IDWBE -Chapter 144 Entertainment Above All

A genuine prince of the imperial blood—how much pride would he have to swallow to wash someone else’s feet?

What’s more, his elder brother was such a proud and arrogant man!

Qi Peng continued, “However, General Yang was overwhelmed with fear and gratitude, and in the end, he still refused.”

“Hm? Can’t you just finish what you’re saying in one go? Will it kill you?”

Lin Yi’s face darkened.

“Your Highness, please forgive me.”

Qi Peng was still smiling. He had never been afraid of Lin Yi losing his temper.

“In full view of everyone, for him to put on such a gesture was already no easy thing.”

Shan Qi had grown increasingly fond of stroking his beard—sometimes with two fingers, sometimes three, doing so with practiced ease. “If he had sided with Prince Yong, Prince Yong’s chances of victory would have been even greater.”

After speaking, he couldn’t help glancing at Lin Yi again.

Both were princes—so why was the difference between them so vast?

He didn’t even ask that this one treat his subordinates with courtesy and respect—at the very least, he could refrain from constantly scolding them!

The more he thought about it, the more unlucky he felt.

He Jixiang shook his head and said, “But Yang Changchun—what kind of man is he? How could he be subdued by such petty tricks? He would rather break than bend. Otherwise, His Majesty would not have imprisoned him for so many years.”

Chen Desheng added, “Exactly. This man is a rare military talent, but by nature eccentric. He will not easily throw in his lot with Prince Yong.”

Moved, yet politely refusing?

The moment Lin Yi heard that, he felt delighted.

Then he added, “All of you praising this Yang Changchun so highly—it seems he really is formidable.”

He Jixiang said, “Your Highness, though Yang Changchun is but a frail scholar, unable to carry on his shoulders or lift with his hands, he can command the proud and fierce generals of the army. How could he be an ordinary man?”

Lin Yi asked curiously, “He truly doesn’t know any martial arts?”

He Jixiang replied firmly, “Not in the slightest.”

Chen Desheng said, “I recall that Qi Yong once wrote a poem: ‘With feather fan and silk headdress, amid laughter and conversation, masts and oars turn to ashes and smoke.’ He was referring to Yang Changchun. Though he and Yang Changchun are sworn enemies, even he did not stint on words of praise.”

Lin Yi sighed. “Damn it. Sounds like a true prodigy. I must meet him someday.”

Suddenly, the sound of fireworks exploding filled the sky outside, followed by waves of cheering from the crowd.

Seeing the puzzled look in Lin Yi’s eyes, Shan Qi explained, “Your Highness, two days ago a grand pleasure boat arrived from Nanzhou. There’s opera singing and a courtesan selection. The common people have never seen such liveliness before, so they all rushed out to watch.

The crowds stretch all the way to the entrance of the Provincial Administration Office. I will have them dispersed at once and order the large ship to dock further downstream.”

The Provincial Administration Office stood by the river. Since there was a landing platform nearby, many passing ships preferred to dock there.

“A pleasure boat?”

Lin Yi’s eyes lit up. “And from Nanzhou? Aren’t they afraid of losing money?”

Though Baiyun City had improved somewhat, it still wasn’t wealthy. The only brothel in the city, Chunxiang House, barely scraped by. The young ladies inside didn’t even get the chance to work overtime.

Whenever it got too hot or when it rained, they could only sit there staring blankly.

Often they had to travel out or switch venues just to earn money—more industrious than traveling merchants.

Qi Peng said, “It was invited by Old Master Hu to celebrate his fiftieth birthday.”

“Fifty and already celebrating a grand longevity?”

Lin Yi laughed. “That old bastard really has money to burn.”

A mere local landlord was living more lavishly than he, the Prince of Sanhe and Lord of Baiyun City!

Wasn’t that infuriating?

Sometimes he truly wanted to harden his heart and eliminate these feudal parasites who devoured people without spitting out the bones.

But it wasn’t that he lacked the strength—it was that reality didn’t allow it.

If he casually killed even one of them, Baiyun City would fall into panic. Everyone would become like startled rabbits, leaving not a hair behind.

As a prince, he still had to soothe these old fossils from time to time, letting them live in peace—while making them develop closely around him, the Prince of Sanhe.

Xie Zan cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness is benevolent. That only makes them more indulgent.”

“What else can I do?”

Lin Yi sighed. “As long as they’re not committing murder or arson, let them be. It’s just watching some opera. Nothing serious.”

“Your Highness, the extravagant atmosphere in Baiyun City is growing daily, each competing to outdo the other,” Shan Qi worried. “I fear that one day it will truly become a time when no one visits a general’s grave, yet everyone knows the affairs of actors.”

“And so what?”

Lin Yi laughed. “The common people enjoy it. Everyone gets to be happy together.”

Everyone knew real estate was bad—but could you really kill off the real estate industry?

No matter what, entertainment and real estate were both crucial parts of the economy.

“Your Highness speaks wisely.”

Shan Qi had long been accustomed to Prince He’s unconventional ways.

It wasn’t such a major issue anyway; there was no need to argue with him.

Everyone knew Prince He was a fool—better not to provoke him.

After all, the prince himself often said: he was still just a child.

If only he were a little more sensible, they wouldn’t have to wear such constant frowns!

Lin Yi waved his hand. “That’s enough. I’m going back to rest.”

He wondered whether the two dogs at home had been fed.

If he relied on Yu Xiaoshi and Cui Gengsheng—those two blockheads—the dogs wouldn’t live long!

“Farewell, Your Highness!”

Shan Qi personally escorted Lin Yi to the entrance of the Provincial Administration Office.

Lin Yi stood at the gate without leaving immediately. Watching the bustling crowd before him—families supporting the old and leading the young, fireworks filling the sky—he suddenly felt as though he were living in a flourishing golden age.

Riding his donkey past West River Bridge, Lin Yi stopped and watched the fireworks for a while.

“When we get home, we’ll set off fireworks too,” he said with a grin. “Let us rejoice with the people!”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hong Ying hurriedly agreed.

It had been a long time since he had seen the prince this happy.

Returning to the residence, passing through the courtyard, he saw Lady Wen reclining there. He walked over and said, “It’s so late—why aren’t you resting?”

“With the ice mirror newly opened, flying across the sea, its radiance eclipsing the stars in the sky,”

Lady Wen swirled the wine cup in her hand.

“I know not how many times the bright moon has waxed and waned; only the green mountains remain unchanged through past and present. Drunkenly I raise the jade cup and swallow the golden cake; in this dusty world, none know of this scene.”

“Elder sister truly has poetic talent,”

Lin Yi said with a grin. “I can’t compare, can’t compare.”

Lady Wen shot him a sidelong glance. “As expected, you are utterly unlearned. These are the verses of Zhang Jiyan, uncle of the great scholar Zhang Mian of the previous dynasty.”

“Zhang Mian truly was fortunate,”

Lin Yi changed the subject. “To have such a talented uncle. It’s a pity he himself had no brains—just a crude warrior!”

“You—”

Lady Wen shook her head and sighed. “You ought to learn more from Prince Yong. ‘All my life, I proclaim my ambition—commanding the barbarians, pacifying war’—so spirited! A thousand feet of heroic pride that even Heaven would envy!”

“As for me,” Lin Yi said with a smile, “I have one virtue: I never compare myself to others. In life, the most important thing is to be content and happy.”

“That’s simply a lack of ambition!”

The more Lady Wen looked at him, the angrier she became.

She sprang to her feet and walked away without another word.

“Who did I offend now…”

Lin Yi muttered helplessly.