Don't Raise A Black Lotus Flower; Use The Emperor As A Substitute [Transmigration novel] - Chapter 9

The foolish Emperor had taken the bait.

Lin Ruoxuan was overjoyed inside, though his face remained a mask of surprise. “Your Majesty, what do you mean? Didn’t you say before that the Fourth Prince should not attend school? This servant is dim-witted and does not fully understand.”

Emperor Chengwu gave a sinister chuckle. “It is simple. I have changed my mind. Lin Ruoxuan, go back and tell Ji Ruxue that he may attend classes at the Shangshu Pavilion.”

Lin Ruoxuan feigned confusion and kowtowed. “Yes.”

After settling the matter of Ji Ruxue, Emperor Chengwu yawned. “I am feeling tired. Do you have anything else? If not, you may withdraw.”

Of course I have more to say. I have not obtained the white jade ginseng yet, and that is the medicinal ingredient needed to cure the protagonist.

Thinking of the system’s mission, Lin Ruoxuan suppressed a shiver and forced a fawning smile. “Your Majesty, there is one more thing. I recently obtained an old mountain ginseng and brought it into the palace specifically to offer to you.”

“Oh?” Emperor Chengwu finally seemed to perk up. The silhouette behind the gauze curtain leaned forward slightly. “Present it for me to see.”

Lin Ruoxuan carefully fished an exquisite gold-painted lacquer box from his robes. He crawled forward on his knees and held it up high. “Your Majesty, please take a look.”

The heavy gauze curtains parted slightly, and Emperor Chengwu’s pale, thin hand reached out. He took the lacquer box, opened it, and could not help but laugh. “This is the old mountain ginseng you spoke of?”

The mountain ginseng in the box was something Lin Ruoxuan had spent a fortune on, five thousand taels of silver at the famous Qianjin Xuan pharmacy in the capital. It was a rare century-old wild ginseng, but hardly a priceless treasure.

As the Supreme Ruler, Emperor Chengwu had seen everything, so he naturally looked down on this mere hundred-year-old root. However, Lin Ruoxuan’s goal was not to impress the Emperor.

Emperor Chengwu said with waning interest, “As far as I can see, this ginseng is at most a hundred years old.”

Lin Ruoxuan explained, “Your Majesty, but the shopkeeper at Qianjin Xuan told me there was no better ginseng to be found.”

Emperor Chengwu tossed the ginseng aside, yawning with a lack of interest. “This ginseng is quite ordinary. You have seen too little of the world.”

Lin Ruoxuan replied with feigned trepidation, “Your Majesty is right to mock me. This servant is indeed dull.”

“No matter,” Emperor Chengwu waved a hand. “At the end of this month, it will be the Empress Dowager’s sixtieth birthday. The Imperial Academy of Medicine will prepare a tonic soup for her. When the Imperial Pharmacy opens then, you may broaden your horizons and see what a true thousand-year-old ginseng looks like.”

A true thousand-year-old ginseng would naturally be the Dongling White Jade Ginseng.

Lin Ruoxuan felt a surge of secret delight. With the Emperor’s oral decree, he could walk into the Imperial Pharmacy brazenly, find an opportunity to swap the ginseng, and the white jade ginseng would be his.

“I am tired. You may withdraw.”

“Yes, this servant obeys the decree.”

Lin Ruoxuan climbed up and shuffled backward toward the door. Just as he was about to turn and push it open, Emperor Chengwu spoke from behind him, “Lin Wa’er.”

Lin Ruoxuan paused before realizing this was the original name of the character Lin Ruoxuan.

Emperor Chengwu’s voice drifted from behind the layers of gauze curtains, mixed with the lingering scent of temple sandalwood, sounding distant and ethereal. “Lin Wa’er, Official Lin, I remember when you were first sent into the palace by Xiao Tunan, you went by that name.”

Lin Ruoxuan did not understand the Emperor’s intent, so he replied softly, “Yes.”

“You came from a lowly background, but you had ambition. You changed your lowly name because you wanted to make a clean break with the past. You once swore a poisonous oath to me that you would achieve something great, that you would make Xiao Tunan regret his actions and weep in sorrow. Do you remember?”

Lin Ruoxuan felt a chill down his spine. It seemed Lin Wa’er held a deep grudge against the protagonist. He wondered what kind of messy, dramatic entanglement had occurred between them.

He dared not say too much and replied vaguely, “I remember.”

Emperor Chengwu nodded. “You are clever, and your methods are sufficiently ruthless. However, your actions are too conspicuous. The Censorate has impeached you several times, and I am in a difficult position. You have been much more low-key lately and have learned to put up a front, which is good. But do not forget your original vow, and do not forget how Xiao Tunan treated you.”

Lin Ruoxuan replied in a low voice, “Yes.”

“Go.” Emperor Chengwu waved his hand dismissively.

“Yes.”

Pushing open the doors of the Imperial Study, a blast of cold wind hit him, and Lin Ruoxuan shivered, realizing he was covered in a cold sweat.

One must never let their guard down around Emperor Chengwu.

The Emperor was not yet forty, in the prime of his life. He appeared dim-witted and incompetent, showing no interest in government affairs or the inner palace, spending his days obsessed with seeking immortality and worshipping Buddha. He seemed overly indulgent toward a treacherous eunuch like Lin Ruoxuan, but he was not truly indulgent; he was merely treating Lin Ruoxuan as a useful dog to be used against the powerful Xiao Tunan.

Emperor Chengwu’s final words were a reminder not to let go of his hatred for Xiao Tunan.

Lin Ruoxuan rubbed his temples painfully. Surviving this kind of palace intrigue melodrama was even more exhausting than working overtime. Still, he had made progress. The location of the white jade ginseng was known, and Ji Ruxue would finally be able to study.

It seemed Emperor Chengwu truly loathed Ji Ruxue, but he would not proactively pay attention to him, as if the boy were an eyesore. In the future, Ji Ruxue would need to keep a lower profile. But he could not just play the weakling either. If he could demonstrate his talent appropriately while maintaining a humble demeanor, might that be better?

Lin Ruoxuan pondered these things as he walked out of the Forbidden City.

The sunlight on a spring afternoon was always exceptionally warm.

Ji Ruxue lay half-reclined on the bed, glancing inadvertently toward the doorway.

The entrance was empty. There was no one there.

That eunuch dog had boasted eloquently about changing his ways, about making it up to him, and about taking him out to sunbathe every day. Yet, he had not even managed to keep it up for a month; he had not even shown up yesterday.

It was already late afternoon, and evening was approaching. It seemed he would not come today either.

Ji Ruxue sneered inwardly, though his expression remained indifferent. He turned his gaze away from the door and slowly turned a page of the Thousand Character Classic, which was nearly falling apart from use.

From the very beginning, he had not believed the eunuch’s words. Since he had no expectations, there was no room for disappointment. That was how the world worked; never rely on anyone but yourself.

Thinking of this, the fingers holding the Thousand Character Classic tightened. He needed strength and education, but he had no opportunity.

Just then, a light sound of footsteps came from outside, followed by the eunuch’s low, soft voice, “Your Highness, what are you doing?”

Ji Ruxue shivered slightly and slowly looked up.

Lin Ruoxuan entered the bedroom carrying a cotton cloth bundle. He looked to be in a good mood, smiling as he asked, “What is it, Your Highness? Did you miss me?”

Miss him? That eunuch dog certainly knew how to flatter himself.

Ji Ruxue scoffed inside, but his face displayed a look of surprise. “Superintendent Lin, you have come.”

Lin Ruoxuan walked to the bedside, set the bundle down, and unwrapped it to reveal several items to Ji Ruxue. “Your Highness, I went to Songmo Studio today to buy some things, which is why I was late.”

Songmo Studio? Ji Ruxue looked down in confusion and was stunned.

Huzhou wolf-hair calligraphy brushes, Dongting snowflake rice paper, a Lanling purple gold inkstone, and a large block of high-quality Qingcheng pine-soot ink.

Ji Ruxue swallowed hard, his hands twitching with the urge to touch these exquisite four treasures of the study. However, he immediately forced himself to suppress the thought, while coldly reminding himself, what are you thinking? Can this eunuch dog have any good intentions?

He was probably trying to bribe him. Maybe he still harbored those disgusting thoughts. But the eunuch dog had not considered that he did not even know how to write. These exquisite items might be attractive to others, but to him, they were useless.

As a prince who could not even write his own name, who could understand his plight, and who would truly care for him?

Seeing him remain silent, Lin Ruoxuan shoved a brush into his hand. “Your Highness, try it and see if it feels comfortable.”

Ji Ruxue held the brush rigidly, his technique clumsy to the point of being helpless.

Lin Ruoxuan felt both amused and helpless. “Your Highness, that is not how you hold a brush.”

He reached out, seemingly wanting to teach Ji Ruxue hand-over-hand. But as soon as his fingers touched the back of the boy’s hand, Ji Ruxue recoiled sharply, an instinctive reaction. He refused to let Lin Ruoxuan touch him.

Lin Ruoxuan’s hand hovered in mid-air, looking awkward.

Ji Ruxue lowered his eyes, hiding the gloom in his gaze. When he looked up again, a naive smile appeared on his face, even tinged with a bit of shyness. “Superintendent Lin, I appreciate your kindness, but I am not very good at writing, so I have disappointed you. While these things are very nice, they really do not have much meaning for me.”

Lin Ruoxuan smiled. “Your Highness, do you know where I went yesterday?”

Ji Ruxue shook his head.

“I went to see the Emperor.”

Ji Ruxue’s breath hitched, and his spine stiffened. The eunuch dog went to see that man? What did they talk about? Was he planning to torture him again?

Lin Ruoxuan said softly, “His Majesty has already agreed. Starting tomorrow, you can attend classes at the Shangshu Pavilion. These writing implements were all prepared for your studies.”

Attend school?

Ji Ruxue looked up sharply, unable to hide the shock in his eyes. What did the eunuch say? He could attend school?

Watching his reaction, Lin Ruoxuan found it amusing. The little black lotus was usually deeply cunning and rarely lost his composure. This stunned expression was truly adorable.

Lin Ruoxuan almost wanted to pinch the boy’s snow-white cheeks but forcibly restrained himself. Just a moment ago, he had only wanted to teach him how to hold the brush, and the boy had reacted so strongly. He likely had deep psychological trauma, so it was better to keep some distance.

Ji Ruxue stared at Lin Ruoxuan, his voice trembling slightly. “I can attend classes? Really?”

Lin Ruoxuan nodded with a smile. “Really.”

Ji Ruxue gazed blankly at Lin Ruoxuan. He could feel that the other man was not lying.

Could he really attend classes at the Shangshu Pavilion? Could he be like his arrogant imperial brothers, listening to the great scholars of the Hanlin Academy teach the Four Books and Five Classics every day, learning how to govern the country and bring peace to the world?

He was a master of pretense, but at this moment, it was hard to hide his excitement. Even his eyelashes trembled slightly.

Seeing Ji Ruxue like this, Lin Ruoxuan sighed secretly. Poor child, he was so excited just by the prospect of reading. He must have been stifled all these years.

Thinking this, his expression softened further. “Since you will be starting school tomorrow, let us celebrate tonight. What would you like to eat? I will cook it myself.”

Ji Ruxue pressed his thin lips together and did not answer for a long time.

Just when Lin Ruoxuan thought he would refuse, he heard Ji Ruxue say softly, “Tangyuan.”

“Tangyuan?” Lin Ruoxuan raised an eyebrow, feeling secretly proud. It seemed the ones he made last time were not bad. The kid was still thinking about them.

This time, Lin Ruoxuan cooked four extra tangyuan, eight in total, divided into two bowls for them to eat together.

The snowy-white, soft glutinous rice skins filled with thick, fragrant black sesame paste were truly appetizing. As Lin Ruoxuan ate slowly, he observed Ji Ruxue. The child had been getting better nutrition lately; his hair had become dark and glossy, and his cheeks finally had a bit of flesh on them. They were pale and round, much like the tangyuan themselves.

Though he was still young, one could already see the outline of a handsome, dignified young man to come. Under his careful cultivation, Ji Ruxue would surely grow into a sunny, healthy young man, rather than that short, thin, and crippled perverse villain.

Watching the boy eat with his head down, Lin Ruoxuan felt a strange softness in his heart. “Your Highness, are the tangyuan good?”

Ji Ruxue paused before answering softly, “Good.”

Lin Ruoxuan struck while the iron was hot, using the food to guide him. “As long as you study hard, I will keep making tangyuan for you, okay?”

As long as you study hard and keep improving, and do not turn into a villain who peels people’s skin, I will give you whatever you want.

Ji Ruxue lowered his lashes, shielding his complex expression, and did not answer for a long time.