Chapter 89. With such a person, what more could one ask for?
On the fifth day of the third lunar month, before dawn, the air still retained the chill of the approaching day.
Lin Yan stood at the entrance of Dan Garden and couldn't help but yawn slightly, a few tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
He took leave today and skipped his shift at the Ministry of Revenue. Instead, he carried the fine writing brush that Chu Ye had "given as tribute," which was said to have been brought back by Helian Feng from his trade trips, and headed straight for Danyuan.
Lin Yan's lips twitched involuntarily at the thought of Chu Ye.
Ever since their "frank encounter" on the Shangsi Festival, when Chu Ye saw him at the Ministry of Revenue, his eyes darted around as if Lin Yan were some kind of man-eating tiger. When handing over work, his speech quickened considerably, as if he wished he could disappear on the spot.
This fine pen is the same as hush money.
Lin Yan understood, of course. After all, who could calmly face a colleague who held evidence of their coming out? Especially since this colleague was in a relationship with the emperor.
I understand, I completely understand.
Therefore, since Chu Ye did not want to meet the emperor, Lin Yan did not force Chu Ye to come with him.
The gate to Dan Garden opened silently, and Li Defu's smiling face peeked out: "Lord Lin, you've arrived. His Majesty is waiting for you."
Lin Yan nodded and walked in as if he knew the way inside.
Xiao Che was not in his usual study, but in a warm pavilion by the water.
The window was open, and a cool morning breeze carrying moisture wafted in, dispersing the rich scent of agarwood in the room and stirring the corners of the mountain of account books and documents on Xiao Che's desk.
This person was unusually not dressed in a majestic black robe, but in a purple robe. He was not wearing a crown, and his dark hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin. He was looking down at an open scroll, his brows slightly furrowed.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Lin Yan. The sharpness and thoughtfulness in his deep eyes softened instantly, like ice melting in spring. He naturally extended his hand to Lin Yan: "You've come?"
Lin Yan took a few quick steps and naturally placed her hand in his palm. With a slight pull from him, she sat down next to him, the movement flowing smoothly.
"Yes, the Ministry of Revenue had nothing to do, so I came directly." Lin Yan turned his head to look at the things on his desk. "So many? Are they all old accounts from the imperial family?"
"Just the tip of the iceberg." Xiao Che rubbed his temples, his voice carrying a rare hint of weariness. "A century of accumulated problems, deeply entrenched and more chaotic than imagined. Land, shops, fiefs, rewards, loans... the accounts are unclear, the records are chaotic, and many have even been altered or lost. Zhang Houpu is old and his energy is waning. He can manage the overall situation, but the specific investigation will require your and Chu Ye's hard work."
As he spoke, he naturally pulled Lin Yan closer to his chest, his chin gently resting on the top of Lin Yan's head, absorbing that reassuring scent, as if this could dispel the frustration of facing these messy debts.
Lin Yan leaned against him and picked up the top ledger to look through it.
Good heavens, this bookkeeping method is still stuck in ancient times. It's disorganized, the handwriting is illegible, and the key figures are all blurry.
Clearly, the person keeping the books never intended to do them properly; they were just going through the motions.
"These characters look like scribbles, as if they're afraid no one can understand them, right?" Lin Yan couldn't help but complain. "And this ink, it's almost completely blurred. Was the person who kept the accounts dozing off while drinking soup and spilling it?"
Xiao Che chuckled softly, the vibrations of his chest transmitted through their pressed bodies: "Well said, that's why I really need Minister Lin to help me share the burden."
He snatched the account book from Lin Yan's hand and unfolded the long list: "Look here, the Rong Prince's estates alone have hundreds of acres that don't match the accounts on paper. And the Anguo Duke's family, the antiques and treasures bestowed upon them over the generations, the warehouse records and gift lists have huge discrepancies, not to mention those shady accounts of secret lending and the forced seizure of farmland by those in power..."
The two of them stood head to head, their voices low, as they sorted through, checked, and analyzed the mountain of accounts and lists, one by one.
Lin Yan has a modern soul and seems to be more sensitive to data. He can always spot the inconsistencies and possible hidden tricks in the accounts at a glance.
“Your Majesty, look, the expenditure for repairing the Prince’s Mansion is outrageously large, and the timing doesn’t match the records from the Ministry of Works. It’s probably been misappropriated or even fabricated.”
Based on his understanding of the power, relationships, and past actions of the various families of the imperial clan, Xiao Che made a judgment: "Well, the Rong Prince's branch has always been extravagant, and it is common for them to spend more than they earn. There is a high possibility that they have made false reports and misappropriated funds. We can start by investigating their purchase and construction accounts over the past ten years."
Their discussions lacked the rigid format of a courtier's dialogue; they were more like a pair of partners tackling a difficult problem.
When Lin Yan gets excited, she will unconsciously point to a number in the ledger with her finger; when Xiao Che is thinking, his finger will unconsciously twirl around a strand of Lin Yan's hair; when they have a disagreement, Lin Yan will argue her point and try to persuade Xiao Che by bringing up modern financial concepts; Xiao Che, on the other hand, will analyze the pros and cons from a more macro-level perspective of power and strategy.
Occasionally, when the argument gets heated, Lin Yan would glare at Xiao Che, who would then chuckle and pinch the back of his neck, like stroking a cat with its fur standing on end. This would usually defuse Lin Yan's little temper, and then the two could continue their discussion peacefully.
Li Defu came in and refilled the tea twice. He saw His Majesty and Lord Lin huddled together, one talking and the other listening, occasionally arguing in hushed tones, yet the atmosphere was unusually harmonious and intimate. So he quietly withdrew, a motherly smile of satisfaction on his face.
Time slipped away quietly amidst this focused discussion.
As the sunlight outside the window grew stronger and it approached noon, Xiao Che finally put down the last document in his hand, let out a long sigh, and the fatigue in his eyes dissipated considerably. Clearly, this review had given him more confidence.
He turned his head and looked at Lin Yan beside him, whose eyes were shining as he found a loophole in the accounts. Feeling a bit smug, he suddenly asked, "Hanzhang, is your cousin who participated in the imperial examination named Wen Ke?"
Lin Yan was engrossed in catching insects when he heard this, and then he was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening: "Ah? Right, Wen Ke, what's wrong, Your Majesty? Could it be..."
He suddenly grabbed Xiao Che's arm and shook it: "He got it?"
Xiao Che grasped Lin Yan's hand in return, his fingertips gently stroking the back of his hand: "Hmm, I have read all the examination papers of this year's candidates, and I remember his essay."
Lin Yan's eyes widened instantly, and he held his breath, waiting for what was to come.
Xiao Che was in no hurry and said slowly, "His writing style is pragmatic and clear, without being flashy or empty talk. In this respect, he is quite similar to you and your father. It seems that this is the family tradition. No wonder we are family."
Lin Yan, itching with curiosity, couldn't resist shaking Xiao Che's arm again: "So, so? How did you rank? Stay at the academy or be sent out?"
Seeing Lin Yan's anxious expression, Xiao Che's smile deepened. As if deliberately teasing him, he still didn't answer directly, but instead began to analyze: "Wen Ke's writing is solid and substantial, but compared to yours..."
Xiao Che's gaze fell on Lin Yan's face, with a hint of teasing: "You've lost some of the experience and cunning that comes with being beaten up."
Lin Yan: "..." Thank you, I feel like I've been subtly insulted.
"Moreover," Xiao Che continued, "he has no practical political experience and has not experienced any major storms. Although he is kind-hearted, he is somewhat naive, unlike you, who have an official father who has influenced you since childhood and you have also been trained in places like the shrine priests."
"Therefore," Xiao Che finally concluded, "given his talent and current situation, staying in the capital to enter the Hanlin Academy is not the best option. After the Ministry of Personnel reviews his case, he should be sent to a local post to start from practical work, such as a county magistrate or a military advisor. Only after honing his skills can he become a great man."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan's face lit up with immense joy, like fireworks exploding on his cheeks.
Being sent to a post outside the capital means that Wen Ke has passed the exam!
"That's great!" Lin Yan was so happy she almost jumped up. She hugged Xiao Che's neck and shook him excitedly. "My cousin really passed! I knew he could do it. Whether it's a county magistrate or a military advisor, they are all positions that involve doing real work, which are perfect for him."
Lin Yan was filled with joy for Wen Ke.
Xiao Che was thrown back by his tackle, and quickly reached out to hug him around the waist to steady him. Feeling the genuine joy and excitement of the person in his arms, he couldn't help but smile.
After laughing for a moment, Xiao Che looked into Lin Yan's bright eyes and suddenly asked softly, "Hanzhang, I could have made an exception and kept him in the capital, even if he was just a low-ranking official. With you looking after him, it would be better than being in an unfamiliar place. But I don't plan to do that. Don't you think I'm being a bit heartless?"
He asked the question cautiously, his gaze carefully tracing Lin Yan's expression.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan's smile remained unchanged.
Instead of letting go of Xiao Che, he snuggled even closer into his arms, almost completely nestled in Xiao Che's embrace. Then he tilted his head back, reached out and hooked his arm around Xiao Che's neck, looking at him with clear eyes and a hint of amusement: "Your Majesty, what are you thinking about all day long?"
Lin Yan leaned closer, his nose almost touching Xiao Che's chin, his voice filled with a warm smile: "I am with you, but I don't want to be a sycophant, nor do I want to drag my whole family into the nepotism for promotion. Cousin Wen Ke has real talent and should rely on his own abilities to start from the bottom and work his way up step by step. Your arrangement is for his own good and also for selecting talent for the country. I am happy for him, how could I think you are heartless?"
He extended his index finger and gently tapped Xiao Che's brow: "Your Majesty, be confident and stop overthinking. You are the emperor, so do what you should do. Don't let me hold you back or make you feel like you owe me anything. We are the two of us, and official business is official business. I can tell the difference."
Xiao Che stared blankly at Lin Yan, at his eyes that reflected his own image and were filled with frankness and sincerity. The slight doubt and worry in his heart were instantly soothed by these words, and the warmth in his eyes spread like spring water.
He tightened his arms around Lin Yan's waist, pulling him deeper into his embrace. He buried his face in Lin Yan's neck, took a deep breath, and inhaled his refreshing and warm scent. He chuckled softly, "I misunderstood."
His understanding has always been so clear and transparent, he sees things more clearly than anyone else.
With such a person, what more could one ask for?
After a moment of silent embrace, Xiao Che suddenly raised his head, a sly glint in his eyes, and took the opportunity to suggest, "Since Hanzhang is so understanding, how about staying in the palace tomorrow night? Just say that we need to discuss the official business of investigating the accounts of the imperial clan. There are many details, and we need to check them overnight."
Lin Yan: "???"
It still has to be you, Your Majesty.
We were almost done discussing it today, could this person's excuses be any more obvious?
Although her boyfriend's excuse was lame, Lin Yan would definitely agree without hesitation.
Lin Yan suppressed a laugh, pretended to consider it seriously for three seconds, and then nodded generously: "Granted."
A startling light flashed in Xiao Che's eyes, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up. He tightened his grip on Lin Yan's waist and quickly pecked him on the lips: "Thank you for your kindness, Hanzhang."
That smile was so bright it almost dazzled Lin Yan.
Oh dear, be a little more subtle.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com