LOT – Chapter 206 A Very Explosive Way of Reporting to the Capital

Although going to the Summer Resort was supposed to be a good thing, Lin Mo was genuinely curious.

【Xiao Bai, is the Summer Resort really cool?】

She had never been there before. In her previous life, she only saw it in dramas and novels—every summer, the emperor would bring his harem to the Summer Resort to escape the heat.

Especially in novels, the moment the plot reached the Summer Resort arc, that meant it was an important turning point—whoever was brought along was clearly favored.

Bai Xiao searched for some info. 【It’s decent. Cooler than the palace. There are more trees, more water, better ventilation, and a huge ice storage filled with ice. Much cooler than the palace. The palace has high red walls and very few plants—of course it’s hot.】

Lin Mo: 【Is there gossip there? Can I eat melons over there?!】

Her biggest worry was that there would be no melons to eat.

Forget Lin Mo—everyone else also cared deeply about this.

Bai Xiao: 【Don’t worry. Wherever there are lots of people, there’s always plenty of gossip. And you guys are going with a huge group this time. If you want, I can tell you one right now.】

Everyone instantly perked up.

Lin Mo practically vibrated with excitement: 【Quick, quick! Hurry up! I haven’t had a big piece of juicy gossip in so long!】

Bai Xiao searched, and indeed found a massive one.

【The Prefect of Mizhou is on his way to the capital to report his duties—but he’s run into huge trouble.】

Lin Mo: 【What trouble? Stop teasing and tell me!】

Bai Xiao: 【He rescued a woman on the road… and got scammed. He’s actually a good official—upright and clean—but he’s rigid. He didn’t bring many people with him. Now he doesn’t even have a complete pair of trousers left.】

【The woman he saved is a habitual offender. After he rescued her, she immediately drugged him, stripped him, and made a huge scene to attract a crowd.】

【The Prefect is terrible at talking and couldn’t explain properly. The worst part? His identification documents disappeared. He got arrested—wearing only his underpants.】

Everyone: …

Lin Mo: …

The emperor sitting above: …

Seriously?! Are his subordinates all like this? A prefect! Of an entire prefecture! This stupid?!

You’re reporting to the capital— You didn’t think to bring a few more people with you?!

Lin Mo had no words. 【So how is he now? Is he okay?】

Bai Xiao: 【Maybe fools really do have good fortune. When he was arrested, they were gathering criminals to send to the capital as examples. He got swept right along with them and sent together. Those criminals were supposed to be delivered to the capital for sentencing.】

Lin Mo was speechless again. She rarely felt this level of speechlessness—but here it was.

The emperor massaged his forehead, sighing endlessly. Such misfortune… such torment…

Bai Xiao, sensing Lin Mo’s frustration, comforted her: 【Don’t worry. The memorial report he prepared for the emperor wasn’t taken by the woman. No one else found it either. He sewed it into his underpants.】

Emperor Xuande: … His feelings were getting more and more complicated.

So… would the memorial smell? Could he refuse to accept it?

Lin Mo sighed: 【Since he’s a good official, let’s go rescue him. But I can’t tell anyone else. I can’t exactly say, “Hey, there’s a court official mixed among the criminals,” right?】

【Luckily he’s not completely stupid and didn’t lose the most important thing.】

Lin Mo planned to personally step in. Saving someone wasn’t a big deal.

Bai Xiao: 【I don’t think you need to do anything. Once the criminals are delivered, people will recognize him immediately. Many officials know the Prefect of Mizhou. He’ll be sent to the Dali Temple. The Assistant Minister of Dali Temple recognizes him.】

The suddenly-mentioned Assistant Minister of Dali Temple: …Can I say I don’t know him? This is so embarrassing!

After court adjourned, everyone was unusually silent. This was the first time in their lives they’d seen someone report to the capital in this way.

They just hoped… someone had given him pants. No one wanted the awkwardness of facing a colleague like that.

Once there was a solution, Lin Mo relaxed.

The Prefect of Mizhou arrived in the capital that afternoon. As soon as he reached the Dali Temple, he was recognized.

Lin Mo happily went to watch the show.

Bai Xiao: 【See the one who still looks the most upright? That’s him.】

Lin Mo leaned forward to look. Yeah—even though he was filthy, he definitely looked like an honest, uptight man. Just his face screamed “rigid and old-fashioned.” No wonder he got tricked so easily.

Soon, a familiar official went to pick him up. The man’s expression was extremely complicated.

He wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.

The Prefect of Mizhou remained calm. He’d endured the entire journey already. Everything would be explained in the capital anyway.

The Assistant Minister of Dali Temple and the Minister of Justice were already waiting for him.

Lin Mo, following Bai Xiao’s directions, secretly snuck in and eavesdropped.

Everyone noticed the two high-ranking officials entering—but they were all used to it by now.

The Minister of Justice sighed as he looked at his friend’s tragic appearance. “You… how did you end up like this? You’re only here to report to the capital. Where are your attendants?”

The Prefect took a sip of tea calmly. “Why would I bring so many people? The region is short-staffed. I sent them all back to work. I have hands and feet—I don’t need that many people waiting on me.”

Everyone: …

Yes, you do have hands and feet. And yet a single woman tricked you, and you were sent to the capital as a criminal.

Lin Mo watched the calm Prefect and was full of admiration. Whatever else—his mental fortitude was incredible.

【Xiao Bai, this is the first time I’ve met someone this calm. Isn’t he afraid of something happening on the road?】

At the sound of a young girl’s voice, the Prefect froze. He looked around the room at the two other officials.

They both gave him a small nod.

Bai Xiao replied: 【That’s why I said he’s a good official. But rigid—very, very rigid. His brain just doesn’t turn.】

The Prefect immediately choked on his tea. Was that really how they evaluated him?!

The Assistant Minister of Dali Temple rubbed his temples. “Take out your memorial. Please tell me you didn’t lose it.”

Even though he knew exactly where the memorial was hidden, he couldn’t say so.

The Prefect awkwardly touched his rear. “…Could someone loan me a pair of scissors? I need to step inside for a moment.”