Chapter 62 "You wouldn't happen to have taken a fancy to that Northern Rong..."
The next morning, Lin Yan woke up feeling suffocated.
It wasn't an illness, it was purely physical—someone was holding him too tightly, their face buried in his neck, their breath hot, their presence incredibly strong.
Lin Yan spent a full three seconds contemplating life, recalling how she had gone from a dramatic confession scene to sharing a bed with someone last night.
Memories flooded back, and her cheeks flushed bright red.
He carefully tried to move the heavy arm that was across his waist.
As soon as I moved, a sleepy, nasal voice came from above my head: "Hmm?"
The arms wrapped around her waist didn't loosen; instead, they tightened even more, and she even rubbed against him.
Lin Yan froze, not daring to breathe.
Xiao Che seemed to be fully awake as well. He looked down at the person he was holding like a quail, chuckled softly, and asked in a voice that was hoarse with the urge to wake up in the morning, "Awake?"
"...Mmm." Lin Yan's voice was muffled under the covers.
"Did you sleep well?" Xiao Che's tone was so natural, as if sharing a bed was a matter of course.
What could Lin Yan say? That he slept like a log? Did he have no shame?
He chose to remain silent.
Xiao Che didn't seem to expect an answer from him. He hugged him for a while longer before reluctantly letting go and sitting up.
"It's getting late, time to get up." Xiao Che said, and very naturally reached out to tidy up Lin Yan's messy sideburns.
Lin Yan recoiled as if he had been electrocuted.
Xiao Che's hand paused in mid-air, his eyes darkening for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure, his tone remaining calm: "This morning at court, you..."
"Your Majesty, I know!" Lin Yan answered quickly, scrambling off the bed and nearly tripping over the blanket. "Your Majesty, I'll go back and change into my official robes right away!"
Instead of letting him go to court with that "emperor's smell," it's better to just stab him.
Xiao Che found it both amusing and helpless to see him so flustered and eager to escape the scene of the crime.
"No need to go back to the manor." Xiao Che got out of bed and called out, "Li Defu."
Li Defu seemed to have been waiting outside the door. He entered in response to the call, his head bowed and eyes lowered. Behind him followed a string of eunuchs carrying toiletries and brand-new official robes.
"Help Lord Lin change his clothes," Xiao Che instructed, while he himself opened his arms and allowed the palace servants to help him put on the majestic dragon robe.
Lin Yan stared into thought as he looked at the scarlet official robe that was clearly made to his exact size and was made without a single wrinkle.
Isn't Your Majesty's preparation a little too thorough?
Is he really not the rabbit waiting to be caught in the trap?
Under Li Defu's attentive service, saying "Lord Lin, please raise your hand" and "Lord Lin, please turn around," Lin Yan, feeling dizzy, changed into his official robes and tied his hair into a crown.
During this time, Xiao Che's gaze would occasionally drift over, filled with undisguised admiration, making Lin Yan's scalp tingle. He could only keep his eyes down and pretend that he was an emotionless clothes hanger.
After they finished getting ready, the two had a simple breakfast together.
Lin Yanshi was still very shy, wishing she could bury her face in the porridge bowl.
Xiao Che was in a good mood and even picked up a small, delicate steamed bun for him: "Eat more, the morning court session will probably take a long time today."
Lin Yan stared at the extra steamed bun in the bowl, unsure whether to eat it or not.
In the end, he silently picked it up and put it in his mouth.
Mmm, the imperial chef's skills are truly excellent; the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are delicious.
Wait a minute...did His Majesty just use the chopsticks he had used to pick up the food for him?!
Lin Yan belatedly realized this, almost choking on her saliva, and her cheeks began to flush again.
After finally finishing their breakfast, the two left Qingyi Pavilion together and headed towards Taiyi Hall.
The palace path was long, and as dawn broke, the air was still chilly.
Lin Yan deliberately lagged behind by half a step, trying his best to maintain the posture of a "respectful subject".
Xiao Che didn't force him to walk alongside him, but his pace was neither too fast nor too slow, just enough for Lin Yan to keep up easily.
Occasionally, palace servants and eunuchs who had gotten up early to work would see the Emperor's carriage from afar and hurriedly kneel down to pay their respects. Out of the corner of their eyes, they would catch a glimpse of Scholar Lin following closely behind the Emperor, and their hearts would be filled with surprise and doubt—didn't this Scholar Lin ask for leave yesterday? Why is he coming out with the Emperor from the direction of Qingyi Pavilion?
But no one dared to look at it for long, and no one dared to gossip.
They remained silent the entire way, yet an indescribable, subtle atmosphere lingered between them.
Outside the Taiyi Hall, civil and military officials were already standing in solemn silence according to their rank, waiting for the emperor.
The bells and drums sounded, and the palace gates opened wide.
Officials filed in.
Lin Yan mingled in the queue, trying her best to look the same as usual.
However, when Xiao Che ascended the throne and his gaze swept across the crowd below, almost all the astute ministers noticed something amiss.
His Majesty seems to be in a very good mood today?
Although he still possessed that majestic and profound imperial appearance, the usual coldness and unapproachability between his brows seemed to have been softened by a spring breeze.
Even the way he scolded people—or rather, reprimanded his officials—was much more refined than before.
Is it because they're happy about the New Year?
Yes, that must be it.
An imperial censor was called out for questioning because of unclear accounts at a local granary. He waited anxiously for the wrath of the emperor.
Xiao Che merely frowned, calmly pointed out a few oversights, and finally said, "My dear minister is getting on in years, and it is inevitable that his energy is waning. This matter will be handled by the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and my dear minister can supervise from the side."
That's it?
Not only did he not get scolded, but he was also not dismissed from his post?
The old censor thanked the emperor profusely and left, completely stunned.
Next, several ministers reported some less-than-ideal government affairs, such as the slow progress of winter water conservancy projects in a certain area, or some minor frictions in border trade.
As usual, His Majesty would inevitably frown and ask questions such as "Why is it taking so long?" and "What are the local officials doing?"
Today, Xiao Che pondered for only a moment before offering a solution: "The delay in construction may be due to the freezing weather, which makes it difficult for the laborers to work. The local government should provide an extra hot meal each day and distribute some warm clothing to boost morale before reassessing the progress."
"Regarding the trade friction, let the Court of State Ceremonial send someone to communicate with the Northern Rong delegation, find out the cause, and deal with it according to the law. There is no need to make a mountain out of a molehill, nor should we lose our composure."
His tone was incredibly gentle and soothing, and his approach to solving the problem was clear, pragmatic, and humane.
The ministers below looked at each other, wondering what was going on.
If it weren't for the fact that the morning court session was still in session, they would all want to go outside the palace to see whether the sun was hanging in the east or the west.
This attitude is so good it's unsettling!
Even the most seasoned ministers, who usually loved to guess the emperor's intentions and change their tune according to the wind, were now somewhat unsure. They were extra cautious when presenting their reports, fearing that this was the calm before the storm.
The entire morning court session ended in this bizarre cycle of "His Majesty being unusually kind and approachable, the ministers being flattered and at a loss, His Majesty continuing to be gentle and kind, and the ministers becoming even more apprehensive."
The bell tolled to signal the end of the court session, and all the officials bowed in respect. Only after the emperor had left did they dare to straighten up, exchanging bewildered yet relieved glances.
Today is truly bizarre.
Lin Yan mingled in the crowd, head down, walking out. The slight embarrassment in his heart had long since vanished after Xiao Che's actions.
Wow, dating can have such a positive effect?
So, the plot in the novel where the CEO's wife goes to the company can actually be real?
As I was lost in thought, someone gently tugged at my arm.
Looking back, I saw my father, Lin Chengji.
The old father's face showed obvious worry as he lowered his voice: "Yan'er, His Majesty didn't blame you yesterday, did he? You look quite well today. Did you come from Qingyi Pavilion?"
Lin Yan then remembered that he had been "drunk and hadn't returned home" last night, and this morning he had gone directly from the palace to court without informing his family.
He quickly said, "Father, don't worry. His Majesty is magnanimous and didn't blame me. Yesterday... uh, later the effects of the alcohol kicked in, and I was really tired, so I rested at Qingyi Pavilion."
Lin Chengji's seat was not next to Lin Yan's, so he didn't know that Lin Yan hadn't drunk any alcohol yesterday; he had only had mutton offal soup.
After carefully observing his son's expression, Lin Chengji was somewhat relieved to see that he did not appear to have suffered any injustice or fright. However, he still couldn't help but grumble, "Although it is His Majesty's grace, you must remember your place and not take it for granted. Qingyi Pavilion is, after all, a palace garden. How can you treat it as your own bedroom and stay there at will..."
"Yes, yes, I understand." Lin Yan nodded repeatedly, afraid that his father would delve deeper into the topic. "Father, aren't you going to the government office today?"
"Of course we'll go," Lin Chengji said, but he didn't move. Instead, he gestured for Lin Yan to walk a few steps to a less crowded area, a hint of hesitation on his face. "Yan'er, don't take the Northern Rong prince's ridiculous behavior at yesterday's palace banquet to heart."
Lin Yan was taken aback when his father suddenly brought this up. He paused for a moment and said, "Dad, I'm fine. Just pretend I was barked at by a dog."
This metaphor, though crude, is effective.
Lin Chengji was taken aback by his son's words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, but seeing Lin Yan's calm expression, which did not seem like a forced smile, he felt a little more at ease.
He hesitated for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, and lowered his voice even further: "Yan'er, you told me before that you admired a man, do you really believe that?"
Lin Yan's scalp tightened, and he nodded solemnly: "Father, I am not joking. I have thought this matter through carefully."
Lin Chengji's face turned pale, then green, then pale again, finally settling into a long sigh, filled with endless exhaustion and a barely perceptible sob: "My Lin family... how could this happen... it's all my fault..."
“Father, this has nothing to do with you and Mother,” Lin Yan quickly said. “It’s innate, and it can’t be changed.”
Lin Chengji remained silent for a long time before finally speaking with difficulty: "If that's the case... do you have someone you like?" He asked with great difficulty, as if every word was burning his tongue.
Lin Yan's heart skipped a beat.
What could he say? That your son not only had someone he liked, but also had the audacity to abduct the emperor, and that the emperor was quite happy about it?
He was afraid his father would have a heart attack on the spot.
Lin Yan's eyes darted around, and he mumbled, "This..."
Lin Chengji stared at his son for a long time, then suddenly said, "You don't mean you've taken a fancy to that Northern Rong prince, do you?"
"Cough cough cough!" Lin Yan almost choked on his own saliva. "Dad! What are you thinking? How could that be? I'm not blind!"
His expression of disgust was so genuine that it instantly dispelled Lin Chengji's doubts.
The old father breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't that brain-dead barbarian.
But new worries immediately arose in my mind.
If it's not the prince of the Northern Rong, then who could it be?
There are indeed officials and nobles in the capital who are fond of male homosexuality and have a penchant for male lovers, but who would be a suitable match? With his own son possessing such good looks and talent, is he really destined to become someone else's concubine...?
Lin Chengji felt increasingly distressed as he thought about it, and his face became sorrowful again.
Lin Yan looked at his father's sorrowful expression, as if saying, "My good cabbage is going to be eaten by some pig," and felt both amused and bittersweet.
He hesitated for a long time, thinking that it was better to have a short pain than a long one. Since he would find out sooner or later anyway, he might as well give his father a heads-up.
Licking his slightly dry lips, Lin Yan lowered his voice so low that only the two of them could hear him: "Father, please don't make wild guesses. That person's identity is a bit special, and I can't say for the time being."
Lin Chengji's heart leaped into his throat: "Special? How so? Could it be that you already have a family?" That would be truly terrible!
"No, no!" Lin Yan quickly waved his hand. "Absolutely no family! It's just that I have a very high status, extremely high."
Very high status? Extremely high status?
Lin Chengji's mind raced as he went through all the high-ranking nobles and court officials in the capital who were either unmarried or had questionable reputations. The more he thought about it, the paler his face became.
A prince? A duke? Or one of His Majesty's close advisors and powerful eunuchs?
None of them are easy to deal with!
"Yan'er, you..." Lin Chengji's voice trembled, "You must be careful! Don't make a mistake, it's your life's most important matter..."
"Father, don't worry." Lin Yan held his father's cold hand, his eyes unusually serious. "I know what's going on. That person is sincere towards me and would never wrong me. It's just that the time isn't right yet, so it's not convenient to make it public. Trust me, okay?"
Looking at the unprecedented determination and the undisguised brilliance in his son's eyes, Lin Chengji was momentarily speechless.
He sighed heavily and squeezed his son's hand tightly: "That's enough. A son is no longer under his father's control when he grows up. You've always been decisive since you were little. As your father, I only hope that you can see people's true nature and not get hurt."
"Thank you, Dad." Lin Yan's nose felt a little sore.
The father and son were silent for a moment, and walked away in silence.
As they approached the palace gate, Lin Chengji suddenly remembered something and glanced at Lin Yan with a complicated expression: "I'll keep it from your mother for now. She's soft-hearted and can't be easily frightened. We can talk about it when the time is right."
Lin Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Father!"
He figured he could keep it a secret for as long as possible; he simply couldn't imagine how his mother would react when she found out the truth.
After leaving the palace, Lin Chengji went to the Ministry of Works.
Lin Yan stood there, looking at his father's somewhat heavy-hearted back, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
He knew how much this would impact his parents, but there was no turning back now.
Thinking of Xiao Che, those eyes filled with stars, and that tight embrace, the hesitation and unease in his heart seemed to be suppressed by a great courage and warmth.
The path we chose is the one we have to walk, even if we have to crawl on our knees.
Besides, it seems like you don't have to kneel?
Lin Yan shook his head, clearing his mind of those chaotic thoughts, and was about to go to the Hanlin Academy to check in when a laughing voice came from behind him.
"Scholar Lin, please wait."
Lin Yan turned around and saw Prince Qin, Xiao Yu, walking towards him with a smile, accompanied by several members of the royal family.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin." Lin Yan bowed.
"No need for formalities." Xiao Yu leaned closer, winking and making faces. "Scholar Lin, you're quite something! I heard yesterday's palace banquet was quite spectacular?"
Lin Yan's eyelids twitched; he knew this couldn't be kept secret any longer.
He feigned composure: "Your Highness is joking. It was just a farce caused by the Northern Rong prince's drunken misbehavior."
"A farce?" Xiao Yu smiled meaningfully. "A farce that could make that arrogant Prince Agula propose to you on the spot is quite rare! Scholar Lin is truly charming!"
Several members of the imperial clan nearby chuckled softly, their eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.
Lin Yan's temple throbbed.
He knew this would happen!
These kids are so gossipy.
He tried his best to maintain a blank expression: "If Your Highness has nothing else, I still have to go..."
"Don't rush off!" Xiao Yu stopped him, lowering her voice with a gossipy look. "Tell me what you're thinking? Aren't you going to consider it? Even though he's a man, he's still a prince. If you marry him, you'll be a princess, and maybe even a queen of the Northern Rong!"
Lin Yan: "..." I'll consider you my ass!
He took a deep breath and gave a forced smile: "Your Highness, have you finished copying the 'Ten Thoughts on Advising Emperor Taizong' a hundred times? It seems His Majesty is planning to test Your Highness's studies recently?"
Xiao Yu's smile froze instantly, like a chicken being choked.
"Ahem, well, I suddenly remembered I have important business at home, so I'll take my leave first! Scholar Lin, see you later! See you later!" Xiao Yu chuckled dryly, slipped away as fast as he could.
Seeing this, the members of the imperial clan also dispersed sheepishly.
Lin Yan watched Xiao Yu's hasty retreat and snorted coldly.
You think you can't be dealt with?
This interruption helped Lin Yan's melancholy dissipate considerably.
It's just dating, right?
What's there to be afraid of!
As long as His Majesty doesn't mess things up, Lin Yan can keep things stable!
Lin Yan cheered herself up, and her steps became lighter.
Let's go find Xiao Che.
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Author's Note: Given the choice between his son being gay and his son being gay and ending up in the Northern Rong, the father unhesitatingly chose the former.
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