Chapter 414: I Can

An Yi and the others all shook their heads.

Shi Lin turned his gaze toward them and asked, "What's the background of Sòng Běitíng's sister‑in‑law?"

They didn't investigate.

Shi Lin immediately ordered them to investigate.

The Yamen records show that she exists.

And they found it in no time.

Sòng Běitíng's sister‑in‑law is the youngest daughter of a sect leader in the jianghu.

Given his elder brother's standing, marrying such a woman isn't impossible, so it isn't surprising.

"Alright, stop the investigation for now."

Shi Lin decided to wait and see, since it was still unclear whether Sòng Běitíng liked Qiao Lanhua.

What if he misread his intentions?

After resting at home for two more days, Shi Lin finally went to attend court.

As soon as Shi Lin arrived at court, someone confronted him, saying that because he had been away so long for a woman, he was unfit to be a Brocade Guard commander.

The person who confronted him was the Vice Minister of the Great Justice Hall.

He belonged to the Phoenix Radiance faction.

Shi Lin slightly raised an eyebrow and said, "Lord Zhao, in your view, who is suitable to be the Brocade Guard commander?"

The Vice Minister's expression froze.

He truly hadn't expected Shi Lin to ask him that.

After waiting a while, he received no reply.

Shi Lin opened his mouth and said, "Lord Zhao, is there something wrong with your ears? Can't you hear me? Moreover, in your heart, your wife means nothing?"

The Vice Minister immediately replied, "I certainly heard you. I remained silent because I was pondering how to answer you, Lord Shi. My wife is in my heart; how could she be nothing?"

Shi Lin was waiting for exactly what he just said.

He said expressionlessly, "If that's the case, and your wife were kidnapped, would you ignore it and continue as usual?"

"I…"

The Vice Minister choked slightly and said, "Public matters are public, private matters are private; I can still distinguish them. If I were unable to fulfill my current post, I would resign on my own without anyone needing to tell me."

"Exactly."

More than a dozen officials stepped forward to echo him.

Among them were other officials from the Phoenix Radiance faction, as well as from other factions.

The reason officials from other factions stepped forward

was undoubtedly because they could not stand Shi Lin's excessive favor.

Phoenix Radiance said nothing, merely standing on the side, watching the commotion.

He still didn't believe it.

Shi Lin could still continue as the Brocade Guard commander.

Seeing them each trying to bring him down.

Shi Lin calmly said, "Your Majesty, I recall that I may have resigned before; what do you say about that?"

This kid.

The Emperor tapped his leg and said, "I almost forgot; you did resign to me, but I can't bear to lose a talent like you, so I didn't accept."

The ministers murmured, "……"

Is it true?

Phoenix Radiance: "!"

How could it be like this!

The court was dismissed.

The Emperor summoned the Shi Lin who was hurrying out of the palace to the Imperial Study, saying, "You kid, you're bold—aren't you afraid that I won't cooperate with you?"

Exactly.

Shi Lin never resigned, nor did he ever say such words.

Shi Lin smiled broadly and said, "Your Majesty, you are indeed the Emperor, but you're also my brother‑in‑law, aren't you? Could you bear to make my younger brother‑in‑law suffer? Besides, aren't I a talent?"

"Yes, yes."

The Emperor replied with several "yeses" and asked, "How is your wife? Is she okay? Your second sister is quite worried; go see her in a while."

His harem indeed contains several women, but his favorite is still Shi Lin's second sister.

Shi Lin told him, "Her health isn't great; if it weren't for thinking that you, Emperor, need me, I would certainly stay home and spend more days with her."