Finest Servant

Chapter 333

Chapter 333 To Seduce or Not?

The side hall where Mister Lin was resting was called the Pavilion of Literary Profundity, situated next to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Eunuch Gao led him in. The interior of the room was adorned with brocade clothes and jade covers, carved rails and stone walls, furnished opulently. Four beautiful palace maids were serving cautiously on the side, their heads bowed, not daring to look at him.

After a night spent in both the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Heavenly Prison, and nearly becoming a human porcupine, Master Lin, though as resilient as iron, was utterly exhausted. Upon seeing the four young maids, his eyes lit up. Could it be, they even had attractive waitresses here?

"Master Lin, please let me know if you need anything else. I will arrange it for you right away," Eunuch Gao bowed and said.

What's the point of arranging anything at this hour? By the time he returns, it would already be dawn. Having these young girls give him a massage would be the right thing. Lin Wanrong laughed and said, "Eunuch Gao, there's no need to be polite. Thanks to His Majesty's grace, this place is excellent, and I'm very satisfied." Recalling that when he left home this morning, his Eldest Miss had disappeared somewhere, and he had not returned until now, he wondered what sort of state she was in. He turned to Eunuch Gao, "Eunuch Gao, could I trouble you with a favor?"

Eunuch Gao hurriedly said, "Master Lin, you are too courteous. What is it that you need? Please feel free to instruct."

Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "The thing is, I'm spending the night in the palace tonight, but my family isn't aware of it. To tell you the truth, I have a wife who is prone to jealousy. If I don't inform her, she's bound to suspect that I'm holed up with some favorite courtesan somewhere. Can you arrange for someone to send a message to her, letting her know I won't be returning home tonight because I'm staying in the palace?"

Eunuch Gao hesitated, troubled, and said, "Master Lin, His Majesty has instructed that you are to stay in the palace tonight and not to go anywhere else. Furthermore, this information should not be leaked, or it would mean execution and extermination of nine generations. I dare not send anyone to your home, I hope you can understand."

To just stay one night in the palace, the old Emperor made it sound so secretive, as if it was a taboo to be seen. But because of An Biru's situation, it was understandable that the old Emperor didn't fully trust him. Knowing the consequences of suggesting leaving the palace now, he wisely shut his mouth.

After dismissing Eunuch Gao, Master Lin was deep in thought, and the four young palace maids exchanged a glance. Finally, one of the older-looking maids spoke up, "Ma... Master. My name is Qinghong, may I assist you with your bath--"

"Oh, oh, a bath?" Lin Wanrong looked up at the maids, who were all around sixteen or seventeen, blossoming beautifully with mature figures, gazing at him with expectant eyes.

"Alright, a bath," Lin Wanrong agreed with a laugh. The maids, delighted, immediately swarmed around him, unbuttoning his buttons, unbuckling his belt, deft and swift, about to strip him bare within moments.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing? It's improper for men and women to touch--" His heart tickled as eight little hands rubbed and kneaded his body, he called out in a flustered manner.

Maid Qinghong gently replied, "Master, we are here to assist you with your bath--"

With a sudden realization, Mr. Lin understood that serving him during his bath not only involved helping him undress but also scrubbing his back and washing his feet. When he was in a good mood, even a bit of indulgence was a trivial matter, especially when it was done by a few unspoiled, charming young maids. This was not merely serving a bath; it was clearly akin to keeping company. Damn it, he must resist this decadent and degenerate lifestyle — a simple chest massage would suffice, he could save the indulgence for next time, he chuckled to himself.

A few young maids, half shy and half delighted, helped him undress, revealing his robust physique, and then led him towards the nearby bath.

The bath was carved from white jade, filled with crystal clear water, devoid of any impurities. The rare and exceptional healing medicine that Xu Zhiqing had found for him had worked wonders. In just two days, the wounds on his back had scabbed over. As he lay in the bath, the warm water made him feel completely relaxed, as if his bones had become lighter.

"Eh, why aren't you undressing? Do I need to call Mama San?" he teased, seeing the four blushing young palace maids standing awkwardly to one side, their small hands clutching their clothes, wanting to undress but feeling incredibly shy. Mr. Lin, a regular in the world of pleasure, laughed at the sight.

"Sir, what is Mama San?" the leading young palace maid asked, her face flushed.

"Oh, Mama San is a kind-hearted old lady who is very gentle and kind to all her daughters. The daughters are all willing to support her financially," Mr. Lin patiently explained.

[TL: For those who don’t know, Mama san is a female pimp who run a brothel...normally refer to the one at the Far East.]

"Isn't that like my own mother? Sir, is my mother the Mama San you're talking about?" another young palace maid asked.

‘Well, that's not really comparable,’ Mr. Lin chuckled, "There are some subtle differences, very subtle, you wouldn't understand even if I explained. Eh, undress, everyone, undress quickly so we can bathe."

The young palace maids blushed deeply. They had heard from their sisters about serving the gentlemen who came to the palace for a rest, but all of them were strictly respectful and would never dare to touch them inappropriately. They hadn't expected that when it was their turn, they would encounter such a shameless gentleman who treated undressing as casually as cutting tofu, and kept urging them to undress without considering where they were. It was truly audacious and arrogant.

At a signal from the leading palace maid, the four young maids blushed, their jade hands gently undid their outer clothes, and in no time, they were only in their undergarments, revealing their smooth and delicate skin and legs. The four of them were of similar height, and their chests were quite developed, swaying with every step they took.

The four of them slowly stepped into the water, their cheeks burning like fire, and slowly approached Lin Wanrong, their voices trembling as they said, "Sir, we are here to serve your bath."

Looking at the four slightly immature but infinitely tempting bodies slowly pressing against his own, Lin Wanrong's heart pounded. Damn it, the taste of young girls was indeed different.

Four pairs of small hands gently pressed against his neck, waist, and legs, gently massaging him. Smelling the faint fragrance emanating from the four girls, Mr. Lin let out a comfortable sigh and laughed, "Little sisters, move your hands a bit lower. Oh, a bit lower, right there, hold it, don't stop!"

The petite palace maid named Qinghong felt a tremor in her heart and blushed at his touch. She pinched his ankle and said, "Sir, you are so naughty, just grabbing my ankle—"

Lin Wanrong, with a playful smile, had been startled several times today. He needed to regain some ground, and teasing the young maid while taking a bath was indeed delightful.

"Little sister, let me teach you a novel trick. It has a pleasant name, called 'chest push'. When there's a chance, I'll teach you about 'ice and fire'—", Lin San, the lewd man, laughed.

The young palace maids, who had been bathing in the palace for many years, were precocious. Hearing the name 'chest push', they knew it was not something decent. They all lightly spat in unison, and Lin Wanrong laughed and lay in the water, too lazy to move, allowing the girls to gently rub and knead.

Today's events, despite his usual self-proclaimed toughness, had him at a disadvantage in his contest with the old emperor. He was led by the nose, and in just one day, he experienced several ups and downs, more than most people would in a lifetime. After letting Sister An go, the old emperor forcibly kept him in the palace and sent these well-qualified palace maids to serve him. The mystery of this was hard to understand. He thought for a while, yawned a few times, and unknowingly, fell into a deep sleep.

He slept in a daze in the palace, and when he woke up, it was already late. The four little palace maids who served him were still guarding his side. Lin Wanrong grabbed the leading palace maid and said, "Qinghong, what time is it now?"

"Sir, it's past Chen Shi (7-9 am)," the little palace maid respectfully said.

"Oh, Chen Shi!" Lin yawned, then exclaimed, "What? Chen Shi? Why didn't anyone wake me up?"

Qinghong looked at him, covered her mouth and laughed, "Sir, you are really different from others. Other people who come to the palace to rest are always on edge, waking up several times every quarter of an hour. As soon as the early morning passes, they thank the Emperor for his grace and leave the palace, more punctual than the eunuch who reports the time. Only you, sir, don't care at all. The morning court has passed, and you haven't woken up. Eunuch Gao instructed us last night that if you don't wake up, we are not allowed to disturb you. That's why I didn't dare to wake you up."

‘Sweat, damn it, I didn't know there were so many rules. I've always been the type to count money until my hands cramp and sleep until I naturally wake up.’ He grumbled and got up from the bed, randomly put on his clothes, and hurriedly asked, "Nishang, Princess Nishang, North Gate, where is the North Gate?"

When he arrived at the North Gate of the Forbidden City, he saw the North Gate fluttering with banners, bustling with noise. From a distance, he saw the emperor's chariot standing high above the city gate, with ministers and guards standing on both sides, very lively.

Directly opposite the North Gate was a wide moat. In front of the river was a wide open space, in the middle of which stood a newly built three-story building. The building was decorated with large red ribbons, pulled down from the four corners of the roof. The ribbons fluttered with small flags, red and yellow, very eye-catching and beautiful. A narrow red carpet was laid on the ground leading to the main door of the small building. Numerous bright spears and guards stood along the flags, majestic and noble.

Beneath the walls stood three groups of people. The first group was composed of men with curled hair and hawk-like noses, tall in stature, with curved swords hanging from their waists. The warhorses they rode were majestic and extraordinary. Without a doubt, this must be the marriage delegation of the Turkic emissary, Ashile.

The second group was the entourage of the young prince of Goryeo, Yi Seung-Jae. They were all palace attendants and female officials, interspersed with a few horsemen and warriors. Their grandeur and prestige were far less than that of the Turkic emissary. However, the Goryeo people had their own methods. Dozens of attractive young palace maidens held up a wide painting. The painting depicted the scene of the young prince of Goryeo proposing to the Emperor of Great Hua. It was simple and straightforward, yet vivid and lifelike.

The third group puzzled Lin Wanrong. These people neither carried swords nor held knives. They were all scholars of Great Hua, some even dressed in official robes. They gathered together, chattering away, their purpose unclear. Could they be a civilian marriage delegation?

Seeing the scene before him, it was clear that Princess Nishang was indeed holding a marriage selection. Lin Wanrong snorted, "So many people want to steal my wife? No way!" What angered him the most was that Gao Ping hadn't woken him up in time, and he had almost missed the opportunity.

He searched below the city tower for a while, but he didn't find Ashile among the Turks' team, nor did he see Yi Seung-Jae in the Goryeo delegation. He didn't even see the young Palace Lady Seo Jang Geum and the Senior Palace Lady, presumably they had been summoned by the Emperor to the tower.

Lin Wanrong, appointed by the Emperor, was to receive the special envoy of the Turks and the prince of Goryeo. But now, both Ashile and Yi Seung-Jae had gone directly to the tower, and he hadn't arrived yet, which was a significant dereliction of duty.

He hurried towards the tower, but was stopped by the imperial guard who shouted, "Who dares to trespass on forbidden ground?"

As the Emperor's new favorite, the imperial guards hadn't had time to familiarize themselves with Lin Wanrong, so naturally, they wouldn't let him go up the tower. Just as he was about to speak, he saw a man rushing down from the tower, saying anxiously, "Little brother Lin, why are you only arriving now? The Turks and the young prince of Goryeo have already arrived. Your absence as the host is making us the laughingstock of the court!"

Lin Wanrong gave a bitter smile and said, "Brother Xu, I overslept!"

Xu Wei was taken aback. This man was truly audacious. Even when serving the Emperor, he could oversleep. Xu Wei shouted at the guards, "Open your eyes wide! This is Lin San, the envoy appointed by the Emperor to receive the Turkic emissary. Don't make a fool of yourselves again!"

Anyone who could receive a Turkic special envoy was no ordinary person. The guards were startled and quickly saluted Lin Wanrong.

Xu Wei hurriedly pulled Lin San up the tower, saying, "Little brother Lin, the Emperor has appointed you. You are now a person of status. Even if you don't have an official position and don't need to attend court, you must not be negligent. How could you make such a joke as oversleeping? Didn't Miss Xiao wake you up? She's not a negligent person!"

If only there was a Miss Xiao by his side, Lin Wanrong thought, giving a bitter smile. Eunuch Gao had instructed him yesterday that he must not leak the matter of staying overnight in the palace. Lin Wanrong could only smile bitterly and say, "Mr. Xu, it's a long story. Let's talk about it when we have time. Has the princess's marriage selection started?"

"It hasn't started yet. The Emperor has just arrived and is currently speaking with the envoys of the two nations. He may not have noticed your absence yet, and hasn't shown any signs of anger. I was about to send someone to find you when I saw you coming up. Little brother, you must never make such a mistake again," Xu Wei earnestly advised. Lin San was someone he had recommended to the Emperor, and after Lin San had been summoned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity yesterday, Xu Wei had been quite proud. He held high hopes for Lin San.

When the two of them reached the top of the city tower, the Emperor was speaking with the officials, a smile on his face, seemingly unaware of Lin San's tardiness.

However, Lin Wanrong didn't see it that way. After spending a day with the emperor yesterday, he was nothing but astounded. Just as the Emperor had been able to defeat Prince Cheng and ascend the throne, anyone who thought him a fool was gravely mistaken. The Emperor had specifically kept him in the palace to rest overnight, and Gao Ping had specifically instructed the young palace maids not to wake him up. There must be a connection between these events.

The princess's marriage was a major event, and naturally, all the civil and military officials had to be present. Especially since the Emperor had no sons, the princess's marriage attracted even more attention. Even Prince Cheng was present in person, and Li Tai was standing in the front row. All the civil and military officials were standing in front of the hall without exception. Although Lin Wanrong was favored by the Emperor, he didn't even have an official position. He could barely be considered a reception envoy, without rank or level, and naturally, there was no place for him in the court.

Fortunately, he enjoyed playing the role of a wolf in sheep's clothing. So, he stood honestly at the very end of the line of officials, even below the steps, deliberately lowering his head so the Emperor couldn't see him.

"Master Lin, you're here?" A soft, elegant voice sounded in his ear.

"I'm here. Oh, it's you, Palace Lady Seo, Dae Jang Geum." Lin Wanrong looked up to see Seo Jang Geum standing in front of him, smiling and greeting him.

"Master Lin, my name is Seo Jang Geum, not Dae Jang Geum. If you call me that, it could lead to misunderstandings. Please correct it, I beg you." Palace Lady Seo bowed deeply, her face sincere.

Master Lin laughed, "Sooner or later, you will become Dae Jang Geum. I have faith in you. Jang Geum, did you sleep well last night? Did you miss me? I'll tell you a secret, I dreamt of you last night."

Seo Jang Geum was taken aback. Weren't the people of Great Hua supposed to be humble, polite, and elegant? Why was Master Lin repeatedly making such frivolous remarks? "Master Lin, I didn't miss you. I was thinking about my patients in Goryeo. When I think of their suffering from illness day and night, I, as a medical woman, feel uneasy," Seo Jang Geum answered honestly.

"You didn't miss me? That's okay, in a few days you will start to miss me. All my wives went through the same process. You're still in the early stages, keep up the good work, and fight on!" Master Lin said, squinting his eyes.

Palace Lady Seo was completely speechless. After a long silence, she shook her head and said, "Master Lin, you said you dreamt of me last night. May I ask what you dreamt about?"

"I forgot!" Master Lin answered succinctly.

Palace Lady Seo was taken aback. She took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and said, "Master Lin, thank you for your honesty."

Lin Wanrong sighed, patting her fragrant shoulder, "Jang Geum, although you haven't left a deep impression on me yet, I believe that with your talent and diligence, as long as you put in a little effort, you will definitely have the chance to move me. I'm easily moved, so keep trying!"

Palace Lady Seo's captivating eyes flickered, and she shook her head slightly, "Master Lin, I find your jokes with Jang Geum very endearing."

This girl had an unusually good temperament. Not only was she not angry, but she also deflected his teasing with a light comment. This Seo Jang Geum was full of spirit, clearly not a simple character. Women like her, with such firm determination, once they made up their minds, they would not be swayed by others.

Should he try to seduce her? A legendary woman like her, with such firm beliefs and ideals, conquering her should be quite interesting. Lin Wanrong looked at her face, as clear as jade, and pondered.

Seeing Master Lin's gaze fixed on her, his mouth sometimes sighing, sometimes smiling, Palace Lady Seo didn't know what he was thinking. She softly said, "Master Lin, are you ready? I'm about to start!"

"Ready for what?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, then understanding dawned on him from the message conveyed in her sparkling eyes. This girl was going to accuse him of taking bribes to the Emperor. Ah, this stubborn temperament, he wasn't sure whether to hate it or love it.

"Ashile, you said that the Great Khan of the Turks suddenly wanted to increase the bride price, preparing to use a hundred blood-sweat horses to propose to my Great Hua, is that true?" While Lin Wanrong was thinking about Seo Jang Geum, he heard the Emperor of Great Hua ask.

[TL: Regarding blood-sweat horses, these legendary horses were said to have sweat that was tinged with blood, giving them their distinctive name. They are often described as magnificent and strong, possessing extraordinary qualities, and they have become a symbol of something precious and rare. In Chinese literature, these horses are sometimes associated with the Ferghana horse, a breed that was highly prized in ancient China. Some historical texts and studies suggest that the "blood-sweat" may have been a result of tiny red-colored glands or a skin condition rather than actual blood.]

"Indeed." Ashile was dressed in a brand-new outfit today, with a pair of Turkic cloud boots on his feet, ready to compete at any time to win Princess Nishang for the Great Khan of the Turks. His attitude was much better than when they first met yesterday, and he spoke to the Emperor of Great Hua with some respect. "Our Great Khan has long heard of the unparalleled beauty of Princess Nishang and is extremely fond of her. Yesterday, he sent a special person to bring a hundred blood-sweat horses to express his sincerity. I ask the Emperor to agree."

‘Sincerity? What sincerity? Without my bombardment yesterday, your eyes would probably still be hanging in the sky.’

It was undeniable that the temptation of a hundred blood-sweat horses was great, and the Emperor seemed somewhat moved. His eyes closed slightly, and he pondered for a moment. Before he could speak, the young prince of Goryeo, Yi Seung-Jae, couldn't hold back any longer. He quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Seung-Jae is deeply in love with Princess Nishang and will never change. To be able to marry the princess, Goryeo is willing to offer a hundred rare agates, a thousand bolts of brocade, and ten thousand taels of gold."

Lin Wanrong snorted, “Is my wife so cheap? When the old Emperor passes away, half of Great Hua will be hers. What does she need your small change for?”

The conditions offered by both sides were extremely generous, and the Emperor seemed a bit hesitant. Seeing Lin Wanrong muttering something at the farthest end, he smiled slightly and said, "Oh, Lin San, you're here too? You are the reception envoy for both countries, so why don't you share your opinion?"

‘My opinion? You want to marry off my wife to someone else, and you have the audacity to ask for my opinion?’ Lin Wanrong snorted, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, both the Turkic envoy and the Prince of Goryeo have offered extremely generous terms. However, Goryeo is a tributary of our Great Hua, and marrying the princess off to them might be a slight to her. On the other hand, the Turks are powerful and on par with our Great Hua—"

Yi Seung-Jae was taken aback. It seemed that Lord Lin was speaking in favor of the Turks. This was unacceptable. Was he going to take his agates for nothing?

Seo Jang Geum furrowed her brows and gently spoke up, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Seeing that it was the highly learned young Palace Lady from Goryeo who was speaking, the Emperor immediately became interested and smiled, "Oh, it's you, Palace Lady Seo. What do you have to say?"

Seo Jang Geum respectfully bowed, glanced at Lin Wanrong, then resolutely turned her head and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to accuse Lord Lin. He has accepted a bribe from Lord Ashile."

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