IDWBE -Chapter 266 The Wager

As for the Emperor’s reaction, whether it was the Prince of Jin, the Prince of Yong, or the Prince of Chu, all wore expressions of utter disbelief.

Only the Prince of Yong’an looked disappointed.

His father had clearly raised the rod—so why had he put it down just like that?

That was not at all in line with his father’s temperament.

If the Prince of Yong, the Prince of Jin, and Prince He were to fall into misfortune, then the throne would most likely come beckoning to him of its own accord.

During Father Emperor’s illness, the Crown Prince had rebelled. The Prince of Yong, the Prince of Jin, and Prince He had not been honest either—each commanded troops and now had even brought their armies to the capital itself.

Even the Prince of Nanling and the Prince of Dai were stirring restlessly.

Who was like him—devoted wholeheartedly to filial attendance?

If Father Emperor hardened his heart and deposed them, wouldn’t he have his chance?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

While sinking into frustration, he suddenly felt an arm draped over his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw a thoroughly detestable face.

“If we brothers didn’t fall into misfortune, are you very disappointed?”

Lin Yi wrapped an arm around him and sighed. “Elder Brother even feels sorry for you.”

“No, no such thing—don’t spout nonsense!”

Seeing the other brothers glance his way, the Prince of Yong’an sprang up and shook off Lin Yi’s arm. “Ninth Brother, stop joking!”

His thoughts had been exposed; he clenched his fists in anger.

He was a fifth-rank martial cultivator. He truly feared he might not be able to hold back from punching Lin Yi to death on the spot.

After all, Lin Yi only knew a clumsy Five-Step Fist.

Calling him “useless” would be an insult to uselessness itself.

“Look at that—your fists are clenched? Just a few words and you’re like this. And you still want to be Emperor?”

Lin Yi patted his shoulder again and said earnestly, “Put your heart at ease. Even if all of us brothers die off, the throne still won’t fall to you. Don’t forget—there’s Fifth Brother and Eighth Brother. In strength, you can’t match Fifth Brother. In scheming, you can’t compare to Eighth Brother. What are you even playing at? Eat when it’s time to eat, drink when it’s time to drink. Stop thinking about nonsense all day.”

“Father Emperor is still alive—Ninth Brother, mind your words!”

The Prince of Yong’an’s face flushed red.

The Fifth Prince, Prince Xin!

The Eighth Prince, Prince of Chu!

They were standing right behind him! Couldn’t he be more tactful? Saying it outright—wasn’t that awkward for everyone?

“All of us brothers understand each other without speaking. What can’t be said? With skin as thin as yours, that won’t do. There are many ways to slaughter a pig—you need to learn,”

As long as he himself wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassed ones would be others. Lin Yi became even more unrestrained. “You could learn from Third Brother too. Good heavens—I’m his own blood brother, yet when he strikes, he never holds back.”

Setting aside the past incident at Jizhao Convent, just recently he had shot arrows without hesitation at the Sanhe laborers!

Hearing this, everyone was even more stunned. If a person truly had no shame, could he really speak like this?

Unconsciously, they all looked toward the ashen-faced Prince of Yong.

“Your Ninth Brother is correct,” The Prince of Yong looked instead at the Twelfth Prince, Yong’an.

“One who is disloyal deserves death!
One who is unfilial deserves death!
One who is inhumane deserves death!
One who is unrighteous deserves death!
Those without propriety, wisdom, or faith—by Heaven’s mandate, kill, kill, kill!”

His words rang out with heroic force, as though none in the world could stand against him.

The Prince of Yong’an nearly wept.

This had nothing to do with him anymore—how had it come back to him again?

One by one, they all targeted him. Was he truly so easy to bully?

He genuinely did not know what to say.

The others were awed by the Prince of Yong’s killing aura and remained silent.

Lin Yi, however, said calmly, “Third Brother is at least a prince, accomplished in both civil and martial arts. Why do his words carry the flavor of a bandit?”

“Likewise, likewise. I concede, I concede,”

The Prince of Yong finally looked at Lin Yi.

In terms of shamelessness, he had to admit defeat to this younger brother.

Lin Yi smiled. “Your brother arrived late and doesn’t know what happened in the hall earlier. Which elder brother might explain a thing or two? And where has Crown Prince Brother gone? Has he been well of late? If there’s time, I’d like to visit him.”

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Yong was the first to turn and leave.

The Prince of Jin followed immediately behind.

“Take care, Ninth Brother,” Prince Xin cupped his fists to Lin Yi before departing.

The Twelfth Prince Yong’an also tried to leave, but Lin Yi grabbed him. “Where are you running off to? Is answering a question so hard?”

“My good elder brother, please don’t drag me into this.”

As a fifth-rank cultivator, Yong’an easily broke free and fled as though escaping disaster.

Lin Yi shook his head helplessly. Just as he was wondering where to go, He Jin entered and said softly, “His Majesty summons you.”

Lin Yi said nothing, only nodded. After glancing at Hong Ying, who still stood with lowered hands outside the hall doors, he followed He Jin to the Hall of Diligent Governance.

“Your Highness, please wait while this old servant announces you,” He Jin said.

Soon he returned. “Your Highness, please enter.”

Lin Yi walked in leisurely with hands behind his back. After circling a screen, he saw Emperor Delong seated at his desk.

Their eyes met.

“Your son greets Father Emperor. When I entered earlier, I heard coughing. Father Emperor must take good care of your dragon body.”

This time he stood upright.

Emperor Delong snorted coldly. “Wretch!”

Lin Yi was momentarily stunned.

This atmosphere was very different from that in court.

Still, he did not mind. “Your son does not know how he has offended Father Emperor.”

He truly wanted to say: Without an old wretch, how could there be a young wretch?

But considering the Emperor’s health, he dared not.

If the Emperor were angered to death on the spot, the spectacle would be immense.

History would surely record him heavily.

The man who angered his own father—the Emperor—to death on the spot. Unprecedented.

He did not dare bear that title.

He Jin’s brows knitted tightly.

That reply alone could count as “great disrespect.” Any other prince, upon hearing imperial rebuke, would have knelt immediately, crying, “Your son trembles in fear, kowtows repeatedly, deserving death!”

There were rules for everything.

Who would dare to question the Emperor like Prince He?

“You say your fortune is good?”

After speaking, Emperor Delong coughed softly into his fist.

Lin Yi smiled. “Your son believes it is not bad.”

“Good!”

The Emperor’s sharp gaze fixed on him. “I shall wager with you and see whose fortune is better.”

Lin Yi asked curiously, “What does Father Emperor wish to wager?”

After rinsing his mouth and sipping tea, the Emperor said, “If you win, you may return to your Sanhe.”

Lin Yi did not ask what would happen if he lost. He only asked, “How shall we wager?”

“You will know later,” the Emperor replied.

Lin Yi said nothing further.

The room grew so silent a needle drop could be heard.

Growing tired of standing, Lin Yi moved a chair and sat down himself. “Bring some tea. This prince’s throat is parched.”

He Jin glanced cautiously at the Emperor, who had closed his eyes to rest, then gestured to a young eunuch to serve tea.

After finishing one cup, Lin Yi complained when no kettle was brought. “No initiative?”

The eunuch hurried to refill it.

After drinking too much, hunger followed. “I haven’t eaten lunch. Bring some food.”

Two plates of pastries were delivered.

The old Emperor sat with eyes closed, silent. Lin Yi fidgeted restlessly. Two hours passed before he finally said, “Father Emperor, I have only just returned and have not yet seen Mother Consort. Since there’s nothing else, perhaps I should visit her first and return later?”

The Emperor remained motionless, as if asleep.

He Jin smiled. “Your Highness should refrain from wandering.”

Lin Yi sighed. “As you say.”

Thus father and son sat stiffly until sunset.

Out of boredom, Lin Yi went to the window and suddenly saw thick smoke rising from the distant hills beyond the city. Some had already drifted into Ankang, swirling in the sky without dispersing.

He frowned.

That was the encampment of the Sanhe army.

Glancing into the palace courtyard, he noticed that the once-dense ranks of Imperial Guards had grown sparse.

He finally understood how his father intended to wager.

His father had gone to war with him.

“Father Emperor, if I win, why should I still return to Sanhe?”

Lin Yi smiled faintly, raising a grave question.

Emperor Delong’s eyes snapped open. “What I grant you, you may take. What I do not grant, you may not seize.”

“And if your son insists on taking it?” Lin Yi asked calmly.

He Jin smiled. “Your Highness may not know—Jizhou’s General Kuang Daxiang and Qizhou’s General Shen Zhanao lead 150,000 troops. There are 100,000 within the city. The Princes of Jin and Yong each have 100,000. General Mei Jingzhi’s 100,000 will arrive in ten days. Out of compassion for Your Highness, His Majesty has dispatched only 100,000 against you.”

“Sigh… careless of me.”

Only now did Lin Yi understand why his father had spared the Prince of Yong—he was borrowing their strength to deal with him. Damn it.

After a pause, he asked, “Who commands the army?”

He Jin looked directly at him and said slowly, “The commanding general is Your Highness’s maternal uncle, General Yuan Qing. The deputy general is Yang Changchun.”

Lin Yi’s expression changed drastically.

Ruthless—truly ruthless.

His father had grasped his weakness.

What he cared about most was his mother. And what his mother cared about most, aside from her children, was the entire Yuan clan.

If he fought the Yuans, there would be no winners.

The one most hurt would surely be his mother.

He wanted to blame his cheap uncle Yuan Qing for leading troops against him—

Yet he also understood.

Yuan Qing had no choice. The Emperor was fond of exterminating entire clans at the slightest provocation.

For the survival of his whole family, Yuan Qing had to stand against him.