Chapter 112: From "Official" Back to "Citizen"
When the decree of dismissal was delivered, Lin Xuean was still handling official business in the Honglu Temple office.
He only looked up when the duty officer's anxious announcement came.
A censor dressed in a scarlet official robe, holding a bright yellow imperial edict, stood in the center of the courtyard, followed by two expressionless eunuchs.
The menacing aura emanating from him caused all the officials present to fall silent and hold their breath.
"Lin Xue'an, Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, receive the imperial decree!"
Lin Xuean's heart sank suddenly. She quickly straightened her clothes and, under the curious gazes of the crowd, slowly walked out of the duty room and knelt down on the ground.
The censor read it aloud in front of a group of subordinate officials and yamen runners.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lin Xue'an, Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, has acted inappropriately and failed the trust placed in him by the court. He is hereby dismissed from office! So be it—"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was complete silence, and everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wasn't this Lord Lin just appointed in a grand manner half a month ago? Wasn't it rumored that he had a close relationship with Her Highness the Eldest Princess? How could he suddenly be convicted and dismissed from office?
A hint of surprise flashed across Lin Xue'an's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions, bowed his head to accept the decree, and said, "Your subject... Lin Xue'an, accepts the decree and thanks you."
After the imperial edict was read aloud, two eunuchs stepped forward, expressionlessly confiscated his official seal and tally, and gestured for him to remove his official robes.
Lin Xuean lowered her eyes, personally untied the jade belt from her waist, took off the blue official robe embroidered with egrets on her chest, and finally removed the black gauze hat that symbolized her "sixth-rank" official position.
In a short while, the official robes that represented his status and dignity were completely stripped away, leaving only a plain white undergarment underneath.
From then on, he went from being an "official" back to being a "commoner".
The whispers around him could be faintly heard. Those colleagues who had greeted him with smiles and fawned over him just half a month ago were now either turning their faces away as if they didn't see him, or exchanging meaningful glances with others, their contempt and schadenfreude almost undisguised.
Lin Xuean seemed not to hear, and simply folded the official robes and black gauze hat he had taken off neatly, handed them to the eunuch, straightened his back, and silently walked out of the government office.
As soon as they stepped out of the government office, they saw the Lin family's carriage waiting quietly to the side.
Upon seeing him, the coachman quickly approached and whispered, "Third Young Master, Master has sent me to fetch you. Please return to the manor at once."
Without uttering a word, he lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage.
As soon as I stepped into the main hall of the mansion, a sudden and hard slap came my way!
Caught off guard, Lin Xuean was struck and staggered, taking half a step back before barely managing to regain her balance.
His right cheek burned with pain and immediately swelled up, the clear finger marks on his handsome face particularly glaring.
The atmosphere in the hall was stagnant and frozen.
Minister Lin, his official robes still on, stood in the center, his hair standing on end in fury, his chest heaving violently with rage.
His eldest brother, Lin Xuesong, and second brother, Lin Xuezhu, sat upright in armchairs on either side.
Lin Xuesong looked worried, while Lin Xuezhu's eyes revealed undisguised schadenfreude, her expression one of watching a joke unfold.
Minister Lin pointed at him and angrily cursed, "You unfilial son! You unfilial son! I, Lin Xueyan, have served as an official for twenty years, always cautious in my words and deeds, never daring to make a single wrong step. When have I ever suffered such a humiliating disgrace! It is all because of you, you wretched child!"
Before he finished speaking, he took another step forward and kicked Lin Xuean in the chest.
A sharp pain shot through her, and Lin Xuean staggered and fell to the ground, her elbow scraping against the blue brick, leaving a red mark.
But he didn't utter a sound. He simply slowly straightened up, supporting himself on the ground, and knelt upright in the hall.
Minister Lin, still furious, angrily rebuked, "My Lin family has been a family of scholars for generations. When have we ever produced such a shameless person as you?"
"Has my Lin family ever lacked you food or clothing, or mistreated you in the slightest? Why would you do such a despicable thing as currying favor with the powerful and wealthy, and climb into the Princess's bed!"
"You...don't you have even the slightest sense of shame as a man?!"
After listening to his cursing, Lin Xue'an, who was kneeling on the ground, finally moved.
He raised his head and looked calmly at Lin Xueyan.
“Father, when I was awarded this sixth-rank official title half a month ago, weren’t you also overjoyed and deeply gratified?”
Lin Xueyan was choked by those words, his angry expression instantly froze, and he opened his mouth but was speechless for a moment.
"Third brother, you can't say that."
Lin Xuezhu, standing to the side, spoke up sarcastically, "Father and we thought you were earning your future through your own abilities, but who knew you were using such underhanded methods?"
Lin Xuesong, who was standing nearby, quickly intervened, "Second brother, don't say that. The imperial edict only said that the third brother and the eldest princess had an 'excessively close private relationship,' it's not necessarily true that... such a shameful thing happened."
Lin Xuean watched her two brothers, who were singing in unison, with a cold, mocking feeling in her heart.
Minister Lin had only three sons. Lin Xuesong and Lin Xuezhu were born to his first wife. They were given high expectations from a young age and never lacked fine clothes, food, or famous teachers.
He was the only one who was a "cheapskate" born of a "prostitute," whose mother died early, and who was always like a transparent person in the mansion.
When did his father ever plan even a little bit of his future?
If he hadn't made a great effort, how could he have entered the imperial court?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com