IDWBE -Chapter 224 Masters of the World

“The crane cries on the high marsh, its voice reaching the heavens. The fish rests on the sandbank, or dives into the deep.”

Lin Yi said lightly, “There’s another line… how does it go… ‘Ride the wind well, soar ten thousand miles through the sky, and gaze down upon mountains and rivers.’”

“Your Highness has lofty ambitions,”

Shan Qi said loudly. “We are far beneath you!”

Lin Yi said, “Hurry and draft the memorial. Once it’s done, I’ll review it and then send it directly.”

“Yes.”

All replied in unison.

Chen Desheng held the pen, Xing Ke prepared the ink, and Shan Qi dictated—words flowing abundantly across a thousand characters.

When it was finished, Xiao Xizi delivered it to Lin Yi.

Lin Yi glanced at it, not reading carefully, and sighed: “So many words—how are we supposed to send this by pigeon? Do you think pigeons are eagles? Moreover, this isn’t even in my tone; if the eldest reads it, he’ll think it’s a forged document. Rewrite it.”

Shan Qi cupped his hands. “Please show us, Your Highness.”

Lin Yi, slightly impatient, picked up the pen and wrote directly. The others watched as he wrote:

“Eldest, you know my temper. If you’re good, I’m good. If not, I side with the Third! ”

Everyone was stunned.

Yet somehow, it felt completely natural!

It perfectly matched Lin Yi’s character and tone.

Crude and blunt, but the meaning was clear:

If the emperor shows respect, I won’t make things difficult.

If you threaten me, I’ll side with Prince Yong.

Prince Yong has already raised the “clear the court” banner, and I’ll help him carry it.

“Your Highness is concise; the emperor should understand.”

Shan Qi finally exhaled. Thankfully, Lin Yi hadn’t written “clear the court” outright.

The Crown Prince was vindictive; now, having ascended the throne, he was arrogant. Provoking him directly would be unwise.

Lin Yi blew the paper dry and tossed it to Wang Qingbang. “Send this to Song City. Let it reach the Yong’an Prince’s residence, then passed on by Old Twelve.”

Xie Zan asked in surprise, “Why send it to the Yong’an Prince?”

Lin Yi smiled. “Who would deliver it if it went to a minister? Anyone involved with me would never dare. Song City likely has no access, but Old Twelve does; he knows him. Moreover, Old Twelve is oppressed by the eldest, desperate to prove his worth. He will surely deliver this letter. Having him as the intermediary is also saving his life—a poor child, meddling in the great power struggle without knowing his own weight.”

“Your Highness is merciful,” Chen Desheng added, “Yuezhou and Hongzhou are pacified. Yuan Busheng and Zhou Jiuling have arranged spring plowing for the people, lending seed, tools, and silver. After the autumn harvest, food won’t be a concern. Your Highness, patience is key. Now is not the time for haste.”

He feared Lin Yi would impulsively march north. If supplies ran short, Lin Yi wouldn’t plunder like the rebels or Mei Jingzhi; would he starve halfway?

Lin Yi gave him a cold look. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Chen Desheng forced a laugh.

Lin Yi waved them off. “Alright, go. Attend to your duties. We must accelerate progress—time waits for no one.”

“Yes.”

They all bowed and withdrew.

Lin Yi looked at Hong Ying.

“Your Highness, say whatever you wish. I am ready to die for the task.”

Hong Ying sensed Lin Yi’s hesitation.

Lin Yi sighed. “If I ask you to enter the palace to protect the empress and princess, what do you think?”

Hong Ying smiled. “Rest assured, Your Highness. With me there, no one can harm the empress or princess.”

“And you?”

Lin Yi turned to Wen Zhaoyi. “After all your years in the palace, you know how many masters there are, right?”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled. “You’ve always asked how many grandmasters exist in the world. I never told you—now I will.”

“Listen carefully,” Lin Yi stepped forward, not wanting to miss a word.

Wen Zhaoyi said, “I previously told you there are seven grandmasters. Jingyi and Jingkuan of Jizhao Temple, Wuxiang of Jingang Platform, Zhaoyao of Chunshan City, and myself—five. The remaining two are in the imperial palace.”

Lin Yi nodded. “One is Liu Chaoyuan—I know that. Who’s the other?”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled. “Why not guess boldly?”

“First, it can’t be my father,” Lin Yi reasoned. “If he had that skill, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have confined him. Besides, a true grandmaster wouldn’t be sick constantly like my emperor father, sometimes on the brink of death.”

“Indeed, not him,” Wen Zhaoyi nodded. “Though talented in martial arts, he never reached eighth rank.”

“I know a bit about the palace concubines,” Lin Yi smiled, “not all are from military families like my mother; many are weak.”

Among the harem, his mother was clearly the strongest—capable of crushing kindergartens and kicking nursing homes.

“Exactly,” Wen Zhaoyi laughed. “So it’s not the concubines.”

“Then it must be a eunuch,” Lin Yi mused. “Could it be He Jin? But he looks weak, not skilled in combat.”

“Not him either,” Wen Zhaoyi continued. “In ruthlessness, he excels. In martial arts, he falls far short—barely skilled, never mastering internal energy.”

Lin Yi sighed. “Then who? I can’t guess.”

Wen Zhaoyi spoke slowly, “The other grandmaster is the Princess.”

“Princess Leling?” Lin Yi was incredulous. “How could she be a grandmaster?”

His father had killed all his brothers, leaving only a younger sister—Grand Princess Lin Yun’er.

Among women in the Da Liang kingdom, few were richer.

And her beauty was extraordinary.

Most importantly, Emperor Delong trusted her completely, never restraining her. Lin Yi considered his aunt a true life winner.

“No wonder. You’re young; it’s normal not to know palace secrets,” Wen Zhaoyi sipped tea and continued. “Even the Crown Prince may not know. Princess Leling was deeply close to Emperor Delong from childhood. Later, her entire in-law family—including her children—was killed by Emperor Delong.”

“What?”

Lin Yi was stunned. He had never heard this.

In his memory, Princess Leling was always cheerful, respectful even to his emperor father.