A Scummy Alpha Emperor Transmigrated and Marked the Powerful Prime Minister - Chapter 15

In the novel, Lu Siling was the type who responded to soft tactics rather than hard ones. Cold as she appeared on the surface, she was actually very kind to those close to her. She was clear about rewards and punishments; after delivering a penalty, she was the type to send a physician or medicine to follow up.

Lin Jiayue figured: Why should I butt heads with her? Being “soft” is much more endearing.

“Teacher Lu is the person my Sister trusted most. She is the regent minister Sister left for me. Now that Sister is gone, I only have you.”

A late friend’s legacy is often a child. She was that child.

The original owner, caught in the middle of the political game, never truly saw what kind of person Lu Siling was. The Lu Siling she saw was perhaps the version others wanted her to see—an overbearing, power-hungry official usurping imperial authority. Consequently, she made what Lin Jiayue considered a fatal error.

But Lin Jiayue had read the original book. She knew exactly how Lu Siling felt about the late Emperor. To Lu Siling, the late Emperor represented gratitude, mentorship, and family.

If she had transmigrated just one day earlier, she could have done nothing at all and simply focused on winning Lu Siling over. However, since she arrived one day late, she had to use a two-pronged approach: wooing Lu Siling while simultaneously seizing power. If the “wooing” failed, her hold on power would at least ensure her safety. Lin Jiayue didn’t crave power for its own sake; she sought survival and freedom.

Lu Siling’s expression grew dazed. She thought of the late Emperor placing Lin Jiayue’s hand in hers, entrusting the hope of the empire to her. Through Lin Jiayue’s voice, she seemed to hear the late Emperor’s soft whispers:

“From now on, your name shall be Siling.”

“You have passed the provincial exams; it is time to take a courtesy name. How about Qingxuan? Your spirit is pure; you have always been thoughtful, and I hope you remain transparent.”

“Qingxuan, I have ultimately gone one step ahead of you. I cannot be the sovereign to your subject in a way that goes down in history for eternity.”

“Qingxuan… Little Moon and the Great Zhou are both entrusted to you.”

If she met the late Emperor in the afterlife, would he forgive her for what she’d done in her previous life? The way reality was unfolding made Lu Siling begin to doubt whether she was truly reborn or just waking from a nightmare. If it were a dream, why was the pain so vivid?

Quickly, Lu Siling’s resolve hardened. Lin Jiayue was the one who did wrong first, attempting to control her with such disgusting methods. Dr. Meng said that she had undergone a pheromone injection; even if it wasn’t a complete marking, her body had been affected. Unless Meng Wushang developed a stronger “Cooling Pill,” she would likely have to remain shut away at home for the three days of her Heat.

Either that, or go to Lin Jiayue for a solution.

Hah! Never. She would rather endure the pain of having her glands hollowed out again before she’d seek a “solution” from Lin Jiayue.

Lu Siling remained silent.

Lin Jiayue gave an awkward smile. She felt like she heard a system notification: Your opponent has disconnected. Still, Lu Siling’s aura wasn’t quite as freezing as before. It seemed her words were working.

“Teacher Lu…”

Lu Siling finally couldn’t help but interrupt. “Does Your Majesty have nothing else to do?”

“Of course I do!” Lin Jiayue replied instantly. She didn’t want extra homework. Who could understand the pain? She was a grad student, yet she still had so many assignments.

Just as Lin Jiayue was about to leave, Lu Siling spoke again. “The New Year’s break begins tomorrow. Your Majesty’s daily lessons are suspended. As such, I have had someone compile the best examination papers from this year’s provincial exams. Your Majesty may peruse them.”

“I don’t have to write a ‘reflection’… I mean, an essay, do I?” That was Lin Jiayue’s first reaction. Assigning essays during a holiday? Was she really that ruthless?

Reflection? Lu Siling thought the term was quite apt. Under Lin Jiayue’s expectant gaze, she shattered her hope. “You do.”

“On what topic?” Writing always required a theme.

“The Employment of Talent.”

Lin Jiayue: “…”

“Lu Siling, be a human for once!”

Lu Siling: “?”

Crap. She’d accidentally said her thoughts out loud. Lin Jiayue blinked, looking perfectly innocent. “Nothing.”

Lu Siling frowned, her cold gaze landing on Lin Jiayue. If she hadn’t misheard, Lin Jiayue just said she wasn’t human.

Aside from martial arts and calligraphy, Lin Jiayue’s other classes were suspended starting from the 25th day of the 12th lunar month. According to past habits, Lu Siling would usually still make time to teach her daily. During those times, the original owner’s mood would sour—the kind where her loathing increased by +1 and +1.

Lin Jiayue suddenly understood that feeling. It was like being on winter break; you thought you’d finished your homework, only for the teacher to post a new project in the group chat.

But the teacher was a beauty. Hehe, forgiven. Who could look at Lu Siling and still stay mad? She had an ethereal, gentle, and elegant aura—not flashy, yet impossible to ignore. Every gesture revealed a sense of composure and calm. It was the dominance of the head of all officials, yet she didn’t lose the tenderness and charm of a woman.

Lin Jiayue couldn’t deny it; looking at this face, she could fall in love at first sight. Who wasn’t a sucker for a pretty face? In the Yuri world, Lu Siling was the “ceiling”—high IQ, great job, wealthy, a gentle older-sister type. Even if they couldn’t date, just looking at her daily was good for the soul.

Mhm… it would be even better if she didn’t assign homework.

Lin Jiayue blinked. “Teacher Lu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Why did she even come here? She’d looked for trouble and ended up with more homework. At least it was just one “reflection”—it’s not like she had to write one for every single paper. After reading them all, she’d just write one essay on talent.

“Wait,” Lu Siling stopped her.

Lin Jiayue’s heart jumped. Surely not more homework?

“My dear Grand Chancellor, humans need rest. Just because I’m the Emperor doesn’t mean I should ‘study until I die’!”

Lu Siling was silent at first, then a suspicious shade of pink appeared on her face. Who is “your” Grand Chancellor? Her lips parted, but she couldn’t bring herself to scold. The person in front of her was the Emperor; she couldn’t curse.

“Today, add ten pages of regular script. I wish to see them before I leave the office.”

Lin Jiayue’s world collapsed again. Actually, that wasn’t what Lu Siling had intended to say, but the words changed the moment they reached her lips.

Lin Jiayue forced a joyless smile. “Teacher Lu, I truly love you.” (Grit-your-teeth version).

Lu Siling: “?”

Lu Siling watched her leave, the pink on her face deepening into a scarlet flush. Smooth-tongued bastard. When had an ancient person ever heard such a blunt “confession”?

Lin Jiayue was beginning to adapt to the profession of Emperor and fully accepted that she had transmigrated. Pretending wasn’t a long-term solution; she had to let people slowly accept the fact that the Emperor had changed.

Facing Lu Siling, she didn’t have any great ideas. After that night, Lu Siling already hated her guts. No matter what she did, she’d first be met with Lu Siling’s cold daggers. Better to just let loose. If she was going to die anyway, she might as well die relaxed. Of course, she was still very serious in front of others.

Lu Siling remained silent for a long time, the chill in her body slowly subsiding. She then opened the brocade box. Inside was Lin Jiayue’s essay and the large calligraphy characters.

The cursive script was indeed free-spirited. The young Emperor was not a free-spirited person. “The writing is the person,” so she had assumed the young Emperor was trying to take a shortcut—skipping regular script to slack off with cursive.

Lin Jiayue’s attitude just now had made her suspicious. Looking at it now, this hand was not a total mess. Though it wasn’t great, at least it was written with care. Furthermore, the foundation of the characters was unlike Lin Jiayue’s previous style.

Lu Siling pulled out the Emperor’s old writing for comparison; the styles were worlds apart. The Emperor’s old writing was stiff and lifeless—not nearly as airy as the current one. In Lu Siling’s eyes, both were subpar, but the change in style made her frown. A person’s handwriting doesn’t change that drastically overnight.

Could it be related to her hand injury? But she’d injured her left hand.

Lu Siling stared at the two samples for a good while before putting them away. After all, looking at two pieces of mediocre calligraphy for too long was quite taxing on the eyes.