Chapter 104 Their son and the emperor were in a...
Lin Yan walked briskly through the courtyard, still wondering why her mother had summoned her so late at night.
As he stepped into the front hall, before his smile had fully faded, he sensed the unusual atmosphere.
The hall was brightly lit. The parents sat at the head of the table. The father tapped the armrest unconsciously with his fingers, his brows slightly furrowed. The mother's eyes were red-rimmed, and she clutched her handkerchief tightly in her hand. Her gaze was complicated as she looked at him. The younger sister sat at the foot of the table, her head down, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, looking very uneasy.
This setup looks like a joint trial.
Lin Yan felt a sudden tightness in his heart, but he maintained a relaxed expression and stepped forward with a smile, asking, "Father, Mother, Mo'er, it's so late, what do you want to discuss? Why are you making such a formal sound?"
Wen Yun watched her son walk in with a bright smile, and her heart ached with unbearable sorrow. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, her eyes welled up with tears. In the end, she couldn't bear it and turned her face away.
Seeing his mother's reaction, and glancing at his brother, Lin Mo mustered his courage and asked, "Brother, did you have a good day?"
Lin Yan was taken aback by the question, and subconsciously replied, "Of course I'm happy." How could she not be happy going on a date with her boyfriend, watching dragon boat races, and strolling through the night market?
His word "happy" was like a needle gently pricking Wen Yun's heart.
Wen Yun took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and turned to look at Lin Yan, her voice trembling: "Yan'er, your mother and Mo'er saw it all by the river today."
Lin Yan's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm: "Saw? Saw what?"
Wen Yun closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her eyes were already wet with tears: "I saw that today, instead of going on a spring outing with your colleagues as you said, you were... instead, you were walking around with a man, behaving intimately."
She almost trembled as she uttered the words "intimate behavior," each word carrying a heavy weight.
Her reddened eyes were fixed on Lin Yan as she asked in a trembling voice, "Who is that man?"
Although her son had long ago confessed that he disliked women and was gay, seeing him holding hands with a strange man under the cover of night, so intimately, still made Wen Yun feel as if something was gripping her heart, making her feel suffocated with pain.
The image lingered in her mind, causing her both heartache and worry.
Meanwhile, outside the Lin residence, a dark figure silently disappeared as if blending into the night; it was Jin Jiu.
Without hesitation, Kim Gu moved like lightning and sped towards the palace.
Xiao Che's carriage had just left the Lin residence and was traveling at a leisurely pace along the quiet street.
Inside the car, Xiao Che's fingertips were still caressing the sachet of twin lotus blossoms that Lin Yan had given him, a gentle smile on his lips as he savored the fleeting yet captivating farewell kiss.
Just then, a very faint rustling of clothes came from outside the carriage, followed by Jin Jiu's urgent, low voice: "Your Majesty, something has happened at the Lin residence!"
Xiao Che's smile vanished instantly, his gaze darkening: "Speak."
Jin Jiu succinctly stated: "After Lord Lin returned to the mansion, he was immediately invited to the front hall, where Madam Lin, Miss Lin, and Old Master Lin were all present. Judging from their demeanor, it seems that Madam Lin and Miss Lin had witnessed His Majesty's journey with Lord Lin today."
Xiao Che's heart sank.
Were we seen?
Is Hanzhang about to face questioning from his family?
Xiao Che could almost imagine Lin Yan's current situation—the shock, disappointment, and worry of her parents, the helplessness of her younger sister... Han Zhang valued family ties the most, so what kind of torment must he be going through at this moment?
He couldn't let Lin Yan bear all of this alone.
This was originally a matter between the two of them, and he should have faced it together. If it caused the Lin family elders to harbor resentment towards Hanzhang, or if Hanzhang suffered any injustice...
Xiao Che dared not think any further.
"Turn around!" Xiao Che's voice carried an undeniable decisiveness, even revealing a hint of urgency that he himself didn't realize. "Go to the Lin residence, quickly!"
"Yes!" Without hesitation, the Golden Shadow Guard driving the carriage pulled the reins sharply. The well-trained horse neighed, and the wheels scraped across the bluestone slabs with a rapid sound. The carriage instantly turned around and sped towards the Lin residence.
Inside the carriage, Xiao Che stood upright, his hands unconsciously clenching on his knees.
He had never been so nervous before. Even when facing his father’s relentless pressure or the urgent military intelligence from the border, he had never felt such a surge of emotions.
Xiao Che's mind raced.
Although Lin's parents were not rigid or old-fashioned people, the shock of suddenly learning that their son was in love with a man, and that the man was the emperor, was extraordinary.
How will they view Hanzhang? Will they think Hanzhang is currying favor with the emperor? Or will they worry about Hanzhang's future? Will they try to obstruct him because of this?
He wanted to personally explain and take responsibility, to tell Lin's parents that it was Xiao Che who loved Lin Yan, that he had pursued her relentlessly, and that he couldn't live without Lin Yan.
All the pressure and criticism should be borne by Xiao Che.
The carriage sped through the silent night, reaching a speed far exceeding its arrival.
Xiao Che felt that this journey had never been so long. He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked at the vague outline of the Lin Mansion in the darkness ahead. He had only one thought in his mind: Faster, faster.
His wisdom and talent await him.
...
Lin Yan was completely stunned.
Did his mother and sister see him with Xiao Che?
Since they asked who that man was, it seems they weren't familiar with Xiao Che. In addition, it was late at night and they were probably quite far away, so they didn't recognize that the man walking hand in hand with him was the current emperor.
If they recognized her, they probably wouldn't be suppressing their emotions and asking questions like this; instead, they would be terrified and at a loss for what to do.
Looking at his son's stunned expression, Lin Chengji felt a mix of emotions.
He had known for a long time that his son was gay and had tried to understand and accept it, but when it was presented to him in such a concrete and vivid way—that his son was really with a man—he still felt an indescribable sense of helplessness and melancholy.
Since we can't change it, we can only accept it; we can't really beat our son to death.
But he wasn't prepared for his son to be with another man!
Besides, his son is a high-ranking official in the imperial court, so busy that he's always on the go. Why would he have time to meet other men?
Where did this man come from? When did you meet him? What is his character like?
A barrage of questions made Lin Chengji's head ache.
Seeing her parents' different expressions and their apparent reluctance to speak, Lin Mo had no choice but to speak again, her voice soft yet clear: "Brother, are you really going to be with that man? Will you bring him home in the future?"
She asked cautiously, feeling completely lost. Although she knew her brother didn't like women, seeing him so close to a man was still a huge shock to her.
Lin Yan was brought back to his senses by his sister's question. He opened his mouth, but his throat felt blocked.
How so?
Should we just say that man is the emperor?
Lin Yan could almost imagine the upheaval that would ensue at home after those words were spoken.
The mother would probably be terrified, and the father would likely immediately drag the whole family to the palace gates to kneel and beg for forgiveness...
Just as Lin Yan was in a state of utter confusion, unsure of how to begin, and the atmosphere in the hall reached a point of extreme tension—
"Bang!"
A muffled thud, not too loud but enough to break the silence, suddenly came from the direction of the Lin family's main gate. It seemed that someone had rushed in and bumped into the gatekeeper.
Immediately afterwards, a series of hurried yet steady footsteps approached from afar, quickly heading towards the front hall.
The four people in the hall were all startled and subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.
A tall and imposing figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the front hall.
The newcomer was dressed in a pomegranate-colored casual suit, which was slightly disheveled from walking quickly. A few strands of hair were also scattered on his forehead, and he was breathing slightly out of breath, clearly having rushed over. However, even so, it could not conceal the innate noble air and profound majesty that surrounded him.
Who else could it be but Xiao Che?
Xiao Che's gaze swept across the hall like lightning, taking in Wen Yun's red eyes, Lin Chengji's solemn expression, Lin Mo's bewilderment, and Lin Yan's panicked and helpless back view.
He arrived too late, leaving Hanzhang to face this predicament and pressure alone.
Almost the instant Xiao Che appeared, Lin Chengji and Wen Yun froze as if they had been frozen in place.
The teacup in Lin Chengji's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter" and shattered, but he was completely unaware of it. He just stared wide-eyed at the person at the door in disbelief.
His Majesty? !
Wen Yun was so shocked that she jumped up from her chair, her face turning pale. She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand to prevent herself from crying out.
His Majesty's hasty arrival at this time, could it be that...?
Ignoring the jaw-dropping expressions on Lin's parents' faces, Xiao Che fixed his gaze on Lin Yan, quickly walked to his side, and very naturally reached out to firmly grasp Lin Yan's cold, trembling hand.
Then, Xiao Che turned around, faced Lin Chengji and Wen Yun who were speechless with shock, took a deep breath, and actually took the initiative to bow deeply.
"Minister Lin, Lady Wen." Xiao Che's voice was deep and clear, with an unprecedented solemnity. "I apologize for disturbing you so late at night. Just now, I vaguely heard you all asking questions outside the door. The person who went out with Hanzhang today and acted intimately with him was me."
He raised his head, his gaze honest and firm as he met the astonished eyes of Lin Chengji and Wen Yun. He spoke each word with resounding force: "Lin Yan and I are mutually in love and have pledged our lives to each other. I hereby assure you both that I will treat him with sincerity, cherish him, and never betray him. In this life, I only wish to be with him alone, and I will never have any other thoughts."
These words struck Lin Chengji and Wen Yun like a thunderbolt.
Mutual affection?
A vow of lifelong commitment?
Their son is with the emperor?!
Good heavens!
Lin Chengji felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, his legs went weak, and he almost lost his balance.
Wen Yun was so unsteady that she could only stand by holding onto a chair.
Of all the men in the world, why did it have to be the emperor?
At this moment, Lin Yan, whose hand was being held tightly by Xiao Che, was also surprised to see Xiao Che abandon his imperial demeanor.
They could have easily used their status to intimidate others, made up any excuse to get away with it, or simply not explained anything at all. The emperor could decide who to choose with just a word, right?
In that instant, Lin Yan forgot his nervousness and his embarrassment.
Xiao Che felt Lin Yan's hand trembling slightly, so he gripped Lin Yan's hand even tighter and gently stroked the back of his hand with his fingertips, offering a silent comfort.
He could guess what Lin Yan was thinking, but the people in front of him were Lin Yan's family.
The only way to win their hearts is through sincerity; how can we suppress them with imperial power?
If you use your power to oppress people, even if they outwardly comply, how will they truly view you and me? Is the relationship between you and me merely that of an ordinary emperor and his subject?
What he wanted was for Lin Yan to be happy with him, and for him to have the genuine approval and blessings of his family, not for him to rely on his status as emperor to obtain a trembling promise.
Xiao Che looked again at Lin Chengji and Wen Yun, who were still recovering from the huge shock, and softened his tone, speaking with utmost sincerity: "Minister Lin, Lady Wen, I know this matter is sudden and difficult to accept. I also know that my relationship with Lin Yan is not accepted by the world and will cause you both great worry. I will bear all the blame and doubts myself. I only beg you two to give me a chance and not to make things difficult for Hanzhang because of this."
As he spoke, he bowed slightly again.
Looking at the emperor before him, who had repeatedly lowered his stance and spoken earnestly for the sake of his son, Lin Chengji felt the raging storm in his heart begin to subside, replaced by a complex mix of emotions—absurdity, fear, worry, but above all, an indescribable feeling of being deeply moved.
His Majesty the Emperor truly cares for Yan'er.
Well, being an emperor is fine, it's still better than being a prince of the Northern Rong.
Wen Yun watched as the emperor held his son's hand tightly, and saw the genuine affection and determination in the emperor's eyes.
The "colleague" that his son described as making him "happy" was His Majesty.
It turned out that their son was not, as they had thought, bewitched by some unknown man.
Thinking about it this way, it's still acceptable.
Wen Yun forcibly suppressed the turmoil in her heart, pulled her still bewildered husband, and bowed deeply to Xiao Che.
“Your Majesty.” Wen Yun’s voice was still trembling, but it had gained a hint of clarity and decisiveness. “Your Majesty is too kind. My husband and I dare not accept such a great courtesy from Your Majesty.”
She raised her head, her gaze lingering for a moment on Lin Yan and Xiao Che's clasped hands, before finally looking at Xiao Che and saying softly, "Children... since the children have such good intentions, we as their parents only hope that they will be well."
This was said euphemistically, but it was almost an admission of guilt.
Lin Chengji finally regained his voice, though it was still hoarse: "Your Majesty's favor is my blessing, but in the future..."
He wanted to say that the future would be difficult, that the world was treacherous, and that this path would be hard to walk. But looking into the emperor's deep yet firm eyes, and seeing his son finally relax and look at the emperor's profile with reliance, all his words ultimately turned into a long sigh.
"In the future, I hope Your Majesty will take good care of me."
That is acceptance.
Xiao Che felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and a genuine smile spread across his eyes. He solemnly promised again, "Rest assured, both of you, I will protect him and ensure he suffers no injustice."
Lin Yan, who had been on edge the whole time, breathed a huge sigh of relief when he heard his parents' words. He almost collapsed because his legs went weak, but fortunately Xiao Che held him firmly.
Lin Yan couldn't help but look at Xiao Che, her lips curving upwards involuntarily, her heart filled with sweetness.
【Done! I knew my parents were the most open-minded!】
[Xiao Che, you're so cool! I give you full marks for that move!]
[Waaaaah, now I can openly bring my boyfriend home for dinner!]
Hearing Lin Yan's joyful expression, which instantly brightened, Xiao Che's smile deepened. He couldn't help but turn his head and, quite naturally, raise his hand to gently wipe away the dampness from the corner of Lin Yan's eyes with his fingertips.
This incredibly intimate gesture made Lin Chengji and Wen Yun's eyelids twitch again. Amidst their mixed feelings, they also felt a sense of relief, as if to say, "Just as I thought."
Enough, enough. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings.
As long as His Majesty is sincere and his son is happy, what else can they do but accept and offer their blessings?
After a long silence, Lin Mo seemed to come to her senses. She looked at Lin Yan and Xiao Che and murmured, "Heavens, my sister-in-law is His Majesty?"
Lin Chengji: "..."
Wen Yun: "!!!"
You can't say that out loud!
Lin Yan couldn't help but chuckle: "That's right, your sister-in-law is His Majesty."
Lin Chengji and Wen Yun both turned their gazes to His Majesty the Emperor, who nodded with obvious satisfaction: "Yes, I am your sister-in-law. You can ask your sister-in-law for anything you want, and she will give it to you."
It wasn't a reward, but a gift, which also reflected her status as a male sister-in-law.
Lin Chengji gasped. His son really wasn't some kind of demon, was he?
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Author's Note: Becoming royalty in another way [doge emoji]
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