IDWBE -Chapter 124 The Orphanage

Lin Yi came down from the bridge and looked at the hundred or so mountain folk riding short ponies. He asked Ma Gui, “Who are these people?”

Whether by clothing or appearance, they didn’t look like the Li people or the Lian people. Yet on closer inspection, there wasn’t much difference—just that their clothes were a bit strange, and their faces were smeared with all sorts of colorful paints.

Ma Gui said, “Your Highness, they also live in the mountains. They look about the same, but they like to paint themselves in bright colors—supposedly to keep mosquitoes away. People from Baiyun City say they used to come down from the mountains only once a year. Since the road was built, they’ve come down twice already. Their furs and mountain goods were all bought up by merchants from Nanzhou.”

The mountain folk on their ponies looked very nervous at the sight of so many people on the bridge. They tightened their grip on wooden clubs, iron forks, and wooden spears.

Chen Xinluo, a constable from the prefectural office maintaining order on the bridge, glanced at Lin Yi before walking up to the mountain folk and shouting, “You all know the rules of Sanhe! Anyone who dares cause trouble will be punished!”

Most of the mountain folk were ignorant and didn’t understand the official language. Only one dark-skinned old man with white hair dismounted and said to Chen Xinluo, “Sir, please rest assured. We’re only here to purchase some goods.”

“That’s good. Behave yourselves,” Chen said.

“Yes, sir,” the old man replied, bowing.

He then turned and spoke rapidly in his own language to a man who seemed to be their leader.

Lin Yi tilted his head to listen but couldn’t understand a single word. He gave up—so long as they didn’t cause trouble.

Yu Xiaoshi and A-Dai rode ahead, and before long, both sides of their horses were laden with game.

Lin Yi followed behind with a bow in hand. Whenever he saw an animal, he drew the bow—but no matter how he aimed, the wild boars and deer gave him no face and ran off immediately.

When he finally managed to loose an arrow, it flew barely ten meters—nowhere near even a rabbit’s tail.

“Damn it! What’s wrong with letting me shoot one arrow? I’ve already got the star anise, scallions, and chili peppers ready for you!”

In a fit of anger, Lin Yi threw the bow aside.

Ma Gui reacted quickly and caught it.

“Your Highness, what about this?” Guard Bao Jin presented a brightly colored little bird like an offering.

“A red-breasted parrot. Not bad,” Lin Yi said happily as he reached out.

But just as it touched his palm, the parrot fluttered back into the air.

Bao Jin leapt up, caught it again, and held it firmly.

This time Lin Yi didn’t take it. Smiling, he said, “Pack it properly. See what other birds there are—catch more. We’ll raise them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Bao Jin sprang deep into the forest. After receiving Ma Gui’s permission, the other guards also went to catch birds.

When they returned to the residence, Lin Yi saw they had captured scops owls, thrushes, silver pheasants, golden-eyed babblers, ospreys, stream robins, cuckoos, sunbirds, and even two white-backed pigeons—plus many he couldn’t even name.

Since he couldn’t name them, he guessed many were extinct or endangered in modern times.

If this were his previous life, he wouldn’t have to buy or rent a house ever again—and he’d be picking up soap for the rest of his life.

As he lounged in the courtyard, Qi Peng rolled his wheelchair over and handed him a slip of paper.

Lin Yi didn’t even raise his eyelids. He wasn’t very concerned about the outside world.

“Your Highness,” Qi Peng said helplessly as he tucked the receipt back into his sleeve with a smile, “Prince Yong personally led 300,000 troops into Yuezhou. Han Hui was defeated and is fleeing in panic.”

“The third brother does have some ability,” Lin Yi said. “And then?”

“Yuezhou is almost deserted—nine out of ten households empty. More and more refugees are fleeing to Sanhe and Nanzhou. My contacts estimate at least fifty to sixty thousand will arrive. And Hongzhou has long been in chaos; more people are coming to Sanhe from there as well.”

“Sigh. In the end, it all comes down to money,” Lin Yi waved his hand. “Tell Lord Shan.”

“Yes.”

Qi Peng had just wheeled out of the courtyard when Lin Yi suddenly said, “Thank you.”

Qi Peng froze, then turned back with a smile. “You’re too kind, Your Highness. It’s my duty.”

Fang Pi came running in, saying Du Yinniang had arrived.

Lin Yi nodded.

When Du Yinniang entered, she first saw Ye Qiu practicing martial arts in the courtyard. She frowned—she didn’t want to see this man under any circumstances.

But then she was surprised. Ye Qiu, usually single-minded in his practice, completely ignored her.

She stood there for a moment.

“Long time no see.”

“You’ve changed.”

“Your outward form no longer disturbs my heart,” Ye Qiu said coldly. “Please leave.”

After hearing this, Du Yinniang didn’t know whether to feel pleased or angry.

From the day she met Ye Qiu, he had always looked at her as though she were already dead, saying she had disturbed his sword heart and that he would kill her.

Now she could still feel his disdain—but no longer his killing intent.

“Congratulations, Young Master Ye, on stabilizing your sword heart.”

“With a sword in the heart, one needs no sword in hand,” Ye Qiu replied coldly.

Du Yinniang didn’t understand and gave up trying. She followed Fang Pi onward.

In the front courtyard, Prince He still looked as lazy as ever.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Sit,” Lin Yi said, pointing to the teacup. “Have some tea.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Go on. What does your father mean by sending you?”

Lin Yi had never trusted someone like Du Sanhe. Whenever he came knocking, it meant trouble.

“Since Your Highness built the road to Yuezhou and Nanzhou, opened the sea route, and established the Maritime Trade Office, fewer merchant ships dock in Nanzhou,” Du Yinniang said with a smile, lightly twirling the teacup in her slender fingers. “The Nanzhou navy has already entered the South Sea.”

“The Nanzhou navy?” Lin Yi frowned. “Are they looking for trouble?”

Du Yinniang smiled. “All under heaven bustle for profit; all under heaven hustle for gain. I hope Your Highness will respond accordingly.”

“Is your father afraid?” Lin Yi asked.

“My father roams the seas, but he dares not oppose the imperial court,” she replied.

Lin Yi rubbed his brow and waved his hand. Before finishing her tea, Du Yinniang bowed and withdrew.

“Your Highness.”

Qi Peng wheeled himself back in.

“Whom does the Nanzhou Provincial Governor favor—the third brother or the Crown Prince?” Lin Yi asked casually.

“The Nanzhou Governor, Wu Lin, is upright and impartial. He refuses private audiences, accepts no bribes, and keeps his sleeves clean,” Qi Peng said.

“So he sides with no one—that’s expected,” Lin Yi snorted. “But he’s no saint. Back in Ankang City, I heard of him. They say that when his seven-year-old daughter took a cake from a neighbor, he strangled his own daughter to death—and scholars across the land praised him for it.”