IDWBE -Chapter 416 Real Skill

The likes of Mingyue and Zixia—these silly women—were blind! They only felt sorry that Ninth Royal Brother had no one to take care of him, but they never thought that the Prince of Yong’an was the truly pitiable one!

Ever since he returned to Ankang City, he didn’t even have a place to settle, and he had to worry about three meals a day.

Now, finally back in his own residence with a proper home, he still lived precariously because he was poor, with not a single spare coin to his name.

But he believed his hard days were nearly over.

He was now the Left Clan Official of the Zongren Mansion, responsible for supervising misconduct among the royal relatives. Working with the Dali Court, every household he raided would earn him a tenth!

This was a promise from his Ninth Royal Brother!

Soon, when the Dali Court’s cases were resolved, he could lead people to confiscate estates!

The Duke of Ji had held Ji Prefecture for generations, with assets in the millions, vast fields, and over a thousand servants.

If he could get just a tenth of it, how much would that be?

No less than 100,000 taels of silver!

Thinking of this, he couldn’t contain his excitement.

He had endured hardship for far too long!

And now he was already planning how to use the money!

He could renovate the house. As for taking concubines, he couldn’t do so carelessly.

He feared encountering unworthy people who might scheme for his inheritance.

A vassal prince? What could a vassal prince do!

His Ninth Royal Brother was still the Regent, and it was said even Hu Miaoyi was somewhat unruly.

Everyone was talking: if the Regent were truly divorced, it would be the biggest joke in history!

Even his elder brother had to follow the rules faithfully; why shouldn’t others?

It was obvious logic!

At that time, he would have to be magnanimous like his Ninth Royal Brother: if spring couldn’t be contained in the garden, one must allow it to escape the walls!

However, he didn’t have his Ninth Royal Brother’s wealth and power to act recklessly.

Being poor, he had to be cautious. Choosing wives and concubines required extreme care, never negligence.

“Your Highness.”

Lai Kuan saw Wen Yu’s haggard, thin face and felt sympathy for the Prince of Yong’an—this was starvation-driven desperation!

He thought about it: if it really didn’t work out, the kitchen’s head cook might be far better than this girl.

But seeing the Prince of Yong’an’s satisfied expression, he didn’t dare speak further, only smiled and said, “I’ve had her carefully washed and groomed, so as not to bother Your Highness during the night.”

Upon reflection, Wen Yu had once been quite beautiful. Perhaps after some care, she could suffice for the nightly duties.

After all, the Prince of Yong’an was poor now.

“Ah, let the plump sister from the kitchens act as the girl’s wet nurse,” the old Twelfth Prince touched the obedient little girl’s head and laughed, “No need to send her into the palace to bother the Consort.”

He wanted to place the little girl in the palace under Lady Tang’s care, but times had changed. The palace was no longer as before; it was now under Consort Yuan and his Ninth Royal Brother’s authority.

There had been a time when he was alone in an empty room, without even a bedwarmer, yet he didn’t dare ask his mother for her maid.

After all, in principle, everything in the palace belonged to his Ninth Royal Brother, even the maids around his mother.

To covet his Ninth Royal Brother’s women was practically a death wish!

So it was best not to provoke his elder brother unnecessarily.

Besides, how much could a little girl eat? Why bother?

No point troubling his Ninth Royal Brother.

As long as his brother knew he was actively supporting the “gender equality” slogan, that was enough!

“Yes,” Lai Kuan glanced at the tiny girl, ready to pick her up, but suddenly remembered she was about to be officially entered into the Jade Register as a genuine princess. Not something he could just touch. Withdrawing his hands, he chuckled awkwardly, “Your Highness, the princess is still young. Tomorrow when she is sent to the elementary school outside the city, the school might not accept her.”

The principal of the newly established Ankang City First Elementary School was the Prince He’s Zixia.

She could decide whom to admit; if she refused, no one dared oppose her.

The enrollment notice clearly stated at least five years of age!

Under five, the school would not accept anyone.

The princess was not even four; sending her there made no sense.

“Have I said so much, and you just ignore me?”

The old Twelfth Prince snapped, “Whether the school accepts her is their choice. But sending her—or not sending her—is my decision!”

In short, this was a show for his Ninth Royal Brother!

Even royal children being sent to school was a rare privilege; commoners should be grateful!

“Your Highness is wise,” Tang Yi, who had been resting nearby, suddenly said, “If even Your Highness doesn’t support it, whom can the Regent expect?”

Even though he had been appointed to the Censorate, he regretted moving in just three days and moved back.

Finding a proper place in Ankang City was difficult; renting, food, and daily necessities were expensive.

Moreover, he had just been released from prison. The stipend from the Ministry of Revenue was a drop in the ocean.

As for traditional seasonal gifts, he had just started the post—no one would give anything.

He was the type of person for whom no one would even light a stove.

Although the Prince of Yong’an’s residence was dilapidated, it was in the north city where officials gathered—a place to shelter from the wind and rain, saving at least a month’s rent.

Moreover, the Prince of Yong’an owed him favors, so he wouldn’t charge for food.

Truthfully, there were few places in the world where one could eat freely like this!

He cherished it.

“Grandfather is wise,” the Prince of Yong’an smiled, “As the saying goes, ‘An elder at home is a treasure.’ Truly, it is no lie. Now with grandfather’s guidance, everything goes smoothly.”

Honestly, even though he didn’t like Tang Yi freeloading, he had to admit keeping the old man around had its benefits!

At the very least, retrieving his biological daughter came from Tang Yi’s suggestion.

He now felt this plan was very clever.

Tang Yi waved his hand, “Your Highness flatters me. With Shen Chu sending troops to Jin Prefecture, the Prince Yong fleeing west, and the Princes Chu and Jin disappearing, the Great Liang is in disarray. It is only natural for Your Highness to help the Regent.”

The old Twelfth Prince hesitated, “I heard that Wang Dahai of Ji Prefecture has already surrounded the Duke of Ji’s residence, and soon he will be escorted to Ankang City. I fear, though, that the garrison might accuse the Duke of Ji of misconduct and storm the residence early, seizing everything.”

He wasn’t overly concerned about other matters.

All he cared about now was one thing: silver!

The Duke of Ji’s silver!

Tang Yi nodded, “I have heard something about that.”

“Will I get nothing?”

The old Twelfth Prince gritted his teeth, “Wang Dahai wouldn’t dare! I won’t work in vain! I was the one who reported the Duke of Ji!”

“Your Highness worries too much,” Tang Yi smiled, “Prince of Yong’an, worry not. The state has its laws, households have their rules. I may not know this commander in Ji Prefecture, but given your strict military discipline, he won’t act rashly. Unless Wang Dahai intends rebellion, he won’t enter the Duke’s residence. He will wait for the Dali Court. Besides, I hear the army’s funds are tight, causing He Jixiang concern. Unless the garrison is foolish, they won’t just watch so much silver pass by.”

The old Twelfth Prince frowned, “Grandfather, your words confuse me even more. I’m feeling a bit muddled.”

Tang Yi smiled, “Nothing to be confused about. The confiscation is handled by you and the Dali Court. How much silver is taken, however, is not for you to decide.”

The old Twelfth Prince said, “As long as I confiscate it, Wang Dahai need not even think about it!”

Tang Yi shook his head, “Your Highness, offending a regional commander over a bit of silver is unwise.”

“That is true,” the Prince of Yong’an frowned, pondering, “If Wang Dahai dares to withhold the silver, he can’t hide it from my Ninth Royal Brother. If my Ninth Royal Brother doesn’t care, why should I? Eat lightly, worry heavily! Fine, I understand. I’ll let the Dali Court and garrison handle the confiscation. Whatever they report is what I’ll accept. No interference from me.”

Tang Yi smiled, “Your Highness is wise. Couldn’t be better.”

Just then, thunder roared outside.

The little girl eating cake was frightened and began crying helplessly.

“What’s wrong?”

The old Twelfth Prince immediately scooped her up, “Father is here. Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

The more he comforted her, the harder she cried, covering his face and shoulders with tears and snot.

Yet he was not annoyed, continuing to soothe her.

Lai Kuan watched in astonishment.

Only before the Prince of Yong’an did he show such patience!

When had he ever been so patient with others?

Well, the princess wasn’t exactly “others,” was she? She was his own flesh and blood!

Tang Yi, pleased, stroked his beard, telling Lai Kuan, “Take her to her mother. She’s been with her all along and will know how to soothe her better than we can.”

“Yes, yes,” the Prince of Yong’an quickly handed over the girl, giving no chance for refusal, “Take her quickly. Don’t let her ruin her voice crying!”

“Yes!”

Lai Kuan complied and took the girl to the back garden.

After the thunder, heavy rain suddenly fell, making the oil lamp wicks sway in the wind.

The Prince of Yong’an, watching the downpour, asked without turning, “Grandfather, I heard you are brothers with Tang Que and Tang Xun?”

He was nearly stunned upon hearing this!

Tang Xun was the consort princess’s husband.

Tang Que was the head of the Batang Sect!

And the Batang Sect was the outer gate of the Jizhao Temple!

If his grandfather was brothers with Tang Que and Tang Xun, then the Tang family’s strength was formidable!

Why had he never known this? Moreover, by relation, he should have been closest to the Batang Sect. Why did no one help him?

Instead, it was the unrelated Princes of Yong and Pingchuan!

Tang Yi paused, then said, “So Your Highness already knows.”

“If Pei Qun hadn’t told me, you wouldn’t have either?”

The old Twelfth Prince said angrily.

Tang Yi laughed, “No hiding, Your Highness. Tang Xun and I are full brothers; Tang Que is my cousin.”

“Then you—”

Even with Tang Yi’s admission, the old Twelfth Prince found it hard to believe!

Tang Que and Tang Xun were illustrious; Tang Yi was just a ninth-rank minor official!

“Your Highness is unaware,” Tang Yi suddenly became serious, “The Tang family has held Chuan Prefecture for generations. No matter how many branches and leaves, the root is one—the famous Batang Sect. The Batang Sect has a rule: if you don’t reach third rank by sixteen, you are expelled. At fifteen, I had not yet mastered Qi, discouraged, and left before being forced out. I devoted myself to studying the classics. As the saying goes, the world’s talent totals one stone; Qi Yong and Xie Zan each had eight dou, Tang Yi one dou. From ancient times to present, we share this one dou.”

“So this is the origin of the phrase ‘talent surpassing eight dou,’” Hearing this, the old Twelfth Prince felt deep respect for Tang Yi, “Grandfather, your talent is extraordinary.”

“These are just exaggerations,” Tang Yi sighed. “Compared to my full brother Tang Xun, a master of both civil and martial arts, I am lacking.”

The old Twelfth Prince glanced around, then whispered, “I heard it was Father who killed the consort princess’s husband. He bore a grudge against Tang Xun.”

“Your father? Could he really?”

Tang Yi snorted, “No matter what, Tang Xun is of the Batang Sect. Your father didn’t have the courage.”

“Then—”

The old Twelfth Prince was increasingly confused.

Tang Yi snorted, “It was Jizhao Temple and Tang Que who killed the consort princess’s husband. The Emperor knows, the consort princess knows, Wen Zhaoyi knows.”

“Ah—”

The old Twelfth Prince was stunned.

After a while, he asked, “Why did Tang Que kill the husband?”

Tang Yi said, “The sect has only one leader. The capable take the position, even against full brothers. Tang Que’s mother was the head of Jizhao Temple, Jingkuan. She gave Tang Xun no chance and killed him outright. My greatest wish is to kill Jingkuan to avenge my brother!”

“Grandfather—”

The old Twelfth Prince clearly saw bloodshot eyes in Tang Yi’s cloudy gaze.

Tang Yi’s aura spread, and the temperature around them dropped, a chilling cold that made one shiver.

He realized Tang Yi was more than just a third-rank official!

Tang Yi continued, “I have enmity with both Batang Sect and Jizhao Temple!”

“Grandfather, there’s no need for modesty. You must be skilled in both civil and martial arts as well,” the old Twelfth Prince carefully asked, “What is your official rank?”

“Rank?”

Tang Yi laughed heartily, “You actually ask my rank? Ten years ago, I reached the peak of ninth rank!”

“I see!”

The old Twelfth Prince finally understood.

No wonder his grandfather had the courage to pursue Qi Yong!

It wasn’t just courage; it was real skill!

Tang Yi leaned back in his chair, “Until Jingkuan dies, I will not rest in peace!”

…

Watching his grandfather’s tears well up, the old Twelfth Prince didn’t know how to comfort him.