IDWBE -Chapter 335 Thick-Skinned

Moreover, having seen the Sanhe army attack a city, he had no doubt that his Ninth Brother could handle a war against the Wadan. After all, fifth- and sixth-rank officers were everywhere in the army—if things got serious, one could easily take on a hundred.

Lin Yi yawned. “Sometimes, doing things doesn’t require overthinking. When it’s time to be reckless, be reckless. A youth without madness is a wasted youth. Careless? So what. Wild? So what. Don’t you agree?”

The Twelfth Prince braced himself. “Your servant is dull-witted, Brother, please speak plainly.”

From what his Ninth Brother implied, he was supposed to kill Minister Chen Jingzhi of the Honglu Temple! But he was scared!

Chen Jingzhi was a third-rank official!

If he killed him carelessly and caused public outrage, how could his Ninth Brother drag him out to calm the people? He would die unfairly!

He couldn’t die so pointlessly!

“You child, why can’t you understand what I say?”

Lin Yi said impatiently, “Just give me an answer. If not, I’ll replace you. Tasks like confiscating a household aren’t easy; many beg for such a chance and don’t get it.”

“I understand, Brother,” The Twelfth Prince admitted helplessly, knowing he had no choice.

Lin Yi said, “Look at you, all timid. Once this task is done, you’ll have some money in hand, eating out every day. Doesn’t that sound good?”

“Brother speaks rightly.”

Hearing the word “money,” the Twelfth Prince suddenly remembered something he had forgotten today.

The last time he had fled the city in a hurry, he had not a single coin.

Returning to Ankang City yesterday, he had sneaked back to his Prince Yong’anfu at night—only to find it confiscated by the Crown Prince!

Now the gate was tightly closed. After climbing over the wall, he saw that in just a short time, the courtyard weeds had grown taller than a person.

It was heart-wrenching.

Today, when entering the palace, he had planned to ask his mother for some money.

But he had been so foolish!

He had inexplicably forgotten such an important thing!

Otherwise, whether the servants of the Prince He’s Mansion were cooking or not would have been irrelevant.

As long as he had money, he could go to any large restaurant in Ankang City.

If he lacked money and wanted to run a tab, apart from his Ninth Brother, who else would have the face to allow it?

He felt that the only thing his Ninth Brother had over him was shamelessness.

Could it be true, as his Ninth Brother said, that a person with no shame is invincible, and a tree without bark is doomed?

Being timid would never get him anywhere!

“Once this task is done, I’ll have your mansion cleaned up so you can return home,” Lin Yi said kindly. “Fortune favors the bold. No risk, no reward.”

“Brother, I will not fail you!”

Hearing that Lin Yi would restore his mansion, the Twelfth Prince’s eyes lit up. “I will not disappoint Your Highness!”

After the Twelfth Prince left, He Jixiang came over with a letter. “This is for General Shen Zhan’ao of Qizhou and General Yuan Qing. Please review it, Your Highness.”

Lin Yi glanced at it casually, then placed it on the table. “Too wordy. Be more concise. If they surrender, troops’ pay is full, and food shipped directly from the sea to the northern borders. Over a hundred thousand troops aren’t immortals—they need to eat and drink. Fed and well-supplied, they can stop the Wadan from advancing south and prevent the people of our Great Liang Kingdom from suffering. That is true loyalty. Loyalty to just one person is foolishness—a crime against our nation.”

“Your wisdom is unmatched, Your Highness.”

He Jixiang tore up the letter and bowed. “I’ll rewrite it, and have it delivered by Wang Tuozi and Pan Duo.”

Later that night, it was hot and stuffy. Lin Yi couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning on the bed.

He finally went to lie on a chair in the garden, sipping wine from time to time.

“Your Highness,” He Hong bowed. “Ye Qiu and Wang Dong have returned with the Eldest Princess.”

Lin Yi said, “Let them come over.”

“Yes.”

He Hong nodded to Jiao Zhong. Once Jiao Zhong left, he had several more lanterns hung. The small garden was suddenly bright with light.

Lin Yi stretched and lay back down, watching the approaching Eldest Princess, smiling. “Aunt, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“You truly are my good nephew,” The Eldest Princess, pale, looked at the relaxed Lin Yi but still smiled. “You are stronger than the Crown Prince. I see I chose the wrong person.”

Lin Yi said, “Please sit, Aunt. Bring some snacks and wine. I want to drink with you.”

The Eldest Princess sat beside him, glancing at the blind man and Ye Qiu. She laughed. “You really don’t trust me?”

“Your nephew is not strong,” Lin Yi poured her wine. “Being careful is never wrong.”

Soon, snacks and small dishes were brought over, and he personally served her.

The Eldest Princess did not hide her curiosity. “You want to know the location of the silver vault too, don’t you?”

Lin Yi said, “I am short on money. Suddenly striking it rich would be perfect.”

“What if I refuse?”

She had not drunk a drop of wine, only taking bites of food.

Lin Yi slowly finished his cup, looking at her. “That silver belonged to the Jizhao Temple. Surely you know people there are searching for you. If they find you, they won’t be as easy to deal with as I am.”

“Good nephew, would you let them find me?”

She met his gaze, fearless.

“If you insist on refusing, I cannot force you. You are free to go,”

Lin Yi bit into a cucumber with a crisp sound, chewing. “But I hope you go far, far away. Don’t let Jingyi of Jizhao Temple find you. I hear her skills are as good as Elder Wuxiang of Diamond Stage.”

The Eldest Princess snorted. “You found me so easily. Can you just let me go?”

“You are wrong, Aunt. Finding you took almost no effort,” Lin Yi smiled. “I value money, yes, but I value family too.”

The Eldest Princess said, “You even imprisoned your father. What can you do to me?”

Lin Yi shook his head. “You are wrong again, Aunt. My actions were filial. I could not bear to let my father continue worrying about the Great Liang Kingdom. His health comes first.”

The Eldest Princess shook her head silently.

Lin Yi sighed. “Send Aunt to rest. Take care of her. If she leaves, give her some travel funds.”

Watching her leave with He Hong, Lin Yi’s face fell.

Ye Qiu said, “Your Highness, when I went to fetch the Eldest Princess, the abbot at Baima Temple tried to stop us. The blind man acted with force and disabled his skills.”

“Did he have a grudge against the blind man?”

Lin Yi was surprised.

Ordinary experts could control their attacks—he did not believe it was an accident.

Ye Qiu smiled awkwardly. “The blind man said the abbot was a fake monk, defiling the pure grounds of Buddhism, and deserved a little punishment.”