LOT – Chapter 157 Let the Palace Ladies Write Court Intrigue Stories to Make Money

At this moment, Lin Mo was completely lost in the pleasures of indulgence.

Bai Xiao, hiding in her little pocket, was happily munching on some snacks. Both of them were thoroughly satisfied with the current situation.

Taking a sip of the fine wine that Madam had handed over, Lin Mo let out a contented sigh.

No wonder men liked “drunken in the beauty’s garden”—who wouldn’t enjoy something like this?

If she were a man, she too would want to keep a whole courtyard full of beauties, and all the serving maidens would have to be replaced with the most beautiful ones. Even if nothing else, just for the visual pleasure, it would be enough.

Of course, the maidens in Lin Mo’s courtyard were indeed the most attractive in the household, because she had personally handpicked them before anyone else had the chance.

After leaving the main hall, the Chancellor headed straight to Minister Lin’s residence. Lin had just finished drawing eyebrows on his wife when he heard someone announcing the Chancellor’s arrival.

“Why is the Chancellor here? We haven’t really had any dealings recently, nor has anything major happened… Could it be because of what happened this morning?”

Lin and the Chancellor got along reasonably well. Their wives had been friends before marriage, but not so close that they were inseparable.

They usually met up when they remembered to, and otherwise went about their own business.

“I wonder what brings the Chancellor to me… it can’t be about this morning’s incident, can it?”

Anyone who knew this little rascal’s personality would understand—surely he wouldn’t come all the way here just to settle such a minor matter.

Lin poured a cup of tea for the Chancellor. The Chancellor waved his hand irritably and anxiously said, “Enough with the formalities! I just want to ask you one thing—how do you maintain this face of yours? How have you stayed the same all these years?!”

“If you know any good methods, tell me quickly! I’m in a real panic!”

Lin thought to himself: …You came all the way here just for this?

He was speechless inwardly. What did the guy do when he was young? Being anxious now won’t help.

“Chancellor, it’s not that I won’t tell you, but it’s already too late for you,” Lin said.

“Methods for maintaining one’s appearance should start when you’re young. This is called slowing down aging. At this stage, it’s too late. I have no means of reversing age.”

What he said was true. After knowing his wife was a beauty connoisseur, Lin had taken good care of his own appearance. Since their marriage, he had been meticulous in maintaining himself.

That’s why, even decades later, he still looked so good.

Now, when he and his son went out together, people who didn’t know them might think they were brothers. No stranger would guess they were father and son.

Yet, seeing the Chancellor so desperate and envious, Lin felt a faint sense of amusement.

The Chancellor, staring at Lin’s handsome face, felt a rush of urgency. “I don’t care! You must come up with a method for me. You only have one wife, but I have two or three! One of them likes my wife! If you don’t tell me how, my harem will truly catch fire!”

Lin was a bit at a loss for words—who told him to marry so many wives? One should have been enough; the rest of the harem is your own responsibility.

But seeing the Chancellor’s anxious expression, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll tell you the method, but I can’t promise it will work.”

After getting the method for maintaining appearance, the Chancellor hurried back to his place and had people search for the required herbs. Fortunately, they were common items from any pharmacy; otherwise, he really wouldn’t have known what to do.

Just as the Chancellor got the recipe, others arrived shortly after.

Seeing the large group standing in the room, Lin’s expression cracked slightly.

“Don’t tell me you’re all here for the recipe too,” he muttered. They had changed so quickly—weren’t they always saying that looks don’t matter for men?

The Deputy Minister of Revenue smiled sheepishly. “Lin, it’s better to share the joy than enjoy it alone. Your handsome face is so out of place among us… you can’t favor the Chancellor and not give us any. That wouldn’t be fair.”

“Exactly! We couldn’t compare to you when young, and now that you haven’t changed with age, it’s unfair. We’re not asking to be as young as you, just a bit fresher so our wives won’t reject us.”

Women in the harem didn’t actually age as fast as these men. After all, they were noble ladies. Someone always attended to their needs, managing the household without facing the elements outside.

These officials, on the other hand, were always busy, sometimes even sent on inspections. Without taking care of themselves, their looks deteriorated quickly.

Seeing their eager faces, Lin reluctantly copied the recipe given to the Chancellor for them.

“This is the recipe. The most important part is to train yourself. Look at your bellies—have you forgotten the Six Arts of the Gentleman you learned when young? Even in high positions, you shouldn’t neglect exercising yourself.”

Lin still practiced martial arts daily, and with a little rascal at home constantly making him lift and carry, his muscles had not diminished at all.

“Got it, got it. If nothing else, we’ll take our leave now.”

Their faces brightened upon receiving the recipe. Why stay here? They hurried home to try it immediately!

Of course, they were still at the temporary palace, so it wasn’t convenient yet. But at home, they would use the recipe daily and exercise themselves.

Lin Mo and Bai Xiao had no idea that a casual remark from her had caused a stir at court.

Who said only women love beauty? Men love it just as much.

These days at the temporary palace were truly joyful. Lin Mo had successfully built a deep friendship with the palace ladies.

Knowing the harem was impoverished, Lin Mo came up with a way for them to earn money.

“Ladies, you have such unique privileges in the palace! You can write storybooks and make money! You know that young lady from so-and-so’s family who earns from writing? You don’t have to copy her; just write about palace intrigues and fights for favor. The commoners don’t know these stories—such books would definitely be a hit!”

Lin Mo said this with great anticipation. She herself loved reading novels like these, though her own writing skills were lacking.