IDWBE -Chapter 287 The Assault

The Grand Princess snorted coldly. “Sorry to disappoint you, nephew. Were you hoping I’d die in Ankang City?”

“How could that be!”

Lin Yi thumped his chest. “You are my own aunt! My heart, my will, my feelings—let heaven and earth bear witness, let the sun and moon attest! I swear it solemnly.”

Truth be told, he rather admired this aunt of his.

Before leaving, he had instructed Hong Ying to release her sealed acupoints and restore her strength—but escaping the capital had been entirely her own doing.

The Grand Princess smiled faintly. “You’re still as slick-tongued as ever.”

“In front of Aunt, how would I dare?” Lin Yi said with a grin, pushing aside Xiao Xizi, who had instinctively moved to shield him. “Your nephew only speaks the truth.”

Xiao Xizi was merely Seventh Rank—utterly useless here.

He saw neither Hong Ying, nor the Blind Man, nor Ye Qiu.

If his aunt chose to make a move, distance wouldn’t matter.

Better to flatter her first—who knew, perhaps a miracle might occur.

“Should I believe you… or not?” the Grand Princess asked with a smile.

“Aunt, think carefully,” Lin Yi said lightly. “If I didn’t care for you, would I have had your acupoints released?”

“So I should thank you?” she pressed forward.

Lin Yi instinctively stepped back. He retreated too quickly and nearly fell—when suddenly two hands braced him from behind.

He looked up to see the Grand Princess halt.

“Greetings, Grand Princess.”

He would recognize Hong Ying’s voice anywhere.

Without even turning his head, Lin Yi clasped his hands behind his back again and smiled at her.

“You wretched slave. Truly a lingering ghost,” the Grand Princess spat.

Hong Ying stood beside Lin Yi, head lowered, silent.

“Aunt, don’t be angry,” Lin Yi yawned. “May I ask what brings you here?”

She replied coldly, “According to you, may I not come without a reason?”

“You are a woman of grand ambition,” Lin Yi said evenly. “Perhaps there is something your nephew can assist with?”

This was a woman who wanted the Lin family line extinguished.

He truly dared not provoke her.

She stepped closer, locking eyes with him. “Wait for me.”

With that, she drifted away once more.

“What a temper. Truly difficult to deal with,” Lin Yi muttered, rubbing his temples.

Hong Ying bowed. “Your Highness need not worry. Shall I pursue her?”

Lin Yi shook his head. “And then what? Lock her up and waste grain? Kill her? I don’t have the heart. Let her be.”

After all, she was his aunt.

One day, perhaps, she would fetch a good price.

More and more Sanhe laborers entered the city, and more returned home. Many had wives and children; they couldn’t bear to stay away. The tents outside Jinling dwindled daily.

Ten days later, He Jixiang issued a decree lifting the entry restrictions.

Inns within the city were packed; outside, not a single tent remained.

Zhu Rourong and Butcher Jiang joined forces, buying up all the pigs within a twenty-li radius—whether ready for slaughter or not.

The butchers of Jinling gritted their teeth at the sight of them.

They now had to buy pork through middlemen.

Infuriating, wasn’t it?

They dearly wished to butcher those two instead.

In their rented courtyard, Zhu Rourong lay back, holding a teapot upside down and grinning smugly. “If we don’t teach them a lesson, they’ll think we’re made of paper. That bastard Wang Xiaoshuan—you should deal with him. If it were me before, I’d have beaten him long ago.”

The problem was—he couldn’t win.

Such a shrewd brat—and already Seventh Rank!

Unbelievable.

“None of my business,” Butcher Jiang sighed. “In a few days I’m heading back. Who knows how my daughter’s doing? Nanzhou’s no place for people. A young girl mixed in with a bunch of grown men all day. I have to stand up for her.”

“Your daughter’s more capable than you,” Zhu Rourong said lazily. “You’ll die a butcher. You’re worrying for nothing.”

“That’s true,” Butcher Jiang admitted. “I never dreamed a girl could become a Chief Constable. Never dared imagine it.”

“That’s His Highness’s grace,” Zhu Rourong replied.

Before Butcher Jiang could continue, there was a knock at the door.

He glanced at Zhu Rourong, who made no move to rise. With a sigh, he went to open it.

These days, Zhu Rourong had handled more matters—he felt somewhat indebted.

Opening the door, he found Li Sanniang.

“Surname Jiang! I’m a married woman! What are you staring at?” she snapped, blushing under his stunned gaze.

“You’re injured?” Butcher Jiang asked.

She wiped at the corner of her mouth; her hand came away stained with blood. She said nothing.

Zhu Rourong stepped forward, alarmed. “How can it be nothing? What happened?”

After entering, Li Sanniang grabbed the kettle from the table and gulped several mouthfuls without caring about cleanliness. Then she sighed. “My goods were robbed outside the city.”

“Did you report it to the yamen?” Butcher Jiang asked quickly.

“Should such a trivial matter trouble His Highness?” she retorted.

“Who did it?” he demanded.

“Who else? The big cloth merchants of Jinling. Our Sanhe cloth is far cheaper than theirs. We offended them without even realizing it.”

“Where are your men?” Zhu Rourong asked.

She gave a bitter smile. “Over thirty men. Only I made it out alive. I don’t want to report it. I want blood for blood.”

“Baolai and Gong Shou are Fifth Rank,” Butcher Jiang said gravely.

Most of her men on this northern campaign were above Huajin level.

Baolai and Gong Shou were at the peak of Fifth Rank.

Ambushing such a team was no simple matter.

“They had over four hundred men,” Li Sanniang said, eyes closed. “One of them was Seventh Rank. We couldn’t match them. I alone escaped. Elder brothers, please avenge me!”

She was about to kneel when Zhu Rourong caught her arms.

“This isn’t just your matter—it concerns all suppliers. Where are Han Dongxu and Liang Qingshu?”

“I came straight here.”

Before he could respond, he noticed figures standing at the doorway—Han Dongxu and the others.

Liang Qingshu sighed. “Sister, we already know. To oppose you is to oppose us—to oppose Sanhe.”