Chapter 162
Zong He said, “It is said that Yin Pingwu’s maternal family were merchants in Jiangnan. His mother had a younger sister who came to mourn her nephew some four or five years after his death. But shortly after that aunt returned, everyone in the Mu family mysteriously disappeared. To this day, no one in court knows where Yin Pingwu’s maternal relatives went. They likely discovered some terrible secret…”
After hearing Yin Pingwu’s story, Zong Yuan felt his worldview shaken to its core.
At that moment, his disgust for the emperor ran deep. The very thought of being under that emperor’s hand made him feel nauseous.
Seeing his furrowed brow, Zong He said, “If you regret it, I can take you back to Eastern Sea right now.”
Zong Yuan shook his head. “No… it’s just a few bites from a dog. I don’t care. As long as I can avenge Father and Mother, I’m willing to use this dog emperor to achieve it. I’m also willing to follow adoptive father’s plans to benefit our Eastern Sea.”
Zong He nodded in satisfaction. “I heard you snuck off to see Wan’er again?”
Zong Yuan bit his lip guiltily. “Brother, I just wanted to see sister. You know, she’s my only family now. Over the years, she’s suffered so much, investigating the truth behind the Su family massacre. I just want her to be happy. If her marriage is good, then I can calmly do whatever I need to do.”
Zong He looked at him and said, “I must warn you: adoptive father took you in precisely to secure a marriage alliance with Great Zhao. When you proposed conditions, it was to learn the cause of your parents’ death. Now that you know the cause, you should also know what to do.”
For a fleeting moment, a hint of melancholy crossed Zong Yuan’s face.
But only for a moment. He took a deep breath and said, “Tonight, I will arrange to admire the moon with the Great Zhao Emperor. This time, I will succeed.”
No matter why the emperor hadn’t acted last time, he refused to believe that a man could remain untouched every single time.
In the Yanqin Palace, the emperor paced in front of a table, frustrated and confused.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, utterly baffled.
Last time, in Xiaoyu Residence, when facing a riled-up Zong Yuan, why had his body not reacted at all?
By all rights, that was impossible.
The chief eunuch watched the emperor pace from one side of the hall to the other, his eyes following him back and forth.
Finally unable to bear it, the chief eunuch smiled and stepped forward. “Your Majesty, is… something troubling you?”
The emperor turned, took a couple of steps toward him, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.
How could he explain this?
A man over forty should still be capable, yet why was he failing in this way?
Thinking of Zong Yuan in Xiaoyu Residence, who bore a striking resemblance to Pingwu, the emperor felt an unwillingness he could not shake.
Back then, Pingwu’s beauty had stirred the entire capital.
And he had been his study companion from childhood, a playmate since youth—naturally, he had the closest access.
To him, Pingwu would sooner or later belong to him—it was merely a matter of sooner or later.
That day, it had been because his menstrual period had only just ended, and a faint lingering fragrance still clung to him.
Under the setting sun, by the small window, his figure bent over a painting possessed a kind of breathtaking, soul-stirring beauty.
He could not restrain himself, and the other did not refuse. He knew that Pingwu liked him as well.
Just as he had expected, afterward he asked him, “Would you be willing to marry me?”
That person nodded with a flushed face and answered honestly, “This subject… has long admired the Crown Prince.”
After saying those words, Yin Pingwu’s face had turned completely red.
The stirrings of youthful affection were always so unforgettable.
Even though the court had been fraught with danger, he and Pingwu had still spent the most beautiful years of his life together.
At that time, they had been innocent youths, mutually in love, with no interests or schemes mixed in.
The emperor closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again.
He raised his head and said to the chief eunuch, “Summon Chief Physician Lin.”
Very soon, Chief Physician Lin arrived carrying his medicine chest and bowed to the emperor.
The emperor ordered the chief eunuch to dismiss everyone else, leaving only the two of them behind.
Lin Chongyun understood perfectly well yet pretended ignorance. Seeing this setup, he immediately knew what the emperor intended.
Thus, he did not speak and simply waited for the emperor to begin.
The emperor forced himself to maintain his dignity, hesitating and struggling for a long while before finally speaking. “Lately… I have felt somewhat powerless. I don’t know where the problem lies.”
Lin Chongyun replied in a professional tone, “Your Majesty is burdened with state affairs. Such fatigue is quite normal.”
The emperor still forced himself to save face and said, “It’s just that… something was not quite normal. That day at Xiaoyu Residence, that child was in heat, yet I… felt no reaction at all. Has Chief Physician Lin ever seen such a condition?”
Lin Chongyun could no longer pretend not to understand and replied respectfully, “It is very common.”
Indeed, it was very common. There were many ordinary men among the populace who were incapable.
Even when beauty was right before them, at most they could satisfy a psychological need with wandering hands, but they could never achieve true physical fulfillment.
Hearing that it was common, the emperor felt slightly reassured and then asked, “Can it be treated with medicine?”
Lin Chongyun answered, “…It depends on the situation. Not every case can be treated, and not every case needs to be treated.”
The emperor grew anxious. He both hoped his condition could be treated and hoped that it would not require treatment.
After wavering back and forth for a long time, he finally said, “Then… Chief Physician Linn, examine me and see whether I need treatment.”
Lin Chongyun nodded and stepped forward to take the emperor’s pulse.
After a moment, Lin Chongyun looked up and said, “Your Majesty is simply burdened by excessive thoughts. Perhaps… your heart still holds someone from the past, leaving no room for someone new.”
The emperor asked doubtfully, “What does… ‘holding someone from the past’ mean?”
Lin Chongyun was truly not good at lying. After much internal deliberation, he finally said, “Perhaps Your Majesty could try forgetting the one from the past and cherish only the person before your eyes.”
The emperor seemed not to understand at first and only spoke after a long pause. “Chief Physician Lin means that… I am not actually ill?”
Lin Chongyun answered truthfully, “It is not exactly an illness. It is a psychological issue. As for your own heart, Your Majesty must ask yourself.”
Alright—he could not keep fabricating anymore.
He was increasingly impressed with Lu Hanzhi. In Lu Hanzhi’s own words, his verbal output ability was first-rate.
Lin Chongyun could not keep making things up, but the emperor understood. He nodded solemnly and said, “I understand.”
Lin Chongyun: …Eh? You understand?
The emperor said quietly, “I have held him in my heart for more than twenty years. My feelings for him are deeply rooted. Now that a youth who looks exactly like him has appeared, I ultimately cannot treat that youth as if he were him.”
Lin Chongyun let out a breath of relief. He felt that he could continue improvising now.
“In short, this matter still requires Your Majesty to overcome a psychological barrier. Perhaps… Your Majesty could first engage that new favored concubine in discussions of poetry and romance. Over time, Your Majesty may recover the feelings you once had.”
Lin Chongyun felt an inexplicable sense of pride. Sure enough, whoever one spent time with, one eventually became like them.
He, this old-fashioned stickler, had finally learned how to fabricate nonsense—and without even blushing.
The emperor understood. He nodded heavily and sighed.
After leaving the emperor’s sleeping quarters, Lin Chongyun felt inexplicably more capable, and rather proud of himself.
Beneath his expressionless face, faint emotional ripples stirred.
After returning, Lin Chongyun told Lu Hanzhi about the matter.
At that moment, Lu Hanzhi was studying an enrollment planning chart. His building had been completed, but to establish a school, a single bare tower would not suffice.
The main building would serve as the teaching area, but there also needed to be an administrative area, dormitories, logistics facilities, and a dining hall.
With so many places to construct, it was still a massive project.
However, the remaining buildings would not need to be so tall. High-rise buildings were impressive, but they consumed enormous effort and resources.
Moreover, excessively tall structures in this world were suitable as landmarks, but building too many would burden the people and drain resources.
Thus, Lu Hanzhi decided that the remaining buildings would not exceed five stories, mainly three or four stories.
This would be convenient for living and would not require excessive labor.
As for the name of the central building, Lu Hanzhi named it Mingli Tower—to illuminate principle. The common people lived in confusion; some lived an entire lifetime without knowing what they were living for.
To know right from wrong and understand reason—he hoped that the students who emerged from this building could become the foundation of the nation.
After hearing what Lin Chongyun had said, Lu Hanzhi simply gave an “oh,” appearing not very interested.
Lin Chongyun glanced at the paper in his hand and asked, “Brother Lu, what are you working on?”
Lu Hanzhi bit down on the end of his pen and said, “Teaching materials. If I want to run a school, I need textbooks. Look, Brother Lin—I’ve planned these subjects: language, mathematics, history, politics, ethics, fine arts, vocal music, martial cultivation… Of course, the main subjects are the first four; the rest are electives. Students can also focus on other disciplines—it depends on their individual strengths. I just feel that, besides these, there should be something more we could add…”
A school should not be rigidly uniform. He could not possibly run it like an assembly line, producing talents who were all exactly the same.
After reviewing the subjects Lu Hanzhi had planned, Lin Chongyun suddenly had an idea.
He tugged at Lu Hanzhi’s arm and said, “Brother Lu… I actually have a thought. Why not add a medical course? Even if they can’t study it in great depth, at least they could treat common illnesses like colds, fevers, and dysentery.”
Lu Hanzhi slapped his palm and said, “That’s right! You reminded me—there’s medicine too!”
The university he had attended in his previous life had a dedicated medical faculty as well as affiliated hospitals. This was an extremely good idea.
Lu Hanzhi immediately added medical studies and listed it as an independent subject.
After listing the subject, Lu Hanzhi recited, “I wish Heaven would stir itself anew and bestow talents without rigid molds! Who says a person must walk only one predetermined path in life? Aside from officialdom and politics, there are three hundred and sixty roads to choose from!”
“ ‘I wish Heaven would stir itself anew and bestow talents without rigid molds’?”
Lin Chongyun repeated the line and could not help but feel secretly awed by Lu Hanzhi.
He had previously heard several poems Lu Hanzhi had written, but he had not expected that such an excellent verse could be recited so casually. He truly was a great talent.
Lu Hanzhi said, “Let’s settle on these for now and refine them gradually later.”
Lin Chongyun cleared his throat and said, “If… I mean, if there is anything you need help with, Brother Lu, feel free to ask.”
Lu Hanzhi draped an arm over his shoulder and said, “Do you even need to say that? You’re a renowned divine physician of the capital! When the time comes, I’ll have to trouble you to serve as the honorary dean and give some lectures to the students.”
“Honorary… dean?”
Lin Chongyun looked utterly confused.
Lu Hanzhi patted his shoulder and said, “In short, it’s a good position. Just take it!”
Lin Chongyun did not understand and did not dare ask further. Since Lu Hanzhi said it was a good position, then it must be one.
In the imperial palace, a young eunuch carried several bowls of lotus pods to the Imperial Study and bowed as he said, “The Eastern Sea Prince Zong Yuan, invites Your Majesty to Xiaoyu Residence to taste lotus seeds.”
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