IDWBE -Chapter 147 Ruthless Brothers

Her sleeves fluttered and folded like butterflies in flight;
light and graceful, she carried a faint, alluring fragrance.

It was a breathtaking sight.

Whether in the imperial palace or the pleasure quarters of Ankang City, he had never seen such a woman—soft to the touch, supple as if boneless.

After two cups of wine, Shan Ruyi finished her dance. Lin Yi was the first to applaud, shouting loudly, “Excellent!”

Shan Ruyi half-covered her face with her sleeve and said in a sweet voice, “Thank you, Your Highness, for your praise.”

“What praise?” Lin Yi laughed. “Every word I said was the truth. If you don’t believe me, ask everyone here.”

The old men on both sides burst into laughter.

Once Lin Yi cast aside all restraint, the old men followed suit, openly groping the women beside them who were pouring wine.

Shan Ruyi naturally sat beside Lin Yi and personally filled his cup.

Holding her own cup, she said, “Your Highness, I offer you a toast.”

Without blinking, Lin Yi drained the wine in one gulp and even tilted the cup to show it was empty.

Tan Xizi came over with his back turned, positioning himself between them and personally pouring wine for both.

“Thank you, Eunuch Tan.”

Shan Ruyi rose and gave him a slight bow.

Tan Xizi stood motionless between them, saying nothing.

Lin Yi smiled. “Drink.”

He muttered inwardly—why was Xiao Xizi acting differently tonight? In such a joyful moment, why the long face?

Shan Ruyi finished her cup as well, imitating Lin Yi by showing the empty bottom.

Lin Yi clapped his hands. “Impressive tolerance!”

From time to time people stood to toast him; he refused none and drank every cup.

The crowds along both riverbanks gradually dispersed.

Only the great pleasure boat remained brightly lit, laughter and revelry echoing without end.

Lin Yi drank with growing delight.

If the moon didn’t sleep, neither would he!

Every time Shan Ruyi poured, he drank. The more he drank, the more muddled he became—his head heavy and spinning.

Eventually he had to grip the railing of the large boat, vomiting into the river. His stomach churned and his head throbbed, yet his heart brimmed with irrepressible joy.

At this moment, he finally felt that everything he had done was worthwhile.

It was as if he had returned to his days in Ankang City.

Hadn’t he toiled and schemed in Sanhe precisely to give this place a bit more worldly warmth, a few more beauties and pleasures?

Tan Xizi said, “Your Highness, it is time to return and rest.”

Lin Yi replied, “I wish to stay here the night. Why not?”

Tan Xizi smiled awkwardly. “Your Highness, the tea here is rather inferior. I fear it may not suit your taste.”

Lin Yi slapped his forehead groggily. “That’s true enough.”

This time they did not take a small boat back; the great boat docked directly.

Lin Yi boarded the carriage waiting ashore and returned to his residence.

He woke three times that night.

When he finally rose late in the morning, he gulped down three cups of tea.

After breakfast, he slowly recalled the events of the previous night and glared at Tan Xizi.

“Xiao Xizi, did you ruin my good opportunity last night?”

Tan Xizi said, “Your Highness, that woman is sixth rank.”

Lin Yi frowned. “So what? She’s skilled with the sword and knows martial arts—what’s so remarkable about that?”

Qi Peng smiled. “Your Highness, even a fourth-rank master can roam the martial world with impunity. She is already sixth rank—why would she lower herself to a brothel? Like Liu Ruyan before her.”

Lin Yi said irritably, “Enough nonsense. Just tell me—whose person is she?”

He was genuinely annoyed.

Finally he found a woman he liked, and she already belonged to someone else!

Qi Peng replied, “Your Highness, she serves the Sixth Prince, Prince Dai. Prince Dai commands a secret intelligence unit called ‘Partridge Whistle.’”

“Old Six?”

Lin Yi could hardly believe it. In his impression, that fellow had always seemed indifferent to worldly struggles. How could he have secret agents?

“Yes,” Qi Peng said firmly. “Not only Prince Dai—Crown Prince, Prince Yong, Prince Chu, Prince Jing, Prince Yong’an, Prince Jin—all have their own spies and death squads.”

“Prince Yong’an too?”

In Lin Yi’s eyes, the Twelfth Brother was still just a brat he liked to tease.

“Indeed.”

“So they’ve all learned to play the pig to eat the tiger.”

Lin Yi thought bitterly—had he been the only naïve fool all along?

Qi Peng asked, “Your Highness, how shall we deal with Shan Ruyi? Please instruct us.”

Lin Yi shook his head. “Old Six sending someone here may not mean ill intent. Right now he’s more concerned about the Crown Prince and Prince Yong than about me. Let’s wait. If Shan Ruyi stays in Sanhe after some time, then don’t blame me for crushing a flower with ruthless hands.”

Suddenly, he lost all interest in that pleasure boat.

“Prince Dai has recruited ten thousand guards,” Qi Peng continued. “He shares food and clothing with the lowest among them, sleeps without bedding, does not ride when they march—even sucks the pus from their sores.”

“What?”

Lin Yi sprang from his chair. “Is he imitating some famous general?”

Why couldn’t any of his brothers give him peace of mind?

And how could he stomach something so disgusting? If something went wrong, he could get infected and die.

Completely unscientific behavior!

That he was still alive and kicking was pure luck.

“Prince Dai’s ambitions are not small,” Shan Qi sighed.

“Prince Yong washes Yang Changchun’s feet; Prince Dai sucks soldiers’ sores,” Lin Yi sighed. “Do my other brothers have any more shocking deeds?”

Qi Peng said calmly, “The Commander of Nanling embezzled and abused the law, stirring public outrage. After the Seventh Prince, Prince of Nanling, took up his fief, he had the man beheaded and hung his head above the city gate. I received this news only this morning.”

“They’re all trying to become sages,” Lin Yi muttered. “That method—I might learn something from it.”

He suddenly looked at Shan Qi.

“Your Highness,” Shan Qi shuddered, “cutting off this old man’s head would serve no purpose.”

Had he done anything in Sanhe to anger the people?

Lin Yi rolled his eyes and looked at Qi Peng. “Anything else?”

Qi Peng shook his head.

“Sigh. Not a single piece of good news this morning.”

Even while fishing, he remained distracted.

His brothers truly put pressure on him.

Late at night—

Bored as usual, he sat beneath the grapevine trellis, mosquito netting hung all around.

Consort Wen lifted the net and stepped inside, sitting opposite Lin Yi with a smile. “What’s this? Drinking alone in gloom?”

“Care to join me?”

Without waiting for her reply, he poured a cup and pushed it toward her.

Consort Wen picked it up and drained it in one go, then poured herself another. Smiling, she said, “It’s rare to see you troubled.”

“When am I not troubled?” Lin Yi sighed. “I’m often troubled by having no money.”

“You love money that much?”

“Of course!” Lin Yi snapped. “How many people in this world don’t love money?”

“And what about power?” Consort Wen asked curiously.

Lin Yi replied, “I’m already a feudal prince.”

In Sanhe, he was a true local emperor.

Who could possibly have greater power than he?