Chapter 7

Chapter 7

In the imperial study, Li Mingxiao ignored Lin Qing, dipping his brush to continue reviewing the towering stack of memorials, occasionally summoning a few ministers for audience.

Lin Qing stood to the side, having been ogled by several groups of ministers like a rare panda. Even her thick skin began to wear thin, causing her to shrink further into herself like a quail, only daring to steal furtive glances at Li Mingxiao now and then.

There was no denying that Li Mingxiao was truly handsome—a gentlemanly beauty, as smooth and refined as jade. Usually gentle and unassuming, he bore little of the typical emperor’s arrogance. Yet when his expression darkened, it was as if he could drag someone out and have them executed at any moment.

As Li Mingxiao spoke with the ministers, he felt as if someone was secretly watching him. Turning his head, he glanced toward Lin Qing’s position and saw her bowing her head. He dismissed it as a trick of his imagination.

Only after finishing the last memorial and receiving the final visitor did he realize how long he had been busy—and how long Lin Qing had stood by his side.

Li Mingxiao lifted the freshly served tea, exhaled deeply, and finally gave Lin Qing a meaningful look. “Do you understand your mistake?”

Lin Qing hurriedly replied, “I acknowledge my fault, Your Majesty.”

“Where did you go wrong?” he asked.

With a respectful tone, Lin Qing answered swiftly, “I blame myself for losing control. The Crown Prince of Kang is frail; how could he endure the roughness of my fist? I truly recognize my mistake.” Though secretly, she still intended to be audacious next time.

Li Mingxiao slammed his teacup down on the desk, massaged his brow, and closed his eyes to rest. “Enough. You may go.”

Lin Qing bowed and turned to leave. She understood Li Mingxiao’s meaning: the Kang Prince was a full brother to the late emperor, and Li Hongjin was the Kang Prince’s late-born and only son. Offending him was risky; as a deputy director of the Heavenly Prosperity Division, she might not withstand his wrath.

Though Li Mingxiao appeared to be punishing her, he was actually protecting her. At least Kang Prince dared not retaliate openly, as the emperor had personally disciplined her. For a prince to openly defy the emperor would be outright insubordination.

And Kang Prince didn’t have the courage for that.

Outside, the sky had darkened. Perhaps due to last night’s heavy rain, the night sky shone with unusual clarity.

“Deputy Director Lin, wait.”

Lin Qing stopped and turned. The chief eunuch who attended Li Mingxiao hurried over, carrying a food box and smiling politely. “His Majesty sent this for you. Inside are freshly made snacks from the imperial kitchen. Take them with you to ease your hunger.”

Lin Qing was momentarily taken aback but reached out to accept the box.

Li Mingxiao was a good boss—not only bearing the burden for his subordinates but also sending snacks.

If only for this box of treats, she might work a little harder—solve Wang Duan’s case first, then tackle something bigger, like paying a visit to Prince Rui’s mansion.

Lin Qing had a strong feeling that this matter was closely tied to Prince Rui.

Prince Rui’s birthday was approaching. According to the records, the empress dowager would host a grand celebration at Prince Rui’s mansion to select a bride for him. On that day, the empress dowager herself would visit the mansion—and an assassin would strike.

This was a major plotline from the records. For Li Mingxiao’s sake and the box of snacks, Lin Qing resolved to work hard and perhaps rewrite the script.

…

Alas, imagination was beautiful, but reality harsh. She didn’t even need to visit Prince Rui’s mansion. The very next morning, Lin Qing reported again at Yude Garden, only to encounter Prince Rui in person.

There was a small pond on the east side of Yude Garden, shallow and stocked with many fish, a place for the imperial family’s young to unwind.

Li Chenxuan stood at the pond’s edge, gently fanning himself, smiling at Lin Qing.

That smile struck Lin Qing as somewhat insincere—if she weren’t dressed in men’s clothes, she would have thought Prince Rui was trying to seduce her with his looks.

Of course, he wasn’t trying to seduce her. He was about to attack.

In the blink of an eye, both sprang into motion. The folding fan in his hand stabbed like a blade toward Lin Qing’s chest. She flew into the air, delivering a swift kick to his wrist, sending his fan flying—a clean and decisive move.

Within moments, they exchanged over a dozen strikes, each leaving afterimages, yet neither gaining any advantage.

Li Chenxuan’s expression darkened briefly before he sprang backward.

Lin Qing pushed off the ground with her toes and followed, kicking toward his chest.

Li Chenxuan crossed his hands to block. Though he stopped the kick, her force pushed him back several inches from where he had landed.

Those few inches were enough—his footing slipped, and with a splash, he fell headfirst into the pond, tangled in water plants.

Half an hour later, the two stood again in the imperial study, this time Li Chenxuan had replaced Lin Qing at the center.

He had changed out of his wet clothes but still carried a pungent fishy smell.

Lin Qing bowed her head and quietly stepped a few paces aside, wanting to keep her distance.

Li Mingxiao tossed aside the memorials, closed his eyes, and massaged his throbbing temples. With a sigh, he said, “Speak. What caused this commotion this time?”

Lin Qing lowered her head, muttering softly, “Prince Rui struck first, so I had to defend myself.”

Li Mingxiao raised an eyebrow. “Defend yourself by kicking someone into the water?”

Lin Qing was speechless—there was no time to hold back.

Li Mingxiao then looked at Li Chenxuan. “And you? Why did you attack?”

Li Chenxuan dared not act brashly before Li Mingxiao. He sighed and confessed, “My uncle, the Kang Prince, begged me to rough up Deputy Director Lin to vent his anger toward Hongjin.”

He had long resented Lin Qing for ruining his affairs. This was the perfect chance to cripple her. He could later claim it was an accident, forced by the Kang Prince’s orders, which he could not refuse.

Yet he never expected Lin Qing’s martial skills to match his own, and in the end, he was the unlucky one.

Li Mingxiao said, “The Kang Prince is of that age. If he’s acting foolishly, why do you follow suit?”

Li Chenxuan bowed his head, hiding the hatred in his eyes. “My fault, Your Majesty. Please punish me.”

Li Mingxiao acted as if he had seen nothing. “It’s good that you admit your mistake. Now go copy scriptures and suppress your anger. That’s enough. You may leave.”

Once Li Chenxuan left, Li Mingxiao’s gaze fell on Lin Qing. “Yesterday you struck the Crown Prince of Kang, today you kicked Prince Rui into the pond. What new stunt do you plan for tomorrow? You might as well say it in advance so I can prepare myself.”

What could Lin Qing say? A bunch of fools were looking to pick on her—how could she be blamed? Reason was out of the question. Next time she would do exactly the same, and perhaps with even newer tricks. She had plenty.

“I acknowledge my fault, Your Majesty. Please punish me.”

Li Mingxiao’s mouth twitched slightly. Don’t think he didn’t notice. If Lin Qing weren’t so useful and relatively easy to get along with, and if she weren’t the only disciple of the current commanding officer, he would have sent her straight to guard the city gates to save himself the trouble.

“The Heavenly Prosperity Division has its duties. For now, don’t go to Yude Garden.”

He waved his hand, signaling Lin Qing to leave quickly.

Lin Qing gratefully accepted and hurried away.