Chapter 35 brought him to someone who understood him...
Lin Yan threw off the warm brocade quilt and let out a huge yawn.
He pushed open the door, but instead of rushing out as usual, he did not.
The reason is simple: the new house is just too close to the palace!
How close? So close that he felt he could step out the gate, turn right, and walk a few more steps and crash headfirst into a pillar of the Taiyi Hall.
Father Lin Chengji had also finished getting ready. The father and son looked at each other and saw something called "composure" on each other's faces.
In the past, at this time, they would have to be jostled around in the carriage until their souls left their bodies in order to make it to the morning court session.
Now, however, I can leisurely have breakfast and then stroll out the door.
"Father, please." Lin Yan stepped aside.
Lin Chengji smoothed out non-existent creases on his official robe and nodded: "Hmm."
The father and son walked side by side out of the imperial residence in Anxingfang and boarded a carriage bound for the palace.
They moved unhurriedly, even having the leisure to glance at the frost flowers hanging on the withered branches by the roadside.
That's...outrageous.
Lin Yan was even a little unaccustomed to it.
Is this the happiness of living next door to your workplace?
The morning court session was still long, but perhaps because he had slept enough, Lin Yan found it less unbearable.
At least when I'm standing and taking a nap, my center of gravity is more stable.
After the court session ended, Lin Chengji went to the Ministry of Works to report for duty.
Lin Yan stood there, somewhat bewildered.
He is now a Hanlin Academician, so logically... he should report to the Hanlin Academy?
But His Majesty didn't give him any specific instructions yesterday about where he should go to work.
Just as he was hesitating, a young eunuch quietly slipped to his side, bowing respectfully: "Scholar Lin, His Majesty has issued an edict requesting an audience at the Imperial Study."
have to.
No need to choose anymore.
The boss summoned him directly.
Lin Yan immediately perked up and followed the young eunuch to the Imperial Study.
Along the way, every palace maid and eunuch he encountered bowed and gave way to him, their respectful attitude making his scalp tingle.
Is this what it feels like to get promoted?
The Imperial Study was warm and inviting, with the scent of agarwood even stronger than outside.
Xiao Che was engrossed in reviewing the first batch of memorials when he heard the announcement. Without even looking up, he simply pointed to a newly set-up desk beside him and said, "You've arrived? Sit down. There are a few reports over there about the cold wave in the north. Take a look and summarize them."
His tone was so natural that it was as if Lin Yan had been serving as a Hanlin Academician for a long time.
Lin Yan responded with a "Yes," and walked to the desk to sit down.
The desk was made of fine huanghuali wood, and it was fully equipped with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and even a cup of steaming tea.
This treatment was more than a hundred times better than what I received at the Ministry of Rites.
He picked up the stack of reports and began to carefully read through them.
As I looked at it, my brows furrowed.
The Northern Rong have come to ask for help again.
This time the reason is quite novel—to propose marriage to the Princess of Dayu and form a lifelong bond.
The report praised the Northern Rong to the skies, as if as long as the princess married into the Northern Rong, they would immediately become the most loyal watchdogs of the Great Yu, and from then on the border would be peaceful and the land would be full of cattle and sheep.
Lin Yan's lips twitched.
[A marriage alliance? Another marriage alliance?]
[Can't these people think of anything other than marrying off a princess?]
[The princess is like a brick; she can be moved wherever she's needed.]
[Life is tough for the Northern Rong; they can't rely on robbery anymore, so they're trying to get something for nothing—marry a princess, reap all the benefits, and then turn on me faster than flipping a book! This scheme is practically spitting fire in my face!]
[If we ever go to war with my Great Yu, won't we have to sacrifice the princess's head as a sacrifice to the flag?]
Lin Yan inwardly ranted, but on the surface he had to maintain the composure of a Hanlin scholar, carefully squeezing out the fluff from the report and extracting the key information.
Having just finished tidying up, Xiao Che put down his vermilion brush and rubbed his temples: "Finished reading? Tell me, what do you think of the Northern Rong's request for a marriage alliance?"
Here we are, the boss has asked a question.
Lin Yan immediately got into character, stood up, bowed his head, and spoke in a calm and objective tone: "Your Majesty, the Northern Rong's request for marriage is ostensibly to forge an alliance between the two countries, but in reality, due to the continuous droughts last year and this spring, many livestock have frozen to death, making the tribe's livelihood difficult and fearing internal strife, they want to use the name of marriage to actually seek aid, hoping to obtain financial and material assistance from our dynasty to get through the harsh winter."
[See! I knew it! They only remembered our princess when they were so poor they couldn't even afford to eat!]
Why don't you think about marriage alliances when you're busy burning, killing, and looting?
[Pah! Shameless!]
Xiao Che picked up his teacup, and using the rising steam to conceal the slight curve of his lips.
"Hmm, that's a reasonable analysis." He slowly sipped his tea. "So, in your opinion, how should this matter be handled?"
Lin Yan took a deep breath, knowing that the crucial moment had arrived.
He organized his thoughts, striving to express his views while remaining respectful: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, marriage alliance... is by no means the best course of action."
Although these words might displease the emperor, Lin Yan still wanted to follow his own heart.
"Oh?" Xiao Che raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. "Tell me in detail."
“The Northern Rong are wolves in sheep’s clothing, always fearing power but not gratitude. Even if we marry a princess and provide them with money and provisions, it will be difficult to satisfy their greed. On the contrary, it may embolden them and make them think that our dynasty is afraid of war and can be bullied.” Lin Yan said while carefully observing Xiao Che’s expression.
[What's the difference between sending money and provisions to marry off a princess and feeding fresh meat to a hungry wolf?]
Feeding it too much will only make it more aggressive!
Why should our princess of Dayu have to sacrifice herself to feed the wolves?
"Moreover," Lin Yan paused, his voice deepening, "the princess is of noble birth, yet she is being married off to a harsh and cold land where she cannot speak the language and has different customs. Her safety is uncertain. If internal strife breaks out in the Northern Rong, or if they betray the alliance again in the future, the princess will be the first to suffer. This is tantamount to sending a sheep into the tiger's den. It is not the act of a benevolent ruler, and it will chill the hearts of all the people under heaven."
He spoke with some emotion, recalling the princesses in history who were married off to foreign lands and suffered tragic fates, and a surge of indignation welled up in his heart.
[I, a concubine, have sacrificed myself to secure the nation; I know not where a general is needed now. How pitiful.]
Are all the officials in the court dead? Do they need a weak woman to bring about peace?
[The princes can live comfortably as wealthy idlers in the capital, while the princess has to go to a remote, desolate land for a political marriage? Why?!]
[If the Northern Rong were truly sincere, we could have sent a prince to marry our princess! They want to marry our princess? No way!]
Xiao Che's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup, and a bright glint flashed in his eyes.
These words struck a chord with him.
When he first ascended the throne, his power base was not yet secure, and the northern barbarians were stirring up trouble. Many veteran officials in the court jumped out and clamored to follow the example of the previous dynasty and select a woman from the imperial family for a marriage alliance in exchange for peace on the border.
He then slammed those memorials to the ground and berated the group of old ministers mercilessly.
Finally, he overruled all objections, mobilized his elite troops, and gave the Northern Rong a sound beating, which kept them in line for the next two years.
Unexpectedly, after only a short while of calm, they reverted to their old ways.
What displeased him even more was that he had previously summoned Wei Hongwen to ask for his opinion on the matter.
Wei Hongwen quoted extensively from classical texts, spouting a lot of beautiful words such as "pacifying distant peoples" and "marrying daughters to them, so that their sons and grandsons will forever be vassals." He also expressed considerable admiration for women who could sacrifice themselves for the country.
That pedantic, hypocritical attitude, and the view of women as mere tools, almost made Xiao Che vomit.
Hearing Lin Yan's completely different, insightful, and penetrating views, especially the line "Sending a concubine to secure the country, I wonder where a general is needed," is like drinking ice dew on a sweltering summer day—utterly exhilarating.
Xiao Che looked down at the young minister below who appeared respectful on the surface but seemed to harbor a roaring beast within, and the more he looked at him, the more pleasing he found him.
Lin Yan certainly didn't disappoint him.
He has unique insights, a passionate heart, and is not bound by worldly conventions.
Finally... he met someone who understood his heart and shared his ideals.
Xiao Che suppressed his admiration and remained expressionless, saying only calmly, "What Minister Lin said is very much in line with my thoughts."
Lin Yan felt relieved. Thank goodness, Xiao Che wasn't that kind of pedantic emperor.
"I have my own plans regarding the Northern Rong." Xiao Che put down his teacup, his tone turning cold. "You think you can buy peace with a woman and some money and grain? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
His gaze swept over the summary Lin Yan had prepared: "I know all this. You will stay before me today and retrieve all the documents and border trade records from previous years with the Northern Rong. Study them carefully. In three days, I will hear your countermeasures."
Lin Yan: "...Your subject obeys the decree."
【Huh? I have to write a policy essay too?】
Boss, I just started working here!
Hearing the heartfelt words that seemed to crumble in an instant, Xiao Che felt inexplicably better.
"Li Defu".
"This old servant is here."
"Go and fetch the set of rosewood writing implements inlaid with mother-of-pearl from my private treasury, as well as the newly presented She inkstone, for Scholar Lin."
Xiao Che gave a casual instruction: "When presenting a memorial to the Emperor, the writing implements and utensils should not be too shabby."
Lin Yan: "!!!"
[Shexian inkstone?! Sandalwood?!]
[The boss is generous!]
Forget about policy essays, I'll even grind out your graduation thesis!
Xiao Che had no idea what a graduation thesis was, but he imagined that Lin Yan considered it even more difficult than a policy essay.
Satisfied with the sudden brightening in Lin Yan's eyes and the forced smile on his lips, Xiao Che waved his hand: "Go, do your job well."
"Yes! Your subject will do his utmost!" Lin Yan's voice was loud and clear, full of energy like he was on steroids.
He carried the large stack of documents about the Northern Rong to his desk, spread out the paper, and ground the ink—using the new inkstone the emperor had just bestowed upon him, which gave him a renewed sense of energy to write.
Xiao Che picked up the vermilion brush again, his gaze falling on the memorial, but he couldn't concentrate on a single word.
In her ears was the background noise of Lin Yan's inner monologue, sometimes complaining and sometimes cheering, while in front of her was a serious profile of someone hunched over a desk, writing furiously and occasionally frowning in thought.
Xiao Che suddenly felt that the dull and lifeless Imperial Study, which had been stagnant for years, had come to life.
He glanced down.
Lin Yan sat upright, his brows slightly furrowed, looking every bit the loyal minister who was "devoted to the country."
If it weren't for the fact that the inner voice was so noisy, it could really scare people.
Xiao Che withdrew his gaze, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, and continued reviewing his memorials.
The only sounds in the imperial study were the rustling of paper turning and the soft slurring of the brush tip gliding across the Xuan paper.
Lin Yan first quickly browsed through the documents exchanged between Lin Yan and the Northern Rong over the years.
The more he looked, the more his brows furrowed.
Good heavens, are these Northern Rong people like a stubborn plaster? Once they're on, they just won't come off!
They come begging when they're short of food, they come demanding money when they're short of cash, they come begging for peace when they're hurt, and then they go back to robbing once they've recovered?
[Recycling, right? Sustainable development, right?]
This behavior is so similar to some modern-day oddballs who always try to get something for nothing.
Lin Yan took a deep breath and picked up the border trade records again.
In March, the Northern Rong exchanged 300 catties of refined iron for inferior furs.
[...In May, a dozen or so sick horses were mixed into the horse trade among the Northern Rong.]
[...In July, officials inspecting goods at the border trade were attacked by merchants from the Northern Rong tribes.]
Lin Yan almost choked.
This isn't a trade fair; it's outright robbery!
[Did we in Chongqing start a charity? One specifically for poverty alleviation in the northern Rong region?]
What are these border officials doing? How can they tolerate this? Are they carrying chamber pots on their necks?
Lin Yan was so angry that his liver hurt. He subconsciously wanted to slam his hand on the table, but he remembered that this was the Emperor's presence and forcibly held back. He could only grind his back teeth fiercely.
No, I need to calm down. I'm a Hanlin Academician now; I must be elegant and composed...
[Being composed my foot! Who can be composed at all?!]
[Your Majesty can tolerate this? Your temper is too good! If it were me, I would have scattered their ashes long ago!]
Xiao Che: "..."
He put down the vermilion brush and rubbed his temples.
It seems this memorial won't be approved today.
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Author's Note: My next book is "Almost Turned into a Hand-Torn Rabbit," can you guys add it to your favorites? [shy]
Chapter 21 has been revised; the quote about the charcoal seller is no longer included. You can go back and review the plot.
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