HLnovel Chapter 166 So you're just having fun with that pretty boy!
Chapter 166 So you're just having fun with that pretty boy!
King Ping was also struggling with this issue.
He has been keeping vigil at Jing'an Palace for a day and a night.
Originally, he had planned to secretly take a rest, but unexpectedly, Lin Shihe, under the pretext of stabilizing the court, directly arranged for people to guard Jing'an Palace, so that no one inside dared to slack off.
Not to mention that after he targeted the Crown Prince, Lin Shihe was determined to retaliate and specially arranged for people to keep an eye on him, not allowing him to be the slightest bit disrespectful.
Therefore, from yesterday until now, he has only managed to get a short nap on a simple bed in the side hall during his midnight rest shift, totaling just over two hours. The rest of the time, he has been keeping vigil for the Empress under strict requirements. Now, looking so haggard, no one would doubt that he would be the next to die.
Therefore, in his dazed mind, Prince Ping kept thinking about why the Empress Dowager hadn't yet disrupted things as planned, so that he could have a moment to catch his breath.
However, this is obviously impossible.
Thanks to Lin Shiming's control over the palace, no one else besides Emperor Longyun and Lu Yuxi knows about the Empress Dowager's "injury".
Because of Emperor Longyun's deliberate suppression, many people have almost forgotten the existence of the Empress Dowager. They did not notice anything amiss about her absence from the Empress's funeral, let alone investigate the reason for her late arrival.
Only Prince Ping remained hopeful, waiting for the Empress to finally be gone so that the Empress Dowager would have complete control of the harem. Perhaps his mother could also use this opportunity to regain her throne, or even advance further.
After all, the harem always needs a leader. In the past, when the Empress was alive, it was fine. With her as an intermediary, Lin Shiming could interfere in the harem at will. But now that the Empress is gone, Lin Shiming, as a man, can't just go around contacting his father's concubines all day long.
As a result, Lin Shiming's control over the harem will inevitably decrease. This is the best opportunity to seize power from Lin Shiming.
But Lin Shiming clearly wouldn't let him have his way.
*
Reminded by Lou Yunsu's words, Lin Shiming slapped his forehead and remembered that there was a group of concubines in Jing'an Palace waiting for him to make arrangements.
He had also discussed this matter with Emperor Longyun and Lu Yuxi.
Lu Yuxi suggested that he train several female officials and eunuchs to act as intermediaries to continue controlling the harem. After all, this was what Bai Qiongzhu did when he was sick and did not leave Fengyi Palace, which was quite reasonable.
However, this method is only suitable for routine management; it becomes problematic in the event of emergencies. With so many people in the harem, conflicts and disputes arise from time to time, requiring someone to take charge. Obviously, female officials and eunuchs are not capable of this.
In response, Emperor Longyun offered his valuable advice. He told Lin Shiming to find a way to have all the concubines stay in the Buddhist hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. under unified management, which would be very convenient and solve the problem once and for all.
The key point is that it can also save money.
More importantly, Lu Yuxi was actually persuaded by the phrase "to save the Crown Princess trouble."
Absurd! What family treats concubines like they're in prison? Even high school students occasionally have a PE class on weekends!
Lin Shiming was speechless. If he dared to do that, what kind of monster would future historians portray him as, oppressing women?
An unreliable father and son!
Enraged, Lin Shiming immediately retorted, "The harem is the Crown Princess's territory. Father and His Highness should refrain from interfering in it from now on!" before storming off.
*
But back to business.
There was still time then, and Lin Shiming left in a huff, putting the matter behind him. But now it's unavoidable; the vigil will only last a few days, and this matter really can't be delayed.
What are your thoughts on the management of the imperial harem?
Completely clueless, Lin Shiming casually asked Lou Yunsu a question.
Lou Yunsu, who had not received a reply for half a day, saw that Lin Shiming was deep in thought because of his words, so he did not disturb him. Instead, he treated Lin Shiming as an outsider and asked a junior official from the Ministry of Justice to bring him a rocking chair.
And they specifically requested that a thick, soft cushion be placed on the chair.
When Lin Shiming asked him the question, he was leisurely lying in a rocking chair eating snacks.
"..."
Their eyes met, and they felt extremely awkward.
The top elite group in Beijing almost fell apart on the very day it was formed.
"Your Highness, this is something I had specially prepared for you. I've already tested it; lying down won't affect your body..."
Lin Shiming smiled as he looked at the plate of pastries.
"...His Highness has also tried the desserts; they taste good and are not poisonous."
"The Ministry of Justice is my territory; it would be a miracle if it were poisonous!"
"What did Your Highness just say? The management of the harem?" Lou Yunsu asked seriously. "I don't know anything about the management of the harem, but I know how my mother managed my father's concubines."
Very good. Lou Yunsu saved himself.
Lin Shiming relaxed and happily lay down in the recliner that Lou Yunsu had prepared for him, letting out a long, comfortable sigh.
"tell me the story."
Lou Yunsu brought the snacks to the side of the recliner, taking it upon himself to be a "snack stand".
"Your Majesty believes that since the duty of concubines is to serve the master and the mistress, then let them fully perform their duties."
"Therefore, my mother arranged a schedule for the concubines in the inner quarters, instructing them to serve the mistress, the queen, and my grandmother in order each day, so that there would be no more competition for favor. Moreover, in this way, my mother would not have to mediate matters in the inner quarters all day long. She only needs to schedule the quarreling concubines to serve on the same day, and then my father would resolve all the conflicts."
Then you have plenty of free time to go shopping, listen to operas, and buy jewelry, living a leisurely life.
What a clever way to shift the blame!
It's true that professional tasks should be done by professionals!
Lin Shiming's eyes lit up. "As expected of the talent I've set my sights on, you're truly capable! Go, tell them to bring another chair so the two of us can have a proper talk!"
*
That was never said.
Because he was worried that the Crown Princess was suffering, His Highness the Crown Prince had just found out the whereabouts of the Duke of Zhenguo's heir today, so he rushed over to rescue his Crown Princess.
Then they sat side by side in the shade of a tree, facing Lin Shiming and the person Lin Shiming had once said he "liked." The two were even separated only by the armrests of two deck chairs.
Okay, okay, I was terrified and worried about you all night, and rushed over to save you, only to find out you were having fun with that pretty boy!
So, the Crown Prince, consumed by jealousy, grabbed Lin Shiming, who was still laughing and joking with Lou Yunsu, and pulled him up. The commotion was so great that it even alerted his two elder brothers who were busy with important matters inside.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince, still retaining his composure, knew to save face for the Crown Princess. He casually said, "I have something to discuss with the Crown Princess," before suppressing his temper and "inviting" Lin Shiming back to the East Palace.
Lin Shihe didn't dare to stop that real anger.
*
"Yu Xi, Your Highness... my husband!"
Lin Shihe sat on the large bed in the East Palace, watching in horror as Lu Yuxi placed one shameful item after another in front of him.
He tried to hide himself by using both hands and feet to back away, while still begging for mercy.
"Let me explain, we're nothing to each other! We were just chatting!"