Chapter 21: Completing job in the Court World (2)

“The original host had two wishes.

Task one: make that scumbag Zheng Hongxuan return everything— the throne that he once helped Zheng Hongxuan obtain, as well as his feelings for Zheng Hongxuan. He wants it all back.” After experiencing multiple worlds, the system began explaining the mission in detail, trying to leave Lin Yuetian no room for loopholes.

“Task two: make Zheng Hongxuan beg him. In the original host’s memory, when they first met, Zheng Hongxuan had pleaded for his help in achieving great things. This has become the original host’s obsession—he wants Zheng Hongxuan to beg him once more.”

“The original host actually had quite a strong personality,” Lin Yuetian commented, “but he was too emotional. The emperor promised to never leave him, and he gave his heart and soul without even signing a written contract. He could have at least used it as leverage against Zheng Hongxuan’s other competitors.”

System: “…Fine, whatever you say. Big bro, let’s get moving and get to work.”

Lin Yuetian was easygoing. He stood up, put away the white silk cloth, and headed towards Concubine Lin’s palace. On the way, he carefully reviewed his memories and realized that Concubine Lin likely did not know his true identity—she only knew that he was a eunuch assigned to her by the emperor. Because of that, she still valued him to some extent.

In this short amount of time, a complete scheme—one that would deceive everyone and use others to do the dirty work—took shape in Lin Yuetian’s mind.

After being announced by a maid, Lin Yuetian entered the main hall of Ganquan Palace, where Concubine Lin resided. She was in the middle of having her hair combed, with three palace maids attending to her. Lin Yuetian walked in and, without a word, performed a grand ceremonial bow, nearly startling the concubine.

Holding a hairpin between her fingers, Concubine Lin asked in surprise, “What is the meaning of this?”

“Your Highness, this servant has something to report to you privately,” Lin Yuetian said respectfully with his head lowered.

Concubine Lin’s thoughts shifted rapidly. This person was sent by the emperor—perhaps he had something important to say. She couldn’t afford to ignore it. Waving her hand, she dismissed the three palace maids before leisurely saying, “Speak.”

Lin Yuetian lowered his head slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. “Your Highness, have you ever considered why, despite having no shortage of eunuchs and maids by your side, His Majesty still specifically assigned me to you?”

Concubine Lin was born into the Lin family, and her elder brother was the military general who had helped Zheng Hongxuan ascend the throne. He now held the rank of Grand Marshal, a first-rank official. From any perspective, Concubine Lin would never lack servants. The emperor placing the original host by her side was clearly an emotional decision, and that gave Lin Yuetian an opportunity.

Concubine Lin was sharp-minded and immediately noticed the shift in Lin Yuetian’s wording—from calling himself “this servant” to “this subordinate.” Her long brows furrowed slightly. “…Why?”

“Naturally, it is because His Majesty is concerned about Your Highness’s well-being,” Lin Yuetian said. “In truth, I am not a eunuch. This identity is merely a disguise. My real identity is that of a covert imperial guard sent by His Majesty to protect you.”

“Are you serious?” The system was stunned. “You just made that up! The original host didn’t even know martial arts!”

“The emperor and the concubine don’t know that. They can’t tell,” Lin Yuetian replied to the system. “People in ancient courts are full of schemes, always thinking in circles. They won’t directly ask the emperor to verify my identity. Instead, they’ll keep guessing on their own, getting lost in speculation and unable to tell if I’m lying. And even if we consider the worst-case scenario—let’s say the emperor denies my identity—would Concubine Lin simply believe it just like that?”

Concubine Lin was shocked, but after a moment’s thought, she realized there was no reason for this person to deceive her. What would he gain from such a lie? It seemed credible enough. She pressed her lips into a smile and asked, “I see… Then, are you loyal to me or to His Majesty?”

Lin Yuetian raised an eyebrow internally and whispered to the system, “That question is quite treasonous.”

The system explained, “Your memories only mention that Concubine Lin is the legitimate daughter of a general, but you didn’t know that General Lin originally supported the crown prince. After the crown prince fell from power, he was forced to switch allegiance. His relationship with the emperor is actually quite strained, and the emperor remains suspicious of him. That’s why he sent his sister into the palace as a safeguard.”

Receiving this new information, Lin Yuetian quickly adjusted his plan—into something even better.

With a smile, he continued, “Both His Majesty and Your Highness are my masters. But at this moment, I am Your Highness’s man.”

“Heh… Sweet words. I don’t believe them,” Concubine Lin chuckled, covering her lips like a young maiden, but her tone carried an underlying threat.

“I can prove it to Your Highness,” Lin Yuetian said. “You must be aware that His Majesty recently took in a male consort named Yue Jun and treasures him dearly… I can remove him for Your Highness. When the time comes, Your Highness will understand my loyalty.”

Concubine Lin remained expressionless. “Oh? What do you mean? That Yue Jun is His Majesty’s beloved. I have no interest in targeting him.”

Lin Yuetian replied, “I am willing to be a vanguard for Your Highness and the General.”

“I don’t believe you… What is your true purpose?” Concubine Lin’s smile disappeared, her gaze turning cold and sharp.

Lin Yuetian immediately knelt on the ground. When he raised his head again, he was already shedding tears in an instant. His expression was so genuinely sorrowful that it could move anyone to pity. Even the system exclaimed, “Best Actor alert!”

“Your Highness! I entered the palace at the age of eleven, and now more than ten years have passed! I am weary of this life in the shadows. I no longer wish to be a secret agent living in obscurity. I simply want to leave the court and live freely. But I know too much—His Majesty will never let me go. After much thought, I realized that only Your Highness and the General can save me. If Your Highness is willing to help me, I am willing to serve the General as a guest official and work for him!”

“…If you are truly useful,” Concubine Lin said slowly, “then I will not only help you but reward you with gold, silver, and whatever you desire.”

“But my brother and I lack for nothing,” she continued, “and you are merely a lowly agent. What value do you have? Heh… You don’t seem like a fool. Since you’ve come to seek my help, you must have a plan. Tell me, what exactly do you intend to do for us?”

Lin Yuetian lowered his voice and said, “Your Highness, grant me five hundred thousand gold, and I will fake my death and escape. After that, I will demonstrate my abilities to you within this palace. Then… I will do something major for the general—a matter of utmost importance.”

Consort Lin’s expression changed drastically.

Although neither of them explicitly stated it, considering General Lin and the delicate balance of power between him and the emperor, the answer was already quite clear.

A matter of utmost importance related to General Lin—there could only be one.

Regicide.

“You are incredibly bold!” Consort Lin suddenly raised her hand, sweeping everything off the dressing table, sending objects crashing to the ground around Lin Yuetian. “Do you even understand what you’re saying?! I can report this to His Majesty at any moment and have you executed in the most brutal way!”

Lin Yuetian remained unfazed and smiled. “Your Highness, why get so angry? You and I both understand the court’s situation. Last month, Minister Lin was accused of treason and had his entire family executed. Minister Lin and His Majesty had known each other since their humble beginnings and were deeply loyal. How could he have committed treason? Does Your Highness not find this suspicious?”

Consort Lin coldly replied, “The evidence was conclusive, the case was tried in three courts, and the Lin family criminals personally signed confessions. His Majesty reviewed and approved the verdict with his own hand. It was settled beyond doubt. You, a mere secret agent, dare question such a significant case?”

“If Your Highness sees it that way, then I have nothing more to say.” Lin Yuetian remained composed. “However, please think it over carefully. Before ascending the throne, His Majesty and Minister Lin were as close as bosom friends, a relationship as harmonious as a perfect melody. Your Highness, residing deep within the palace, may not have met Minister Lin, but did you know that he later kept a low profile? That was entirely at His Majesty’s behest, as if he were a precious gem hidden away… Haha. Even someone like Minister Lin met such an end. What about the general?”

“My brother is loyal beyond doubt. He cannot be compared to a criminal.”

“Yes, I am well aware of the general’s unwavering loyalty to His Majesty,” Lin Yuetian replied. “But treason is a crime of the highest order, and the truth depends entirely on who wields the authority—His Majesty declared Minister Lin guilty of treason, and thus, he was guilty. Your Highness, the general was once aligned with the deposed crown prince… Forgive my bluntness, but if we were to judge by this standard, wouldn’t it be a hundred times easier for the general to be accused of treason?”

“Insolence!”

“I may be insolent, but Your Highness must consider this carefully,” Lin Yuetian continued. “At the very least, in His Majesty’s eyes, the general is indeed a hundred times more likely to be accused of treason than Minister Lin ever was.”

Consort Lin fell silent, her cold gaze fixed on Lin Yuetian, but he knew she had listened—she was a smart woman.

“I am merely a woman trapped in the palace; I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Suddenly, Consort Lin chuckled and let out a yawn. “Do as you please. I neither understand nor care.”

Lin Yuetian smiled. “Understood, Your Highness.”

“She agreed,” Lin Yuetian said to the system.

“This counts as agreeing?” the system scoffed.

“Consort Lin is definitely wary that I might be sent by the emperor to test whether she and the general have any treasonous intentions. There’s no way she’d openly agree—that would be giving me leverage over her. But with her response, she’s already boarded the pirate ship.”

“I can’t believe…” the system muttered. “She actually fell for your nonsense…”

Lin Yuetian calmly said, “The easiest people to deceive in this world are the intelligent ones.”

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Go ahead. Didn’t I say? We’re colleagues. No need to be so formal. I’m very approachable.”

“Be honest,” the system asked. “Do you really love watching palace intrigue dramas? Tell me the truth, and I promise I won’t mock you.”