Finest Servant

Chapter 425 Obeying the Imperial Decree to Woo a Beauty

The handsome man scheme? Xu Wei and Li Tai looked Lin San up and down. A man indeed, but to say he was handsome seemed to be lacking something. The two men exchanged a glance and forcibly suppressed their laughter. Xu Wei cautiously said, "If we must employ a handsome man's plot, it's not impossible. But can we find someone else? That way, our chances would be greater!"

Lin Wanrong listened and flew into a rage, glaring at him, "Mr. Xu, what do you mean by that? Speak with your conscience! Is there anyone in this world more handsome than me? Let me tell you, you won't find a second handsome man like me, skilled in both literary and martial arts, in the whole world."

Xu Wei shook his head with a smile, his face full of apologies, "Little brother, you've misunderstood my meaning. I'm only worried about you taking such a risk. If anything goes wrong, that would be very bad indeed. A top talent like you is what our great country needs most. How could we let you risk this personally? I suggest finding someone else. I'm really thinking of you, thinking of the state. Please, don't misunderstand."

"There's no way around the danger. Who told me I was born with a laborious fate? Wooing the most dangerous beauties, doing the safest things; I've long been used to it. As Buddha said, 'If I don't go to hell, who will?' For the people of Great Hua, for the state, I'm willing to take this great risk! Your Majesty—" Lin Wanrong turned, looking sincerely at the Emperor, his words earnest, "I volunteer! Please allow me to kill the enemy for the nation!"

The old Emperor sneered, fully understanding his intentions, "Minister Lin, your patriotic heart is greatly appreciated! But is Seo Jang Geum, a frail woman, aware of Goryeo's important affairs? Even if she knows, how can I let someone like you, the pillar of Great Hua, risk this? In my view, Minister Xu's suggestion makes sense. Let's send someone else—"

"Send someone else? Your Majesty, you must be joking! Is there anyone in this world more suitable than me?" Lin Wanrong said, smiling, his eyes full of confidence. "Furthermore, I'm certain that Seo Jang Geum definitely knows the details. Mr. Xu just said that the Goryeo might be betraying our Great Hua, reaching some agreement with the Dongyin people. This possibility is not zero, but in my view, it's minimal. Think about it: the Dongyin forces are all deployed, determined to take Goryeo. What price would Goryeo have to pay for the Dongyin to give up? If they really negotiate, I'm sure that the terms set by the Dongyin would be ten or a hundred times more stringent than Great Hua's, making it even more unacceptable for Goryeo. Your Majesty, Mr. Xu, General, isn't that the case?"

Everyone thought he was proposing the handsome man's plot because he was lustful, trying to take advantage of Seo Jang Geum. Little did they know that he had already formed an opinion. His words were indeed insightful, hitting the nail on the head. The Dongyin were not good people; they would not give up unless they obtained satisfactory bargaining chips with their entire national power deployed at sea, and the army besieging the city.

Xu Wei and Li Tai nodded slightly, and the Emperor pondered for a while before slowly saying, "Continue speaking, go on."

"The cruelty of the Dongyin is well-known throughout the world. They have long resided on a narrow and elongated island, and their national character has determined their impulsiveness and greed. When they have the opportunity to annex Goryeo and acquire land to expand their living area, they will never give up on this enormous interest. Therefore, I say that their demands will be ten or a hundred times more severe, making it difficult for the Goryeo royal family to accept. By comparison, our great concept of 'one country, two systems' is gentle in its approach. It preserves the Goryeo royal family, allowing them to thrive and reproduce for generations, and shelters them under the powerful arm of Great Hua, protecting them from the wind and rain. With our long history of interaction between Great Hua and Goryeo, it is more acceptable to the people of both nations. The comparison shows clearly which is superior and which is inferior. Your Majesty, may I be bold enough to ask, if you were the king of Goryeo and had to choose between the two, what would be your choice?" Lin Wanrong spoke eloquently, his rhetorical question leaving everyone in deep thought.

The Emperor remained silent for a long while before saying indifferently, "According to what you say, there seems to be some truth. The king of Goryeo should indeed choose to cooperate with our Great Hua. However, they currently refuse to discuss joining Great Hua. What can I do about it? Goryeo is in peril, and our Great Hua is about to go to war with the nomads. Continuing like this will only lead to a situation where both sides suffer."

"Your Majesty is wise, that is exactly the case," Lin Wanrong nodded. "The king of Goryeo's silence is based on our current anxious state in Great Hua. He's trying to outlast us, hoping to negotiate better terms, gain greater benefits. Therefore, it is especially important to probe their bottom line at this time."

"Do you intend to ascertain Goryeo's bottom line through Miss Seo Jang Geum?" Li Tai frowned as he spoke. "But can such a young girl really be involved in matters of state?"

"Old General, do not underestimate this Seo Jang Geum. Think about it, if the king of Goryeo wants to probe Great Hua's attitude, he must have arranged someone in our capital. This young palace girl is undoubtedly their main person in charge. However, they cannot reveal their anxious state, so Seo Jang Geum is visiting temples and worshipping Buddha under our very eyes, displaying a calm demeanor, deliberately allowing us to see, in order to make us feel urgent. If we think about it, if Goryeo has truly reached an agreement with the Dongyin, what is Seo Jang Geum still doing in Great Hua? She should be rushing back to Goryeo."

Xu Wei nodded, not taking Lin San's usual playful demeanor lightly. When analyzing significant matters, Lin San was thorough and orderly, demonstrating great wisdom. "Little brother, according to you, this Miss Seo is waiting for our Great Hua to make the first concession before reporting to the king of Goryeo for disposal?"

Lin Wanrong's eyes flashed, and he shook his head, smiling, "Not so, not so. Goryeo is thousands of miles away from our capital, and even if they communicate by carrier pigeon, it would take several days. The Dongyin warships are probably about to reach Goryeo's water city, and the situation can change in an instant. Such a delay of several days cannot be afforded by the king of Goryeo. If I am not mistaken, the king of Goryeo's final bottom line has already been conveyed to Seo Jang Geum."

"What?" This audacious conjecture, not only astonished Xu Wei and Li Tai but even the Emperor seemed a bit moved. If Lin San's reasoning was true, wouldn't it mean that the grand opportunity to expand the Empire's territory was within reach? If they could persuade Seo Jang Geum, they would already have Goryeo in their hands by half! Xu Wei and Li Tai's faces showed excitement, and as they listened to Lin Wanrong's words, the situation seemed to become clearer. The key rested on Seo Jang Geum. Were they really going to use a handsome man plot to accomplish this? The two looked at Lin Wanrong with strange expressions on their faces.

To expand the territory at the end of one's life, surpassing one's ancestors, was indeed a great honor. Even the old Emperor, as steady as he was, could not suppress a surge of excitement within himself. His face turned flush as he hastily controlled his emotions, speaking calmly, "Lin San, you say Seo Jang Geum has control over Goryeo's bottom line. How certain are you of this?"

Lin Wanrong spread his hands, smiling, "Not certain at all, Your Majesty. As you know, what I just said is deduction. The actual truth is only known to Seo Jang Geum herself. Ah, this young girl, stubborn and inflexible as you and Minister Xu have witnessed, even if a knife were held to her throat, she wouldn't say anything. Quite a thorny issue."

The old Emperor clenched his teeth, thinking that this young man spoke so much only to find an excuse to pursue a woman. What a bad idea! His own daughters were far better than this little palace girl from Goryeo. After pondering for a while, he found himself helpless against Lin San. The way Goryeo acted was disgraceful, sending a young girl in charge, naturally attracting Lin San like a fly. In dealing with young girls, Lin San was second to none.

The Emperor exhaled deeply, his face darkening, "Lin San, if I were to send you to handle Seo Jang Geum, what odds do you give yourself?"

Lin Wanrong grinned slyly, his face showing confidence, "Well, that depends on how it's handled. Depending on the degree of engagement, the effect will vary."

"Whatever the degree, whatever the effect, just tell me, and I will consider it carefully." The Emperor's words had a hidden meaning, understood only by Lin San, while Li Tai and Xu Wei were left puzzled.

Lin Wanrong chuckled lasciviously, "We're all friends here, so I won't boast. Handling Miss Seo depends on the level. If it's just ordinary tea and conversation, I can probably probe about ten percent; if we go further, holding hands, perhaps thirty percent; a kiss on the cheek, I should have at least fifty percent confidence; if we proceed to matrimonial rituals, well, I don't have to say it, you can all guess."

Xu Wei and Li Tai broke into a cold sweat as they listened, realizing the extent and effect he was referring to. And this he called 'not boasting'? How could anyone be so shameless?

As for what Lin San meant by matrimonial rituals, why had he become so pedantic? He could have just said he'd sully the girl's reputation. The Emperor found it amusing but trusted Lin San's words completely, most notably demonstrated by his own daughters.

"Minister Xu, General Li, what do you think of this plan?" The Emperor's face was peculiar, his expression somewhere between a smile and a frown, as he sought Xu Wei and Li Tai's opinions.

Xu Wei and Li Tai were civil and military officials of Great Hua, advisers and strategists in thousands of councils. Yet openly discussing this sordid "handsome man" strategy with the Emperor, especially when it was to be carried out by a "handsome man" like Lin San, was beyond awkward.

"This..." The two exchanged courteous refusals for a while, but in the end, Xu Wei had to speak, "If there's no other way, we must resort to this once-in-a-millennium stratagem. Time waits for no one! There are nomads in the north who want to fight, and new troops in the northeast to command, all of which are urgent matters."

The Emperor nodded, pacing slowly in the room. After a long pause, he seemed to have made up his mind and was about to speak when Lin Wanrong interrupted, "Ah, Mr. Xu, what did you just say? Are you saying that this plan requires someone else to execute? I've thought it over from left to right, and I think you're right. Although I'm more beautiful than a handsome man, I have a family and children. I am not suitable for this highly dangerous task, and I'm not good at deceiving young girls. My conscience would bother me! Change of plans, change of plans, this suggestion is good!"

The three people in the room were stunned. At this crucial moment, how had Lin San changed his mind? Xu Wei quickly said, "Little brother Lin, only a young and dashing, wise and cunning hero like you can complete this difficult task. How can anyone else do it? If you are worried about scolding from your wives, I will make excuses for you. I believe they will grant me some favor."

Lin Wanrong looked sad, his head shaking, almost weeping, "Mr. Xu, don't mention my wives. I'll tell you the truth. I will be forced to abandon them due to unavoidable reasons. Under these circumstances, how can I have the mood to carry out such a tremendous task? I have failed Great Hua, failed the people of Great Hua!"

Li Tai exclaimed, "Abandon your wives? How is this possible? Who is so bold as to force you to be unfaithful? Tell me, and I will settle the score with him!"

The Emperor's face was dark as ink, Lin Wanrong almost laughed but managed to hold it back, sorrowfully shaking his head, "Let's not talk about it. I'm in a terrible mood and unable to complete the task. In any case, it's my fault, Lin San. I'm sorry for the Emperor's nurturing, sorry for Mr. Xu and the old general's trust."

After much persuasion from the two, Lin San stubbornly shook his head. The Emperor looked at him coldly, pretending to play along, and finally understood. This young man had been going around in circles, and his real goal was not Seo Jang Geum. He was trying to coerce the Emperor into protecting his wives, truly a painstaking effort!

"Is that so? Tell me, who forced you to abandon your wives?" Seeing Lin San's self-importance, the Emperor could not bear it any longer and coldly hummed.

"This... I dare not say." Hearing the Emperor speak, Lin Wanrong took a long sigh of relief. He was not afraid of the Emperor speaking but afraid of him remaining silent.

"You dare not speak? Is there something in this world you dare not say?" The Emperor's face turned furious, and he slapped his dragon chair heavily, "I see you are presumptuous and unwilling to contribute to my Great Hua. You want to resist my command—"

How could they stand being accused in such a manner? Seeing the Emperor enraged, Xu Wei and Li Tai quickly knelt down, pleading, "Your Majesty, please calm down! Lin San is just in turmoil due to family issues. We beg your forgiveness! We will certainly advise him properly!"

The Emperor's majestic anger was indeed formidable, but Lin Wanrong wasn't much afraid by now. After all, it wasn't the first time he had angered the Emperor, and he had grown used to it.

Seeing Lin San's obstinate demeanor and realizing that the happiness of his two daughters depended entirely on this man, the Emperor felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. He couldn't beat or kill Lin San, so what could he do with such a strange creature?

"Rise, all of you, rise." The Emperor weakly gestured for Xu Wei and Li Tai to stand, then shot a glance at Lin Wanrong, snorting, "I promise you, Miss Dong and Miss Luo in your residence will not be driven away. You should be satisfied with that, shouldn't you?"

That was exactly what Lin Wanrong had been waiting for. Beaming with joy, he hurriedly said, "Qiaoqiao and Ning'er are just two of my wives. There are also Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Sister An, etc. None of them can be driven away, otherwise, I'll be in a bad mood and might fail in the mission. If it jeopardizes the affairs of the state, it would be disastrous."

The Emperor was furious at Lord Lin's audacity, snapping, "Enough of this talk! Do you think this is a marketplace where you can haggle with me?"

Xu Wei and Li Tai both fell silent, listening to the conversation between the Emperor and Lin San. It seemed that the person who wanted to separate Lin San and his wives was the Emperor himself. Cold sweat trickled down Li Tai's forehead.

"How could dare I haggle with the Emperor? I'm merely stating a fact. To avoid any delays in the state's affairs because of me, Your Majesty, please find someone else for this handsome-man scheme. You can pick anyone off the street."

Xu Wei was aghast; Lin San was indeed bold and daring, to talk back to the Emperor.

The Emperor, though initially incensed by Lord Lin's defiance, seemed to have grown accustomed to it. His anger eventually subsided, and he coldly chuckled, "I'll make a note of your request concerning Eldest Miss Xiao and Second Miss. If you accomplish the task, I will consider it. If you say another word, I'd rather forsake Goryeo than tolerate you."

Lin Wanrong pondered, careful not to push the Emperor too hard. As long as Eldest Miss was still within reach, he would find a way eventually. He forced a few dry laughs and said, "Since Your Majesty values me so much, I will use my charm to completely conquer the Goryeo palace maid and learn her secrets. However—"

Both Xu Wei and Li Tai sighed in relief as Lin Wanrong relented, only for their hearts to leap again as he added more to his statement. This Lin San was truly trying to kill them!

"But what?" the Emperor asked, unimpressed.

"Your Majesty, what I am doing, in a polite way, is called the handsome-man scheme, but bluntly, it's deceiving young girls and toying with innocent maidens. I, Lin San, am honest and upright, and such an act would greatly damage my reputation."

"Ha, you have a reputation?" The other three in the room simultaneously spat in contempt.

"To prove my innocence and explain myself to my wives, Your Majesty, I boldly request a royal decree from you."

So, it was a royal decree he wanted; that was a small matter. Li Tai and Xu Wei relaxed. The Emperor's face softened slightly, and he nodded, "What decree do you need? Speak truthfully, and I will write it for you!"

Lin Wanrong walked up to the Emperor, whispered something in his ear, and the Emperor was momentarily stunned before angrily shouting, “Nonsense! How can I issue such a decree to you? It would make historians laugh their heads off!”

“What's so funny about that?” Lin Wanrong replied, puzzled. “If Your Majesty conquers Goryeo, this decree will become a timeless anecdote, even highlighting your distinctiveness and greatness!”

The Emperor seemed tempted but quickly waved his hand, “No, I will definitely not write this decree! You just go and do your job, and I'll see who dares mess with you.”

Lin Wanrong tried to speak again, but the Emperor shook his head, “Just do as we discussed earlier; we will end the discussion here for today. I'm a bit tired. All of you may leave.”

A mere decree, why was it so troublesome? Xu Wei and Li Tai looked puzzled, but since the Emperor was dismissing them, they could only drag Lin Wanrong out the door. Before leaving, Lin Wanrong sighed, “Family troubles hinder state affairs; getting things done is not easy. Your Majesty, please understand me. Otherwise, if this matter fails, Great Hua will suffer.”

The door creaked shut, and the Emperor shook his head with a bitter smile. Where did Lin San come up with so many whimsical ideas? He always managed to think of a way to save himself at critical moments, which was infuriating. Thinking about the decree that Lin San requested, he paced back and forth in his study, picking up and putting down his vermilion pen several times. Finally, he gritted his teeth, “I will draft this decree, and if you fail, see how I will deal with you.”

He wrote quickly, and in a moment it was done. Looking at the absurd content of the decree, he couldn't help but find it amusing. He stamped it with a large red seal and instructed Gao Ping, “Send this decree to Lin San! Remember, this is a top-secret order, and only he can see it.”

“Little brother Lin, what decree did you request from the Emperor, making it so difficult?” Xu Wei dared to ask only after they had left the palace gate.

Lin Wanrong laughed, “Minister Xu, you know I have many jealous women at home. I asked the Emperor to write a decree to prove my innocence. Who knew His Majesty would be so stingy, refusing to write even a few words!”

A decree to prove innocence? This was indeed a rare event in history! Xu Wei knew Lin Wanrong was cunning and couldn’t guess what scheme he was planning that troubled the Emperor so much.

As they had just stepped out of the palace gate, a shout came from behind, “Master Lin, wait! Master Lin, wait!”

Lin Wanrong turned around and saw a red-robed steward, Gao Ping, running toward him, panting.

“Master Lin, this is the decree that the Emperor has bestowed upon you!” Gao Ping carefully handed the decree to him, reminding, “His Majesty said that only you may read this decree.”

Lin Wanrong was delighted and laughed, “Understood, understood. Please convey my thanks to His Majesty for his grace!”

As Gao Ping hurriedly turned and left, Lin Wanrong opened the decree, glanced at it, and immediately beamed with joy.

Xu Wei recalled Gao Ping's instruction that only Lin San could read the decree, so he turned away, but his curiosity got the better of him. Glancing back, his eyes caught four bright red characters on the decree, vivid and clear, boldly stating—“(By) Imperial Order, Seduce Women!”

Certainly, this was the most absurd imperial edict in history, and only Lin Wanrong could have come up with such an idea. Xu Wei had to suppress his laughter desperately, his face turning bright red as he hastily clasped his hands, "Oh, little brother, I suddenly remember, an old friend is visiting my home today. I must leave immediately. Excuse me, excuse me!" With that, Xu Wei hurried away, his shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter. When he reached the corner and could no longer see Lin San, he finally pounded his chest and burst into uproarious laughter.

"This is indeed a treasure!" Lin Wanrong carefully stowed the edict away, his heart filled with joy. "I have been commanded to woo women for the country; I'm faithfully serving the nation. If Qingxuan blames me, I have an answer for her. Now, who should I woo first? Miss Seo or Sister An? It's a tough choice!"

The Goryeo delegation had been staying in the capital city for several days, and their inn was near West Straight Street. Carrying the 'wooing' edict, Lin Wanrong quickened his pace. As he reached the inn's entrance, he stopped abruptly. Meeting by chance was always better than planning a visit, and if he rashly barged in to find Seo Jang Geum, it would surely arouse her suspicions. It was best to proceed with caution.

The inn was secluded, and aside from two guards at the entrance, there were few passersby. Lin Wanrong loitered around the entrance for a few turns, and the guards soon took notice. The one on the right barked, "Hey, who are you? What are you doing wandering around here? This is an inn for foreign guests, and loiterers are not allowed!"

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and approached the guards, "Two brothers, I'm not an outsider. Have you heard of the current Minister of Revenue, Xu Wei? His younger uncle's sister's daughter is my beloved."

The two guards exchanged glances. The younger uncle's sister's daughter of Minister Xu? What kind of relationship was that with Minister Xu? Lin Wanrong maintained his composure, taking out some loose silver from his sleeve and stuffing it into the guards' hands, smiling, "Actually, I came here today to inquire about something from you two honorable brothers!"

Upon seeing the silver, the guards' faces lightened, and they stealthily pocketed the money, maintaining a serious expression, "We, as law enforcement officers, never accept bribes. Don't underestimate us. Speak quickly and tell us what you need; it is our duty to assist you."

"You two brothers are upright and honorable. I admire you," Lin Wanrong gave a thumbs-up, looking around before lowering his voice, "Since you two are so cooperative, I won't hide anything from you. Actually, I am a top-secret agent dispatched by the Emperor, agent 007, code-named Bond, James Bond! Look here—"

He glanced around cautiously, opened his coat to reveal the 'wooing' edict, then quickly closed it again. The two guards only caught a glimpse of the words "Imperial Edict" on the cover and were so frightened that they trembled and were about to kneel. Lin Wanrong caught them, "Please, brothers, no need to be so formal. I always keep a low profile and never reveal my identity. Actually, I came here today to carry out a top-secret mission—"

"Please speak, Mr. Bond, please speak," the two guards hurriedly nodded and bowed.

The low-profile Mr. Bond slowly nodded, "Is the little palace maid Seo Jang Geum, who came from Goryeo, staying here?"

"Yes, yes she is. But, sir, you are not lucky; Miss Seo just went out."

"She's gone out? So early in the morning?" Lin Wanrong asked in surprise, "Did she go alone?"

The two guards looked at each other, their lips hesitating for a moment, seemingly afraid to speak. Lin Wanrong snorted, "What's this? Are you daring to withhold information from a secret agent like me?"

The two men quickly waved their hands, "No, no. We were initially intimidated by someone and dared not speak, but since Mr. Bond is a secret agent, how could we lie to you, sir? Miss Seo was invited out early this morning for a leisure outing. Accompanying her was the young prince from Prince Cheng's mansion!"

"Prince Cheng's young prince, you mean—Zhao Kangning?!" Lin Wanrong's eyes widened in shock.

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