IDWBE -Chapter 376 Propriety

“What on earth is that Sixth up to?”

After Shan Ruyi followed Mingyue away, Lin Yi’s mind, no longer clouded by hormones, quickly returned to normal.

“It feels strange. I’ve only ever seen subordinates sending women to their superiors. Since when do brothers send women to brothers? Someone as clever as him—how could he commit such a taboo?”

These days, there were plenty who treated women as commodities to be bought and sold, but it was rare—especially among high officials—for women to be passed around as gifts.

How could something like finding a woman be entrusted to someone else?

Even when visiting brothels, they had their principles and cared about face. Friends could pay for the wine, but the room fee had to be paid personally.

In their eyes, only shameless merchants would do such things.

Respectable men—at least those who appeared respectable—would disdain it. It embarrassed both themselves and others.

So Lin Yi was genuinely curious how his Sixth Brother could do such a thing.

An elder brother sending a woman to his younger brother—just saying it aloud was awkward.

Worse, it could hardly end well.

Sending a woman to your brother’s side—was it to whisper sweet words into his ear? Or something else?

And most importantly, was the woman even “clean”? He just sent her over without a second thought?

“Your Highness,” Hong Ying said softly, “Prince Dai may not be currying favor. This could just as well be proving his own innocence.”

Lin Yi looked surprised. “What makes you say that?”

Hong Ying smiled. “Your Highness, Shan Ruyi belonged to Zhegu Shao’s people and approached you in Baiyun City. Now Prince Dai has come alone into Ankang City and even handed over Zhegu Shao. There’s no reason for him to keep Shan Ruyi anymore.”

“That makes sense.”

Lin Yi immediately understood. “If he didn’t send her, I’d suspect ulterior motives. If he does send her, at worst I think it improper. Weighing the two, the choice is obvious.”

“Your Highness is wise. As for how to arrange Shan Ruyi, please give instructions.”

“Is Mother’s opera troupe still in the residence?”

“Yes.”

“Then put Shan Ruyi into the troupe,” Lin Yi said after a moment’s thought. “At least it matches her profession. She won’t be wronged.”

When his mother had been in Ankang City, aside from eating and sleeping, she spent her days listening to music and opera. In the end, Lin Yi had spent a fortune to maintain a private opera troupe for her—allowed to perform commercially outside as well.

The only requirement was that all performers be vetted layer by layer by Prince He’s residence.

When his mother moved to Ankang, she brought the troupe along. Since it wasn’t convenient to bring them into the palace, they were still housed at the prince’s residence.

Unfortunately, he could never keep up with his mother’s ever-changing tastes. No sooner had the Jinling troupe settled in than she forgot about them entirely, now summoning only local Ankang troupes into the palace.

As the economic, cultural, and political center of Great Liang, Ankang’s opera troupes absorbed the best of many styles. Their level far surpassed those of Jinling.

Lin Yi couldn’t understand a word of the drawn-out arias and was already considering laying them off.

He had a bit of savings now—but not enough to keep idle people around.

“Your Highness, Shan Ruyi is quite beautiful,” Hong Ying said in surprise. “Though from a brothel, as far as I know, she has always remained a courtesan entertainer.”

“She is indeed beautiful,” Lin Yi said calmly. “But what of it? There are countless beautiful women in this world.”

“I intend to be the man they cannot have.”

More importantly, he couldn’t stand nagging.

It was one thing for others to sow their wild oats recklessly. But if a pregnancy resulted, that group of pedantic old scholars like Xie Zan would never let him hear the end of it.

They’d nag him to death.

No matter how pretty Shan Ruyi was, she was still a brothel woman.

Hong Ying didn’t know how to respond and could only laugh awkwardly.

Just as Lin Yi was about to continue, he smelled something burnt. Looking down, he saw the sweet potato in the brazier had turned into charcoal.

“Damn bad luck…”

He poked it with a stick; it crumbled into blackened chunks and burst into flames.

“Your Highness, it’s my fault. Shall I roast another for you?” Hong Ying offered with a smile.

“Forget it.”

Lin Yi waved him off.

Ma Jie entered and immediately knocked his head loudly against the floor several times.

Lin Yi disliked his shifty appearance. “Speak quickly. Don’t hem and haw.”

“Your Highness, the South Gate of Ankang City has been damaged for some time and remains unrepaired. I seek your instruction on what should be done.”

He silently cursed Mo Shun as well. The explosives had been used too heavily—the entire gate tower had collapsed and was still in ruins.

“Such a trivial matter requires my input?” Lin Yi snapped. “Handle it yourself.”

“It will cost over a hundred thousand taels…”

Ma Jie had once been only a legal advisor, but he understood officialdom well: ask often, act less—less action, fewer mistakes.

Before he came, Liu Baixian had warned him that, with this prince, anything involving money was no small matter.

And this was over a hundred thousand taels!

If he spent it without approval, the prince might skin him alive.

“That much?”

Lin Yi frowned, pondered, then said, “What’s the use of a flashy gate tower? Do more practical things, fewer vanity projects.”

“I understand.”

So—don’t rebuild it. Spend less.

Lin Yi continued, “Also, tighten security in Ankang. Yesterday, while traveling incognito, I saw so many dandies riding horses through crowded streets. Who gave them the nerve?”

“I’ve declared repeatedly that princes breaking the law are punished like commoners. Go ask them whether they treat my words as wind—or whether their heads are hard enough to test against mine.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. I will enforce the law impartially and punish them strictly!”

Ma Jie was full of unspoken grievances.

He had just taken office and didn’t yet understand the situation in Ankang. Many matters slipped beyond his control.

More importantly, the city was full of imperial relatives who had always acted arrogantly, tacitly tolerated by all.

Though he was Prefect, he wasn’t foolish enough to offend them lightly.

Seeing no further instructions, he withdrew carefully.

Outside, near the gatehouse, he glanced around and saw Jiang Chou yawning. He casually tossed two taels of silver. Jiang Chou caught it without looking and slipped it into his belt.

“Prefect Ma, too kind,” Jiang Chou said, filling a teacup. “It’s cold—care for some tea?”

Only now did he truly feel like a minor official before a prime minister’s gate.

In just this short time, he had saved several hundred taels. Hard times were over.

Sun Chongde and Yu Xiaoshi could only watch enviously. Whose fault was it they hadn’t taken this job?

As long as Chief Steward Hong had no objections, he could guard this gate for life.

But he knew that was unlikely.

Given the current situation, Prince He would sooner or later enter the palace.

If Jiang Chou wanted to enter too, he’d have to be like Xiao Xizi and the eunuchs—

Absolutely not!

He hadn’t even married yet. His family line had passed down three generations singly; it couldn’t end with him.

Besides, entering the palace didn’t guarantee silver.

So he felt a strong sense of urgency—earn and save as much as possible.

Later, he could join the capital garrison or city cavalry, buy a house, marry a wife, and live comfortably.

Seeing Ma Jie now, he thought perhaps a post under the Prefect wasn’t impossible either.

“No, thank you,” Ma Jie said, resisting the urge to look at the grimy teapot. “The wind leaks through this gatehouse. Hard on you.”

“I dare not complain. All in service of His Highness.”

“I heard Instructor Sun was injured recently. I’ve wanted to visit but lacked time. How is he?”

“With Divine Doctor Hu around, he’d find it hard to die even if he tried,” Jiang Chou said, drinking the tea himself when Ma Jie declined. “He suffered a bit—over a month bedridden, no wine, no company. Nearly drove him mad.”

“But we can’t call him Instructor Sun anymore. For capturing Jiang Zhong, General He promoted him to Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud—overseeing military and carriage horses.”

“A third-rank position…” Ma Jie was stunned. “A blessing in disguise.”

“Just a horse official, and already third rank?” Jiang Chou blinked. “No wonder he’s been so lucky lately—matchmakers lining up. Even Chen Jingzhi, Minister of the Court of Diplomatic Reception, favors him and wants to marry him his granddaughter.”

“Not yet married?” Ma Jie asked.

“His old mother is picky—must be a girl from the capital. So many beauties in Sanhe, none good enough. That’s why he’s still single.”

Ma Jie continued, “And what of Liu Kan, the Guard Commander?”

Jiang Chou gave him a knowing look. “Prefect Ma, looking for a son-in-law?”

“The weather is indeed cold today,” Ma Jie deflected.

“Wait,” Jiang Chou grinned. “You mentioned Liu—actually, I do think he and your daughter would be a fine match…”

He went on gossiping enthusiastically, even hinting at other promising officers like Wei Jiangjun and Liang Yuanzhi, favored by General He and destined for bright futures.

After listening, Ma Jie hurried into his sedan chair.

Indeed—Ankang’s great families were no fools. If he could think of this, so could they.

“Old turtle,” Jiang Chou spat after him, weighing the silver smugly—until he saw Mingyue approaching. He quickly hid the silver and bowed.

“I remember you weren’t like this before,” Mingyue said coldly. “Playing matchmaker now?”

“I’ve been making good tea money lately. Got carried away.”

“Do you know why you were made gatekeeper?”

Jiang Chou broke into a cold sweat.

“Because your mouth used to be tight,” Mingyue said calmly. “Now it isn’t. Go find Guo Zhao. The garden needs a gardener.”

“Yes…”

Though crestfallen, he was secretly relieved. In this season, what flowers were there to tend?

By evening, he discovered his post had already been taken by Sun Chongde’s younger brother.

He wanted to slap himself.

His big mouth had cost him a good job.

He hadn’t been like this before…

If not for worrying about his future, he wouldn’t even bother staying on as a gardener—the monthly pay wasn’t enough to cover his drinking.