IDWBE -Chapter 409 Threat

At the moment when he was frowning and sighing in frustration, a shadow suddenly appeared before him. Looking up, it was none other than Commander Yuwen She of the Imperial Guards!

“Commander, you’re indeed diligent, standing watch here day after day,”

He Lian said casually, “No wonder even the Prince values you so highly.”

Yuwen She looked coldly at He Lian, and after a long pause, said, “It’s truly luck that you, Eunuch He, have lived to this day.”

“What do you mean by that?”

He Lian felt a chill run through him under Yuwen She’s gaze, but he still refused to show weakness. “You can’t say things recklessly; watch your words, lest they bring misfortune!”

As a military general, Yuwen She carried the weight and aura of a mountain, imposing immense pressure.

But if you were to get serious, He Lian wasn’t afraid!

After all, he had Eunuch Xi as his backing!

Eunuch Xi’s word in the palace was law; no one dared provoke him.

And since He Lian was Eunuch Xi’s top confidant, who would dare lay a hand on him?

Ever since the Qi Yong rebellion incident, the Prince no longer trusted the old factions in the court, and Minister He Jixiang had begun slowly purging those with divided loyalties.

In He Lian’s eyes, Yuwen She and his father Yuwen Boxu were bound to be cleaned out eventually!

“You grew up in the palace yourself, so naturally you understand palace affairs better than I do,”

Yuwen She sneered. “But mixing yourself between Consort Yuan and the Prince? That was unwise. If the Prince wants to calm the Consort’s anger, he might take it out on you.”

“What do you mean?”

He Lian’s face darkened instantly.

“What do I mean? You know as well as I do,”

Yuwen She continued, “I believe Consort Yuan already knows who leaked the news. Eunuch He, take care of yourself.”

He Lian’s expression shifted repeatedly. Seeing Yuwen She turn to leave, he hurriedly called out, “Commander, wait!”

“Oh?”

Yuwen She looked back. “Do you have something to say?”

He Lian snorted coldly. “Stop beating around the bush. Speak directly if you have something to say.”

Yuwen She replied, “Nothing else. I only speak for your own good. Try to meddle less in things, lest it harm both others and yourself.”

He Lian slowly walked toward Yuwen She, then said word by word, “Miss Mingyue and Miss Zixia are innocent. We cannot just watch them suffer, can we?”

He had indeed discovered the news that Jin Mei intended to harm Mingyue and Zixia and had reported it to the Prince’s residence.

But he hadn’t expected the Prince to be so furious that he directly killed Jin Mei!

This had, in turn, provoked Consort Yuan into a raging fury!

Now, after Yuwen She’s reminder, he finally understood his predicament.

Honestly, he felt a bit of regret.

If he offended Consort Yuan, how could he continue in the palace? If she wanted him dead, the Prince wouldn’t stop her! And Eunuch Xi would have no reason to provoke the Consort to protect him.

“Two girls, that’s all. If they die, they die. What’s the big deal?”

Yuwen She said indifferently, “Who told you it’s easy to please a Consort?”

“You saw the Prince’s reaction,” He Lian pressed on, “Jin Mei’s death shows the Prince cares deeply for these two girls.”

“So what?”

Yuwen She scoffed. “Don’t forget, the Prince and the Consort are mother and son, their bond is thick with blood. How could two girls compare? Even if they truly die, could the Prince question the Consort?”

He Lian thought over Yuwen She’s words and then cupped his hands, “Congratulations, Commander. My congratulations.”

Yuwen She replied, “For what?”

He Lian said, “Naturally, congratulations on the commander leaning on someone powerful!”

If Yuwen She hadn’t aligned with Consort Yuan, why would he have said all this to him?

Although they both worked at Qilin Palace, one patrolling, the other attending to Emperor Delong, their affairs rarely intersected, so there was no need for such issues to arise!

Now, Yuwen She was making a fuss with him for one reason only: the Yuwen father and son had joined forces with Consort Yuan!

Honestly, it was a smart move.

The Yuwens were officially the Prince’s men, assigned to guard the Emperor and Qilin Palace, but in reality, control of the palace now lay with the Capital Garrison. The Yuwens could only command fewer than ten men, and their trusted aides had already been reassigned elsewhere.

They were under constant watch by He Jixiang, Wei Yishan, Chen Desheng, and others.

Since Consort Yuan and the Prince were mother and son, they were a unit unto themselves. Aligning with Consort Yuan didn’t change their loyalty. Even if the Prince was displeased, nothing would happen to them!

Most importantly, they had Consort Yuan’s support.

“Some things are best kept in your heart, eunuch. No need to say them aloud,”

Yuwen She said ambiguously, his face close to He Lian’s. “Think twice before acting in the future.”

“Are you threatening me?”

He Lian’s face was expressionless.

“Not at all,” Yuwen She said with no change in expression. “I only hope you act prudently in the future. Don’t make things difficult for me, or I won’t be able to protect you either.”

He Lian suddenly asked curiously, “The Prince having heirs is a good thing. Consort Yuan is so esteemed, why bother with two girls?”

This puzzled him the most.

Yuwen She smiled darkly, “The Consort wants heirs for the Prince, yes, but they are not surnamed Yuan.”

“I see…”

He Lian was stunned.

Now he finally understood Consort Yuan’s intentions!

She naturally wanted the Prince to have heirs, but she even more wanted him to marry a daughter of the Yuan family—especially Yuan Zijun. In the palace, this was no secret.

He Lian couldn’t help but think: could it be that Consort Yuan wanted the world to follow the Yuan surname in the future? Was she crazy?

Yuwen She cupped his hands. “Farewell.”

“Take care.”

Watching Yuwen She’s retreating figure, He Lian was momentarily at a loss.

According to his guess, the pregnant Princess Consort was also likely in danger.

At the very least, it would be difficult to protect the child in her womb.

Should he report this to the Prince?

For a moment, he hesitated. If he spoke, he’d offend the Consort; if he stayed silent, any mishap later would be blamed on him.

Gritting his teeth, he decided to head straight to Eunuch Xi’s residence.

After lunch, Lin Yi, annoyed by the heat, stayed in the garden rather than going elsewhere, tossing fish feed into the pond from time to time, making the goldfish scramble for it.

Without looking back, he instructed Mingyue, “Tell the Princess Consort to move around often. If she gets too fat, she might not be able to give birth safely. She’d suffer for her own carelessness.”

Mingyue smiled, “Prince, rest assured. These matters have already been explained by the doctors, and the Princess Consort has good health and training. She should bear it well.”

“That’s good,” Lin Yi finished scattering the last of the fish feed, clapped his hands, yawned, and said, “I’ll lie down for a bit. When the sun goes down, call me. I have to go to the palace. Truly, endless worries.”

When the sun set, he woke without anyone calling him.

After washing his face and drinking half a pot of tea, he rode a donkey to the palace.

Entering, he dismounted and took a shortcut straight to Jinglan Palace.

Halfway there, a young eunuch reported that Consort Yuan had gone to the Imperial Garden.

He changed course and went there.

Consort Yuan sat in an octagonal pavilion, with fruits and pastries before her, surrounded by other concubines. Lin Yi could hear the cheerful laughter from afar.

For a moment, he felt an impulse to move into the palace immediately.

Damn, so many beautiful women!

Too eye-catching!

Wouldn’t it be a waste not to see more?

“The Prince Regent is here!”

With Xiao Xizi’s shout, the garden fell silent.

By protocol, the concubines quietly left, and Lin Yi could only watch their backs with some regret.

Approaching Consort Yuan, he bowed, “Greetings, Mother Consort.”

“Why the sudden politeness?”

Consort Yuan handed a melon seed to a palace maid, and another maid wiped her hands with a damp towel. Surprised, she looked at Lin Yi, “You’ve got me confused.”

Her son usually wasn’t this polite in front of her.

Lin Yi smiled, “I mean no other reason, Mother Consort. I just realized how much effort you’ve put into my well-being over the years. If I remain thoughtless, it would be truly unfilial.”

Consort Yuan, annoyed, said, “You’re a handful. Why hide things? It only makes us seem distant as mother and son. Pointless.”

“This is my heartfelt words,” Lin Yi said seriously, “You’ve done so much for me. If I don’t appreciate it, you might feel disappointed.”

“You are my son. Whatever I do for you is only proper. Even if you do wrong, how else can I react but forgive you? Should we stop being mother and son too?”

“You are right, Mother Consort,” Lin Yi sat before her, raised his teacup, drank it all, and sighed, “I suppose Mother Consort knows that I killed Jin Mei.”

Consort Yuan expressionlessly said, “A mere servant girl. Dead is dead. Not worth you mentioning.”

Lin Yi smiled, “She was an elder at your side. You were used to her. If I suddenly kill her, there will be no one left to serve, and that would be my fault.”

“Nonsense,” Consort Yuan snorted, “The palace has countless capable maids. One more or one less doesn’t matter. Why keep it in your heart?”

“If Mother Consort thinks this way, I can be at ease,” Lin Yi glanced at the two palace maids behind her. “From now on, if anyone dares cause trouble in the Prince’s residence, I’ll execute them immediately, no hesitation.”

The two maids felt a chill just from his glance.

The Prince’s words were directed at them—warning them not to act for the Consort in the future.

“Coming all this way to say these words—is this filial piety?”

Consort Yuan rolled her eyes at him.

Lin Yi smiled, “Of course, there’s more. Hu Miaoyi’s belly is growing. Mother Consort knows this. In a few months, she’ll give birth. This is my first time as a father. Naturally, I’m anxious and don’t know what to do. I realized the child’s name must be the top priority. I’m ignorant, can’t come up with a good name, and I can’t ask outsiders. I heard that my maternal grandfather, the Governor, is accomplished, but I have a strained relationship with him. I don’t know how to ask him directly. I hope Mother Consort can mediate, so that when the child is born, he can help name it. If there’s a misunderstanding later, the child’s name coming from him might ease the tension.”

“Let your maternal grandfather name the child?”

Consort Yuan was stunned. She didn’t expect her son to say this.

“Exactly,” Lin Yi, seeing no reaction from his mother, clarified further, “My maternal grandfather is old. I hope he lives long and can help name the child. According to tradition, an elder naming a child is the best blessing.”

He almost wanted to point at her nose and say: If anything happens to my child, I’ll let the Yuan family, your pride, pay the price!

Especially your own father, the Governor!

He couldn’t understand how his mother’s mind worked.

This child is her own grandson, yet she dared harm him for the so-called glory of the Yuan family?

“Your words carry some threat.”

Even if slow-witted, Consort Yuan could sense the veiled threat in her son’s words.

“I dare not,” Lin Yi said helplessly, “I truly want my maternal grandfather to name the child. Mother Consort must help me convey this.”

His mother used to be naïve. How did she become this foolish now? She couldn’t even tell right from wrong between him and the Yuan family.

Consort Yuan said, “It’s your own maternal grandfather. Such a small thing, he wouldn’t refuse.”

Lin Yi smiled, “That’s perfect.”

“Own maternal grandfather?”

How could his mother say that? The Yuan family was the most contrary!

If not for the sensible Yuan Qing, he would have killed them all or sent them to guard Liangzhou or the Northern Frontier!

“Alright. Since you care so much for Hu’s girl, go back and guard her. I’ve been there; I know a pregnant woman can’t be stressed. Be gentle, don’t make her anxious. Otherwise, if the child is lost and you lose your temper—” Consort Yuan waved impatiently, “I’m tired. I won’t keep you nagging here.”

“My filial duty is done,” Lin Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed threatening his mother with the Yuan family was effective.

As he left the Imperial Garden, someone called after him.

Xiao Xizi said, “Prince, Princess Huaiyang has arrived.”

Then he, along with two young eunuchs, retreated to the side.