Chapter 107: Simply Too Wicked (Three Updates, Please Vote)

The atmosphere in the imperial garden suddenly turned unbearably awkward. The thousand-strong imperial guards and Yang Lin all bowed their heads in silence, overwhelmed by shame.

In contrast, Li Lizhi couldn’t help but beam proudly, her face flushed with delight. Seeing that Li Yi had defeated Yang Lin with a single move so cleanly and honorably, she lifted her chin and chuckled with a hint of triumph.

“Father, Mother, didn’t I tell you Taiji is formidable? How could anyone dare underestimate it? Hmph!” Li Lizhi boasted, shaking her small, delicate fists.

Emperor Taizong and Empress Zhangsun exchanged an exasperated glance. Startled, Li Lizhi quickly shrank her neck and puckered her lips, obediently standing aside and choosing to keep silent.

Yet, the moment she recalled how Li Yi had feigned weakness before Yang Lin, she couldn’t help but stifle a giggle.

“That Li Bo’an is downright mischievous!” Li Lizhi muttered softly to herself.

Though her voice was low, Empress Zhangsun, standing nearby, heard her clearly. The empress frowned and shot her a stern glare. Li Lizhi immediately composed herself, pursing her lips and shaking her head like a rattle, signaling she would say no more.

Sighing wryly at Li Lizhi beside her, Empress Zhangsun found the situation both amusing and frustrating.

At that moment, seeing Yang Lin utterly defeated by Li Yi’s single move, his head bowed in utter shame, Emperor Taizong finally broke the awkward silence with a serious tone.

“Yang Lin, do you still think Taiji is mere flashy, empty moves?” His voice was calm but carried unmistakable reproach.

Yang Lin’s heart sank. He fully understood the implicit blame in the emperor’s words, causing him to tremble all over.

“I, your humble servant, admit my guilt, Your Majesty,” Yang Lin quickly said, bowing with a mixture of fear and respect. “It was my fault for being shortsighted and failing to recognize the power of Taiji. I beg Your Majesty’s punishment!”

Emperor Taizong’s face remained impassive, but with a subtle glance, his eyes flicked toward Li Yi.

Yang Lin understood immediately: the emperor was giving him a way out.

He quickly turned to Li Yi, offering a perfunctory bow. “Your servant offended Doctor Li just now. I hope Doctor Li can forgive me. I humbly apologize.”

With that, Yang Lin made a grand gesture of apology, though insincere.

Li Yi was momentarily stunned. Yet after a moment’s thought, seeing that Emperor Taizong neither pardoned nor publicly punished Yang Lin, Li Yi instantly grasped the emperor’s intent.

He nodded calmly, waving his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. Recognizing one’s mistakes and correcting them—that’s what makes a good person.”

“Thank you, Doctor Li, for your magnanimity and forgiveness,” Yang Lin replied without hesitation, then quickly turned his back.

He didn’t want to look at Li Yi again, nor say another word.

But just after he finished his thanks, Yang Lin suddenly felt there was something off about Li Yi’s words—something subtle yet unsettling.

Frowning thoughtfully for a moment, he suddenly realized with rising anger.

“Recognizing mistakes and correcting them makes a good person?”

Damn it!

Li Yi’s tone was unmistakably that of an elder lecturing a junior.

Was he treating Yang Lin like a child?

Fuming, veins bulging on his forehead, Yang Lin clenched his teeth and glared fiercely at Li Yi, his mouth slightly open as if to unleash a torrent of curses to vent his rage.

Yet at this moment, he couldn’t find a reason to be angry.

Emperor Taizong had already given him a chance, and he had publicly apologized to Li Yi. Now he could only respond with a forced smile.

He felt as if a thousand wild horses thundered overhead, and with embarrassment, he nodded and fell silent.

Everyone who caught the meaning behind Li Yi’s words watched Yang Lin’s complexion shift like a magic trick, pale one moment and flushed the next, until finally he was left speechless and silent. The onlookers couldn’t help but cough to suppress their laughter.

They hadn’t expected that Li Bo’an was not only skilled in martial arts but also formidable with words.

Yang Lin had unwittingly suffered a silent defeat.

“From now on, we must never offend Li Bo’an again—this man is just too sly!” the thousand imperial guards silently vowed.

As for Yang Lin, they had long since lost interest in him.

He had now offended the emperor, Empress Zhangsun, the princess, and Li Yi. His prospects for promotion were surely doomed.

The imperial guards no longer wished to associate with him.

Hearing Li Yi’s words, Emperor Taizong and Empress Zhangsun both twitched at the corners of their mouths, realizing they still had much to learn about their son.

But at this point, they could not allow matters to worsen under their watch.

Emperor Taizong exchanged a look with Empress Zhangsun, then waved dismissively and instructed the others, “Alright, all of you may leave now. Li Bo’an, stay behind.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the imperial guards breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and promptly withdrew, taking up positions outside the garden.

Empress Zhangsun and Li Lizhi also bowed slightly to Emperor Taizong before leaving the imperial garden.

Yet when Li Yi saw everyone depart in succession, leaving only himself and the emperor in the vast garden, he felt a pang of unease.

“Could it be that I misspoke earlier and the emperor intends to punish me?” Li Yi wondered anxiously.

The thought unsettled him.

But as Emperor Taizong hadn’t spoken, Li Yi dared not break the silence and instead stood there lost in thought.

After a moment, Emperor Taizong finally spoke, his tone gentle.

“Li Aiqing, how have you been finding the Imperial Medical Bureau?”

Li Yi was taken aback but saw the emperor’s smiling face and replied honestly, “Your Majesty, I find the Imperial Medical Bureau quite good.”

“So... there must be some shortcomings?” Emperor Taizong teased with a smile.

“There is nothing amiss,” Li Yi answered.

“Then tell me why you ordered Wei Zichao to be arrested and sent to the bureau for punishment without informing me?” Emperor Taizong narrowed his eyes, smiling lightly.

Li Yi’s eyelids twitched involuntarily.

He had not expected the emperor to bring up this matter.

But what did the emperor’s words mean exactly?

Was he about to punish him or something else?

Puzzled, Li Yi pondered silently for a moment before taking the initiative to admit fault and then truthfully recounted the entire incident to Emperor Taizong.

To Li Yi’s surprise, the emperor showed no shock. Instead, he smiled warmly and nodded approvingly.

“Li Bo’an, you handled this matter very well!”

“So, Your Majesty, does that mean you will not punish me?” Li Yi asked curiously.

“You did nothing wrong. Why would I punish you?” Emperor Taizong replied with a laugh.

Li Yi was speechless.

All his worries had been for nothing.

At that moment, the emperor’s eyes crinkled with crow’s feet as he smiled gently and spoke earnestly.

“Li Bo’an, I have entrusted you with this token. It grants you authority to manage anyone in the Imperial Medical Bureau below the chief physician. Do you understand now?”

Li Yi was astonished, his eyebrows dancing in surprise.

He had never imagined that this small golden token wielded such power!

“So, that means I, Li Bo’an, am now a high official in my own right?” He allowed his thoughts to wander blissfully.

But then he realized the responsibility might be too heavy to bear. He bowed slightly, prepared to decline the honor.

Emperor Taizong waved him off decisively.

“No refusals! I see your hesitation. But if you dare abuse your power or engage in corruption, I will hold you accountable!”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will remember your words well!” Li Yi replied with a grateful smile.

[End of Chapter Three]