Chapter 41 This has far exceeded what is expected of an ordinary person...

Clutching the warm black fox fur coat and the box of ginseng slices that were supposedly good for making tea, Lin Yan floated back to his duty room at the Hanlin Academy as if his feet were on springs.

His colleagues, seeing him wrapped in a new fur coat that looked incredibly valuable and carrying a box bestowed by the emperor, exchanged various glances—some envious, some inquisitive, and a hint of barely perceptible sourness.

Lin Yan pretended not to see it, happily put the things away, and planned to start wearing them tomorrow. Wouldn't it be a waste of Xiao Che's good intentions if he didn't wear them?

Thinking back to how he worked like a beast of burden in modern society, he still couldn't bring himself to buy a Bosideng down jacket in winter, but now he even has a black fox fur coat. It's really a bit surreal, as if the twenty-odd years he spent in modern society were just a dream.

After Lin Yan finished his shift and returned home, his servant boy was there to attend to him.

I arrived right on time and handed him a gold-embossed invitation.

"Young Master, this is a gift from the residence of Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Rites. Minister Zhou is celebrating his fiftieth birthday and has invited his colleagues to a banquet at his residence."

Lin Yan accepted the invitation, opened it, and saw that the signature was indeed Zhou Wenyuan, the Minister of Rites.

This Lord Zhou is his former superior. Although he has now been transferred to the Hanlin Academy, the bond between them remains, so he has to attend this birthday banquet out of both courtesy and obligation.

Moreover... it's Minister Zhou's birthday celebration, and the event will definitely be grand. Most of the prominent figures in the capital will probably be there, making it a great opportunity to expand one's network.

It's not really about making friends, but being in the same circle means you're bound to interact.

Lin Yan stroked his chin, starting to think about what birthday gift to give.

It needs to appear solemn, but not too conspicuous. After all, he is now a favorite of the emperor. Giving him something too expensive will easily cause gossip, while giving him something too insignificant will seem rude.

He remembered that among the treasures bestowed upon him by Xiao Che, there seemed to be a celadon-glazed Yuhuchun vase. The glaze was warm and lustrous, and the shape was elegant. It looked good on display without being too ostentatious, which was just right!

Lin Yan acted immediately, carefully selecting the bottle from the storeroom and packing it in a fine brocade box.

On the day of the birthday banquet, Minister Zhou's residence was bustling with activity, with carriages and horses coming and going in droves.

Lin Yan got out of the car with the gifts. The Zhou family steward, who was greeting guests at the door, immediately put on a big smile when he saw him and led him inside with great enthusiasm.

"Lord Lin, please come in. The master specifically instructed that you be seated in the flower hall as soon as you arrive!"

Lin Yan exchanged a few pleasantries with a smile, handed over the gift box, and was then led inside.

Along the way, many officials stopped to greet him, their attitudes much warmer than before.

"Scholar Lin".

"Lord Lin has also arrived."

"You look even more energetic than before, Lord Lin."

Lin Yan responded with a smile, knowing full well that these people were not looking at him, Lin Yan, but at the imperial fur coat he wore, his status as a Hanlin scholar, and even more so at the favor of the emperor behind him.

The flower hall was even more lively.

Lin Yan spotted his own family members at a glance.

He went to the Imperial Study first today, arriving a little later than the other guests. By then, everyone had already started chatting in twos and threes.

The father, Lin Chengji, was talking with several colleagues from the Ministry of Works, while the mother, Wen Yun, was surrounded by several ladies, chatting and laughing.

Lin Mo, the younger sister, sat quietly beside Wen Yun, wearing a newly made primrose-colored embroidered plum blossom jacket and skirt. Her face was slightly flushed, and she seemed a little uneasy.

Even my cousin Wen Ke came, wearing a brand new royal blue robe. He stood a little distance away, looking somewhat reserved, but his complexion was much better than when he first arrived.

Lin Yan walked over quickly and greeted his parents first.

When Wen Yun saw her son, her eyes lit up. She pulled him aside and whispered, "You've finally arrived. Several ladies came over earlier to inquire about you."

Before he finished speaking, several elegantly dressed ladies walked over with smiles, their eyes lingering on Lin Yan without any attempt to conceal their presence.

"This must be Scholar Lin! He truly is a handsome and talented man!"

"Madam is so blessed. Your son is so accomplished; it is truly the envy of everyone."

"Lord Lin is now working at the Hanlin Academy, which must be very tiring. Please take good care of your health."

The ladies praised Lin Yan to the skies, one after another.

Lin Yan could only maintain an awkward but polite smile, repeatedly saying modestly, "Ladies, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

Speaking of which... why does this scene feel so familiar?

A lady dressed in a deep purple jacket with a peony pattern spoke with a smile: "Lord Lin is such a talented man, I wonder if he is engaged? If not, my family has a niece who just turned 18 this year, and she is first-rate in both looks and temperament..."

“Madam Wang, it’s as if you’re the only one with a niece,” another lady in a lake-blue satin dress with butterflies immediately chided, giving Madam Wang a reproachful look before turning to Wen Yun with a smile. “Madam Wen, my daughter is sixteen this year. She loves reading and writing and is very gentle. Please come over for tea another day so the children can meet her. Young people should always make more friends.”

Lin Yan: "..."

He said that this familiar feeling came from somewhere, and it turned out to be from being introduced to a potential partner.

Before his transmigration, Lin Yan had been introduced to potential partners by his elders, but he always avoided them, as their enthusiasm as matchmakers was truly terrifying.

Wen Yun maintained a polite smile and responded flawlessly: "Thank you ladies for your concern, but Yan'er has just entered the Hanlin Academy and is very busy with official duties. His Majesty also frequently summons him, so he is really overwhelmed. Moreover, the child himself is still a bit naive and only wants to share His Majesty's burdens. As for marriage, there is no rush. It is best to find someone who is truly compatible."

She spoke tactfully, using the emperor as a shield while also indicating that she was not in a hurry to curry favor, thus skillfully deflecting all the probing questions.

Seeing Wen Yun's response, the ladies didn't press her further and could only smile and change the subject, praising Lin Mo again.

"Miss Lin is truly beautiful. Just look at her demeanor; she is clearly well-educated and sensible."

"Yes, Madam Wen is very good at raising children. Has your daughter been betrothed yet?"

Seeing that Lin Yan had no chance, the ladies started talking about Lin Mo instead.

Lin Mo blushed at the question, lowered her head even further, and nervously twisted her handkerchief in her small hands.

In ancient society, young girls were generally quite shy about matters between men and women.

Wen Yun smiled gently, half-protecting her daughter behind her: "My daughter is still young, and her father and brother are reluctant to let her go. They want to keep her for a couple more years to get to know her better."

The ladies showered her with flattery, saying things like, "A good girl should naturally be chosen carefully."

Lin Yan, listening from the side, felt a chill run down his spine. He felt like a cabbage waiting to be picked at the market. No, with his sister included, they were two cabbages.

He secretly glanced at his sister and noticed that Lin Mo's ears were bright red, as if she wanted to disappear into the ground. He immediately felt sorry for her.

The little girl had never seen anything like this before.

Lin Yan was lost in thought when he suddenly felt his sleeve being gently tugged.

Turning my head, I saw it was my cousin, Wen Ke.

Wen Ke seemed to be intimidated by the scene and became a little reserved. He lowered his voice and said, "Cousin Yan, over there... it seems that several officials also want to talk to you."

Following his gaze, Lin Yan indeed saw several officials looking in their direction, seemingly waiting for him to come over.

Lin Yan was immediately at his wit's end.

Social interaction was unavoidable, so he had no choice but to immerse himself in it.

Lin Yan said to Wen Yun, "Mother, several officials have summoned me. I'll go over there for a moment."

After dealing with a round of pleasantries and compliments from her colleagues, Lin Yan felt her face was almost stiff from smiling and her throat was dry. She finally found a corner to catch her breath, but when she looked up, she saw Zhou Wenyuan accompanying several important guests out of the main hall and walking towards the warm pavilion in the garden.

Zhou Wenyuan caught sight of Lin Yan in the corner and immediately smiled and beckoned, "Scholar Lin, why are you here alone? Come over here quickly, the banquet is about to begin, come and join me at the table."

Lin Yan had no choice but to put on his professional fake smile again and greeted him: "This humble official wishes Your Excellency, Minister, boundless happiness and longevity."

Minister Zhou, beaming with joy, was clearly in high spirits. He personally pulled Lin Yan's arm and smiled at the guests beside him, saying, "Gentlemen, this is His Majesty's newly appointed Hanlin Academician, Lord Lin Yan. He is young and promising, and is His Majesty's most trusted advisor!"

Those guests, who were either princes or dukes and nobles, all smiled and looked at Lin Yan with a very warm attitude.

Lin Yan could only switch to humble mode again: "Your Excellency is too kind. I am unworthy of such praise. It is all thanks to His Majesty's trust and the support of all the officials."

After a round of mutual flattery, Lin Yan was personally seated at the front by Minister Zhou, where he sat next to a group of prominent figures.

He knew that this was once again thanks to His Majesty's influence.

As the banquet began, delicacies were served in a continuous stream, accompanied by the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments.

Lin Yan maintained a polite smile, raising his glass when it was time to raise it and picking up his chopsticks when it was time to pick up his chopsticks, but his ears were perked up, listening to the conversations between the people at the table, whether open or subtle.

Sure enough, before long, the topic subtly shifted to him.

First, they praised him for his youthful talent and promising future.

Then some people exclaimed that His Majesty had shown him great favor, bestowing upon him a mansion and gifts, an extraordinary favor rarely seen.

Finally, someone couldn't hold back any longer and asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Scholar Lin is now favored by the Emperor. Could you perhaps reveal something? It seems His Majesty has been particularly concerned about the family affairs of his subjects lately? I heard that a few days ago, His Majesty even inquired about the marriage of the Grand Chancellor Wang's granddaughter?"

A moment of silence fell over the room, and everyone's gazes drifted towards Lin Yan, seemingly unintentionally.

Lin Yan: "".

When Xiao Che was angry, he said he would send Wang Jie's granddaughter to marry a Northern Rong woman. Only a few people knew the truth behind this. However, those who were unaware of the situation probably thought that Xiao Che intended to establish a harem.

Lin Yan put down his chopsticks, his mind racing, but his face showed just the right amount of bewilderment and humility: "This sir is too kind. His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state and cares deeply for the people. We ministers are preoccupied with trivial family matters, how could we dare to trouble His Majesty's heart? As for the matter of the Wang family's daughter, this official has never heard of it. I suppose... perhaps it is His Majesty's consideration for an old minister and a common concern?"

Are you kidding me? Do you think the people on duty in front of the emperor are so easily tricked into revealing information?

His words were perfectly watertight, both praising the emperor and absolving himself of any wrongdoing, while also conveniently giving the emperor the title of "considerate of an old minister."

The official who asked the question was clearly not satisfied with the answer, but did not press for further details.

Zhou Wenyuan laughed heartily at the opportune moment and smoothed things over, saying, "Indeed, indeed! His Majesty's benevolence is a blessing to us subjects. Come, let's drink!"

The banquet continued, and the atmosphere became lively again.

Dealing with these old foxes requires careful thought; after finally making it to the end of the banquet, Lin Yan felt utterly exhausted, no less so than working overtime.

After bidding farewell to Zhou Wenyuan, the family boarded a carriage and drove away from the still bustling Zhou residence.

Inside the carriage, Lin Mo let out a long sigh of relief, patted his chest, and whispered, "Finally out! Those ladies and young ladies were asking me so many questions that my head was spinning."

Wen Yun rubbed her temples and laughed, "That's right, this is the first time Mother has ever seen such a spectacle."

She looked at Lin Yan with a look of satisfaction mixed with a hint of teasing: "It's clear that our Yan'er has really become a hot commodity now."

Lin Yan slumped weakly in the carriage and sighed, "Mother, please stop teasing me. This is no sweet treat; it's like being roasted on a fire. Didn't you see those people at the banquet? Every word they uttered was a ploy to extract information, as if they wanted to crack open my head to see what His Majesty has been thinking lately?"

Lin Chengji, however, took it in stride and stroked his beard, saying, "A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be felled by the wind; this is only natural. Now that you are in a position of importance, you must be even more careful with your words and actions. You handled things very well today, neither revealing any secrets nor offending anyone."

Wen Ke listened quietly to the scene, a thoughtful expression on his face. Today's scene had a significant impact on him, a scholar who devoted himself to studying the classics.

Lin Yan sighed, gazing at the lights flashing outside the carriage window, and suddenly said, "Father, Mother, tell me, why is His Majesty so kind to me alone?"

This problem had been bothering him for a long time.

Rewards, promotions, dining together, even concern for his living conditions and warmth...

This goes far beyond the scope of ordinary rulers and ministers.

Wen Yun and Lin Chengji exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

"The will of Heaven is unfathomable. How can we possibly fathom His Majesty's thoughts?" Lin Chengji pondered. "Perhaps His Majesty values ​​your talent and genuinely wants to cultivate you."

Wen Yun also said, "Yes, Yan'er, it's a good thing that His Majesty appreciates you. You just need to remember your duty, do your job well, and live up to His Majesty's favor."

Lin Yan nodded, but he still felt that it wasn't that simple.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what the problem was.

Ah, it is true that a ruler's heart is hard to fathom.

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Author's Note: There's an extra chapter! Scroll down to find it! [heart emoji]