The Empress Dowager maintained her smile. “How strange. I was informed that Lord Lin brought Miss Ruan back to the capital as a potential female official. Now that I’ve taken a liking to her, she can’t stay?”
Lin Jie replied flatly, “The potential female official was just a story I told the Ruan family. I have no intention of sending her to the palace, but to keep her by my side.”
Ruan Ning stood behind Lin Jie, her head lowered to minimize her presence. Why was he speaking so boldly to the Empress Dowager? And her tone seemed too familiar. She sensed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint it.
Lin Jie coldly snorted and, without further comment, grabbed Ruan Ning and walked out. Liu Xi called after them, “Lord Lin, Ruan Miss has violated palace rules. You can protect her for a moment, but can you protect her for a lifetime?”
Ruan Ning shivered and clutched Lin Jie’s hand, fearing abandonment. Suddenly, a sedan chair appeared, and a hoarse voice called out, “Teacher!”
A hint of a smile emerged on Lin Jie’s gloomy face. Ruan Ning, stunned to see him smile for the first time, thought he looked handsome.
Lin Jie quickly approached the young man who had emerged from the sedan chair. He was thin and tall, wearing a red robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon. His delicate features and bright eyes expressed sincerity. Ruan Ning realized who he was and promptly bowed, exclaiming, “Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!”
At the same time, Lin Jie bowed and called “Your Majesty,” but his voice was drowned out by Ruan Ning’s shout. Lin Jie was somewhat speechless, while the young man laughed and looked at Ruan Ning, asking: “Teacher, is she the Ruan Miss you mentioned in your letter?”
Ruan Ning realized Lin Jie had informed the Emperor about her, making everything official. This explained why he stood so straight when facing Empress Dowager Hu earlier; the teacher-student pair had a close relationship.
Lin Jie followed the Emperor’s gaze and saw Ruan Ning staring at the young Emperor Ming Yu with curiosity and confusion. She looked innocent, a rare expression he had never seen from her, which unexpectedly tugged at Lin Jie’s heart.
He composed himself and said to Ming Yu: “The Empress Dowager wanted to keep her, but I refused.”
Ming Yu smiled, saying: “I’ll explain to my mother.”
Lin Jie added, “She doesn’t understand the rules and ran a few steps outside the hall. Chief Liu wanted to slap her, but I didn’t pay attention.”
Ming Yu’s curiosity grew; his teacher was known as a thousand-year iron tree in the capital—unmarried at over thirty and never having experienced romance. Rumors even suggested he had a hidden illness.
Ming Yu didn’t think further.
Lin Jie had taught Ming Yu since he was five years old, supporting him to the throne after the previous Emperor’s death at eight. He suppressed unruly royal uncles and brothers, firmly establishing Ming Yu’s position. Lin Jie, childless and without close relatives, dedicated his heart to Ming Yu’s plans. To Ming Yu, Lin Jie was not just a teacher, but also like a father and brother. Although Ming Yu had often encouraged Lin Jie to marry, Lin Jie always refused. Now, seeing Ming Yu’s interest in a woman, he thought Ruan Ning was truly a lucky star.
When Ruan Ning left Ci’ning Palace, she was followed by palace maids and eunuchs carrying gifts from the young Emperor—gold and silver jewelry, silk fabrics, snacks, and decorative items. The clothing materials filled two large boxes. As a struggling writer with barely five digits in savings, Ruan Ning found this parasitic lifestyle burdensome but also thought that living like this for her whole life would be amazing.
The carriage traveled toward the grand scholar’s residence. After switching to a sedan chair and passing through several gates, Lin Jie casually stated, “She’ll live in Hawthorn Residence.”
Hawthorn Residence faced a lake and was near a garden, considered the most scenic location in the scholar’s residence. However, Ruan Ning was uninterested in the scenery, eager to open her gifts when the slightly closed door suddenly opened.
Lin Jie kicked a box, declaring, “Palace and residence rules – you have one day to memorize everything!”
Ruan Ning opened the box and was stunned by dozens of books. Memorizing them in a day seemed impossible.
Leaning on a light walking stick, she hurried to the main hall and saw a dignified man in a blue robe seated in the center. Lin Si discarded her walking stick, approached quickly, knelt, and said, “Benefactor, please accept Lin Si’s bow!”
Lin Jie remained silent, observing Lin Si. Though her age matched, she bore little resemblance to him, save for her eyes. He wondered if she was his offspring.
Lin Si lowered her gaze, allowing him to scrutinize her. Despite her still-healing wounds and the pain from kneeling, she maintained a respectful posture, knowing this mysterious lord might provide her only opportunity for redemption.
After a long silence, Lin Jie asked casually, “You have a jade sachet?”
Lin Si was taken aback. Since being rescued, she had inquired numerous times but never discovered the identity of her rescuer or the reason behind it. From Lin Jie’s tone, it seemed everything depended on the jade sachet, prompting her to answer carefully.
She lowered her head and respectfully said, “Yes.”
“Bring it to me,” Lin Jie commanded.
Lin Si bowed lower, her voice trembling: “I should obey your command, but this jade sachet is a relic from my ancestors and means a great deal to me. I cannot casually hand it over.”
She walked away, looking back to see Lin Si standing motionless, her face full of resentment.
Ruan Ning felt she must seduce Lin Jie again. After Lin Si’s harsh remarks, her priority was to win over Lin Jie before Lin Si could influence him negatively.
But how to seduce him? Ruan Ning racked her brains for ideas and realized that her thoughts were mere clichés from old novels. She collapsed onto the bed in tears, lamenting her ineptitude as a romance writer.
The Grand Scholar’s residence was magnificent, with rockeries, flowing water, and stone bridges over a calm lake, yet strangely devoid of maids or servants.
Ruan Ning asked a young servant about Lin Jie’s study location. After changing into a beautiful outfit and wearing jewelry from the little emperor, she set out to create a romantic “chance encounter.”
As she walked through the garden and corridors, she realized she had entered the same corridor multiple times. After seeing the apricot flowers for the fourth time, she confirmed that she was lost.
In the study, Lin Jie had just returned from official duties and asked the steward Mi Yi about two individuals. Mi Yi reported that Ruan Ning avoided one person while the other, Lin Niang, chased after her with harsh remarks. He added that Ruan Ning had been inquiring about the way to the study.
“Where is she?” Lin Jie asked.
“Lost, still wandering in the corridor,” Mi Yi replied, “This young lady is quite unique.”
Lin Jie: …
Minutes later, Ruan Ning, trying to determine her direction based on the density of tree leaves, suddenly saw Lin Jie at the end of the corridor. Overjoyed, she thought her luck was good for a chance encounter.
However, before she could engage, Lin Jie asked, “Finished reciting the rules?”
“Not quite,” Ruan Ning admitted, “Just a little left.”
Lin Jie turned and walked away, prompting her to hurry after him. After passing through several side gates, she finally reached the familiar Hawthorn Residence. Before she could plan her approach, a broom was kicked in front of her, and Lin Jie pointed to the small lake, saying, “You have half an hour to clean the lakeside completely.”
Ruan Ning, sitting on the rockery with the broom, teary-eyed, said, “Jiaojiao, why don’t you let me enter this abusive novel? I don’t think I can complete this mission.”
