IDWBE -Chapter 264 Entering the City

Gradually, Lin Yi grew impatient from waiting.

There wasn’t a shred of efficiency in handling affairs!

In this blazing heat, he truly felt like smashing the gates open and barging in.

After about another quarter of an hour, Hong Ying suddenly said, “Your Highness.”

Lin Yi looked up and saw a figure appear atop the city wall—He Jin, the brush-holding eunuch.

He Jin bowed slightly toward Lin Yi.

“Greetings, Your Highness. May I ask what brings Your Highness here at this moment?”

Lin Yi laughed. “You old thing, don’t spout such nonsense. Ankang City is my home. I’m returning home, and you ask me what business I have? Isn’t that ridiculous?”

In the past, he would never have spoken to He Jin like this.

After all, He Jin was the Commander of the Court Guard and his father’s eyes and ears. Lin Yi had always been somewhat wary of him.

But times had changed. He was already prepared to confront even his own father head-on—why would he still fear He Jin?

The corner of He Jin’s mouth twitched involuntarily. His face darkened, but seasoned by years in the palace, he took a deep breath and forced a calm smile.

“Your Highness knows well that these are troubled times. Naturally, we must be cautious in all matters.”

Lin Yi said impatiently, “Enough nonsense. I want to enter the palace. Is it allowed or not? Give me a straight answer.”

He Jin sighed inwardly. Fortunately, he knew this prince’s temperament well—he always spoke and acted without restraint.

After glancing at the carriage behind Lin Yi, he called out loudly,

“Open the gates!”

“Open the gates!”

Han Long echoed.

“Open the gates!”

The command reached the gate officer, who barked orders to the soldiers to open the gates.

The massive doors slowly swung open. The drawbridge dropped onto the Juma River. Under He Jin’s watchful gaze, Lin Yi, led by Hong Ying holding the reins, rode his donkey across the bridge.

Yet the carriage did not move.

After Lin Yi had entered the gate tunnel, the carriage suddenly turned around.

“Stop that carriage!” He Jin shouted.

Soldiers inside the gate tunnel rushed out with spears raised. Suddenly, a series of howls echoed from the mountains. Banners fluttered in the forest—each embroidered with rats.

While the soldiers hesitated, the carriage had already retreated farther and farther away.

“Elephant troops…”

He Jin looked at the elephants charging down from the hills, kicking up clouds of dust, and said bitterly, “Close the gates!”

Before Han Long could relay the order, the gate officer immediately shouted, “Close the gates!”

The soldiers, already prepared, fled back into the city as if for their lives. With a thunderous boom, the gates slammed shut once more, and layers of sandbags were piled against them.

Lin Yi clasped his hands behind his back and burst into laughter at the chaotic scene inside the gates.

“Your Highness!”

He Jin descended from the wall and snorted coldly. “What is the meaning of this?”

Lin Yi frowned. “Who is ‘Yiyi’? Your younger brother?”

“Where is the Eldest Princess?!”

He Jin finally dropped all pretense of politeness.

Lin Yi smiled. “Before I entered the city, did I say anything? Did I say the Eldest Princess would come in with me?”

He Jin’s chest rose and fell.

He was so furious he couldn’t speak.

Damn it!

And yet… he couldn’t deny that Prince He had a point.

From the beginning, everyone had simply assumed that the Eldest Princess would enter the city together with him.

From outside the walls came waves of elephant trumpets, snorting warhorses, and soldiers shouting.

He Jin quickly climbed back up the wall. Looking at the Sanhe army positioned an arrow’s distance from the walls, his expression darkened.

This time, He Jixiang had allowed civilian laborers to join the battle. Together with the Sanhe troops, there were over seventy thousand people.

These seventy thousand, along with countless warhorses, mules, donkeys, hunting dogs, and elephants, filled the space outside the gates in a dense mass. Their banners blotted out the sun, stretching beyond sight.

The loudest voices came from the Sanhe laborers.

They had fought many battles and climbed many walls, but this was the first time they stood openly beneath a city wall, fighting alongside official troops.

Ankang City—the most powerful place under heaven.

Also the richest place under heaven.

At the mere mention of money, their eyes gleamed.

Butcher Jiang, his bulky frame draped over a large mule, spat several times on his broadsword and drew out a whetstone, grinding the blade with a harsh scraping sound.

Zhu Ruorong said irritably, “Why are you still sharpening it now?”

Butcher Jiang blew on the blade and chuckled. “Sharpening the blade before battle—even if it’s not faster, it’ll at least shine.”

Zhu Ruorong sighed. “I just don’t know what the prince is thinking, going in alone. There aren’t many good people in Ankang City. May all the gods protect him—may nothing happen to him.”

“Bah, bah! Don’t jinx it!”

Li Sanniang scolded. “Our prince is wise and mighty. How could anything happen to him?”

Even as she said it, she barely believed it herself.

Everyone knew their prince couldn’t fight at all. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he couldn’t even truss a chicken.

And he was especially lazy.

If a blade came at him, he might not even bother to dodge.

Though the Chief Steward was highly skilled, in the chaos of battle he might not be able to protect the prince!

If the prince truly died, they couldn’t even imagine the chaos that would engulf Sanhe.

Wang Xiaoshuan muttered, “I don’t know what Lord He and the others were thinking, not even stopping the prince.”

He wasn’t like Wei Yishan, who studied diligently and understood grand principles.

But he understood small ones.

Everything in Sanhe existed because of Prince He. If something happened to the prince, people like Shan Qi would no longer be able to stay in Sanhe. When new officials took over, Sanhe would become no different from any other place.

Sanhe would no longer be Sanhe.

The thought made his scalp tingle.

Whenever they went to war, the tribesmen had to shout to boost morale.

Wang Xiaoshuan, feeling agitated, couldn’t help but shout along.

“What are you yelling for?”

Butcher Jiang grew annoyed. “Worst comes to worst, we storm the city and chop down the Emperor himself.”

“Keep your voice down!”

Li Sanniang scolded. “If Lord He hears that, you won’t like the consequences.”

She held little respect for those high officials. Even after being punished by Emperor Delong while eating from Prince He’s bowl, they still prattled on about imperial grace and loyalty.

“Eunuch…”

Han Long looked at the silent He Jin and finally asked, “What should we do?”

Below the wall, the crowd roared like a marketplace, utterly lacking discipline.

He Jin sneered. “A rabble. What is there to fear? I shall report this to His Majesty. You simply guard the gates.”

“Yes.”

Han Long cursed inwardly.

Are you blind?

A rabble that could seize Nanzhou and Yong’an?

A rabble that forced Prince Yong into retreat?

Lin Yi rode his donkey, following behind He Jin.

Walking along the empty streets, gazing at the tightly shut shop doors on both sides, he felt deeply moved.

He, Hu Hansan, had returned.

But there were no young ladies peeking from the pavilions above.

How he wished someone would wave at him and call out:

“Your Highness, come in…”

“Your Highness, this humble one has missed you…”