IDWBE -Chapter 488 Limitations

In the end, it’s always the biggest fists that make the rules!

Whether it’s Prince Yong or the eldest princess, they will all be trapped under his iron curtain.

“Your wisdom is unmatched, my lord.” Hong Ying noticed Lin Yi closing his eyes and gave Zixia a subtle glance. Once Zixia covered Lin Yi with a blanket, Hong Ying quietly withdrew.

The Wangfu had always been sparsely staffed, so there was little life to it. Now that Hong Ying had returned, instead of liveliness, a more ominous, tense atmosphere settled over the mansion.

Hong Ying had just returned from afar and would probably begin reorganizing the Wangfu. At such times, everyone felt on edge—who would dare act carelessly?

His methods were well known: killing someone was no different from slaughtering a chick.

Even Lin Yi sensed the subtle change.

Since Mingyue’s pregnancy, Zixia had somehow been affected. Poor thing, her body couldn’t handle it, but as a man, he couldn’t admit his own weakness!

Besides, a young woman being so proactive—it would be disrespectful to embarrass her.

But after Hong Ying returned, everything changed.

In bed, Zixia no longer dared to take initiative; even touching him was cautious.

“Xiao Yingzi!”

Lin Yi was not dull—he immediately understood why.

“My lord.”

Before Lin Yi could continue, Hong Ying appeared at the bedside, hands lowered, standing respectfully.

“How did you get in?”

Lin Yi looked at the still-closed door.

“Ah…”

Hong Ying didn’t immediately catch the meaning, smiling obediently: “My lord, I’ve always served in your chamber.”

Wasn’t that how it had always been?

“Hm?”

Lin Yi suddenly realized, frowning: “Even on the day of my wedding with the princess, you were in the room?”

“My lord.”

Hong Ying tacitly admitted it. He didn’t understand why his lord was upset.

A temple servant serving the master—where else would they be?

“Ah…”

Lin Yi saw that it was even harder to lose his temper now.

Even his father, Emperor Delong, would broadcast things live when handling affairs!
But he couldn’t do that—he didn’t have such thick skin!
He couldn’t act as though it were normal!

If you’re grunting or whispering sweet words, and a crowd is watching—how would you feel?

“I know my mistake.”

Smart as Hong Ying was, he didn’t even know what the mistake was!

But seeing his lord’s attitude, he knew for sure he had done wrong.

Whatever the mistake, better admit it first.

“You…” Lin Yi waved impatiently: “It’s freezing, there’s no need for you to serve. Zixia will suffice. Go back and rest.”

“My lord.”

Hong Ying suddenly panicked!

The lord refusing him at bedtime—this had never happened before.

“Leave,” Lin Yi held back his temper: “Everyone else has left. You know me best—I like quiet when I sleep!”

He didn’t want all those people overhearing him.

“Don’t worry, my lord,” Hong Ying patted his chest: “They’re all ninth-rank or above, masters of lightness skills. They move without a sound and will not disturb you, my lord. You can rest assured.”

“Assured? How could I be assured?”

Lin Yi felt even less assured!
Your lightness skills are so good I don’t even know when someone is around.

Seeing Hong Ying silent, Lin Yi continued: “Enough, no more nonsense. Do as I command.”

“Yes.”

Hong Ying dared not speak further, obediently opened the door, and left.

Once the main door was firmly closed, Lin Yi looked at Zixia, wrapped in silk: “Look carefully—are we really alone?”

Zixia whispered: “Your lordship, the chief steward is loyal to you and would never deceive you. Even the garden guards have left.”

Listening carefully, the hundred meters around were empty.

Chief Steward Hong truly was a man whose word carried absolute authority!

“Good,” Lin Yi nodded: “I never expected they would be peeking at me, listening at my wall corners.”

“….”

Zixia, dealing with Hong Ying, couldn’t agree out loud. She massaged Lin Yi’s shoulders and said softly: “My lord, are you tired? Perhaps you should sleep.”

Lin Yi lay back in her soft embrace, yawning: “The long night is truly sleepless.”

Zixia smiled: “If your lordship doesn’t mind my chatter, I’ll keep you company.”

“This little Yingzi is hiding something from me,” Lin Yi smiled: “He went all the way to the Western Wasteland and came back, giving me just a few words. Something feels off.”

Zixia pondered: “The chief steward went to the Western Wasteland mainly to gather news about the Star-sinking Sea. That Yin-Yang Eight Wasteland skill is quite sinister. But, in any case, they’re just minor martial sects—they can’t escape your grasp. The chief steward simply didn’t want to muddy your ears with these trivial matters.”

“I accept that explanation,” Lin Yi said casually: “After all, these are just minor martial factions. A little skill, some spare money—at most they’re local powers. Their nature and organizational structure prevent them from achieving greatness, or they wouldn’t need to hide and play these secretive tricks.”

“You are indeed wise, my lord,” Zixia smiled: “I remember you saying, whether it’s landlords or martial sects, they have inherent limitations. Narrow-minded, lacking ambition, no adventurous spirit, exploit others, pursue pleasure, and control thoughts to maintain power—they will never achieve greatness.”

“If you took the civil service exam, it would be hard not to come first,” Lin Yi glanced at Zixia under the dim lamp, amazed she remembered his casual words so well: “Such a pity they are born in the wrong time.”

“My lord,” Zixia giggled: “How is it wrong timing? With you governing Daliang, the rivers run clear and the people prosper. Even women can now take the civil service exam—it’s thanks to you. If I weren’t serving you, I’d want to try it too, see how it feels to win as an official.”

“That’s right,” Lin Yi suddenly had an idea: “You could take the civil service exam as well.”

He was now implementing gender equality in Daliang: men and women studied together, sat together, and women like Hong An, Zhou Xun, Cao Xiaohuan, and Jiang Zhen were emerging as outstanding officials in Ankang City.

Many men avoided them as a cat avoids a mouse.

But no matter how much he tried, even posting slogans like “women hold half the sky” couldn’t change the low status of women.

In such a feudal society, women were property, assets. The Liang law couldn’t stop private transactions.

Sometimes he reflected—it was because he hadn’t done enough.

So, ignoring opposition, he allowed women to participate equally in the civil service exams.