IDWBE -Chapter 277 Envy

“Your Highness, please!”

Ji Zhuo gestured with his hand.

Prince Yong’an knew that no matter how much he argued, it would be useless. He simply flicked his riding crop and followed behind the Sanhe cavalry.

The army split into two wings, leaving a clearly defined open space in the center. As he rode, Prince Yong’an suddenly realized he had somehow ended up at the very front—he had even become the one leading the charge.

It looked impressive.

It was also extremely dangerous.

If word reached the Emperor, Prince Yong, the Prince of Nanling, and the others, who knew what they would think of him?

Behind the cavalry, the laborers who were ambling along heard that the army was going to attack Jinling. They immediately urged their horses forward, secretly hoping the cavalry wouldn’t capture the city too quickly.

When Sanhe’s two thousand cavalry suddenly appeared beneath the walls of Jinling, they found the city gates tightly shut.

“Just as expected,” Shen Chu said with a smile and a shake of his head. As long as the Commander of Wuzhou wasn’t a complete fool, he would be keeping a close watch on the Sanhe army’s movements. Closing the gates was only natural.

He Jixiang narrowed his eyes at the countless rolling logs and boulders stacked atop the walls and snorted coldly.

“Set up the cooking fires. We attack at sunset.”

Since Jinling had chosen stubborn resistance, there was no more room for reason.

He respectfully invited Prince Yong’an forward.

Holding the proclamation He Jixiang had written, Prince Yong’an read aloud:

“Jinling City has only just quelled internal traitors and has not yet reorganized its defenses…
Thus scholars grieve in indignation, and the people’s resentment grows heavier;
When one man raises his arm, the entire province answers with one voice—”

As soon as he finished, drums thundered. Signal officers galloped through the camp waving their flags.

By evening, more than ten thousand soldiers and over ten thousand laborers had gathered beneath Jinling’s walls.

Amid the anxious tension of troops both above and below the city walls, the horns of Sanhe sounded.

Sanhe soldiers advanced step by step toward the moat—about a zhang wide—holding shields overhead and continuously slashing apart the rain of incoming arrows.

Then, working in pairs, they laid their long ladders flat across the moat and swiftly crossed over.

On the walls, Jinling’s defenders watched the advancing Sanhe troops draw nearer and nearer. They were ready—just awaiting the order—to shove down the massive stones stacked on the parapets and smash them into pulp.

But before they could push the stones—

A sudden series of deafening bangs erupted.

The ground beneath their feet shook violently, as though the earth itself were splitting apart.

Before they even understood what was happening, choking smoke rose before them.

Then came panicked cries:

“The gates are breached!”

“Run for your lives—!”

“The Southern Barbarians are inside—!”

Screams filled the air.

As some defenders turned to look inside the city, they suddenly felt warmth at their throats. Looking down, they saw red blood flowing across their chests…

Lin Yi did not enter the city the next day as originally planned.

By the time he reached the banks of the Fengshui River, it was already the third day.

Sanhe’s explosives had been a little too… enthusiastic. The blasts had ignited residential homes. After entering the city, the first task had not been celebration—but firefighting.

The blaze that spread across the entire northern quarter took nearly two full days to extinguish.

Even now, smoking ruins remained. A haze hung over the Fengshui River. The rich wine, music, graceful dances, and drifting melodies Lin Yi had imagined were nothing but fantasy.

He felt fate was truly unfair to him.

Whenever he wanted something, he never got it.

Lin Yi sighed to Prince Yong’an beside him.

“Little brother, it’s not that I don’t want to treat you. It’s just the situation—there isn’t even a single pleasure boat operating. You and I are brothers. Seems this is simply our lot in life.”

At the same time, he felt a secret relief at having saved a considerable sum of silver.

Better to enjoy alone than share the joy with others.

“Elder Brother is too kind,” Prince Yong’an said with his head lowered. “To serve you is my blessing.”

Inside, however, he grumbled: You’ve already taken the entire city of Jinling. Would it really be so hard to order the pleasure boats to reopen?

“Ankang City was better,” Lin Yi said nostalgically. “Back in the southern quarter, your brother here was known as ‘a pear blossom pressing upon the begonia.’ But fate toyed with me—exiled to Sanhe. Now I’m all alone. It’s truly unbearable.”

Prince Yong’an lowered his head again. “Elder Brother is in the prime of his life. How could such a phrase apply to you?”

“How could it not?” Lin Yi shot him a glare. “Am I unworthy?”

Prince Yong’an choked on his reply and could only say helplessly, “Elder Brother speaks rightly.”

Nearby, He Jixiang almost couldn’t suppress a laugh. He truly pitied Prince Yong’an. To be faced with a prince so unlearned that he mistook “a pear blossom pressing upon the begonia” for praise—there was simply no reasoning with him.

“Hmph.”

Lin Yi snorted and continued: “I promised you—you’ll return to Yong’an for your fief. But understand this: even brothers must settle accounts clearly. Food, clothing, lodging—everything costs money, right? I lead all these men; expenses are everywhere. You understand, don’t you?”

“Elder Brother is correct,” Prince Yong’an said gloomily. “To be honest, I left in haste. I truly…”

“No rush to pay,” Lin Yi waved magnanimously. “Once you reach Wulin City, I’ll find you a house. Firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, tea—you can use what you need. We’ll keep it on the books. Just don’t deny the debt later. Most importantly—be a real man. Stand tall. Be self-reliant. Don’t depend on others all the time. Learn to wash your own clothes and cook your own meals.”

Prince Yong’an forced a smile.

“Elder Brother is wise.”

Since childhood, he had never so much as touched water for washing rice.

Wash his own clothes? Cook his own meals?

He wanted to shout: You might as well kill me now.

But he lacked the courage.

Under another’s roof, one must bow one’s head.

“We’re brothers,” Lin Yi said earnestly, patting his shoulder. “Even if one day you fall, I’ll laugh first—but then I’ll help you back up. Sometimes I really envy you. So young, and already blessed with such a good elder brother.”

“Elder Brother speaks truly…”

Prince Yong’an was on the verge of tears.

He had always known his brother was shameless.

He had never imagined he could be this shameless.

Seeing the brothers had finished their exchange, He Jixiang stepped forward.

“Your Highness, Wuzhou’s Provincial Administration Commissioner Peng Guishou and Commander Pang Geng request an audience.”

Lin Yi said calmly, “Whether I see them or not doesn’t matter. What matters is their attitude. Attempting to assassinate Prince Yong’an amounts to treason. That’s not something you pardon lightly. The fact I haven’t implicated their wives and children should already make them grateful.”

“Your Highness is merciful,” He Jixiang said.

Lin Yi turned to Prince Yong’an.

“What do you think? Should we pardon them?”

Prince Yong’an replied, “Your servant is dull-witted. Everything is at Elder Brother’s discretion.”

Lin Yi nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Then go with Mr. He. Go knock down those old gentlemen’s arrogance. Anyone who shows you disrespect—don’t be polite.”

“I shall obey Elder Brother’s instruction.”

Prince Yong’an bowed and followed He Jixiang away.