mtlumby2d Chapter 142 I have never seen such a shameless person!
Chapter 142 I have never seen such a shameless person!
Both of them had a clear understanding of the situation regarding King Ping, so they decided to put it aside for the time being.
Lin Shihe sat down again, poured tea for each of them, and began to discuss another matter with Lu Yuxi.
"Shiming came back and visited the ancestral hall a few days ago. He said he had come up with an interesting idea. I wonder how Her Majesty the Empress is doing these days?"
“I was just about to tell my brother about this.” Lu Yuxi straightened her posture. “Yesterday, the Empress Dowager summoned us to Fengyi Palace, saying that she did indeed dream of my eldest brother the night before.”
Lin Shihe was not surprised at all, and chuckled as he twirled the teacup in his hand. "So that means Her Majesty the Empress has come to a realization that she can recover quickly under Mr. Nan Gu's treatment?"
"Not quite."
"Hmm?" Lin Shihe looked up with slight surprise. "The matter wasn't accomplished?"
"No. Although the Empress Dowager has come to some understanding, it is only temporary. Mr. Nan Gu took her pulse early yesterday morning and said that if the Empress Dowager continues to stay in the palace, or if she continues to dwell on the past, she will relapse sooner or later."
To maintain emotional stability and physical health, one must distance oneself from environments that are normally detrimental to depression.
"Therefore, after discussion, we decided to use the memory-loss drug that Mr. Nangu mentioned. He said that the drug is miraculous, but it does not completely erase a person's past; rather, it temporarily suppresses it."
"As patients gradually calm down and emerge from their pain, these memories will slowly resurface, preventing them from living out the rest of their lives in a daze."
Lin Shihe tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "That's a considerate approach."
"Exactly. Mr. Nan Gu estimates that after the Empress Dowager takes this medicine, she should be able to fully recover her memory in seven or eight years. However, he also said that he can only guarantee the Empress Dowager's lifespan for ten years. Whether she recovers or not by then will not matter much. At worst, she will relapse, but that will be the end of her life. This medicine is indeed just right."
"It's a good thing that Her Majesty the Empress can finish this matter clearly." Lin Shihe stopped what he was doing and leaned back. "When do you plan to start?"
"The Crown Prince's investiture ceremony will be held on the first day of the fifth month, which requires the Empress Dowager's presence. The Imperial Brother's wedding will be held on the third or sixth day, which the Empress Dowager does not need to attend, but she will still have to receive the tea ceremony the next day. Next is the court examination. The Empress Dowager does not want the 'national mourning' to affect the court affairs, so she plans to start the court examination after it is over."
"Now that the palace is in good condition, they have used a drug that will cause people to fall into a deep sleep for several days. They can then announce to the outside world that the Empress Dowager is critically ill, and then fake her death and leave the palace. It's all very reasonable. To the outside world, it will be said that the Empress Dowager has passed away."
“When the ‘national mourning’ arrives, we can use the chaos to send the Empress Dowager out of the palace. From then on, there will be no more Empress Bai Qiongzhu. Father can also use the excuse of not wanting to be reminded of the past to move to the temporary palace in advance.”
Lin Shiming nodded. "Sure. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Yes." Lu Yuxi was not polite at all. "When my father and I escorted the Empress Dowager out of the palace, we needed my brother to meet us outside and find a safe and quiet place for her to recuperate and live."
This matter was easy to handle, and Lin Shihe readily agreed. "Shiming has been to many places and told me about them when he came back. I think the Southwest is a good place. The climate is pleasant, it is far from the capital, and the Tingyun Army's direct troops are stationed there. It is a good place. Jiangnan is too prosperous, and there will inevitably be people who will recognize Your Highness."
"Then thank you very much, brother." Lu Yuxi stood up and bowed respectfully. "It is not appropriate for my father and I to act too obviously. I hope you will take good care of my mother when she comes."
Lin Shihe gently supported Lu Yuxi's arm, "There's no need for that. Hua Min is my brother, and Her Majesty the Empress treats me like a son or nephew. Consider this my way of fulfilling my filial duty on behalf of Crown Prince Hua Min."
When the Crown Prince Hua Min was mentioned, a sense of sorrow welled up in both of their hearts.
The study fell silent, with only the leaves outside the window still rustling in the wind.
A flower fell from the branch, twirled a few times, and slowly landed on the ground.
Lin Shihe finally moved.
He took out a wooden plaque from his pocket and handed it to Lu Yuxi.
"This is a calming wooden plaque that I carved overnight after hearing about Princess Ping's affair. You should have Shi carry it with him day and night."
"An Shen Mu Pai?"
Lu Yuxi took it with both hands and examined it closely. On a small and exquisite sandalwood plaque, there were some mysterious and flowing runes.
"The matter of Princess Ping, no matter how you look at it, cannot be completely unrelated to Shi Ming. Shi Ming is ultimately a kind-hearted person and cannot bear to see such a sad and tragic thing. Although he seems to be the same as usual, there is always some inexplicable guilt and sadness in his heart."
“Your nagging will only have a temporary effect. The inner turmoil and sadness will eventually need time to dissipate. This wooden plaque is engraved with the runes passed down in my Lin family. It will help him calm down, sleep better, and alleviate some of his depression. That will be of some use.”
Lin Shihe understands and feels sorry for his younger brother, whom he raised himself.
Lu Yuxi carefully put the sign away. "Brother, don't worry, I will take good care of him."
Lin Shihe nodded slightly, not saying anything more about these unsettling matters, and instead turned the topic back to tomorrow's political affairs.
"At tomorrow's morning court, someone will surely propose to release Prince Ping, or even demand to postpone the investiture ceremony of the Crown Prince. The matter of Princess Ping is ultimately due to hearing the bad news about Yue Linghan, and it has a great deal to do with you and Shi Ming."
"If they make any requests, you, as a person involved, should naturally avoid suspicion. If His Majesty were here, it would be fine, but now His Majesty has appointed you to oversee the country, so you have no choice but to comply. People tend to sympathize with the weaker party, and in terms of human relationships and morality, you will always suffer some losses in this matter. Have you prepared how to deal with them tomorrow?"
Lu Yuxi smiled warmly, "Father said that anything that can't be solved should be handed over to you, brother."
Lin Shihe said decisively, "Get lost."
"Why is brother so heartless in refusing?" Lu Yuxi put down her cup and began to carefully explain to Lin Shihe, "Didn't brother just feel sorry for Shiming? If brother can handle this matter for the two of us, he will be overjoyed."
"Do your own thing."
"Brother, it's good that you're doing this for the sake of the eldest brother, the Emperor. Mother said that the eldest brother asked about you in his dream!"
"Don't try to appeal to emotions, it won't work."
Lu Yuxi was rebuffed several times, but she didn't give up and continued to try to persuade Lin Shihe to take action, "Brother, please consider the Empress Dowager and Father's feelings?"
"Her Majesty the Empress is always magnanimous and will certainly not make things difficult for me over this matter," Lin Shihe sneered. "As for your father, don't mention him to me. I get annoyed just looking at him now."
There is no time to talk today.
Lu Yuxi sighed, "Brother, are you really unwilling to help? Think about it again. Shiming hasn't had a moment of peace in a long time."
"You still dare to mention Shi Ming to me?" Lin Shihe laughed, the resentment that the 007 worker had been accumulating for more than a month was about to explode, and his temper was rising rapidly.
"My parents are still out on patrol, and I'm so busy that I can't even squeeze out time to go out with my wife and son. I've even had to drag my younger brother into this for you. You two are practically using everyone in the Lin family for work. There's a limit to how much you can fleece people; you can't just pull the leeks out by the roots!"
Lin Shihe's rant made Lu Yuxi blush with embarrassment. He touched his nose guiltily and continued to listen to Lin Shihe's venting of the grievances of a working-class person.
“My parents and I are one thing, one is the Duke of Zhenguo and the other is the heir apparent. They are both responsible for the country and it is only right that they devote themselves wholeheartedly to the royal family and the country. But Shi Ming has no such responsibility!”
As she spoke, Lin Shihe grew even angrier. "What did you say back then? You told Shiming to live up to the title of Crown Princess, to make sure the Empress Dowager wouldn't bully her, and to just 'help out occasionally.' And now? Look at you and your father, you're practically treating her like she's being used in three separate ways!"
My brother lived a carefree and happy life for more than ten years. How could he have been tricked out of my home by that heartless Emperor Longyun and sent to work as a "long-term laborer" for you?
Thinking about these things made Lin Shihe feel terrible. "Now they're getting more and more unreasonable. They want Shiming to share the responsibilities of the regent, and they're pushing them onto me. Why don't you and your father just switch responsibilities with the Lin family?"
I might as well become the emperor!
Lin Shihe vented his anger and felt much better after cursing so hard. His anger subsided a bit.
He let out a long sigh, turned around, and prepared to ask Lu Yuxi to be perceptive and take over some tasks, but he met Lu Yuxi's ambiguous and uncertain eyes.
Lin Shihe suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and he asked warily, "What kind of look is that?"
"Well, if my brother is willing, it's not impossible to make a change."
Lin Shihe: ... ...
Lin Shihe: ? ? ? ? ?
Lin Shihe: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lu Yuxi smiled innocently, "Brother, do you plan to don the imperial robes, or go through some legal process? Or you can abdicate directly, and Father and I will fully cooperate."
Damn it! Let whoever wants the throne have it! The entire Lu family has long regretted it! Emperor Longyun goes to the Fengxian Hall every day to complain, he's practically pointing at Emperor Taishi's memorial tablet and cursing him.
Now that Lin Shihe has brought it up, isn't this exactly what we wanted, just as he wished?
"When does Brother plan to make his move? I've long wanted to travel the world with Ming," Lu Yuxi's eyes gleamed. "I'll cook for him, tie his hair, and row his boat..."
How wonderful it would be to raise Lin Shiming into a spoiled brat who can do whatever he wants, never lift a finger!
Lu Yuxi couldn't help but smile with delight.
"Furthermore, my brother can use the new emperor's ascension to the throne to purge the former royal family and give the officials a warning! This would make dealing with the Empress Dowager and Prince Ping much easier!"
The more Lu Yuxi thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. "If we do it this way, all our difficulties will be resolved! Besides, Father Emperor's voluntary abdication does not violate the curse left by Senior Lin You!"
"Brother, why don't we do it this way?"
Lin Shihe remained silent, speechless for a long time, angered by the shameless father and son, Emperor Longyun and Lu Yuxi.
I have never seen such a shameless person!
After a long while, he regained his speech and mobility, pointed to the door, and said, "...Take your Crown Princess and get back to your palace, disappear from my sight. Immediately!"
*
In the carriage.
Lin Shiming was groggily awakened by the noise, but instead of the pale white bed curtains in his room, he saw the bright yellow roof of a carriage. Upon closer inspection, he realized he was still swaying involuntarily.
He was stunned for a moment, then turned his head and met Lu Yuxi's eyes as she sat to the side eating pastries.
"What's going on?" He woke up to find himself transported to another time?
"Are you hungry? Would you like some pastries?" Lu Yuxi picked up a piece of pastry and fed it to Lin Shiming. After watching him slowly finish eating, she fed him two sips of tea before speaking without any guilt, "It was my fault for upsetting my brother, which is why you were also kicked out."
Lin Shihe was so anxious that he didn't even want to wait for Lin Shiming to wake up. He directly asked Lu Yuxi to carry him, blanket and all, into the carriage without opening her eyes the whole time.
"...You're quite capable. I rarely manage to anger my brother to this extent." Lin Shiming wrapped himself tighter in his blanket, his eyes glazed over. "But next time it's going to affect me, could you at least give me a heads-up so I can be prepared?"
At least don't make me be carried out wrapped in a blanket! How will I, the dignified General Lin, ever face anyone again?
Knowing Lin Shiming's prideful nature, Lu Yuxi quickly explained, "I didn't lose face. The carriage was parked in the backyard, and I ordered people to temporarily send away all the servants and guards along the way. No one saw it."
At least you have some conscience!
Lin Shiming felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He reached out a hand from under the covers and began to get dressed.
"Tell me how you did it!" Share your experience so I can learn from it and try it myself next time.
Lu Yuxi really didn't guess Lin Shiming's thoughts this time. He subconsciously looked away and began to use euphemisms, "I shared my ideas about our future life with my brother, and he got angry."
"Getting angry so easily? That shouldn't be the case!" Lin Shiming even slowed down his dressing. "Explain in detail!"
“There have been many young emperors throughout the past few thousand years, and Tingsong is already five years old. I think that in ten years at the shortest and thirteen years at the longest, we can hand over the court to Tingsong, and then I will accompany you to continue traveling the world.”
Lu Yuxi smiled and imagined, "Besides, Father is only in his early forties, and his health is in its prime. Living another ten years or so shouldn't be a problem. Maybe he can even bypass us and ascend the throne as Tingsong. Wouldn't that be even more perfect?"
Lin Shiming stopped dressing completely. He wrapped himself in the blanket and snuggled up to Lu Yuxi a few times before reaching out to grab Lu Yuxi's wrist.
"Don't you want to be emperor anymore? You don't have to give up your ideals for me."
“My ideal is to be with you forever.” Lu Yuxi grabbed Lin Shiming’s hands and gently stroked them. “Besides, since we got married, you have always been the one making sacrifices and concessions for me.”
Lin Shiming frowned and explained, "This is something I promised my brother, to help you ascend the throne. It has nothing to do with our relationship."
Lin Shiming clearly distinguishes between serious matters and personal feelings. Everything he does wholeheartedly is not only based on his feelings for his brother and parents, but more importantly, it is to repay his brother and parents for their support, for the sake of Changping and the world, and for the injustices in his heart.
Feelings are just one aspect. Even if the two of them really wanted to remain a couple in name only, as Lin Shi had originally planned, he would still do so.
But for Lu Yuxi, the beneficiary, it was Lin Shiming who continuously did many things for him that he was originally unwilling to do.
"Didn't you say that there should be a balance in a marriage, and that a relationship shouldn't be based solely on one person's sacrifice? My mother agrees. I can't just take your sacrifices for granted and make you worry so much about my future. I hope I can do something for you too."
Lin Shiming answered without hesitation and decisively, "But I lack nothing."