IDWBE -Chapter 253 Too Hasty

After speaking, Lin Yi glanced again at Chen Desheng, who had remained silent the whole time.

Chen Desheng hurriedly said, “Prince, please give any orders, and I will do my utmost to fulfill your trust.”

Lin Yi smiled, “These days, make sure the Capital Command Office is properly organized. It’s a mess right now, really a disgrace. And get rid of those chickens and ducks from the courtyard. Improve the living standards for Prince Qing and his family. They’ve been eating only vegetables every day—can’t even fill their stomachs. Don’t let it wear him down.”

Sometimes, he really thought life was unfair. At his age, he should have had many wives and children. Prince Qing should have been dead by now, yet here he was, a poor man, still having to think of him everywhere.

Truly not easy.

Chen Desheng said, “Yes, Prince. Despite the hardships before him, you are still taking great care of him. I will make sure he is grateful to you.”

“Grateful?”

Lin Yi shook his head, “He’s not truly an idiot. Real idiots would have been cut down by my father long ago—they wouldn’t still be alive, jumping around. Sometimes, he’s just pretending to be clueless.”

Chen Desheng nodded, “Prince, you are correct.”

Lin Yi continued, “You all need to give him lessons from time to time, make him understand his position. When I mobilize troops to the north, those who have wealth contribute money, those who have strength contribute manpower. He can’t do nothing. He’s my royal uncle, so he has to back me up—not to preside over justice himself.”

Chen Desheng said, “Prince, if he isn’t forced a little, Prince Qing may never voluntarily contribute money.”

Lin Yi said, “Then tell him to contribute his effort. Have him sign the proclamation, stamp it, and announce to the world: Prince Qing—my royal uncle—will join me in this grand undertaking. Prince Yong and Prince Jin will be our common enemies.”

“Prince, brilliant!”

Chen Desheng was stunned.

This move from Prince He was ruthless!

Having Prince Qing sign the proclamation was like putting him on a hot grill.

As long as Prince Qing hadn’t completely lost his wits, there was no way he’d agree.

This was the battle for succession. How could a feudal prince dare interfere?

Lin Yi smiled, “So, do you think Prince Qing will contribute money or effort?”

As long as he has no scruples, he won’t be ‘kidnapped.’

“Of course money!”

Chen Desheng said without hesitation.

Lin Yi nodded, “Then that’s settled. Let him make money in the south to spend in Sanhe. No problem. Remember, I know nothing about this. He’s my beloved royal uncle. I would never trick him—it’s all for his own good.”

Shan Qi and the others play the “bad cop,” I have to play the “good cop.”

“Yes.”

Chen Desheng finally couldn’t help smiling.

That afternoon, the Capital Command Office began cleaning. All livestock were moved to a nearby orphanage. No more dung or urine in the front or back courtyards. Prince Qing finally dared to go out and breathe deeply.

That evening, there was even chicken drumsticks!

And the wine, when he drank it, had no sour smell. Not exactly fine wine, but at least palatable.

He was in high spirits and drank several cups on his own.

“Prince, we two toast to you,” Xing Keshou and Chen Desheng raised their cups across from Prince Qing.

Prince Qing raised his cup, “Thank you both for your trouble.”

Chen Desheng said, “Sanhe is poor, Prince knows that. Even with Prince He, one could hardly eat meat more than a few times a year. Truly—”

Before he finished, tears streamed down his face.

Xing Keshou continued, “We raised a few chickens and ducks in the courtyard so that Prince He could eat a little more meat. Yet he refused to eat, thinking only of Prince Qing, saying the royal uncle must not be wronged.”

“Prince He is benevolent!”

Prince Qing was skeptical.

A prince who couldn’t afford meat—who would believe that?

He remembered Prince He had already tricked him for plenty of silver and livestock!

Chen Desheng sighed, “Prince He is in such hardship, and Prince Yong and the others are pressing hard. Prince He now mobilizes north, out of necessity. Otherwise, if Prince Yong succeeds by luck, there would be no place for Prince He in this world!”

Xing Keshou said, “Prince He often says Prince Qing is generous, truly a close relative. Prince He always insists that those with money contribute money, those with strength contribute effort. He takes the hardships himself, not wanting to trouble Prince Qing. But we thought, many hands make light work, and we took the initiative, hoping to ask Prince Qing for full support!”

“How to support?”

Prince Qing’s heart pounded.

Chen Desheng handed over a folded document with a smile. “Prince Qing, you only need to sign your name.”

Prince Qing carefully took it. Upon unfolding it, the three large characters “Northern Expedition Proclamation” were emblazoned before his eyes.

“Throughout history, sages have upheld moral teachings, maintaining human relations. Rulers and ministers, fathers and sons, high and low, all should follow order, never to be reversed.”

“Daliang has its ceremonial robes and protocol. Now Prince Yong sets his own top. He disobeys ancestral instructions, destroys order. The descendants of the illustrious are mixed with base stench.”

The more he read, the colder his blood ran.

If he signed such a proclamation, wouldn’t Prince Yong kill him?

Between Prince Yong and Prince He, who should he support?

Of course: the brave and undefeated Prince Yong!

For the unlearned Prince He, pieced-together Sanhe troops—he had no confidence at all!

Even the Crown Prince, in his eyes, was just a wine bag and rice sack.

If Prince Yong and Prince Jin ultimately won, would the entire Prince Qing household survive?

So under no circumstances would he sign this proclamation, let alone stamp it.

“I am lowly and powerless,” he muttered.

He would never do it!

Better he die alone than his whole family.

Although he often scolded his sons and grandsons for being useless, he still protected them. Even in death, he would not let them suffer a bit.

Chen Desheng gestured, and Sun Chongde brought ink and brush.

Chen Desheng took the document, holding the brush in his right hand, smiling, “No need to trouble Your Highness. I am willing to write on your behalf!”

“Impossible!”

Prince Qing sprang up, “I am willing to contribute money, to do what little I can!”

He felt helpless. Even if he didn’t sign, they could forge his signature!

Truly, words couldn’t express his frustration.

He had no way to prove to the world that the signature wasn’t his—and here he was, in Sanhe, with mud on his pants. He had been careless!

“Only 500,000 taels?”

Lin Yi tossed a silver note onto the table, smiling, “You agreed too hastily. Nothing less than one million taels would do.”

If he didn’t squeeze at least a million from this old man, he’d feel he had wasted his effort.

Chen Desheng laughed, “Prince, rest assured. First time, second time will follow. I will continue my efforts.”

Only then did Lin Yi nod, smiling.