LOT – Chapter 209 Unintentionally Leaving Someone With a Bad Impression

The next morning, Lord Yan dressed neatly and followed the others to court.

As the Prefect of Mizhou, he had served quite well. Mizhou wasn’t a particularly prosperous region; when the Emperor sent him there back then, it was with the hope that he could accomplish something meaningful.

Over the years, he had indeed done a decent job. Although he was somewhat rigid in personality, he was an upright and principled official.

“The journey from Mizhou to the capital must have been hard for you, Aiqing. I have already read your memorial. The Crown Prince and the Second Prince have been instructed to handle the matters you raised. The results should come soon.”

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Lord Yan finally exhaled in relief.

Standing nearby, Lin Mo discreetly observed the two of them. She curiously asked:

【Lord Yan actually looks pretty energetic today… much better than yesterday.】

Yesterday he had been wearing a prisoner’s uniform—though he still looked upright, he’d been haggard, with strikingly dark eye circles.

But today he appeared much more spirited… albeit more rigid and serious.

Bai Xiao sighed. 【Lord Yan truly is a decent person. Honestly, if he had even tried to resist a little, he wouldn’t have been captured so quickly. But he heard that the prisoner escort team was already heading for the capital, so he didn’t bother struggling. Since he had to come to the capital anyway…】

Lin Mo: “……”

Everyone present: “……”

Big brother… you really could have struggled a little. There was absolutely no need to come to the capital as a prisoner.

The treatment for prisoners during transport—one could imagine with a single toe how bad it was. Getting enough food to feel full was already considered a blessing.

Lord Yan heard Lin Mo and Bai Xiao’s inner voices, but his expression didn’t change at all.

To him, the outcome was the same. Whether he walked here himself or was brought here—it made no difference. The important thing was not wasting time.

He knew that memorial smelled awful, but he had no choice.

He could endure it—the people of Mizhou could not. The memorial detailed urgent matters that required immediate attention. If he recopied it, he wouldn’t feel at ease.

He didn’t have the energy to do it himself yesterday, and he didn’t trust others to copy it. So he had no choice but to submit it as it was.

Handling state affairs was what mattered most.

The Emperor also recalled that extremely foul-smelling memorial from yesterday. Fortunately, he had already passed it to the Crown Prince to deal with. He trusted the Crown Prince’s abilities.

Most of today’s discussion concerned Mizhou. Mizhou wasn’t prosperous; in the past, it had been a place officials were exiled to. The people lived in hardship.

Especially decades ago—the late Emperor had never cared about that region. Only after the current Emperor ascended the throne did he begin to take it seriously.

But developing a region couldn’t be done overnight. Changing the lives of the people wasn’t something that happened in an instant.

At first, the late Emperor had sent an official to govern the area, but that official died unexpectedly due to an uprising of the people.

From then on, the place became a wasteland—though it was located in the center of Great Yong, it was infamous for being wild and unruly.

The late Emperor despised it. After the current Emperor took the throne, he sent wave after wave of trusted officials there.

As the ruler of the nation, he couldn’t abandon any region.

Now, although Mizhou was nowhere near the prosperity of other regions, it was far better than before.

Thus, the affairs of Mizhou were always a top priority. If Mizhou fell into rebellion, it would implicate the surrounding areas. Given its strategic central location, Mizhou was important.

Listening to all this talk about Mizhou, Lin Mo’s mind began to drift. She didn’t know much about the place.

What she had heard the most about was Jiangnan—famous for its prosperity both in the modern world and here. Legend had it that Jiangnan produced beautiful people.

Lin Mo asked Bai Xiao curiously:【Are there any officials from Jiangnan coming to the capital to report? I heard Jiangnan produces beautiful people. How good-looking are they? Are they prettier than my father, mother, brother, and sister?】

The officials discussing national affairs: “……”

Your thoughts really jump fast.

Bai Xiao searched for the current “most beautiful man” and “most beautiful woman” of Jiangnan.

【You’re thinking too much. Jiangnan does produce beauties, yes. But it still can’t compare to the capital. After all, everyone prefers to flock to the imperial city. That region just has a higher average level of attractiveness. But your parents… they’re top-tier even here. Let me put it this way: if your mother had been born a few years earlier, she probably would’ve been chosen by the late Emperor to enter the palace.】

Lin Shanshu’s fist clenched instantly.

Lin Mo wrinkled her nose in disgust.

【Ugh~ then I’m grateful my mother was born later. Based on what I’ve heard about the late Emperor… forgive my disrespect, but he totally didn’t deserve my mother. Actually, he doesn’t even deserve an average girl.】

【The only reason he managed to have such an excellent son as the current Emperor is because Heaven pitied our dynasty and let him win the grand prize. Otherwise the dynasty would’ve been ruined in his hands.】

A man who spent his life indulging himself—taking the nation’s fate as a joke!

He played and played until the treasury was empty. If the current Emperor weren’t a wise ruler, Great Yong would’ve collapsed already.

Lin Mo’s thoughts drifted straight into Lord Yan’s ears, and his brows instantly furrowed.

This young Lord Lin was truly too bold—daring to speak so freely about the late Emperor, and in front of so many people at that.

Regardless of the late Emperor’s flaws, he was still the sovereign. Even the current Emperor had no right to openly criticize him.

Lin Mo had no idea she had just worsened someone’s impression of her. She continued ranting with Bai Xiao.

Meanwhile, the Emperor also wanted to complain about his father. He had never seen such a father who managed to harm both his son and his country.

So every time Lin Mo insulted the late Emperor, he felt extremely satisfied. If she dared say it out loud in front of the whole court, he’d be even happier.

After court was dismissed, Lin Mo clung to her father’s sleeve, acting spoiled as she asked for money to go out.

“Dad~ I’m really out of money. I made plans with a friend today to go have fun. I can’t just freeload off them, right?”

Some time ago, she had spent all her savings and earnings buying jewelry for her mother. Now she was completely broke.

Lin Shanshu poked her forehead helplessly. “Didn’t I just give you money yesterday? And didn’t you and Xiao Bai go out to earn money all the time? Where is it?”

Lin Mo chuckled. “I spent it buying gifts for Mother. And I ordered a new inkstone for you too, Dad. But it’ll take some time before I can pick it up.”

When it came to buying gifts for her family, Lin Mo really was extremely generous.

Lin Shanshu sighed, shook his head, and pulled out a pouch of money from his sleeve. “Don’t run around causing trouble. Come home early for dinner.”