IDWBE -Chapter 136 The Stabilizing Pillar of the Sea

Mingyue said with a smile, “Your Highness, during the days you were ill, everyone was extremely anxious. The people below grew lax, and Baiyun City has been rather chaotic these days. It wasn’t until the news of your recovery spread today that the city finally returned to normal.”

Lin Yi glanced at Shan Qi behind him and said irritably, “You didn’t handle this well. No matter what happens in the future, things should proceed as usual. Make it routine—don’t let yourselves fall into disorder.”

“Yes,” Shan Qi replied with a smile. “Your Highness, you are the backbone of Baiyun City.”

“The earth won’t stop spinning without anyone,” Lin Yi snorted. “Don’t be so sentimental.”

Looking at the two big dogs circling around him, he said with mock tenderness, “At least you two have some conscience. Knowing I was sick, you couldn’t even eat properly. Look how skinny you’ve gotten.”

He was quite moved.

He even imagined that if one day he were gone, the two dogs would curl up by his grave, whimpering and unwilling to leave.

“Your Highness!” Fang Pi suddenly interjected. “A-Dai hasn’t fed them for days.”

With the prince sick and everyone in the manor worried sick, who had time to care about two dogs?

A-Dai scratched his head sheepishly. “I… forgot.”

Lin Yi looked at the burly, thick-skinned A-Dai, then decisively kicked the skinny Cui Gengren instead.

“Ow!” Cui Gengren endured the kick honestly. Though the prince used considerable force, he didn’t even stagger—only looked puzzled. “Your Highness, why kick me?”

“You’re his younger brother. If I don’t kick you, who should I kick?” Lin Yi pointed at A-Dai irritably. “I’ve got to let him experience what it feels like when a family member gets beaten!”

Cui Gengren wanted to cry—but couldn’t.

Everyone else burst into laughter.

The Prince He Manor was instantly filled with cheerful energy, sweeping away the previous gloom.

Baiyun City, which had seemed to press the pause button during Prince He’s illness, once again returned to its bustling state.

In the past, people had never felt that Prince He served much purpose—he seemed nothing more than an idle prince.

But during the nearly twenty days of his illness, the people of Baiyun City truly came to understand what it meant to be a “stabilizing pillar of the sea.”

The black-uniformed patrols had become increasingly rare.

Petty criminals who had undergone labor reform still harbored wicked thoughts; taking advantage of the opportunity, they cautiously began poking their heads out again, trying to stir up trouble like before.

When citizens went to seek the constables, they found them merely going through the motions, no longer as enthusiastic as before.

For the first time ever, they only issued a warning—and even sounded impatient.

The people of Baiyun City suddenly realized that things had changed.

Some sensitive merchants even shortened their business hours, boarding up before it was fully dark.

After all, if there were no patrols even in broad daylight, then at night the so-called curfew was nothing but empty words.

They had never imagined that the once-annoying black-uniformed enforcers would one day be something they longed for.

Incense at Baiyun Temple was unusually flourishing.

Some people began climbing the mountain to pray for Prince He’s well-being—especially the wealthy merchants, who donated silver in generous sums of three to five taels at a time.

Despite the sudden windfall, the monks and Taoist priests were not particularly happy.

Since Prince He’s manor had come to Baiyun City, the wealthy residents at the foot of the mountain had increased greatly and become far more generous—no longer stingy with a mere copper or two.

They had hoped for this steady flow of prosperity to continue peacefully.

If Prince He were truly gone, judging by the current situation, the city would likely revert to its old days.

Thank heaven and earth—Prince He had finally recovered.

With his recovery, the black-uniformed patrolmen and garrison soldiers returned to the streets.

The merchants were so moved they nearly wept.

One shop took the lead in setting off fireworks, a second followed, then a third and fourth. Fireworks lit up Baiyun City all through the night.

“Will my back leave scars?”

Lin Yi turned sideways, looking into the mirror at the patchwork of black, white, and red healing sores. His brows had not relaxed once.

“Your Highness,” Mingyue said while applying medicine, smiling, “Hulu said that good fortune follows you. There won’t be any scars.”

“Nonsense,” Lin Yi laughed. “Sigh… I never expected I’d nearly fall because of an abscess.”

After staying indoors for a full day while the scabs slowly peeled off, he finally stepped outside.

He felt completely refreshed.

“Your Highness…”

As Lin Yi walked, the elderly Shan Qi followed close behind.

“You submitted memorials. How did my old man reply?”

Turning back and seeing Shan Qi hesitate, Lin Yi already guessed the answer.

Shan Qi lowered his head silently and presented the memorial.

Lin Yi looked. Shan Qi had written three lengthy memorials.

His father’s reply consisted of only three words:

“Understood.”

Three vermilion characters—bright and piercing.

“As expected. Nothing is more heartless than an imperial family.”

“Your Highness…”

Shan Qi watched as Lin Yi tossed the memorial into the West River, where it drifted farther and farther away with the current.

“Poor Mother and my younger sister—they must be worrying themselves sick,” Lin Yi sighed. “I wonder how they must be crying right now.”

Wang Qingbang said, “Your Highness, I have already sent a message by carrier pigeon. The Consort and the Princess likely already know.”

Lin Yi snorted. “That’s because you don’t know their temperaments.”

His mother might scold him in anger, but her entire life was likely devoted to him.

If she had learned at once that he might die, even if she couldn’t come personally, she would certainly have sent someone.

Shan Qi and Wang Qingbang remained silent.

Sure enough, that very night, a ragged young eunuch appeared at Prince He Manor.

“Xiao Xizi,” Lin Yi said, seeing his beggar-like appearance. Though sympathetic, he couldn’t help laughing. “How did you end up like this?”

It was Tan Xizi, a young eunuch from his mother’s palace.

“Your Highness…” Tan Xizi burst into tears. “It’s good that you’re all right! I rode nonstop from Ankang City—seven horses died along the way before I arrived!”

His crying only grew louder.

“Enough. Go wash up and eat something. I’m fine now. We’ll talk later.”

Mingyue led him away.

After washing, Tan Xizi fell asleep directly on the floor and wouldn’t wake no matter how he was called.

Lin Yi couldn’t bear it and had someone carry him onto a bed.

After all, he was only fifteen.

The next morning, Lin Yi saw Tan Xizi kneeling at the doorway.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. I was truly too exhausted.”

He knocked his head repeatedly on the ground.

“That’s enough. My floor is expensive—you can’t afford to damage it,” Lin Yi said. “Have you eaten breakfast?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Good. Stand up and speak. These days must have been hard on you. Tell me—what’s the situation in the palace?”

Tan Xizi bowed. “Your Highness, when the Consort heard you were ill, she wept day and night. She ordered me out of the palace and prepared the finest wound medicine, ginseng, and deer antler for you.”

Lin Yi was silent for a long moment.

“Are they all well?”

“Yes, Your Highness. All is well. The Princess has advanced to the eighth rank!”

“Oh?” Lin Yi brightened. “I hadn’t heard that.”

After more questions, Tan Xizi answered in meticulous detail.

“That’s all I know, Your Highness.”

“Very well. You’ve worked hard. Go collect a reward and rest for a few days before returning. No need to rush.”

Tan Xizi pulled a long face. “Your Highness… I cannot return.”

“Why?” Lin Yi asked.

“I ran out at the risk of my life. If I go back, I’ll be executed. Please show mercy!”

“Fine. Stay here, then.”

Lin Yi smiled helplessly, understanding.

If a palace eunuch disappeared, the registry would simply mark him as dead—like losing a dog.

But if someone already marked as dead suddenly reappeared, dead he would truly be.

Especially for the grave crime of leaving the palace without permission.

There would be no chance of survival.

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Tan Xizi knocked his head loudly again.

“Enough,” Lin Yi said, shaking his head.

Hong Ying added, “The prince is merciful. This is your good fortune.”

Tan Xizi stood up and bowed to Hong Ying. “Master, I’ve missed you so much!”

“Master?”

Many in the room were confused.

Mingyue smiled. “Xiao Xizi is the Chief Steward’s eldest disciple.”

Although the others had learned martial arts from Hong Ying, none had ever been given the formal title of disciple.

Lin Yi waved his hand. “Go reminisce, the two of you.”

Hong Ying led Tan Xizi away.

Outside the courtyard, Hong An bowed. “Greetings, Senior Brother.”

Tan Xizi blinked in surprise. When had his master taken another disciple?

Hong Ying said, “She is your junior sister now. You two must encourage each other.”

“Yes, yes!”

A junior sister had fallen from the sky—Tan Xizi grinned from ear to ear. “Junior Sister is already fifth rank?”

Hong An nodded.

Hong Ying waved his hand. “Go rest. Starting tomorrow, I will formally teach you the Evil-Repelling Sword Technique.”

The Evil-Repelling Sword Technique?

It sounded formidable.

“Thank you, Master!”

Hong Ying smiled and nodded.

Shen Chu, Bao Kui, and the others watched in astonishment.

Aside from Prince He, when had Chief Steward Hong ever been so gentle?

Was it simply because he was his disciple?

They all looked at Mingyue and Zixia.

After Hong Ying and Tan Xizi walked away, Mingyue lowered her voice.

“You weren’t from the palace, so you wouldn’t know. One year, the Consort believed the Chief Steward had led the prince astray and ordered him beaten to death. It was this child who threw himself over the Chief Steward and endured thirty heavy blows in his place. The prince arrived just in time—otherwise the child would not have survived.”

Everyone suddenly understood.