Tu Shanjin came running over, clearly intending to snatch it away. Yun Yaoyao easily put her long legs to use, keeping just out of his reach while loudly reading aloud the contents.
“Emperor Zhaojin pinned Consort Yun firmly against the bed. His large hand stroked her slender neck as he threatened, ‘You little wildcat, I won’t touch you today. Just obediently stay by My side.’
“After saying this, he held Consort Yun in his arms and slept with her on the dragon bed. The monarch, who had always suffered from restless nights, actually slept his first peaceful night in this woman’s company.”
“Ha-ha-ha! This plot is so clichéd it’s about to trigger my rheumatism.”
Yun Yaoyao flipped the page and continued reading.
“Consort Yun loved her elegant childhood sweetheart, but the emperor had forcibly taken her into the imperial harem. Afterward, every day when she was summoned to attend him, she would secretly drink a bowl of abortion-inducing medicine.
“She was constantly plotting her escape from the palace. Yet after she finally faked her death and left, she discovered that her childhood sweetheart already had wives and concubines by the dozen—and she herself was pregnant with the emperor’s child!”
“Ha-ha-ha! What a ridiculous cliché about running away while pregnant!”
“Tu Shanjin, I never thought that you, the dignified tyrant, would actually enjoy reading this sort of thing. Ha-ha-ha, I can laugh at you for the rest of my life!” Yun Yaoyao made no attempt to hide her mockery.
“Yun. Yaoyao!”
Tu Shanjin stood where he was, both embarrassed and furious. Two suspicious patches of red rose to the tips of his ears.
Suddenly, he pointed at the sky. “Look, a celestial omen.”
Yun Yaoyao turned her head to look. The sky was clear and cloudless, with white clouds drifting lazily across it. Where was the omen?
While she was distracted, Tu Shanjin had already reached her and snatched the book away. Yun Yaoyao immediately reached back to grab it.
As they struggled over it, the storybook slipped from their hands and flew into the distance.
Yun Yaoyao’s footing also gave way. As she fell, she took Tu Shanjin down with her.
They hit the ground at the same time.
Yun Yaoyao fell onto her back, while Tu Shanjin landed on top of her. Their faces drew closer and closer—
The instant Yun Yaoyao’s back struck the ground, Tu Shanjin’s lips also pressed against hers. A warm, feverish softness passed between them.
Yun Yaoyao’s eyes flew wide with shock.
No, no, no, no! So the ridiculous cliché from television dramas, where a man and woman fall at the same time and inevitably kiss, actually existed in real life!!!
Tu Shanjin’s pupils contracted in astonishment.
He had never imagined that his first kiss would be given to himself. What a terrifying and horrifying fact!
For a moment, neither of them immediately got up.
Their breaths mingled, and all that remained was the thunderous pounding of their hearts.
At that very moment, the book fell to the ground. A breeze swept past, closing its pages. The title on the cover read: The Emperor Loves Hard: The Blessed Empress Stabilizes the Realm.
The author’s name was none other than Mr. Prosperity!
Meanwhile, inside the Imperial College—
“Oh? You’ve finished organizing it already? As expected of the top scholar, Lord Lin. Your abilities really are outstanding.”
After a round of sarcastic praise, the young man in official robes snatched away the compilation his colleague had just completed and handed it to the attendant scholar beside him.
The attendant scholar immediately fawned over him. “Congratulations on revising another volume, Examiner Gao. With your talents, I’m sure you’ll soon be promoted to compiler. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance, Compiler Gao!”
Those flattering words made Gao Chongguang feel utterly pleased. His eyes were filled with arrogance. “Once I become a compiler, I’ll naturally promote you as well.”
The attendant scholar immediately dropped to his knees. “Thank you, Examiner Gao! You are truly benevolent!”
Gao Chongguang threw back his head and laughed. Then he turned to heap another round of insults on the other man.
But when he looked up, he saw that the person being wantonly humiliated and mocked showed not the slightest sign of anger. He was simply continuing to compile a new volume.
His presence was as calm as water, as though he could contain all things, and as though nothing in the world was worthy of disturbing his emotions. Yet deep within him lived a natural pride.
That was precisely what Gao Chongguang hated most about Lin Qingti.
Why was it that Lin Qingti had been born into the lowly family of a merchant, yet had managed to place first in the imperial examinations, while Gao Chongguang himself had been born into an illustrious clan but could not even pass the provincial examination?
So what if Lin Qingti was the top scholar? Wasn’t he still forced to serve beneath Gao Chongguang as a mere records clerk, doing whatever he was told?
At the thought of this, the jealousy in Gao Chongguang’s heart eased somewhat. He moved closer and braced a hand against the desk where Lin Qingti was working, looking down at him condescendingly.
“Top Scholar Lin, serving under me as a lowly records clerk—doesn’t it make you angry and humiliated?”
Lin Qingti looked up at those words. Though his official robes were worn, his bearing was not the least bit diminished. He offered a calm and courteous smile.
“One holds whatever office one is assigned and fulfills whatever duties come with it. As long as I can make a contribution, I am happy to do so.”
Hearing this, Gao Chongguang exploded again. “Lin Qingti, you—!”
The attendant scholar watched the scene and secretly shook his head.
He really had no idea why Examiner Gao was so determined to target Lin the Records Clerk. Even though he had the upper hand in both status and rank, whenever the two stood together, they still gave off the impression of a powerful lackey bullying a fallen young master.
Some people were born like the bright moon. Even covered in dust, they could not conceal their radiance. Others were born like mud on the ground, base to the very marrow.
Of course, the attendant scholar would never dare say such thoughts aloud. It was not for any other reason than the fact that although Examiner Gao had no ability, no virtue, and no looks, he had been born into the right family. Gao Family was an eminent clan, and Examiner Gao’s father was an aide minister in the Ministry of Personnel. For him, rising through the ranks was as easy as drinking water.
Alas, the system of government these days was rotten enough to chill the heart. He could only hope that the new sovereign would eventually put things in order.
While he was venting inwardly, Gao Chongguang suddenly started acting up again.
With one kick, he sent the desk flying.
“Lin Qingti, the thing I can’t stand most about you is that arrogant look, as if no one else is worth your attention!”
The attendant scholar rolled his eyes. If Lin the Records Clerk actually paid attention to him and confronted him to his face, wouldn’t he throw an even bigger fit?
After throwing his tantrum, Gao Chongguang revealed a malicious smile.
“Records Clerk Lin, Consort Miao has been enjoying His Majesty’s favor lately. I’ve made some inquiries, and it turns out you’re related to her. You don’t really think she’ll help an uncle who has severed ties with her, do you?”
At those words, the hand holding Lin Qingti’s brush paused for two seconds.
Seeing this, Gao Chongguang laughed as though he had struck a nerve. “Stop dreaming!”
“And that older sister of yours, who died young—she actually severed ties with her family for the sake of a man. But then again, what can a woman do? At most, she can stay in the rear courtyard embroidering flowers. The fact that she could sacrifice herself to expose a Minister of Revenue means that her worthless life managed to produce a little bit of use after all.”
The attendant scholar quietly spat to the side. Examiner Gao was truly vile. Why didn’t Heaven open its eyes and strike him dead one of these days?
A faint cracking sound rang out.
The writing brush in Lin Qingti’s hand split along a thin line. His knuckles had gone white from the force of his grip, and his fingers creaked.
Gao Chongguang grew even more excited.
“What? Angry? You knew your sister was living miserably in the Yun Family, so why didn’t you go help her? She died of sorrow, and half the blame lies with you!”
“And that favored Consort Miao—who knows when His Majesty will grow tired of her? When that happens, she’ll probably meet the same fate as your sister.”
The attendant scholar covered his ears in horror.
What a fool! He actually dared to gossip behind His Majesty’s and the consort’s backs!
Lin Qingti clenched his fists and shot to his feet, fury blazing in his eyes. “Censor Gao, mind your tongue!”
Gao Chongguang flinched. Yet amid his irritation, a strange flicker of delight rose in his heart. Lin Dianbo had finally lost his temper!
He raised his voice, wearing an infuriatingly smug expression as he thrust his face forward. “What? You want to hit me? Go on, then. Try it! Take revenge for your late sister, whose memory I’ve just insulted!”
Hmph. As long as Lin Qingti dared lay a hand on him, he could seize on that mistake and have him thrown out of the Hanlin Academy!
Lin Qingti was furious beyond words. His hand rose high into the air!
Gao Chongguang hurriedly shut his eyes and puffed out his cheeks as hard as he could, hoping it would lessen the pain when the blow landed.
But the expected slap never came. Instead, a tremendous force suddenly struck his protruding backside, accompanied by a sharp crack. It sounded as though his tailbone had snapped.
The next moment, Gao Chongguang—and the desk with him—went tumbling heavily forward. His front teeth hit the floor first, sending sparks flying together with several bloody fragments of gum.
He let out a slaughterhouse-worthy scream. “Aah!”
“Who? … Sob, sob … who dared ki-kick me from behind?”
Gao Chongguang had meant to say, “Who? Who dared kick me from behind?”
Unfortunately, several teeth had been knocked out, and his mouth was full of blood. His words came out garbled and breathy.
Through his tears of pain, Gao Chongguang saw a golden-threaded shoe embroidered with dragons slowly appear before him.
Yun Yaoyao nudged his face with the tip of her toe and looked down at him from above.
“I’m the one who kicked you.”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
