Chapter 29: The Wise Jinshi x The Obsessed Emperor 08

The Capital City, Yun Mansion.

Yun Huai still didn’t use the main gate.  He had the royal guards who were following him climb over the wall with him to return home.  He also told them to find a place to hide.

He had no intention of using the Emperor’s power, nor did he want to be trapped in the back courtyard’s power struggles.  The counterattack mission didn’t require him to engage in backstabbing.

He needed to think long-term.

He would become someone others looked up to, making the difference between him and them obvious, so that they wouldn’t even think of fighting him.

Wasn’t that a kind of counterattack?

He would become the brightest star in Longteng Kingdom, leaving the transmigrated woman and the others in the dust.  They could only look but never compare themselves to him.

Any schemes and plots would be castles in the air, easily shattered when he was strong enough.

That was his original plan.  But now, he had to add Qin Jingchuan to it.

Based on his understanding of Qin Jingchuan, such a supreme Emperor would never let him leave.  His original plan would have to be adjusted.

He had originally planned to follow the same path as in the No-CP Department, using his talent and skills to carve his own path.  But then this unexpected obstacle had appeared.

So, he would have to make a compromise.  He would complete the mission and also have a romance.  After all, he couldn’t refuse that guy.

He still wasn’t sure if Qin Jingchuan was actually the Demon God Zhu Ming, but regardless, he was a powerful figure who couldn’t be trifled with.

So, romance it was!

What was the big deal?

The other party didn’t mind a same-sex relationship.  How could he be afraid to move forward?

Yun Huai returned to his Lin Feng Yuan with a head full of ideas.  As soon as he got back, he saw Zhang Ping.  The servant’s face was clearly anxious.

“Master, where have you been?”

Zhang Ping looked Yun Huai up and down, confused by his clothes.

“Where did you get these new clothes?”

His young master always wore white or blue.  When did he start liking blue silk robes?

Yun Huai coughed lightly.  “I just got them.  Don’t worry about my clothes.”

“Where’s Zhang Mama?”

Zhang Ping pointed to the room on the left.  “Zhang Mama is in the room mending the quilt.  Do you want me to call her?”

Yun Huai thought of the royal guards hiding in the shadows and looked at the clueless Zhang Ping.

He pursed his lips.  “Call Zhang Mama.  I have something to tell you.”

Zhang Ping replied, “Okay.”

A moment later, Zhang Mama, Zhang Ping, and Yun Huai sat down together.

Yun Huai took out a lease agreement and a bag of silver coins from his sleeve.  “This is the lease agreement for the courtyard I rented in Yongping Lane in the west of the city.  There’s also some money.  It should be enough for you for now.”

“Later, I’ll go see the Madam and redeem Zhang Ping and Zhang Mama.  Then you’ll be free to leave the Yun Mansion with me.”

Zhang Ping frowned in confusion.  “Didn’t Master say we would move out and live separately after you became a Jinshi?  Why have you suddenly changed your mind?”

Zhang Mama’s kind and gentle face also showed a hint of confusion.  She said softly, “Master, has something happened?”

Yun Huai sighed helplessly.  “I’m not going to hide it from you anymore.”

“Last night, the Emperor took me to the palace.  And he wants to welcome…”  He bit his lip, finding it hard to say.  He continued with difficulty, “Welcome me into the palace as Empress.  I’m afraid I can’t stay here anymore.”

“You should leave the Yun Mansion as soon as possible to avoid any trouble from others.”

Zhang Ping:  “!!!”

Zhang Mama:  “???”

Was she getting old and hearing things?  She had actually heard that the Emperor wanted to marry her young master!

Yun Huai pursed his lips.  “After you leave the Yun Mansion, go to the house I rented first.  We’ll figure out what to do later.”

He had already rented a new house before returning to the mansion, just in case Zhang Mama and Zhang Ping had nowhere to go after leaving the Yun Mansion.  It would also give them time to think about what they wanted to do in the future.

Zhang Mama snapped out of her daze and said softly, “Master, are you willing to enter the palace?”

Her young master was a respectable man with great ambitions.  Being favored by the Emperor wasn’t a good thing.  He must have suffered a lot in secret, but he hadn’t shown any of it to them.

Yun Huai nodded slightly.  “The Emperor is a good man.  Although he likes me, he hasn’t imprisoned me in the palace.  He still allows me to take the exams and enter officialdom.”

“Mama, don’t worry about it.”

Zhang Mama breathed a sigh of relief.  “Good.  Master, you must take care of yourself.”

The palace was forbidden ground.  She and Zhang Ping couldn’t go there.  It was enough to stay outside.

Yun Huai’s eyes flickered.  He looked at Zhang Mama with determination.  “Mama, you’ve taken care of Zhang Ping for a while now.”

“Think about your future.  Whether you return to your hometown to enjoy your retirement or stay in the capital, Yun Huai will take care of you for the rest of your life.”

Zhang Mama waved her hand, her face showing anxiety.  “No, no.  I’m still able-bodied.  How can I let you take care of me?”

Yun Huai looked at her warmly.  “I lost my mother when I was six.  The maids and servants in the courtyard saw that my father didn’t favor me and left.  Only Mama and Zhang Ping stayed with me.”

“Don’t refuse.”

He pushed the silver and the lease agreement towards Zhang Mama, speaking softly.  “Start your new life when you’ve decided what you want to do.”

“Yes.”  Zhang Mama accepted the offer with tears in her eyes.

Zhang Ping looked at Yun Huai with reluctance, his heart uneasy.  He rubbed his hands.  “Master, can’t I… stay with you anymore?”

He didn’t want to leave his master.  He had been with him for over ten years.  How could he bear to leave!

Yun Huai shook his head, speaking seriously.  “Zhang Ping, it’s not that I don’t want to take you with me.  It’s that palace life isn’t suitable for you.”

Zhang Ping wiped his tears.  “But… I’m not comfortable leaving Master alone in the palace.”

“Our mansion was already so dangerous.  The palace is even more terrifying!”

They say that once you enter the palace, you’re trapped in a deep sea!  Who knows if the palace maids and eunuchs will bully his young master like the servants in the Yun Mansion.

If he were by his master’s side, he could at least protect him from those bad people.

Yun Huai sighed lightly.  “If you enter the palace, do you want to become a eunuch?”

His servant couldn’t do the work of a guard.  If he really entered the palace, he could only become a eunuch.  It was no different from forcing a good woman into prostitution.

Zhang Ping couldn’t help but wipe his tears again.  His eyes were red as he said, “As long as I can stay by Master’s side, I’ll become a eunuch.”

“I won’t let Master face the wolves and tigers of the palace alone.”

Yun Huai patted his head.  “Nonsense.  You should stay outside and live your own life.  Get married and have children.  Live a happy life.”

“Don’t do anything rash because of a moment of anger.”

Zhang Ping’s face was full of tears.  “But…”

Yun Huai poked his forehead.  “Alright, stop with the ‘buts’!  Listen to me.  Leave the Yun Mansion with Zhang Mama and take good care of yourself.”

“Your Master isn’t a softie.  He won’t be bullied.”

Zhang Ping nodded tearfully.