Finest Servant

Chapter 5 So, You're a Little Girl (Part 2)

"Brother Xiao, let's talk, let's talk." Lin Wanrong sneered coldly, "As you said, I am indeed not a scholar." Seeing the embarrassment in Xiao Qingxuan's eyes and sensing he wanted to say something, Lin Wanrong waved his hand to interrupt him mercilessly.

Xiao Qingxuan could only bite his lip lightly, and give Lin Wanrong a slight smile, revealing a set of white teeth. His handsome appearance made Lin Wanrong's heart skip a beat, but he quickly turned his head away, feeling irritated.

Damn, this dead ladyboy is actually flirting with me. Lin Wanrong was extremely annoyed, but he couldn't do anything about it.

After finally adjusting his mood from being nauseated, Lin Wanrong continued, "Although I am not a scholar, I do not agree with their complacency. But I do not blame them, because the root of the problem is not with them."

"Not with them?" Xiao Qingxuan, this ladyboy prince, furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "I wonder what Brother Lin means by this?"

"It's simple," Lin Wanrong said slowly, "what we see now is a reflection of the people's livelihood in this country. And the people's livelihood is a barometer of a country's governance. Oh, do you understand what a barometer is?"

Xiao Qingxuan showed a forced smile, and Lin Wanrong was too lazy to explain it to him. He continued, "The scene you see now on Xuanwu Lake, with the abundance of officials and ladies shuttling back and forth, is the result of the country's public opinion."

Lin Wanrong was still not used to this unfamiliar place, so he directly referred to it as "this country."

"Public opinion?" Xiao Qingxuan clearly encountered another noun obstacle. He frowned cutely, which reminded Lin Wanrong of the story of Xi Shi holding her heart.

Damn, why did I think of such a nauseating metaphor? Lin Wanrong shook his head quickly, trying to get rid of the terrible thought.

Xiao Qingxuan looked at him and shyly asked, "Mr. Lin, can you explain to me what public opinion means?"

This kid really had a passion for learning. Now he called Lin Wanrong "Mr.," which reminded him of another meaning of that title. Lin Wanrong suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He would rather ask God to castrate him than be this ladyboy's teacher.

"Brother Xiong, can you please not call me 'Mr.' in the future? Honestly, I am a little allergic to this title," Lin Wanrong couldn't help but frown.

Xiao Qingxuan paused for a moment, then agreed, "Okay, Mr. Lin."

Lin Wanrong rolled his eyes helplessly. This damn creature was truly incorrigible.

Xiao Qingxuan apparently realized his mistake and blushed on his fair, jade-like face. He smiled apologetically at Lin.

Lin Wanrong didn't bother arguing with him. This was the first time he had spoken so much to anyone since arriving here a month ago, and he was almost suffocating. Anyway, he had plenty of time. It was difficult to find someone to listen to him ramble on about these things in this run-down place.

"As for the so-called public opinion orientation, or propaganda, as long as you grasp the direction of the propaganda, it's not a problem to create any kind of public opinion. If you want these officials to be happy and carefree, they will be. If you want them to be generous and patriotic, they will be. It all depends on the flexible use of means," Lin Wanrong said indifferently.

Xiao Qingxuan was indeed clever and immediately understood what he meant. He became excited and said, "Mr. Lin, you mean we control the pub--" He stopped halfway through his sentence, obviously having realized what Lin meant.

This kid was a talent, quick to react and understood the principle that words should be measured.

Lin Wanrong smiled coldly and said, "Whether it's happy and carefree or a national crisis, it depends on the ruling power's level. Although we're currently facing a national crisis, these officials are still happy and carefree, not feeling any tension. This is undoubtedly the fault of the ruling power."

Lin Wanrong had only been here by chance for a month and didn't belong here. He didn't have the mindset that the emperor was superior and wouldn't even kowtow to him. He was naturally a bit arrogant, so he didn't bother to consider his words.

In fact, only this flat-headed boy who feared nothing dared to speak his mind. Others, even if they had thoughts, wouldn't dare to express them directly.

Xiao Qingxuan, a loyal royalist, obviously didn't like Lin Wanrong's sneer. His face darkened and he coldly said, "Mr. Lin...Brother Lin, I think the current situation is not as you imagine it. The current emperor is at the peak of his power, working hard to govern the country. Although the northern enemy is invading, it's not necessarily a bad thing. As I understand it, the current emperor has great ambitions and is reforming the government, purging the bureaucracy, accumulating strength, and seeking to win the war without fighting, to boost our national spirit."

This boy actually knows to seek opportunities in a crisis, with a keen eye for it. Though he speaks in lofty terms, his words about the current emperor's glory and prosperity are nothing more than deceiving children.

Although Lin Wanrong has only been here for a month, he already knows that the current emperor is over sixty years old and has no children due to his wild youth. He only has two princesses, so talk of glory and prosperity is pure deception. That old man is probably impotent by now.

As for whether he is working hard to govern, that is not up to the emperor alone to decide. The people's livelihood is the best evidence. Compared with the sharp contrast between the elegance and beauty of Jinling and the northern war, the four words "working hard to govern" are probably just for show in the emperor's court.

Seeing the confident look on this Young Master Xiao's face, Lin Wanrong couldn't be bothered to argue with him. He sneered and said, "Good and bad deeds are judged by posterity. Xiao Xiao, since you have such extraordinary confidence in the emperor, I hope your feelings are correct and that he can benefit the people."

When the androgynous young man heard Lin Wanrong call him Xiao Xiao, he clearly had never heard such a name before and blushed. He glared fiercely at Lin Wanrong.

Lin Wanrong's thick skin was impervious to his contempt, but his cute little servant's face turned red and he clenched his fists as if he wanted to fight him.

"Are you saying you have no confidence in the current emperor?" The Young Master Xiao's face grew even uglier as he spoke slowly and deliberately. He seemed to have an imposing aura that ordinary people could not possess.

Unfortunately, Lin Wanrong was immune to such bullshit aura of nobility and power. In his eyes, the young man's petty thoughts were like a child's squabble. However, the red color that appeared on his face made him look more handsome.

If I were a lover of men, I would keep him. This sudden thought frightened Lin Wanrong. Who the hell is this androgynous person? He almost changed his sexual orientation.

"Confidence?" Lin Wanrong looked at him and smiled. "Xiao Xiao, don't place your hopes on that old emperor. People can only rely on themselves."

"You...!" The Young Master Xiao was so angry that his whole face turned red. He pointed at Lin Wanrong and said, "How dare you speak such blasphemous words against the emperor?"

His anger made his earlobes look like two shiny pearls with tiny red dots on them.

"Oh, so you're a little girl," Lin Wanrong blurted out.