Chapter 169: The Imperial Grand House
“Your Majesty, this is Your Highness.” Mo Ziyuan pushed Lin Tao in front of Chu Qingye.
“Father Emperor above, please accept a bow from your son!” Lin Tao said clearly and solemnly. Meng Yichen had already taught him these at home, so when he knelt straight in front of Chu Qingye, the New Emperor’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.
The small body knelt straight and upright, small hands overlapping and hovering in front of his chest, eyes looking at the ground, but the small gaze spiritedly peeked upward from time to time, the small face flushed and pink and tender, small hands chubby and plump, the small frame sturdy-looking, just like a little calf, clearly nurtured very carefully, completely different from the previous infant who only knew to sleep with eyes closed and spit bubbles.
Chu Qingye nodded in satisfaction. This child was raised well by Lin Xin, taught properly too, especially the expression of feigned seriousness on the small face so similar to his own, all making him feel that everything he had done before was not wrong.
“Miss Lin, thank you for nurturing Chen’er these days.” Chu Qingye formally thanked Lin Xin. Lin Xin was stunned for a moment, waved her hand and said: “No need to thank me. Tao Tao—no, Your Highness is very well-behaved and has brought me much joy these days. I really don’t deserve Your Majesty’s thanks.”
What a joke, is the Emperor’s thanks so easy to accept!
Chu Qingye sized up Lin Xin. This was the second time he saw her; the night of entrusting the orphan was just a hurried glimpse. Now, just from how she faced him without being humble or arrogant, he knew this young lady was no simple person.
Thinking of what Mo Qilan had mentioned to him in the palace some days ago, a trace of mockery rose in Chu Qingye’s heart. If not for Ziyuan, the Dingguo Duke would probably be done for at Mo Qilan’s place. Listening to everything the woman by his side said—and crucially, this woman had no great wisdom, her petty cleverness all aimed at power and status. No wonder Ziyuan had endured so many years with this muddled father.
At this moment, Chu Qingye felt empathy for Mo Ziyuan. Neither of them had a reliable father! He was still better off—his father had a sudden awakening before dying, but Mo Qilan probably couldn’t manage that!
Thinking of this, a hidden joyful emotion surprisingly bubbled up in his heart, and he felt more sympathy for Mo Ziyuan.
Unaware that His Majesty’s mind had already twisted and turned nine times over, Mo Ziyuan stood with his head lowered, pondering how to bring up asking the Emperor to grant marriage between him and Lin Xin.
“You all go back first to rest. Tomorrow at morning court, I will reward you for your merits.” Chu Qingye said. He now couldn’t wait to get close to his own son.
“Yes, Your Majesty, your humble subjects take our leave!” Everyone bowed again and exited the Imperial Study.
“Xin’er, how about you come back to the estate with me?” On the way out of the palace, Mo Ziyuan asked Lin Xin expectantly.
“No, I’ll find an inn to stay at.” Lin Xin shook her head in refusal. She wasn’t a fool who knowingly headed toward danger.
“But…”
“Young Master, no buts. Your Majesty already granted Miss Lin a courtyard. It was renovated and completed a month ago. This old servant came along precisely to take Miss Lin there.” Eunuch An suddenly spoke up.
“Many thanks to Eunuch for making this trip.” Never having eaten pork but having seen pigs run—those old movies, TV dramas, and novels weren’t watched in vain. Eunuchs by the Emperor’s side were all capable and ruthless people. Better to befriend them if possible. Thus, while thanking him, Lin Xin slipped a sachet over.
Eunuch An pinched the sachet in his hand and found it very thin and light, probably containing silver notes. He nodded inwardly. A smart one.
Mo Ziyuan and the others were delighted to see this. Whether it was the Emperor granting the house or sending Eunuch An personally to deliver her, both actions sent a signal to all the officials in the Capital City and their families: from the moment Lin Xin stepped into the Capital City, she was no longer that village woman. The Emperor stood behind her. As long as she didn’t do anything too outrageous, she was solidly the new nobility from now on, even as just a woman.
Because Mo Ziyuan had received the Emperor’s verbal decree to “escort” Eunuch An back and forth, he naturally rode alongside on horseback. Gao Yong and the others were purely tagging along for the fun.
However, from the Imperial Palace to the imperial-granted courtyard, all sorts of people trailed behind their horse carriage, displaying their abilities, which annoyed Lin Xin somewhat. How was it that the more she lived this life, the farther it seemed from her salted fish dream!
“Is Miss Lin worried about the future?” Eunuch An caught all the changes in Lin Xin’s expression, asking with a smile in his eyes.
“Worried? Not really. Worst case, I can let my fists do the talking,” Lin Xin smoothed the hair by her temple. “It’s just thinking about dealing with these people in the future that makes me irritable.”
“Hehe, the young lady is quite frank.”
“Doesn’t everyone say there’s no wall that doesn’t leak wind in this world? No matter how well I pretend, one or two days is fine, three or four days manageable, but to keep pretending forever would be too tiring. Besides, I know my own weight. Pretending in front of Eunuch, no matter how good, would be full of flaws!”
“Miss Lin is so good with words, making this old servant feel ashamed.”
Lin Xin smiled and said no more. She knew this conversation would be reported word-for-word to the Emperor’s ears once he returned, so she deliberately chose words that were pleasant without seeming flattering to state her position: she didn’t want to deal with the Capital City’s official wives, and she was also preemptively excusing herself in front of the Emperor. If she really ended up hitting someone later, the fault wouldn’t be solely hers. She hoped the Emperor would realize this.
Imperial-granted courtyards were never small, or they would have no meaning, but seeing her new home, Lin Xin was still shocked. It was too big— a full five compounds. If she slept in each room once, it would probably take months.
“Is the young lady satisfied?”
“Not satisfied? How much more satisfied could I be?” A line from some interview she vaguely remembered slipped out.
“As long as the young lady is satisfied, this old servant will return to the palace to report to Your Majesty.” Eunuch An adapted well to Lin Xin’s “impertinence,” saying with a cheerful smile.
“Good, safe travels, Eunuch!”
After seeing off Eunuch An, Lin Xin thoroughly toured the home with Lin Nan, Mo Ziyuan, and the others. Then only one thought remained in her mind: Cleaning such a big courtyard would drive anyone mad!
“Xin’er, today you first tidy up two rooms for you and Nan Nan to rest. Tomorrow after court, I’ll take you to the real estate agency to buy a few servants!” Mo Ziyuan said.
Lin Xin nodded eagerly. Indeed, such a big house was too empty with just her and Lin Nan.
Seeing her heed his opinion, a bright smile appeared on Mo Ziyuan’s face, but this smile didn’t last long before it was interrupted by an uninvited guest.
