Chapter 81: Removal from Office

Meng Tao left first with his men. Zhan Yan looked at Yu Linglong and, smiling, said, “Linglong, not bad at all. You’re doing better and better at handling cases. I wish all the examinees the best of luck in their exams!”

Yu Linglong blushed shyly and replied modestly, “It’s all thanks to you, my lady, for your guidance.” She remembered how she used to be a pampered young lady without any skills. Later, when her family fell into misfortune and her home was broken, it was Zhan Yan who took her in and taught her so much. In Yu Linglong’s heart, Zhan Yan was like a second parent.

“That’s because you’re naturally gifted. No matter how hard I teach, a truly foolish person would never learn.” Zhan Yan chuckled, clearly satisfied with Yu Linglong’s performance.

Seeing that everything had settled, Zhongli Yu said, “All right, everyone’s tired. Let’s go back and rest.”

Lihun, hearing this, was about to leave but couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked Yu Linglong, “Miss Yu, is that lie detector really so powerful?”

Yu Linglong smiled, “Of course. Would you like to try it?” She would never tell him that the lie detector wasn’t all that formidable—though the golden needles inside were indeed remarkable. Revealing that would be undermining herself, and by extension, her lady. Such a thing she would never do.

“Heh, better not,” Lihun replied, vanishing in a flash.

Zhan Yan watched the direction in which Lihun disappeared, amused. Who would have thought that the little trick she invented could even fool someone like him?

After finishing her interrogation, Yu Linglong left the Prince Chun’s Residence.

Zhongli Yu accompanied Zhan Yan back to their chambers. He never once asked about the lie detector.

“Husband, aren’t you curious whether the lie detector is genuine?” Zhan Yan couldn’t help but ask.

“Is there even a need? With just that thing, how could anyone distinguish truth from falsehood? It’s just to scare people.” Zhongli Yu looked at his lovely wife with amusement. Did she really think he could be fooled by such a device?

“Husband, could you please not be so smart? You’re making it impossible for me to feel any sense of accomplishment,” Zhan Yan grumbled, secretly delighted by her husband’s intelligence.

“Oh? So it was you who came up with the lie detector?”

“Yes, how is it? Not bad, right?” Zhan Yan gazed at him expectantly.

Seeing her lift her adorable little head, eyes full of anticipation, Zhongli Yu couldn’t resist lowering his head and capturing her sweet lips. He didn’t let her go until he’d thoroughly tasted her, then said hoarsely, “Yan’er, you truly are an extraordinary woman.”

Zhan Yan hadn’t expected his sudden kiss and was momentarily stunned. But upon hearing his praise, she broke into a bright smile.

“How did you come up with such a thing, Yan’er?” he asked. He had to admit, it was very effective in interrogations, exploiting the guilty consciences of criminals who dared not lie.

“It came to me in a flash of inspiration.” Zhan Yan dared not reveal that in her previous life, she’d been a judge, well-versed in psychology and the criminal mind, which was why she could invent such a convincing device. Matters of past and present lives were so unbelievable—she wasn’t sure Zhongli Yu could accept them, so for now, she kept them to herself.

“You’re such a clever woman. How did I ever manage to marry such a treasure?” Zhongli Yu pulled her into his arms, holding her gently, feeling utterly blessed.

“It’s because I staked my claim on you early on, isn’t it?” Zhan Yan thought of her glorious past and said proudly. She used to see her past actions as foolish, but now she felt only gratitude—grateful she had chosen such a wonderful man to love and be loved by.

“Yes, you staked your claim. Ten years ago, I, Zhongli Yu, was already completely under the thumb of a little girl not yet five years old.” Zhongli Yu pressed his hand to his forehead, feigning defeat.

“What, you don’t like it? Being claimed by me is your good fortune, understand?”

Zhongli Yu chuckled. Since when had this little woman become so full of herself? “Yan’er, you really are thick-skinned.”

“So what if I am? Even with my thick skin, you’re still with me. You couldn’t handle someone shy and reserved.” Zhan Yan retorted, always having teased him for being shameless—now the tables had turned.

“Yes, I like it just the way you are,” Zhongli Yu laughed even louder.

Zhan Yan suddenly realized she’d been tricked; hadn’t she just admitted to being thick-skinned? Embarrassed and exasperated, she raised her delicate fist to hit him, but he didn’t dodge, waiting calmly. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to strike him, her fist halting in midair. She turned away in mock anger. “I’m not talking to you anymore,” she huffed, though she wasn’t truly upset.

Zhongli Yu tightened his embrace and gently asked, “Yan’er, are you happy being married to me?” In the months since their wedding, he hadn’t really given her many peaceful days; trouble seemed to come one after another. He knew she liked tranquility and had thought he could give her happiness, but unforeseen events kept happening. He was afraid—afraid she’d grow weary of this life and leave him.

Hearing the tremor in his voice, Zhan Yan’s heart ached. When had this man become so insecure? Did she make him feel so uncertain? She wrapped her arms around him and said earnestly, “Husband, I’m very happy—truly, the days I’ve spent as your wife have been the happiest I’ve ever known.”

Zhongli Yu held her even tighter. Her words were like celestial music, the most beautiful words he had ever heard. Gazing at her with deep affection, he said with utmost sincerity, “Yan’er, I love you.” In that moment, he simply wanted her to know—he loved her more than himself. It seemed she’d never said she loved him, and he didn’t dare ask. For ten years he had waited for her, certain of his own feelings. For her, though, it had only been a few months since truly getting to know him; he didn’t dare hope she would fall for him so quickly, but he would wait, wait for the day she told him she loved him.

When Zhan Yan heard this timeless declaration of love, her heart melted with sweetness. She cupped his face, and softly replied, “Zhongli Yu, I love you too.” This man had long since taken root in her heart. She hadn’t said it before, simply because she believed two people in love didn’t need to say it aloud all the time.

In that instant, Zhongli Yu’s world burst into bloom, so beautiful it defied description. He had thought she would never say she loved him, but now she had, and his joy was irrepressible. He held her tightly, murmuring her name over and over, his voice brimming with delight.

Zhan Yan hadn’t expected her confession to move him so deeply. Her heart softened completely, and she couldn’t resist lifting his face and kissing him again—first a gentle, teasing kiss, then, shyly, she slipped her little tongue into his mouth, entwining with his. Zhongli Yu was still basking in his joy when his beloved wife initiated another kiss. He felt as though he might drown in happiness, and quickly took control of the embrace.

That night was destined to be another night of burning passion...

The next morning, Zhongli Yu awoke as usual, followed shortly by Zhan Yan. She opened her eyes to find him gazing at her with the same deep affection as every morning.

Stretching her limbs, Zhan Yan felt aches all over—proof of their wild night. Glancing down to see little crimson marks blooming on her skin, she realized she’d have to be careful not to ignite such passion so easily in the future.

“Yan’er, you’re awake. Can you get up?” Zhongli Yu asked gently, seeing her awake.

Zhan Yan felt drained, as if she could never sleep enough. “I don’t want to get up. I want to stay in bed,” she replied lazily.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Zhongli Yu asked in concern. She was never like this—was she ill?

Seeing his worried expression, Zhan Yan shook her head, embarrassed. “I’m fine, just tired. Feels like I didn’t get enough sleep.”

Zhongli Yu breathed a sigh of relief. “All right, I’ll stay here and keep you company.”

She glanced at him. He seemed to want her up—did he have something to do? “Do you have business? You don’t have to stay with me.”

“I need to go to the palace. Apparently, all the prisoners Zhong Yilan brought back have committed suicide. He must not have learned anything from them. Now that we have, I need to report it to His Majesty.”

“Then you should go. Don’t worry about me.”

“No rush. There’s plenty of time. The Emperor probably hasn’t finished court yet. I’ll wait for you to wake up and have breakfast together before I go.”

“Then I’ll get up now.” Hearing this, Zhan Yan sat up quickly.

“Rest a bit longer. I’m still tired too.” Zhongli Yu pressed her back down, holding her tight, and closed his eyes.

Zhan Yan knew perfectly well he was making excuses—he simply couldn’t bear to let her rise so early. Since he was so thoughtful, she didn’t want to refuse him. She found a comfortable spot and soon drifted off again.

Thus, the two slept for another half hour before rising to wash and have breakfast.

After breakfast, Zhongli Yu made his way to the palace. By the time he arrived, the morning court had dispersed. As always, the court session had been filled with heated debates.

When the King of Dongling heard of Zhongli Yu’s arrival, he summoned him at once. The king’s eyes were full of affection as he looked at Zhongli Yu.

“Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty,” Zhongli Yu said, bowing properly.

“Yu’er, why so formal? I told you, when it’s just us, you should call me Royal Uncle. Who asked you to be so polite?” the King chided.

“Royal Uncle,” Zhongli Yu called again.

“Did you come today because you think your Royal Uncle doesn’t trust you?” The king assumed Zhongli Yu was aware of the situation in court.

“No, I have more important matters to report.”

“Oh? And what is it?”

Zhongli Yu recounted everything they had learned from interrogating the prisoners. The king listened, his brows knitting into a deep frown.

The King of Dongling gazed at Zhongli Yu and asked solemnly, “Yu’er, do you want to be emperor?”

Zhongli Yu frowned. “Royal Uncle, do you not trust me?”

“It’s not that. I simply want you to know—if you truly desire the throne, I would give it to you without hesitation. So, even if others accuse you of treason, I pay them no mind.”

“Royal Uncle, I have no wish to be emperor. You govern Dongling so well; I am happy as I am.”

The king sighed and said slowly, “But your Royal Uncle will grow old one day.” None of his own sons could compare to Zhongli Yu. Could they govern Dongling well? The Zhong family had fought to establish the realm for peace, not for power. For generations, they regarded protecting Dongling as their duty—a heavy burden.

“There’s still the Crown Prince and the other princes. I believe they will work hard together to govern Dongling well,” Zhongli Yu consoled him.

“Yu’er, this matter is thorny indeed. Dongling hasn’t faced such a crisis in a century. Do you have any ideas?”

“Royal Uncle, you should remove me from office and put Prince Lan in command of the Royal Guards,” Zhongli Yu said quietly.

The king looked at him in confusion. Hadn’t he already said he trusted Zhongli Yu?

Zhongli Yu went on, “Please hear me out. Removing me from office is to mislead our enemies. Once this matter is resolved, you can reinstate me.”

“Will that work?”

“It’s worth a try. Recently, who has been urging you to strip me of power? Give me their names—I need to investigate. Perhaps the enemy has already infiltrated our court,” Zhongli Yu said gravely.

The king gave him the names, instructing him to investigate thoroughly.

“Royal Uncle, issue the decree removing me from office tomorrow.”

“Very well.”

The next morning at court, the king had the decree read aloud: Zhongli Yu, gravely injured at Wangcheng and still not fully recovered, would step down to recuperate, with Prince Lan temporarily assuming command of the Royal Guards. Zhongli Yu would be reinstated once recovered.

The court was instantly in uproar. Everyone looked at the king in disbelief, troubled at heart. The official reason sounded impeccable, but everyone knew the truth—the king had begun to doubt Zhongli Yu. Stripping power was only the first step; what would come next? History was full of wise rulers destroying loyal ministers on false advice. Some wanted to protest, but with the decree issued, nothing could be done. The officials under the Thousand Poisons Sect’s influence, however, felt a measure of relief, though not joy. The moment they’d been drugged, their fates were no longer their own; in order to survive, they had already begun betraying the court.

News of Zhongli Yu’s dismissal spread rapidly through the capital, enraging many citizens. Some compared it to “the cunning rabbit dies, the hound is cooked; when the birds are gone, the bow is put away.” Many ministers tried to use public outrage to awaken the king, but he remained unmoved, and they gave up, disappointed.

Before Zhongli Yu’s exploits with the Royal Guards, he’d been a leisure prince. People only knew he was talented, not his importance to Dongling. Only after he repelled the Western Yuan invaders and risked his life to save Wangcheng’s people did he become a hero in their hearts. And people trust and depend on heroes unconditionally. So, when he was dismissed, their anger was understandable; their hero had been wronged, and their hearts could not be at ease.

Zhongli Yu himself, however, showed no displeasure. From start to finish, he remained calm and unreadable, true to his nature—always composed, never revealing his emotions. People admired him all the more for it, respecting his poise even under injustice.

Once the decree was issued, Zhongli Yu and Prince Lan went together to the military camp for the handover. For Prince Lan, it was his first time in the secret camp, and he felt uneasy. He couldn’t help but feel guilty—his father had taken Zhongli Yu’s power and given it to him, as if he were stealing what belonged to someone else.

“Prince Chun, my father... Sigh.” Facing Zhongli Yu, Prince Lan didn’t know what to say.

Zhongli Yu understood his thoughts perfectly and replied calmly, “Prince Lan, remember, His Majesty is a wise ruler. He has his reasons. Just focus on leading the soldiers well. While I’m away, it’s up to you to train them.”

Prince Lan was moved by Zhongli Yu’s magnanimity. His father had treated Zhongli Yu so, yet he still spoke well of him. Prince Lan resolved to train the soldiers well, so as not to disappoint him. “Rest assured, Prince Chun, I know what to do.”

When Zhongli Yu and Prince Lan entered the camp, the soldiers immediately halted their drills and waited quietly for orders. Zhongli Yu surveyed them and said, “From today, Prince Lan will be your commander. You must follow his orders. Understood?”

“My lord...” Tears welled in the soldiers’ eyes. News traveled fast, even within camp, and they knew what was happening. Having followed Zhongli Yu for years, they felt deep affection for him—especially after seeing him nearly sacrifice himself for the people of Wangcheng. He was a leader worthy of their respect and devotion.

Zhongli Yu waved them silent. “You need say nothing. Remember this: you are soldiers of Dongling, not mine. You simply have a new commander—your duty remains unchanged. Understood?”

“Understood!” they answered in unison, their voices thunderous.

“Good. Now, pay your respects to Prince Lan.”

“Greetings, Prince Lan!” Tens of thousands of soldiers dropped to their knees, voices echoing far and wide—a sign that from this day, their leader had changed. Yet in their hearts, Prince Chun would always be their true commander. Should he ever call upon them, they would go through fire and water for the one who was willing to sacrifice himself for his people.

——End of Chapter——

Dear readers, apologies for the late update due to personal matters today. Wishing you all a happy Dragon Boat Festival! Thank you, dear Yan Mianlin, for the flowers and gems—I’ll keep working hard on this story.

This book is first published by Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not repost!