IDWBE -Chapter 279 A True Villain

Lin Yi said helplessly, “Mother, are you thinking of finding a husband for Ning’er here in Jiangnan?”

What was she getting at?

“Should we go to Sanhe and pick one of those rough soldiers instead?” Consort Yuan retorted. “Jiangnan is full of prominent clans. Talented young men are as plentiful as carp crossing the river. I refuse to believe that among so many, we can’t choose a suitable husband for Ning’er.”

Lin Yi gave a bitter smile. “Your son is not even married yet. Why the rush for my sister?”

Consort Yuan shot him a glare. “She is a girl. If we delay any longer, what will people say? Will she not become the laughingstock of the realm?”

Lin Yi found his mother’s behavior somewhat strange. If she were truly concerned about her daughter’s marriage, shouldn’t she have worried about it long ago? Why bring it up only now?

He probed cautiously, “By rights, Father Emperor should decide Ning’er’s marriage. Shall I submit a memorial to him tomorrow?”

Consort Yuan snorted. “Since when have you become so filial?”

She knew her son too well.

It was true he could be timid as a mouse. It was equally true that he could be lawless beyond measure. If he had even the slightest reverence for the emperor, he would not have been banished to Sanhe as the so-called Prince He.

“This isn’t about filial piety,” Lin Yi said with an ingratiating smile. “It’s about propriety. Parents’ command, matchmaker’s word—such is the natural order.”

“Propriety?” Consort Yuan laughed again. “Say one more word of nonsense and see if I don’t beat you.”

Her son was the sort who didn’t even care about the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues. How could he possibly care about “propriety”?

“Mother, if there’s something you want to say, just say it. Stop speaking in riddles. My brain can’t keep up,” Lin Yi said as he personally poured her wine. “You’re confusing me.”

Consort Yuan hesitated, then sighed. “You are now a regional lord in your own right. Do you truly pay no attention to the greater tides of the realm?”

Lin Yi smiled. “Mother knows me well. I only concern myself with the acre before my eyes. I don’t trouble myself with the rest.”

“Xu Liewu has defeated the coalition army of the Seven Wadan Tribes—one hundred and ten thousand strong. The tribes have now united as one and proclaimed him Khan of Wadan,” Consort Yuan said after draining her cup. “His power grows daily. His momentum is unstoppable. Yesterday you said your father released Prince Yong not because he feared the Jizhao Nunnery, but because he still has use for him. Yongzhou cannot remain without a ruler for even a day—otherwise Wadan could drive their troops straight south.”

“A unified Wadan is not a good Wadan,” Lin Yi murmured, taking a sip of wine. “But what does this have to do with Ning’er?”

Consort Yuan looked at her son seriously. “When a nation declines, there are no good choices. If your father seeks a marriage alliance with Wadan, whom do you think they will request?”

Lin Yi immediately understood.

“My sister is renowned for her talent throughout the realm. She is also the granddaughter of the Pillar of the State, the niece of the Ever-Victorious General, and the younger sister of Prince He, who controls half of Liang’s territory.”

“Exactly,” Consort Yuan said, rubbing her temples as the river breeze tousled her hair. “Your sister is of royal blood. To resort to this measure is desperation. Once your father’s edict is issued, it will be too late.”

“Mother, my fate is mine, not heaven’s. I will never agree,” Lin Ning said firmly. “Even if I die.”

Lin Yi couldn’t help laughing. “What play are you two performing? If there is to be a marriage alliance, the Wadan can’t decide, Father Emperor can’t decide—it’s up to me. So stop worrying about things that don’t exist.”

He meant it.

Now that he had stepped beyond Sanhe, wherever his troops pointed, resistance crumbled. Perhaps “invincible” was an exaggeration, but whether facing the Wadan or his own father, he could boldly say one word: No.

Disagree?

Come fight me.

He was that arrogant, that willful. No need for pretense.

“Long live Prince He! Wise and mighty Prince He!” Lin Ning teased with a grin.

“Good that you know it,” Lin Yi said smugly. “Whoever comes, it won’t work on your brother.”

“Look at you showing off,” Consort Yuan said irritably.

“I’m merely stating facts,” Lin Yi replied with a grin. “If I can’t even protect you, how can I claim eight provinces and contend for the world?”

The night air turned cool.

After speaking, Lin Yi took a black cloak from Xiao Xizi and draped it over his mother’s shoulders.

Consort Yuan patted the hand resting there and sighed. “You truly are a petty man grown arrogant in success.”

“Thank you for the compliment! Don’t worry, Mother—your son won’t disappoint you. I’ll grow even more successful, and even more arrogant!” Lin Yi replied cheerfully.

Both Consort Yuan and Lin Ning burst into laughter.

“I called you a petty man, and you’re pleased?” Consort Yuan asked.

“A man needs face like a tree needs bark. A tree without bark will surely die; a man without shame is invincible,” Lin Yi declared boldly. “Your son intends to be a true villain.”

Even when it came to greed or lust, he never hid it—unlike hypocrites who secretly desired something desperately while loudly proclaiming they did not.

When he wanted something, he went straight for it. No beating around the bush.

He lived honestly and seriously.

“You…” Consort Yuan shook her head, helpless.

Fortunately, she had long grown accustomed to being angered by this son of hers. She no longer became as furious as before.

Still, even as a mother, she was curious—what would he be like if he ever became truly serious?

“Mother, trust Brother. He will have a way,” Lin Ning said, kneeling and nestling into Consort Yuan’s embrace. “We came out to enjoy ourselves today. Let’s not dwell on such worries. We’ll leave everything to Brother.”

Consort Yuan suddenly choked up. “I have only the two of you. All my hopes in this life rest upon you. As long as you live well, I could die content.”

“Mother,” Lin Yi said helplessly, “can we speak of something cheerful? Don’t worry. The sky won’t fall. If it does, I’ll hold it up.”

As the “extras” along the riverbanks gradually dispersed, Lin Yi glanced at the brightening moon and gestured for the palace maids to escort his mother to her cabin to rest.

The next morning, Lin Yi rose early.

As he sat down at breakfast, he saw the Prince of Yong’an enter, dark circles under his eyes.

“Younger brother, I hear you made quite a show of yourself yesterday,” Lin Yi called out cheerfully. “Come, sit and eat.”

“Thank you, Imperial Brother,” Yong’an replied with an awkward smile.

He had just extended his chopsticks toward a dish when Lin Yi said casually, “You have good taste. This dish is called ‘Emperor of Lamb.’ Each sheep yields only four taels of the tender heart. It takes a hundred sheep for one serving. Tell me—would a hundred taels of silver be too much to charge at a restaurant?”

“Imperial Brother speaks wisely,” Yong’an said.

His hand trembled. Then he quietly set down his chopsticks.

Inside, he cursed: If you don’t want to feed me, just say so! Why spout such nonsense? What ‘Emperor of Lamb’? It’s obviously pig liver!

I may not be a good man—but you’re not even human!

“Why stop? Eat,” Lin Yi urged with a smile. “I’m your brother. We’re family. No need to stand on ceremony.”

“Thank you, Imperial Brother,” Yong’an said, patting his empty stomach beneath his wide robe. “I’m not hungry yet. I haven’t done my morning training. I’ll be going now.”

The moment he turned away, tears nearly welled up from grievance.

When had he ever suffered such humiliation?

And to be stymied by a mere hundred taels of silver!

Once, he had never lacked money—but he hadn’t been able to bring it out of the palace.

Watching his retreating back, Lin Yi said to Xiao Xizi, “The boy’s resilience is lacking. He needs proper tempering.”

“Your Highness’s painstaking efforts will surely earn Prince Yong’an’s eternal gratitude,” Xiao Xizi replied.

“Are you certain he truly has no money?” Lin Yi asked.

“He left the palace in haste. Not even a single banknote,” Xiao Xizi said, shaking his head.

Lin Yi snorted. “Even a single coin can defeat a hero—let alone him.”