IDWBE -Chapter 16 The Ever-Present Prince He

“Yes.”

Song Cheng answered stiffly, forcing himself to respond.

Inside, he was complaining endlessly. Are you afraid people won’t hear you? Why say it so loudly?

You’re a prince—no matter what happens, no one will dare trouble you. You can do whatever you like without fear!

But spare a thought for small fry like him!

The last time the Prince loudly cursed Jiang Zhong, the Prince felt satisfied—but ever since, the Shadow Guards had been going to the inns and taverns he managed every few days to make trouble.

They would deliberately pick fights, stir up incidents, and drive away customers under the pretext of inspections.

None of it was serious, but like flies buzzing endlessly, it was unbearably annoying.

He truly regretted escorting the Prince back. Wouldn’t it have been fine to hire any random coachman and just follow secretly?

Why did he have to come personally—and even ride in the same carriage?

Oh no… Jiang Zhong is looking this way!

“Useless fellow,”

Lin Yi shot Song Cheng a disdainful glance, then, still seated in the carriage, waved cheerfully at Jiang Zhong.

“Good morning, Lord Jiang.”

Jiang Zhong was in his forties, thin, with a pale and refined face that didn’t look like that of a martial man. He cupped his hands and bowed slightly.

“Greetings to Prince He.”

“Greetings to Prince He!”

A large group on both sides of the city gate dropped to their knees in unison.

“No need for such ceremony. Rise.”

Lin Yi glanced at Jiang Zhong and inwardly sighed with regret.

Officials of the fourth rank and above did not need to kneel.

Otherwise, he would have enjoyed seeing this fellow kneel before him.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” everyone replied in unison.

“Lord Jiang, you look quite rosy today—seem to be in good spirits. Picked up some money on the road?” Lin Yi asked curiously.

“Your Highness jests.”

Jiang Zhong’s mouth twitched involuntarily. With someone as troublesome as this prince, he could neither beat nor scold him.

Offending a superior was a grave crime.

Even if the Emperor overlooked it, the court officials certainly would not. After all, the Shadow Guards’ work offended people by nature.

He already lacked allies in court; given a pretext, they would certainly attack him. At that time, even the Emperor—who favored him—would have to give the officials some face and discipline him lightly.

The punishment itself would be minor; losing face would be the real blow.

Unless absolutely necessary, he would never truly clash with this prince.

Lin Yi smiled. “Looks like you’re searching for someone. Why not come inspect my carriage thoroughly? Once you’re done, I still need to go back and catch up on sleep. I went fishing early this morning and didn’t catch a thing—bad luck.”

“You jest, Your Highness. Please.”

Jiang Zhong gestured, and the Shadow Guards by the gate stepped aside, clearing a path for the carriage.

“I am on duty and will not escort you further.”

“So much commotion… has something happened?” Lin Yi asked, not hurrying to leave, clearly fishing for information.

“Last night, a thief broke into the imperial palace and was discovered by the Imperial Guards. He escaped afterward. By His Majesty’s decree, we are searching for him.”

Jiang Zhong did not conceal the matter.

“That’s outrageously bold—treating the palace like his own home,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “When you catch him, he must be severely punished.”

He gave Song Cheng a look, and Song Cheng drove the carriage slowly into the city.

As they passed an alley, someone suddenly called out, “Prince He!”

“Oh? You’re all up early today,”

Hearing this, Lin Yi leaned back and waved at several women leaning out of an upstairs window. This was the most “prosperous and flourishing” district in the southern city—so long as one had money, the women accompanying you could be different every day.

In his previous life, he had been single—so lonely his hands had practically worn calluses—and never had a girlfriend.

Now he had a private mansion, spare money, and a strong body—perfectly positioned to take advantage of things—yet he suddenly lacked the courage.

He had never been vaccinated, had no antibodies, and feared that one intimate encounter might cost him his life.

Better to respect science and cherish life.

Of course, he also couldn’t bring himself to take advantage of the maidservants around him.

The thought might cross his mind, but he couldn’t actually do it.

When unbearably bored, he didn’t mind treating this place like a KTV.

He would call over seven or eight girls, have them sit around him, boast, tell jokes, listen to their gasps of admiration, and enjoy the feeling—never experienced in his previous life—of being the center of attention.

Then, once thoroughly drunk, he would obediently go home and sleep.

The girls came and went like flowing water, but Prince He was constant as iron. There were more than fifty establishments of this kind here; few didn’t recognize him.

“Your Highness, you haven’t come in a long time.”

The speaker was a woman with bright teeth and delicate brows, her hair still wet from washing. After setting down the wooden basin in her hands, she called again, “I’ve missed you terribly.”

“Your Highness, I’ve missed you too!” another voice called from a nearby pavilion window.

“Your Highness!”

Another window behind him opened.

“Your Highness, why not come in today?”

Suddenly the street seemed to explode with voices—sweet, chattering, lively and noisy.

“Drive on! What are you waiting for?”

Seeing that some women were already opening their doors and coming out, Lin Yi hurriedly urged Song Cheng to leave.

After all, everyone who came here was a customer; the women didn’t care about his status. If, in broad daylight, a crowd of women surrounded him, tugging and pulling—

Just imagining it was terrifying!

Wherever he went, he offended someone.

Better to sneak in quietly at night—like entering a village silently, without firing a shot.

They fled in haste, leaving behind only a string of silvery laughter.

Back at the prince’s residence, Lin Yi felt uncomfortable in every way without Hong Ying around. Even looking at Song Cheng began to annoy him.

“Why are you standing there like an idiot? Pour me some tea.”

Lin Yi sighed.

“Oh…”

Song Cheng clumsily picked up the teapot.

“Mr. Song, let me.”

Mingyue hurried over from the corridor, set down the fruit platter in her hands, took the teapot, and poured tea for Lin Yi.

“Alright, go back,” Lin Yi said to Song Cheng. “Take good care of that fellow. Don’t let him die. Otherwise, staying here just gets in my way.”

“Yes.”

Song Cheng couldn’t help smiling wryly and bowed as he withdrew.

“Wait—”

Lin Yi called him back and said to Mingyue behind him, “Bring the manuscript on my desk titled The Investiture of the Gods and give it to Shopkeeper Song.”

The last time he punished Hong Ying by making him copy texts, he had only given him the first few chapters, not the rest.

Now that Hong Ying was injured, Lin Yi feared he would be too bored, so he had Song Cheng deliver the remaining chapters to pass the time.

How much trouble could he possibly cause while bedridden?

After taking the manuscript from Mingyue, Song Cheng smiled. “Your Highness, do you have any other instructions?”

“No. Just don’t lose it,” Lin Yi said. “Lose even one page, and I’ll hold you accountable.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness.”

Seeing that Lin Yi had nothing further to say, Song Cheng turned and left.

The sun grew hotter, and even the leaves drooped listlessly.

Hong An stood half-hidden behind a pillar in the hexagonal pavilion, only her head peeking out, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

Mingyue glanced at the Prince, who was already asleep in his chair, then waved to Hong An and walked over.

“Hong An, is something the matter?”

“Sister Mingyue, have you seen my master?”