IDWBE -Chapter 258 The Emperor

“The palace has heard as well,” Consort Yuan sighed. “Isn’t this sheer recklessness? With only thirty thousand men—what difference is that from striking a stone with an egg?”

She continued bitterly, “If only letters could pass between the palace and the outside world, I would scold him thoroughly! Of his brothers, which one is easy to deal with? Each commands powerful troops. If only his maternal grandfather and uncle could lend support—but alas, his uncle has only just been released from prison, and his grandfather is ill. No one can help him now. And you—since you managed to enter, your skills must be considerable. While no one has noticed, hurry and leave the palace. Take my letter out and tell him not to act rashly. He should go back where he came from and stop meddling.”

The blind man stood and replied, “Your Ladyship overpraises me. My skills are passable. But the Prince instructed me to remain in the palace, attend by Your Ladyship’s side, and await your commands at any time.”

Liu Chaoyuan said darkly, “Passable? You are the youngest Grandmaster I have ever seen. A heaven-blessed prodigy. Given time, there may be no one in this world who can match you.”

He truly could not fathom how Prince He had won over such a master.

“You’re a Grandmaster?” Princess Huaiyang covered her mouth in disbelief.

The blind man lowered his head silently.

Consort Yuan sighed. “Though confined in the palace, the Crown Prince still cannot do anything to me. You should return and protect Prince He. He cannot lack capable men by his side. Besides, this may be a large palace, but it may not have a place for you. This is the inner court—if discovered, it would bring grave disaster.”

“This is the Prince’s order,” the blind man replied. “I dare not disobey. Please rest assured, Your Ladyship. I have my own hiding places.”

With that, he turned and vanished into the night.

The three inside exchanged glances.

“His martial arts are truly formidable,” Princess Huaiyang said.

Liu Chaoyuan sighed. “I am indeed no match for him.”

He, too, departed, leaving only mother and daughter.

Lin Ning closed the door and said happily, “Mother, I told you—Brother is the most remarkable of all!”

Consort Yuan glared at her. “What do you know? The capital is now a place of deadly peril. What good does it do him to come? With so few troops, how can he contend with Prince Yong? With the Crown Prince? As long as he stays safe, that is enough for me.”

Lin Ning protested, “Brother is incredibly capable! He even drove off the Ayu people!”

“The Ayu are barbarians,” Consort Yuan said, shaking her head. “Defeating barbarians proves nothing.”

“But he drove off Han Hui! He reclaimed Nanzhou, Yuezhou, Hongzhou, and Jingzhou. Even Uncle, Mei Jingzhi, and Prince Yong couldn’t achieve that! It’s unparalleled merit! Liu Chaoyuan just said he has taken Yong’an and now commands six provinces. Why should he fear them?”

In her heart, her brother was always number one in the world.

Consort Yuan poured herself tea and smiled faintly. “Your uncle and the others had already cornered the rebels. They were hiding in cities, barely breathing. If not for the turmoil in the palace, how would it have been your brother’s turn? He simply picked up the spoils when the rebels were weak.”

A mother knows her son best.

Her son’s nature was clear to her—neither accomplished in civil nor martial matters, no orthodox brilliance, but plenty of cunning. Especially when it came to seizing advantages and gaining profits—she believed he was unmatched.

She had personally raised him, teaching him benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. Yet she could not fathom where that personality of his came from.

He once told her bluntly: “Mother, if I don’t take advantage, I’ll die.”

She had nearly strangled him on the spot.

What hope was there in such a son?

“Mother!” Lin Ning stamped her foot. “You underestimate Brother too much! And before, didn’t you always hope he—”

“Enough!” Consort Yuan cut her off. “Times have changed. I once placed hope in your uncle and grandfather. Now, that is no longer possible.”

“But Brother is about to reach the city gates!” Lin Ning insisted. “He cannot simply turn back.”

“I have a headache,” Consort Yuan said, pressing her temples. “Leave me. Let me rest.”

After three days of riding hard, Lin Yi could no longer bear it.

He slowed down, walking shirtless and barefoot across the vast northern plains of Liang, chewing on a foxtail grass stem. Occasionally he flicked his whip to stop his donkey from nibbling fresh wheat.

Pan Duo rode up. “Your Highness, Prince Yong ceased his siege three days ago.”

“Why?” Lin Yi frowned. “Isn’t Yang Changchun some famed general? Can’t even take Ankang?”

“Rumor says something happened inside the palace.”

Lin Yi’s heart tightened. “What happened?”

“His Majesty has not held court for five days, nor met any ministers. Our informants in the palace have sent no news.”

Lin Yi frowned deeply. “With Prince Yong at the gates, the Crown Prince should be overwhelmed. Skipping court is indeed abnormal. Mr. He?”

He Jixiang rode closer. “Your Highness.”

“What do you think?”

After questioning Pan Duo further, He Jixiang pondered and sighed. “If there is turmoil in the palace, it likely concerns His Majesty.”

Lin Yi’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me my father’s dead—and they’re concealing it?”

“Unlikely,” He Jixiang shook his head. “If His Majesty had passed, given the Crown Prince’s temperament, he would not avoid court.”

“Could my father have been feigning weakness?” Lin Yi muttered. “Waiting for all the petty villains to reveal themselves before sweeping them up?”

He Jixiang said slowly, “His Majesty once trained in our army. Resolute and steadfast, yet suspicious by nature. His imprisonment always puzzled me.”

Lin Yi slapped his forehead. “Damn. The old ginger is spicier. What now? If we try to retreat, it may be too late.”

“All rests on Your Highness’ decision,” He Jixiang replied carefully.

Lin Yi sighed.

Then Yu Xiaoshi shouted, “Your Highness! You promised to take me to Ankang to see the pretty ladies! I’ve never been!”

Lin Yi laughed. “I almost forgot. I miss them too. Since we’re here, let’s go take a look.”

No matter what, he would first bring his mother and sister back to Sanhe and continue being his local emperor.

Whether his father agreed or not? He hadn’t even considered it.

His father’s empire had already been quietly carved away by him. There was no retreat.

A tiger does not eat its cub—because the cub is weak. But once the cub challenges the tiger’s throne… that’s another matter.

He urged them forward.

Half a month later, they reached Ankang territory and joined Shen Chu’s forces.

From the mountaintop, Ankang’s majestic walls were visible in the distance. Beneath them sprawled Prince Yong’s army like ants.

Shen Chu knelt. “Your Highness, the blind man entered the palace and sent word. The Consort and Princess are safe. He cannot gather detailed intelligence due to his blindness.”

“That’s enough,” Lin Yi replied. “I don’t demand much of him—just that he protect my mother and sister.

“Ye Qiu.”

“Your Highness.”

“There are surely people from Jizhao Convent in Prince Yong’s camp. My life is in your hands. Be alert at night. If they send a Grandmaster… then pretend I said nothing.”

Shen Chu declared loudly, “Rest assured! With our masters gathered, no one from Jizhao Convent will dare act recklessly!”

After the Ayu campaign, Chief Steward Hong had secretly trained them.

Two hundred sixth-rank masters could hold off even a Grandmaster—though defeating one was impossible.

Now they had over seventy thousand troops and laborers, with a thousand above sixth rank.

Shen Chu refused to believe any Grandmaster dared test them.

Lin Yi asked, “Has Prince Yong reacted to our arrival?”

“None. Even after our laborers captured over a thousand of Prince Jin’s men, he did nothing.”

“We’re less than ten li from the city?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s watch them perform,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “We’ll eat and drink well and return before harvest. Without grain, people cannot live.”

Life in the mountains was leisurely—game to eat, streams to bathe in—except for the mosquitoes.

Below, villagers had grown used to the Sanhe troops. Children played around the soldiers, watching them practice. Some soldiers even taught them moves.

Enterprising villagers set up food stalls and offered laundry services.

One man even earned ten taels of silver in compensation after a minor scuffle with a “southern barbarian.”

People began hoping to get beaten—compensation was easy money.

Prince Yong remained motionless.

Lin Yi grew impatient.

Five days had passed. Every day meant expenses.

He waved away the children and sighed, “That Third Brother is too timid. Why not attack already?”

He could afford to wait. Prince Yong likely could not.

Yongzhou was cold, Liangzhou poor, Jinzhou chaotic. Grain was scarce.

Lin Yi, backed by Ayu and the Southern Seas, lacked silver—but never grain.

Even Ayu lent him grain in exchange for porcelain and silk.

“Your Highness,” Ji Zhuo finally spoke eagerly, “allow me to lead the vanguard and test Yang Changchun!”

“Relax,” Lin Yi replied. “If I’m not anxious, why are you?”

He wiped sweat from his face.

“Where is Zhang Mian’s navy?”

“Entered Qizhou waters ten days ago.”

“Who commands Qizhou’s navy?”

“Provincial Commissioner Lu Yixiang. Naval Commissioner Wang Zhong.”

“Lu Yixiang?” Lin Yi laughed. “An old acquaintance. Send word to Zhang Mian—no need for courtesy.”

At dusk, Wang Tuozi came running, panting. “Your Highness! Bad news!”

Lin Yi kicked him lightly. “Speak!”

“The Emperor! The Emperor has come out!”

“Which Emperor?” Lin Yi asked sharply. “My elder brother—or my father?”

“It’s your fa—”

Wang Tuozi clapped a hand over his mouth, but too late.