IDWBE -Chapter 29 The Compassionate Prince He

All the way to the Prefect’s yamen, as soon as he stepped down from the carriage, Lin Yi saw a dense crowd of people kneeling before him.

The only one standing was Prefect Liu Baixian.

A prefect was actually a fourth-rank official.

Lin Yi felt this was completely illogical.

“Your subordinate greets Prince He!”

After Liu Baixian finished bowing, he said, “Your Highness’s arrival in Qingyuan City is truly a great blessing! Your Highness, please!”

Lin Yi said nothing. After all, he was a prince—he still needed to maintain a bit of dignity.

When they reached the gate of the yamen, Lin Yi noticed the metal door ring. Curious, he lifted it and knocked twice on the door, then turned to Liu Baixian and asked, “What is this made of?”

Liu Baixian froze.

Before Prince He arrived, he had imagined many possibilities.

Would the prince discuss local customs and conditions? He had prepared the local gazetteer.

Would the prince talk about poetry, music, and refined pleasures? He had already invited scholars of Qingyuan City skilled in poetry, calligraphy, music, and painting.

Would the prince review the recent hurricane disaster? He had gathered detailed reports.

But he had never imagined that the prince would be interested in the yamen’s door ring.

For a moment, he didn’t even know how to answer.

“Your Highness, this is a tin ring,”

Ma Jie stepped forward in time to reply.

“Who are you? Did I ask you?”

Lin Yi shouted sharply.

Ma Jie was stunned.

Wasn’t I the one who welcomed you at the city gate at noon? Are you blind—or just forgetful?

Liu Baixian quickly cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, this is a staff advisor of the yamen. He has offended you; I hope Your Highness will be magnanimous.”

Lin Yi waved his hand. “I am broad-minded. I generally don’t argue with petty people.”

Ma Jie’s face flushed red with humiliation.

He was, after all, a well-known figure in Qingyuan City. To be stripped of face like this in public was unbearable.

Lin Yi even suspected that this fellow had practiced controlling his micro-expressions—even when his face looked mournful, the muscles made him seem as if he were smiling.

Not far away, Jiang Yi, who was maintaining order with soldiers, saw this scene and grinned from ear to ear.

Old turtle!

So you can be embarrassed too!

Lin Yi strolled into the courtyard, glanced up at the screen wall used to block direct view, then followed Liu Baixian around the corner into the main hall.

Without hesitation, he took the seat of honor. After sitting down, he hugged his teacup and yawned repeatedly.

“Spring brings drowsiness, autumn brings fatigue, summer brings naps, and in winter one can hardly wake for three months—how true that is.”

“Your Highness summarizes it wonderfully,” Liu Baixian flattered.

After speaking, he noticed there was no response. Looking closer, Lin Yi was already asleep in his chair, propping his head on his hand.

Liu Baixian felt a surge of anger rise in his chest.

This was simply too insulting! Was he being treated as if he didn’t exist?

Hong Ying bowed to Liu Baixian and said quietly, “Prefect Liu, His Highness has been wearied by travel. It is unavoidable.”

“Of course, of course. I will arrange a place for His Highness to rest immediately.”

Liu Baixian withdrew from the hall.

When Lin Yi woke the next morning, he felt completely refreshed.

After washing up, he habitually took the teacup from Hong Ying, sipped lightly, and asked, “Where did that living ancestor of ours go?”

Consort Wen, from beginning to end, had not stepped into Prince Qing’s residence, nor was she willing to enter the prefect’s yamen.

Hong Ying replied, “This servant does not know.”

“Well, she appears and disappears like a ghost. It would be strange if anyone could find her. She won’t get lost anyway—she’ll find us when she wants to.”

After eating a couple of pastries, Lin Yi asked, “The disaster victims outside the city haven’t caused any trouble, have they?”

Hong Ying said, “Prefect Liu has issued a notice. Those willing to stay will be resettled. Quite a few are willing to remain rather than travel long distances.”

Lin Yi said happily, “That’s a good thing.”

At last, he wouldn’t have to drag along so many burdens.

Most importantly, it would save a great deal of money.

Hong Ying said, “This servant will cooperate with the prefect in making arrangements.”

At noon, Liu Baixian hosted a banquet.

Forty or fifty prominent local gentry and officials from the various departments of Qingyuan City were present.

Seated in the place of honor, Lin Yi swept his gaze over the crowd and said with a smile,

“Where is my imperial uncle? Why hasn’t he come? One day apart feels like three autumns!”

Prefect Liu replied, “Prince Qing is unwell today and is unable to attend.”

Lin Yi abruptly stood up. “What? My uncle is ill? That won’t do—I must go visit him! Someone, prepare a carriage to Prince Qing’s residence!”

“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern.”

A dignified middle-aged man stepped forward from among the seats, knelt, and said, “My father has taken some medicine and is not seriously ill.”

Liu Baixian introduced him: “This is the heir of Prince Qing, Lin Chun.”

“So you are the heir—please rise,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “We are brothers; there is no need to be so polite.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Seeing that Lin Yi no longer intended to visit Prince Qing’s residence, Lin Chun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Before coming to the banquet, his father had repeatedly warned him that under no circumstances was Prince He to be allowed back into their residence.

A healthy man could be frightened into illness by him. If Prince He really went, it would be considered Lin Chun’s failure, and his father would never forgive him.

“Your Highness’s presence truly brings honor to Qingyuan City,”

Liu Baixian said, raising his wine cup first.

But after several rounds of wine, he began to regret those words.

Was Prince He drunk?

He had begun openly criticizing the current state of affairs—and the more Liu Baixian listened, the more terrified he became.

“The Imperial Guard abuses its power. Has Jiang Chong handled few unjust cases? Just before I left the capital, the pitiable Lord Ma Defeng died in prison!”

Lin Yi put on a sorrowful, compassionate expression.

Although Ma Defeng, the former Assistant Minister of Personnel, had deserved his fate, that didn’t stop Lin Yi from using the matter as an excuse to curse Jiang Chong.

Cursing him once was cursing; cursing him many times made no difference.

But to the people sitting below, it was entirely different.

They weren’t qualified to discuss such matters.

The Imperial Guard might not dare do anything to Prince He—but they certainly dared to take it out on others. Even if they hadn’t participated in the discussion, they could still be implicated.

If the Imperial Guard vented their anger on them, they would suffer terribly.

Thus everyone present turned pale.

They regretted coming so deeply their intestines turned green. Prince He’s visit was the prefect’s business—what did it have to do with them? Why had they come to join the excitement?

They also finally understood why Prince Qing had refused to attend. Truly, the old are wiser.

“Looking at how indignant you all seem,” Lin Yi said leisurely, “I imagine you must all hate Jiang Chong so much you’d like to eat his flesh, drink his blood, and grind his bones—”

“Your Highness—”

Liu Baixian finally reacted and hurriedly interrupted, “Your Highness, today let us speak only of wine and pleasure!”

If Prince He continued, Liu Baixian dared not imagine what might happen.

“Talk of pleasure?”

Lin Yi said proudly, “That is something I excel at. Speaking of which, the most romantic man of our dynasty, the Grand Chancellor—”

“Your Highness, let us drink instead. I offer you a toast!”

Liu Baixian was almost in tears.

Grand Chancellor Qi Yong was his own teacher!