"Your Majesty, isn't this somewhat inappropriate?" Eunuch Liu said hesitantly, following behind the emperor.
Qi Yuan turned to look at him. "What's wrong with that? You've been with me for so many years, how could you not know their true colors? They all pretend to be incorruptible, but what are they really like in private? How could I not know?"
He felt that instead of letting those people spend money to buy concubines and build brothels, it would be better to give it all to his Wanwan Flower.
As for how much money Lin Wanyue, such a small person, could possibly spend, he didn't care at all.
In the evening, Qi Yuan was so pleased that he sent someone to call Lin Weiming over.
Lin Weiming had always been somewhat intimidated by Qi Yuan and Qi Sichen, the uncle and nephew.
I don't know why I was inexplicably given an official position, and now I've been summoned to the palace for no reason.
Lin Weiming kept his head down in thought the whole way. Could it be that the emperor found out about his drinking with others today?
Now they've come here specifically to blame themselves.
He had indeed studied, but he had never studied the laws of this dynasty. He had only been an official for a short time, and he didn't know if drinking after court would violate any laws.
He was summoned to Qiyuan Palace with a heavy heart and trembling fear.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Lin Weiming bowed to Qi Yuan.
Now that they're in the palace, with so many eyes watching, he's still very obedient.
Qi Yuan quickly pulled the person up and asked happily, "I heard that someone wanted to have Wanwan's fortune told today? You even gave them a price."
"Um... Your Majesty, I was just rambling, please don't take it to heart." Listening to Qi Yuan's words, Lin Weiming felt even more that he had done something wrong and was now being reprimanded.
He quietly wiped his forehead with his sleeve, and when he raised one eye, he saw that Qi Yuan didn't look angry at all.
Qi Yuan had someone offer him a seat and then said to him, "Uncle Lin, do you think I don't know you? Don't worry, I don't mean to blame you! I think you did the right thing. Those people have money in their hands. If they want to trouble Wanwan, it's only right that they spend more money."
Lin Weiming felt half relieved, and then raised his head and said, "So, His Majesty thinks so too?"
"Of course! Otherwise, why would we ask them to bother Wanwan?" Qi Yuan nodded.
"That's right! Your Majesty, you have no idea what those people are like. They were just joking around and didn't believe Wanwan at all. They even called me over to ask them! It made me so angry. Although our Wanwan can't be said to be a prophet, when it comes to fortune telling, no old Taoist priest can compare to her."
"These people are joking, thinking that Wanwan is too young to be that capable. But I say they're all old and blind. They're not as smart as my wife's mother." Lin Weiming heard someone agree with him, especially since it was the emperor. He had a bit of a complaining mentality, so he rattled off a list of accusations against them: "At least my mother had a discerning eye back then. After she brought us back, our whole family's life got better and better!"
“Actually, it’s not just our family. Back then, our area and the whole village suffered from drought for many years. It was only after we came that it started raining in the village, and for the past two years, the weather has been good. Even the children in the village have had several more births,” Lin Weiming said.
When Qi Yuan heard him mention Wanwan's past, he immediately perked up his ears to listen.
He wanted to know everything about Wanwan, but usually no one would tell him in such detail.
"Why is that? Could it be that Wanwan is some kind of dragon girl who brings children? Otherwise, why would they make all the children in your village have several children?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.
"Cough cough..." Lin Weiming chuckled, "It's because life has improved that this child dares to be born. During the drought, even adults can't get enough to eat, let alone have the strength to give birth. Even if they were pregnant, they wouldn't be able to raise the child."
"If that's the case, why do such a terrible thing? It would be better not to get pregnant in the first place. But ever since Wanwan came to our village, life in our village has been much better than before. The bandits have been caught, there is enough water in the fields, everyone can eat their fill, and life is good, so naturally people are willing to have children."
"Oh..." Qi Yuan pondered for a moment after listening, "That is indeed the case."
Lin Weiming was disliked by his children at home, and he couldn't even recite his lessons as well as them. Now that Qi Yuan, as the emperor, was actually willing to listen to him, he couldn't help but feel excited.
It's funny to think about it now. On the way, he was always worried that Qi Yuan would snatch his daughter away. And seeing how sickly he looked, even though he knew that this man was the emperor of their Great Yan Kingdom, Qi Yuan didn't show him much respect.
But now that he's in the capital, and has probably been bowing and scraping to the emperor so often during court sessions, Lin Weiming has genuinely developed a sense of awe and respect for him.
Lin Weiming quickly composed himself, his somewhat frivolous thoughts vanishing, and continued to berate those people: "Everyone in our village, young and old, knows how amazing our Wanwan is! But these people all think that Wanwan is a girl, so they refuse to believe her. They're so petty and narrow-minded. I think they look down on people because they're sexist. Sooner or later, when they become women themselves, they'll still be looked down upon."
Qi Yuan was amused by his words and burst out laughing.
Even Eunuch Liu chuckled and said, "Lord Lin, this is easy. Just keep a close eye on them. If they make any mistakes, they might end up in my hands. I guarantee you'll be right."
Lin Weiming thought about what Eunuch Liu said for a moment and decided that he should give up on it.
I just felt a little chilly.
"These people have read too many books, and they have a lot of rigid rules in their minds. Actually, if we're talking about it, I think it was Prime Minister Lin back then who was the most sexist."
"Fortunately, he has been in poor health these past few years and went to the water towns of Jiangnan to recuperate. He hasn't returned yet. If he were to return, I'm afraid even the Imperial Uncle wouldn't be able to contend with him, and he probably wouldn't even be able to get Wanwan the title of Princess." Qi Yuan shook his head helplessly when he mentioned that Prime Minister Lin.
Hearing how fiercely he spoke, Lin Weiming chimed in, "A person who's so obviously sexist and favors sons over daughters must be no good! And he even shares my surname; he's a disgrace to our Lin family ancestors."
Hearing this from the side, Eunuch Liu quickly advised, "You mustn't say that. The Prime Minister has worked hard for the country and the people, and he is just a little stubborn in these small matters. He is not a bad person... Please don't say such things outside."
"Don't worry, Eunuch Liu, I know my limits. How can I talk about these things outside?" Lin Weiming chuckled twice. "After all, he is a prime minister."
Qi Yuan nodded and said to Lin Weiming, "Uncle Lin, could you bring Wanwan with you when you come tomorrow?"
"Your Majesty, it's getting late, so I'll take my leave now!" Lin Weiming picked at his ear, pretending he hadn't heard, and quickly withdrew.
Qi Yuan: "?"
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