Chapter 438: Chapter 436: "I Did It on Purpose
"Luo Yin Hai’s mother is suspected of withering away from old age, and Luo Yin Hai has already rushed home overnight."
"Zhu Yan’s younger sister’s husband is suspected of having an affair. After a fierce fight, they were both sent to the Medical Bureau for treatment. Zhu Yan has taken leave and left the Imperial Academy in the afternoon to handle the matter."
"Several other teachers have quietly left the Imperial Academy in the past few days and definitely won’t be able to return tonight..."
The metallic badge emitted a mechanical-like voice, narrating the personnel changes at the Imperial Academy over the last two days. Although everyone had their reasons for leaving, the fact that everyone’s departure was concentrated in just these few days, or even today, was enough to make the discoverer sense the calm before the storm.
This was also why Cha Huan’s midterm exams proceeded so smoothly ahead of schedule — the teachers had already arranged to use exams as a transition before leaving, perfectly aligning with Cha Huan, the attackers, and the teachers’ plans, albeit at the expense of the students.
Even though Le Yin had anticipated this, she still couldn’t help but express some surprise: "Luo Yin Hai and Zhu Yan are gone too?"
"Family is, after all, their last weak spot," said ’Yin’.
Withering away, meaning life is exhausted and one dies, is a very peaceful yet helpless death. However, this can happen multiple times. Even if one does truly wither away, there is a high chance of a return to life after a family member’s call, experiencing this ’I am dead, yet not dead’ phenomenon. Hence, Luo Yin Hai had to return to take care of his mother.
Zhu Yan is an old bachelor, perhaps the kind that accidentally becomes an ’end of the line’ single dog, thus immersing himself in education for ages. His sister, as his last family member, naturally receives his greatest care and attention.
From this, one can see how powerful Cha Huan is — he has no family; his only distant relative, Cha Shi, hides in the library under his protection. He has no home; his only old flame is the current highest leader of the Imperial Family, the Empress Dowager.
A madman without a weak spot, yet possessing immense prestige and political resources, even able to involve himself in the succession of the next emperor... There are too many elements to consider, no wonder he became the top priority on the urgent list.
If Cha Huan explicitly mentioned tonight’s crisis, he could indeed persuade Luo Yin Hai and the others to stay.
But Cha Huan didn’t tell them because he had already foreseen tonight’s script — the reasons why these important teachers would leave the academy must be responsibilities they cannot shirk.
Cha Huan, who never had any big picture view and disliked compromise, naturally wouldn’t use ’big picture view’ as a reason to ask his subordinates to ’compromise’. In fact, apart from soliciting help from the Empress Dowager, Cha Huan didn’t ask anyone else for help — Yan Yi and Yan Tong helped Qin Le Yin, not him.
Thinking this, Le Yin suddenly asked, "Yin, do you think Cha Huan is very pitiful?"
"Hmm?"
"Think about it, his close subordinates were all forced to leave, and the visible Yanjing martial pillars will remain silent tonight. In the vast Yanjing, not a single person will lend Cha Huan a hand. As Cha Huan returns to the Imperial Academy, facing the assassins lying in ambush, listening to the silence in Yanjing’s night, will he not feel a bit lonely?"
After a moment of silence, ’Yin’ expressed surprise that couldn’t be concealed in its mechanical voice: "Cha Huan will be assassinated tonight? ... Well, yes, if something happened at the Imperial Academy, he would certainly have to rush back. To ensure nothing goes wrong, they must ambush Cha Huan. In the eyes of those people, a dead Cha Huan is the best Cha Huan, so they will undoubtedly spare no effort and deploy all their forces to encircle and kill Cha Huan..."
Le Yin was a bit surprised: "You didn’t know? I thought you knew the inside story and that’s why you reminded me."
"...I only speculated that something big might happen tonight based on the teachers’ movements."
"Now that you know, do you have any thoughts? Do you want to help Cha Huan or kill Cha Huan?"
"The battle concerning Cha Huan’s life and death is beyond my capabilities to intervene," ’Yin’ paused, "Although we might feel that Cha Huan is quite pitiful, Cha Huan certainly doesn’t see it that way."
"How do you think he sees it?"
"He only thinks the enemy is pitiful, spending so much effort just to create an opportunity to assassinate him. The saddest part is, the enemy tried so hard, yet they still can’t kill him."
Le Yin thought for a moment, reluctantly admitting this better fit Cha Huan’s image: "You seem to know Cha Huan quite well."
"Are you trying to trick me into saying something again?" ’Yin’ grew cautious.
"Don’t mind these details so much; who knows, maybe I won’t be able to chat with you after 8 am tomorrow." Le Yin laughed, "Although Cha Huan is the main course, I’m also the appetizer that all these guests must try tonight... it’s almost serving time; let’s leave it here for tonight."
"Need help?" ’Yin’ suddenly asked.
Le Yin blinked: "Thank you, but no need."
"Are you worried I’ll harm you?"
"The two things I never worry about in this life: first, my fiancée betraying me, and second, you breaking our agreement," Le Yin said boastfully, "I have other plans, even if you’re not this snack, I am confident in stalling these guests to death!"
"I see." ’Yin’ paused for a moment before adding, "I heard the topic of your afternoon class was ’The Three Strange Silver Bloods, Qin Le Yin’?"
"Yes." Le Yin laughed, "Although it feels odd to talk about myself, if this appetizer unfortunately gets completely devoured by the guests, then perhaps this class might just be Qin Le Yin’s final song, which suddenly becomes romantic... Did you attend the class?"
"No."
"What a pity."
"No need to be sorry, you can always tell me about it later."
With that, ’Yin’ disconnected the communication, almost as if fleeing.
Le Yin blinked, then clenched her fist in excitement, silently cheering — Success in befriending ’Yin’!
But ’Yin’s concern was so subtle, just like Niruo, that old straightforward guy...
Yet, thinking that ’Yin’ might look similar to Niruo, perhaps being a seasoned warrior sniper veteran, Le Yin could understand — after all, men are like this; once upon a time, didn’t Le Yin also just say ’drink more water’? Even now. So, nobody should mock anyone else.
After drying his hair, freshly bathed Le Yin changed clothes. With a bit of time before the appointed time, he took out the newly received letter from Qing Lan, preparing to write a letter in return and give her a piece of his mind.
He had seen the statement in the latest issue of the Youth Daily, almost boiling his Ice Blood — how could there be such a statement?
It was making matters worse!
If before, everyone was just imagining things, then this announcement practically confirmed it!
The most obvious change was, after class today, more male classmates clung to him!
When Qian Chan Chen said hello, nearby girls’ eyes shone like stars!
The most outrageous part was when Niruo greeted him, boys showed jealousy, girls showed longing — this was too much, Qian Chan Chen was one thing, but neither Le Yin nor Qin Le Yin would ever fancy Niruo!
This announcement was better left unsaid!
He was certain, Qing Lan did this on purpose!
Le Yin opened the letter, wondering how Qing Lan would explain!
The first sentence of the letter was straight to the point:
"I did it on purpose."
"Actually, your request was unreasonable in the first place. Rumors stop at the wise, not at fools. People only believe what they want to believe, how would our explanations help? Even if I wrote down every detail of you and me, everyone would only believe you’ve done the same with Qin Le Yin, even providing more material for their imaginations."
"But I still wrote it intentionally."
"I want everyone you know to think you like men; I want all the girls you mentioned in your last letter to misunderstand you; I want you angry, embarrassed, to hate me."
"It’s not like you met me yesterday; don’t you know I’m such a bad-tempered, mischievous, scheming woman? Anyway, the newspaper is under my control, I’ll write as I please; what can you do?"
"If you have the guts, come back to find me."
"Come back."
"Come back, will you?"
"Or leave an address, White Night has already arranged it. I can come to Yanjing anytime, and then I will avoid White Night’s surveillance and sneak to see you, you coward."
"Don’t rush to refute; if you don’t let me visit, doesn’t that show you’re a coward? You must have many excuses like protecting me, but if you can’t even see me, how do you know I’m safe? Maybe this letter is actually written by Mu Qingmei, and Qing Lan has long since eaten herself to death from overindulging."
"Do you think Xuanzhu County is safe? Chenfeng assassinated Lv Zhong, and Chenfeng is in chaos; who knows when it might invade Dongyang again? The Storm Army on the horizon is restless, constantly loitering at the border, possibly marching south at any moment."
"It’s not exactly a peaceful time; just living carries risks. I know you have a grand plan, and results will come in half a year; if we just endure for half a year... I understand your reasons, but logic can’t kiss me, love me, chat with me, nor sleep in my arms — sorry, I’m just such a pleasure-seeking ordinary person, but the way I’ve become, surely you can’t avoid responsibility, now you’re reaping what you’ve sown?"
"So I’m not going to be reasonable anymore. I wrote it on purpose because I miss you."