"Cough... cough cough..."
On the Jinjiang Embanknt, shrouded in darkness, covered in wild grass.
Xu Mingyuan coughed violently, feeling with every stomp on his chest, his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were all expelling water.
Dizzy and disoriented, the Hanlin scholar who had taken a turn around the Earthly Realm desperately, almost greedily, drew in oxygen.
As fresh air gradually filled his lungs, he finally managed to slowly regain a bit of rational clarity.
His first thought: Am I dead? Or am I not dead?
Then he vaguely rembered that before losing consciousness in the dark waters, he seed to have seen a shadow diving into the water.
"Awake?" A leisurely voice slowly entered his ears.
Then there was a sinister voice:
"Sir, I think this fellow is dumbfounded, why not just throw him back in?"
No—
Xu Mingyuan jolted awake, a strong desire to survive making him scramble to his feet, as the blurry vision before him gradually sharpened.
Still, there was that brightly red lantern, like the rising sun over the sea.
Around him, in the darkness, stood one governnt officer after another.
Hou Renng, drenched, stabbed his sword into the muddy ground, stripping off his coat and wringing it out by hand.
Beside the lantern, Zhao Douan, wearing a bamboo hat, sat relaxed in his chair, with the fishing rod still in its previous place.
It was as if everything that had happened just now was an illusion.
But Xu Mingyuan's wet clothes, the ropes still tied around his waist, the ends slashed by a dagger, and the torn hemp sack at his side, all silently testified that he indeed had nearly died.
"I..."
Xu Mingyuan stamred out the word, then like a stray dog that had lost its ho, clumsily crawled to Zhao Douan's side, stuttering:
"Sir, I'll obey, I'll obey! Don't kill , don't kill ..."
He was scared stiff.
Just before, he was utterly convinced that he really was just a tiny bit away from death.
Only after experiencing the great fear between life and death did he realize how precious it was to be alive.
"Oh? You won't think it over? Perhaps, I wouldn't dare kill you? For instance, if I had thrown you down there, even if you had not begged for rcy, I still would have saved you," Zhao Douan said casually, his tone as gentle as ever.
"No, this lowly one knows his mistake, this lowly one was deluded just now, I beg for your generosity, Sir," Xu Mingyuan pleaded without hesitation.
A scare?
Ha, gambling with his life?
Should he wager his precious life on whether the other party would truly kill him or not?
Xu Mingyuan dared not gamble, nor did he wish to experience that desperation in the darkness again.
At this mont, he suddenly realized he had been mistaken about so things.
He thought Zhao Douan played by the rules, and Zhao Douan's previous dealings with others had indeed followed the ga's rules of the governnt.
But the question was, who had Zhao Douan dealt with before?
Ministers of the Ministry of Justice, Vice Ministers, Marquises, Princesses...
And what was he, Xu Hanlin, to them?
Zhao Douan wouldn't use brute force directly against those people because the cost was too great and would backfire.
But what if he truly sank in the river? Then what?
Who knew how he died?
Even if soone knew, was there any evidence?
Without evidence, who would go to great lengths to trouble Zhao Douan over a re Hanlin who was not valued by the Li Party and disliked by His Majesty?
The intelligence of scholars lies in the flexibility of their morals.
"Sir, I am willing to side with you, yes, the previous slander against you were all done under the orders of that bastard Young Master... pah, Li Yinglong!
As a result, I bore the bla for the Li family and didn't even receive the slightest care when I went to their door; I was turned away... That kind of person, Li Yinglong, deserves to die!"
Xu Mingyuan swore at Young Master to show his loyalty, then continued:
"Sir, what would you like to do? Be a witness? Accuse him?"
Zhao Douan sat in his chair, gently holding the fishing rod, and upon hearing this, he "shushed" softly, saying:
"Quieter, do not startle the fish I am catching."
Xu Mingyuan imdiately went silent, covering his mouth, fully compliant.
If outsiders were present at this mont, they would have been extrely surprised.
Who would have thought that Xu Hanlin, who always claid to have "unyielding integrity," would be so spineless?
Zhao Douan nodded slightly, waited a mont, then slowly said:
"Good. There's an old saying in the Great Yu Dynasty, 'A wise man submits to circumstances'... Although my reputation is not good on the outside, I treat my own people extrely well. I am gratified to see you have found your way back."
Xu Mingyuan fawned with a smile: "Yes, exactly."
Zhao Douan continued:
"As for what I want you to do, heh... don't worry, I'm not asking you to be any kind of witness or to accuse soone; I won't make things too difficult for you.
You just have to go back, maintain as usual. How things were done before, you will continue in the sa way until it is ti for you to do work; then I will give you instructions."
Who among those who could beco Hanlins were fools?
Xu Mingyuan had willingly been used before, hoping for a chance to improve his lot.
Now, getting the hint, he imdiately understood, his eyes flickering:
"Sir ans to have hide in the Li Party, to be a mole?"
"Heh, don't put it so unpleasantly," Zhao Douan laughed slightly:
"I am serving the Saint; since you have sided with , you are also under the Saint. It's the Imperial Court's duty to monitor the misconduct of officials; how could you be considered a mole?"
Xu Mingyuan again agreed readily, admitting to his poor choice of words, but a glimr of hope surged in his heart.
He knew that Feng Ju had once served Zhao Douan and later gained the favor of the Empress.
If he devoted himself with all his effort, could he perhaps seek promotion?
"If there's nothing else, Sir, may I... go back now?" Xu Mingyuan ventured.
Zhao Douan didn't make a sound.
Beside him, the old clerk from Lihua Hall, Zheng Laojiu, chuckled:
"This Hanlin doesn't understand the rules. If we don't take so collateral and you turn against us once you go back, what then?"
Saying so, he cheerfully brought over a box and opened it.
Incide were a full set of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone:
"Please do, Hanlin Xu, write whatever I dictate."
"..." Xu Mingyuan sighed, offering no resistance, and obediently knelt on the ground, using the lantern's light to start writing:
"Please speak."
Zheng Laojiu heh'd and pulled out so papers, then cautioned,
"Don't play any tricks, like using unfamiliar handwriting. We've already obtained so of your official docunts from the Hanlin Academy for reference. If the handwriting doesn't match, you know the consequences."
Xu Mingyuan completely abandoned his last sliver of hope and earnestly copied the text with his genuine handwriting.
But he paused midway upon hearing the content.
The words dictated by Zheng Laojiu were unmistakably those of communication with the rebels.
In other words, once he had penned these words, should he harbor any disloyalty, Zhao Douan could use this handwriting to accuse him of the grave cri of collusion.
"Keep writing." Hou Renng sneered wickedly, "Why have you stopped?"
Xu Mingyuan dared not hesitate any longer; he bowed his head and continued copying.
He wrote several letters in succession, and at the end, he even composed a pledge of allegiance to the rebels, pressing his handprint into the sealing mud.
After Zheng Laojiu put away the items, Zhao Douan spoke leisurely,
"That will do; the night grows deep. Xu Hanlin, you should head back to rest. Oh and, regarding your drenched condition…"
Xu Mingyuan replied dejectedly,
"I fell into the river by accident while walking drunk at night. I was not here at the Jinjiang Embanknt tonight."
"Clever boy."
Zhao Douan waved his hand, dismissing him as the fishing line grew taut.
There was a bite!
Zhao Douan flicked his wrist, and a fatigued green carp broke through the water surface, landing in his hand:
"A fine green carp."
The surrounding Jinyi guards chuckled rrily,
"Your Excellency's skills are exceptional; even in such dark night, you still get a catch."
Zhao Douan carelessly tossed the fish into a bamboo basket,
"Take it back to the governnt office; keep it in a tank for a couple of days, then we'll grill it."
Qian Kerou, holding the fish basket, lanted,
"This fish hasn't fully grown; shouldn't we nurture it further?"
Zhao Douan put down the fishing rod, stood up, and languidly clapped his hands, saying,
"Wild fish cannot be dosticated."
With that, he turned around without waiting for his subordinates to react,
"It's late, everyone head ho."
He had originally planned to visit the White Horse Hall tonight to further his sche.
But then he rembered the Old Director had told him repeatedly not to disturb his sleep at night.
So then…
He would visit the old man tomorrow.
Fishing requires patience.
…
…
Li Mansion.
Li Yinglong returned to his ho tonight, feeling quite weary.
These days, the struggle over the new policies had been in full swing in the court.
Li Yinglong had to run about, form alliances, and strategize; on one hand, discussing with his officials and appeasing them, on the other hand, allying with various influential clans, leaving him no energy for other matters.
"Master, there's good news today," the old nanny approached him, beaming.
"What good news?" Li Yinglong asked languidly, letting the maidservants wash his feet.
"The Sixth Madam went to the Divine Dragon Temple today to pray and offer incense. Upon her return, she seed much easier to talk to; it's likely she has realized her mistakes."
The old nanny took credit for herself,
"In recent days, through constant persuasion, I have managed to influence the Sixth Madam to co around. This temple visit was for her to overco her ntal barrier. Won, after all, need a man's support. Now that she is alone in the Capital, how could she not rely on you, Master?"
Li Yinglong perked up, exclaiming in surprise,
"Is that true?"
"I dare not deceive Master," the nanny said.
Li Yinglong was overjoyed, and without bothering to finish his foot wash, he pushed the maidservant away, hastily put on his shoes, and said excitedly,
"I will go check on Madam."
…
Shortly after.
Li Yinglong stood outside the consort's chambers and knocked. Indeed, he found Lady Lin to be less resistant today.
Though still sowhat cold, it was a far cry from her deanor in previous days.
Li Yinglong was thrilled, attributing the change to the old nanny's persistent counsel. He joyfully entered the room, exchanged pleasantries with Lady Lin, and wooed her with sweet talk.
Ultimately, after a bit of coquetry, they climbed into the bedchamber.
His approach this ti, unlike the initial forceful conquest of the Sixth Madam, was decidedly different.
Afterward.
Li Yinglong lay refreshed in bed, feeling as if the stresses of his busy days had lifted.
Lady Lin lay beside him, her arms wrapped around herself, her expression fraught with sorrow.
"Madam, are you troubled?" Li Yinglong asked with concern.
Lady Lin frowned, her expression pitiable:
"Do you see only as your forr lover?"
Li Yinglong ah'd in surprise and hurriedly explained that those past events were over, while Lady Lin seized the mont to act petulant and insisted on clarifications.
Li Yinglong did not think much of it and explained so matters without revealing Yuan Ru's identity.
Lady Lin voiced more concerns,
"I am of humble origins. With you away from the mansion, your other wives and concubines look down on . Even the servants disrespect …"
Li Yinglong grew angry, "Which servant? I will have them executed to vent your anger."
This was followed by more reassurances and sweet nothings.
Lady Lin ntioned she lacked support in the mansion and felt bullied; after so coaxing, Li Yinglong gave her his personal jade pendant as a token of his affection, which finally brought a smile to her face.
She paused to think and said, "There's sothing else…"
"Please, say all you wish to say in one breath, Madam."
"During my visit to the Divine Dragon Temple today, I made a vow to the Buddha. In the coming days, it would be proper for us to return to fulfill it."
"That's all? Very well, as you wish."
Li Yinglong was unsuspecting and moved closer.
But he did not see the icy, detached expression in Lady Lin's eyes in the darkness, devoid of joy or sorrow.
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