A Scummy Alpha Emperor Transmigrated and Marked the Powerful Prime Minister - Chapter 2

“Grand Chancellor.”

Lin Jiayue heard the voice outside and opened her eyes. She stepped out quietly, light on her feet.

Lu Siling had already straightened her official robes. Clad in crimson, her back was ramrod straight as she strode toward the exit of Daming Palace. Amidst the clear wind and bright moonlight, even her retreating figure exuded an air of elegant rectitude.

Lin Jiayue could tell that Lu Siling was forcing herself to stay upright. The Grand Chancellor never showed weakness to the world; even when facing the interrogation of the entire court, she remained steadfast in her commitment to the reforms.

The moment the late Emperor passed away, people sought to abolish the reforms. In response, Lu Siling’s attitude toward them became increasingly forceful and autocratic. Because her stance was so unyielding, her public reputation grew worse by the day, with critics accusing her of usurping imperial power.

So many people attacked her that even the original owner of this body began to believe that this Imperial Preceptor, who taught her with such devotion, merely wanted to be a powerful official who made decisions on the Emperor’s behalf.

After the late Emperor’s death, Lu Siling became a solitary traveler on the road of Great Zhou’s reforms. Just like this moment: she looked as upright as a pine tree, but her footsteps were actually weak, and no one stepped forward to offer a hand.

The original owner had made extensive preparations for this scheme; Lu Siling’s people had long been knocked unconscious and tossed outside Daming Palace. Those left outside the hall were all trusted confidants. The one greeting Lu Siling was the inner eunuch Wei Jinming, whose glands had been removed in childhood and who had grown up in the palace.

While the original owner was carrying out the plan, Wei Jinming had been standing guard outside, privy to everything. It was obvious that seeing Lu Siling leave, Wei Jinming wanted to stop her but didn’t dare.

At that moment, Wei Jinming caught sight of Lin Jiayue in his peripheral vision and hurried to kneel. “Your Majesty.”

Lu Siling’s body stiffened for a moment, but she continued walking. In this moment, she had no desire to observe the etiquette of a subordinate; she only wanted to leave. Only by leaving Daming Palace could she escape the young Emperor’s control.

Lin Jiayue did not step forward to stop her. She simply watched her retreating back.

The winter morning was not yet fully bright. The snow that had fallen all night was thick, and because Wei Jinming had forbidden the palace servants from coming out, it had not yet been cleared. Lu Siling trudged through the snow, her steps uneven. Suddenly, snowflakes began to drift from the sky, as if the heavens themselves were grieving for her.

A second later, Lu Siling stumbled and fell into the snow. In her crimson robes, she looked like a stain of blood soaking into the white expanse.

Lin Jiayue rushed forward. “Is the Grand Chancellor feeling unwell?”

She felt like she was asking the obvious. After last night—even though she had held back and only performed a temporary marking—the poisoning had severely damaged Lu Siling’s body. She couldn’t hold on for much longer.

Lu Siling pursed her lips and looked at her, as if seeing right through her. She spoke with immense restraint: “If the Emperor is not upright, how can she rule!”

Hidden behind that look of disappointment were disgust, coldness, and ice.

Lin Jiayue was speechless. She could only lower her eyes and suggest softly, “I will have someone call the imperial physicians.”

Lu Siling did not have the privilege of using a sedan chair in the palace. If she walked back like this, her health might be ruined permanently.

“No need!” Lu Siling couldn’t hide the loathing in her voice.

Lin Jiayue felt that if she weren’t the Emperor and Lu Siling had a dagger in her hand, she would have been dead the moment she approached.

“This was my fault. Your health is important.”

She sounded completely lacking in confidence as she spoke. Who was to blame for Lu Siling being so weak? Certainly not the “new” her, but as the one taking the rap… well, it was also her fault for not knowing her own strength the first time. She seemed to have been a bit too forceful.

Lin Jiayue subconsciously ground her teeth. Seeing Lu Siling’s hostile expression, she quickly retracted her “fangs” and spoke with righteous gravity: “The thirteen provinces of Great Zhou still rest on Teacher Lu’s shoulders. Teacher Lu cannot afford to fall ill.”

The moment the words “Teacher Lu” left her lips, Lu Siling’s icy gaze landed on her face.

Lu Siling had been the top scholar in the imperial examinations. Upon entering the court, she served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. Not long after, she was sent to tutor the eight-year-old Lin Jiayue. She remained the backbone of the new Emperor’s court after Emperor Yingzong’s passing.

Since Lin Jiayue ascended the throne, Lu Siling had been the Imperial Preceptor. For three years, she had lectured the young Emperor daily, never missing a day except for major holidays. Only she knew the depth of her expectations for the young Emperor. It was easy to imagine how chilled, disappointed, shamed, and furious she felt now.

Lu Siling shook off Lin Jiayue’s hand and struggled to leave.

Hardening her heart, Lin Jiayue bent down and swept Lu Siling up in a bridal carry.

Lu Siling’s body froze. A flash of murderous intent flickered in her beautiful eyes. Her sense of duty as a subject and her affection as a teacher for the young Emperor had vanished completely. Now, there was only hate.

Lin Jiayue happened to look down, and their eyes met.

A chill ran through her heart. There was no emotion in Lu Siling’s eyes, only a frigid darkness. Lin Jiayue pretended she hadn’t seen anything and turned her gaze to Wei Jinming, who was prostrate on the ground. His trembling act was clearly a performance.

“Call the imperial physicians.”

“Yes.”

The deed was done. The original owner started it, and she reaped the “fruit.” Although she had been influenced by Lu Siling’s pheromones at the time, in this world, if a Qianyuan (Alpha) even saw a Kunze’s (Omega) foot, they had to take responsibility—let alone the fact that she had marked her. A temporary mark was still a mark.

Ignoring Lu Siling’s struggles, Lin Jiayue carried her straight to the neighboring Penglai Hall. Usually, lessons took place in Wenhua Hall. The original owner had claimed to be unwell, and Lu Siling, not realizing the young Emperor had “grown up,” had chosen Penglai Hall for their lesson as it was nearby.

To Lu Siling, Penglai Hall was better than Lin Jiayue’s bedchamber, the Hall of Two Extremes. After all, Penglai Hall was where the Emperor usually read and practiced calligraphy. Lu Siling taught here often, and in a familiar place, her defensive emotions wouldn’t be as high.

The main issue was that Lin Jiayue sensed yesterday’s events had been too traumatic for Lu Siling. As soon as she got close, Lu Siling immediately became vigilant. Right now, Lu Siling was like a cat with its fur standing on end; she’d scratch anyone who came near.

Inside Penglai Hall, there were only the two of them. Lu Siling remained in a defensive state, unwilling to say a single word to her.

Sensing that “discretion is the better part of valor,” and for the sake of her own life, Lin Jiayue immediately put on a sincere expression.

“What happened yesterday was my fault. I was the one who poisoned you, but I regretted it immediately after.”

“That’s why I gave you the antidote right away.”

“I will never do anything like that again. Teacher Lu doesn’t have to forgive me for now. Just watch my future performance, okay?”

“From now on, I will definitely follow Teacher Lu’s requirements and be a diligent, good Emperor.”

“I will definitely support Teacher Lu’s reforms. Whoever opposes them, I’ll have them flogged.”

She was out of options. Apologizing and repenting were all she could do. She couldn’t very well say she was a transmigrator—Lu Siling wouldn’t believe it. Instead, she’d think Lin Jiayue was making up ghost stories just to find an excuse. Confucians didn’t speak of “strange powers or chaotic spirits.” If she said that, Lu Siling would probably be even more disappointed in the “thing” she had raised.

Hearing Lin Jiayue’s words become more and more outrageous, Lu Siling frowned. “Court flogging must be based on reason and evidence. You cannot act willfully.”

She’s quite old-fashioned for someone so young, Lin Jiayue thought to herself, but she agreed earnestly out loud: “Teacher Lu is right.”

A shadow suddenly crossed Lu Siling’s face, feeling a sense of shame for her instinctive habit of instructing the young Emperor. She narrowed her eyes, masking the murderous intent within. She closed her eyes to avoid looking at Lin Jiayue. In her current state, she couldn’t win an argument with her.

However, during the young Emperor’s recent evaluation in horse riding and archery, she couldn’t even pull an eighty-pound bow. The Founding Emperor won the world on horseback, and it was required for members of the imperial family to practice martial arts. At eighteen, being unable to pull even a half-stone ritual bow was no different from being a waste. Yet just now, she had clearly felt the young Emperor’s arm strength.

Could it be that the young Emperor had been hiding her strength all along?

Lin Jiayue awkwardly pinched the bridge of her nose. Being a chatterbox really did make people annoyed. “Teacher Lu, are you hungry?”

They hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. Just as Lin Jiayue asked, her stomach suddenly growled.

Ugh… Already embarrassed, Lin Jiayue felt herself heating up. What a coincidence. Then again, “man is made of iron, but food is the steel.” Back when she ate at the canteen, she’d always act cute with the servers to get an extra scoop. She hadn’t eaten anything since arriving in this world yesterday.

The sky outside was gradually brightening. What time did the Emperor usually have breakfast?

On the Luohan bed in Penglai Hall, Lu Siling sat with her eyes closed on the other side of the table, ignoring Lin Jiayue. If one looked closely, they could see her hand gripping the edge of the bed so hard that veins stood out on her fair, slender hand.

Lin Jiayue glanced over and nodded inwardly. Those veins are perfect for an IV. As a former medical student, she hadn’t forgotten the basics—though she later switched to Law for her Master’s, focusing on Medical Law.

“Let me in! If you don’t let me in, I’ll bash my head against this wall!”

A sudden commotion outside caught their attention, followed by Wei Jinming’s arrogant voice. “If you die here, someone will naturally collect your corpse.”

Lu Siling’s expression darkened. Lin Jiayue immediately understood and stood up to soothe her. “Teacher Lu, don’t worry. I’ll go.”

Watching her quick retreat, Lu Siling lowered her eyes. What exactly was the young Emperor up to? Unless absolutely necessary, Lu Siling didn’t want to carry out a deposition. Lin Jiayue had been personally placed on the throne by the late Emperor, who had dragged his sickly body to court for the succession; it wouldn’t be easy to depose her, but it wasn’t impossible.

She knew very well that a deposed Lin Jiayue would have only one path: death. An immoral Emperor who couldn’t inherit the late Emperor’s legacy deserved to die.

Just as Lin Jiayue stepped out of Penglai Hall, she felt a sudden chill at the back of her neck. She looked back, feeling as if she were being watched by something ghostly. She steadied herself and shouted, “Wei Jinming, what are you doing?”

“Your Majesty!” Wei Jinming scurried over and knelt before her, his voice dripping with flattery. “Lu Siling’s maid is trying to force her way in.”

“Let her in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll drive her away immed—wait, what?” Wei Jinming’s eyes widened. “Your Majesty?”

What was wrong with the Emperor? Hadn’t they agreed to torture Lu Siling thoroughly before letting her go?

Lin Jiayue looked at Wei Jinming gloomily. “You should address her as the Grand Chancellor.”

Wei Jinming’s heart went cold. He bowed his head and—Slap! A crisp sound rang out as he struck himself. “Understood. It was this servant’s slip of the tongue.”

Lin Jiayue was startled but kept her face neutral. “Have the servants of Daming Palace return to their duties.” She still wasn’t used to this. Thank goodness she was the Emperor; if she had to slap herself at the drop of a hat, she’d rather be dead. “Go apply some medicine to yourself.”

Wei Jinming breathed a sigh of relief. The Emperor still cared for him. He wiped away a couple of tears. “Thank you for your compassion, Your Majesty.”

Lin Jiayue: “…”

“Let that… whoever, in.”

Lu Siling’s maid was a female Heyuan (Beta) named Guang Wei. Guang Wei kept her head low, suppressing the fear in her voice. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Even an Emperor who hadn’t taken full power was still the Emperor. Aside from those in high positions, who wasn’t afraid when meeting the sovereign?

Soon, Guang Wei saw the weakened Lu Siling. “My Lady!” She checked Lu Siling’s injuries in shock. “Was it the Emperor?” Guang Wei clenched her fists. “That tyrant! I’ll kill her!”

Lin Jiayue, who had just walked in, paused. That was a fast change in attitude. Should she go in or not?

Finally, Lu Siling spoke softly, “I fell on my own.”

She wasn’t lying. She had fallen in the snow that morning; she hadn’t felt the pain at first, but it had started hurting intensely later. Lu Siling didn’t even flinch, continuing to soothe the furious Guang Wei. She was like a different person compared to her previous cold, hard self.

Lin Jiayue admired her silently. She was the type who was afraid of pain—she’d close her eyes tight even for a blood draw. Tsk, a tough woman.

Lu Siling wasn’t just tough in speech; she was tough in action. Once she was free of her restraints, she was capable of anything—deposition, rebellion, you name it. The original owner had really been “the Old God of Longevity hanging himself” (seeking a quick death).

Lin Jiayue imagined a scene where Lu Siling held a small leather whip, dipped it in brine and chili water, and lashed her with it. She couldn’t help but feel a chill down her spine. That was a “hobby” she absolutely couldn’t handle.