Winning the male lead

Guangdong and Guangxi are several hundred miles from the capital, and the round-trip by both water and land would take at least ten days, not including the time spent on official business. Han Qi originally planned to rescue someone, but instead, it turned into a case he had to handle— a major one at that. Lin Le Tian even gave him a jade tablet, which symbolized imperial authority, so he was practically a semi-imperial envoy now.

Lin Rusi was suddenly replaced, filled with resentment and frustration, so he went to a brothel and drank countless flower wines to vent his anger.

When Zong Yan heard from Lin Le Tian that Han Qi had left the capital on official business, his darkened face immediately betrayed his displeasure. He grumbled, “He’s supposed to teach me martial arts, but now he’s running off to handle official matters.”

Lin Le Tian felt a pang of sourness in his heart. In just seven short days, Zong Yan has already become dependent on Han Qi.

However, Zong Yan didn’t understand his little feelings. After a few lessons from Yang Qianyi, he had made some progress and had already improved his capricious temper. He tried to comfort himself, saying, “He’s from the Jinyiwei, handling official business is his duty.”

Lin Le Tian was impressed with Zong Yan’s progress but also felt a little discomforted. He gently said, “Your Majesty, with Han Qi gone, I’ll stay with you. It’s the same.”

Zong Yan glanced at him, and with his hands behind his back, he said calmly, “No need, Little Lin, you go ahead with your business.”

His demeanor was strikingly similar to Han Qi’s cold indifference.

Lin Le Tian wasn’t sure what kind of spell Han Qi had cast on him, but the son he had carefully raised for ten years suddenly no longer wanted him.

Indeed, children grow up and stop listening to their parents.

He was deeply hurt. He sighed softly and lowered his head, saying in a gentle voice, “Your Majesty has grown up, and I’m truly happy.”

On that spring day in May, Lin Le Tian, still sensitive to the cold, wore his heavy cloak, resembling a jade sculpture, exuding a cold, distant aura, as if a gust of wind might cause him to shatter. Suddenly, Zong Yan reached out and grasped his hand, looking up at him and saying, “Little Lin, don’t worry, I’ll protect you.”

Lin Le Tian was slightly stunned. Zong Yan’s face, still youthful but with more maturity in his gaze, resembled Han Qi’s in certain ways.

He thought to himself, I feel like a parent whose child has been kidnapped…

The system comforted him: “They’re brothers.”

Lin Le Tian rubbed Zong Yan’s hand, “With Han Qi not here, Your Majesty shouldn’t neglect your studies.”

Zong Yan nodded, “I won’t.”

People can change very quickly, especially when given the right opportunity. Zong Yan, who had once been willful and childish, was slowly showing signs of maturing, like an emerging ruler. Lin Le Tian, seeing this, was reassured. He patted Zong Yan’s hand and left. On his way out of the Zichen Hall, he bumped into Yang Qianyi waiting outside. He nodded at him. “Master Yang.”

Yang Qianyi smiled and replied, “Your Excellency.” Seeing Lin Le Tian’s pale face and exhausted demeanor, he added, “Take care of yourself.”

Lin Le Tian lowered his eyes, “Thank you for your concern, Master Yang.”

Yang Qianyi was a smooth and skilled operator in the court, well-liked by everyone, but never too close to anyone. He knew how to avoid making enemies, and even the Eastern Depot had difficulty finding anything against him.

Although he was a scholar, he didn’t have the typical, pretentious air of one. His family had been officials for generations, and he understood very well how to survive in the political world. Recently, he had sensed the turbulence in the court and realized that the powerful Eunuch Lin Le Tian, who had held power for nearly half a year, was trying to relinquish control and allow the young emperor to take over.

This was indeed a strange matter.

Anyone who had tasted the power of the court would never easily let go. Especially someone like Lin Le Tian, who had struggled so hard to get where he was. How could he just give up the power he had worked so long for?

Even with his thirty years of experience in the political arena, he couldn’t make sense of this situation.

Han Qi, too, was equally confused.

The shimmering light on the lake glistened as the boat sailed several miles. Han Qi stood at the bow, holding the letter and jade tablet that Lin Le Tian had given him. A gentle breeze blew, and the fragrance of the items in his arms filled the air, wrapping around his dark, gloomy face.

The jade tablet, Lin Le Tian’s personal possession, had absorbed his light, sweet fragrance over time. It lingered so strongly that he even dreamed about it at night.

When he woke, he couldn’t recall the dream clearly, but it was definitely not a pleasant one. He wanted to set the jade tablet aside, but it was too important to throw away. He had no choice but to keep it close, unable to sleep peacefully at night.

What kind of incense did this eunuch burn? The smell was so cloying and persistent.

He frowned, wishing the wind would blow harder and dispel the distracting fragrance and his chaotic thoughts.

He had already used the Li Gang to verify the contents of the letter, and he knew it was most likely true. Lin Le Tian had no reason to deceive him. He had once suspected that he had seen through his true identity, but if he had really discovered that he was a fish that slipped through the net, he would have killed him by now. Why would he have brought him into the palace?

Everything felt so illogical, so different from the path of revenge he had imagined.

After two days on the water route, Han Qi switched to land travel. He met with Li Gang people in a dilapidated teahouse, where one of the men, disguised as a waiter, swiftly approached him and said, “Ninety percent of the contents are true. There wasn’t enough time to verify every detail, but the names mentioned are well-known for their arrogance and corruption. The common people have suffered greatly because of them.”

Han Qi picked up the rough tea cup, turning it slowly, and asked in a deep voice, “Is the flood true?”

“It’s true. The part about a thousand households being affected was exaggerated. Only a few households were actually harmed.”

Half true, half false. The man named Hu Qidao was quite clever. Han Qi placed the cup down, turned around, and mounted his horse. He casually tossed a copper coin, “Pay the bill.”

Without Zong Yan’s childish antics or Han Qi’s distractions, Lin Le Tian finally had a few peaceful days. He was diligently doing his official duties, busy cleaning up the court’s affairs. The late Emperor of the Yong Dynasty had been a fool, leaving behind a lot of mess.

Luckily, he had the system, his most powerful assistant. They were in the honeymoon phase, and the system treated him very well, probably hoping to use its kindness to keep Lin Le Tian, the once wayward soul, from turning back. His efficiency skyrocketed as he cleared out corrupt officials and overturned unjust cases, working tirelessly from dawn to dusk.

The result of his intense work was that he ended up feeling nauseous.

And he really did throw up. During lunch, after eating some bland, tasteless dish, he suddenly “hurked” and vomited.

The white broth mixed with traces of blood splattered across the fine tablecloth, and the little eunuch serving him screamed in fright, “Quick, summon the imperial physician!” The palace maids and eunuchs immediately went into a frenzy.

Lin Le Tian dryly said, “…You told me there wouldn’t be any bugs, and that I’d live until the female lead comes of age.”

The system responded gently, “Don’t worry, it’s just blood, you won’t die.”

Lin Le Tian raised his hand. “Everyone, return to your positions. Don’t send for the physician.” He scanned the room with a calm gaze and said coldly, “If any word of this leaves this room…”

The rest of the sentence wasn’t necessary—everyone in the room immediately fell silent, their heads lowered.

He calmly wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, rinsed his mouth with clean water, and continued eating. He hadn’t taken two bites when he suddenly vomited again. This time, the blood was darker than before. The serving eunuch, terrified, collapsed to his knees, stammering, “M-Master…”

Lin Le Tian sighed inwardly.

The system reassured him, “Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

The eunuchs and maids, seeing the blood, all immediately dropped to their knees, exchanging terrified glances. How could the revered eunuch be vomiting blood? But they heard Lin Le Tian speak softly, “It’s fine, don’t worry.”

“Fine” my foot!