381: The unfathomable old emperor! Lin Qinghan from the gentle countryside

Chapter 375: The Unfathomable Old Emperor! Lin Qinghan in the Embrace of Gentleness

Inside the deep palace hall, night-shining pearls illuminated the entire hall as if it were daytime.

On the Dragon Throne, adorned with snow mink fur, Yu Dongji, the emperor who had ruled the Great Yu Empire for over thirty years, sat with his eyes half-closed.

Time had carved ravines on his face, and his frost-white hair contrasted sharply with his bright yellow Dragon robe.

“Your Majesty~” A soft, captivating call, sweet to the bone, echoed from the left side of the Dragon Throne.

Lin Qinghan, clad in a light, transparent pink palace gown, entwined herself around Emperor Yu Dongji like a dodder flower.

Her slender jade fingers caressed the Old Emperor’s withered arm, seemingly present yet absent, and her curvaceous figure was faintly visible beneath the thin gauze with her movements.

“This concubine has been unable to sleep for the past few nights…”

Her vermilion lips parted slightly, her breath like orchids, “As soon as I close my eyes, I dream of those terrifying people…”

“Please don’t leave this concubine~”

With that, Lin Qinghan’s delicate body trembled slightly, perfectly pressing her alluring… against Yu Dongji’s right arm.

Yu Dongji’s hand, covered in age spots, slowly caressed the beauty’s fragrant shoulder, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy eyes.

Thirty years of imperial life made him more aware than anyone of the hidden dangers within this gentle embrace.

But at this moment, Yu Dongji preferred to be intoxicated by this bone-eroding fragrance, experiencing the beauty of the mortal world.

“My beloved concubine, fear not…” Yu Dongji’s voice was hoarse like sandpaper: “With I here, no one can harm you.”

After saying that, his fingertips entwined in Lin Qinghan’s cascading dark hair, and he took a deep breath.

That rich, alluring fragrance invigorated Yu Dongji’s muddled consciousness.

The special aphrodisiac hidden in the beauty’s hair was seeping into his decaying lungs with every breath.

“Your Majesty…”

Lin Qinghan’s eyes flickered, her vermilion lips biting lightly, revealing a section of her snow-white neck at just the right moment.

She knew the value of her appearance, and to please this Old Emperor, Lin Qinghan had used every trick in her arsenal.

Immediately after, the Old Emperor Yu Dongji’s rough hand roamed along Lin Qinghan’s graceful curves, and a look of infatuation appeared in his cloudy eyes.

For days, to fully savor this peerless beauty, he had dismissed three censors who had advised him.

For this, Yu Dongji even broke precedent by postponing seven morning court sessions, simply to indulge in Lin Qinghan’s gentle embrace and enjoy pleasures unimaginable to ordinary people.

And Lin Qinghan, this gentle beauty, was truly “sensible,” whether playing the zither, painting, or engaging in intimate flattery in bed, she handled everything just right.

Just like now, she was using her soft, boneless hands to massage his temples.

The hidden technique in her fingertips made the aging Yu Dongji hum with pleasure.

“My beloved concubine is truly My heart’s treasure…” Yu Dongji gasped with pleasure, but he did not see the fleeting cold light in the beauty’s eyes beside him.

Lin Qinghan’s long eyelashes trembled slightly, casting a fragile shadow under the candlelight.

She turned her face slightly, allowing a perfectly timed tear to hang on her cheek, on the verge of falling.

“Your Majesty…” Her voice trembled like willow catkins in the wind, “This concubine fears… her days are numbered…”

“And will no longer be able to serve Your Majesty…”

Yu Dongji noticed the slight tremor of the beauty in his arms and immediately opened his eyes, embracing her even tighter with his withered arm.

This aging emperor, at this moment, showed a rare hint of urgency: “What is wrong, My beloved concubine?”

He quickly raised a hand and used his rough thumb to wipe away the non-existent tears from Lin Qinghan’s eyes.

Yu Dongji’s voice, though sounding very old, was unusually gentle.

Lin Qinghan sobbed appropriately, burying her face in Yu Dongji’s chest, her muffled voice coming through: “This concubine… this concubine dares not speak…”

“Speak!”

Yu Dongji suddenly roared, an invisible force shaking the candles in the hall.

His claw-like hand lifted the beauty’s chin, and startling brilliance burst forth from his cloudy eyes: “I want to see which blind fool dares to cause My beloved concubine such distress!”

Lin Qinghan flinched as if startled, but perfectly allowed the light gauze to slip, revealing half of her bare shoulder.

With red eyes, she whispered, “It’s… it’s the Eastern Depot Director Lu… he… he warned this concubine before, saying that this concubine would bring disaster to Your Majesty.”

As soon as the words “Eastern Depot Director” were uttered!

Yu Dongji’s sharp Killing Intent around him suddenly receded, and his cloudy eyes instantly cleared like a deep pool.

This emperor, who had ruled Great Yu for over thirty years, now tapped the Dragon table in front of him rhythmically with his fingers, making dull “thump, thump” sounds.

“Eastern Depot Director?”

Yu Dongji chuckled softly, his voice laced with an all-knowing playfulness.

His withered fingers lifted Lin Qinghan’s chin, the force not heavy but impossible to break free from: “My beloved concubine… don’t be afraid, I will deal with him sooner or later.”

Lin Qinghan’s heart trembled violently, but then Yu Dongji suddenly leaned in and whispered into her ear: “That Old Dog from the Eastern Depot, even if he had ten times the courage…”

His warm breath brushed her ear, but the words he spoke sent shivers down Lin Qinghan’s spine: “He wouldn’t dare touch anyone by My bed.”

He slowly straightened up, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes: “However—” changing his tone, “Since My beloved concubine wishes to see him dead…”

Yu Dongji’s aged hand caressed the beauty’s hair, “I will certainly grant your wish.”

“But, not now. That Old Dog, I still find him useful, so I cannot kill him yet.”

The bright pearls in the hall suddenly illuminated the Old Emperor Yu Dongji’s half-smiling face.

Yu Dongji continued to lean back on the Dragon Throne, one hand gently stroking Lin Qinghan’s stunned face, his eyes gleaming with unfathomable shrewdness.

This aging emperor’s indulgence of the Eastern Depot was never due to senility.

Three days ago, when the Eastern Depot’s agents caused a bloodbath in the capital, the Grand Secretary knelt outside the hall, weeping blood in his memorial, and the Six Ministers jointly petitioned.

Yet Yu Dongji did not even grant them an audience, merely saying lightly: “I am old and cannot bear to see blood; let them cause trouble.”

This was not confusion, but a grand scheme.

“Eastern Depot…”

Yu Dongji looked out of the hall, a cold smile slowly curving his lips.

He needed the Eastern Depot to be sharp enough, and to incur enough hatred.

Once this blade was stained with blood, once the resentment of the entire court reached its peak—

“That will be the time for Me… to reel in the net.”

Yu Dongji lowered his head to look at the disappointed beauty in his arms, his withered fingers gently caressing her snow-white neck.

Everything happening in the Great Yu Empire was within the grasp of him, the Emperor.

Even this delicate beauty was merely a tool to please himself.

Yu Dongji lifted Lin Qinghan into his arms, his desire stirred once again by this peerless beauty.

“However, besides that Old Dog, the Eastern Depot Director, as long as My beloved concubine speaks, I will fulfill all your wishes!”

At these words, Lin Qinghan’s originally dim eyes suddenly brightened, like dying embers rekindled.

Her slender fingers tightly clutched Yu Dongji’s Dragon robe sleeve.

“Your Majesty…” Lin Qinghan’s voice trembled, carrying a truly suppressed sob.

Eunuch Cao’s nauseating face flashed in her mind; that eunuch had dared to take liberties in the carriage under the guise of “guarding.”

In the carriage, his withered, skeletal arms had confined her, and the image of his pale face buried in her neck, greedily sniffing, still made her stomach cramp.

“This concubine…” Lin Qinghan found it hard to speak, tears falling at just the right moment.

“On the way to the palace that day, the person leading the Eastern Depot…” At this point, Lin Qinghan suddenly stopped speaking, biting her lower lip lightly.

This posture, more than any words, could ignite a man’s protective instincts.

“The eyes of the person leading the Eastern Depot… were constantly glued to this concubine’s body…”

Saying this, Lin Qinghan suddenly shivered, shrinking into Yu Dongji’s embrace at just the right moment.

Lin Qinghan was very clever; she knew better than anyone that what men most abhorred was their woman being touched by another.

Even if it was just a brush, in the eyes of this supreme ruler, it was like defilement.

Therefore, Lin Qinghan deliberately stopped the narrative at the ambiguous edge—allowing the Old Emperor to imagine, yet leaving room for doubt.

“If this concubine hadn’t mentioned Your Majesty…”

Yu Dongji’s face, indeed, turned terrifyingly grim.

“That damned dog Eunuch Cao, did he touch you, My beloved concubine…?”

“Your Majesty!”

Hearing this, Lin Qinghan timely showed an expression of shame and anger as if she wished to die, “This concubine would rather bite her tongue off than let that filthy wretch…”

This act preserved her “purity” while maximizing the hatred.

Indeed, Yu Dongji gently soothed her, but the Killing Intent in his eyes had already solidified.

He could tolerate the game between pawns, but he would never allow a pawn to overstep its bounds.

Especially concerning things that belonged to him.

Yu Dongji’s withered hand caressed the beauty’s neck, and he suddenly chuckled softly: “How does My beloved concubine wish to see him die? Lingering death? Or… a human pig?”

Of course, Yu Dongji’s question was merely a formality.

The wrath of an emperor never needed anyone’s opinion.

“Someone!”

Yu Dongji suddenly roared, his voice shaking the scabbards of the guards outside the hall.

His withered fingers tapped a rapid rhythm on the Dragon table, a strange smile curling at the corner of his lips.

“Deliver My imperial decree: immediately summon Eunuch Cao of the Eastern Depot to the palace.”

As soon as his voice fell, Yu Dongji continued to lower his head, stroking Zhao Qinghan’s hair as he said: “Just say… I am very pleased, he guarded My beloved concubine well, and I wish to reward him handsomely…”

The chief eunuch outside the hall trembled all over, his duster almost falling to the ground.

Having served His Majesty for over thirty years, he knew too well the meaning of “handsomely reward.”

The last time His Majesty said he would “handsomely reward” the Minister of War, the next day, that person and his entire family were thrown into the imperial prison.

Lin Qinghan obediently lay on Yu Dongji’s lap, her alluring lips subtly curving upwards where no one could see.

Yu Dongji suddenly leaned down, his fingers gently pinching Lin Qinghan’s delicate chin.

His cloudy eyes now glowed with a morbid brilliance, and his breathing became heavy.

“My beauty…”

Yu Dongji’s voice was terribly hoarse, carrying a chilling gentleness, “Don’t let these useless wretches interfere with us…”

As he spoke, his fingers slid down Lin Qinghan’s snow-white neck, lingering at her collarbone: “Now the most important thing is…”

Unbeknownst to her, Yu Dongji’s other hand had already smoothly reached for Zhao Qinghan’s sash, “I must first properly… reward My beloved concubine…”

A rush of hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, yet they could not drown out the rustling sound of the Dragon robe falling to the floor inside.

Zhao Qinghan obediently closed her eyes, allowing the Old Emperor’s body to press down on her.

Inside the main hall of the Eastern Depot, thirteen figures knelt as straight as spears on the ground.

The scorching sunlight, filtering through the carved window lattices, cast sharp light and shadow patterns on the floor, but it could not dispel the chilling coldness within the hall.

“Reporting, Godfather!”

Cao Shi, kneeling at the very end, suppressed intense pain: “This child has already discovered the secret treasure of Mingfo Temple…”

Cao Shi knelt hunched, his small body at the end of the hall, his rat-like face completely devoid of color.

His right hand, usually used for administering poison, now hung limply, his forearm unnaturally twisted.

This insidious person, usually most adept at sneak attacks with poisoned hidden weapons, now trembled like a stray dog.

Large beads of sweat rolled down Cao Shi’s sparse eyebrows.

Every time he breathed, his fractured ribs stabbed painfully into his lungs.

“Hidden within the temple… is a divine object…”

Cao Shi gasped for breath after every few words: “According to the young monk this child captured… this lotus shines brightly during the day, and its fragrance can heal flesh and bones…”

He was about to continue reporting when he suddenly coughed violently, spitting out bloody foam mixed with foul-smelling liquid.

Cao Shi had originally thought that with his Qinggong and poison arts, infiltrating Mingfo Temple would be as easy as picking something from his pocket.

Who would have thought that as soon as he climbed over the courtyard wall, he would be trapped squarely by the Eighteen Arhat Formation.

Those bald monks’ Demon-Subduing Staff techniques had almost dislocated his internal organs.

“Amitabha, benefactor, please return.”

Recalling the Old Monk’s benevolent appearance, Cao Shi gnashed his teeth in hatred.

Those bald monks could have taken his life, yet they chose to put on a compassionate facade.

Heh. No killing?

This would be their biggest regret!

Cao Shi was already calculating what poison would be most satisfying to put into the temple’s well.

Would it be “Soul Severing Powder” that caused intestines to rot?

Or “Bone Corroding Paste” that made the whole body fester?

It would be best to torment those bald monks one by one, making them wish for death…

Thinking of this, a morbid pleasure appeared on Cao Shi’s twisted face.

Buddhism forbids killing? Perfect, it allowed him to play slowly…

However, for Cao Shi to achieve this wish, he could only rely on his Godfather.

The Eastern Depot Director, who wielded supreme power!

Lu Xuan, seated at the head of the table, slightly raised his eyes, those cold, deep-pool-like eyes piercing straight into Cao Shi’s heart.

“What you say… had better be true!”

Though the sun was blazing in the hall, Cao Shi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

His Godfather’s gaze was far more chilling than those damned Demon-Subduing Staffs of Mingfo Temple.

“This child swears to Heaven!”

Cao Shi ignored the pain of his broken bones, violently slamming his head to the ground: “If there is a single false word, I am willing to suffer the punishment of ten thousand poisons gnawing at my heart!”

He knew too well the consequences of deceiving his Godfather.

Those “liars” in the Eastern Depot dungeon were now dried jerky hanging in the torture chamber.

Revenge was important, but compared to angering his Godfather…

“Take all the Eastern Depot and capital troops, and set out for Mingfo Temple.”

Only when a cold voice came from above did Cao Shi feel greatly relieved, scrambling out of the main hall.

“Yes! Godfather!”

At this moment, a commotion suddenly came from outside the hall, and several dazzling crimson-robed figures strode in proudly.

The golden plaques hanging at their waists were so bright in the sunlight that they made people squint.

The leading chief eunuch flicked his duster, and the Eastern Depot agents scattered.

Who didn’t recognize these high-ranking eunuchs who served before the Emperor?

“By Imperial Decree—”

A sharp voice pierced the murderous atmosphere in the hall.

The chief eunuch looked down at the twelve kneeling eunuchs, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: “Where is Eunuch Cao, the Thousand Household of Punishment?”

“His Majesty, mindful of your meritorious service in escorting Concubine Lin, specially grants… an audience to receive your reward.”

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Cao was instantly overjoyed: “This humble servant… accepts the decree and thanks His Majesty.”

After speaking, he secretly glanced at Lu Xuan, who was seated at the head, but saw his Godfather leisurely sipping tea, not even raising an eyelid.