IDWBE -Chapter 268 So Disappointing

After hesitating for a long while, Shen Chu finally nodded helplessly and began arranging for the casualties to be counted.

This had been a hard-fought battle for Sanhe—losses were truly severe.

The setting sun was reduced to half a face. That pitiful glow fell upon Yang Changchun and Yuan Qing, who knelt outside the Hall of Diligent Governance. Even their shadows were cut short.

He Jin studied the two men carefully, then entered the hall and faced Emperor Delong, hesitating to speak.

The Emperor seemed to sense something. He waved his hand.

“Let them enter.”

He Jin hurried to the screen and shouted, “Yuan Qing and Yang Changchun are summoned for audience!”

He felt a twinge of regret—his voice did not carry with its usual vigor.

The two generals entered and dropped heavily to their knees.

“Your subject Yuan Qing!”

“Your subject Yang Changchun!”

“We greet Your Majesty—may you live ten thousand years!”

Emperor Delong said nothing at first. He looked at them calmly and then said, “To be defeated by that old fox He Jixiang—your loss is not unjust. When I was young in the army, many of my skills were taught by him.”

“Your subject has failed Your Majesty! Deserving of death!”

Yuan Qing’s forehead struck the ground again and again until flesh split and blood smeared across his brow.

“Grant this subject death!”

Yang Changchun’s blood had already flowed down his neck, yet he continued kowtowing, oblivious.

“Enough. What is done cannot be undone,” The Emperor sighed.

“If I were to give you two another two hundred thousand troops—what would you do?”

Yang Changchun glanced at Lin Yi, who sat nearby with one leg crossed over the other, and declared loudly, “With two hundred thousand troops, I swear upon my entire family’s lives that no one would step foot into Ankang City!”

He knew this was not truly what the Emperor meant—but it was the only answer he could give.

With two hundred thousand troops attacking Prince He’s forces, victory or defeat would still be uncertain.

But with that number, he was confident he could defend Ankang City.

“I concur,” Yuan Qing added.

Yet he did not dare swear upon his entire clan. He was not like Yang Changchun, who stood alone. Behind him were over a hundred members of the Yuan family.

The bitterness in his heart was known only to himself.

He had been defeated by the very nephew he once looked down upon most.

Emperor Delong’s hand trembled. The teacup and lid clattered loudly together.

He Jin hurried forward and took the cup from him. Only then did the Emperor’s hand steady.

He fixed his gaze directly upon his son—Lin Yi.

He Jin gestured for Yuan Qing and Yang Changchun to withdraw. The two rose, half-bowed, retreated past the screen, and slipped out of the hall.

“Sigh… your son seems thirsty again.”

Lin Yi stood up casually, poured himself tea from the Emperor’s desk, and took a sip.

“Tribute tea truly is different—excellent indeed. When I leave later, Father Emperor, don’t be stingy. Let your son take a few jin back to taste fresh. Sanhe is damp and stifling. Without tea, life is unbearable.”

As his father had said—if the Emperor did not grant it, he truly could not take it.

After all, inside and outside Ankang City were more than two hundred thousand elite troops.

If they truly fought to the death, another brother might reap the benefits.

Better to stop while ahead. His northern campaign’s true purpose had been to bring his mother back.

Emperor Delong snorted.

“This is tribute tea from Xiyi Mountain. It may not even compare to what you have in your residence.”

Lin Yi laughed awkwardly. “Father Emperor’s words are unclear—I do not understand.”

The Xiyi Sect had already given him their finest tea. If the palace had any good tea left, that would be strange indeed.

The Emperor’s voice lowered.

“Where is your aunt?”

“My aunt?”

Lin Yi’s heart brightened. Finally, the real issue.

“Father Emperor need not worry. Aunt is quite well. She is my own flesh and blood—I would never mistreat her. Unlike my mother, Aunt was raised in the palace and does not understand the dangers of the world. It is best she remain here. As for Mother, she comes from a military family—free-spirited by nature. She has long clamored to see Sanhe. Your son planned to take this opportunity to bring her back with me—let her also see the great rivers and mountains of Liang. Oh, and we should bring Lin Ning as well. She can help care for Mother along the way.”

Emperor Delong frowned.

“No one has ever threatened me.”

Lin Yi smiled.

“Father Emperor misunderstands. Your son means nothing by it. I simply miss Mother deeply. Alone in Sanhe, I have no one to rely on—truly desolate.”

The Emperor snorted.

“You think you can even walk out of this hall? And you still concern yourself with your mother?”

Lin Yi leaned across the desk, stretching his neck toward him, grinning.

“Your son won. A ruler’s word cannot be taken lightly.”

The Emperor froze for a moment, then hissed, “Rebellious son!”

Lin Yi looked aggrieved.

“Father Emperor was the one who proposed the wager. It was not your son’s intent.”

The Emperor stared at him, speaking word by word:

“Send your aunt back.”

Lin Yi smiled.

“As you command.”

“Withdraw.”

The Emperor waved weakly.

Lin Yi followed He Jin out of the hall.

At the entrance he turned to Hong Ying.

“Follow Eunuch He. Escort Consort and the Princess out safely. There must be no mishap.”

“Yes.”

After Hong Ying left, Lin Yi walked alone across the vast plaza, through layers of palace gates toward the exit.

Before the empty palace gate stood only two carriages.

“Your Highness!”

Guo Zhao hurried over, knelt, and knocked his head three times.

“Didn’t I tell you to go home? Why are you here again?”

Guo Zhao replied, “Your Highness returned suddenly without preparation. That carriage had not been used in years—I feared something might go wrong, so I prepared another as backup.”

He glanced around and lowered his voice.

“Your Highness, it’s fortunate you came out. Otherwise Song Cheng and Luo Han were about to ignite the explosives.”

Lin Yi sighed.

“Good thing it didn’t come to that. My father hasn’t yet become senile.”

It had been his worst contingency plan—burying explosives throughout Ankang and the palace. Whatever the effect, it would at least create chaos.

“What should we do with them now?” Guo Zhao asked.

“Leave them,” Lin Yi chuckled. “We’re not going to dig them all up. Besides, a little rain will render them useless.”

Before Guo Zhao could reply, his eyes lit up.

“Your Highness—the Chief Steward’s carriage is coming.”

Lin Yi turned. The carriage rolled slowly forward.

The curtain lifted, revealing a radiant face—it was Princess Huaiyang.

Upon seeing Lin Yi, she nearly leapt from the carriage.

“Elder Brother! Mother Consort—Elder Brother has come to fetch us!”

If not for their mother inside, she would have jumped down immediately.

Lin Yi waved back.

“My little sister grows more beautiful by the day.”

Before he finished speaking, heavy coughing sounded from within.

“Shouting and making a scene—what decorum is this?”

It was Noble Consort Yuan’s voice.

Lin Ning shrank her neck and stuck out her tongue at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi jumped into the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked at the elegantly dressed woman inside.

“You really are my mother. At a time like this, you’re still concerned with etiquette. Hm? What’s with that expression? I didn’t offend you, did I? Why the unhappy face?”

Noble Consort Yuan said bitterly, “You truly are disappointing!”

Lin Yi forced a smile. “Mother, I don’t understand.”

She snapped, “You defeated Yang Changchun and your own uncle. You should have pressed the advantage in one stroke. And yet you have the nerve to return to Sanhe!”

She was genuinely heartbroken.

For the first time, the throne had seemed so close to her son.

Lin Yi stood stunned, speechless.

He distinctly remembered that she had once sent word through the blind man:

Only thirty thousand official troops. Too few. Do not act rashly.

At the time, he had thought she had changed her mind—no longer wishing him to contend for the throne.

He had even felt relieved and moved.