Chapter 60

Lin Nanqi poked his head out awkwardly and said, "Commander Ao."

Then he carefully climbed down from the horse.

In the dim light, a look of surprise slowly appeared on Ao Jingchuan's face.

Your Majesty, and Eunuch Lin?

A horse?

Li Chengxuan said calmly, "We have come across a thief's hole that leads directly to the Emperor Taizu's mausoleum. You lead people to investigate in secret."

Ao Jingchuan's attention was indeed diverted in an instant, and he looked shocked.

Someone even dared to steal Taizu’s imperial tomb!

Where did this junk come from!

"I am sorry for my poor performance! Is His Majesty injured?"

"These thieves are so despicable that they dared to attack Taizu's tomb."

Ao Jingchuan said angrily: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will catch the tomb robber!"

Li Chengqian nodded: "The guards guarding the mausoleum will also be under your command for the time being."

Ao Jingchuan accepted the order: "Yes!"

Ao Jingchuan asked again in confusion: "Where is the thief's hole? How did the emperor fall into the thief's hole?"

It sounds terrifying.

Lin Nanqi stood aside, trembling, not daring to speak: [You can't say that it was my fault that the emperor fell into the cave. ]

Li Chenghuan glanced at Lin Nanjie and said, "I didn't pay attention to my feet when I was hunting. Fortunately, there was no danger."

Under the cover of night, Ao Jingchuan escorted Li Chenghuan towards the palace.

Lin Nanjie followed Yin Ye and whispered to Ao Jingchuan, "Commander Ao, Young Master Sun lost his horse while hunting. Did you see him on the way here?"

Ao Jingchuan thought, Oh, no wonder he was riding a horse, it turns out he couldn't find a horse.

If we find it, then we will have two horses, right?

Ao Jingchuan waved to his subordinate and after giving instructions, the subordinate immediately brought a horse over: "We met this on the way. I guess it got scared and ran away. Eunuch Lin, is this the lost horse?"

Lin Nanqi was immediately delighted: "That's right."

Lin Nanjie led the horse and followed the team obediently.

Li Chenghuan rode his horse at the front of the team and glanced back at Lin Nanjie.

The two of them were at the head and the tail, and there was no conversation in the team all the way.

Ao Jingchuan suddenly slapped his head.

Oh no!

Shouldn't he have said he found the horse?

All the way back to the palace.

As the emperor had not returned for a long time, the mood in the palace was not very high. However, there was a figure in the enclosure outside the palace. When he saw the team returning, he came over to greet them happily.

Lin Nanji: [It’s General Qin! 】

Li Chenghuan hesitated for a moment while riding his horse.

While hesitating, Qin Fang was already there.

Qin Fang's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty, after I came back, I heard that Commander Ao had gone out to look for Your Majesty. I failed in my duty, Your Majesty, please punish me!"

Lin Nanjie: [General Qin, your eyes were so bright when you asked for punishment, you looked like a masochist.]

Li Chenghuan didn't know what masochism was, but he knew that Qin Fang was having an affair!

Li Chengqian: "No problem."

General Qin's eyes lit up: "I have hunted a deer and I would like to present it to Your Majesty!"

Li Chengqian's lips twitched slightly: "My dear, you are thoughtful."

Qin Zhang was overjoyed: "I also hunted the best fox skin, which can be made into a cloak for Your Majesty to protect him from the cold. In addition, I also hunted a hawk, which Your Majesty will definitely like!"

Lin Nanjie was immediately delighted: [The bet is settled! ]

Hearing Lin Nanjie's happy heartbeat, Li Chenghuan said expressionlessly: "It seems that General Qin has returned with great success."

General Qin scratched his head. Why did he feel that the emperor was a little unhappy?

-

The next day, the hunting team set out again. Lin Nanjie originally planned to quietly follow the team and pretend to be invisible. However, he didn't expect that being unknown was not that easy. From time to time, someone would come to talk to him.

For example, Ao Jingchuan deliberately came over to talk to him: "Eunuch Lin, did you and the emperor go to the mausoleum yesterday? Did anything happen?"

Lin Nanjie almost bit his tongue: "No...no."

For example, the chief eunuch of the Yumaguan said: "Nanlu, you look a little lightly dressed. It's a little cold on the mountain. I have an extra poncho here. You can use it."

Lin Nan was flattered and surprised: "This... this is not appropriate."

"Hey, there are not so many suitable and unsuitable ones, just use them."

Lin Nanjie finally refused. After all, as a little eunuch wearing a cloak, he was somewhat conspicuous.

But he didn't know that no matter what he wore now, he would be very conspicuous.

The rumor spread among the people: "Have you heard? The Emperor and Eunuch Lin came back together last night, riding a horse."

"Your Majesty? Eunuch Lin?"

"The emperor cares about his people. There's nothing to be surprised about."

"No matter what, it seems that it is inevitable that Eunuch Lin will regain his favor."

Liu Jiang only felt that it was harsh.

Last night?

Liu Jiang was thinking when Li Chengqian suddenly asked, "Why didn't I see you last night?"

Liu Jiang's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm and said, "I had diarrhea last night, so it's not convenient for me to serve the emperor."

Li Chengqian asked again: "How are you today?"

Liu Jiang quickly said, "Okay, it's done."

Only then did Li Chenghuan withdraw his gaze.

"That's good."

Liu Jiang's heart was beating fast, he didn't know what the emperor meant.

He had never made any mistakes in front of the emperor, and he was very considerate in taking care of the emperor. After thinking about it, there was only one possibility, that Lin Nanqi must have said something bad about him in front of the emperor last night.

Liu Jiang glared at Lin Nanjie angrily.

Lin Nanjie felt puzzled.

[Did I offend Eunuch Liu? ]

Wang Dehai glanced at Liu Jiang and said to Li Chengqian, "Your Majesty, I am old and my legs are a little inconvenient. If Liu Jiang is the only one here, I am afraid he will not be able to serve you. It would be better to let Lin Nanjie come and serve you as well."

Liu Jiang didn't expect Wang Dehai to suddenly mention Lin Nanjie, and the smile on his face almost collapsed.

Lin Nanjie was called to the front of the court to replace Wang Dehai. He first saluted Li Chenghuan who was standing on the horse, and then met Liu Jiang's fake smile.

"This is before the end. Eunuch Lin needs to be more careful."

Lin Nanqi blinked and said, "Eunuch Liu, I won the bet yesterday. Apart from the 500 taels I borrowed, you still owe me 200 taels."

When Liu Jiang took out the two hundred taels, he was so angry that his nose was crooked.

*

The spring scenery is infinitely beautiful, with green mountains and lush greenery. Peach and apricot blossoms are in full bloom, mountain springs are gurgling, and the weather is filled with a warm breath.

As the team was marching, they suddenly heard a noisy voice.

Going further, you can see an ancient temple gradually emerging among the green mountains and trees.

Li Chenghuan reined in his horse and said, "Where is this? I have never heard of such a temple on Jingren Mountain."

Liu Jiang immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you don't know that this temple is called Luming Temple."

Lin Nanqi's eyes swept across the surrounding mountains and forests from time to time, and his brows wrinkled slightly.

"It is said that this temple is very effective in praying for marriage and career. In recent years, the number of people who come to this temple has increased. Many people would rather walk along the mountain paths to come to Luming Temple to pray and worship the Buddha." Liu Jiang said with a smile.

Li Chengqian looked at the temple in front of him. It looked like it was really popular, with smoke rising from the courtyard. He said, "Since it is so effective and we have met it by chance, why not go in and pay our respects."

Having said that, he dismounted.

Lin Nanqi looked alert and said, "Your Majesty, this temple is located in the wilderness. I'm afraid it's not safe."

[The people in the temple are all thieves. Be careful if you go in, or you might get caught in a jar.]

Liu Jiang, however, rebuked him: "Don't talk nonsense. This is clearly an auspicious temple, and it has a connection with the emperor. There must be danger, right?"

Liu Jiang flattered the emperor again, "Your Majesty still has a keen eye."

Lin Nanjie ignored the etiquette and quickly stepped forward to stop Li Chenghuan: "Your Majesty, you must not do this."

At this moment, Li Chengqian's heart trembled slightly.

Lin Nanjie even disregarded his own safety and tried to persuade him not to put himself in danger.

There must be some truth in this friendship.

Wang Zhongcheng also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this place is unfamiliar. It is better to wait for Commander Ao to lead his men to explore before entering."

Lin Nanjie agreed: "Master Wang is right."

It is rare for Wang Zhongcheng to form a united front with Lin Nanjie.

However, Li Chengqian insisted: "I don't think this place is that scary. Besides, there are ministers here. Come with me and take a look."

Qin Fang stood guard beside him: "If there is any danger, I swear to protect the emperor to the death."

Prince Beichang said slowly: "General Qin should save some strength for the border. From what I have seen, the temple is not that scary."

Fang Wenjue also stroked his beard and said, "Yesterday's hunting yielded a good harvest. Today, I have the good fortune to come across a temple. How can I not pay my respects?"

Lin Nanqi was dumbfounded.

【You won't listen! 】

【One enters and one remains silent! 】

[You dog emperor, you didn't listen to what I said yesterday. ]

Even so, he followed in.

Luming Temple is not big, with only three entrances. The huge copper incense burner is filled with incense sticks, and the incense smoke rises up. The pilgrims hold the incense sticks in their hands and bow devoutly to the Buddha Hall.

When the abbot of the temple saw the group of people coming in, he put his hands together and prayed "Amitabha".

"Last night, purple air came from the east. I counted with my fingers and predicted that a distinguished person would arrive. Long live the emperor. I am honored to be in your room."

Lin Nanjie looked at the abbot, who was about fifty or sixty years old, with a shaved head and neatly marked ordination marks. He had a kind face.

The abbot took the incense from the little nun and handed it to Li Chenghuan: "These three incense sticks are for His Majesty."

Li Chenghuan took it, lit the incense towards the flame of the candle, then bowed respectfully towards the east, and the ministers followed suit.

After they finished worshipping, Liu Jiang said, "Your Majesty, why don't you go in and worship the Buddha? I heard that this Buddha is very effective."

Lin Nanqi stepped forward to stop him: "Your Majesty, be careful of fraud."

Lu Chengzhou also stepped forward to dissuade him, saying, "Your Majesty, what Lin Nanqi said makes sense. I have never heard of this temple before. It suddenly appeared in the wilderness. This matter is not that simple..."

Who knew that before Lu Chengzhou could finish his words, he was rebuked by Lu Weitong: "Shut up, this is clearly an auspicious temple. The emperor wants to pray for the people of Daqi, why should you be so long-winded?"

Lu Chengzhou was choked to death.

Dad! Do you know that you are acting like a traitor right now?

Why don't you just stop trying to stop me? Why are you still encouraging me?

Lu Chengzhou couldn't believe it: "Dad, how could you just sit there and watch..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted again.

Li Yunluan held his shoulder and said, "Master Lu is right."

陸乘舟：？

林楠績瞪大了眼睛：【怎麽陸大人和長公主也？】

陸乘舟雖然着急，但無可奈何。

住持臉上笑意溫和，呵呵一笑：“這位施主過慮了，我們鹿鳴寺不僅祈福很準，求桃花也很準的。”

陸乘舟面色懷疑地緊緊盯着住持，手緊緊按在劍柄上。

進了殿，住持介紹道：“寺廟建在景仁山上，多虧了這塊風水寶地，才能香火旺盛。沒想到今日迎來陛下，實在是鹿鳴寺之幸事！”

李承銑唇角輕勾：“看來這廟朕是非拜不可了。”

王中丞也覺得有些不對勁：“陸公子說的沒錯，微臣也覺得有些不對。”

柏章上前拉住王中丞：“王大人，下官看這廟裏佛像栩栩如生，一進這寺廟整個心裏都明淨了，定是個好廟！”

王中丞氣得吹胡子瞪眼。

林楠績下意識要勸阻，看着李承銑的神情，忽然福至心靈。

【咦，等等！】

【狗皇帝好像在将計就計？】

林楠績臉上浮現疑惑，糾結，最後恍然大悟的神色。

【那我是不是也得配合一下？】

柳江突然要說話，卻被林楠績搶了先。

林楠績道：“皇上英明，這鹿鳴寺金光環繞，又地處龍脈之上，在此祈福，大齊定然能夠風調雨順，安居樂業。”

陸乘舟和柳江難以置信地看向林楠績。

柳江臉色扭曲了一下，咬咬牙附和：“林公公說的沒錯。”

衆人走到最後一進院子中，這院子是大雄寶殿所在。兩側廂房緊閉，整個院子被包圍住。

住持笑道：“這就是最為靈驗的大雄寶殿，皇上和諸位大臣可要拜此殿？”

林楠績佯裝好奇：“師傅，這兩個緊閉的廂房，是用來做什麽的？”

住持瞥了一眼兩邊，神情有些不易察覺的緊張：“是寺內弟子平時打坐的地方，白日裏便鎖起來了，免得打擾香客。”

林楠績“唔”了一聲：“住持考慮得真周到。”

住持神色微微放松。

李承銑目光環顧四周：“此地确實是風水寶地，朕一走進來，便覺得精神振奮。”

王中丞橫眉倒豎，什麽風水寶地，分明就是個邪廟！

柏章一邊按着王中丞一邊道：“這大雄寶殿依山而建氣勢非凡，金光環繞，果然非同凡響！”

陸緯同也道：“這京城的寺廟，微臣也算全部去過了，但要論起來，還是鹿鳴寺更出衆些。微臣也非拜不可了。”

戶部尚書盧敬堯和太常寺卿薛雲來對視一眼：“不錯不錯，我們也進去拜一拜。”

住持正準備費口舌将人游說進來，沒想到這幫文武百官自動說服了自己。住持和柳江對視一眼，兩人都在內心冷笑一聲：真是一群蠢貨！

李承銑率領文武百官登上大雄寶殿前的臺階，正要跨過門檻。

柳江突然朝兩側遞了個手勢，瞬間，側面廂房中冒出來許多人！

王中丞大聲呼喊：“不好，中了埋伏！護駕！”

住持臉色突變，哈哈大笑：“你這來路不正的皇帝，今日老衲就要取你的性命！”

王中丞驚叫出聲：“這是要謀反！”

李承銑面色不改：“你說朕來路不正，可有證據？”

住持從懷裏掏出一封诏書，展開示給衆人：“這是當年太祖皇帝留下的傳位诏書，他傳位的是晉王，而非明宗皇帝！你是明宗皇帝的後裔，自然是來路不正。”

“你們若是識相，就擁立我為皇帝，我可以既往不咎。若是不識相，別怪我取你們的項上人頭！”

衆臣震驚了。

晉王？

那都是什麽年歲的老黃歷了？

竟然扯了晉王的大旗？

哪怕你說是先帝的私生子呢！

哦，看着年紀這麽大了，先帝确實生不出這麽老的兒子。

王中丞修養全線崩塌，破口大罵：“你個禿頭老潑驢！竟敢謀反，太祖在位時親傳明宗皇帝，還輪不到晉王登基！”

衆人驚呆了。

知道王中丞性子耿直。

但也沒想到他會罵“禿頭老潑驢”啊！

哎你別說！

這句還真解氣！

住持被這句老潑驢罵得氣血上湧：“來人，給我統統拿下！”

陸乘舟和李雲鸾頓時持劍上前，隔開住持和李承銑。

柳江眼角精光一閃：“皇上！我來護駕！”

林楠績目光一凜，在柳江趕來的路上，眼疾手快地擡腳一伸。

“嘭”！的一聲，柳江在地上摔了個狗吃屎。

林楠績矜持地收回腳。

“抱歉啊，劉公公，腳抽筋了。”

柳江趴在地上面色扭曲。

兩側廂房的人聽到命令，傾巢而出，原本藏匿其中的僧人和香客紛紛湧出，他們面目猙獰，手持武器，竟然全是反賊。他們迅速将文武百官圍在中間，意圖發動攻擊。

場面一度陷入混亂，然而，就在這時，一道銳利的劍光閃過，一名反賊倒在地上，到死都沒有看到是誰殺的他。

衆人驚愕之際，更多的箭矢如暴雨般從屋頂傾瀉而下，每一支箭都帶着淩厲的氣勢，瞬間穿透了反賊的身體。

頃刻之間，原本嚣張的反賊紛紛倒下，空氣中彌漫着死亡的氣息。

住持站在人群中，臉色瞬間變得蒼白，口中喃喃自語：“怎，怎麽可能！”

林楠績啧啧稱奇：【怪不得今日未見敖統領，還以為他去調查陵寝，沒想到早就埋伏在此。】

剩下的反賊被捆了起來，柳江被這變故弄得來不及反應，結結巴巴道：“皇，皇上英明，未雨綢缪。”

李承銑眼神冷冷地一瞥他：“來人，将柳江捆起來！”

瞬間，柳江被捆成了粽子。

林楠績：【？？？】

【連柳江參與謀反都知道！】

陸乘舟和王文鶴這才反應過來。

“居然是将計就計啊，我還以為……爹！你怎麽也不告訴我一聲！”陸乘舟不滿道。

陸緯同：“誰讓你昨晚睡得那麽死。”

陸乘舟被梗了，又轉頭看向李雲鸾：“長公主怎麽也……”

李雲鸾促狹笑道：“唱唱雙簧，更令人信服。”

陸乘舟：……

那邊王文鶴這才發現自己被蒙在鼓裏，氣得兩眼發昏。

“你們——你們，真是氣煞老夫！”

柏章連忙求饒：“大人，這是皇上吩咐的，下官，下官也想告訴您。”

王文鶴吹胡子瞪眼：“怎麽偏偏不告訴老夫？”

柏章：“嗐，這不是您不知道的反應比較讓人信服嘛。”

王文鶴氣惱，甩開柏章就走。

敖敬川和北昌王拿住叛黨，關進刑獄，嚴加審問。

最後住持實在受不了重刑，忍不住招了。

原來他本是一個四處乞讨的乞丐，姻緣巧合被人蔔了一挂，說他有帝王之相，又引導他到景仁山。不僅如此，還把盜墓也招了，他聽說前朝的流言，便去尋找诏書，又覺得太祖陵墓既然在龍脈上，盜墓毀穴，不就能毀了大齊的國運？

滿朝文武百官聽罷，都覺得這人腦子被驢踢了。

當夜，李承銑召集北昌王，六部尚書密謀。此事雖然聽起來滑稽，但幕後定然還有推手，派各地軍衛系統嚴加搜索。

此為後話。

春狩結束，一行人回到皇宮，林楠績流放到禦馬監的生涯也結束了。

可以正式回到紫宸殿上值。

可惜，他還沒能回到禦前，就又出事了。

從行宮回來，剛回到外直房，就被丁文叫住：“楠績，你家裏人給你寄信了。”

林楠績一愣，家裏人給他寄信？

丁文：“我放在你床頭了。”

林楠績果然看見床頭放着一個信封。

他走到床邊拿起來，信封是普通的牛皮紙，不知道在路上多久，已經皺巴巴的，當中用歪歪扭扭的字跡寫着楠績弟弟親啓。

林楠績摩挲着信封。

原身的老家在黔州的一個小山村，家境貧寒，三歲時就被送進宮來當太監，算到現在，也有十六年了。貧苦百姓将兒子送進宮當太監的不在少數，在皇宮裏雖然伴君如伴虎，但每月有月錢領，又沒有成家立業的顧慮，每月能結餘不少，靠着太監養活全家的不是什麽稀罕事。

但令林楠績納罕的是，此前他們從未寄過一封信來，原身也從未給他們寄錢。

這就奇怪了，将原身送進宮但并不圖錢財。

可若非走投無路，又何須将骨肉送進宮當太監呢？

可惜原身就像皇宮裏最普通的NPC，名字在劇情中提都沒提過，林楠績很難發現什麽線索。

還有藏在靴子裏的玉墜子，都令林楠績有些摸不着頭腦。

思量無果，林楠績打開信封，将信取出來讀。

信上的字和信封上出自同一人之手，話語只有寥寥幾行：

——楠績弟弟，父親病重，家中已無餘錢治病。速回。

原身三歲離家，估計對家裏早已沒什麽印象。

而京城前往黔州，快則數月，慢則半年。

看信中的緊急情況，他必須立即動身。

第二天，林楠績到禦前告假，李承銑聽着林楠績的話，沉默了。

“既然是父親病重，這假朕準了。另去內務府領五百兩銀票，回去好生治病。”

林楠績連忙道謝。

Li Chengqian felt unsafe again. After all, Lin Nanjie was from another world and might be in danger once he left the capital.

He thought, "I will send Si Nanhao to accompany you."

Lin Nanqi was stunned at first, and quickly refused: "Your Majesty, you must not do this. I am a humble servant, how can you send the Imperial Guard to accompany me? Your Majesty is embarrassing me."

Lin Nanjie muttered: [I haven't done anything wrong, there's no need to send the Royal Guards, right? ]

Li Chengqian suddenly felt a little depressed.

It really makes people think wildly.

Li Chengxuan felt a little depressed, thinking that Lin Nanjie's hometown was in Qianzhou, and it would take nearly half a year to go back and forth, not to mention that there was a patient at home, so it was estimated that he might not be able to come back for three years and a half.

That’s it.

Li Chenghuan took off the token from his waist and said, "This is my token. Take it. If you need anything, feel free to ask someone for help."

Lin Nanjie looked at the pure gold token and swallowed subconsciously, but still refused: "This may be against the rules."

Li Chengqian frowned unhappily: "If I say yes, then yes. Do you want to disobey my order?"

Lin Nanjie had no choice but to take the token "reluctantly".

[That's fine. If anything happens, I can take it to the government guards to scare them.]

Li Chengqian still felt that this was not enough, so he instructed: "Don't be too ostentatious when you go out alone, and don't show off your wealth, otherwise it will easily lead to fatal disasters. Oh, and... stay out of other people's business."

Li Chenghuan said something and Lin Nanjie nodded.

[Why does it feel like an old father giving me instructions before leaving? 】

Li Chengqian choked, glared at Lin Nanqi, and continued, "Don't talk to strangers, keep a low profile, and don't cause trouble. If you have any difficulties when you get home, take the token and go to the prefect."

Lin Nanqi's eyes lit up.

[I understand! This token means that I am protected by the emperor! ]

Li Chengqian nodded reluctantly: "Go ahead."

Lin Nanqi was somewhat moved and bowed very seriously: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

When Lin Nanjie stepped out of the Purple Palace, he turned around and glanced at the emperor in the warm room.

[I don’t know how long it will take me to come back this time. 】

It would be a lie to say I wasn't moved by what I just heard.

Lin Nanjie felt a little sad when he thought about it. He said goodbye to Wang Dehai and others, took out the banknotes, went back to the outer room to pack his luggage, and asked someone to give a message to Si Nanhao and Lu Chengzhou.

Lin Nanjie left the palace, carrying his luggage, boarded a ship and sailed south along the Canal.

Who knew that Li Chengqian's words would come true. As soon as Lin Nanjie arrived in Hangzhou, he was hit by a stick and fainted.

Before Lin Nanjie lost consciousness, he wanted to cry but had no tears: [The Dog Emperor was right! ]