IDWBE -Chapter 270 A Solitary Man

Just as the two carriages were about to pass each other, Ye Qiu and Hong Ying suddenly rose lightly into the air and switched places mid-motion. Ye Qiu landed in Consort Yuan’s carriage, while Hong Ying settled directly into the Grand Princess’s carriage.

He Jin, who had been on full alert, was about to shout in alarm. But when he saw that nothing had happened to the Grand Princess’s carriage, he forcibly swallowed the cry.

As Hong Ying’s carriage drew closer and closer to the city gate tunnel, he pressed his palm against the Grand Princess’s back and whispered almost inaudibly:

“The Prince says that you will always be his aunt. He understands your difficulties.”

Lin Yun’er was still confused when she suddenly felt her blood and inner energy flow smoothly again.

Consort Yuan’s carriage crossed the drawbridge first. As Lin Yi’s carriage was just about to pass, Hong Ying leapt, clearing the Ju Ma River in a single bound.

At that very moment, the drawbridge began to rise.

The wheels of Lin Yi’s carriage were still on it.

Lin Ning’s face turned deathly pale. She wanted to rush to save her brother—but it was almost too late!

In that split second, Hong Ying grabbed the carriage shafts with both hands and pulled. Without visible strain, he hauled the carriage forward, letting it land steadily on solid ground. The two horses had been galloping hard; now, with the reins suddenly slack, they lost balance and collapsed with a crash.

Lin Yi staggered as well. The inertia nearly flung him out of the carriage, but Hong Ying’s figure flashed over again, steadying him and helping him to the ground.

With both feet on the soft earth, Lin Yi turned back.

Across the river, chaos had erupted. A white figure darted through the Imperial Guards, weaving back and forth as men and horses toppled in disarray.

“Ah, Father…” Lin Yi smiled faintly. “Your son isn’t so easily dealt with.”

And yet, between father and son there was not even the slightest trust. A helpless sorrow rose in his chest.

In the imperial family, nothing is more merciless than this.

Just as Lin Yun’er moved through the Imperial Guards like a fish in water, another figure suddenly appeared before her.

Lin Yi narrowed his eyes.

Hong Ying said quietly, “Your Highness, Official Liu has arrived.”

At a single command, he would rush over to assist the Grand Princess.

Lin Yi sighed. “Life and death are decreed by fate; wealth and honor rest with Heaven. Let’s go.”

For this aunt, he had already done all that conscience required.

He owed her nothing.

That alone was what he sought across two lifetimes.

He could not force himself to become a walking corpse for the sake of power and wealth.

In his previous life, abandoned by his parents, he had been an orphan. In this life, he lacked a father’s love.

Yet he still believed firmly: if everyone offered even a little love, the world would become a better place.

After all, human hearts are made of flesh.

One should not harm the many good people because of a few bad ones.

The carriage rolled slowly forward. Before long, Lin Yi heard someone shout:

“The Prince has returned!”

“The Prince has returned!”

Horns sounded.

Drums thundered.

And soon the roaring cheers of the Sanhe soldiers drowned out everything else.

Their pillar had returned.

Inside her carriage, Consort Yuan was startled by the uproar.

Lin Yi’s eyes grew moist.

In the end, he had not misplaced his trust.

The people of Sanhe still cared about him.

Looking at the endless ranks of Sanhe soldiers kneeling before him, he said softly, “Rise. Tomorrow, we go home.”

“Long live the Prince! Long live! Long, long live!”

The cry shook the heavens.

Already in turmoil, Ankang City was thrown into deeper alarm by the Sanhe men’s thunderous roar.

Their only comfort was the city’s natural defenses: to the south flowed the Ju Ma River, to the north the North Canal. These two rivers, once unrelated, converged here, making Ankang the most impregnable and secure fortress in the realm.

He Jixiang stepped forward and knelt, shouting toward Consort Yuan’s carriage:

“May Your Highness the Consort enjoy peace! May the Princess be blessed!”

Tens of thousands echoed the cry.

Consort Yuan cautiously emerged from the carriage. Gazing at the densely packed crowd, she was utterly stunned.

Her son—

The son who had once disappointed her—

Now commanded such momentum.

She felt as though she were dreaming, afraid she might awaken at any moment.

If it was a dream, she wished it would never end.

Slowly raising her pale jade-like arm, she tentatively said, “Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Highness!”

The deafening response left her no doubt—this was real.

Lin Yi stepped forward and helped her back into the carriage, worried she might burst into tears again.

“Mother, please endure a temporary stay in the camp tonight.”

After watching her carriage depart, he headed straight for the commander’s tent.

He Jixiang presented the casualty report. Seeing Lin Yi’s darkened expression, he said nothing.

After a long silence, Lin Yi spoke.

“Over three thousand dead and wounded… you all did well.”

More than a thousand had been killed outright.

The rest, though alive, were maimed—missing arms or legs.

Most had lost the ability to work.

Each had elderly parents above and young children below.

“Your Highness, forgive us!”

Everyone in the tent dropped to their knees at once.

“You have done your utmost. The fault is not yours,” Lin Yi said.

“When we return, no matter how hard it is, I will support them and their families for the rest of their lives.”

“Your Highness is wise!”

Their voices rang out as one.

“Break camp tomorrow. We go home.”

“Yes, sir!”

The echo lingered long in the tent.

Silent, Lin Yi went to his mother’s sleeping tent.

Consort Yuan sat before a low table, the oil lamp flickering and casting her in even greater beauty.

“You’re back.”

That was all she said.

Lin Yi smiled. “With such a display of power, are you not pleased?”

She sighed. “It only makes it more regrettable.”

Somehow she felt that, had her son given the order, Ankang City would have fallen into his hands with ease.

Lin Yi knelt.

“Mother, do not worry. I guarantee that one day you will be Empress Dowager.”

At those words, tears welled in her eyes again.

“Mother—” Lin Ning hurried to wipe them away.

Lin Yi sensed that this time the tears were real, without a trace of pretense.

“Please instruct me. Your son will obey in all things.”

Her tears flowed more freely until she choked out:

“Spare your uncle. Your grandfather and the others were forced by circumstances.”

For the first time, she felt she no longer recognized her son.

It was not that he had changed too quickly—but that an inexplicable fear coiled in her heart.

Without hesitation, Lin Yi said, “Rest assured. I will not disappoint you.”

Then he left the tent.

An indescribable ache filled him.

His own mother had begun to doubt him.

The closest person he had in this world.

“Your Highness…” Hong Ying stood nearby, holding a tea tray, speaking carefully.

Lin Yi remained motionless and sighed.

“I truly haven’t changed at all.”

Suddenly, he had a premonition.

It seemed he had become a solitary man.