Young Prime Minister, a Hermit

Chapter 8

“No, your body in that world won’t disappear!” Zi Mo’s voice suddenly entered your ears. “It will just fall into a coma, and outwardly it will look no different from being asleep. Moreover, the time in this world is not synchronized with the time in your original world, so it’s hard to say which is faster or slower.”

"Stop eavesdropping on my thoughts!" I glared at him angrily. "Don't you know what the right to privacy is?!"

Zi Mo shrugged, a gentle smile in his eyes: "If you don't want me to appear in the future, you can turn your water chain and seal me inside. That way, you won't have to worry about me guessing your thoughts."

"You...can't you float away?" I stared at him in astonishment. "What's the point of staying by my side? I'll leave sooner or later."

Zi Mo slowly floated up and said, "First, it's not that I don't want to leave, but the magnetic field of the water chain in your hand attracted me; second, I just heard a lot about Lin Yu's deeds, and I feel that only by borrowing his identity can I fulfill my ideal that I have been pursuing for many years."

'What...what ideal?'

Zi Mo's brown eyes flickered between light and shadow. Though they appeared clear and clean, they seemed as deep and unfathomable as a cold, swallowing pool, making it impossible to discern the truth within. He merely curled the corners of his lips into a faint, cold laugh, his voice still leisurely: "Unify the continent of Ishu, save the people from their suffering, and let them live a truly peaceful life."

I stared at him blankly for a long while, then suddenly lowered my head and muttered dejectedly to myself, "Your ambitions are all so lofty! It's just a pity I'm not Qin Linyu, but the useless Lin Jialan, unable to help you in any way!"

"No! You can do it!" Zi Mo suddenly appeared in front of me in a flash, his eyes fixed on me as if hypnotizing me, and said in a deep voice, "I will teach you, I will help you, and before you leave, I will make you shine as brightly as Lin Yu in the court of Jin Yao Kingdom."

He paused, a deep sorrow rising on his face: "Wandering alone is too lonely, too desolate. That's why I was so excited when I discovered I could talk to you. But if this strong desire, so powerful it binds my soul, isn't fulfilled, once you leave, I'll drift away to the heavens again, or be sealed in some vessel, never to dissipate or be reborn. Garan, please, even if it's just to help me, please fulfill my dream for me, okay?"

Looking at that face, which was clearly only around twenty years old but so fair and translucent, and looked weathered by life, I felt as if I were being drawn into those brown eyes, and I was immersed in a cold pool, yet I didn't feel cold.

I sighed and nodded. 'Alright, I'll do my best before I leave!'

Chapter 6 The Humble King

Good morning, young master.

"Ha..." I yawned and said, "Good morning, Uncle Li."

Li Mu's kind smile instantly turned into a helpless one. He stepped forward and straightened my slightly wrinkled clothes, saying, "Young master, you can't always be so careless, acting like a child. Please go to the front hall; Madam is already waiting there."

What are you going to the front hall for?

Li Mu's expression froze, revealing a look of pity. He stroked my hair and scolded me with heartache, "Uncle Li advised you before not to always be so concerned about other people's affairs, but you don't know how to take care of yourself at all. You're like a child who never grows up. In the past, it was all thanks to Madam for taking care of you everywhere. This time, you've really suffered, haven't you?"

I gave an awkward laugh, nodded hesitantly, and dared not answer, in fact, I didn't know what to say.

Patting my shoulder, Li Mu chuckled and said, "Alright, today's breakfast includes your favorite snowflake crisps and Immortal Soup. Young Master, please go to the front hall. Uncle Li will go and clean your room first."

I nodded hurriedly and ran off. Oh, it was breakfast! You should have said so earlier, I was starving!

"Aren't you afraid that old man will find out some secret of yours when he goes in?" A clear, gentle voice suddenly entered my ears.

"Ah—!" I cried out in surprise, thankfully remembering what I'd done. I glared at the refined-looking man floating in mid-air behind me, muttering angrily to myself, "Please, give me a heads-up before you speak!"

Zi Mo raised an eyebrow (XD, a ghost can actually raise an eyebrow, what kind of world is this!), and put on a standard scholar's smile: "Yes, I will remember. Next time, before you speak, go in front of Jia Lan first!"

"Go to hell!" I raged and stomped around on the spot. A passing maid looked at me strangely, whispered among herself, and looked worried before quietly leaving.

Are you worried that Uncle Li will find out my secret? What secret could I possibly have? And judging from Uncle Li's appearance, he's obviously used to tidying things up. If he wanted to find out, he would have done so long ago.

"Galan, have you forgotten that I died long ago?" Zi Mo laughed heartily, then glanced at the two people who had left, frowning as he said, "They were just talking about whether the Prime Minister's illness was still not cured, and they have probably already reported it to your Emperor!"

"Huh? No way?" I was stunned for a moment, then glared angrily at Zimo, "It's all your fault!"

"What are you worried about?" Zi Mo crossed his arms, a lazy, indifferent smile on his face, but his eyes were full of confidence and anticipation. 'We'll meet force with force, and water with water. I'll be there to help you!'

I'm increasingly suspicious that this bastard did it on purpose! I want to turn the water chain to pull him back, but I'm afraid he'll get angry and refuse to help me later.

Sigh! I hurried to the front hall. I'd better tell Yunyan quickly, otherwise who knows what kind of trouble might arise.

"It's not surprising that the Emperor is coming." Yunyan served me a bowl of Immortal Soup and said indifferently, "My husband is now the Emperor's most trusted minister. How many important tasks does the Emperor have to entrust to you? With my husband injured, there are so many government affairs piling up in the court. I don't know how chaotic it is. Even if those two maids hadn't reported it, the Emperor would definitely have come to see you in person."

She paused, and seeing my pained expression, she couldn't help but laugh. Her smile was radiant, instantly brightening the room and making the guards on either side stare in disbelief. Then, in her melodious voice, she said, "Husband, don't worry. Although there are many matters to attend to in the court, with so many ministers helping us, there shouldn't be any major problems."

I suddenly felt something was off. Yunyan's tone of voice was strange, like she was putting on an act for someone. I turned to look at Feng Yihan behind me, who was looking extremely respectful, and finally my gaze fell on Zimo.

Zi Mo smiled and glanced at the guards and maids around her, saying calmly, "These are probably people assigned to you by the Emperor. Although they may not be here to monitor you, it is right for Madam to be cautious."

I nodded, already understanding. My eyes darted around, completely masking the smile on my face. My cold gaze swept over the guards who were staring intently at Yunyan, then I suddenly reached out and pulled Yunyan into my arms. Yunyan was slightly startled, then her eyes met mine. She immediately feigned shyness and murmured, "Husband..."

"You can all leave now!" I said coldly.

The guards had already broken out in a cold sweat when my gaze swept over them, and they hurriedly retreated, along with the maids, leaving only Feng Yihan behind.

None of them found it strange, as if it was only natural for Yihan to follow behind me wherever we were.

"Phew—" I let go of Yunyan and breathed a sigh of relief, saying with a frustrated look, "Honestly, they can't even let people eat breakfast in peace. Yihan, you can sit down with us too."

Yi Han didn't say much and sat down as well. Yun Yan kept chuckling, then suddenly grabbed my hand and said sweetly, "Husband, were you jealous just now?"

"Cough cough..." I almost spat out my spoonful of soup, and quickly shook my hand, saying, "Yunyan, are you asking for a beating!"

Yunyan covered her mouth and laughed until her face turned red before saying, "Now, Linyu, your reputation for loving your wife like your own life will be further enhanced, and I'm afraid that my crime of being jealous and forbidding my husband from taking concubines will be compounded by the charge of flirting in public, which is against public morals."

I awkwardly touched my nose, my face turning red: "Yunyan, I'm begging you, please forgive me."

"Alright!" Yunyan placed a snowflake pastry on my plate before speaking seriously, "Actually, the Emperor has been quite good to you. Although these guards are not your confidants, they were sent to you by the Emperor because he was worried about your safety after you were poisoned and nearly died last time. I estimate that if you ask to be removed, the Emperor will definitely agree to it, provided that your safety can be guaranteed."

I nodded, thinking to myself: Judging from the emperor's worry that day, he really cares about Lin Yu.

A snicker rang out, and I looked at Zimo in surprise, thinking to myself, 'Zimo, what are you laughing at?'

Zi Mo shrugged and didn't answer, but his expression clearly showed that he didn't take my words seriously.

"However, despite his favor and trust, he is still the emperor, and you are his subject. Lin Yu, you must never forget this." Yun Yan's tone shifted, becoming stern. "You wield considerable power, exceeding the bounds of a subject's duty, and these are things that can never be brought to light. The emperor isn't pursuing any of your transgressions now, perhaps because he hasn't discovered them, or perhaps because he truly trusts you. But regardless, you must always remember the saying, 'Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger.' Don't let his indulgence make you forget your position and status."

The solemnity and anxiety in Yunyan's eyes made my heart tremble, and I quickly nodded. Zimo's voice came from beside me: "Lin Yu's achievements today are absolutely inseparable from the contributions of this nominal wife."