IDWBE -Chapter 423 My Pride

Mingyue pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling utterly helpless.

She had grown up by the Prince’s side, practically accompanying him through his childhood.

And because she had read his novels thoroughly, she understood his thoughts better than most.

She was already accustomed to the Prince’s frequent, astonishing behavior.

But at this moment, seeing the scenes he was writing down, she was still shocked.

She realized she was understanding her Prince less and less.

After all, he was a member of the royal family. Not only did he refuse to teach ordinary people to “accept their fate,” he was now writing poems and passages that clearly encouraged people to defy heaven and change their destiny!

Was this appropriate?

Moreover, he already controlled the imperial court of the Liang Kingdom!

Writing this way was practically inciting the commoners to rebel against him!

It was truly baffling.

Her eyes remained fixed on the carbon-ink characters on the pristine white paper. When she saw the line, “Life and death are destined, wealth and honor are in heaven,” she exclaimed, “Your Highness…”

Lin Yi ignored her. Once he finished the final paragraph, he stretched lazily and said casually, “A ruler is like a boat; the common people are like water. Water can carry the boat, but water can also capsize it. There’s nothing that can’t be written, nothing that can’t be read. Those who deny problems or avoid cures always meet tragic ends.”

Mingyue immediately understood his meaning and forced a smile, “Your Highness, I understand.”

“You still don’t understand,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “If you truly understood, you wouldn’t have said those things. You only think you understand. I am not pretentious or deceitful; I speak the truth. Rise and fall, governance and chaos—they cycle endlessly. History has never had eternal reigns, let alone everlasting dynasties. Once the people are dissatisfied, a dynasty changing hands is perfectly normal.”

Mingyue hesitated, no longer arguing, and quietly said, “Your Highness is right.”

Lin Yi yawned, “These days, everyone lives the same life, but their thoughts are different. Only very few truly think things through. Xie Zan and He Jixiang are the same—they think I’m on the first level, but I’m actually in the atmosphere. I’m not that foolish.”

“Atmosphere?”

Mingyue paused, then remembered the “geography” lessons Lin Yi had given them—about the troposphere, stratosphere, and even the absurd “the Earth is round” theory.

Even if they didn’t believe it, they carefully noted it down because the Prince said so.

“That’s right,” Lin Yi teased. “They can’t figure me out.”

He tossed the carbon pen onto the table and placed his graceful hands on his forehead.

Mingyue said, “Your Highness, the Princess Consort is about to give birth these days. Aunt Jin Mei has passed away, and the Consort hasn’t sent an experienced maid into the residence. This isn’t proper.”

“Proper?”

Lin Yi closed his eyes slightly, speaking lightly, “Rules are made by me. If I say something is proper, it’s proper. If I say it isn’t, it isn’t. Why worry so much? Right now, I’m thinking about what name we should give the child when it’s born.”

Although uneducated and with limited cultural knowledge, as the father, he would not allow anyone else to name his child.

“No one else, under any circumstances.”

“Your Highness,” Zixia smiled, covering her mouth, “so what name do you plan for the heir?”

“How are you so sure it’s a boy?”

Lin Yi shook his head. “It might be a girl.”

“The old saying goes, ‘Sour for a son, spicy for a daughter.’ The Princess Consort has craved sour foods since she became pregnant—it must be a little prince. I won’t be wrong,” Zixia said calmly, though internally astonished.

What if the Princess Consort has a daughter? Many would think about it, but no one dared to say it out loud.

The Liang Kingdom needed a male heir, Sanhe needed a male heir, and the Prince needed a male heir!
If it turned out to be a daughter, the consequences would be unimaginable. Hearing Lin Yi speak so directly left her momentarily stunned.

“You all want me to have a son,” Lin Yi said with a bitter smile, “but you must understand, whether it’s a boy or a girl isn’t determined by anyone’s will. Even my emperor father, whose words carry absolute weight, can’t guarantee a son. It might really be a daughter. But even if it is, it doesn’t matter—son or daughter, it’s still my Lin Yi’s child.”

Zixia smiled wryly, “Your Highness, Lord He Jixiang believes that once you have an heir, people’s hearts will be secure.”

“I’m not even thirty,” Lin Yi snorted coldly. “And they care so much about my offspring? Are they wishing for my death or what? Even if I die, so what? Who says only men can be emperor? Women can be empress too.”

“An empress.” Mingyue and Zixia exchanged shocked glances. The thought of a female emperor was something they wouldn’t dare imagine!

“Don’t act so surprised. You’ve grown up with me and should know me best,” Lin Yi yawned as he spoke. “I never lie to you.”

The future of the Liang Kingdom’s throne was unpredictable.

His greatest hope was that in his lifetime, the kingdom could gradually move into early capitalism.

The feudal aristocracy, represented by “him,” hindered productive development.

Once the capital grows sufficiently, it will seek to interfere.

While he lived, no one dared harm him. But if he died, and his heir was incapable, the family could be sacrificed for capitalism—heads on the chopping block, neat and orderly.

Sometimes he wanted to decide not to be emperor, and his descendants too, to reform their own fates first.

“I acknowledge my guilt,” the two women said in unison.

Lin Yi continued, “If I ever change in temperament, you have nothing to fear. You’re peak ninth-rank—you might not win against me, but you could escape.”

Mingyue continued massaging Lin Yi’s forehead rhythmically, speaking casually, “If Your Highness ever wanted me dead, I’d deserve it and would not utter a complaint.”

In her heart, she mourned that if the Prince ordered their deaths, how could they dare disobey?

“No. I fear the day I become incompetent. People change unpredictably,” Lin Yi said calmly. “If I ever become the person you hate, just kill me.”

He spoke sincerely.

“We wouldn’t dare,” Mingyue and Zixia knelt, trembling.

Lin Yi waved his hand, “See? I didn’t really scare you. Am I unreasonable? Do you think having power makes me bloodthirsty? Speaking of power, let me tell you about my pride. If I order someone to die at the fifth watch, they won’t live to the sixth. That’s where my pride shows. Enough, stand up and keep working with your hands.”

“Yes.”

Mingyue stood, continuing to massage his forehead.

He put down the wine cup, drank some cool water, and said, “Sometimes, don’t overthink. The more you think, the more you worry. Even if she is a girl, she is my Lin Yi’s girl. Later, I must ask, who agrees and who opposes?”

“Your Highness is wise,” Mingyue said with a smile. “I’m sure everyone will understand you.”

Who would dare oppose?

In Sanhe, in Jiangnan, now in the Liang Kingdom—Lin Yi was heaven and earth!

His words were imperial edicts!

No one could defy them!

“Yes, anyone who doesn’t understand me is deliberately opposing me,” Lin Yi said decisively. “To oppose me is to oppose the royal family, and to oppose the royal family is to oppose the Liang Kingdom. The crime is unforgivable.”

“I understand,” Mingyue said respectfully.

Lin Yi sipped his wine, sighing, “This world is becoming increasingly complex, too complicated for anyone to explain.”

He picked up his pen and continued writing until dawn.

The rooster crowed.

“I thought I’d write at least ten thousand words, but it’s only 4,700,” Lin Yi muttered, dissatisfied with the update.

“Your Highness, that’s already a lot,” Mingyue said as she and Zixia helped him tidy the manuscripts. “You must be tired. Rest first.”

Lin Yi said, “I’ve always written novels for you people around me, never for publication. This book will be 4,000 words a day. In half a month, it will be finished, then the bookstore can print and sell it. I might earn some royalties.”

Printing millions of words would be a huge problem.

With current printing methods, it would fill a whole room.

Even writing a hundred thousand words, he worried people couldn’t afford the printed copies—five or six thick volumes!

Mingyue hesitated and asked carefully, “Your Highness, should we use your name?”

She feared he might foolishly use his own name for this unpublishable Super Son-in-Law, inviting mockery from the world.

“Of course not,” Lin Yi laughed. “Use ‘Mr. Bai Meng’.”

Profit was not his concern.

His real goal was that the court could use his book as a reference, and literary work in the Liang Kingdom could flourish.

Especially novels.

He wanted writers to boldly and freely write—without fear.

No allegories, taboos, or nihilism!

Thinking this, he considered adding publishing laws to the Liang Code, so literature wouldn’t be constrained.

Mingyue wanted to speak further but saw the Prince already asleep in bed.

The snoring was loud.

Jinglan Palace.

Early in the morning, Consort Yuan awoke.

After a maid washed her hair, she said casually, “Where is everyone? Dead and gone?”

“Your Highness, I am here,” Xiao Xizi quickly stepped forward, kneeling. “Please instruct me.”

Consort Yuan removed the jade hairpin from her hair, holding it as she turned to the slouching Xiao Xizi, smiling, “I heard Xie Zan entered Ankang City?”

Xiao Xizi was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly replied, “Your Highness, Minister Xie has been in Ankang City for some time. Now he has led the army to Jizhou. No news yet—it will be at least ten days to half a month before he returns.”

Consort Yuan smiled, “Ten days or half a month? Do you take me for a fool? Jizhou isn’t too far, but it’s not close. Even if Xie Zan had wings, he couldn’t return so quickly.”

Xiao Xizi was unsure of the meaning behind her words and said cautiously, “Your servant is foolish. Please forgive me.”

“You admit your guilt?”

Consort Yuan snorted, then slowly stood, letting two maids hold her long skirt as she paced along the red-carpeted floor.

“Please instruct me. I am willing to die a thousand times,” Xiao Xizi lowered his head further.

“Die?”

Consort Yuan scoffed, “You treasure your life so much, how could you dare die?”

“Your Highness…”

For a moment, Xiao Xizi didn’t know what to say. He felt something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint it.

Consort Yuan continued, “If nothing goes wrong, the Princess Consort will give birth in the next two days?”

Xiao Xizi smiled, “It’s Your Highness’s concern. The imperial physicians say it will be in the next two days. Minister Hu Shilu has brought doctors and the best midwives from Ankang City to be on standby.”

These matters were beyond his jurisdiction, so he spoke lightly.

“Has your master returned?”

Consort Yuan suddenly asked.

“Your Highness, my master hasn’t returned yet.”

Consort Yuan’s sudden concern for her master, Hong Ying, left Xiao Xizi a bit flustered.

“Your master is always inseparable from your Prince. How come he’s nowhere to be seen now? Like a wandering ghost, drifting around, impossible to track,” she said slowly.

Xiao Xizi thought for a moment, “Your Highness, now that Monk Jihai and Blind King Dong’s skills have improved, my master trusts them with the residence’s affairs while he travels the world.”

He had served Consort Yuan since childhood and thought he knew her well, but now her behavior and attitude puzzled him more than ever.

“I see,” Consort Yuan sat on the couch again, taking a sip of tea, “Ah, the older we get, the more worries we have. Last night, I even dreamed of the Eldest Princess. Strange, isn’t it?”

The Eldest Princess? Consort Yuan mentioning her confused Xiao Xizi even more.

After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, “Your Highness, barring accidents, the Eldest Princess should return in a few days.”

Consort Yuan continued, “I haven’t seen Liu Chaoyuan for a while either. Where did that dog go?”

Xiao Xizi said, “Some days ago, Eunuch Liu made a mistake, so the Emperor ordered him to reflect in private.”

He dared not say Liu Chaoyuan had already escaped the palace.

Whether Consort Yuan knew or not, this information must not come from him.