Finest Servant

Chapter 365 Accidental Discovery

Upon stepping outside, Eunuch Gao carefully closed the door behind him, fearful of disturbing the father and daughter who had reunited inside after untold trials and tribulations.

Lin Wanrong heard Qin Xian'er's soft sobs coming from within and couldn't help but shake his head. He thought to himself, ‘I did right today. I hope the father and daughter can get along well. Then my efforts won't have been in vain.’

"Master Lin, Master Lin," Eunuch Gao's voice rang in his ear, "Someone wishes to see you."

"See me? Who is it?" Lin Wanrong asked in surprise. ‘Someone wants to meet me in the Emperor's Palace of Heavenly Purity? Now, that's a rare occurrence.’

Gao Ping nodded slightly, speaking softly, "Please follow me." He took the lead and headed toward a side room in the outer hall. After passing through several rooms, he reached one, bowing respectfully and saying, "Here it is, my Lord. Please enter."

All the rooms in the hall were brightly lit except for this one, where total darkness prevailed. Lin Wanrong, feeling a sense of doubt, slowly pushed the door open to see an elderly shadow standing quietly by the window, hollow eye sockets gleaming faintly.

"Uncle Wei?!!" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, rushing forward to grab his hand. "You, what are you doing here?"

Old Wei chuckled, "Why shouldn't I be here?"

Lin Wanrong was stunned for a moment. After a long pause, he heaved a sigh and nodded, saying, "I understand now. Uncle Wei, so you too are someone close to His Majesty."

Old Wei smiled slightly, his voice filled with sentiment, "You're right, I have indeed been managing things by His Majesty's side. Since the time when the Emperor was still residing in the secluded mansion, I have served him. Counting the years, it's been more than thirty now."

More than thirty years? A blind man serving by the Emperor's side for over three decades was indeed a marvel, and the loyalty between the master and servant was remarkable. Old Wei seemed to see through his thoughts and laughed, "You must be wondering, how a blind old man like me could serve by the Emperor's side for over thirty years, aren't you?"

Old Wei was Lin Wanrong's lifesaver, and he was like a second father to him. Lin Wanrong, who was exceptionally frank in his presence, didn't hide his thoughts and nodded, "I do have some questions."

"You need not doubt; it's quite simple, really. More than twenty years ago, like you, I too had a pair of healthy eyes," the old blind man sighed, his voice filled with profound resentment and regret. "Back then, when the late Emperor was gravely ill, His Majesty, being kind-hearted and diligent, cared for him day and night, exemplifying filial piety and benevolence, and his fame spread throughout the land. The late Emperor was deeply moved and intended to pass the throne to His Majesty before his burial. However, at that critical moment, a large group of assassins suddenly broke into the monastery where the late Emperor was recuperating. His Majesty was seriously injured while protecting the late Emperor, even the only prince was assassinated, and I lost my eyes in my attempt to protect His Majesty. At that dire moment, luckily, Li Tai's loyalty and integrity called upon tens of thousands of soldiers to quell the rebellion, ensuring His Majesty's safety."

Speaking of the past, Old Wei's voice was calm but tinged with excitement. Lin Wanrong listened with quiet astonishment. The last time the old emperor had spoken about the matter, his words were vague and sketchy, but now Old Wei had clarified many things with his recounting. It turned out that in that battle, not only had Uncle Wei been blinded in both eyes, but the old Emperor had been gravely injured, losing a son as well. It was likely that the injury from that time led to lasting health problems. After ascending to the throne, the old Emperor was unable to father any children, leaving the nation without an heir. It was no wonder that he harbored such deep resentment towards Prince Cheng.

"For the sake of preserving the Great Hua Dynasty, His Majesty began to select talents over ten years ago. As the only one privy to this matter, I took on this task that concerns the future of Great Hua for thousands of generations. I traveled everywhere, seeking potential talents until, at last, I met you," Old Wei paused, sighing deeply, and shook his head, "Wanrong, I truly don’t know whether to praise you or to scold you."

"Uncle, if you want to scold, just scold me. To be honest, my philosophy of life is different from yours. I prioritize happiness first, then power and wealth. If there's no joy, I'd rather not have anything at all," Lin Wanrong replied honestly.

"I know that all too well," Old Wei said, "I chose you partly for this very reason. Your thinking is broad, you dare to dream and act, you’re carefree, unconventional in your methods, and you combine compassion with ruthlessness. You are indeed a rare find. Initially, seeing your joyful demeanor, I thought you might change after learning the truth, so I paid no mind to it. But I never expected that even after understanding everything, you remained just as stubborn. His Majesty both admires you and is helpless with you. But I can't help feeling discontent!"

Lin Wanrong chuckled and said, "Uncle Wei, I told His Majesty last time that we should find a way that's acceptable to both sides, without putting either of us in a difficult position. You, wise and full of schemes, surely can come up with a good solution."

Old Wei gave a bitter smile and replied, "You're quite the expert at shirking responsibility, young man. It's not so easy to find a solution that pleases everyone. Although, I must thank you for allowing me to cling to life a few days longer."

"Cling to life? Uncle, I don't understand," Lin Wanrong said, perplexed.

"That's exactly it," Uncle Wei sighed. "I live to serve His Majesty loyally and find a suitable person for Great Hua. Once I find that person, it's time for me to meet my end—"

"You mean, silencing you?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, shocked.

"I'm willing," Uncle Wei said with a faint smile. "My lord has given me everything; serving him loyally has been my lifelong wish."

Lin Wanrong stared at blind Old Wei, at a loss for words for a long time. He didn't belong to this era and naturally found it difficult to understand Old Wei's mentality, but he respected Uncle Wei's choice. From the Emperor's perspective, for the sake of perpetuating the Great Hua Dynasty and forever keeping the secret, those who needed to die must die. Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly. If he had agreed to the old Emperor today, he might never see Uncle Wei again, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.

"The princess has returned, and it has been a long time since I have seen the Emperor so delighted," Old Wei remarked, standing by the window and letting out a sigh filled with emotion. "Wanrong, on behalf of my master, I thank you."

As he spoke, he attempted to kneel down and kowtow, but Lin Wanrong hurriedly lifted him up. "Uncle, aren't you shortening my lifespan with such a gesture? This life of mine was saved by you! Besides, Xian'er is my wife, and the old man is my father-in-law. Helping them clear up misunderstandings and reunite as soon as possible is something I should do."

"Your relationship with the princess might not go as smoothly as you think," Old Wei slowly said. "Had you agreed to the Emperor's request today, your status would change, and the Emperor would have you legitimately enter the palace. As for your matter with the princess, never mention it again."

Lin Wanrong's mouth fell open, suddenly realizing the complex layers behind the Emperor's request for him and Xian'er to become sworn siblings. What did Old Wei mean by "legitimate"? Even if he entered the court, gossip was inevitable. Who could handle those wily old ministers, or deal with Prince Cheng?

"No one in this world dares underestimate the Emperor. His control over the situation, his grasp and decisiveness in major affairs, are beyond the reach of Prince Cheng and his mediocre followers," Old Wei snorted, slowly continuing. "After you join the court, the Emperor will gradually put you in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, purging rebellious officials, promoting scholars throughout the land, and even giving you control over military power. With the authority of the office and the military, someone like Prince Cheng will be like meat on a chopping block. What could he do to you?"

Having served the Emperor closely, Old Wei was deeply familiar with his thoughts and was an expert in discussing political matters. Lin Wanrong listened, secretly amazed, finding Old Wei's words quite appealing. If only he could marry Xian'er and play the game of power, how wonderful it would be to live a carefree life!

"What's wrong? Regretting it?" Old Wei, though blind, had an Emperor's insight into human nature, and he smiled slightly.

"I wouldn't say I regret it," Lin Wanrong chuckled. "What's yours is yours; you don't need to fight to have it. Just like Xian'er and the old man, despite years of trials and tribulations, they finally reunited, didn't they?"

Old Wei nodded and sighed, a faint smile appearing on his face. "We truly owe this to you; the Emperor has not misjudged you."

Today, with Xian'er's reunion with the old Emperor and Lin Wanrong's reunion with Old Wei, it was indeed a double celebration. Xian'er and her father talked long into the night, and the lights in the Palace of Heavenly Purity remained bright until the deep night. Lin Wanrong also stayed in the palace, having a late-night conversation with Old Wei. Many previous questions gradually became clear, and his heart was filled with incomparable joy. Yet, watching Xian'er and the old Emperor happily reunited as a family, Lin Wanrong felt content but also slightly lost. Most people have parents and can enjoy their warmth, but he was an exception. On the surface, he seemed to enjoy a life of success, but he was like a rootless duckweed, drifting aimlessly, a loneliness a thousand or even ten thousand times greater than that of the Monkey King born from a stone.

He had something on his mind, and though he slept into the late night, he found himself unable to close his eyes. The spring chill and heavy dew had formed faint droplets outside the window, and a crescent moon hung in the sky, scattering a dim, firefly-like glow that created an indescribable feeling of cold serenity. He donned a long robe, pushed open the room door, and slowly stepped out, only to be met by a waft of mild cold air that instantly cleared his somewhat muddled head.

The light in the old Emperor's room had not yet been extinguished. From time to time, soft voices and sobbing sounds reached his ears, and Lin Wanrong could clearly hear that it was Xian'er's voice. He couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. That girl, having reunited with her father, had cried from beginning to end; he didn't know if it was due to overwhelming sadness or joy.

Leaving the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he noticed some lights in a nearby courtyard and leisurely walked over. The courtyard was very close to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and the lighting was dim, with only a few eunuchs and palace maids on duty, dozing off under an oil lamp.

Lin Wanrong stepped into the courtyard, and a faint, delicate fragrance greeted him. Like orchids, like musk, it was exceptionally fragrant. He felt a sense of awareness and looked up to see a long scroll hanging in the center of the main hall. A glance was all it took for him to feel as if he had been struck by lightning, and he stood there, frozen in astonishment.

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