[Host, don't be fooled by Lin Yuhui seemingly self-disciplined and respectful demeanor; he's keeping a mistress hidden away!]
Lin Xiang immediately began to cough violently.
[Guagua, look at Prime Minister Lin. He's so old and unwell, yet he still comes to court to pave the way for his children and grandchildren. Ah... what a deep love he has for his son!]
Lin Xiang was so moved by Shen Mingzhu's heartfelt words that he almost shed tears.
He had been preparing to retire, but then his son got into trouble, and his grandson Lin Yuhui was still young, so he certainly couldn't resign!
Lin Yuhui was deathly pale and trembling all over; the truth had finally come out!
Shen Mingzhu glanced at Lin Yuhui, raised an eyebrow, and smiled gently at him.
Lin Yuhui doesn't look too good; he's probably exhausted from running around between home and the outside world all day!
[Host, even Lord Lin can't help it. That woman said she's pregnant. How could Lin Yuhui not be nervous!]
A minister covered his mouth and chuckled, "Hehe... How embarrassing!"
He had a mistress before marrying a legal wife, and a son born out of wedlock before having a legitimate son. No, not a son born out of wedlock, but a son born to a mistress!
Look at all the noble ladies in Shengjing, which decent family would marry their daughter to him?
Yan Beichen's expression was also unpleasant. He turned his head and glared at Lin Yuhui several times.
[Host, look at the Crown Prince's fierce eyes! Lord Lin has offended him!]
Yan Beichen glanced at Shen Mingzhu, then smiled warmly at her.
[Host, look, His Highness the Crown Prince smiled at you!]
[Guagua, you're so observant!]
All the officials: Is this the point?
We want to hear the story of keeping a mistress in a golden house!
Emperor Jingyuan: The story of keeping a mistress in a golden house can be told in more detail. Yuhui doesn't seem like someone who doesn't know his place.
[Guagua, where is the person being kept?]
[Host, where else could it be? Lotus Lane! The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green, while the lotus blossoms, bathed in sunlight, are a vibrant red. It was during those blooming lotus days that Lord Lin met the love of his life!]
[Guagua, you know what? There are so many people with love-struck minds! Is there any medicine that can cure them?]
[Host, there is no medicine. You must rely entirely on yourself to overcome this tribulation. If you succeed, all will be well; if you fail, you will face utter destruction!]
Lin Yuhui: There's no need to make it sound so scary.
They simply like each other.
[Tsk tsk tsk... Guagua, what a romantic beginning! I wonder what the ending will be?]
The ending, of course, is tragic! According to the original plot, Lord Lin's father and grandmother passed away one after another, his grandfather's health rapidly declined, Empress Lin retired to the sidelines, and Crown Prince Yan Beichen fell into a coma. He struggled alone to cope. If he had married a wife of equal social standing, could he have shouldered everything so alone?
Marriages between people of similar social standing are not only about personal happiness, but also profoundly affect the reputation and interests of the family.
Lin Yuhui took two steps back and fell directly to the ground.
[Guagua, what's wrong with him?]
[He probably had low blood sugar, since he came to court without having breakfast.]
Shen Mingzhu kindly bought a pound of Snickers from the system store, took out a piece, peeled it open, and handed it to Lin Yuhui.
"Lord Lin, let's replenish our energy."
Lin Yuhui didn't see what it was before Shen Mingzhu stuffed the Snickers bar into his mouth.
A rich, sweet aroma immediately filled his mouth.
It smells so good!
So sweet!
So delicious!
Lin Yuhui looked up at her.
"Eat quickly, the court is in session!"
Lin Yuhui nodded, quickly lowered his head, finished eating the Snickers bar, and stood up straight.
Seeing that Lin Yuhui was alright, Shen Mingzhu felt relieved. After all, he was Crown Prince Yan Beichen's cousin, and as the Crown Princess, she was still very friendly to his family.
At that moment, she didn't notice that Crown Prince Yan Beichen had come to her side at some point.
What did you feed him?
"Crown Prince, brother? Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
Yan Beichen raised an eyebrow and smiled. She gets nervous too?
He reached out his hand; clearly, he wanted to try it too.
Seeing this, Shen Mingzhu gave him two Snickers bars.
"This is a special kind of candy that can quickly replenish energy."
Yan Beichen tore off a piece and put it in his mouth. It was sweet but not cloying, fragrant and delicious. After eating it, he felt very comfortable and had a slight feeling of fullness.
It tastes so much better than candy!
Seeing that Yan Beichen liked it, Shen Mingzhu gave him six more pieces.
Yan Beichen smiled.
"Thank you, Mingzhu."
Shen Mingzhu smiled shyly. This was the Golden Palace, with so many ministers. Wasn't the Crown Prince being a bit too presumptuous?
The entire court: Let's pretend we don't exist.
Emperor Jingyuan smiled upon seeing this.
A wise son is better than his father!
He didn't see anything.
Shen Changyuan: You don't even let your father try the good stuff first!
This drafty little cotton-padded jacket.
It made him both angry and loving!
[Guagua, tell me about Lin Yuhui now~]
[Host, this story is actually very simple; it's just a beautiful love story between a herb-gathering girl and the young master of the Prime Minister's mansion.]
[Really? ]
[Host, you're so clever, there must be all sorts of stories mixed in. For example, this herb-gathering girl was specially chosen based on the personality and character of Prime Minister Lin's eldest grandson; Prime Minister Lin wants to come and break up the couple, and the two of them will fight back to the death, with all sorts of tug-of-war in between... ...That would be truly epic and unforgettable.]
[Guagua, continue]
[Upon arriving at the forest, he discovered Zhang Yingying, a woman gathering herbs, and went to break up the couple!]
Lin Xiang's face was cold, as if he had thought of something bad. He clenched his fists and was very angry.
Lin Yuhui stared in shock. His grandfather had gone to find Yingying?
How could he not know?
Since the two confessed their feelings for each other, Yingying has always been gentle and considerate towards him, never asking for anything in return.
Grandfather?
[Host, this is quite interesting! Did you know? Prime Minister Lin actually offered Zhang Yingying ten taels of silver to leave his grandson, but she refused without hesitation! She told Prime Minister Lin that she and Lin Yuhui were truly in love, and that he had defiled their love.]
Lin Yuhui: He knew Yingying truly loved him!
[Hahaha~~~ Does this love-struck fool really think Zhang Yingying truly loves him? Lin Xiang only gave her ten taels of silver, that's far too little! Lin Yuhui is the eldest grandson, is he only worth ten taels? Zhang Yingying will probably call Lin Xiang a stingy wretch and even give him the nickname "Lin the Stingy!"]
The entire court: They really are quite stingy!
What were you thinking?
He'll just give her ten taels of silver to get rid of her?!
All the officials immediately looked at Prime Minister Lin, whose white beard was twitching with anger, clearly he was furious!
Lin Yuhui: What did he hear?
He seems to be hallucinating.
[Hahaha~~~ If Prime Minister Lin knew this, he'd be furious! He actually got called a stingy wretch by a scheming herb-gathering girl!]
Lin Xiang: He would think ten taels of silver is too much!
You should know that in the current Great Yan Dynasty, the annual living expenses of an ordinary family are two to five taels of silver. He gave ten taels of silver, which is equivalent to two or three years' worth of living expenses for Zhang Yingying's family. He even thought it was too much!
If he could, he wouldn't want to give a single penny.
Especially after learning that the Great Yan was about to face the Little Ice Age, every penny of the Prime Minister's mansion had to be spent wisely.