coobybook Chapter 245 The Emperor’s Temptation
Chapter 245 The Emperor’s Temptation
The lights were just coming on, and the Forbidden City was ablaze with light, the glazed tiles illuminating the magnificent palace. The banquet was held in the vast square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where banners were already fluttering, and the air was filled with auspiciousness.
Before the banquet even began, the palace maids and eunuchs were already busy setting up the venue, arranging gold-threaded nanmu tables and chairs and covering them with brocade tablecloths embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns. Each table was decorated with jade plates and golden bowls, gleaming brightly.
As brass music began to play, guests began to enter the banquet hall one after another. Civil and military officials were dressed in court robes, jade belts around their waists, and plume hats on their heads, looking dignified and solemn.
After a while, the emperor ascended the throne, dressed in dragon robes and looking majestic. The emperor's arrival also marked the beginning of the banquet.
During the banquet, there was singing and dancing. The dancers' fluttering robes and melodious voices added a touch of elegance and joy to the banquet. After three rounds of wine, the emperor stood up and toasted, "Today, our dynasty has made another new addition, which is very gratifying to me. I would like to offer a toast to everyone and celebrate with all the officials."
Everyone stood up and responded, their faces filled with joy.
Gradually, the party became more and more lively, and everyone was not as reserved as before.
Many officials raised their glasses to toast Lin Jingyou, and their tone seemed to indicate that they wanted to pull him into their party, but he rejected them all without a trace of hesitation.
Seeing that Lin Jingyou was unmoved, they simply turned around and tried to win over the second and third place winners.
The emperor sat alone on the high platform, seemingly nonchalant, but in fact he was observing every move of the students below.
As the young master of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, Yan Hui was naturally also at the banquet. He waved his hand, drove away his former playboy friends, and walked straight towards Lin Jingyou.
"Brother Jingyou, so many people are drinking, why are you still sitting here alone?" He pursed his lips and said, "Look, they can't wait to start looking for support, and you are the only one sitting here, motionless."
Lin Jingyou picked up his glass and clinked it with his. "My biggest supporter is sitting next to me, so what else do I need to look for?"
Yan Hui was delighted when he heard this, and quickly patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother Jingyou, don't worry. As long as we are in the capital, I will protect you."
Lin Jingyou smiled, patted his shoulder and said, "Good brother, I will rely on you from now on."
Yan Hui held his head high and patted his chest, "Leave it to me."
Marquis Zhongyong looked at the two brothers with a smile on his face, his eyes almost narrowed into slits.
Anyway, their Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery Mansion has never participated in party struggles, or in other words, they are loyal to the prince's party, so even if they are close to Lin Jingyou, the emperor will not think too much about it.
The banquet did not end until nearly midnight. However, it was not over yet.
It was already so late, and the emperor actually summoned Lin Jingyou.
The ministers were confused, or more accurately, curious, but they did not dare to ask.
In the Imperial Study, the Emperor stood at the head with his hands behind his back and asked, "Do you know why I left you alone to meet you in the Imperial Study?"
Lin Jingyou shook his head, "The student doesn't know."
Now that they have not been appointed as officials, they can only call themselves students, not subjects.
"Do you really not know or are you pretending not to know?" The emperor looked at Lin Jingyou with an inquiring look.
Lin Jingyou continued to shake his head, "I dare not deceive the emperor, so I really don't know."
"In that case, I'll be frank. Beautiful women have always been paired with talented men. My fourth princess is sixteen years old, beautiful, and has a first-class temper and upbringing. If I betroth her to you, are you willing?" The emperor continued to stare at Lin Jingyou and asked slowly.
Lin Jingyou lifted his robe and knelt on the ground with a plop. "The princess is so beautiful, I am ashamed of myself. I am not worthy of the princess. Please revoke your order."
"Are you saying that my fourth princess is no longer worthy of you?" the emperor continued to oppress.
Lin Jingyou shook his head and replied, "The Fourth Princess is both virtuous and talented. I am not worthy of her. Moreover, I already have an engagement. I and my fiancée are in love with each other. We have our parents' permission and the matchmaker's words to arrange our marriage. How dare I delay the princess's marriage?"
"Then marry them both. The princess will be the elder and your fiancée will be the younger." The emperor continued.
Lin Jingyou kowtowed and said firmly, "I only have my fiancée in my heart, and I will marry her in this life."
"Since you love her so deeply, I am not an unreasonable person. I can take a step back and allow her to be on an equal footing with the princess, and both of them can be co-wives." The emperor's tone was indifferent, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
"I ask Your Majesty to revoke your order. I will only marry one wife in this life and will never let my fiancée down. The princess is outstanding and will definitely find a suitable husband. I am not the princess's ideal man. Your Majesty must hope that the princess can be happy, but I cannot bring her happiness." Lin Jingyou continued to reply neither humbly nor arrogantly.
The emperor suddenly became furious. He picked up the teacup on the table and threw it to the ground. "Bold Lin Jingyou, don't think that just because you're the new top scholar, I won't do anything to you. Do you know that when the emperor is angry, millions of people will die? If you don't agree to marry the princess today, you'll be disobeying my order. Think it over before you answer!"
Lin Jingyou kowtowed again and said, "I am deeply apprehensive. It is a great blessing for me to see the Emperor today. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me for not being able to serve you in the future."
This was said with great resolve, leaving no room for maneuver.
"Come here, drag him away! The new number one scholar Lin Jingyou disobeyed the order and will be executed immediately!" The emperor shouted, and two guards immediately pushed the door open and dragged Lin Jingyou away.
Before leaving, Lin Jingyou kowtowed again, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Thunder, lightning, rain, and dew are all grace from the emperor. There is no way around it. Even if the emperor grants you death, you still have to thank him.
Two guards dragged Lin Jingyou away. The emperor walked down and looked outside.
Then, the emperor said to Eunuch Xi who was standing beside him, "Go, little Xizi, bring Lin Jingyou back."
After Eunuch Xi left, the emperor was alone, smiling and shaking his head, seemingly helpless.
After a while, Eunuch Xi came back with Lin Jingyou.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. Long live the emperor." Lin Jingyou saluted.
"Stand up. Do you know that I don't really want to kill you, so you dare to be so fearless?" The emperor asked casually.
Lin Jingyou bowed and said, "I don't know. What I just said came from the bottom of my heart. I would never lie to Your Majesty."
He, the Emperor, and Eunuch Xi were the only ones in the Imperial Study, with no other ministers present. Since the Emperor had approached him privately about this matter, it was either to ask for his opinion or to test him.
If the emperor had already made up his mind, he would have issued an edict directly. He saw all this, but he certainly couldn't say it out loud! Besides, every word he just said was the truth.