Chapter 222
"Of course I know." Xie Chen didn't take it seriously. He gently touched the hair on Lin Shuge's ear with his fingers and even leaned over to kiss him on the earlobe.
Lin Shuge dodged, "Then why did you do this? With your military merit this time, you must be granted a title of nobility."
"So what if he conferred a title of nobility? If he really wanted to take action against us, it would only take an imperial decree. I just want to know why he suddenly became suspicious of us. After all, you and I have always stood on his side." Xie Chen said as he played with the hair that fell on Lin Shuge's chest.
Lin Shuge's eyes were deep. He had no idea what Emperor Yongyuan was thinking. As for his achievements, Emperor Yongyuan had already been testing them before this long-distance attack on the Huns.
If you think about it carefully, it can only be because he manipulated public opinion and had close ties with Shilin when dealing with the Ding family. In addition, there were too many things that did not belong to this era that came out of his hands, and Xie Chen's military achievements were growing.
Or it could be a question of succession, but the little prince grew up safely and Emperor Yongyuan was very young, so how could he have any thoughts in this regard? Moreover, even if we take a step back, if this is really the problem, the ones who should be suspected more are the in-laws.
"I got the news that there must be something wrong with His Majesty's health." Xie Chen suddenly said.
"What did you say?" Lin Shuge asked in shock.
"So he thinks the little prince is too young, the ruler is weak and the ministers are strong. If he...something bad will definitely happen." Lin Shuge murmured.
"He must be testing us, testing our loyalty, testing whether we are worthy of his care before his death." Xie Chen reached out and pulled Lin Shuge into his arms. "Today, he saw that I really had no interest in the power of the court, and his face was sad. He just said that he knew."
Lin Shuge looked puzzled, and Xie Chen smiled and said, "I said that my brother and I will not have children in this life, and I don't want the title reward, and I will be a bodyguard for my brother in the future."
"I also asked him to allow the two of us to go to the northwest. Now that the Xiongnu have retreated, the vast territory of the Western Regions is in need of people. My brother and I will definitely not get involved in the power of Yandu."
"How do you know I want to go back to the northwest?" Lin Shuge glanced at him sideways as he listened to Xie Chen talking about his conversation with Emperor Yongyuan.
He was leaning in Xie Chen's arms, and the two of them trembled as their ears rubbed against each other. Xie Chen changed his posture, put his arms around him, and whispered in his ear: "Brother and I have a tacit understanding, so I naturally know what you are thinking."
Lin Shuge glanced at him and said, "Hurry up and tell me."
"Okay, okay, brother has sent He Qingran to work for Lord Ruan, and Xiangligu has now been assigned to the Arsenal Department. Brother is trying his best to keep a distance from him. Isn't that preparing for going to the northwest? Also, with brother's temper, why would he confront His Majesty? Although it is indeed infuriating to be suspected by him, there are obviously better ways, but brother chose the most radical one. Isn't that also to take the opportunity to propose going to the northwest?"
There was a smile in Xie Chen's voice, but Lin Shuge could hear some arrogance in his tone.
"Are you really willing to go to the northwest with me?" Lin Shuge asked anxiously, giving up high positions and generous salaries, and even abandoning the Xie family.
"Brother, why are you asking me this? Are you going to break your promise to marry me? Or are you going to leave me here alone and go find some young master or prince?" Xie Chen let go of him and said coldly, "Okay, you are indeed an unfaithful person. It turns out that brother has never thought of growing old with me. That's right, I have nothing now, so I can't compare to others who are powerful and influential."
Lin Shuge fell back laughing, and Xie Chen asked angrily: "You are still laughing?"
Lin Shuge had no choice but to coax him in a low voice and swear to the sky before he could make the person smile.
"So you really understand me. Am I not afraid that His Majesty will execute me directly in a rage?" Lin Shuge smiled and turned around to hug his neck.
"How could I not understand my brother? If you talk about understanding my brother, I am second to none in the world. Who dares to claim to be first?" He added in an ambiguous tone, "Old Zhang and the others all know that I was in the northwest at that time. How could His Majesty touch my brother? Besides, His Majesty is a wise ruler. How could he execute a minister with a good reputation without any evidence? Unless he is crazy."
"Okay, you dare to make up stories about the emperor." Lin Shuge poked him in the chest.
Xie Chen grabbed his rebellious hand, leaned over and kissed it, "So what if you are the emperor? Brother, have you ever taken the imperial power seriously? You only have the people in your eyes."
He had long seen that Lin Shuge had no reverence for the imperial power of this world, so he would never worship it or worship it as a god.
"Who said that? It's clearly you in my eyes now." Lin Shuge's star-like eyes stared at Xie Chen, as if there was only room for him in his eyes.
Xie Chen's breathing tightened, and he said, "Brother, what you said really hits my heart." After that, he turned over and pressed him under him, "How about tonight?"
"What?" Lin Shuge's breath was taken away just after he asked. A big hand with distinct joints lowered the bed curtain, and a few pieces of clothing were thrown under the bed. From time to time, a few low sobs came from inside the curtain, and the red candle on the table was still burning all night.
Early the next morning, the imperial edict from Emperor Yongyuan arrived, and everyone in the Lin residence knelt down to receive it.
The eunuch's voice was shrill, but the order of Emperor Yongyuan was unexpected. Lin Shuge sent the eunuch away and looked at each other in bewilderment.
"What does your majesty mean?" Why did he still grant Xie Chen a high official title and even reinstate Lin Shuge to his original post?
Xie Chen smiled calmly. Lin Shuge poked him, "Did you know that His Majesty would be like this?"
Xie Chen said: "Brother, if there is really no reward for me, who among my generals would dare to accept the reward? It is reasonable for me to accept the reward calmly, so when I proposed it yesterday, His Majesty rejected it. However, I returned the military power to him in exchange, and he agreed to us..."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me last night?" Lin Shuge said with a smile.
"Seeing my brother so moved last night, I..."
"Is that so? I was worried about you, but it turns out I was overthinking it. Thank you, My Lord." After saying this, Lin Shuge pretended to walk towards the bedroom.
"Brother, I was wrong, I was wrong. I only have the title now. If I go to the northwest, I will have no soldiers under my command. I still need you to protect me." Xie Chen followed him closely.
Lin Shuge seemed to suddenly think of something, turned around and walked out, "Brother, where are you going? It's my fault. I will take the beating and punishment if you want."
"Go away. I have to go to the palace. You can go wherever you want, but don't show up in front of me." Lin Shuge pushed him away and asked the servants to prepare the carriage. "Don't follow me."
The carriage drove out quickly, splashing dirt on Xie Chen's face. Lin Qingyuan looked at his embarrassed appearance, smiled without saying a word, his eyes watching his nose and his nose watching his heart, as if he was not there.
Xie Chen had no choice but to go to the army first. Those hard-working soldiers were still waiting to celebrate their victory. He could kneel down when he came back in the evening.
No one noticed that Lin Xuan looked down at the book in her hand with a deep look in her eyes.
Inside the Yunfu Palace, Lin Shuge leaned forward to salute, but Emperor Yongyuan waved his hand to let him skip the ceremony.
Lin Shuge looked up and saw that he looked pale and a little listless. Thinking of what Xie Chen said about his poor health, he couldn't help but say, "Even if the government is busy, Your Majesty still has to take care of your health."
Emperor Yongyuan coughed and said with a smile, "Why don't you blame me for confining you for such a long time?"
"It was I who offended Your Majesty that day." Lin Shuge lowered his eyes and said in a low voice.
"I don't know whether to praise you for your stubbornness or to scold you for being inflexible?" He spoke frankly after being suspected by the monarch, and asked him why he didn't believe them. If he hadn't known the temperament of the man in front of him, how could he have given him such a light punishment.
Lin Shuge said nothing, "Your Majesty, why bother asking again? If it weren't for Zhongxuan's incident, I would just stay in the northwest and do something for the people."
"Finally you spoke to me nicely. Does this mean you are really determined to return to the northwest?" asked Emperor Yongyuan.
"This is what I wish for, and I hope Your Majesty will fulfill it." Lin Shuge leaned forward and said.
Emperor Yongyuan coughed violently several times. Lin Shuge looked up and saw that no eunuch had come in, so he could only go forward and pour him a glass of water.
Emperor Yongyuan took it and said, "I suffered too much in the palace, and even after I ascended the throne, I was still in a state of panic all day long. I was worried every day, fearing that I would end up like my brothers, so I don't trust anyone."
"I have seen too many greedy people in my life. They are either greedy for money, greedy for beauty, or clinging to power and refusing to let go. But people have weaknesses when they have desires. As long as you seize these weaknesses," he paused, "but I can't see through you. I don't know what you want. You are in a high position but don't want power. I have heard about your affairs in the northwest. Whether it is papermaking or cashmere, as long as you hold on to it tightly, you can make a fortune every day, but you don't want a penny and give it all to the people."
If he had not known about his affair with Xie Chen, he would have even thought that Lin Shuge had become a saint, without any desires or demands. That was why he doubted his intentions, suspecting that he was not after fame and fortune, but only wanted to seek bigger things.
"Your Majesty, you think too highly of me. I am just an ordinary person." Lin Shuge shook his head.
"But I want to keep you in Yandu. Heng'er will need you in the future."
"The little prince needs Your Majesty more. Your Majesty needs to take good care of his health. All I can do is to guard the border for Your Majesty. As long as I am alive, I will never let foreign races break through the border of Great Yan." Lin Shuge lowered his head and did not meet his gaze, just missing the regret that flashed across Emperor Yongyuan's eyes.
"I know my physical condition well, but I have been trying to keep it from outsiders all these years." After saying this, Emperor Yongyuan coughed again.
Lin Shuge guessed that he must have been ill from overwork over the years, and advised: "Your Majesty now sits on the throne of a vast country and has achieved unprecedented achievements. You should take a good rest. If some things cannot be done, there is no need to force them. Let everything take its course."
"If you had spoken like this last time, I wouldn't have been so angry." Emperor Yongyuan said, covering his lips.
Lin Shuge bowed his head and said nothing. Emperor Yongyuan sighed, "I understand. For the sake of Heng'er and the Great Yan Dynasty, I will take care of my health. Huaiting, how is the scenery in the northwest?"
He is the master of the world, but he has never been to the northwest.
Lin Shuge smiled and said, "It's a different view from Yandu."
There was a burst of laughter coming from Yunfu Palace. The eunuch outside the palace was playing with the ring on his hand slowly, and this time they finally didn't start a quarrel.
As the sun set in the west, when Lin Shuge was walking out of the palace, he saw several women walking towards Yunqing Palace. Because he took a closer look, the eunuch explained very perceptively: "Those are the female officials selected this year, and they are all very outstanding ladies."
The sky was filled with colorful clouds. Lin Shuge watched them walking on the golden ground towards Yunqing Palace. He thanked the eunuch and left the palace.
When he returned home, Xie Chen was not there, only the twins were there. It was not yet time for dinner, so Lin Shuge went back to his room.
He had just picked up a book when he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in."
The person who came was actually Lin Xuan. Lin Shuge put down the book and said softly, "Xuan, why did you come to see me so late? Is there something wrong?"
Lin Xuan's eyes were determined, and her voice was full of force that could not be discussed. "Brother, I have applied for the position of a palace lady-in-waiting, and I will be entering the palace for an examination soon."
"What did you say?" Lin Shuge asked angrily.
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