's earnest promise, Xiao Xuan's tears gradually stopped.

But the moment he turned his head away, the mist in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by the cunning gleam of a victor.

Lin Huaiqing told Xiao Xuan to rest well in the outer hall and returned to his inner chamber, feeling a strange sensation he couldn't quite pinpoint.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly what was off, but both Qin Hanyue and Xiao Xuan had been acting strangely.

Having pacified one side, Lin Huaiqing didn't forget Qin Hanyue, who had made him a spiritual weapon yet had been misunderstood by him.

That evening, he sent his chief eunuch, Yan Weiquan, to deliver several trinkets tributed from the Western Regions to Qin Hanyue as a reciprocal gift.

Since Xiao Xuan hadn't fully recovered, Lin Huaiqing couldn't leave, so he had Yan Weiquan express his feelings on his behalf.

But when Yan Weiquan arrived at the Penglai Pavilion carrying a pile of treasures, he couldn't even get past the door.

The pavilion's gates were tightly shut, showing no intention of letting them deliver the items. After Yan Weiquan explained his purpose, Qin Hanyue brushed him off with a single sentence:

"If it's His Majesty's wish, then let His Majesty come see me in person."

"Grand Mentor, please don't give us servants a hard time. His Majesty is buried in state affairs and truly cannot get away!"

Yan Weiquan's mention of it only reminded Qin Hanyue of that rogue hiding in Lin Huaiqing's bedchamber.

He seemed harmless on the surface, but his mind was sharper than anyone's. Otherwise, how could a mere shadow guard deserve Lin Huaiqing's personal attention?

"I see. No wonder he's stuck there—otherwise he'd have flown over by now."

"Ah!? Well... well..." Qin Hanyue's startling words left Yan Weiquan at a loss for words.

"This seat needs to rest. Go back to wherever you came from."

"Yes..."

The gifts were returned untouched, and Lin Huaiqing had already guessed as much.

But he had accepted favors from Qin Hanyue, so he'd have to visit in person another day to apologize and let him cool down.

He now realized that the first thing one had to learn as emperor was how to keep the peace between people.

It wasn't the harem that troubled him, but his two ministers who kept him so busy.

Before long, Xiao Xuan's injuries had fully healed, yet he refused to stay in the outer hall anymore.

According to him, even the outer hall was still his master's bed, and sleeping there would be improper.

Unable to persuade him otherwise, Lin Huaiqing allowed him to sleep indoors while on duty, as long as no one else was in the room.

As for where exactly he slept, that was Xiao Xuan's call. In any case, whenever Lin Huaiqing had nothing to do, he wouldn't catch sight of Xiao Xuan at all.

Finally free, Lin Huaiqing went to the Penglai Pavilion that evening to deliver the gifts to Qin Hanyue in person.

When Qin Hanyue opened the door and saw that Lin Huaiqing was alone, he let him in.

Though his expression made it clear he was still quite unhappy.

Lin Huaiqing had no choice but to shamelessly strike up a conversation.

"So... Qin Hanyue. That sword you gave me is truly excellent. I tried it—it's amazing! You must have put a lot of work into making it, didn't you?"

"Regardless, this minister's efforts were all for nothing. As long as Your Majesty is pleased."

"How could they be in vain? You've done a great service! That's why I've brought you all these treasures—see if any catch your eye?"

Lin Huaiqing enthusiastically showed off the tributes from the Western Regions, though he knew they might not impress Qin Hanyue.

But these were the best he could offer. Even Consort De and Consort Xian had each only received one piece.

Everything else had been brought for Qin Hanyue. And still, they failed to impress him.

Qin Hanyue glanced down at them, seemingly uninterested.

What he truly wanted, Lin Huaiqing probably couldn't afford to give.

Suddenly, Qin Hanyue changed the subject: "How is that little shadow guard by Your Majesty's side? Has he recovered from his injuries?"

"Yes, he's fully recovered. He was a shadow guard bestowed upon me by my late father, so he's not like ordinary servants."

Qin Hanyue: "..."

If he was a shadow guard bestowed by the Late Emperor, then he himself was a Grand Mentor personally appointed by the Late Emperor!

Forget it—if he actually argued with Lin Huaiqing over this, he'd just infuriate himself. Why bother with a blockhead?

"Your Majesty speaks wisely. Then why has Your Majesty come to see this minister? Surely not to have a heart-to-heart talk by candlelight?"

Pretending not to catch the sourness in Qin Hanyue's tone, Lin Huaiqing gently turned the gem on his ring and mused:

"I'm truly grateful. I really like the spiritual artifact you gave me. It means a lot to me. But I have nothing to give you in return... you don't want for anything..."

Lin Huaiqing paused for a moment, then finally made up his mind.

"I don't like being in debt to anyone. How about this: if you have any conditions in the future, don't hesitate to ask. As long as it's within my power, I'll do my best to satisfy you."

Provided that the condition doesn't cost him his life.

Qin Hanyue listened, showing no change in expression, and remained silent for so long that Lin Huaiqing began to wonder if Qin Hanyue had zoned out.

After a long pause.

"Take your time cultivating. At least reach the Golden Core Stage before you start talking big about satisfying my conditions."

Lin Huaiqing had long been accustomed to Qin Hanyue's sharp tongue.

Golden Core Stage, was it? Don't sell him short. At his current pace, he could break through to Golden Core within a year or so at most.

Seeing the earnest, goofy look on Lin Huaiqing's face, Qin Hanyue couldn't help chuckling.

If this guy ever found out what condition he would propose once he reached Golden Core, he probably wouldn't be laughing then.

After all, this demigod body of his wasn't something just any Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator could withstand.