Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 60

Episode 60
Xie Junling wrote about this in a memorial and handed it to the emperor. The emperor hated these sneaky activities, which treated the imperial examinations like a joke. So he ordered Xie Junling to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Xie Junling used himself as bait, infiltrating the enemy camp. From underlings, he tracked down several high-ranking officials, including Shen Yun, who served in the Hanlin Academy. This incident wasn't a major or minor one, as it wasn't actual cheating or leaking of exam questions; it was simply a case of corrupt officials trying to profit from lies. However, it was still considered a form of corruption, and it warranted action. The emperor was furious, reprimanding several officials in court, fining them several months' salary, and replacing the chief examiner. As for Shen Yun, his influence was limited, and the emperor's wrath naturally fell on him. He was demoted to the position of magistrate in Youzhou, under the guise of a trial period. Despite both being seventh-rank officials, with one remaining in the Hanlin Academy and the other assigned to a post in another province, even a fool could see that Shen Yun's return to Kyoto was a pipe dream, and he might end up serving as a minor magistrate in the local area.

Shen Yun knew that Xie Junling had taken on this case right after joining the Dali Temple, and he feared the emperor would look upon him with favor. However, his unsophisticated nature had also offended many ministers. Shen Yun darkly thought that Xie Junling, with such directness, would definitely not get far in the officialdom.

But Shen Yun forgot that what the emperor wanted was Xie Junling, a sharp knife. The smoother he was, the more harmful he was. The sharper he was, the more he made enemies, and the more the emperor trusted him. Because for a person like Xie Junling, only the emperor could rely on him, and only the emperor could protect him.

The emperor will also be at ease with such a loyal minister and will not be afraid that he will form a clique for personal gain. This is why the emperor deliberately cultivates a humble minister with no foundation. He wants to be the foundation of the loyal minister. The emperor is the emperor, and the ministers can only rely on him forever.

That night, Shen Yun came to Xie's house drunk and caused trouble, saying that he wanted to have a good talk with Xie Junling.

Xie Junling didn't want to see him at first, but when he heard him making noise outside, he was afraid that it would disturb Lu Baoer's rest, so he put on his clothes and got up to meet Shen Yun.

Shen Yun was just pretending to be crazy and stupid because of the alcohol. To be honest, he might not be really drunk.

As soon as the door was opened, Shen Yun, with a red face, grabbed Xie Junling's collar and gnashed his teeth: "Brother Xie! You bastard!"

Xie Junling wasn't afraid of the drunkard at all. Seeing him raise his fist, he showed no fear. He simply looked at him calmly, chuckling sarcastically, "You can certainly attack me, but if the emperor sees my injuries tomorrow, he'll definitely ask the reason. Am I saying that Lord Shen is drunk and causing trouble, or what?"

As soon as these words came out, Shen Yun reluctantly put his hand down. He slumped his shoulders, feeling completely out of tune with the Xie family. Xie Junling always looked down on everyone from a high place, as if he were a small ant, looked down upon by him. Shen Yun was very jealous of Xie Junling, jealous of his future success, envious of him being appreciated by the emperor. However, what Xie Junling had experienced, such as investigating the case of embezzlement of disaster relief funds in Tongzhou, might not have been successful if Shen Yun had been sent there. Or perhaps something had not been arranged properly, leading to him entering Tongzhou alive and being carried out dead.

Unfortunately, no one will admit their own uselessness. Shen Yun only saw the benefits that Xie Junling gained by coming back alive, but forgot how dangerous he had been.

He wanted to take advantage of his drunkenness to beat up the man who stabbed him in the back, but was scared back by Xie Junling's slow words.

Xie Junling chuckled coldly. He was merely using this sentence to test whether Shen Yun was feigning madness or genuinely drunk. He had the ability to analyze the pros and cons, clearly no drunkard. Considering they were colleagues, if Shen Yun had truly attacked him, he wouldn't have said anything in front of His Majesty. It was a shame, this man was truly a coward, only daring to speak behind his back.

Since she was greedy for money but refused to use proper means, she was secretly selling examiner information. Naturally, she would be punished. Xie Junling hated what Li Jiao did to Lu Baoer, but if Shen Yun was clean enough, he would have no way to start, let alone catch Shen Yun's handle.

Fortunately, Lu Baoer was fine. If Lu Baoer was in trouble, Xie Junling wouldn't mind letting Li Jiao have a fatal accident as well.

Shen Yun whispered in despair: "Why did you do such a heartless thing? If you had warned me earlier, I would have stopped and wouldn't have been exposed."

If Xie Junling wanted to investigate, he would not cover up for anyone.

At this time, he said calmly, "It's not that you're unlucky, but that you did something wrong. If you do something wrong and take the wrong path, and someone discovers it, then you naturally have to correct it. You should be thankful that it wasn't a major crime, otherwise you wouldn't be able to stand here safely today and still be a county magistrate. I've already shown mercy, you should know that."

Shen Yun naturally knew this. He was lucky not to be involved in any serious internal affairs this time. However, he was annoyed by Xie Junling's attitude that he could decide his fate. Why did he have the right to be so high and mighty and give Shen Yun guidance?
Xie Junling glanced at him and said, "If you really want to say that you have let me down in some way, then there is one."

"What?" Shen Yun didn't know the reason why he bit him so hard, so he listened attentively.

"My wife went to Baofo Temple a few days ago and ran into Mrs. Li. If the maid hadn't been the scapegoat, she would have caused my wife to fall down the stairs and hurt the child." Xie Junling said this and closed the door. He didn't know whether he felt relieved or not, but he was terrified at the thought. It didn't matter if the child was hurt, but if Lu Baoer had been in any danger, he would definitely not let the Shen family have an easy time.

Shen Yun was stunned when he heard the truth. He had thought of countless reasons, but never this one! It turned out that the bitch Li Jiao had harmed him!

Shen Yun completely forgot that it was because of his greed for money that he followed others to do such a thing to deceive the wealthy candidates. He was determined to vent his anger on Li Jiao and actually slapped Li Jiao for the first time in history.

Li Jiao was stunned by the deafening slap. She was furious and started to scratch Shen Yun. The couple fought fiercely and even alarmed Cui.

Cui never thought that Li Jiao could hurt her husband. She was so bold that she fell backwards in anger and fell into a coma.

In the end, the Shen family divorced Li Jiao for being unfilial. Li Jiao returned to the Li family. Since she had a difficult relationship with her cousins since childhood, she was invisible in the Li family, ignored. A few years later, she became a nun, never to reenter the secular world again. This is all a story for later, so let's leave it aside for now.

Xie Junling ordered his servants to close the door and hurried back to the inner room. He was chilled, so he stood for a long time in the warm, heated room, until the chill dispelled, and then approached Lu Baoer. Lu Baoer was still sound asleep. She knew Xie Junling had left, but she didn't care. Pregnant women have trouble falling asleep, and they have to lie on their side; otherwise, their heavy stomachs feel like they're weighing them down.

At this time, Xie Junling got back into the quilt and hugged Lu Baoer from behind.

Lu Baoer was woken up by him and asked sleepily, "What's wrong with my husband? What happened when he went out just now?"

Xie Junling was afraid that she would overthink it, so he said, "Nothing."

"Really?"

"Hmm." Xie Junling paused, then continued, "If my career fails and I'm demoted to a local official, what will you do?"

Lu Baoer said: "What else can I do? Of course I will go with my husband."

"Don't you want to be rich in Kyoto?"

"What's there to gain? I love my husband, and being with him is the best thing. What else is there to think about?"

Lu Baoer's words actually stirred up some waves in Xie Junling's heart. Indeed, if it was his Baoer, she would definitely be able to live well wherever she went.

She was happy, and Xie Junling always looked up to her light. When he saw her happy, his heart was bright, and when he saw her suffering, he would support her and protect her from the wind and rain.

Xie Junling relies on Lu Baoer to live, and it is because she is good that she always accompanies Xie Junling. It is not because Xie Junling is so capable that Lu Baoer enjoys the good life.

At this time, Xie Junling leaned in and kissed the tip of Lu Baoer's ear, and said softly: "Go back to sleep."

His breath was so hot that it made Lu Baoer itch all over. She quickly hid away and said to Xie Junling, "Husband, please don't kiss my ears. It's uncomfortable."

As soon as she said "uncomfortable", Xie Junling's heart was ignited. At this time, Xie Junling's eyes were like torches, and he asked in a hoarse voice: "Hmm? Uncomfortable?"

"What?" Lu Baoer was confused and didn't know what to say.

Seeing Lu Baoer's innocent look, Xie Junling couldn't help but kiss her lips and said, "Don't hide."

Lu Baoer blushed and said coquettishly: "Husband! I'm pregnant..."

Xie Junling's face was also red as blood, and he said softly: "I asked the imperial physician, and he said that it is also possible for a woman to be pregnant for three months."

Anyone who understands what he meant will know exactly.

Lu Baoer hadn't expected Xie Junling to be so shameless as to ask the imperial physician about this matter. Her mouth dropped open, unable to utter a single word. The moment she was distracted, Xie Junling had an opportunity to take advantage of her.

Even the old nanny was surprised that Xie Junling did not have multiple concubines during Lu Baoer's pregnancy. He was considered a rare loyal lover in the world.

When the old nanny heard Xie Junling asking for hot water, her face turned black. She had thought Xie Junling was so capable!

Xie Junling knew that what he had done today was quite absurd, and he did not dare to look at the old nanny. He just pretended that he had not seen anything, took good care of Lu Baoer, and continued to coax her to sleep. She had a good night's sleep.

(End of this chapter)