Early in the morning, Xiao He helped Lin Lang get dressed.
Lin Lang had been gone for nearly two months, and she had spent every day on tenterhooks, afraid the little bit of silver she had would run out.
Fortunately, Lin Lang had returned. Yesterday, she had pulled out every trick she knew and even learned a few new moves from him. Now she positively glowed.
"My lord, aren't you taking a few days off? Why are you getting up so early?"
"To listen to songs at the Jade Green Pavilion," Lin Lang said casually.
He had to wait at the Jade Green Pavilion. Ren Yingying might turn up at any time.
Xiao He: "???"
I used to be the best singer at the Jade Green Pavilion. It's only been a few days, and he's already tired of listening to me?
Are wildflowers more fragrant than the flower at home?
"My lord, will you be coming home tonight?" Xiao He looked utterly aggrieved.
"Of course. Have dinner ready for me." Lin Lang pointed at the bundle he had brought back yesterday. "Keep some of what's inside and take the rest to the money house to exchange for banknotes."
Xiao He opened the bundle and saw a pile of gold and silver, along with plenty of jewels and jewelry. Her eyes instantly lit up.
Hadn't my lord gone to Great Song to gather intelligence? How did he bring back so many good things?
That was what Xiao He failed to understand. Who would want to travel for work if there was no money in it?
For the next ten days, Lin Lang spent some time at the Jade Green Pavilion every day, then either attended a banquet or went home.
He did not idle away his time at home, either. He practiced either the Evil-Warding Sword Technique or the Child Skill, never slacking off.
Unfortunately, Ren Yingying still had not appeared, though his martial arts had improved considerably.
At the Hundred-household Office, Hundred-household Li gently nudged the lid of his teacup. "What has Lin Lang been doing these past few days? Is he feeling miserable?"
Did he think he could live carefree just because he had completed his mission in Great Song and returned?
Hundred-household Li called the shots at the Hundred-household Office. He intended to leave Lin Lang out in the cold, making his time as a Probationary Hundred-household less glorious than his days as a Chief Banner Officer.
A Probationary Hundred-household without authority was not even the equal of a Small Banner.
Standing before Hundred-household Li, Flag Officer Sun replied timidly, "My lord, Lin Lang listens to songs at the Jade Green Pavilion during the day. In the evening, he either attends banquets at the Gathering Abundance Tower or goes home to drink. He's living very comfortably."
"Everyone at the Hundred-household Office is saying Lord Lin will surely take over as Hundred-household someday, perhaps even become a Thousand-household and soar to great heights. They're all flattering him now."
What? Lin Lang spent every day listening to little tunes in a pleasure house and sipping wine at restaurants?
Hundred-household Li was displeased the moment he heard that. Even he, the Hundred-household, did not enjoy that sort of life.
"Go tell Lin Lang to report for duty tomorrow. No, today."
He wanted to keep resting? Not a chance!
Inside the Jade Green Pavilion, Lin Lang looked at the young songstress. "You really don't know any new songs? Didn't I tell you last time to sing about the things you do every day? Especially what you do at night. Art comes from life."
He had long since grown tired of hearing the same few songs every day.
The young woman was at a loss for how to answer when Wang Wu's voice came from outside.
"My lord? Lord Lin? Lord Li says you've rested for ten days, and it's time to return to duty."
Lin Lang rose with a regretful expression. "Next time, I'll personally help you write the lyrics. Just jot down what you do every night and tell me about it. Remember."
As they left the Jade Green Pavilion, Wang Wu flattered him. "The Hundred-household Office really can't do without you. A few days ago, Lord Li personally led some men to arrest a lecherous outlaw passing through. I think he was called the Wanderer of Ten Thousand Miles. In the end, Lord Li was the only one who came back alive. We lost more than a dozen brothers."
"It's nothing like when you lead us. Every time, all the brothers come back, not a single one missing. We earn merit and fatten our purses, too."
"That's why he told me to hurry over and invite you back to take charge of the Hundred-household Office."
Lin Lang felt a little disappointed. Hundred-household Li had actually survived Tian Boguang's blade. Apparently, he was quite good at fleeing for his life.
Lin Lang truly was in no hurry to return to duty. Earning money without having to work was something countless people could only dream of.
Still, going back to work was no problem. He had plenty of advanced experience in slacking off on the job.
"Let's go. Hundred-household Li is injured. I need to return and shoulder the burden of the Hundred-household Office."
Upon returning to the Hundred-household Office, he went straight to Hundred-household Li's office.
"I heard you were injured, Lord Li, yet you're still working. Such devotion to your duties."
Hundred-household Li looked rather grim. Tian Boguang, the Ten-Thousand-Mile Wanderer, was a wanted man. He had thought that killing Tian Boguang, combined with the silver he had spent greasing palms, might get him promoted to Deputy Thousand-household sooner.
Instead, he had not only failed to earn any merit, but had nearly died himself.
Had Tian Boguang not believed that killing a Jinyiwei Hundred-household would cause the court to send more experts after him, he might not have escaped alive.
Now he had earned no merit and lost more than a dozen men. Getting promoted would require even more money.
The wealthiest person at the Hundred-household Office was Lin Lang. Word had it that Xiao He had exchanged valuables for more than ten thousand taels in banknotes at the money house a few days earlier.
"Brother Lin, you're the man I value most in our Bailing County Hundred-household Office. I also helped you rise from an ordinary member of the Jinyiwei to a Probationary Hundred-household."
"But don't you want the Hundred-household's seat? I can recommend you to the Thousand-household. All you need to do is put up twenty thousand taels of silver."
"Going from Probationary Hundred-household to Hundred-household is a major hurdle. Without a recommendation from the Hundred-household officer in charge of the Hundred-household Office, you won't get promoted."
"And there will only be a vacancy for you if I move up. Every Hundred-household post is like a hole with a radish already planted in it."
Lin Lang inwardly sneered. You make it sound so nice. I pay, and you recommend me. Damn it, it's only a recommendation, not a guarantee, and you expect me to hand over that much money?
"Hundred-household Li, my monthly salary only comes to a little over sixty taels of silver. Where would I get that much money?"
"I do want the Hundred-household's post, but I believe I can earn the promotion through my own abilities."
He was already a Martial Arts Master. With strength like his, securing a Hundred-household post would be as easy as turning over his hand.
Besides, the intelligence he had given the Eastern Depot would definitely earn him merit.
If he wanted a promotion, Hundred-household Li could not hold him down!
The broad smile on Hundred-household Li's face vanished. "Brother Lin, there's no need to hide things from me. Your Xiao He's visit to the money house a few days ago couldn't escape the notice of us Jinyiwei."
Lin Lang gave Hundred-household Li a long look. This fellow had actually investigated me?
Every Hundred-household post was a hole with a radish already planted in it?
Then if the Hundred-household died, wouldn't that leave the hole empty?
As Hundred-household Li waited for Lin Lang's response, Flag Officer Sun hurried in. "Lord Li, Thousand-household Liu from the Thousand-household Office is here. Please hurry out to welcome him."
Hundred-household Li froze for a moment. Why had Thousand-household Liu suddenly come without any advance notice?
Had the silver he sent last time worked? Had Thousand-household Liu come to bring him the good news of his promotion?
"Brother Lin, I've given you an opportunity. Whether you seize it is up to you."
"Some opportunities, once missed, will leave you regretting it for the rest of your life!"
He rose to go welcome Thousand-household Liu, but Flag Officer Sun added, "Lord Lin, please come as well. The Thousand-household specifically asked to see you."
Hundred-household Li froze. Why did Thousand-household Liu want to see Lin Lang?
A vague, ominous suspicion began to stir in his mind.
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