I, the Treacherous Minister, Fell in Love with Someone Else—What’s It Got to Do with You, Empress? - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5: I Choose to Be Cao Thief!

“Ah?”

The female housekeeper hadn’t expected that the dissolute and flirtatious Duke Commander Lin Ming would even target her! She was so startled that she stepped back, her pretty face pale.

Her delicate oval face stiffened as she stammered, “This servant… belongs to Lady Lin.”

Lin Ming smiled faintly and said, “That’s fine. I’ll just let my mother know. What’s your name? How old are you?”

When young, one doesn’t understand the beauty of mature women. But when older, it’s still best to be like Cao Thief!

“This servant is Lin Wan’er, born of lowly status. I’ve served in the Lin residence for over ten years. Because I’ve taken care of Lady Lin for many years, I was granted the Lin surname. I’m thirty-one this year…” Lin Wan’er lowered her head, her face flushing red, speaking timidly.

Looking at her graceful, charming figure and the pitiful look in her eyes, Lin Ming smiled and said, “Lin Wan’er, just serving as my mother’s housekeeper is a waste of your talents. Why don’t I let you manage the entire Lin family? What do you say?”

Lin Wan’er was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. “T-This… how could I possibly! There are many others in the manor with more seniority than me. I wouldn’t even be considered for the head housekeeper position!”

Lin Ming said decisively, “I’m the Duke Commander. In this household, I make the decisions. If I say it’s you, then it’s you!”

Lin Wan’er was overwhelmed with gratitude and immediately knelt to thank him, “Heavenly grace from the Duke! Wan’er will never forget your kindness!”

Lin Ming smirked and said, “Then repay me now.”

With a single glance from him, Luo Feng led the others out of the room.

Seeing this, Lin Wan’er’s expression changed drastically and she stammered, “D-Duke! What are you trying to do?”

Lin Ming said with a brilliant smile, “I want to experiment on how to properly be a treacherous minister. Housekeeper Lin, you’ll be my first teacher—Teacher Lin!”

He stepped forward with a smile, closing in on her step by step…

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Outside the room.

The servants who heard the noise frowned and whispered, “Beast! He didn’t even spare Housekeeper Lin, such a good person!”

“Ugh! Even someone as stunning as Housekeeper Lin wasn’t spared. He’s just like his father!”

“Well, can you blame him? Born into nobility as the Duke Commander, and the most powerful minister in the Great Duan Empire!”

For the next two days, Lin Ming finally experienced the life of a top-tier official’s son and wealthy second-generation heir in ancient times.

During the day, his personal housekeeper and head steward Lin Wan’er managed all his affairs.

At night, it was Lin Ming’s turn to manage her…

Moreover, there were also several concubine maids who kept him company. He was so busy he could barely keep up.

However, as time went on, Lin Ming glanced at the remaining life expectancy left on the system and sighed deeply.

He couldn’t keep fooling around like this.

He had to get more from Ye Qinghuan.

So he summoned Luo Feng and asked if there was a shortcut to meet Ye Qinghuan.

Luo Feng honestly replied, “The fastest way is to go directly to the palace and seek an audience. But the palace is the Empress’s territory. If something happens to you there, Duke…”

Lin Ming’s eyelids twitched wildly, “What else?”

That option was out of the question. Walking into the lion’s den? He wasn’t stupid!

At least at home, if Ye Qinghuan flipped out, the experts of the manor could still protect him. But if he entered the palace, who knew how he might die!

“Then the only other way is attending court! The current Empress is diligent and attends morning court daily to handle state affairs. The former Duke also used to attend court every day,” Luo Feng said with a smile. “Besides, our Lin family still has many people in court. Even if you don’t attend, Duke, you can still control the court from behind the scenes!”

Unexpectedly, Lin Ming slapped his thigh and said, “Good! That’s a great idea! I’ll go to court! I want to attend court!”

On the court, in front of all civil and military officials, with their own Lin family members present, even if Ye Qinghuan was furious, she wouldn’t dare kill him in public!

“Spread the word! I, Lin Ming, Prince of Wei, Duke Commander, will attend the morning court tomorrow!”

As this news spread, the entire court and empire were thrown into an uproar.

After all, Lin Ba, the number one treacherous minister of the empire, had held enormous influence.

His sudden death disrupted the political balance, and all factions were now restless.

At such a moment, the new Duke Commander suddenly announcing his attendance at court was explosive news. It stirred waves throughout the Great Duan Empire.

Everyone was speculating about Lin Ming’s true purpose for appearing in court.

On the morning court of the fourth month, second year of Zhenming—

“Long live Her Majesty!”

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a large number of officials from the Great Duan Empire prostrated themselves before Empress Ye Qinghuan.

“The four western provinces are suffering from drought, with 30,000 citizens dead from starvation. Zhang Yichao, the regional military commissioner, requests the court to dispatch grain for disaster relief.”

“The Qiang people in the northwest have rebelled and killed the local governor. Requesting immediate deployment of troops to suppress them!”

“The south has been flooded. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are homeless. The Censorate requests the execution of River Supervisor Eunuch Li Xuan to calm public outrage!”

Every day, there were heavy national affairs to handle.

Though the Great Duan Empire appeared prosperous on the surface, it was already riddled with crises.

All this made Empress Ye Qinghuan furrow her brows deeply.

“In the end, it all comes down to money! Without money, how can we deploy troops to the northwest, provide disaster relief, or control the floods?”

Ye Qinghuan swept her gaze over the court and said coldly, “And the six great noble families who control the nation’s wealth—faced with such peril, not one of you is willing to contribute even a single coin. Can you face your country, can you face me?”

The representatives of the six great noble families stood silent, pretending they didn’t understand the Empress’s scolding.

Let her curse. As for money? No way!

This attitude made Ye Qinghuan even angrier.

These aristocratic clans, fattening themselves on public funds and doing nothing, deserved death!

Suddenly, she remembered, “Huh? Why haven’t I seen the Duke Commander today? Didn’t he say he was attending court this morning?”

As she spoke, her previously dejected expression lit up like she’d found money on the ground.

“Eunuch Li, how long has it been since morning court started?”

Eunuch Li replied, “Your Majesty, it has been two quarters of an hour.”

A quarter-hour was about 15 minutes, so it had been a full 30 minutes!

Ye Qinghuan’s lips curled into a cold smile, “So the Duke Commander has deceived the monarch? That’s a crime of treason!”

Her words caused a wave of uproar.

Even a fool could see that the Empress intended to use Lin Ming as an excuse to suppress the six great families!

“Your Majesty, I think the Duke may have had an emergency at home…”

“Yes! Perhaps he’s still heartbroken over the former Duke’s death and fainted!”

“We can’t declare him guilty so easily!”

Several members of the Lin family quickly stepped forward to plead for mercy.

And this was exactly what Ye Qinghuan wanted—grabbing hold of Lin Ming’s mistake to chip away at the Lin family’s power!

First, she would deal with Lin Ming, that brute, as punishment for what he did to her yesterday!

“Very well! For the sake of your pleas, I shall pardon his crime of treason. But while the death penalty is spared, he cannot escape punishment. Send the decree—penalize the Duke Commander—”

“Who said I wasn’t planning to come?”

Just then, a clear voice interrupted Ye Qinghuan.

Everyone turned to see Lin Ming striding boldly into the hall, dressed in his first-rank duke’s court robe, a sword at his waist. He cupped his hands toward Ye Qinghuan and said, “Minister Lin Ming greets Her Majesty!”

With sword-like brows and starry eyes, he looked much like the late Duke.

The court instantly erupted in chatter.

Ye Qinghuan was stunned.

This good-for-nothing… actually came?

“Minister Lin… knowing full well you were to attend morning court, why are you late?”

She quickly recovered and asked sharply.

There was no way she would let Lin Ming off so easily! Even if he showed up, just being late was enough to convict him!