IDWBE -Chapter 225 The Grand Princess

Of course, if his emperor father had actually done such a thing, Lin Yi wouldn’t be surprised.

After all, a man who could wipe out his own younger brother’s entire family wouldn’t think twice about killing a brother-in-law.

“Why, you don’t believe it?”

Wen Zhaoyi asked.

Lin Yi said, “If someone kills their own sons and daughters, yet is the brother of that victim, why doesn’t Princess Leling show even a hint of despair? Moreover, my father treated her very well—he even gave her Cian Palace to live in.”

He had grown up in the palace, wandering through every nook and corner, even managing the cold palace at one point.

Yet there were two exceptions: the cleansing chamber and Cian Palace.

The biological mother of Emperor Delong had been beaten to death in Cian Palace for the Empress Dowager.

After Emperor Delong ascended, the Empress Dowager fell into deep depression and died; Cian Palace was left empty.

Later, his father gave Cian Palace to his own younger sister, Princess Leling!

Once, a concubine, emboldened by the emperor’s favor, insisted on living there. Emperor Delong didn’t hesitate—he stabbed her with a single sword, not even leaving a white silk cloth.

To Lin Yi, his emperor father was a textbook “sister-crazy” maniac!

Cian Palace was only meant for the Empress Dowager or the Empress. Yet his father, ignoring the whispers of the world, handed it over to his sister!

Thus, people in the palace feared Cian Palace; most wouldn’t go there uninvited.

Lin Yi himself avoided Cian Palace, and if he happened to encounter the Grand Princess, he would behave extremely politely.

Otherwise, offending the Grand Princess—who knows what that “sister-crazy” father might do?

After all, sons are plenty, but sisters only one!

“So what?”

Wen Zhaoyi snorted coldly. “To Princess Leling, Emperor Delong is still the enemy who killed her children.”

Lin Yi was surprised. “So their relationship is only superficially good?”

If his aunt truly was a grandmaster, still looking youthful and beautiful at fifty, it wouldn’t be so shocking.

“There’s one more thing I haven’t told you,”

Wen Zhaoyi continued. “Liu Chaoyuan is my disciple.”

“What?”

Lin Yi was stunned again!

How many secrets had Wen Zhaoyi been hiding—secrets he didn’t know!

Wen Zhaoyi said calmly, “He was my first disciple. When I first saw him, he was clever and delicate, so I taught him the Red Sleeve Technique, thinking it would help when seeking vengeance through Jingyi, giving me an extra hand. Unexpectedly, he altered it into a technique only suitable for eunuchs. Anyone else trying to practice it would fail.”

Lin Yi asked, “Does he still listen to you now?”

“Of course not; I don’t have the power to kill him,” Wen Zhaoyi shook her head. “But he won’t disobey me. If I want information about the palace, he will still pass it along. The night before Emperor Delong’s serious illness, he personally saw the Grand Princess leaving the emperor’s chamber.”

Lin Yi said, “So the eldest and my aunt are working together? With Yu Boxu and the Yu Wen brothers, the eldest ascending to the throne isn’t so hard to understand.”

“Much of this is speculation,” Wen Zhaoyi sighed. “The truth is still unknown.”

She then glanced at Hong Ying.

Lin Yi asked, “You mean even if Hong Ying goes to the palace, it won’t help?”

Wen Zhaoyi shook her head. “For protecting your mother and sister, Liu Chaoyuan would still oblige me.”

Lin Yi said seriously, “This is not a small matter!”

Wen Zhaoyi replied, “Then consider it a big matter.”

Lin Yi cupped his hands. “In that case, thank you.”

Even sending Hong Ying back to the palace would have to be done stealthily; he couldn’t openly protect his mother and sister.

It was better to follow Wen Zhaoyi’s plan, letting Liu Chaoyuan watch over them.

“You are too polite,” Wen Zhaoyi smiled.

“Please inform Liu Gongfeng. I won’t let him work in vain,”

Lin Yi said sternly. “There will be great reward afterward.”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled but said nothing.

Summer arrived in Sanhe.

Residents of Baiyun City noticed that this summer felt different from previous years—the air carried an unusually heavy atmosphere.

For example, in the past, even if migrants were given land but didn’t plant summer crops, the Administration Office didn’t care.

This year, it was different: unplanted land would have its deed revoked, even for merchants like Liu Duo.

Even if merchants couldn’t farm personally, they had to hire others to plant the land!

They also noticed more and more large boats transporting grain in Sanhe—usually two or three daily. Warehouses rose along both banks of the West River, constantly sending grain to Yuezhou and Hongzhou.

Shan Qi, Xie Zan, and other elders all felt a deep sense of crisis.

Previously, they had hoped that Lin Yi would rise to power, someday leading troops to the capital.

But now, they were afraid!

Afraid that one day, Lin Yi might get drunk, act impulsively, and insist on leading the army north, ignoring all advice!

To prevent such accidents, they worked with all their might to prepare.

The southern provinces were unbearably hot.

Ji Hai stood at the bottom of a canyon, tears unconsciously streaming down his face.

“Hey, monk, why are you crying?”

Xie Jiuyun was flustered, offering him a handkerchief. When he didn’t take it, she stomped her foot. “Say something!”

After a long pause, Ji Hai said, “My parents are buried beneath this place.”

“Why no gravestone?”

Xie Jiuyun asked.

“That year, Songyang was hit by a hurricane; many died, and there were too many to bury properly,” Ji Hai rubbed his eyes and sighed. “Fearing outbreaks of disease, and with no help from the lord, the dead were all placed here.”

Xie Jiuyun muttered, “That’s too careless! At least put up a gravestone.”

Ji Hai said, “I was only thirteen that year. The lord arranged for my parents’ burial—I am forever in his debt.”

“Always talking about the lord,” Xie Jiuyun pouted. “You’re a monk, not his servant!”

Ji Hai said coldly, “Miss, speak like that again, and don’t blame me for being rude.”

“What can you do being rude?”

Xie Jiuyun stomped again. “Don’t forget—you’re only third rank! I’m ninth rank! I saved your life!”

Ji Hai turned his head and didn’t speak to her again.

“Hey, this is already a wasteland. Let’s not linger here.”

“What kind of fruit is this? So sweet!”

“Hey, monk, how can you be so stingy!”

No matter what she said, the monk seemed not to hear. “Buddhists are supposed to win people with virtue—what’s going on? Say something!”

Ji Hai sat cross-legged, unmoved.