Chapter 60: Episode 60

Episode 60

Episode 60

Xie Junling wrote the matter on a folded note and handed it to the Emperor. The Emperor especially despised these petty deceptions, treating the imperial examination as child's play. He then ordered Xie Junling to investigate the case thoroughly.

Xie Junling used himself as bait, infiltrated the enemy camp, and from the lowly clerk there traced the culprits up to several high officials in the court, among them the Hanlin Academy officer Shen Yun. This matter was neither wholly trivial nor entirely serious, because it was not genuine cheating or leaking exam questions; rather, these people, shrouded in corruption, wanted to swindle some silver with falsehoods. Still, such a perverse wind and evil qi required rectification. The Emperor, enraged, rebuked several ministers in the hall, deducted a few months' salary, and replaced the chief examiner. As for Shen Yun, being lowly and unheard, the Emperor's anger naturally fell on him; Shen Yun was demoted to be the magistrate of a county in Yuzhou, ostensibly to let him undergo a trial period. Though both were seventh rank, one stayed in the Hanlin Academy in Jingdu, the other had to serve in the provinces; even a fool knows that Shen Yun's hope of returning to Jingdu is now a pipe dream—perhaps he will spend his life as a modest county magistrate.

Shen Yun knew that Xie Junling had taken on this case as soon as he entered the Dali Temple, fearing the Emperor would look favorably upon him. Yet his unsmooth temperament had offended many ministers. Shen Yun thought darkly that Xie Junling's directness would not take him far in the bureaucracy.

But Shen Yun forgot that the Emperor valued Xie Junling's sharp blade; the more cunning, the more harmful; the sharper, the more he opposed others, the more the Emperor trusted him. For a Xie Junling like this, only the Emperor could rely on him, and only the Emperor could protect him.

The Emperor also felt at ease with such a pure minister, unafraid that he would form cliques; this is why the Emperor painstakingly cultivated a rootless commoner official. He wanted the pure minister to be his foundation; the ruler remains the ruler, while ministers can only cling to him.

That night, Shen Yun, drunk, came to the Xie Residence to cause a scene, saying he wanted to have a proper talk with Xie Junling.

Xie Junling originally did not want to see him, but hearing the commotion outside, fearing it would disturb Lu Bao'er's rest, he threw on his robe and went to meet Shen Yun.

Shen Yun was merely feigning madness and foolishness under the influence; whether he was truly drunk was uncertain.

When the door swung open, the flushed Shen Yun seized Xie Junling's collar, gritting his teeth: "Brother Xie! You bastard!"

Xie Junling was not at all frightened by the drunkard; seeing him raise his fist, he remained unshaken. He simply looked at him with a light, indifferent smile and mocked: "You could have attacked, but this wound of mine, if shown to the Emperor tomorrow, will surely demand an explanation. I mean, is it that Lord Shen is drunkenly causing trouble, or what?"

With those words, Shen Yun reluctantly lowered his hand. He drooped his shoulders, feeling out of place with everything about the Xie family. Xie Junling always looked down from his lofty perch, as if Shen Yun were a tiny ant beneath him, despised. Shen Yun envied Xie Junling, envied his chance to rise, coveted the Emperor's favor. Yet the things Xie Junling had endured—such as investigating the Tongzhou embezzlement disaster relief silver case and sending Shen Yun—might not have succeeded, or some arrangement failed, leading to his death being carried out in Tongzhou.

Unfortunately, people never admit their uselessness; Shen Yun only saw the benefits Xie Junling reaped from returning alive, forgetting the perils he had faced.

He intended to beat this man who had stabbed him in the back under the influence, but Xie Junling's leisurely remark scared him back.

Xie Junling gave a cold laugh; he was merely testing whether Shen Yun was feigning madness or truly drunk. Little did he know Shen Yun also possessed the ability to weigh pros and cons, proving he was no mere drunk. Considering they were colleagues, if Shen Yun truly attacked him, he would not speak ill before the Emperor. Unfortunately, this man was truly cowardly, only daring to bluster behind the scenes.

Wanting silver yet refusing proper channels, secretly selling examiners' information, naturally deserved punishment. Xie Junling despised Li Jiao's actions toward Lu Bao'er, but if Shen Yun were clean enough, he had no leverage, let alone any blackmail material.

Fortunately Lu Bao'er was unharmed; had she been harmed, Xie Junling wouldn't mind letting Li Jiao also meet some fatal accident.

Shen Yun, lost and hollow, whispered: "Why are you so ruthless? If you had warned me earlier, I could have stopped, and wouldn't have been exposed."

If Xie Junling wanted to investigate, he would not shield anyone.

He calmly said: "It's not that your luck has failed, but that you did wrong. Doing wrong and straying, being discovered, naturally requires correction. You should be grateful it's not a great crime; otherwise you wouldn't be standing here steadily, with a magistrate post to hold. I have already shown leniency; you should know that."

Shen Yun obviously understood; he was lucky this time that no serious internal matters surfaced. He was merely annoyed that Xie Junling always acted as if he could arrange his fate, arrogantly pointing the way.

Xie Junling glanced at him and added: "If you truly think there's something I owe you, there actually is one."

"What?" Shen Yun, not knowing why he was being bitten, listened closely.

"Zuo Jing went to Treasure Buddha Temple a few days ago and met the Li clan. If not for the maid acting as a scapegoat, Zuo Jing would have been knocked off the steps and injured a child." Xie Junling finished and closed the door. He didn't know whether he was relieved or not; he only recalled the fear—if the child were seriously hurt, and if Lu Bao'er suffered any mishap, he would never let the Shen family have it easy.

Shen Yun heard the truth and was stunned. He had imagined countless reasons, never considering this one! It turned out that Li Jiao, that wretch, had harmed him!

Shen Yun completely forgot that it was his greed for silver that led him to join those scams of wealthy examinees; he had poured his anger onto Li Jiao, and for the first time in history he slapped Li Jiao.

Li Jiao was stunned by the thunderous slap; she became fierce, immediately reaching to scratch Shen Yun. The couple fought wildly, even drawing the attention of the Cui family.

The Cui family never expected Li Jiao could hurt her husband; such boldness made her so angry she fell back, slipping into unconsciousness.

In the end, the Shen family dismissed Li Jiao on grounds of ingratitude, returning her to the Li family. Since she had poor relations with relatives and cousins since childhood, she was like a transparent person in the Li household, unnoticed. A few years later she shaved her head, became a nun, and never returned to secular life.

These are later events; for now they are set aside.

After ordering the servants to close the door, Xie Junling hurried back to his inner chamber. He carried a chill, standing for a long time in the warm, cozy room of the dragon, dispelling the cold before approaching Lu Bao'er. At this moment Lu Bao'er was still sound asleep; she knew Xie Junling had gone out, but she paid no mind. Pregnant women find it hard to sleep; they must lie on their side, otherwise the heavy belly feels as if it presses down.

Now Xie Junling slipped back into the brocade quilt, embracing Lu Bao'er from behind.

Lu Bao'er was woken by him, rubbing sleep‑filled eyes and asked: "Husband, what's wrong? What happened just now?"

Xie Junling, fearing she would overthink, said: "Nothing."

"Really?"

"Hmm." Xie Junling paused, then said, "If my official career stalls and I'm demoted to a provincial post, what would you do?"

Lu Bao'er laughed: "What could I do? Of course I'd go with you."

"Don't you desire the wealth and honor of Jingdu?"

"What's there to desire? I love you, husband; being with you is the best, nothing else matters."

Lu Bao'er's words stirred a ripple in Xie Junling's heart. Indeed, if she were his treasure, she could live well anywhere.

She was happy, and Xie Junling always relied on her radiance. When he saw her joyful, his heart brightened; when she suffered, he would support her, shielding her from wind and rain.

Xie Junling lived by depending on Lu Bao'er; her well‑being kept him company, not his own prowess granting her happiness.

At that moment, Xie Junling leaned close and kissed the tip of Lu Bao'er's ear, softly saying: "Sleep on."

His breath was hot, making Lu Bao'er itch all over. She quickly moved away, telling Xie Junling: "Husband, don't kiss my ear, it's uncomfortable."

When she said "uncomfortable," Xie Junling's inner fire flared. His gaze sharpened, and in a hoarse voice he asked: "Hm? Uncomfortable?"

"What?" Lu Bao'er, dazed, didn't know how to answer.

Seeing her coquettish look, Xie Junling couldn't help but kiss her lips, saying: "Don't run."

Lu Bao'er's face flushed red, coyly pleading: "Husband! I'm pregnant…"

Xie Junling's face reddened to the point of dripping blood, and he whispered: "I asked the imperial physician; he said that after three months of pregnancy, if the position is right, it can also satisfy cravings."

Those who understood the implication knew exactly what he meant.

Lu Bao'er hadn't expected Xie Junling to brazenly ask the physician about such matters; she opened her mouth, unable to utter a word. In that distracted instant, she gave Xie Junling an opening.

Xie Junling curled his lilac‑colored tongue around hers, licking her lips, entangling with her. Though fierce, his hands constantly considered Lu Bao'er's body, fearing any discomfort. He could endure it; if she felt uneasy, he would bear it. After so long, he needed to satisfy his craving, lest he had been holding it in for months.

Even the old matriarch found it rare that Xie Junling, during Lu Bao'er's pregnancy, did not seek other men's rooms for meat, deeming him a uniquely devoted man.

At this moment the red candles reignited, the brocade quilt stirred slightly, causing Lu Bao'er to gasp repeatedly. When the old matriarch heard Xie Junling request hot water, her face darkened. She had thought Xie Junling was so capable! Turns out he was an unrestrained master! He began to trouble the pregnant Lu Bao'er!

Xie Junling knew his actions that day were absurd, and he dared not look at the old matriarch. He pretended nothing was seen, tended to Lu Bao'er, and continued to lull her back to sleep, wishing her a sweet dream.