A sharp object seemed to poke Meng Huan in the brain viciously, and when he closed his eyes to relieve the discomfort, two words emerged in his head— ‘bad luck.’
The most unfortunate!
The person who tied him up was An Chui?!
Couldn’t he ever avoid the runaway wife plot?
As endless questions welled up inside, the tall, muscular man walked around beside Meng Huan. “Trade him for Anur’s life or cut off his head and worship it at Anur’s grave?”
An Chui waved his horsewhip and looked down at Meng Huan in silence. “Han people never talk about exchanging life for life. When we say we will exchange his life for Anur’s, they will then ask who will exchange for the life of the killed innkeeper?”
“Are we just going to watch Anur die?” The middle-aged man burst out in anger.
An Chui gloomily turned around and raised his hand. With a rapid movement, he slapped the man’s head and took a few steps backward, and his tone was cold and frightening when he spoke.
“He deserved to die for his drunkenness and foolishness! I have one thing to do before I leave the capital. If you guys are reckless and impulsive again and spoil my plans, I will cut off your and your children’s heads when you return to Jianzhou.”
The others did not dare to speak, kneeling on the ground.
Looking at An Chui, Meng Huan’s scalp tingled. This person was different from Lin Bozhou. Lin Bozhou also killed people, but Lin Bozhou never did it himself but let his subordinates do it, and his own hands weren’t stained with anyone’s blood.
And Lin Bozhou’s killing had a reason. If you didn’t offend him, he was a gentleman, and you could communicate peacefully with him. However, the concept of morality and benevolence in this An Chui was weak, and he killed people when angry. The Juchen tribe’s people had a savage custom, and they would even eat people occasionally when meeting disaster!
A thin layer of sweat broke out on Meng Huan’s forehead, and his palms were slightly chilly.
He gathered courage and asked, “What do you want? Money? How much do you want?”
He pursed his lips. “I can have my family give it to you.”
His husband, Lin Bozhou, was wealthy, very wealthy!
Whatever you want, as much money as you want, as much gold, silver, and treasure.
Lin Bozhou would certainly pay too. Meng Huan was this confident.
…… Of course, when you get the money it’s also the time of your demise. Meng Huan did not say this sentence.
An Chui’s gloomy gaze fell on his face, and he rhetorically asked, “How much money can your family give? You can’t afford to give me what I want.”
He gestured to the man beside him, “Tie him up and take him with me.”
A force hit him from behind, and Meng Huan was forced to stand up straight. His wrists tied behind his back tingled with pain, and anger flashed behind his lowered eyelashes, but he followed with a sigh of resignation and humility.
–
The Imperial City.
Lin Bozhou went to the Wen Yuan Court to meet with the cabinet ministers first.
The cabinet ministers were surprised as this was the first time Lin Bozhou had chosen to return to the cabinet when he was physically ill since he was promoted to the prince regent. They all stood up, and Deputy Chen even gave Lin Bozhou his chair. “Your Highness, taking care of your health is important!”
“First, let’s talk about how to spend the money from the salt patrol.” Lin Bozhou’s voice was kind. “My body is fine, and I can still recuperate, but the people are in misfortune and face imminent danger.”
Several cabinet ministers hastened to praise Lin Bozhou for his benevolent heart.
They looked at Elder Cui and said, “How about Elder Cui speak first?”
Elder Cui stroked his beard and was about to speak.
However, Lin Bozhou paused. “Please ask His Majesty to come over and discuss it together.”
The back of the crowd tensed up at these words.
According to the hour, this time was usually when Emperor Xuan He was observing politics in the cabinet. Although Emperor Xuan He could not participate in the decision, he needed to experience dealing with political affairs and governing the country from the exchange between Lin Bozhou and the cabinet ministers.
But at this moment, Emperor Xuan He wasn’t present!
—This proved that when Lin Bozhou suffered from eye disease and did not attend court, he immediately skipped class.
The atmosphere was tense.
How could Lin Bozhou not understand? The lines at the corners of his lips were pursed very faintly, and he did not speak.
A hall eunuch kneeled to kowtow and said, “His Majesty read too late yesterday and caught a cold. This morning, he was bedridden and should still be resting.”
The Zhangyin eunuch of the Ceremonial Supervisor, Pei Xiyi, coughed and covered his lips with his fingers.
*T/N: In chapter 29, it was mentioned that Pei Xiyi was the Bingbi (or brush holding) and not the Zhangyin (seal holding) eunuch, but it was suddenly changed in this chapter. Not sure if the author forgot or made a mistake.
Lin Bozhou paused, and his expression didn’t change. Not knowing whether he believed it or not, he slowly got up. “All right. This prince will go visit His Majesty first.”
Lin Bozhou let Pei Xiyi help him get on the shoulder carriage and walked towards Emperor Xuan He’s residence, the Yang Xin Palace. Needless to say, someone must have reported to Emperor Xuan He earlier, so when he reached the entrance of the Palace, Emperor Xuan He’s coughing voice came over. “Imperial Brother, Imperial Brother, why are you here? Imperial Brother’s eyes are not well, and you should have been recuperating in your residence……”
The thirteen-year-old boy coughed very strenuously as if he was beyond cure.
But the acting was also very fake.
Lin Bozhou got off the shoulder carriage, saluted, and said as if nothing had happened. “This official heard that His Majesty has a severe cough; the wind chill must be severe. Someone, call the people from the Imperial Physician Bureau to come.”
Eunuch: “Yes.”
Emperor Xuan He looked flustered and said, “Imperial Brother, We have been treated this morning. The people from the Imperial Physician Bureau have just left. Isn’t it too much trouble to call them here again?”
“Your Majesty’s health is the country’s foundation, so we need to be very careful. So what if it’s troublesome? Letting them come again is no problem, so this official can rest assured. Go and announce it.”
Lin Bozhou’s every word was for Emperor Xuan He’s benefit, his tone was gentle, and the comfort in his words was just right, but it made Emperor Xuan He’s scalp tingle and his back chill, knowing that Lin Bozhou had indeed seen through his lies.
