IDWBE -Chapter 146 Shan Ruyi

Lin Yi smiled. “So where are we going now?”

Tan Xizi suggested, “Your Highness, why don’t we go fishing?”

“Excellent!”

And so Lin Yi squatted by the river until sunset. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, three large wooden barrels were filled to the brim with lively, flopping fish.

“Your Highness, look how big that fish is!”

Tan Xizi pointed at a white fish in the river with a long, pointed snout. Rolling up his sleeves, he said, “Let me go down and catch it for you.”

“That’s a white dolphin,” Lin Yi said, watching as it leapt from the water and dove again. “With a mouth that long and ugly, it’s probably not tasty.”

Whether Chinese white dolphins were edible or not, he truly didn’t know.

But he had already decided not to eat one.

When those above favor something, those below will pursue it even more fervently.

If he started this trend, a large crowd would surely follow, all eager to taste whatever Prince He liked.

What?
You don’t like it?
Who are you to say so?
Prince He is of imperial blood—how could his taste be inferior to yours?

The white dolphins of the West River would likely face extinction.

Tan Xizi was reluctant to give up. “Your Highness, how about I catch one and stew a pot to try?”

Lin Yi grinned. “Walk twenty-odd li ahead and you’ll find a pond full of crocodiles. Their meat is better than white dolphin.”

“Your Highness, you’re teasing me again,” Tan Xizi laughed. “I’ve seen those crocodiles. Plenty of children tie ropes around their legs and walk them like pets. They’re ugly as can be—surely not good to eat either.”

Lin Yi frowned. “Children walking crocodiles?”

Why hadn’t he seen this?

Yu Xiaoshi shouted, “Your Highness, they’re afraid you’ll see, so they hide them from you!”

Lin Yi’s face darkened. “Are you useless? Why didn’t you stop them? Go investigate. Whoever is raising crocodiles for fun—either slaughter and skin them, or return them to the pond.”

“Yes.”

Yu Xiaoshi left reluctantly, A-Dai hurrying after him.

That night, the sky glittered with stars.

The sound of opera singing drifted from the grand pleasure boat, echoing endlessly along both riverbanks.

From time to time, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the shore.

Looking at the densely packed crowd before him, Lin Yi turned to Tan Xizi and asked, “Who’s on the boat?”

Tan Xizi grinned. “I jumped over earlier for another look. Liang Gen, Qiu Wujin, Hu Banquan, Yan Kuisheng—basically all the prominent gentry and wealthy men of Baiyun City are there. Your Highness, the small boat is here. Shall we board?”

Lin Yi thought for a moment. “So all those old fellows are there? Then we must go. Tonight—we won’t be spending a single coin!”

With so many local tycoons present, who would dare let him pay?

That would be asking for trouble.

The small boat circled around the crowd and docked at a quiet, secluded spot. Supported by Tan Xizi and A-Dai, Lin Yi carefully stepped onto the sampan.

The boat wobbled, so he simply squatted down. Looking at Cui Gengsheng—who was still a head taller even while squatting—Lin Yi frowned. “You wait outside later. Don’t come in.”

Standing beside him only made him look small!

“Your Highness, I want to see the courtesan!” A-Dai said pitifully.

“There will be plenty of chances,” Lin Yi reassured him. “No need to rush. In a few days, I’ll definitely take you to see the courtesan.”

Tan Xizi chimed in, “Exactly. What’s so special about a courtesan? Just one nose and two eyes—no different from you.”

A-Dai scratched his head. “That’s true. If she looks like me, then there’s nothing much to see.”

Lin Yi nodded in satisfaction and asked Tan Xizi, “How is your master’s seclusion going?”

Ever since Tan Xizi arrived, Hong Ying had brazenly skipped work and then entered closed-door cultivation. Lin Yi hadn’t seen him for quite some time. The man ate, drank, and stayed in his room all day.

He actually found himself missing him a little.

After all, Hong Ying had grown up alongside him. They had never been apart this long.

Tan Xizi shook his head. “I don’t know. I just deliver food to him daily.”

“Give him more meat and soup,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “Cultivating in seclusion must be exhausting.”

Tan Xizi agreed with a grin.

As they spoke, the small boat docked alongside the large one.

Holding onto the rope ladder, Lin Yi carefully climbed aboard.

The booming drums of the opera exploded right beside his ears, stirring the blood.

“Your Highness…”

The one who came out to greet him was Old Master Hu—Hu Banquan.

Lin Yi waved a hand. “No need for formalities today.”

“Yes.”

Hu Banquan bent low and gestured respectfully. “Your Highness, please.”

On the third deck, a large stage had been set up. Performers sang, erhu players played, drummers pounded—it was lively and festive.

Seated below in two rows were all the most prominent figures of Baiyun City.

The moment Lin Yi entered, the singing stopped. The drums fell silent. Everything went quiet.

“Why did they stop singing?”

“What’s going on?”

Lin Yi could hear complaints drifting from the riverbank.

He stopped the crowd from kneeling and chanting greetings. Smiling, he said, “Seeing how happy you all were, I simply came to join the fun. No need for excessive formalities.”

“Your Highness truly has refined taste,” Liang Gen said with a smile. “Please take the seat of honor!”

Lin Yi did not stand on ceremony. He took the top seat—originally meant for the birthday celebrant, Hu Banquan.

Looking down casually, his gaze swept over a woman seated below him.

Bright eyes, white teeth, light makeup—he gave her a nine out of ten.

A full score might make her arrogant.

Liang Gen quickly rose, slightly trembling, and gestured toward the woman. “Your Highness, this is the esteemed Shan Ruyi from Nanzhou.”

“This humble woman greets Your Highness.”

“I already said—no need for formalities,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “Sit.”

The only complaint he had was her name. Courtesans often chose names with words like “smoke,” “ru,” “yi,” or “niang”—hardly original.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Shan Ruyi lowered her head and spoke softly.

With Lin Yi present, the wealthy elders could hardly eat, drink, or even speak freely. No one dared raise their voice before Prince He.

For a moment, the hall was silent.

Lin Yi smiled. “Gentlemen, why so stiff? Tonight, you must enjoy yourselves.”

Liang Gen and Qiu Wujin were the first to stand and raise their cups. Soon, everyone followed.

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

They drank in unison.

Liang Gen said, “Miss Shan is skilled in music, but her finest talent is sword dancing. Miss Shan, would you allow us to feast our eyes?”

“It would be my honor.”

Shan Ruyi cast a coquettish glance at Lin Yi before taking a sword from a box held by her maid. With a graceful leap, she landed at center stage.

The blade gleamed like frost and snow, silver light shimmering around her.

Music began.

Her sword flashed in layered shadows—illusory yet real—wild and free, like an immortal descending to earth.

The old men watched, utterly entranced.

As for Lin Yi—lacking culture—he couldn’t quite appreciate the artistry.

But he did think the woman remarkable: splitting her legs one moment, soaring into the air the next, her body supple beyond belief.