Princess Promotion

Li Jinglong's fingers slid gently across the chessboard. The bamboo shadows in the courtyard were mottled, and the breeze carried a faint bamboo fragrance.

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence, and a servant ran in breathlessly, with an anxious look on his face: "Sir, someone is coming from the palace!"

Li Jinglong paused, the chess piece stopped in mid-air, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

It is not common for someone to come to the palace.

Li Jinglong immediately put down the chess book, straightened his clothes, and walked quickly to the main hall.

In the main hall, Eunuch Feng was sitting upright on a chair sipping tea, with a young eunuch standing next to him.

Eunuch Feng is the chief steward of the harem and is deeply trusted by His Majesty. His arrival is naturally of great significance.

Li Jinglong did not dare to neglect him. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "I didn't know that Eunuch Feng was coming. I am sorry for not welcoming you. I hope Eunuch Feng will not blame me."

Eunuch Feng smiled slightly and waved his hand: "Master Li, you are too polite. I am here on the orders of His Majesty to deliver an oral order."

When Li Jinglong heard that it was His Majesty's order, he knelt down immediately and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Li Jinglong, accepts the order."

Eunuch Feng cleared his throat and said, "Li Hanlin was robbed today by bandits. His money and clothes were stolen. I happened to capture the bandits and retrieved Li Hanlin's money and clothes. I would like to trouble you, Lord Li, to return these clothes."

After hearing the oral order, Li Jinglong stood there in a daze.

Is there something wrong with his ears?

Otherwise, how could I hear such an absurd decree?

Li Hanlin was robbed?

Being robbed in broad daylight?

And the robbers were captured by His Majesty?

Your Majesty, did you encounter Li Hanlin being robbed when you left the palace?

Then why not return it on the spot? Why go through so much trouble to send the clothes to his house and ask him to return them?

If you have the time and energy, you should have returned it long ago.

It can't be that Your Majesty wants Li Hanlin to think that he was the one who captured the robber and that Li Hanlin owes you a favor!

This is nonsense!

Since Eunuch Feng came in person, the news would spread throughout the streets and alleys of Yundu City in an instant.

Although His Majesty's actions are somewhat careless, they are not ridiculous.

Li Jinglong lightly raised his finger on his sleeve, and a banknote slipped silently into Eunuch Feng's palm. He said, "Please give me some advice, Eunuch."

Eunuch Feng showed a knowing smile on his face, and put the banknotes into his sleeve with natural and skillful movements.

Eunuch Feng turned his gaze to the young eunuch beside him and pointed at an exquisite box in the young eunuch's hand.

Eunuch Feng said meaningfully, "Your Majesty specifically instructed that these clothes be delivered to Lord Li intact."

Li Jinglong's eyes fell on the clothes in the box. He immediately understood Eunuch Feng's hint and went forward to take a look.

He was not a stupid man. Although he didn't know much about fabrics and embroidery, the clothes in front of him allowed Li Jinglong to see the clues.

The patches on the robe and shoes were torn, revealing the intact fabric underneath.

Li Jinglong instantly understood what the emperor meant to him. A man who boasted of his integrity every day and whose family was poor would never take a single penny from the people even if his clothes were patched.

But the clothes he wore were new clothes with patches deliberately sewn on them. This was blatant evidence right in front of him. Who else could he be but a fame-seeker?

When Li Jinglong thought about the morning court session today when he was in the main hall recommending Li Hanlin, he felt dizzy.

Those who had promised to nominate the candidate in the morning were slapped in the face in the afternoon.

Even though there were not many people around, Li Jinglong still felt embarrassed. There was a hint of irritability in his eyes. Damn Li Hanlin, he was actually treating him like a fool.

Seeing Li Jinglong standing there in a daze, Eunuch Feng coughed lightly and said, "Sir Li, do you understand what His Majesty means?"

Li Jinglong came back to his senses and said through gritted teeth, "I understand. I will harness my carriage and go find Li Hanlin right away."

Eunuch Feng shook his head and raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Master Li, didn't you hear the emperor's instructions clearly? His Majesty asked you to run a trip!"

Li Jinglong subconsciously wanted to say that he was about to go, but he paused and instantly understood what Eunuch Feng was hinting at.

Yao Chuguang wanted him to walk over and deliver clothes to this fame-seeking villain.

Li Jinglong's breathing stagnated, as if he was trying to hold it in.

In the end, Li Jinglong was like a deflated ball. He took the box from the eunuch and walked out of the hall.

This was clearly Yao Chuguang's punishment for his inability to recognize people. Don't think that only those who did something wrong will be punished. The person who recommended someone will also bear joint responsibility.

Yao Chuguang wanted to tell the court officials that if they recommended officials for the sake of benefits or party disputes, the recommenders would be punished if they were not competent.

Yao Chuguang's punishment was not very harmful but extremely insulting. Li Jinglong would rather be demoted than suffer such humiliation.

But there was no way Li Jinglong dared not disobey the order.

Li Jinglong stood behind the gate of his house, his heart beating fast and his palms slightly sweaty.

Be prepared to keep your head down and move quickly through the crowd to minimize the possibility of being noticed.

He took a deep breath, and the servant slowly opened the door at his signal.

However, the moment the door opened, Li Jinglong saw the scene outside and was stunned. The box in his hand fell to the ground because he was too shocked.

Li Hanlin staggered into the house, holding his neck as if it was weighed down by a thousand-pound burden, his face so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip from it.

When the servants saw him like this, they were so frightened that they dared not make a sound, for fear of bringing bad luck upon themselves.

"Hurry up and prepare clothes and bath water for me!" Li Hanlin's voice was cold, with a hint of unquestionable majesty.

"Let me catch that thief and eat him alive. He dared to rob me. He must be tired of living."

While rubbing his neck, Li Hanlin was thinking about going to the government office to report the case.

He is an official after all, how could he tolerate such insults?

At this moment, the servant ran in again in a panic, his voice trembling: "Master, something's wrong!"

Li Hanlin was already in a very bad mood, and he became even more annoyed when his servant called him that.

Li Hanlin stepped forward and slapped him, cursing, "You're so flustered! You've thrown all the rules into the wind!"

The servant covered his face and said cautiously, "There are many people coming to the door."

Li Hanlin's anger subsided a little, and he felt confused when he heard what the servant said.

It's almost dark, why are a group of people looking for him?

Why did something strange happen today?

Li Hanlin still stood up and walked towards the door, and saw a large group of people standing there.

After a closer look, he realized that these people looked very familiar. Aren't they his colleagues who served in the same court as him?

Standing in the front was his immediate superior, Lord Li. Li Jinglong held a box in both hands and said with a forced smile, "Lord Li, we are here to return your clothes!"

Following behind Li Jinglong, the group of old officials from the Western Zhou Dynasty who had recommended Li Hanlin also forced a fake smile and said in unison: "Master Li, we are here to return your clothes!"

"Master Li, we are here to return your clothes!"