Ch 36: Teetering On The Brink Of Death

“Your Humble Servant, greets Your Majesty!”

Beside Guantian Lake, Lin Che saw the stunningly beautiful Empress Chiling from afar.

She wore a white dress, the skirt trailing on the ground, her back to everyone as she gazed at the vast Guantian Lake ahead.

In the center of the lake was a huge tall tower. While the tower was already impressively tall and magnificent, it seemed quite small within Guantian Lake.

Further away, several Imperial Consorts and maids were boating and playing, their laughter occasionally carried on the breeze.

The evening breeze blew, gently stirring Empress Jiang Li’s long hair.

Without turning around, she said, “Baron Jing’an, you’re in such a hurry to see me. Do you have another brilliant strategy to offer? Rise and speak.”

These past few days, the Imperial Edict publicly announcing the names and amounts of donations has truly shocked all of Daqian.

On the first day alone, the reported donations totaled over thirty billion taels of silver.

All of this was the result of Lin Che’s debate with the Grand Scholar.

Empress Jiang Li was naturally very pleased; this solved a major problem for her. Therefore, when she heard the eunuch announce that Baron Jing’an requested an audience, she readily agreed.

Lin Che did not rise. Hearing Empress Jiang Li’s praise, he lost his earlier joyful expression and instead said in a deep voice:

“Your Humble Servant is guilty of grave crimes, unforgivable sins. I beg Your Majesty to grant me death!”

“Hmm??”

Empress Jiang Li turned around. A look of confusion appeared on her beautiful yet cool face.

However, Lin Che’s opening statement, “beg to be granted death,” seemed quite familiar to Empress Jiang Li.

“What crime?”

“During the ancestral worship at the Imperial Tombs, Your Humble Servant was audacious and arrogant. Thinking of Your Majesty’s majestic bearing, in a moment of reckless passion, I committed the treasonous crime of overstepping my bounds. I wrote nonsense on paper. I am guilty! I deserve death!”

Lin Che hung his head, not daring to look at the Empress’s expression.

His heart pounded wildly.

He had teetered on the brink of death many times, only now realizing the situation.

His Majesty had specially appointed him as a Special Envoy, to depart for Yan Yun Kingdom in two months.

Was this a joke?

So, the Empress had been testing him from the beginning.

The arranged marriage, requiring him to marry within three months. Was that just talk?

No!

The Empress wanted to see if he was captivated by women, if he would stay in Daqian for a beautiful woman.

Once married, Mo Zhaoxue would be his weakness.

No matter how high the kite flies, the string remains in Tian Du City.

But what did Lin Che do?

He did not show favor to Mo Zhaoxue; instead, he opposed her, making her lose face.

He was not captivated by women.

He fell out with Zhen Guo Mansion, never giving his father, Lin Pojun, any face.

In his eyes, there was no family affection, no parental love.

During the Imperial Tombs’ ancestral worship, Lin Che dared to write an oath only an Emperor would dare to write. What was this?

It proved that Lin Che dared to think of himself as an Emperor. He did not fear imperial power. Treasonous!

Everyone treasured the gifts bestowed by His Majesty, yet Lin Che sold them all within days, showing no appreciation whatsoever.

Then he debated with the court officials and argued the Great Dao with the Grand Scholar.

This proved that in Lin Che’s eyes, there were no worldly constraints, no ethics or morals existed.

Finally…

In the Bright Mirror Department, it wasn’t even a real case. Even if he beat Lin Yaoguang, so what?

Just a fight between brothers. Besides, Lin Yaoguang started it.

The Empress had no time for such trivial matters. She didn’t care!

Yet the Bright Mirror Department still summoned Lin Che and detained him overnight; that night was what destroyed his psychological defenses.

Finally, before the Spirit Deity, Qian Linggong personally tested him.

But Lin Che’s response was—he showed no respect for the gods!!

A man without a ruler, without a father, unafraid of imperial power, not captivated by women, uninterested in wealth, unconcerned with worldly constraints, and even disrespectful of the gods.

Would the Imperial Family dare to use such a person?

Could His Majesty trust him?

If he became an envoy to an enemy country, would he truly fight for Daqian?

Everything, everything, ultimately came down to one crucial question: Before the Second Prince died, did he give you anything? Leave any last words??

Are you, a man without a ruler or a father, lawless and unruly, hiding the Second Prince’s belongings?

Lin Che’s heart was in turmoil.

Especially when he thought of the words on that secret edict…

He lowered his head further.

Escaping Tian Du and avoiding Zhen Guo Mansion wasn’t just a matter of biding time; he needed to reassure the current Empress Chiling and obtain permission to be sent to the enemy country!

Damn it!

Previously, he had thought too simply, only focused on receiving rewards.

But in reality, the Empress’s test had been going on all along. If he discovered it any later, he wouldn’t even know how he died.

An Empress who could rule the world.

One cannot simply look at her surface, but must look deeper.

“Oh? You devised strategies for me, a great achievement. I was thinking what reward to give you. What death sentence? Rise.”

“Your Humble Servant is terrified, thank Your Majesty for your grace.”

Lin Che took the opportunity to stand up and glanced at the Empress’s captivatingly beautiful face.

The Empress’s outfit today was truly stunning.

His gaze shifted from the Empress’s face downwards…

Full! Plump!

Lin Che was somewhat excited.

Although there was no exposure, the collar reached her neck, yet this proud double-D pushed the fabric high.

I can’t look, I can’t look.

Form is emptiness, emptiness is form!

I read the Spring and Autumn Annals, I’ve had strict training, I would absolutely not secretly look…

Unless I couldn’t help myself.

“This donation drive for the disaster victims, your ability to persuade the court officials set a precedent. A great achievement!”

“Right, I heard you bet at Drunken Moon Tower that you would submit a petition to plead for Zhou Xianchun, is that correct?”

Lin Che thought, “Oh no,” that was something His Majesty personally said would be “severely punished,” a solemn promise, how could he simply submit a petition?

Does he think Daqian’s laws were written by his family? That he could change and judge them however he pleased?

Lin Che gritted his teeth, “Your Humble Servant indeed used this as a ploy. To be honest with Your Majesty, at Drunken Moon Tower, I also contacted the former Vice Minister of Revenue, Zhou Wei. I originally planned to swindle one million taels of silver from him. Once I got the money, I would submit a plea of guilty and await Your Majesty’s decision. Then I could donate two million taels of silver! The more disaster victims I could save, the better.”

Seeing Lin Che so honest, Empress Jiang Li smiled faintly:

“You think quite highly of yourself. So, Zhou Wei was unwilling?”

Empress Jiang Li did believe Lin Che’s words. After all, other ministers wouldn’t dare say such things, yet these words reflected the most honest thoughts in people’s hearts.

Even the one million taels he received, he dared to donate them; even if it was two million taels, it was not unbelievable that he would donate it.

“Yes. He said he didn’t have that much money, at most three thousand taels. Too little. So I gave up,” Lin Che shook his head, looking unimpressed.

Empress Jiang Li was in a good mood. In fact, she knew everything Lin Che had done.

Now that Lin Che was willing to confess, it at least proved that he had not deceived the Emperor.

“You’re quite bold. Do you know that your actions constitute extortion of court officials? Aren’t you afraid of losing your head?”

Lin Che’s heart skipped a beat; he knew this question was definitely not simple.

The Empress had not yet believed him; he absolutely could not be careless.

He had to settle the matter definitively, changing His Majesty’s impression of him. Saving his life!

Lin Che did not answer immediately, but walked a few steps to the side, gazing upwards at a 45-degree angle, his face full of melancholy.

The setting sun shone on the lake surface, spreading long rays of golden light.

“Your Humble Servant certainly knows I risk my head. But I am not afraid. I think of Your Majesty personally going to the Southern Region for flood control. This dedication, this spirit of serving the country and the people, deeply moved me.”

“When the ruler is worried, the minister is ashamed; when the ruler is disgraced, the minister dies! Your Humble Servant only wants to relieve Your Majesty’s worries. As long as I can raise one million more taels, even if I bear the bad reputation of extorting high officials, so what?”

“Things in this world cannot always go as one wishes; one can only strive to have a clear conscience!!”

Lin Che clasped his hands, raising them slightly above his head, filled with emotion, and then said loudly:

“How I wish I could have countless houses, to shelter all the people under heaven, bringing joy to them all!!”

He finished speaking.

The scene fell momentarily silent.

Empress Jiang Li did not speak; the palace maids in the distance dared not speak either; only the gentle evening breeze blew.

Empress Jiang Li’s eyes shone with an unusual light, as if she was seeing this minister differently for the first time.

This was something that couldn’t be faked.

From the poem “Smoke and flames for three months, family letters worth ten thousand gold” at Drunken Moon Tower, to debating with the Grand Scholar, inspiring donations from people across the land.

Even willing to take risks for an extra one million taels.

There were many ministers in the court, but who truly risked their lives for Daqian?

For those high officials and nobles, making a show of it, donating a little money was enough; who could truly achieve “when the ruler is worried, the minister is ashamed; when the ruler is disgraced, the minister dies”?

What a great line: “How I wish I could have countless houses, to shelter all the people under heaven, bringing joy to them all!”

Could it be that Lin Che’s ten years as a hostage had fundamentally changed him? He did not care about his parents, worldly customs, or imperial power.

But his heart was filled with concern for the people, for the commoners of the world.

If all the ministers were like this, why would Daqian be unstable?

If Lin Che truly cared for the people, his weakness would be the people of the world. With the suffering masses in his heart, he would naturally not commit any heinous crimes that would harm the people and drain the country’s resources.

Empress Jiang Li stepped forward, her voice softening:

“Minister Lin, I understand your thoughts! Minister Lin, you are truly a model for all the ministers of Daqian!”

“I need to reward you. Tell me, what do you want?”

“Eating the Emperor’s salary and bearing the Emperor’s worries are what Your Humble Servant should do; I dare not take credit. Others may only say it, but Your Humble Servant truly wants to relieve Your Majesty’s worries.”

Lin Che had a righteous and imposing air:

“In time, Your Majesty will surely understand Your Humble Servant’s loyalty.”

“Well said, but I also understand that rewards and punishments should be clear; one cannot starve one’s soldiers. To use your words, Minister Lin, if you don’t accept a reward this time, the other ministers won’t dare accept rewards or contribute.”

Empress Jiang Li was clearly in a good mood, smiling before Lin Che could respond.

Several former Imperial Consorts were approaching in their small boat on Guantian Lake, a bevy of beauties, carrying several large fish.

“Your Majesty, look. We had a great catch today.”

Seeing this, Empress Jiang Li smiled sweetly and turned to Lin Che:

“Can’t think of anything? Then the reward is to dine with me. Let’s go!”