IDWBE -Chapter 17 Seeing a Ghost Alive

Hong An lowered her head, looking at the elder sister in front of her who seemed as beautiful as a fairy, and didn’t even have the courage to speak.

“The Prince has sent your master out to handle some matters. He’ll be back in a few days.”

Mingyue didn’t actually know where Hong Ying had gone, but since the Prince hadn’t said anything, it wasn’t her place as a servant to ask. She could only try her best to comfort the little girl.

“Oh… thank you, Sister Mingyue.”

Hong An said this with obvious disappointment.

Mingyue asked gently, “Did your master tell you to practice martial arts? Why aren’t you practicing properly?”

Hong An replied, “Sister, I listen to my master very well. I’ve already finished practicing. But Master clearly said he would teach me Crane Steps Ascending to Heaven today, and now I can’t find him.”

“You’re really talented—already about to learn Crane Steps Ascending to Heaven so soon.”

Mingyue was slightly startled and finally believed what Steward Hong had said before: this girl was a prodigy in martial arts. Smiling slightly, she said, “How about I teach you?”

“Okay, thank you, Sister…”

Hong An nodded vigorously.

“Then I’ll demonstrate first. Watch my footwork carefully.”

After speaking, Mingyue turned, leapt lightly, stepped in midair, and gently landed on the roof. Then she smiled at Hong An below, spread her arms, spun several times in the air, and finally descended gracefully to the ground.

Graceful as a startled swan, supple as a swimming dragon.

“Sister, you’re amazing,” Hong An couldn’t help praising.

“If you practice well, you’ll be even better than me. Did you see the footwork clearly?”

Mingyue instructed, “One breath, three steps—otherwise you’ll fall. Once you master it, you’ll be able to walk on grass, cross wood, climb and leap, step on duckweed to cross water, and move freely wherever you wish.”

“Mm.”

Hong An nodded fiercely.

Mingyue was about to say more when she heard Lin Yi calling.

Not having time to explain further to Hong An, she hurried over at a trot.

“Ah—damn, that scared me to death…”

Lin Yi took the towel off his forehead, still shaken.

“Your Highness, did you have a nightmare?” Mingyue asked while preparing fresh tea.

“It’s nothing…”

Lin Yi took the freshly washed towel and wiped his face as he said, “Don’t make so many dishes tonight. It’s hot—I don’t have much appetite. Just cook some millet porridge and a few simple side dishes.”

“Yes.”

Mingyue bowed in acknowledgment.

“Your Highness.”

Zixia returned from outside.

“What news today? Just say it.”

Lin Yi yawned, tossed the used towel onto the table, then picked up his teacup, blowing on it while idly stirring the tea leaves with the lid.

“Your Highness, something major happened at court this morning. The Duke Pillar of State reported that the rebellions in the southwest and northwest have been pacified, and the Wadan tribes beyond the northern frontier have withdrawn. Since the realm is presently at peace, he requested permission to retire and return home.”

Zixia spoke while watching Lin Yi’s reaction.

“The Emperor did not agree and returned the memorial.”

“Of course he wouldn’t agree. Formalities must be observed—at least three petitions are required. Otherwise it chills people’s hearts.”

Some things were completely within Lin Yi’s expectations; it was only a matter of time.

After all, what emperor could tolerate a single general holding so many troops at once?

It wasn’t that the Duke Pillar of State was too capable—it was that the other generals were too incompetent, so all the burdens had long rested on his shoulders.

What Lin Yi hadn’t expected, however, was that his imperial father would be so impatient!

After all, the realm wasn’t truly at peace yet.

Without a hint from above, would the Duke have been willing to surrender military authority so quickly?

Zixia waited respectfully until the Prince finished speaking, then continued: “There’s another matter. Prince Yong was riding a horse, fell, and was injured. He is now recuperating in seclusion and not receiving visitors.”

“Strange things happen every year, but this year there are especially many.”

Lin Yi smiled at Mingyue and Zixia.

“Prince Yong fell off a horse? Do you believe such nonsense?”

“Your Highness is wise,” Zixia said. “Prince Yong has fought in many campaigns—how could he possibly fall from a horse?”

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered that their own prince couldn’t even ride a horse…

She almost burst out laughing but barely held it in.

Mingyue also nodded. “Even if he fell from a city wall, he wouldn’t be seriously hurt—let alone from a horse.”

“He knows these lies couldn’t fool even a ghost—so why say them?”

Lin Yi sighed. “I really can’t figure it out. Ah, forget it. I’m too lazy to care. In a while I’ll be leaving anyway. Even if floodwaters drown Ankang City, it won’t have a thing to do with me. Oh, right—I told you two before. Start packing. In the next few days, you can leave the residence.”

“Your Highness…”

The two women dropped to their knees at once.

“You’re both twenty-three already. In other families, children would already be running around by now,” Lin Yi said seriously. “You’ve stayed by my side all these years. In truth, I’ve delayed your lives. I owe you an apology.”

Mingyue shook her head. “Your Highness, this servant will not leave.”

Zixia added, “This servant won’t leave either. I swear to follow Your Highness to the death.”

“Bah! Why talk about death in broad daylight?” Lin Yi said irritably. “If you don’t leave, then come with me to Sanhe. That place is a poor backwater, full of barbarians and exiles. It’ll be even harder to find husbands there.”

Mingyue said firmly, “This servant will never marry.”

“Nonsense,” Lin Yi shook his head. “If it’s time to marry, you should marry. Lately you’re both eating more and more—are you trying to eat me into poverty? Even a prince’s household has no surplus grain.”

The two women, still kneeling, couldn’t help but laugh through their tears.

“Speaking of which, you two are really difficult cases,” Lin Yi continued. “Men with titles have high thresholds—you couldn’t enter their doors. Merchants may have money, but taking multiple wives is common—you might not endure that humiliation. As for farmers, with taxes and corvée labor, I’d be afraid you’d starve.”

“Your Highness speaks the truth,” Zixia said with a smile. “That’s why we sisters plan to cling to Your Highness for life. In the future, we can even help look after the young masters.”

“This servant has no family left,” Mingyue said, her voice trembling. “If Your Highness doesn’t want me, there would be nowhere in the world for me to go. I might as well die.”

“Hey, don’t talk about ‘die’… ah, bah,” Lin Yi said lazily. “You’re making me uncomfortable on purpose.”

“This servant wouldn’t dare,” the two replied in unison.

Lin Yi looked at Zixia. “I remember your parents are still alive, aren’t they?”

“In my family only my elder brother remains,” Zixia replied. “My sister-in-law has always been harsh. If I went back, how could I expect a good ending?”

“We’ll talk about it when the time comes,” Lin Yi said.

Whenever the sun set, Lin Yi always felt a faint sense of guilt. Just as he was about to do something productive, the sky would already be dark.

In the middle of the night, a long-awaited rain suddenly arrived.

Though it didn’t last long, it felt as if heaven and earth had been washed clean.

When the sun rose, Song Cheng yawned and looked out the window, immediately spotting Hong Ying standing in the courtyard.

He hurried outside. “Steward Hong, you haven’t fully recovered yet—why have you come out?”

Hong Ying stood with his eyes half-closed, motionless, and said softly: “The interplay of yin and yang, the sun rising in the east—indeed, the ancient words do not deceive.”

“Steward Hong…”

Song Cheng cautiously approached him, feeling that something about him seemed different, yet unable to say what.

Hong Ying smiled faintly at him and said calmly, “Return to the residence.”

Song Cheng was about to speak when suddenly he saw that only a fading afterimage of Hong Ying remained before his eyes.

“Did I just see a ghost?”

Song Cheng rubbed his eyes in disbelief.