"Your Majesty, this is what I picked up in the pond of Qingtangyuan. Please take a look."
Mu Linyi took it and his face instantly darkened.
"The Ling family's token. Lier, when you went to Qingtangyuan, did you only see me there?"
Hearing this, Concubine Li began to sob softly. "What does Your Majesty mean? Does it mean that Your Majesty wasn't bathing alone in Qingtangyuan?"
"Yes, yes, of course I was! Look at you, why are you crying?"
Mu Linyi patted her on the back to comfort her.
So, Concubine Li didn't bump into that woman. Could it be that she was taken away by someone from the Ling family?
"By the way, Your Majesty, I also met someone."
Mu Linyi looked into Concubine Li's eyes. "Who did you meet?"
"I only saw his back. Moreover, he seemed to be in a hurry. Besides, he was very fat."
"Very fat? Isn't that Ling Yu, the only son of Ling Xianyin!"
Concubine Li took the bowl from Mu Linyi's hand. "I don't know about that. After all, I didn't see his face."
Mu Linyi glanced at Concubine Li. The deep cleavage on her chest stimulated him.
He hooked her with his big hand, pulled Concubine Li onto the bed, buried his head in her neck and kissed her roughly.
Concubine Li reached out and hooked his neck, suppressing the nausea in her heart and catering to him.
...
Ling Yu didn't know that he was about to be in big trouble. After taking his medicine, he stood at the door and waved to the servant.
He whispered, "Go and bring that kid to me."
The servant nodded. He went to the side hall, and then the young boy was pushed and shoved into the room.
Ling Yu was wearing a cyan inner robe and half - lying on the bed with his legs dangling.
The young boy was still wearing that thin white robe. He was pushed in and stood there nervously, his hands clutching the clothes on both sides.
When Ling Yu saw the boy come in, he got up from the bed, smiled obscenely and waved to the boy.
"Come here, come to Master."
The boy stood still. Ling Yu sneered and licked his lips, then took out a short whip from under the pillow.
Seeing this, the boy's body trembled slightly and he gradually moved his steps towards the door.
Ling Yu rushed towards the boy excitedly with the whip in his hand.
At this time, the door opened. The boy quickly ran out, but Ling Yu didn't react in time. When he rushed forward, he fell right into Ling Xianyin's arms who was standing at the door.
Before he could stand up straight, Ling Xianyin raised his hand and gave him a big slap, which made him take several steps back.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at his father. He looked so submissive that he was completely different from just now. "Father!"
Ling Xianyin pointed at Ling Yu, looking extremely disappointed.
"Don't call me father. I don't have such a good - for - nothing son!"
Then he turned around and ordered the people outside the door, "Come here, drag this stinky boy down and break his legs!"
Seeing that his father was serious, Ling Yu quickly stepped forward and grabbed Ling Xianyin's sleeve. "Father, I was wrong. I'll never dare again! Don't be so angry. Take care of your body."
Ling Xianyin pointed at the young boy. "I'm asking you, where did you get this kid? Where are his family?"
Ling Yu lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong. "How would I know? I picked him up from a beggar's den."
Ling Xianyin was so angry that his beard seemed to fly up. "I just asked you to supervise the porridge - giving outside the city gate for a few days, and you brought back a kid. And this kid turns out to be the only precious son of the Right Prime Minister, Gu Fucheng!"
He was so angry that his whole body trembled. Looking down and seeing the whip in Ling Yu's hand, he snatched it and started whipping him!
Ling Yu ran back and forth in the room, shouting, "Father, stop hitting! Your son dare not do it again. Your son really dare not do it again!"
"It's too late! The Regent is already here in front!"
At this time, Mo Qinghuan and Mu Yanming, who were impatient waiting in the front hall, were walking towards here. When they were outside the gate, they heard Ling Yu's pig - like howls.
"Ahem." Mu Yanming coughed lightly. Ling Xianyin quickly came forward to salute. "Your humble subject pays respects to the Regent. Your humble subject was just teaching this good - for - nothing. I'm making you laugh."
Mu Yanming looked at the young boy cowering behind the pillar. Mo Qinghuan also followed Mu Yanming's gaze.
The young boy was shivering there.
She walked over, squatted down and gently patted the young boy's shoulder. The boy trembled even more.
"Don't be afraid. We're here to take you home."
The young boy looked up at Mo Qinghuan. His red - rimmed eyes instantly stabbed at Mo Qinghuan's heart, and her heart also ached.
"Lord Ling, how do you think you should explain this to the Right Prime Minister?"
Lord Ling knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, your humble subject knows that this unfilial son deserves to die. But your humble subject begs Your Highness to say a word for him. As long as Your Highness says a word, he will surely be able to survive!"
Only then did Ling Yu understand why his father was so angry. He didn't expect that he had kicked a hard rock. His father was trying to save him!
He knelt on the ground too, hanging his head without saying a word.
Mu Yanming sneered. Bai Ke stepped forward to help Ling Xianyin up. "Lord Ling, it's not impossible for you to get help, but you have to show Your Highness your sincerity. Am I right?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Your humble subject must be sincere. Your humble subject has a clue about that incident back then!"
Mu Yanming raised his eyebrows and looked at Ling Xianyin. "As long as Lord Ling's clue is weighty enough, I'll spare your son's life."
Lord Ling supported his knees and stood up. "Your Highness, this way please."
Mu Yanming looked at Mo Qinghuan. Mo Qinghuan averted her eyes and led the young boy out.
"Bai Ke, take them back to the mansion first."
Bai Ke nodded.
...
Ling Xianyin led Mu Yanming to the study. He pushed open the door. There was a landscape painting hanging right in front of the door, and there were bookshelves on both sides. Standing at the door, Mu Yanming saw Ling Xianyin walking towards the center on the left side. There was an open book on the desk.
He picked up the book, revealing the desktop, and then gently knocked three times. A box popped out from the upper - right corner of the desk. He took out a key from his waist, opened the box, and then took out the key inside the box. He walked towards the calligraphy and painting.
Then he gently knocked on the wall where the scroll of the calligraphy and painting was. The calligraphy and painting automatically rolled up, triggering the mechanism at the top. A square grid appeared on the wall, and there was a box inside.
Ling Xianyin carefully took out the box. After opening it, there was a scroll in the grid.
He took it out and handed it to Mu Yanming. Seeing this series of mechanisms, even Mu Yanming, who was so well - informed, couldn't help but praise, "My lord's mechanisms are really wonderful!"
"Your Highness, this scroll records the list of people who participated in the ambush of General Mo back then, as well as... the ins and outs of the whole thing."
Mu Yanming tightly clenched his hand in his sleeve.
He took the scroll and walked out. Ling Xianyin followed behind and reminded him again, "Your Highness, my son's life!"
Mu Yanming didn't stop walking. "Send him to prison for a formality. It's inevitable for him to suffer some hardships, but I've said I'll spare his life. My lord can rest assured!"
Ling Xianyin finally showed a smile on his face. He responded several times and nodded.
Mu Yanming tightly held the scroll and returned to the Regent's Mansion.
He saw that someone from the Gu family had already come and was waiting in the main hall. Strangely enough, it wasn't the Right Prime Minister, Gu Fucheng!