IDWBE -Chapter 485 Lesson

After shouting out with a mix of excitement and anxiety, he felt his breathing growing heavier and heavier.

He was a Ninth-Rank master; even if all the blood in his body drained, he wouldn’t die.

But he would rather die than endure this kind of torment.

Kneeling alone in the empty expanse, receiving no response—it felt worse than death itself.

Was his master angry?
What was his expression now?
He wanted to know, but dared not lift his head.

He knew his master’s temper. Making a mistake was one thing—but if his attitude wasn’t correct, even if he survived, he’d lose layers of skin!

He was terrified.

He slammed his head harder against the ground, hoping the increasingly heavy thuds would catch his master’s attention.

Snow fell onto the surrounding snowdrifts, eventually soaking the area red with his blood.

A passing young eunuch, initially unaware of anything, saw this and was so frightened he dropped to his knees, head bowed, barely daring to breathe.

Just as Xiao Xizi’s heart was about to leap from his chest, he heard a long, calm sigh, followed by an emotionless command: “Enough.”

When his master said “enough,” it meant enough—an order with no room for negotiation.

His head, mid-air as it was about to hit the ground again, stopped abruptly, the momentum halted completely.

He trembled all over.

After a long moment of courage-gathering, he slowly raised his head to look at his master.

The face remained the same, cold as frost.

Yet, somehow, there was a subtle change he couldn’t quite describe.

“You’ve got some nerve.”

“Disciple knows his mistake,”

Xiao Xizi choked on his words. “Please, Master, punish me!”

He was just a eunuch, raised in the deep palace, living cautiously—what ill intent could he possibly have?

He only wished to stand out—what was wrong with that?

But he dared not talk back to his master.

Everything his master said was correct.

When the master said he was wrong, he had to stand at attention and accept the punishment.

“Hmph.”

“Master,” This cold snort sent Xiao Xizi into ecstatic relief. Seeing anger on his master’s face meant he was venting, so he still had hope. “You’ve returned to take charge of things—it’s wonderful. I, your ignorant disciple, am willing to serve by your side.”

“The Regent Lord is merciful and did not punish you,” Hong Ying said slowly. “You may continue your duties in the palace. We cannot overstep and punish you ourselves.”

He could manage palace affairs, but he shouldn’t—his hands could not reach too far, and at least, no one in the palace should see it.

He was merely one of the Regent Lord’s attendants, the steward of the mansion; as long as he managed the mansion’s affairs well, that was enough.

“Thank you, Master.”

Xiao Xizi sensed something was off.

Since when had his master been so agreeable?

Sure enough, his master continued, “But you are my disciple, so I must enforce the rules.”

“Ah!”

Before Xiao Xizi could react, a surge of energy wrapped him, sending him crashing straight toward a corridor pillar.

His screams echoed through the palace.

Waxbills, thrushes, and other birds in the imperial garden took flight in alarm.

Before noon, news spread throughout the court and city about Eunuch Xi’s sudden illness.

Lin Yi lay on the kang, watching the bruised and battered Xiao Xizi, unable to suppress a laugh. “Unlucky child—now have you learned your lesson?”

“Regent Lord,” Xiao Xizi wiped his tears. “Without beating, one cannot be shaped. Master does it for my own good.”

He was a Ninth-Rank master himself!
Minor wounds were nothing.
But it was his master doing the beating—Grandmaster Hong Ying!
Though restrained, anger still infused each strike.

He now suffered internal injuries.

Moreover, his master’s qi was unusually complex, making it impossible for him to heal himself with internal skills.

After many failed attempts, he gave up.

There was no hope to have his master heal him—he could only turn to the monk or the blind man for help.

“It truly was for your own good,” Lin Yi looked at expressionless Hong Ying, smiling. “No one owes you anything. Why the long face? You’ve finally returned—shouldn’t you be happy?”

“Regent Lord,” Hong Ying knelt, tears streaming. “I missed you so much!”

Xiao Xizi stared in disbelief.

One second, his master was untouchable; the next, he cried on command.

Indeed, it was his master—an actor through and through.

“All right,” Lin Yi looked at the tearful, panicked Hong Ying. “You’re back, that’s enough. No running off without my orders from now on.”

Hong Ying missed him—how could Lin Yi not miss him in return?
After years of service, he was used to his presence.
Suddenly losing it—it felt terrible.

“Regent Lord,” Hong Ying wiped his tears. “I thought of you constantly. Now that I see you, it feels like a dream.”

“You’re not dreaming. Now that you’re back, I’ll officially welcome you,” Lin Yi stood, helped him up, and called out, “Order the kitchen—Su Yin must give his all today. Prepare sixteen dishes. If Xiao Yingzi isn’t satisfied, it’s not over.”

“Yes.”

Jiao Zhong ran to the kitchen to deliver the orders.

“Thank you, Regent Lord,” Hong Ying rose without needing assistance, smiling. “Regent Lord, you’ve lost weight these days.”

“Have I? I always feel fatter. I’ve been dieting lately,” Lin Yi said happily. “Perhaps it’s working?”

As he aged, he worried about high blood pressure, sugar, and uric acid.

Nothing was life-threatening yet, but each could become fatal.

Thus, he was careful with his diet, eating more coarse grains like sweet potatoes.

“Your Highness is destined by Heaven,” Hong Ying agreed.

Xiao Xizi blushed listening to this.

When it came to shamelessness, he still had a long way to go.

He needed to learn from his master!

Recently, Lin Yi had grown so plump even the little princess cried when picked up.

Frightened?

Many guessed so, but none dared to speak.

“Ah,” Lin Yi patted his belly contentedly. “I’m also controlling my drinking now—moderate wine is enjoyable, but no excess. High uric acid can cause gout.”

Looking back, being in a wheelchair in his previous life wasn’t all bad—no feeling in the legs, no gout risk.

Gout pain is said to rival childbirth.

He had no desire for that kind of suffering.

Even more, what would have been considered a terminal illness in his previous life was now manageable.

Moderation in meat and wine was wise—indulging too much would be sheer torment.