HMIME Chapter 13: The substitute turned out to be myself.

Bai Lu was forced to move back to Chu Ya’s bedroom and lay on his bed for two days. Only after he was almost healed from his injuries did Chu Ya allow him to leave the Bailu Palace.

During the two days of recuperation, although Chu Ya took good care of him, almost all his needs were met, nevertheless, Bai Lu still had some lingering shadows, experiencing for the first time the strictness and terror of the palace rules.

As Chu Ya expected, Bai Lu temporarily suppressed his thoughts of escaping. Partly because being beaten was indeed painful, and partly because of Captain Geng whom he encountered that night – he was caught before even leaving Bai Lu Palace; how could he possibly breach the palace’s eight gates and escape Chu Ya’s influence?

There is a saying, “Under the sky, all are the emperor’s subjects.” Bai Lu did not want to live the life of a fugitive hiding and running after going outside.

However, it was evident that Chu Ya still didn’t fully trust him. As soon as Bai Lu stepped out of Bai Lu Palace’s gate, a figure silently followed behind him, neither near nor far. Bai Lu moved, they moved; Bai Lu stopped, they stopped, maintaining a distance of three meters, silently trailing him.

Bai Lu impatiently halted his steps, turned back, and asked, “Why are you always following me? Is there a stalker in this era? Brother, following me is futile. Although I do look delicate now, I’m not a girl. Should I show you?”

The man was tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with regular features, dressed in a black narrow-sleeved guard uniform with gold trim, and a long sword hanging from his waist. He maintained a poker face and said flatly, “This is His Majesty’s order; it has nothing to do with whether Lin Gongzi is a man or a woman.”

Bai Lu couldn’t help but click his tongue, “It’s that bastard again!”

The poker-faced man said, “His Majesty mentioned your previous record and wants close surveillance.”

“Just like an emperor, monitoring so openly…”

Bai Lu suddenly looked closely at the man’s face, slightly puzzled, “Why do I feel like I’ve seen you before?”

The poker-faced man briefly said, “I am Ling Feng, we met once outside the Qingya Palace with Lin Gongzi.”

Bai Lu suddenly realized, “You’re the one who commented on my appearance that time, you are…”

He looked at Ling Feng’s attire up and down, “A guard?”

“Imperial Guard.” Ling Feng added sternly.

Bai Lu understood, “Got it, a personal bodyguard.”

He thought for a moment, then, with no one around, quickly approached Ling Feng, covering his mouth halfway with his hand, and whispered, “How much does an Imperial Guard earn in a month? Can you reveal that?”

“…Eighty taels of silver.”

“Eighty?!” Bai Lu was shocked, quickly counting on his fingers. Eighty taels of silver, eighty thousand a month, ten times what a palace maid earns!

Bai Lu swallowed hard, the idea of ‘eighty thousand a month’ constantly running through his mind.

Indeed, although Bai Lu had been in a relationship with the eldest son of a Chu family surnamed for three years, he was financially incompetent, even considering giving up his pride to work for Chu Ya.

Bai Lu coughed awkwardly and asked, “Um, do you still recruit guards? Even regular ones will do.”

Ling Feng replied, “I haven’t heard of any guard recruitment, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs seems to lack a few…”

“Stop!” Bai Lu immediately cut off Ling Feng’s words, feeling like this conversation was oddly familiar – could being a eunuch be his fate in this life?

Bai Lu felt a chill down his spine, a sudden unease.

As they were talking, a team of about ten guards patrolled nearby, led by Captain Geng from that night.

Captain Geng, named Geng Qing, was as his name suggested, handsome and slender, one of the deputy commanders of the second-grade guards in the palace. Dressed in a navy blue guard uniform, he exuded a dignified and elegant air.

Geng Qing had visited Bai Lu once during his recovery, apologized sincerely, and even brought gifts, showing more self-awareness than Chu Ya. Bai Lu had gotten to know him through this.

Now Geng Qing caught sight of Bai Lu and Ling Feng, quickly leaving his team and running over. He first bowed to Ling Feng respectfully, then turned to Bai Lu, “What a coincidence, why are you here? Eunuch Wang was looking for you at Bai Lu Palace but couldn’t find you.”

Bai Lu was puzzled, “What did he want?”

Geng Qing explained, “His Majesty issued an edict to give you a new name. You were called Lin Xiao’an, but His Majesty didn’t like it and wants to change it to Bai Lu.”

“…Oh.”

Bai Lu had no objections. Others had always called him Lin Gongzi, and he had no strong attachment to the name.

But Geng Qing looked serious, his eyes scrutinizing Bai Lu.

Bai Lu felt uneasy under his gaze, “Is there something wrong with the name?”

“It’s not that…” Geng Qing mysteriously hinted, “Do you know who Bai Lu is?”

Bai Lu thought it was him, but pretended to be confused, “Who is he?”

Geng Qing cautiously looked around, leaned in closer to Bai Lu’s ear, and whispered, “I’ve heard rumors that Bai Lu was His Majesty’s former lover, but I don’t know why they separated. His Majesty has been pining for him for the past two years. It’s said that Bailu Palace was named after this person.”

Bai Lu remained expressionless, “Oh, and then?”

“Brother, aren’t you getting it? Do you know why His Majesty suddenly took a liking to you, changed your name to Bai Lu? Most likely, you resemble Bai Lu in some way and are seen as a replacement…!”

Before Geng Qing could finish, Ling Feng kicked him on his knee, causing him to cry out in pain and tumble down the stairs, rolling smoothly down.

Ling Feng coldly stated, “Don’t speak rashly about His Majesty’s affairs.”

Although his gaze instinctively drifted towards Bai Lu, showing some concern.

Only then did Geng Qing realize his mistake, quickly dusting himself off, and climbing back up the stairs, flustered, “Uh, I was just talking nonsense. We don’t know each other well; I definitely stand on your side. You are definitely much better than that so-called Bai Lu.”

Bai Lu: “…”

He didn’t even know how to explain that the substitute was actually myself?

So, he simply chose not to explain, accepting his role as a pitiful substitute. After all, he had been publicly beaten just a couple of days ago, fitting the classic trope of substitutes in love stories where “all the love is for him, and all the suffering is for me.”

Bai Lu felt quite liberated, “Forget it, let me be the substitute. I can’t run away, nor can I fight back. With just a finger, someone can crush me. What can an ordinary person like me do, just barely getting by.”

Geng Qing remarked, “Impressive, brother, you are quite enlightened. Just beware that if the legendary Bai Lu returns one day, His Majesty might…”

He made a cutting motion with his hand, the message clear.

Geng Qing’s concern was not unfounded. Throughout history, when the real person appeared, the impostor was usually disposed of; if they were lucky, they might receive some rewards and be secretly sent away, but most often, no loose ends were left.

Bai Lu’s face grew solemn as he pondered. Geng Qing’s concern was valid – if the real Bai Lu returned, the consequences could be dire.

Bai Lu thought for a moment, then seriously asked, “No, I was thinking, since I’m a substitute, will I be paid?”

Geng Qing: “???”