IDWBE -Chapter 314 The People’s Hearts

Lin Yi smiled. “If you don’t know, then take your time to find out. I need a consort who is willing to live simply, without seeking pleasure. Otherwise, how can we set an example for the entire realm?”

“Prince,” Xiao Xizi was a bit confused. Despite his cleverness, he couldn’t quite grasp the meaning behind the Prince’s words, but he still mustered the courage to say, “I think you are being too indulgent with her. If Your Highness allows, I can personally visit the Hu family tonight. Hu Zhen, as a regional prince, should understand propriety.”

Their Prince’s behavior before that woman today had truly left Xiao Xizi jaw-dropped.

Although normally playful and teasing, the Prince treated women with utmost respect—every woman deserved respect, as the Prince often said. As a vassal prince, he must set an example.

But, Xiao Xizi thought, there was no way he would normally have this much patience!

If truly provoked, even the Celestial Emperor wouldn’t command his attention—let alone a mere young woman!

Today, that woman had been unreasonable from start to finish, and yet the Prince had shown incredible patience. Truly astonishing.

In Xiao Xizi’s view, if the Prince liked her, he should have just taken her straight away. Why go through all this trouble?

Especially since this was a marriage granted by the Emperor, perfectly legitimate.

If the Hu family dared to refuse, he alone could ensure their compliance. Growing up in the palace, Xiao Xizi had witnessed countless schemes of concubines. Even the dullest could learn a thing or two by osmosis. The only pity was having talent with nowhere to display it.

Lin Yi smiled. “You don’t understand. Some people get bored easily and need a little amusement. Life must have some challenge; otherwise, there’s no sense of accomplishment, and one can’t be happy.”

“That’s true, Prince,” Xiao Xizi didn’t understand what ‘sense of accomplishment’ meant. To him, it just sounded like creating trouble for oneself.

He hesitated, “Your Highness’s dragon blood and phoenix essence… you might want to restrain her a bit. I fear she’ll grow arrogant under favor.”

“Xiao Xizi,” Lin Yi suddenly snorted coldly.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Xiao Xizi shivered as the Prince’s piercing gaze landed on him.

Lin Yi scolded, “Who taught you to speak so evasively? Can’t you just speak plainly? Do you think I can’t understand what you mean?”

Xiao Xizi forced a laugh. “I dare not. I only thought Your Highness showing humility already gave her face. Anything more would be ungrateful.”

“You’re really just saying I’m shamelessly kissing her ass, aren’t you?”

Lin Yi laughed.

“Prince, I certainly don’t mean that,” Xiao Xizi breathed a sigh of relief when the Prince smiled.

Of course he knew the term ‘kissing ass’! Every novel their Prince wrote had a character who did just that, and they never ended well.

So seeing the Prince behave this way worried him!

“Stop thinking such nonsense,” Lin Yi smiled. “I do this because I am mature. Every mature man in front of a woman shows no pretense, no awkward hesitation, and does not hide his natural desires. A hero’s nature requires no shame.”

All talk of ‘kissing ass’ was mostly teasing. There were no true kiss-ups—just hearts that fell, courage to act, but misjudging the situation. Once committed, one must persist, hoping for a miracle. That’s how one becomes a ‘kiss-up.’

Xiao Xizi noticed the Prince spoke with pride about this. He could only bow and say, “Congratulations, Prince! Congratulations, Prince!”

He feared his words might reach the Consort, who would beat him to death.

No matter what, the charge of ‘incitement’ couldn’t be avoided.

No matter the Prince’s age, in the Consort’s eyes, he was still a child. If he misbehaved, it was their fault.

As they approached the city gate, the two stopped speaking.

The streets inside the city were crowded. Lin Yi dismounted, letting Xiao Xizi lead the donkey, while he walked along the side with hands behind his back.

Passing Huai Shu Street, they saw long queues of people whispering among themselves.

Xiao Xizi explained, “Mr. He Jixiang is recruiting soldiers. He said if the Wadan troops arrive, Southern soldiers aren’t used to Northern cold, and Northern troops need to be recruited early and trained, so they can be effective later.”

“I see,” Lin Yi nodded, not asking further. Some logic he could understand.

Southern soldiers weren’t accustomed to the North—not due to inability, but because of economic and medical limitations.

Leaving one’s native land often leads to illness: mild cases cause diarrhea; severe cases, death.

Medically speaking, people develop immunity to local microbes while growing up. Moving to a new environment disrupts this balance.

Thus, raising people according to their native land makes sense.

Moreover, due to logistical limitations, when Yuan Qing marched north, many southern soldiers froze or suffered frostbite in winter, lacking proper warm clothing. The reverse was true in summer—heat, bacteria, and insects caused many deaths.

On a real battlefield, soldiers die from cold, illness, falls, hunger, or trampling—death came in many forms.

Not like the modern world with vaccines, insulated clothing, and vehicles.

Just as Lin Yi returned to the mansion, Xing Keshou arrived.

“Greetings, Prince, long live, long live, ten thousand years!”

Behind him, Peng Guishou also kowtowed respectfully three times.

“Sit,” Lin Yi smiled. “Lord Peng, after spending more time with me, you’ll understand that I dislike these formalities the most.”

“Rituals cannot be neglected,” Peng Guishou said, then, under Xing Keshou’s guidance, sat at his side. Newly submitted, he was careful in speech and action.

Lin Yi looked at Xing Keshou. “Speak. What’s the matter this time?”

Xing Keshou said, “Your Highness mentioned land allocation the other day. I thought it best not to act rashly.”

“Rashly?”

Lin Yi smiled. “I’ve done nothing extravagant. Just asked them to register the farmland. How can such a minor matter be forbidden?”

Xing Keshou said, “Prince, the realm is in turmoil. The hearts of the people need calming. Acting recklessly may be unwise. Balance in governance, as in civil and military affairs, is crucial. I hope Your Highness will think carefully.”