IDWBE -Chapter 318 None of Them Are Good People

Tao Yingyi watched He Hong gradually ride off, frowning and muttering fiercely, “Who’s afraid of whom these days? I’m no pushover. Damn it, let them come at me then.”

As long as he was useful to the Prince and the Prince trusted him, no one could touch him!

As for that bastard Xiao Xizi, what did he have to fear?

Lin Yi stayed by the river until noon, when his stomach began to growl. He finally stood, stretched, and glared at Xiao Guizi beside him. “What are you standing there for? Reel in the fishing rods—we’re going home to eat. Honestly, I don’t know what you think about all day.”

He sniffed his shoulders—because of unhooking and baiting, his clothes smelled of fish.

In the past, when Xiao Xizi was around, he could come and go happily and cleanly. He never ended up this messy.

“Yes.”

Clumsily, Xiao Guizi picked up the fishing rod. Not knowing how much force to use, he lifted it, and the fishing line whipped back, snagging on a budding willow branch.

He tried several times, but couldn’t free the line from the branch.

Resigned, he let go of the rod and stood beneath the tall willow. With a jump, he yanked the branch down—but now the line was even more tangled, forming a complete mess.

He tried to untangle it, but the more he did, the worse it got. Sweat drenched his head. He didn’t dare meet the Prince’s eyes.

“Idiot. Just cut the branch with a knife.”

Lin Yi put a hand to his forehead.

He couldn’t understand why, among all the people in the residence, this one was always brought along. It was just asking for trouble.

“Oh.”

Xiao Guizi tugged at the branch, looking around—he didn’t have a knife.

“I’ll do it.”

The guard Jiao Zhong stepped forward, swung his sword, and the branch fell. Then, he quickly freed the golden thread from the branch for Xiao Guizi.

“Let’s go.”

Lin Yi walked ahead with his hands behind his back, Xiao Guizi leading the donkey behind him. On the way home, they passed the prestigious Xingxian Academy in Jinling City and saw a group of scholars gathered, some angry, some worried.

Lin Yi couldn’t make sense of it. He glanced at Xiao Guizi, who looked equally confused.

If only Xiao Xizi were here, he wouldn’t even have to ask—Xiao Xizi could explain everything in detail. Having someone like that around really made life easier.

“Master,” Jiao Zhong stepped forward again. “Many people went to the capital last winter for the Spring Examination. Because the Wadan people advanced south, the Emperor issued a decree delaying the exam. They went with high hopes but returned disappointed, naturally feeling resentful.”

“I know about this,” Lin Yi recalled that it was Xiao Xizi who had told him. “The Spring Examination is only once every three years. Everyone prepared for three years, and now it’s postponed. Who knows when the next one will be? They thought they’d make a name for themselves nationally—such naivety.”

He definitely wouldn’t feel sorry for them—if anything, he was a little pleased.

Since he took over Jinling City, these scholars had been scheming against him.

After all, he didn’t employ them, and he severely curtailed the power of the aristocrats and gentry from whom many of these scholars came.

Sometimes, when he heard lines like “The rat has skin, but man has no manners; man has no manners, why live?”, “Snake speaks great words, yet from its mouth only”, or “Eyes planted on the backside, only recognizing clothing, not people”, he felt furious and wanted to burn all their books and bury their scholars alive.

Even wearing a fragrant sachet, he could smell the scum in these people. Studying books, yet still trying to be romantic—ridiculous.

Anyway, none of these who opposed him were worth a damn.

“Master speaks truly,” Jiao Zhong smiled. “As long as the Wadan don’t retreat, there’s no hope for the Spring Exam. In my opinion, it’s better to cancel it outright, so no one keeps obsessing over it. People sleep worse when they have too much to hope for.”

As an elder in the Prince’s residence, Jiao Zhong knew the Prince’s views on the imperial exams and only spoke words he knew the Prince liked to hear.

“The exams themselves aren’t wrong; even the poor can produce nobles,” Lin Yi smiled. “The problem is that everyone is too one-dimensional. Relying only on poetry and essays is useless. Subjects like physics, mathematics, and chemistry must eventually be included too.”

Jiao Zhong said, “Master has foresight; we are far too dull to match.”

Lin Yi waved him off. “Alright, enough flattery. Let’s go home to eat.”

They bypassed the scholars blocking the road and returned to the Prince’s residence.

After eating, Lin Yi lay by the lotus pond, occasionally tossing some bread crumbs. Seeing Pan Duo approach, he asked, “Any news today?”

Pan Duo replied, “Your Highness, the edict eunuch left the capital ten days ago. He is riding hard toward Jinling City. By calculation, he will arrive the day after tomorrow.”

“To think he could swallow his pride and cry for his son—this father truly knows when to let go,”

Lin Yi finished tossing the last crumbs of bread, habitually reached behind him, but no one handed him a towel. He had to pat his own hands dry.

Pan Duo said, “Please instruct, Your Highness.”

Lin Yi smiled. “I understand. Let Mr. He and the others discuss the regulations themselves. No need to ask me about every detail.”

Since he had decided to head north again, he no longer delayed.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Soon, He Jixiang, Xing Keshou, Peng Guishou, Pang Geng, and others came to pay their respects.

He Jixiang said, “Your Highness, provisions and supplies have already been prepared. Troops from Nanzhou, Yuezhou, and other areas departed seven days ago. They should arrive in Jinling City soon. Once you give the order, we can head north at any time.”

He had once held the powerful post of Imperial Garrison Commander. Yet under the emperor, every move was constrained. One misstep could send him into an abyss of disaster.

He never expected that it would be Emperor Delong who ultimately ascended the throne.

The critical point: Emperor Delong was petty and exiled him three thousand miles.

He thought he would die an old man in Sanhe, but instead went to Sanhe with the Prince.

The Prince was “carefree,” always busy with birds, dogs, and fishing, never meddling in big affairs. He, along with Xie Zan and others, enjoyed a taste of freedom.

But it wasn’t happiness. Sanhe was poor; everything required money. They spent sleepless nights worrying about it.

Especially when the army moved—they shamelessly had to “borrow money” from wealthy families in Sanhe.

Yet, unexpectedly, in Jinling City, he finally understood what it meant to be happy.