“…and bestow upon you the Sword of Imperial Authority, granting the power to execute before reporting!” Ye Qinghuan recited smoothly.
As soon as her words fell, the surrounding officials all offered congratulations. “Congratulations, Duke Commander!”
“Just inherited the title and already has a chance to make great achievements!”
“Then let us congratulate the imperial envoy in advance on his triumphant return!”
Every word was laced with sarcasm.
This position of imperial envoy wasn’t an honorable opportunity—it was a burning hot mess. Now that Duke Commander had stepped forward to shoulder the burden, everyone could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Lin Ming now understood clearly—damn it, they were all putting on an act!
“So their goal was to get me to walk right into this trap? Ye Qinghuan, that venomous woman, is trying to murder her husband!”
He could even see the smirk Ye Qinghuan was struggling to suppress.
If this mission failed and millions of disaster victims revolted, he’d be the one held accountable!
But after thinking for a moment, Lin Ming didn’t resist. Instead, he cupped his hands and said, “Your subject, Lin Ming, thanks Your Majesty for her immense grace!”
He accepted it.
The ministers from the Six Great Clans watching the scene were all stunned. This little lord really wasn’t afraid of death? Heyu right now was a pit of fire, a den of tigers and dragons!
Ye Qinghuan was also slightly startled, wanting to say something, but in the end, held it back and said, “Since that’s the case, Duke Commander, return tomorrow and make your preparations.”
She turned and prepared to leave.
But Lin Ming called out from behind, “Hold on, Your Majesty, did you forget what you promised me yesterday at Wanhua Tower? A lot of people saw it.”
“Black stockings!”
Sheer provocation.
Ye Qinghuan rolled her eyes where no one could see, nearly exploding in fury.
She had been chanting mental mantras all morning, trying to suppress that cursed term—black stockings!
After taking two deep breaths, she turned around and forced a smile. “A ruler does not go back on her word. Once you return from Heyu, I’ll wear them personally for you.”
Lin Ming blinked slyly. “We’re currently in the Hall of Political Affairs, and so many ears have heard it. If Your Majesty tries to deny it later, wouldn’t it damage your royal prestige?”
Ye Qinghuan’s smile stiffened. “Of course I won’t go back on my word! I value honesty and integrity above all!”
After leaving that line, she fled as if afraid Lin Ming would press her further.
Lin Ming was a bit puzzled. “The system didn’t react this time. Ye Qinghuan’s patience must be better now—she didn’t even get mad!”
Looks like she had been provoked so many times she’d built up resistance.
But no matter. The Heyu affair was both a crisis and an opportunity.
…
Zichen Hall, Imperial Study.
The moment Ye Qinghuan returned, she drew her sword and slashed the imperial desk before her.
Crack!
The four corners of the desk split instantly.
The palace maids and eunuchs behind her dropped to their knees in terror, trembling like leaves.
Ye Qinghuan had always been calm and composed, but these past few days, her temper had clearly worsened.
“Treacherous scoundrel! If I ever get the chance, I’ll grind his bones to dust!” Ye Qinghuan fumed.
Asking her to wear black stockings!! How could someone as proud as Ye Qinghuan accept such a ridiculous demand?
Chief Palace Attendant Li Qiushui quickly rushed over, shocked. “Your Majesty, you are the sovereign of an empire. Please don’t damage your health with anger!” New chapters come out on g.com first.
Ever since last night when Ye Qinghuan tried on the black stockings Lin Ming sent her in the study, her personality had clearly shifted. Even Li Qiushui couldn’t understand how a mere pair of stockings could cause such damage!
But she didn’t dare ask what the black stockings looked like.
“I’m fine!” Ye Qinghuan said, puffing with anger. “Today, thanks to my brilliant strategy, I finally assigned the Heyu flood disaster to him.”
“Didn’t he always talk so righteously about state affairs? Fine! Let’s give him a real chance to make sweeping reforms!”
Li Qiushui’s eyes lit up in realization. “That’s brilliant, Your Majesty! The Lin family is the head of the Six Great Clans. By appointing Lin Ming as imperial envoy to manage the disaster and flood, he can keep the local gentry in check. But more importantly, if something goes wrong, and the millions of refugees revolt, he’ll be the one to bear the blame!”
“Then the court can punish him to calm public anger, while also striking at the power of the great clans. Two birds with one stone!”
Ye Qinghuan smiled proudly. “No—three birds with one stone. I also intend to have him implement a policy that makes officials and gentry jointly contribute grain. That way, he’ll offend all the landlords while we reap the benefits.”
Pushing Lin Ming to the front to act as a shield for the court—that was Ye Qinghuan’s poison plan.
She wouldn’t let him die, but she’d make sure his reputation was utterly destroyed. Then when the time came to break the engagement, it would be justified.
But Li Qiushui frowned and said, “But Your Majesty, if he’s given the authority of imperial envoy, what if he goes to Heyu and neglects his duties? What if he uses the name of the court to indulge himself? Wouldn’t that be a disaster?”
Ye Qinghuan paused. It was like being doused with cold water.
“You’re right, Qiushui! We must send someone trustworthy to monitor him.”
Li Qiushui immediately offered, “If Your Majesty is willing, I’ll accompany him to Heyu and keep a close eye on that treacherous man!”
Ye Qinghuan was moved to tears. “You watched me grow up. I trust you absolutely. Good! You’ll go with him. Report to me if anything happens!”
Li Qiushui replied confidently, “Please rest assured, Your Majesty. As long as I’m there, Lin Ming will be like the Monkey King trapped under Five Finger Mountain. He won’t stir up a single wave!”
…
Elsewhere in the palace.
At the residence of the Grand Eunuch Wei Zhongxiang.
“Godfather! There’s word from the palace. This morning, the Empress appointed Duke Commander as the imperial envoy to oversee disaster relief in Heyu!” reported Chen Hong, the Eastern Depot Commissioner, while massaging Wei Zhongxiang’s back.
Wei Zhongxiang, dressed in plain clothes, looked like a harmless old man. No one would guess he was the most powerful eunuch in the Empire.
He stroked his fake beard and chuckled. “Heyu is a powder keg. The local gentry treat lives like dirt, millions of refugees are homeless, and the officials stand by. More importantly, it’s outside the Lin family and the Six Great Clans’ territory. Going there is a death sentence.”
Chen Hong narrowed his eyes and sneered. “Looks like the Empress is truly ruthless. Just to get rid of Lin Ming, she elevated him to imperial envoy. Looks like we won’t even need to act—he’ll die on his own!”
Wei Zhongxiang glanced sideways. “Chenzi, after all these years, you still lack vision. With Lin Ming’s status and the Lin family’s power, do you really think it was difficult for him to refuse?”
Chen Hong froze. “Godfather, you mean… he accepted on purpose?!”
Wei Zhongxiang nodded. “Ye Qinghuan thinks herself clever, but in truth, she’s been dancing in Lin Ming’s palm all along. This move… is brilliant.”
Chen Hong was shocked. “But why would he willingly accept such a deadly assignment?”
…
“Why did I accept such a deadly assignment? Of course, for the system rewards!”
Inside the Lin residence, Lin Ming talked to the air.
There was nothing more despairing than giving someone hope—then crushing it yourself.
His current goal was to crush Ye Qinghuan’s hope by quelling the Heyu crisis with thunderous methods.
But Madam Lin and Lin Wan’er were panicking when they heard he had been appointed imperial envoy. The source of this chapter is g.com.
They rushed to stop him.
“Duke Commander (son), the Empress clearly wants you dead!”
“No way! Heyu is a death trap. Going there is suicide!”
“We’ll submit a protest! Even resort to military force! We’ll surround the palace and force Ye Qinghuan to revoke her decree!”
But Lin Ming rejected them flatly. “Mother, Wan’er, do you think I accepted this mission for fun?”
They blinked. “Didn’t you?”
Lin Ming: …X?X!
“Of course not!”
“Think about it. On the surface, our Lin family holds great power. But in truth, neither we nor the Six Great Clans hold influence beyond 1,000 kilometers outside Chang’an.”
“In the provinces, our reputation is nothing. In these chaotic times, merely clinging to the capital won’t cut it! What I must do is start with Heyu—the central hub of the empire—and make our name known!”
Lin Ming said something shocking. “He who fails to plan the whole, is unfit to rule even a region.”
The two were stunned. The Duke Commander, who normally only dragged women into the bedroom for ‘deep exchanges,’ actually said something so profound?
They were shaken to the core.
After a long while, Madam Lin wept with emotion. “After your father died, my son has truly awakened! For the Lin family’s future, you’re willing to go this far!”
“Go! The heavens have chosen you. Perhaps this is the best opportunity to shed your name as a playboy and become a true pillar of the nation!”
Lin Wan’er knelt down. “Please rest assured, Duke Commander. While you’re away, I’ll keep the Lin residence in order. No one will be allowed to stir up trouble.”
The Lin residence was full of hidden snakes, especially the many illegitimate sons eyeing the position of family head.
Luo Feng also stepped up. “If anyone dares act out, don’t blame me, the Dragon Soaring General, for being merciless! I’ll kill whoever dares!”
“Good! With all of you in the capital, I can focus on the frontlines!”
After convincing them with reason and emotion, Lin Ming had finally secured their support.
He also declared that for this trip to Heyu, he would go without a single guard from the Lin family.
…
The next day.
Lin Ming was granted the Empire’s highest ceremonial authority for ministers, along with the Sword of Imperial Authority and the imperial talisman, formally appointed as the full imperial envoy to Heyu for disaster relief.
The Empress dispatched 500 elite imperial guards to accompany (monitor) him.
But there was one more person traveling with him.
The Imperial Commissioner of Heyu’s Eight Provinces and Inspector—Li Qiushui!
Her official title was even longer than his. In short: Deputy Imperial Envoy.
“Duke Commander, from now on, I am your deputy. I await your instructions,” Li Qiushui said with a slight bow, though her face was haughty.
Lin Ming shrugged. “Fine by me. With such a long journey, I’m sure I’ll get sore and tired. I’ll count on you to massage my legs, pound my back, and warm my bed.”
“Of course, as a clean and upright official, I don’t accept bribes. You may offer me ‘special services,’ but don’t expect me to do you any favors.”