childhood sweetheart
A firm and brief "yes" dissipated into the air.
Lin Huai'en couldn't help but grit his teeth.
For the past five years, Lin Huai'en had stood beneath the golden steps every day, his head tilted upward, gazing at Emperor Shaoze on the dragon throne. He always felt that he had become distant, lofty. He, meanwhile, had fallen into the vast sea of officials, becoming insignificant and inconspicuous, no longer able to fully occupy his gaze.
But tonight, Di Shaoze was like a lone wolf exposing his weakness. He stood at the end of the long steps in the most lonely and pious posture, looking up at him and admitting that he liked him.
Lin Huai'en couldn't help but feel that he was still the most unique one in Di Shaoze's eyes. He just didn't know it.
Lin Huai'en loosened his teeth and said, "I can't give your Majesty an immediate answer."
Di Shaoze lowered his handsome eyes, pondered for a moment, then raised his eyes with a gentle look, "No problem. I will wait."
Di Shaoze glanced at the night sky and said, "It's getting late, my dear, please go to bed early."
Lin Huai'en replied: "Your Majesty, please go back quickly and rest early."
Although they said so, neither of them had any intention of leaving first, and they both stayed where they were, reluctant to leave. After a moment, Lin Huai'en hesitantly moved his feet, turned around, and walked through the door.
Soon, the doorman closed the door.
The corners of Di Shaoze's lips curled up slightly, his eyes filled with burning desire and longing. He carefully recalled what had happened two or three times before he was finally willing to leave.
Back in the bedroom, Lin Huai'en curled up in the quilt, tossing and turning thinking about what had just happened. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, and a trace of shyness and sweetness that he had never experienced before rose in his heart.
I remember hearing my cousin who was about to get married say that when a man courts you, if you feel a little excited, it means you have a good impression of him.
I... should have a good impression of Your Majesty.
The next morning, Lin Huai'en pondered in front of the mirror for a long time, took out the jade hairpin that had not been used for a long time, and spent a long time arranging the shape of his bun before he finished.
Arriving at the back hall, just after finishing breakfast, my mother grabbed me and said, "The Xue family's son has just returned to the capital and is unfamiliar with the place. You two are from the same hometown and have been close since childhood. Take him out more these days to familiarize him with the capital, okay?"
"Yeah. Mom, I know that."
"Okay, go ahead."
In fact, even if his mother didn't tell him, Lin Huai'en knew what to do. Xue Dingchu had been a quiet person since he was little, with a fixed expression and boring words, which made it difficult for him to have good interpersonal relationships at first.
From that time on, it was Lin Huai'en who took the initiative to take Xue Dingchu out, asked him to go out and play, and gave him the opportunity to talk, which allowed him to get acquainted with the other kids.
I didn’t expect that the relationship was like this when we were young and it is still the same when we grow up.
Before Lin Huai'en entered the Meridian Gate, he deliberately waited for Xue Dingchu, who was attending court for the first time, and then took him to get acquainted with other officials.
Many officials below the third rank, upon seeing Xue Dingchu, rushed over eagerly like dogs at meat. Xue Dingchu felt very uncomfortable and could not accept the flattery and tricks of these officials. Fortunately, Lin Huai'en always stood in front of him and drove them away without saying a word.
"You've just been promoted and have made military achievements, making you a very popular person. Everyone will surely come to you to flatter you. You can't just accept them because you're afraid of the hassle. You must politely decline and distance yourself from everyone who offers them. Otherwise, you'll soon be reported to the Imperial Censor. Do you understand?"
Xue Dingchu nodded repeatedly, following Lin Huai'en like a very dependent puppy, not leaving his side. Almost every time Lin Huai'en said something, he nodded. Wherever Lin Huai'en went, he followed silently.
"Cough... cough..." Not far away, General Luo suddenly coughed violently several times, as if he wanted to cough out his lungs.
Xue Dingchu then realized that he had followed Lin Huai'en all the way to the civil service, completely unaware of the situation. Now, after General Luo's series of coughs, all the officials present noticed this, and their eyes were fixed on him and Lin Huai'en, some with speculation, some with ambiguity...
Luo Taiwei said: "Lord Lin, you really know how to win people over. It was only his first time to attend the court, and you already have Lord Xue's body and soul in your hands."
Lin Huai'en retorted, "Oh. Lord Luo can't win the hearts of his subordinates, so he blames me for winning their hearts. It's like this every time, I get annoyed too."
Luo Taiwei's eyes widened immediately. Was he scolding him for always being unpopular?!
Xue Dingchu frowned slightly, glanced at Lin Huai'en's expression towards General Luo, and understood a little, so he walked to the second row of the military officers' team, deliberately staying as far away from General Luo.
When General Luo saw this, he coughed twice more. Not only was he being bullied by His Majesty, but he was also being bullied by the newly promoted general! This life was becoming unbearable!
"Huai En...what's up with that man? He looks good to me." The doctor excitedly tugged at Lin Huai En's sleeve. "He listens to you very well, has a smooth career, and a steady personality. He's dozens of times better than those ugly guys who chased after you before."
Lin Huai'en knew what the doctor was thinking and immediately stopped him, "That won't do."
The doctor asked in surprise, "Why?"
Lin Huai'en pursed his lips awkwardly and said bluntly, "He's my childhood sweetheart. We've been together since we were little. He's seen me steal bird eggs, blow up earthen mounds, get scared to tears by wild boars, and run wild in the fields. He's seen it all..."
Langzhongling couldn't help but imagine the scene in the words, then pursed his lips as if he wanted to say something but stopped. In his heart, he sighed that his friend was so bold and unrestrained, and at the same time he felt sorry for missing such a good man.
Lin Huai'en didn't pay much attention to his friend's words. Instead, he began to tidy up his appearance and straightened his cuffs. In fact, Lin Huai'en was just a little nervous, so he couldn't help but distract himself like this.
When the time came, all the officials folded their sleeves and filed into the Golden Throne Hall. Lin Huai'en, as usual, stood at the front of the civil officials, gazing upward at Emperor Shaoze. Emperor Shaoze, as usual, glanced at the officials from left to right and met Lin Huai'en's gaze.
The originally direct gaze trembled as if trembling when their eyes met.
Lin Huai'en looked a little unnatural. He wanted to avoid his gaze, but he felt a little timid, so he pretended to be calm and waited for Di Shaoze to look away.
But Di Shaoze did not give in at all. Instead, he gave Lin Huai'en the most scorching and explicit look, staring at him until his earlobes became hot and he lowered his head, then he withdrew his gaze with interest.
Di Shaoze had a bad habit, which was that he really liked Lin Huai'en's shy look. Every time he got the chance, he would irritate Lin Huai'en until his ears turned red and hot before he would stop.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
