IDWBE -Chapter 104 Compensation

It was simply suffering that could not be spoken of!

“Lord Zhang, judging by your tone, are you dissatisfied?”

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow. “The position of Naval Commissioner—how important is that? This is the old man’s trust in you. Could it be that you’re dissatisfied with the old man?”

The old man?

At the mention of those words, Zhang Mian’s legs instantly went weak.

With a thud, he knelt again and cried out mournfully, “This subordinate would not dare! To share His Majesty’s burdens is my good fortune.”

“That’s more like it.”

Lin Yi nodded in satisfaction. “Most people regret the things they’ve done less than the things they haven’t done. Lord Zhang, in Ankang City you’re just a seventh-rank official. You may look carefree, but there isn’t much profit to skim. Do you even bring in ten thousand taels of silver a year? I’ve calculated all of this clearly for you. But Sanhe is different. As Naval Commissioner, you control the South Sea. With imperial authorization to smuggle, won’t the silver flow in like water? Rest assured—so long as I have meat to eat, you’ll at least have soup to drink.”

“Your Highness…”

Still kneeling, Zhang Mian’s teeth chattered.

He was utterly stunned by the prince’s words!

Imperial-authorized smuggling?

How could he dare to say such a thing aloud?

If those words reached His Majesty’s ears, he didn’t know what would happen to Prince He—but his entire Zhang family would certainly be wiped out.

Lin Yi rolled his eyes at him. “Look at how timid you are. Look around this room—is there anyone here who can’t be trusted?”

Zhang Mian lifted his head and first saw Hong Ying.

That same familiar deadpan face—when he smiled, it looked no different from mourning.

Disgusting, yet no one dared say it openly.

Everyone knew he was Prince He’s number-one lackey.

Always obeying the prince’s every command. If Prince He had become such a scoundrel today, this dog had half the credit.

It was said that if not for the prince’s protection, Imperial Consort Yuan in the palace would have had him beaten to death long ago.

To say Hong Ying would betray Prince He—Zhang Mian would be the first not to believe it.

Next he looked at Mingyue and Zixia. Though merely maids, how could they possess such extraordinary bearing?

He quickly withdrew his gaze, not daring to look further.

Then his eyes met Shan Qi’s smiling gaze.

Shan Qi stroked his beard and said, “Lord Zhang, no need for suspicion. Your coming here was entirely my arrangement.”

Zhang Mian gritted his teeth. “Lord Shan, I have neither grievance nor enmity with you. Why go this far?”

Shan Qi replied, “Prince He said that among all the people in the capital worthy of his trust, there is no one besides Lord Zhang.”

“Thank you, Your Highness…”

Zhang Mian truly wanted to curse aloud!

Thanks for your family’s trust!

But things had come to this. He had no other choice.

Lin Yi smiled. “You and I have known each other for many years. Every time I caused trouble, you handled it for me. How embarrassing for me. Now that we’ve been apart for some time, not seeing you—I’ve actually missed you a little. Enough. Get up. No need to be so formal.”

Zhang Mian gave a bitter smile.

As long as Prince He remained in the capital, he would have to clean up after him!

Since the prince had been granted his fief, Zhang Mian had never been happier!

In the southern district there were basically no high officials or nobles. As Commander of the Southern Gate Garrison, he alone called the shots!

The next day, he boarded Tian Shiyou’s great ship and, accompanied by Prince He’s guard Han Deqing, set out for Fangniao Island to assume office.

Ye Qiu once again squatted on the newly repaired threshold of Prince He’s residence.

His clothes were tattered, and several wounds marked his face—no longer the flowing-robed figure of the past.

“Want some? They’re really tasty!”

A-Dai held a handful of wild fruit, offering them to his new friend Ye Qiu. Afraid he wouldn’t believe him, he tasted several in a row. The fruit in his hand visibly dwindled.

“Who beat you? I’ll avenge you!”

A-Dai thumped his chest loyally.

He didn’t have many friends—especially ones patient enough to listen to him talk.

Even his younger brother found him annoying.

But Ye Qiu was different. He always listened and would nod in agreement.

Yu Xiaoshi said bluntly, “Idiot, of course it was the Chief Steward who beat him!”

A-Dai sprang to his feet. “You’re the idiot!”

His younger brother had told him—whoever called him an idiot again, hit them.

Yu Xiaoshi included!

Of course, Prince He and Chief Steward Hong were exceptions.

“What, you want to fight me?”

Yu Xiaoshi, whose voice was breaking and whose accent had changed after learning some local dialect, raised his iron hammer. “Who’s afraid of who?”

“You two are never any trouble at all. If you smash the threshold or the gate again, the Chief Steward definitely won’t spare you!”

Sun Yi was helpless with the two live treasures.

He couldn’t control them, so he invoked the steward’s name.

Sure enough, it worked. Both reluctantly lowered their hammers.

A-Dai turned back to Ye Qiu, who still wore a mournful face. “So it really was the steward who beat you? Then you can’t get revenge. My brother says the steward is a Grandmaster. Grandmasters are very powerful.”

“I know.” Ye Qiu lazily pointed at the lychee tree stump by the gate. “He wants me to pay compensation. Could you lend me some money? I guarantee I’ll repay it in full later.”

“I don’t have money!”

A-Dai instantly backed away several steps, keeping his distance from Ye Qiu.

“…”

Ye Qiu was stunned.

“Miss Mingyue.”

Sun Yi cupped his hands toward Mingyue, who suddenly appeared at the gate.

“Mm.” She nodded to him, then looked at Ye Qiu. “Come in.”

After speaking, she turned and left.

Seeing Ye Qiu still unmoving, Sun Yi hurried him. “Hurry up. If the steward comes out, it won’t be good.”

“A tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs. How tragic.”

Ye Qiu entered the residence listlessly.

Afraid he might lose his way, Sun Yi personally escorted him inside.

At noon, the sun blazed fiercely and the air was stifling.

Lin Yi didn’t even feel like fishing.

He rolled two newly made sandalwood beads in his hand, looking lethargic.

When Ye Qiu entered, he didn’t even lift his eyelids.

He merely said, “That lychee tree grew up with me. I have deep feelings for it. And you dared cut it down?”

Ye Qiu said, “Your Highness, that was a thousand-year-old lychee tree!”

Born and raised in Sanhe, how could he not know?

Lin Yi snapped, “You know it was a thousand-year-old tree? Do you know how precious that is?”

Ye Qiu replied, “Your Highness, they’re everywhere in the mountains.”

Not good for firewood. Even woodcutters couldn’t be bothered to chop them.

“You’re deliberately arguing with me?”

Lin Yi was displeased.

Sensing Hong Ying’s aura, Ye Qiu finally sighed. “I wouldn’t dare. But I have no money.”

Lin Yi said, “Your Ye family is vast and wealthy. How could you not produce ten thousand taels of silver?”

Ye Qiu replied, “Seven years ago, I was expelled from the family.”

Lin Yi paused in surprise. “Your father kicked you out?”

Ye Qiu nodded. “Indeed.”