IDWBE -Chapter 407 Deception

Lin Yi thought for a moment, then removed the warm jade pendant from his waist. He looked at it in his hand before tossing it toward Mingyue.

“Take it. Come to think of it, all these years I haven’t really given you girls anything worthwhile. As the saying goes, a person nurtures jade for three years, jade nurtures a person for ten. You know this piece well. If you meet some fool, you should be able to sell it for quite a bit of silver. With that much money, let alone ten years—you’d be set for life. You’d be rich.”

Mingyue laughed.

Her prince was still as humorous as ever.

It was a well-known saying, but when it came from his mouth, it somehow carried a completely different meaning.

After playing with the warm jade for a while, she tucked it into her sleeve without ceremony and said with a smile, “Thank you for the reward, Your Highness. Then this servant won’t stand on ceremony. Another day I’ll exchange it for a few big gold ingots.”

She had grown up by his side and understood his temperament well.

He was always lecturing them about so-called “scientific” knowledge—how all jade, when examined at its core, was simply prettier stone.

“The beauty of stone is called jade”—that had long been written in ancient texts. It hardly required his instruction.

If he kept jade in his hands, it was only because it was valuable.

Everything he liked had a straightforward purpose: it was worth money.

This particular warm jade, in his eyes, was probably not even as useful as a fishhook.

He had once personally declared that crafting a proper fishhook was an advancement in metallurgy—a leap forward for human technology!

Since she managed his private treasury along with Zixia, all his personal wealth was already in their hands.

When he gave them something, it was essentially transferring it from his left hand to his right—no real difference.

And if she truly didn’t want it, there was no need to embarrass him on the spot and sour his mood.

“This one is for Zixia,” Lin Yi said, prying the jade thumb ring from his finger and tossing it over as well. “Sell it for money. Tell her not to let it go cheap.”

Mingyue burst into laughter. “Your Highness, you’re playing favorites! You give her something so fine, but mine isn’t as good.”

“Is that so?” Lin Yi waved a hand dismissively. “Impossible. The prices won’t differ by much—at most within two taels of silver. If not, you two can choose for yourselves. Pick whichever you like. If you’re lucky, maybe you can even exchange it for a good husband.”

Mingyue feigned indignation. “Your Highness, do you look down on us that much? Though we may be aging and our beauty fading, it’s not as if we can’t get married! Must we even bring dowries to find a husband?”

Lin Yi chuckled. “Hard to say. In life, one must prepare for a rainy day. Let me ask you honestly—do either of you fancy a guard or some promising young fellow? I’ll personally arrange the match.”

Mingyue gave an awkward laugh. “Your Highness is teasing this servant again. I won’t talk to you anymore.”

With that, she turned and disappeared into the night.

Watching her figure vanish into the darkness, Lin Yi muttered curiously, “Did I say something wrong?”

“Did you?”

A woman’s voice suddenly echoed from midair.

Lin Yi’s first reaction was that it had to be someone familiar—otherwise they could not possibly enter Prince He’s residence. When he turned around, he recognized the voice.

“Elder Sister, it’s been a long time. Your younger brother has missed you dearly.”

Wen Zhaoyi slowly descended from above. Lin Yi stared at her in disbelief. She had vanished in Sanhe days ago—how had she suddenly appeared in Ankang City?

“Those two girls serve by your side,” Wen Zhaoyi said with a faint smile as she approached. “Who would dare marry them? Who could?”

“You’re usually clever. How could you be so muddled about this?”

Lin Yi paused, then sighed. “You’re right. Thank you for the enlightenment.”

If it were in the past, Mingyue and Zixia’s futures would be easy to arrange. But now he was ruler of Great Liang.

There might be rebels in secret, but who would openly court—or marry—women at his side?

Coveting another man’s flower and ruining one’s own household—only a fool would dare.

He believed he wasn’t so possessive. He genuinely wished for Mingyue and Zixia to find good homes.

“Good that you understand,” Wen Zhaoyi said, as if reading his thoughts. “Since ancient times, nothing has been harder to predict than the heart of an emperor. No one will take that risk lightly.”

“Fine, I understand. I’ll just have those two serve my bed instead. Fine water shouldn’t flow into outsiders’ fields. If there are pretty girls, I’ll sleep with them myself first.”

Stretching and yawning, he added, “By the way, Elder Sister, what brings you here?”

“You’re not welcoming me?” she asked coolly.

“You know that my army has left Sanhe. Without a master guarding it, I’m uneasy. If something happened after you left, I wouldn’t sleep well.”

Wen Zhaoyi smiled. “I went to Ayu Kingdom.”

“Ayu Kingdom?” Lin Yi was startled. “What for?”

“Li Fo is dead.”

“What?” Lin Yi shot to his feet. “The emperor of Ayu Kingdom?”

She nodded. “Yes. Recently, the foreign devils who had long stayed in the southern seas arrived in Ayu. Relying on their sturdy ships and powerful cannons, they followed the river inland and seized the imperial palace.”

“But wasn’t he a Grandmaster?” Lin Yi asked in confusion.

“You shouldn’t be pleased?” she countered.

“Why would I be pleased?”

She smiled. “Doesn’t this confirm your thinking? With enough cannons, even a Grandmaster can die.”

“Even if he couldn’t win, couldn’t he flee?” Lin Yi was stunned by the news.

“He was both emperor and Grandmaster—how proud he must have been. He would never flee. And with his country destroyed and family gone, what meaning would there be in escape?”

“So those foreign devils have grown that formidable?” Lin Yi murmured in shock.

“That is your concern, not mine,” Wen Zhaoyi replied lightly.

Lin Yi forced a smile. “Elder Sister speaks truly.”

“They are indeed like demons,” she continued. “Cruel and brutal, devoid of humanity. Be cautious.”

Lin Yi snorted. “Rest assured. If I don’t raze their nests, I won’t be surnamed Lin.”

This world also had its so-called Western lands—blond, blue-eyed foreigners.

And queens.

He had heard that many small Western kingdoms were ruled by queens—perhaps dozens in total. One day, he planned to personally lead a fleet to “pay visits” one by one.

He would learn earnestly from his idol, Hong Laoshu—spreading his seed across the globe.

You may have wealth, Hong Laoshu—but I have wealth and power!

“Very well,” Wen Zhaoyi smiled. “When you go, inform me. I’ll join you.”

“It’s late,” Lin Yi said after a pause. “I’ll have a chamber prepared for you.”

“No need.”

With that, she drifted away.

“Tonight, I’m going to the palace,” her voice echoed in the air.

“Your Highness.”

The Blind Man emerged from the darkness.

“Pass the order. Wen Zhaoyi is entering the palace. No one is to obstruct her.”

“Yes.”

After the Blind Man vanished, Lin Yi stretched again and muttered, “Damn it. Everyone’s learned to act first and report later.”

He truly had no way to control Wen Zhaoyi.

Not wanting to disturb Hu Miaoyi’s rest, he slept in a nearby chamber instead.

In the middle of the night, half-asleep, he felt a restless heat in his belly. Reaching out instinctively, he pulled someone close. Like meeting water, it dissolved.

When he turned and opened his eyes, he saw that it was Mingyue.

Recalling Wen Zhaoyi’s words from the night before, he smiled at the woman curled in his arms.

“Enough with the act. You did this on purpose.”

She had never given him the chance before—yet now, right after that conversation?

“This servant knows her crime,” Mingyue murmured, holding him tighter.

“As for status, there are too many titles—I can’t remember them all. Tomorrow let Xiao Xizi bring the register. Pick one yourself. Call yourself whatever you like.”

Seeing her face, he felt that in that instant, all the tension in her brows melted away.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

She buried her face against him once more.

—

Qilin Palace.

The Blind Man and Xiao Xizi stood guard outside the door. Xiao Xizi couldn’t help glancing inside.

“Blind Man, we’re friends. If there’s anything, you must tell me the truth. Don’t hide it.”

Wen Zhaoyi was a Grandmaster!

Liu Chaoyuan had fled, and there were no masters left by the Emperor’s side. If Wen Zhaoyi did something reckless, he’d be doomed.

“You suspect me of forging orders?” the Blind Man asked coldly.

“Of course not,” Xiao Xizi said hurriedly. “It’s just that Wen Zhaoyi’s arrival was so sudden.”

“Remember the Chief Steward’s words,” the Blind Man replied. “Mind what you should. Stay out of what you shouldn’t.”

Xiao Xizi suppressed his displeasure and stood straight.

Inside Qilin Palace, the lamps flickered.

Wen Zhaoyi looked at Emperor Delong seated on his couch. “Qi Yong is dead. Liu Chaoyuan fled. Have you nothing to say?”

“I know,” Emperor Delong suddenly laughed. “My empress is dead, my brothers dead—what of one more Qi Yong?”

“You’re the sort who doesn’t care for wife or siblings. Why would you care about a mere Qi Yong?”

“What do you want?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Tell me—where did the Eldest Princess go?”

“My good son doesn’t know. How would I?”

“Longevity?” she sneered. “Keep dreaming.”

Before he could respond, she had already left.

The palace echoed with Emperor Delong’s roar.

Outside, Xiao Xizi finally exhaled in relief.

“Grandmaster… is it really so impressive?” he muttered through clenched teeth.

—

Late morning.

When Lin Yi got up, his back was so sore he could barely straighten it.

After breakfast, sitting in his chair, he said coolly, “Wen Zhaoyi went to see my father—and they discussed the Eldest Princess. Neither of them thinks much of me.”

The pastry in his hand was crushed out of shape.

“Your Highness, calm your anger,” the Blind Man said, bowing.

“They do everything behind my back. What do they take me for? Again and again—they treat me like I’m made of clay!”

Even in private, they were no different from Qi Yong—never taking him seriously.

For a moment, rage consumed him.

Chen Desheng kowtowed three times. “Your Highness, please calm yourself.”

Ignoring him, Lin Yi turned to Pan Duo. “Li Fo is dead. Ayu Kingdom has fallen. Such enormous news—and I learned it from outsiders. What use are you?”

Before Pan Duo could speak, the faint but familiar sound of wooden wheels rolling echoed sharply in the hall.

“Death penalty!”

The voice struck the stone floor louder than speech.

Lin Yi looked up to see Qi Peng prostrating himself.

“Damn it, you finally show up,” Lin Yi snapped. “Is Sun Cheng courting death? Who allowed you in without my order?”

“It is my fault alone,” Qi Peng said, his useless legs sprawled beneath him as he propped himself up with his arms. “I am willing to die to atone!”

“Stop putting on a show,” Lin Yi said, glaring at Pan Duo. “Help him up.”

Once seated in his wheelchair, Qi Peng kept his head lowered.

“You have three days,” Lin Yi said coldly. “Find the Eldest Princess. If you fail, I won’t kill you. You’ll all disband and go home to farm.”

Qi Peng raised his voice. “I will not disappoint Your Highness!”

—

As summer approached, the weather grew hotter.

Bare-chested, Lin Yi held a brush and wrote boldly.

Chen Desheng watched for a long time before saying against his conscience, “Your Highness’s use of ink—whether dry or moist, thick or thin—penetrates the paper. Truly extraordinary.”

“Speak like a human,” Lin Yi sighed, tossing the brush aside. “The ink’s floating on the surface. It’s crap.”

Some things required talent. No amount of pretending effort could change that.