LOT – Chapter 208 One Memorial Caused Trouble for Many

The Third Prince listened carefully, and then his expression instantly changed.

Lord Xiao-Lin! What on earth happened for her screams to sound that tragic?

The others also heard it, and the father-and-sons trio all had an amused look on their faces.

Just then, the eunuch brought her over. Lin Mo fell to her knees with a thud and shoved the memorial into the Third Prince’s hands.

“Your Majesty, the memorial from the Prefect of Mizhou has arrived. Please allow the Third Prince to present it on my behalf.”

The Third Prince immediately felt a strange smell wash over him, stinging his eyes.

“Urgh! You— urgh! What is this thing you brought?! Urgh!”

He couldn’t even form a full sentence. He rushed to place the memorial on his father’s desk.

The emperor, whose face had come dangerously close to the memorial: “…”

Seeing someone else suffer instantly lifted Lin Mo’s spirits.

【Hahahaha! Watching others suffer really is satisfying.】

Everyone present: …Your mentality is a bit twisted.

“Your Majesty, the Prefect of Mizhou went through great trouble to deliver this memorial. He is currently unable to meet you in person, so he entrusted me to bring it.”

Lin Mo said this with great seriousness, though inwardly she was full of complaints.

【Pah! Entrusted me, my foot! They clearly drafted me as free labor. It should’ve been the Minister of Justice or the Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, but they didn’t want to deal with the smell, so they grabbed me. I was only there to watch the drama and eat melons, and my luck today is truly terrible.】

Bai Xiao comforted her: 【It’s fine, it’s fine. Our vantage point here is just as good. Later, find a chance to stay and watch how the emperor handles the memorial. See how long he can hold his breath.】

【Seriously, I’m curious whether your emperor can endure it. Sure, he can hold his breath—but for how long?】

Emperor: …Are you being polite or not!

Hearing that Lin Mo was drafted as a grunt, everyone’s hearts blossomed with joy.

This little troublemaker finally got a taste of her own medicine. Usually she’s the one eating melons at others’ expense while they have to pretend not to notice.

Well done, Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review! Well done, Minister of Justice!

The Crown Prince and the Second and Third Princes were all biting their lips to keep from laughing.

Honestly, they were curious too: Could their father endure it?

Especially the Third Prince, who had smelled it up close—his eyes had hurt.

The emperor held his breath and opened the memorial. Damn! His tears nearly came out—not from being moved, but from being gassed.

The sincerity of the Prefect of Mizhou was unquestionable… but the choice of storage location was very questionable.

Eunuch Li’s face was contorted. Watching the emperor flip through the memorial with trembling hands while holding his breath, even he found himself reflexively holding his own breath.

Tsk tsk tsk. Being the emperor… who even knows what that means anymore? He’s not rich enough to enjoy luxuries, not powerful enough to abuse authority like a tyrant. He doesn’t have a harem of 3,000 beauties—only a few consorts who live in harmony and don’t fight for favor.

Every day he has to handle affairs of state, waking up before dawn and not knowing when he’ll sleep—no days off all year.

And on top of that, he repeatedly gets tormented by that troublemaking Little Lord Lin. His three sons aren’t particularly reliable either.

Being emperor… how is he supposed to describe this life?

The emperor finally finished reading the memorial in one breath, then couldn’t hold back anymore and gagged dryly to the side.

Lin Mo: 【Hahahaha! Compared to them, delivering it wasn’t that bad for me. I carried it on a wooden board. Only when the Assistant Minister shoved it into my hands did I touch it directly.】

Bai Xiao: 【I saw the emperor’s face twitching, and that trembling hand of his… Your emperor is truly a good emperor.】

The Crown Prince and his brothers had extremely complicated expressions. At this moment, the Crown Prince felt deeply grateful that his father hadn’t offloaded most affairs onto him—otherwise he would be the one dealing with this memorial.

“Urgh! Crown Prince, you will handle all matters regarding Mizhou. Second, assist your brother.”

Crown Prince: …I knew it. Father will never let us relax.

A single memorial has harmed so many people! Prefect of Mizhou, your heart is truly vicious!

Meanwhile, the Prefect of Mizhou, freshly bathed and changed, was already asleep. After such a tiring journey and constant vigilance against danger, he didn’t even know how he survived the trip.

After leaving the palace, Lin Mo returned home, took a bath, and immediately complained to her parents.

“Father, Mother, weren’t the Assistant Minister and the Minister of Justice going too far?! Making me deliver the memorial?! I’m such a small official—aren’t they afraid something might go wrong?”

Lin Mo stuffed food in her mouth as she tattled.

Lord Lin poured her tea. “Eat slowly. And who told you to go eavesdrop? If you didn’t eavesdrop, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“But it’s also a good thing. Though I pity the Prefect of Mizhou—his reputation outside is good, but he is a bit rigid. If you meet him, keep your distance.”

Lord Lin’s impression of the Prefect was average. They weren’t close nor distant.

Generally, rigid people look down on overly lively types. So he felt it best to keep Lin Mo away from him.

He and that Lord Yan had entered officialdom at the same time. Lord Yan was a good official, but too rigid, with too many rules.

And he was also a soft-hearted fool. When he was younger, his kindness got him into a bunch of messy situations.

Even now, he still hadn’t changed. Others stop after hitting a wall—he insists on breaking through it.

After so many lessons, he still hasn’t fixed his personality.

Lin Mo nodded. “Don’t worry, Father. He looks too stiff—I won’t play with him. You’re the one I like playing with best.”

Lord Lin & Lady Lin: …We were just giving you advice. Why does it suddenly sound like we’re jealous you might befriend someone else?

Bai Xiao: 【Aren’t I the one you’re closest to? We’re inseparable—no one can outrank me!】

Lin Mo: 【Yes yes yes, I misspoke. You and I are number one in the world. I only fake-play with everyone else.】

Bai Xiao, satisfied: “Mm.”

Meanwhile, the rigid Lord Yan sneezed. He was still a bit shaken by the ordeal. Luckily he had protected both his life and the memorial.

Otherwise, if the memorial had been lost, even a hundred lives wouldn’t be enough to compensate.

Though he appeared calm, inside he had been terrified. Only after confirming the memorial was safe did he manage to look composed.