Chapter 14 Holy crap, His Majesty is so handsome!
Lin Yan was led by Li Lianshun in a daze, all the way through the brightly lit palace road, back to the side hall of Qingyi Pavilion where he was temporarily placed.
The hall was warmly lit and filled with the delicate fragrance of pear blossoms.
Ah Man's royal cat was leisurely lying on the soft cushion of his makeshift couch, its emerald green eyes gleaming with a noble light in the candlelight. When it saw Lin Yan return, it merely lazily lifted its eyelids, as if to say: "Human, you're blocking the light."
Lin Yan moved to the edge of the couch, plopped down, and reached out to pet Aman from head to toe, which made Aman meow in dissatisfaction.
Wu Haimin was imprisoned, the Wu residence was besieged, and he himself was promoted in a muddle-headed manner—all of this happened in a flash.
Director of the Ministry of Rites...
Lin Yan counted on his fingers: 220 shi of rice per year, 700 mu of official land, and 40 taels of silver!
This salary! This land grant! This money!
Is this what it feels like for a poor person to suddenly become rich?
Lin Yan's eyes lit up for a moment, but that glimmer of light was quickly swallowed up by the enormous shadow.
Promotion is a good thing, but this promotion is a hot potato. There's the mess left by Wu Haimin, the mountain of old debts, and the whole group of colleagues in the Ministry of Rites who have just been frightened and have different thoughts...
Lin Yan suddenly fell backward, collapsing onto the soft brocade quilt. Gazing at the exquisite caisson ceiling above her head, she let out a long, deep sigh.
Why is the life of a corporate slave so miserable?
If only his colleagues could all be like the emperor boss.
Aman seemed startled by his commotion and walked over with elegant cat-like steps, disdainfully pawing at Lin Yan's hand hanging by the couch with her paw.
Lin Yan got excited and hugged Aman, purring her all over again, ruffling Aman's fur into a dandelion shape.
What terrible things did Wu Haimin do to deserve such punishment?
Lin Yan was curious and wanted to know what crimes Wu Haimin had committed.
That way, he can avoid some pitfalls in the future and not unwittingly get himself involved.
But who should I ask?
Li Lianshun? He was a eunuch and not involved in this matter, so he might not know the details.
Ask the emperor directly? Wouldn't that be overstepping his bounds by too much?
Lin Yan rolled over, feeling a little irritated.
Ah Man's emerald green cat eyes followed his movements, with a hint of scrutiny as if he were looking at an idiot.
Lin Yan turned over again, and suddenly an idea struck him.
Didn't His Majesty appoint him as a secret guard? To monitor the conduct of officials in the Ministry of Rites... then inquiring about the crimes of his former superior should also be within his job scope, right?
This is called understanding the enemy's situation and taking precautions.
Yes, that makes sense, very reasonable.
Lin Yan instantly found the perfect reason for himself, and the slight unease in his heart was suppressed by his thirst for knowledge (crossed out) and his will to survive.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Yan cheered himself up: For the money, for the land, and to avoid following in Wu Haimin's footsteps, I'll fight!
The next morning, Lin Yan, sporting dark circles under his eyes comparable to a panda's, was led by Li Defu to the outside of the Imperial Study.
Last night, I tossed and turned, rehearsing my possible lines to the emperor eight hundred times, from "Your Majesty's wisdom shines like a candle, discerning even the smallest detail" to "Your subject is terrified, unaware of past events, and fears following in your footsteps." I considered every angle.
Standing outside the Imperial Study, listening to the faint voices coming from inside, Lin Yan's heart began to pound again.
He subconsciously straightened his brand-new fifth-rank scarlet official robe—which Li Lianshun had delivered overnight, and it felt like this robe was ten times more expensive than the sixth-rank one.
Li Defu went in to announce the arrival of the others for a short while, then came out and gestured for Lin Yan to go in.
Lin Yan took a deep breath and stepped over the high threshold.
The Imperial Study was brightly lit, and the scent of agarwood was stronger than elsewhere.
Xiao Che was sitting behind a huge rosewood desk, holding a memorial in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about something.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his gaze falling on Lin Yan's brand-new fifth-rank crimson robe, a faint hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
"Your humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise." Xiao Che put down the memorial, his gaze lingering for a moment on the two dark circles under Lin Yan's eyes, a hint of puzzlement flashing in his eyes, "Minister Lin, you look even more haggard than yesterday, since you've just taken office?"
Lin Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head: "Your Majesty, I have just taken on this important task and I am afraid that I will fail Your Majesty's grace. Last night, I was thinking about the affairs of the office and tossed and turned, unable to sleep peacefully."
[Sigh, I was just worried I'd end up like that bastard Wu Haimin, having nightmares every night.]
Xiao Che was speechless.
Is it that scary?
Xiao Che lightly tapped his fingertip on the imperial desk: "Hmm, commendable diligence. Please take a seat."
Li Lianshun immediately and deftly brought over a sandalwood stool.
Lin Yan thanked the emperor and sat down, his back ramrod straight.
He glanced at Xiao Che's expression and sensed that the emperor seemed to be in a good mood? At least not as frightening as yesterday.
Don't miss this opportunity!
Lin Yan cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound steady with just the right amount of confusion and curiosity: "Your Majesty, I have a question and would like to ask you."
Lin Yan, don't be afraid!
"Speak." Xiao Che picked up the jade teacup beside him and slowly took a sip.
"Yesterday, Wu Haimin's crimes were proven, and he was imprisoned pending trial." Lin Yan carefully chose his words. "I have just taken charge of the Ministry of Rites and have some knowledge of its affairs. However, Wu Haimin has been cultivating his power for many years, and the accumulated problems are very deep. I am afraid that in the future, when handling official business, I will not be aware of the situation and may accidentally trigger the landmines left behind, thus causing trouble for the court."
Lin Yan glanced up at Xiao Che quickly, then lowered his head again: "Among the crimes committed by Wu Haimin, are there any that I should pay special attention to and take as a warning? For example, the matter of forging ordination certificates. I really don't understand why such documents could arouse Your Majesty's anger so much?"
Lin Yan finished speaking in one breath, feeling a thin layer of sweat on his back.
He stared nervously at the tips of his shoes, awaiting the emperor's response, his inner voice screaming with prayer.
[Your Majesty, please understand! I simply wanted to avoid trouble! I had absolutely no other intentions!]
The Imperial Study was quiet for a moment, with only the soft sound of the teacup lid gently scraping against the rim of the cup in Xiao Che's hand.
Lin Yan could almost hear her own heartbeat.
A very soft laugh came from above, breaking the silence.
Lin Yan suddenly looked up.
【Huh? What does 'huh' mean?】
Xiao Che put down his teacup, and instead of showing any displeasure, he winked at Li Defu.
Li Defu immediately understood and quietly withdrew. A moment later, he returned with a tray on which was a bowl of steaming, fragrant shredded chicken noodles, along with two small dishes of delicate side dishes. He gently placed them on the small table next to Lin Yan.
Lin Yan stared at the bowl of noodles: "???"
Is that right? Huh?
"Let's have our meal first." Xiao Che's voice carried an undeniable gentleness. "Minister Lin looks pale and sickly. You must be hungry and your mind isn't working properly. Eat while you listen to what I have to say."
Lin Yan was flattered and quickly rose to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, I am humbled and thank you for the meal."
[Your Majesty, you are truly a mind reader! No, you are a wise and powerful mind reader!]
This noodle soup smells amazing! The shredded chicken is so tender! The broth is so flavorful!
[Wow, this is so delicious! No wonder it's made in the imperial kitchen!]
Lin Yan carefully picked up the bowl of noodles, took out his chopsticks, and elegantly picked up a few noodles, blew on them to cool them down, and put them in his mouth.
The warm food slid into my stomach, instantly soothing the discomfort caused by the early morning rush and stress.
Xiao Che looked at Lin Yan, who was clearly starving but was trying to act refined by shoveling noodles into small bites, and the smile in his eyes deepened.
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching Lin Yan's ears: "Forging a certificate of ordination may seem like nothing more than forging a piece of paper to deceive someone into believing they have an identity, but in reality, it has far-reaching consequences and shakes the foundation of the nation."
Lin Yan held the bowl of noodles, slurping them down in small bites while pricking up his ears, pretending to listen attentively.
[Foundation? Is it that serious? Isn't it just identification for monks and Taoist priests?]
"Does Lin Qing know what benefits monks and Taoists in Dayu can enjoy with this ordination certificate?" Xiao Che asked.
Lin Yan swallowed the noodles in his mouth, thought for a moment, and tentatively replied, "Your Majesty, I know a little about this. Those with a certificate of ordination are exempt from corvée labor and taxes, and their land is also exempt from taxes."
“Not bad.” Xiao Che nodded slightly. “Firstly, you are exempt from corvée labor and taxes, and your land is not taxed. Secondly, with this certificate, you can freely enter and stay at temples and Taoist monasteries in various places, with no worries about food and lodging, and you will be offered food and clothing. Thirdly, if you have real talent and learning, you can also use this certificate to enter the royal palaces and temples, preside over the royal rituals, and enjoy honor.”
Overall, there are many benefits.
They were exempt from taxes and corvée labor, enjoyed meals and drinks at public expense, and could even sneak into the system and live off the government.
[This isn't a certificate of ordination; it's practically an ancient version of a lifetime tax-free VIP card + unlimited food and lodging pass + a direct route to official employment!]
Lin Yan is considering becoming a nun.
"With such benefits, how many people in the world would flock to it?" Xiao Che's voice carried a hint of coldness. "For this ordination certificate, how many people would rack their brains and resort to any means necessary? And how many local officials would use it to embezzle funds and line their own pockets?"
"Wu Haimin and his ilk are just the tip of the iceberg. They collude with local authorities, forge seals, and falsely claim lineage, turning ordination certificates that should have been rigorously verified into commodities with clearly marked prices. As long as the money is there, no matter if you are a notorious bandit who has committed murder and robbery or a lazy local ruffian, you can be transformed into a highly virtuous monk who has taken vows and cultivated purity."
Lin Yan gasped, nearly choking on the noodles in her mouth.
Good heavens! A gray market industry?
If some really tough guys sneak in... ugh! I don't even want to think about it!
“That’s only one aspect.” Xiao Che’s voice suddenly turned deep. “Does Lin Qing know that at the end of the previous dynasty, the world was in chaos and war broke out everywhere? Among the many rebel armies, there was one force that used the name of gods and Buddhas to bewitch people’s hearts.”
Lin Yan really didn't know this. As a time traveler who had traveled to a dynasty that didn't exist in history, he truly knew very little.
"At that time, the imperial court's management of ordination certificates for monks and Taoists had long been nominal, and there were countless people forging ordination certificates. A group of thieves, pretending to be Maitreya descended to earth and the White Lotus saves people from suffering, forged ordination certificates, recruited monks and Taoists, gathered refugees, and called themselves the White Lotus Holy Army."
"They use the guise of gods and Buddhas, but they do the things of wolves and jackals. They attack cities and seize land, coerce the people, and use extremely cruel methods. What is even more appalling is that they believe in superstitions and practice human sacrifice, sacrificing young boys and girls, cutting out their hearts and livers, and offering them to the so-called Eternal Mother, claiming that this will make them invulnerable to swords and spears and invincible in battle. The cruelty of their appearance and the evil of their deeds are too numerous to describe."
Lin Yan instantly understood: wasn't this a cult?
"And then?" Lin Yan couldn't help but ask.
"That holy army was mediocre in combat, but its methods of bewitching people, coercing them, and committing such inhumane acts under the guise of gods and Buddhas were masterful. The corrupt government of the previous dynasty was powerless to suppress it, causing this calamity to spread. Countless families were destroyed, bones were left exposed in the wilderness, and there was no sound of chickens for miles around." Xiao Che's voice deepened. "The founding emperor of the Great Yu Kingdom also witnessed such a tragedy and knew its harm. Therefore, at the beginning of the founding of the country, he established strict laws. The issuance of ordination certificates must be strictly verified by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Rites. The seals of local officials must be clearly identifiable, and the lineage of teachers and sects must be verified. No falsehoods are allowed. Furthermore, it is strictly forbidden for monks and Taoists to spread heresies, confuse the public, or gather crowds to cause trouble."
Lin Yan was terrified, and the word "indulgence" involuntarily popped into her mind.
They all seem to follow the same pattern: using faith and privilege to amass wealth and corrupt the foundation of society.
Lin Yan instantly understood why Xiao Che so vehemently opposed the forgery of ordination certificates.
"Your Majesty is wise. Such heretical cults that bring disaster to the country and its people should not be tolerated." This time, Lin Yan did not flatter him but spoke sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Che smiled and said, "Lin Qing is wrong. It's not just a heretical sect."
Lin Yan: "Hmm?"
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Che said, "Anyone who is detrimental to the people of my Dayu will be eliminated by me."
Lin Yan was taken aback.
Holy crap, His Majesty is so handsome!
A note from the author:
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