Chapter 820: Chapter 820: 820: Chief Lin is a mystery_1

Lingzi twisted her little body, whispering, “Mother, I want to talk to Master Lin.”

“Oh, go ahead.”

Jiang Ning let her go.

Lingzi trotted over to Lin Shimo, looking up at him, saying, “Master Lin, when I grow taller, I’ll learn horse-riding from you, okay?”

Lin Shimo gently smiled and said, “Of course, you can. But by the time you grow taller, I may not be in the palace anymore.”

“Why?”

“Because Master Lin has to go home.” Wenzan interrupted.

“Then I will go to Master Lin’s house and ask him to teach me.”

“Master Lin’s home is very far away,” Wenzan said.

“How far?” Lingzi asked.

“This…” Wenzan couldn’t answer, so he looked at Lin Shimo.

Lin Shimo laughed and said, “My home is indeed far away. It requires a long ride by carriage and a long boat trip.”

“How long would it take?”

“At least two months.”@@novelbin@@

“That’s far.” Lingzi didn’t fully understand how long two months was, but if it required both a carriage ride and a boat trip, it would certainly be a long way off.

A little upset, Lingzi said, “Master Lin, can’t you stay? Please stay in the palace. You’re so talented, we’ll ask Grandpa Emperor to make you a high-ranking official.”

Jiang Ning listened to the innocent words of a child, neither interrupting nor restraining, just raising her eyebrows slightly.

She also wanted to know Lin Shimo’s answer.

In fact, as long as Lin Shimo showed the slightest interest in taking office, the Emperor would eagerly offer him any position he wanted.

But during these days in the Imperial Palace, Lin Shimo spent most of his time in the Imperial Academy, reading and discussing knowledge with other scholars, or in Elegance Palace, teaching the princes.

He rarely visited other places.

Other than Wenren Zong, he did not associate with other princes and ministers.

Even with Wenren Zong, their interactions were few and far between.

Everyone knew that Prince Li You had tried incessantly to win him over, but he never responded, seemingly uninterested in the prince.

Not interested in Prince Zhao, did that mean he wanted to support the Crown Prince?

Yet he never had any private interactions with the Crown Prince either.

An individual untouched by worldly affairs, a stranger drifting outside the established order.

This made him hard to fathom.

Most people thought of Dean Lin as a man aloof from worldly concerns, and his visit to the palace was merely a sightseeing tour without any other purpose.

However, Jiang Ning didn’t think so.

In her opinion, if one truly disdained worldly possessions, why would he venture into the most opulent place on earth?

If he was filled with great compassion, he should go to the rural areas, teaching children who couldn’t afford to buy books or stationary.

Did the palace children lack tutors?

The water that is too clear has no fish.

As for Lin Shimo, Jiang Ning was unable to see through him.

She always harboured doubts about him.

Lin Shimo gently placated Lingzi and, holding her hand, walked over to Jiang Ning and said, “I must apologize to you, Princess Consort. Your worries have merit. The little princess is indeed too young to learn horse-riding. From now on, I will teach her things that are more suited to her.”

Jiang Ning smiled and said, “Dean Lin, you need not blame yourself. This has nothing to do with you. I can see that the children are extremely fond of you. So, on behalf of the children, I would like to ask Dean Lin, how long do you plan to stay in the palace?”

Upon hearing this, Li Tingqian, Wenzan, and Lingzi all turned their concern towards him.

Lin Shimo paused before laughing and said, “Initially, I had traveled here to experience the splendour of the Great Sheng Empire, and had planned to leave after half a month.”