IDWBE -Chapter 108 Guests from the Capital

“You two looking to get beaten? How many times have I told you not to bring wild beasts into the city? And you still won’t listen?”

Lin Yi looked at A-Dai and Yu Xiaoshi, each riding a tiger around the courtyard. The servants of the prince’s residence were terrified. His anger surged instantly.

He had already scolded them once before—had they learned nothing?

Yu Xiaoshi shouted, “The steward said he’d make tiger-bone wine for you!”

“Yes! The steward said it!” A-Dai added pitifully.

“I was joking!”

Lin Yi shot Hong Ying a glare, then said, “Release them back into the deep forest. Farther away. Don’t let them hurt anyone.”

“This servant admits his mistake,” Hong Ying said with a smile. “Your Highness mentioned tiger-bone wine. I took it seriously.”

Lin Yi snorted. “I respect science. Do you think I just drink any random nonsense?”

Even ginseng and deer antler didn’t interest him. He’d rather eat a couple of carrots and get some vitamins.

As for bird’s nest—just thinking about it being swallow saliva made him nauseous.

Oysters and kidneys? He only ate them because he liked the taste.

“Yes.”

Hong Ying waved at the two fools. They obediently drove the tigers out.

Startled, the tigers bolted forward, nearly colliding with Sun Yi, who had just stepped out from the side room.

Clutching his pounding chest, he cursed, “If you scare me into an illness, I’ll burn you alive!”

Though he had no such ability, it didn’t stop him from bragging.

Thinking of his own martial skills, he couldn’t help but sigh. He couldn’t even beat two kids!

The steward seemed to have given up on him—he hadn’t tested his skills in nearly a month.

But that wasn’t entirely bad.

He hadn’t been beaten in a month!

Being able to jump around lively every day made him genuinely happy.

Unconsciously, he mimicked his prince, lifting the teapot in his hand.

He didn’t have tea as fine as the prince’s, but posture mattered—carefree, with a hint of unruliness.

Even if the sky collapsed, he wouldn’t fear.

Just as he turned to head back inside, someone called his name.

He turned and saw Liu San, the lackey of Tian Shiyou.

“Your boss is here?” Sun Yi asked calmly.

Aside from Tian Shiyou, someone like Liu San wasn’t qualified to see the prince.

Liu San lit his pipe leisurely and smiled. “Brother Sun, you’re forgetful for a man of status. Have you already forgotten what you entrusted me with?”

“You mean…” Sun Yi could hardly believe it.

“Indeed. I have not failed your trust. I’ve brought your honored parent from Nanzhou.”

“Where is she?” Sun Yi asked hurriedly.

“Your old mother got seasick along the way. I took the liberty of placing her at Jinfu Tavern. She’s resting there with tea.”

“Great kindness needs no thanks!”

Sun Yi cupped his hands gratefully.

Four guards rode up swiftly on horseback. Sun Yi rushed over, shoved a tall guard down without explanation, and leapt onto the horse himself.

“Ma Gui, lend me the horse for a bit. And help me watch the gate—I’ve got something urgent.”

Ma Gui glared. “I rode over a hundred li from the west without relay stations. The horse can’t take more abuse. Get down quickly. If anything happens to it, Commander Shen won’t spare me.”

Hearing this, Sun Yi decisively dismounted.

“Fine. Then watch the gate for me.”

He ran to the stables. As a former stablehand of the prince’s residence, the current stablehands and veterinarians were all his apprentices. Seeing him take a horse, they asked nothing and even enthusiastically helped harness a carriage.

Baiyun City was already familiar to him. Driving along the main road, he soon arrived at Jinfu Tavern.

A gatekeeper from the prince’s residence carried social weight.

People in the tavern greeted him with cupped hands.

He was quite pleased. This was the most glory he had ever known.

Back in Ankang City, who would have treated him as someone important?

After returning the greetings, his gaze fell upon a table by the inner wall.

A young girl in a white silk dress with pearl hairpins saw him and waved eagerly.

“Big brother, over here!”

Before Sun Yi could feel happy, he noticed a young man smiling sheepishly at him.

Walking over with a cold face, he asked, “Why are you here too?”

It was his younger brother, Sun Cheng.

The only scholar in the Sun family for generations!

Shouldn’t he be studying peacefully in the capital? Why come here?

In his irritation, he didn’t even greet his parents first.

“Enough. It’s not something that can be explained in a sentence or two. We’ll talk later,” his father Sun Du said, waving to the waiter. “Settle the bill.”

Knowing this wasn’t the place for discussion, Sun Yi paid a few copper coins and brought his family to the carriage.

“Big brother! This place isn’t like the rumors at all! Look, the roads are even wider than in Ankang City!”

The young girl chattered nonstop, clinging to Sun Yi’s arm.

“You’re already thirteen and still so lacking in composure,” Sun Yi teased.

His mother rolled her eyes. “Isn’t it all because you spoiled her?”

Ever since he entered the prince’s residence and began earning monthly wages, he had become the decision-maker at home.

The parents’ authority had faded.

The old couple was not entirely pleased about that.

“What else can I do? Let her be.”

Sun Yi affectionately patted his sister Sun Xia’s head.

As the prince once said—little sisters are meant to be spoiled.

His mother sighed. “She’s thirteen and still can’t even embroider a flower. How will she marry?”

“Learning embroidery just for marriage?” Sun Yi scoffed.

At last, the carriage stopped before a courtyard.

Sun Xia jumped down first, staring at the large house with white walls and black tiles.

“Brother, are we home?”

Sun Yi opened the gate. “Of course. Father, Mother—come in.”

He had built this courtyard two months ago together with Yu Xiaoshi and Cui Gensheng. Only a single wall separated their homes.

He hadn’t wanted to live near them at first, but the location was ideal—backed by mountains, facing water, plenty of open land for vegetables or even rice.

Another reason: those two brats were so infamous that no one dared provoke them or even wander nearby.

Though Baiyun City had good security, he sometimes served day and night at the prince’s residence. His family knew no martial arts. Living near those two troublesome fellows gave him peace of mind.

Four side rooms, a main hall, a secondary hall, plus stables, kitchen, and storage room.

The old matriarch of the Sun family walked around inside and out, completely satisfied.

It was far better than their house in Ankang City.

Look at how flat the ground was. How clean and white the walls were.