Don't Raise A Black Lotus Flower; Use The Emperor As A Substitute [Transmigration novel] - Chapter 13

“Oh, how did I forget about that!” Lin Ruoxuan felt a wave of annoyance.

The palace gates were locked, so he could not return to his residence. Although he was a palace official and could technically stay overnight, the Cold Palace likely lacked spare guest rooms or bedding. Lin Ruoxuan did not mind, as he could simply squeeze in somewhere; after all, they were both men. However, Ji Ruxuan seemed sensitive about such things.

He glanced at Ji Ruxue, who was indeed furrowing his brows slightly.

Wait, he thought, this child is extremely suspicious. If the original Lin Wa’er was the pervert everyone claimed, will he think I am intentionally stalling just to stay here and take advantage of him?

With that thought, Lin Ruoxuan quickly said, “It is fine, I will climb over the wall.”

As he said this, he instinctively rubbed his wrists. He had spent two full hours writing, and his hands felt like they were about to break. With the walls of the Forbidden City so high, could he really climb out?

Should he imitate those arrogant, powerful eunuchs from the movies and force the guards to open the gates? That seemed like a step too far, as his reputation was already in shambles.

Forget it, he thought, if all else fails, I will just squeeze in with those young eunuchs. But I have heard that because of their condition, most eunuchs do not like to bathe, and the smell aside, there might even be lice.

Seeing him massaging his wrists with a pained expression and looking down at the thick stack of Art of War manuscripts, Ji Ruxue remained silent for a moment before saying, “It is fine. Superintendent, you may stay with me tonight. My room is humble, though, and I fear it may be beneath you.”

“Not at all, not at all.” Lin Ruoxuan felt a wave of relief. Great! I do not have to share a bunk with the other eunuchs!

While feeling relieved, he also felt a sense of satisfaction. It seemed Ji Ruxue was gradually letting down his guard and no longer viewed him as a predatory pervert. This was a major step forward!

Since he was staying, Lin Ruoxuan called for two young eunuchs to bring hot water and towels. Ji Ruxue had trouble with his legs, so Lin Ruoxuan inspected the injury on his lower left leg. It was healing well. He then helped the boy wipe his hands and feet. The child felt awkward but did not refuse.

Soon, the servants withdrew, leaving the room quiet, illuminated by the faint glow of a single candle.

Ji Ruxue lay by the bedside, using the dim candlelight to carefully peruse the newly drafted Art of War.

Lin Ruoxuan removed his outer robe but kept his inner tunic and trousers neatly in place. On one hand, Ji Ruxue was sensitive; on the other, his status as a fake eunuch had to be kept a strict secret. If discovered, it would be a capital offense of defiling the inner palace, even if he had never actually met a consort.

He climbed onto the bed, wrapped tightly in his clothes, and lay down beside Ji Ruxue. He pointed to the page the boy was reading. “Your Highness, can you understand it?”

“I can understand some, but there are a few characters I do not recognize.” Ji Ruxue paused, looking a bit embarrassed.

“You have only studied the Thousand Character Classic on your own, so understanding this much is already quite impressive,” Lin Ruoxuan comforted him.

Ji Ruxue gently stroked the manuscript, hesitated for a moment, and asked, “Superintendent Lin, this book on strategy is profound. Where did you obtain it?”

Lin Ruoxuan had already prepared an excuse. “It was passed down by my ancestors.”

“Passed down by your ancestors?” Ji Ruxue looked at him, clearly unconvinced.

“Truly, I do not lie.” Lin Ruoxuan spoke with unwavering conviction. We are all descendants of Yan and Huang, so technically, it was indeed passed down by my ancestors.

“This book is too profound,” Ji Ruxue whispered. “There are many parts I cannot understand.”

That is only natural, Lin Ruoxuan thought. You are just a child and have not had much schooling. It would be strange if you understood it all at once.

It does not matter if you do not understand. I have already prepared the solution—The Sun Tzu’s Art of War, Illustrated Version for Children.

Lin Ruoxuan closed his eyes and summoned the illustrated edition from his subconscious. While reading from the colorful, illustrated popular science book in his mind, he adopted an air of profound mystery. “Where are you stuck, Your Highness? Let me explain it to you.”

“Well, I do not quite understand this part about Besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.”

“Oh, that is quite simple.”

Lin Ruoxuan explained it step-by-step, using virtual examples from the real world, guiding the boy with depth and clarity. Ji Ruxue listened with rapt attention, absorbing the knowledge like a thirsty traveler.

One spoke and the other listened, and both completely forgot the time.

Without warning, a soft sound echoed as the candle flickered and burned to the end, plunging the bedroom into darkness.

Lin Ruoxuan blinked and finally came back to his senses, laughing. “Oh dear, I was so absorbed that I forgot the time.”

Ji Ruxue remained silent for a moment before asking softly, “Where did you learn these things?”

“As I said, my ancestors passed down many miscellaneous books, and this was one of them. I learned them by heart since childhood, but unfortunately, they were burned during the war.” Lin Ruoxuan lied without batting an eye.

I need to lay the groundwork early. Next, there will be the Zizhi Tongjian, the Records of the Grand Historian, the Strategies of the Warring States, The Prince, and so on. That should keep you busy for a few years.

Ji Ruxue shook his head. “No. The examples you gave, though hypothetical, were incredibly lifelike. You cannot come up with those just by reading books.”

Lin Ruoxuan felt a headache coming on. This little black lotus is not easy to fool. But the fact that Ji Ruxue was willing to ask him rather than keep it to himself—did that count as gaining trust? Yes, that is a good sign.

As for why his examples were so vivid? Well, of course they were—they were real events that happened in the real world!

Beyond the examples in the children’s edition, Lin Ruoxuan had read plenty of history books and watched war dramas. Combined with the Art of War, his explanations were naturally vivid.

Ugh, how do I explain this?

Lin Ruoxuan pondered for a long time, then suddenly recalled something.

When he met Emperor Chengwu earlier, fearing he might slip up in the future, he had found an excuse to check the background files of the original Lin Wa’er at the Directorate of Ceremonial. The file was simple: the original was from Liaodong, orphaned by war, and unable to survive, so he castrated himself to enter the Prince of Ningyuan’s mansion, only to be sent into the palace years later.

Ji Ruxue would eventually learn of this, including the connection between Lin Wa’er and Xiao Tunan, so he might as well use this chance to say it now.

“Your Highness, have I told you about my background?”

Ji Ruxue shook his head.

Lin Ruoxuan sighed. “I am from Liaodong. My father was an itinerant physician who died in the war, leaving me an orphan.”

Ji Ruxue blinked, his voice dropping. “So, you were an orphan.”

“Yes.” Lin Ruoxuan recalled the files and improvised. “I was too young to survive on my own, so I castrated myself and entered the Prince of Ningyuan’s mansion. Liaodong has never been peaceful. During those years, the Prince fought several major battles against the Jurchen. I witnessed the reality of the battlefield, which is why I can explain these military strategies so vividly.”

“You stayed at the Prince of Ningyuan’s mansion? Did you know my uncle?” Ji Ruxue’s eyes widened in surprise. “I have never even met him.”

“I stayed there for several years before coming to the Forbidden City under unusual circumstances.” Lin Ruoxuan said vaguely.

Ji Ruxue did not pry further. “I see.”

“It has been many years.”

The two remained silent for a while. Ji Ruxue suddenly whispered, “Superintendent Lin, with your level of knowledge, you should have taken the imperial examinations. Why become a eunuch?”

Lin Ruoxuan was stuck.

In truth, the original wasn’t a real eunuch, but a fake one—and I do not even know why. And the only reason I am a fake eunuch is because of this damned system! Because of this identity, I cannot even have a relationship in the prime of my youth!

I finally transmigrate into a book, and while everyone else becomes a powerful protagonist with all kinds of adventures, I have to become a perverse fake eunuch!

Lin Ruoxuan cursed the system’s ancestors in his heart but maintained a calm expression on the surface, eventually letting out a long, hollow sigh. “It is all destiny.”

Dong, dong, dong.

In the dead of night, the distant sound of the watchman’s drum sounded particularly long. It was past the third watch, yet Ji Ruxue was still awake.

He lay on the bed, quietly gazing at the dark, drifting curtains above. The breathing of the person beside him was steady and deep; they were clearly fast asleep.

After a moment of hesitation, Ji Ruxue climbed up quietly, looking down at the person on the bed.

The thin, gauze-like moonlight filtered through the window frame, landing on the bedside. In the serene moonlight, the eunuch’s face appeared quiet and harmless, an entirely different person from the Superintendent of the Eastern Depot whom everyone had once hated and feared.

In recent days, the eunuch had truly changed.

Ji Ruxue carefully observed Lin Ruoxuan. The man’s complexion was pale, his dark eyelashes were long and dense, casting a faint shadow under his eyes. His sharp jawline looked thin and frail, and his lips were an unhealthy, pale red.

Ji Ruxue stared at that face, slowly reaching out his hands. His ten slender but strong fingers tentatively formed a hollow grip around the vulnerable neck.

The eunuch slept soundly, completely unaware of the murderous intent.

In the moonlit stillness, Ji Ruxue gazed down at the face he had once hated to the bone. At this very moment, the eunuch’s life was held in his own hands—so fragile, so effortlessly shattered.