IDWBE -Chapter 260 Leave a Line for Others

The laborers and the Yongzhou soldiers were locked in fierce combat, inseparable in battle.

Not far away, the Sanhe regular troops could only swallow nervously and stare helplessly.

Some felt deeply uneasy—among the laborers were their fathers, brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends. Whoever was hurt, it would wound their hearts.

The laborers could act lawlessly.

They could not.

They were soldiers. Without military orders, they could not move.

Win or lose, if they acted without command, not only would they forfeit a year’s pay—they would be beaten as well.

So they waited.

Waiting for a single command.

Hands clenched around their sabers.

At last, amid their anxious anticipation, the war horns sounded.

Sanhe cavalry surged forward, light infantry following behind, flooding into the ranks of the laborers like a tidal wave.

On the mountaintop, Lin Yi yawned. He glanced at the fighting below, then at the dimming sky, and sighed.

“Damn it. At this hour and they still won’t let anyone rest.”

After the campaigns against Ayu, and the rebellions in Nanzhou and Hongzhou, he had gradually gained confidence in Sanhe’s combat strength. At this moment, he appeared unusually calm.

Shen Chu smiled awkwardly.

“This northern expedition has strained our military funds. Suppliers haven’t been fully paid. These laborers traveled far—they naturally seek a livelihood. I failed to restrain them, which led to this disaster. Your Highness, please forgive me.”

“For money, they’ll risk their lives,” Lin Yi said, unsure whether to laugh or cry. “They’ve got some real Sanhe spirit now.”

Sanhe spirit: Everything for money.

After knocking his head once more, Shen Chu mounted and rode downhill to fight alongside the troops.

The sun finally dipped behind the mountains.

Night fell like a curtain.

From the peak, Lin Yi could only see torches flickering below.

He did not yet know how the battle fared.

Though mosquitoes swarmed, he endured and remained on the mountain.

Suddenly, Ye Qiu drifted past him.

Before Lin Yi could react, the sound of combat rang out.

Had the Yongzhou soldiers broken through and reached the mountain?

By the light of a nearby bonfire, he saw a white figure standing atop the forest canopy—strangely familiar. A black figure followed, and the two clashed fiercely.

“Protect the Prince!”

Shouts rose as soldiers rushed over, forming a tight circle around Lin Yi.

“Do not act recklessly before His Highness!”

That was Ye Qiu’s voice.

Ye Qiu struck at both the white and black figures at once. A moment later, another figure appeared midair, joining him.

The sound of blades clashing echoed from beneath the trees.

Soon Wang Dahai emerged from the forest, followed by a string of bound captives escorted by Sanhe soldiers. They were forced to kneel before Lin Yi.

Lin Yi recognized them immediately.

Imperial Inner Guard attire.

“Your Highness!” Wang Dahai said.

“Take them away first. We’ll deal with it later.”

Lin Yi’s gaze lifted again to the treetops.

The fight intensified.

Figures tangled together, indistinguishable.

Squinting carefully, he finally recognized one of them.

The blind man.

He and Ye Qiu forced the black and white figures down to the ground.

“Aunt—”

When Lin Yi clearly saw the woman in white, he was stunned.

The other man’s features became visible as well—

Imperial enshrined master, Liu Chaoyuan.

How could the Grand Princess and Liu Chaoyuan possibly be fighting each other?

Ye Qiu and the blind man landed beside Lin Yi—one with a sword, one with a bamboo staff—guarding him.

Liu Chaoyuan bowed slightly.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“So it’s Enshrined Master Liu,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “No need for courtesy. When I was young, I called you Grandpa.”

Back then, hoping to learn peerless martial arts from him, Lin Yi had shown extreme respect.

Liu Chaoyuan bowed again. “Your Highness flatters me. This old servant does not deserve that title.”

Lin Yi’s gaze met the smiling eyes of the Grand Princess—Lin Yuner.

“My nephew has truly grown up,” she laughed lightly behind her sleeve. “I never imagined that as a regional lord, you would possess such bearing. It seems I misjudged you.”

“It is most fortunate to see Aunt here,” Lin Yi replied.

He stared at her enchanting face and cherry-red lips, suppressing the urge to swallow.

Amitabha… damn it.

This was his biological aunt!

No improper thoughts!

He must not land himself in orthopedic surgery over this!

Absolutely not!

Lin Yuner glanced at the growing river of fire below and smiled.

“Contending with Prince Yong and not falling behind—you are indeed formidable.”

“We spring from the same root; why press each other so harshly?” Lin Yi replied coolly. “I am helpless. Naturally, I cannot compare with the deep sibling bond between Father and Aunt.”

Her tone had been cutting.

His answer pierced back.

Her expression shifted slightly.

“Worthy of being my good nephew,” she said coldly. “Tell me—will you be your father’s good son today, or remain neutral?”

Liu Chaoyuan stepped forward.

“His Majesty has recovered from illness and greatly misses the Grand Princess. He orders this servant to escort Your Highness to the Hall of Diligent Governance.”

“Oh? Father has recovered?” Lin Yi exclaimed theatrically. “How delightful! And my Crown Prince brother?”

Dead?

Imprisoned?

He had no idea.

Liu Chaoyuan answered blankly, “All rests in His Majesty’s heart.”

Lin Yi looked from Liu Chaoyuan to Lin Yuner and smiled.

“Enshrined Master Liu, my aunt and I haven’t seen each other in a long time. I miss her dearly. I’ll take the liberty of keeping her here tonight for candlelit conversation. As for you—run along. Don’t waste effort here and make me uncomfortable.”

“Your Highness,” Liu Chaoyuan said coldly, “this is His Majesty’s will. Will you defy it?”

“I am no unfilial son,” Lin Yi waved casually. “I am very filial. Don’t slander me. The Grand Princess has lived long in the deep palace. Coming out for some air is perfectly natural. Why be so rigid? How about this—you tell my father she has gone missing. What do you think?”

“Watch your words!” Liu Chaoyuan shouted. “That is deceiving the sovereign!”

“You’re making this difficult,” Lin Yi sighed. “You watched me grow up. You know my temper.”

Lin Yuner watched him with amusement.

Liu Chaoyuan hesitated. If he could act, he would have.

But beside the Prince stood two Grandmasters.

One of them—the blind man—was beyond him.

If he fought, he might not leave alive.

“Very well,” Liu Chaoyuan said at last. “Your Highness, take care.”

With a leap, he vanished into the night.

Lin Yi clicked his tongue.

“They all fly around like that… how do they train? Damn it, their martial arts are ridiculous.”

He always felt envy watching such feats.

“You’re not afraid at all?” Lin Yuner suddenly asked.

“Stand down,” Lin Yi waved at his guards. “She’s my aunt. What’s there to fear?”

Once they dispersed, he stepped closer to her.

“Why should I be afraid? I fear neither heaven nor earth.”

Lin Yuner smiled faintly.

“Your father is determined to capture me. If he learns you detained me, have you considered the consequences of his fury? Fifteen hundred thousand troops from Jizhou and Qizhou. One hundred thousand in Ankang. Your forces are insufficient.”

Lin Yi sighed.

“I’ve taken Yuezhou, Hongzhou, Nanzhou, Jingzhou, Yong’an—plus Sanhe. Seven provinces. Now I march north. Do you think he’s pleased? Do ten good deeds erase one wrong? No matter what I do, I cannot win his favor. The bond between father and son is gone. If so—why not be wrong again?”

When he had lived in the capital before, he acted brash and greedy, earning a reputation for incompetence.

At most, people saw him as a mischievous cub.

Now?

He held seven provinces and vast armies.

Even kneeling politely, he would still be seen as a tiger.

A man-eating tiger.

“I truly misjudged,” Lin Yuner sighed. “You resemble your father most.”

“No,” Lin Yi waved. “He is he. I am me.”

“Patient and restrained,” she said softly. “You are very much like him.”

“I never hold grudges overnight,” Lin Yi laughed. “If I have one, I settle it on the spot. You know how I behaved in the capital.”

“I know,” she smiled. “That was your disguise.”

Lin Yi grew impatient as the battle below dragged on.

“Enough. Down the mountain. Tea, food, wine. Entertain my aunt properly.”

He slapped his bare thigh, squashing a mosquito—leaving blood on his palm.

Lin Yuner couldn’t help but laugh.

Below, nearly fifty thousand Sanhe troops and laborers pressed forward relentlessly.

Prince Yong’s army retreated step by step.

Yet Yongzhou’s soldiers were disciplined—holding high ground, hurling stones and flaming oil, retreating in order.

The most frustrating thing for the Sanhe laborers?

Every time they saw a soldier crouched with hands over his head—

It was one of their former customers.

They couldn’t bear to strike.

Often, they simply bound them with rope instead.

“Old Blade! You didn’t shoot at me, did you?” Zhu Ruorong muttered as he tied up a Yongzhou soldier. “Last time you sold me a chipped knife. I still gave you ten jin of grain. Wasn’t that generous? Don’t lose your conscience and shoot me in the back!”