IDWBE -Chapter 223 Marriage Alliance

Ji Hai said, “Miss, sending him to the west and letting the Buddha guide him is his blessing.”

“You monks can joke too, huh?”

Xie Jiuyun laughed. “I thought you were really just a wooden block.”

“The little monk speaks the truth, not joking,”

Ji Hai said seriously.

“You monks are really boring,” Xie Jiuyun stomped her foot. “Where are you going? I’ll see you off.”

“Thank you, miss. No need. The little monk bids farewell here.”

Without waiting for her reply, Ji Hai disappeared into the forest.

There was no way to go through the city, so travel continued arduously through the high mountains to the north.

The fifth junior high school in Sanhe was finally completed. Since it was built in Xin Guan town, it was named Xin Guan Middle School.

Lin Yi happily inscribed: “Study well and make progress every day.”

He also had Shi Quan write the school name.

The school textbooks were labeled for junior high, but actually contained high school material.

Sanhe had no summer or winter vacation, completing the nine years of compulsory education from Lin Yi’s previous life in just three years—a result he was very satisfied with.

After multiple revisions, he considered the current textbooks perfect.

“Pay attention to Han Jin and Liang Yuanzhi as well,” Lin Yi told Xie Zan. “Both are young; in the hands of old foxes like Zhou Jiuling and Yuan Busheng, they could suffer losses.”

Xie Zan smiled. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. Yuezhou has Bao Kui, Hongzhou has Ji Zhuo—these two will protect them.”

Flipping through the textbooks, Lin Yi said, “Which publishing house printed this? The quality is excellent.”

“Your Highness, these were printed by the Song family from Yuezhou,”

Xie Zan explained. “They’re new this year. Through public bidding, only their fonts were neat and beautiful, with no ink bleeding, meeting your horizontal layout requirements.”

“Song Yin?” Lin Yi asked.

“Yes, the largest bookstore in Yuezhou.”

Xie Zan smiled.

“Looks like the old man isn’t completely foolish,”

Lin Yi said, stretching. “Any news of Wu Lin or Jiang Kan?”

“Not just Zhang Mian and Du Sanhe’s ships, Your Highness. Shande also dispatched many merchants’ ships to search the Southern Sea, but nothing was found,” Xie Zan replied carefully. “I suspect Jiang Kan might have gone to Yong’an or Wuzhou?”

“Impossible,” Lin Yi shook his head. “Jiang Kan is the eldest’s man. He’s smart; he wouldn’t do something so obvious. Besides, he captured Wu Lin partly for personal reasons, mostly for the South. The eldest wants the South under his control. So Jiang Kan hasn’t gone far; he must still be nearby. Find a way to locate him.”

“Your Highness is wise!”

Xie Zan cupped his hands respectfully.

“What about my father-in-law and future wife?”

Lin Yi asked Qi Peng.

“They’ve already entered Yong’an with Heshun Commandery Prince and family,” Qi Peng replied.

“Yong’an…”

Lin Yi paced the courtyard. “How’s the prince doing?”

“He remains in the capital, serving the retired emperor day and night. His filial piety is renowned across the land,” Qi Peng said.

“Unlucky child,” Lin Yi shook his head. “So clever, yet didn’t escape with the others. Truly unfortunate.”

He neither liked nor disliked the Yong’an prince—just a spoiled kid with a bit of self-important cleverness. If diligent, he could have sold him and even helped count the money.

Qi Peng continued, “Mei Jingzhi defeated Wu Baishun’s general Hu Liangping in Jinzhou, killing 30,000. The emperor decreed him Protector General of the Nation.”

“At a time like this, the eldest is still playing meaningless games,”

Lin Yi snorted. “Thinking moral authority and fame alone can control the world—ignorance. The first task now is consolidating military and financial power and uniting all possible forces.”

Xie Zan said, “Your Highness speaks wisely.”

Lin Yi said, “Anything else, speak now. I’ll cure your hesitation eventually.”

Qi Peng smiled. “Some officials proposed a marriage alliance with Wadan.”

“Marriage alliance?” Lin Yi frowned. “Which bastard started this?”

Qi Peng replied, “Ministry of Revenue Deputy Qin Tong, a man of Prince Yong.”

Lin Yi curiously asked, “Does the eldest know he’s Prince Yong’s man? Or is it a secret only you know?”

Qi Peng shook his head. “The emperor doesn’t know.”

“Who’s the candidate for this alliance?”

Lin Yi’s brows furrowed deeply.

Qi Peng lowered his head, saying nothing.

“Speak quickly!”

Lin Yi grew impatient. “Delay any longer, and I’ll hit you!”

“Your Highness!”

Qi Peng finally raised his head. “The princess.”

“Princess!”

Lin Yi cursed. “There are many princesses! Which one exactly?”

“Huaikang Princess!”

Qi Peng hesitated, finally uttering the four words, as if using all his strength, sweat pouring from his forehead.

“How did the court react?”

Surprisingly, Lin Yi remained calm, without a hint of anger.

“Many ministers agreed, including Qi Yong,” Qi Peng said.

Lin Yi said lightly, “And the eldest?”

Qi Peng replied, “The emperor said it would be reconsidered, attitude unclear.”

Lin Yi smiled. “Wang Qingbang.”

“Your Highness!”

Wang Qingbang knelt immediately. Though Lin Yi smiled, his tone sent shivers down Wang’s spine.

“Shan Qi!”

“Your Highness!”

Shan Qi also knelt.

“He Jixiang!”

“I am here! Your Highness, command freely!”

He Jixiang trembled slightly, kneeling beside Shan Qi.

Lin Yi called everyone in the room one by one.

All knelt in a row.

“Good,”

Lin Yi took a sip of tea from Xiao Xizi, sitting down. “Are you all sure you’ll follow me to the end?”

“Your Highness commands; we are ready to die!”

All replied in near unison.

“Good,” Lin Yi sighed. “Shan Qi.”

“At your service!”

“Send a pigeon to the capital,” Lin Yi set down his tea cup, smiling. “Tell the eldest openly: if he dares a marriage alliance, I will be the first to lead troops to purge the court!”

“Your Highness, think carefully!”

Shan Qi warned. “I believe this matter must be considered long-term.”

Sanhe still didn’t have the strength to challenge the court openly.

Wang Qingbang hurried, “Your Highness, you said before: build walls and stock grain—why act rashly?”

“Times change,” Lin Yi said calmly. “You just need to say agree or disagree.”

The kneeling group exchanged glances, shouting, “Your Highness is wise! Long live Your Highness a thousand, ten thousand years!”

Lin Yi nodded in satisfaction, stood, and gazed north.