IDWBE -Chapter 525 Facing Each Other Honestly

While sighing to himself, Zhu Rourong suddenly spotted Fang Pi cooling himself under the locust tree at the entrance. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over.

“Brother Fang!”

“Don’t!” Fang Pi waved his hand. “There’s too big an age gap between us. I can’t be your ‘brother.’”

The smile on Zhu Rourong’s face froze instantly.

Then how should he address him?

You’re the dignified Commander of the Imperial Guards. Should I call you nephew? Or grand-nephew?

Grandson?

He glanced at Zhou Jing and Shan Sanguan standing beside Fang Pi. If he really said that, he would definitely get beaten today.

“You have to save me,” Zhu Rourong sighed. “I truly can’t go on living like this.”

Fang Pi grinned mischievously. “What could I possibly do for you?”

Zhu Rourong nodded frantically. “If it’s convenient… if there’s any spare space in the Imperial Guards’ compound, I’d like to—”

“Not convenient,” Fang Pi interrupted immediately. “Do you even know what kind of place the Imperial Guards’ headquarters is? You think you can just walk in whenever you want? Although… if you really want to go in, it’s not impossible to arrange.”

Hearing that, Zhu Rourong stepped forward and cupped his fists.

“Whatever method there is, just say it. I’ll listen to your arrangements.”

“That would be our Imperial Guards prison,” Shan Sanguan said with a grin. “Brother, I can arrange it perfectly for you. Food, drink, lodging—all included. And your wife definitely won’t be able to break in.”

“Ah!”

Zhu Rourong exploded in anger.

“I’m talking seriously! Stop joking with me!”

Zhou Jing said, “You’re the one joking first! The Imperial Guards headquarters is a heavily guarded place. Even we have to pass three checkpoints, show our waist tokens twice, and get searched before entering. If you want to go in, the prison is your only option.”

“Forget it. I’ll think of something myself.”

Zhu Rourong felt utterly helpless.

Though he had money, in terms of status he wasn’t even comparable to Shan Sanguan or Zhou Jing—let alone Fang Pi.

Even if they mocked him or beat him, he could only accept it.

He had no choice.

Because he had no power, no official rank to protect him.

If he had an official title, even his wife wouldn’t dare order him around like this.

Not to mention taking one concubine—he could take ten, and she wouldn’t dare say a word.

Looking at the three men laughing freely in front of him, Zhu Rourong clenched his fists.

He felt extremely humiliated.

Never before had he desired power as strongly as he did at this moment.

He wanted to become an official.

He wanted to rise above others.

He wanted no one to dare look down on him again.

“Hey, are you alright?”

Seeing Zhu Rourong’s increasingly twisted expression, Fang Pi waved a hand in front of his face.

“You’d better run. Your wife will be here soon.”

“Ah!”

Hearing that, Zhu Rourong immediately ran off on tiptoe.

---

The blazing sun filtered through the dense leaves, scattering patches of light across Lin Yi’s face.

Lying in the grass, Lin Yi occasionally opened one eye to glance at the fishing float beside him.

Sighing, he said, “Did you even prepare bait? Why hasn’t there been any movement yet?”

Jiang Chou answered bitterly, “Your Highness, I wouldn’t dare deceive you. I scattered nearly a pound of bait.”

“Idiot,” Lin Yi said lazily. “Why so much? You’ve probably fed the fish full already. No wonder they’re not biting.”

Jiang Chou secretly cursed Su Yin.

After eating the roasted rabbit earlier, that bastard had thrown the inedible organs, skin, and fur straight into the pond.

Otherwise the fish wouldn’t be so full.

“Your Highness, there’s shade over there too. Shall we move somewhere else to fish?”

He even wondered if he should dive underwater and secretly hook a fish onto the prince’s line.

After all, the guards had done such things before.

“No need,” Lin Yi yawned. “Fishing requires patience. Let’s see who can outlast whom.”

“Your Highness is right.”

Though he said that, Jiang Chou inwardly disagreed.

If the prince truly had patience, why would he ask at all?

Seeing Lin Yi close his eyes again, he quietly retreated.

Lin Yi unknowingly fell asleep.

When he woke up, he found a blanket covering him and a faint fragrance nearby.

Turning his head, he saw Du Yinniang sitting beside him with a gentle smile.

“Finished seeing the patients?”

Taking the tea she handed him, Lin Yi gulped it down in one breath.

Du Yinniang smiled. “At first I answered patiently, but later I mostly dealt with them perfunctorily. I’d prescribe a folk remedy and let them handle it themselves. Only for seriously ill children did I give careful instructions. Once the line ended, I slipped away quickly. If more people came, I really couldn’t endure it. In the past two days I’ve seen more patients than I did in several years combined.”

Lin Yi said, “A healer has the heart of a parent. The capable must bear more work.”

Du Yinniang sighed. “Your Highness, you know as well as I do—this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. And without medicine, I can’t really help much. The more suffering people I see, the worse I feel. So sometimes it’s better not to see. When we return, I’ll ask my master and grandmaster to set up a proper plan so we can help more people.”

Lin Yi nodded approvingly.

“Not bad. You’re thinking about the bigger picture now.”

Du Yinniang picked up a plate beside her and smiled.

“Would you like some pastries?”

Lin Yi looked at the setting sun sinking behind the mountains in disbelief.

“I slept that long?”

Du Yinniang nodded with a smile.

“Well then, no more delays,” Lin Yi said, standing up and brushing grass from his clothes.

After flicking away two ants fighting on his arm and stretching lazily, he said:

“Let’s move. Head southwest and try to reach a large town before night.”

These past days he hadn’t slept well at all.

He lay in the carriage.

The black donkey circled around it, occasionally provoking the two tall horses.

Still unhappy after being kicked by Lin Yi earlier, it brayed harshly from time to time.

Lin Yi cursed at it.

“You shameless thing. When I treated you like treasure, you ignored me. Now that I don’t care about you, you come over to annoy me. What’s your problem?”

Everyone tried hard to suppress their laughter.

After all, he was the Regent of Liang.

Arguing with an animal like that—if word got out, people would laugh.

Just before nightfall, Jiang Chou galloped over and said to Hong Ying: “Chief Steward, the nearest large city is Port City, more than ten li away. We probably can’t reach it in time. Should we rest here tonight and leave tomorrow?”

Hong Ying said coldly: “Are your ears deaf? The prince said he must sleep on a proper bed tonight. This place is wilderness—there’s nowhere to stay. Pass down the order. Increase the pace.”

“Yes!”

Jiang Chou didn’t even have time to wipe the sweat from his forehead before turning his horse and racing off.

Night fell completely.

The torches carried by the group formed a long fiery dragon winding along the rugged mountain road.

Lin Yi ate some raisins and fruit in the carriage. The bumpy ride made his head spin, and he soon fell asleep again.

When he woke up, they had already arrived at an inn.

The streets were bustling with people.

Inside the inn was also lively and noisy—completely different from the desolate towns he had seen earlier.

Lin Yi walked in, sat at a random table, and said, “Just prepare some simple food and wine. We’ll make do tonight.”

“Yes.”

Su Yin answered. After saying a few words to the innkeeper at the counter with Jiang Chou, he tossed out a silver ingot.

The innkeeper first looked at Jiang Chou’s fierce appearance and the large blade at his waist, then smiled nervously and invited them into the kitchen.

Soon he watched in amazement as people carried large chests in and out.

He wondered which noble young master was traveling here—so extravagant.

Glancing at the luxurious carriage outside, he whispered something to a waiter and sent him to fetch the owner.

Better safe than offend some powerful noble.

After everything from the carriage was unloaded, Jiang Chou said to the coachmen:

“Find a freight depot, feed the animals well, and rest for the night.”

Though the inn had fodder, the backyard was too small to accommodate so many animals.

“After so many days on the road, we finally see a proper city,” Lin Yi said, leaning back in his chair while sipping tea. “Those earlier places made me want to cry.”

Du Yinniang said softly, “Your Highness’s compassion is a blessing for the people.”

Just as Lin Yi was about to reply, he heard the rhythmic clacking of wooden clappers.

A beggar stood by the doorway, tapping bamboo clappers and chanting:

“These few days I didn’t come,
The big boss got rich.
You get rich, I get lucky—
You eat meat, I drink soup…”

The innkeeper waved to a waiter.

The waiter rushed out.

“Move along! Don’t block our business!”

The beggar ignored him and continued chanting:

“If you want me gone, stretch out a generous hand—
One or two coins won’t be too little,
Give too much and I won’t take it.”

After welcoming a guest inside, the waiter grew more impatient.

“Go away now, or don’t blame me for being rude!”

The beggar kept smiling and chanting:

“You wicked waiter—
You mix water into the liquor,
Sell moldy food,
Buy with big scales and sell with small ones—
How bad you are!

“If you won’t give me money,
Keep it to buy medicine later!”

The customers burst into laughter.

Though the innkeeper had seen such scenes before, his face still turned pale with anger.

Just as he stepped out to scold the beggar, a familiar voice said:

“Give it to him.”

“Boss!”

The innkeeper hurried to the plump man who had appeared at the door. He tossed a few coins to the beggar.

“Our boss is generous. Take it and go.”

The beggar pouted and continued tapping his clappers.

“Three or four coins—what’s that?
Kind deeds bring fortune everywhere…”

“Didn’t you say one or two was enough earlier?” the innkeeper snapped.

The beggar opened his mouth to continue when the boss said:

“Give him more.”

The beggar took four more coins and kept chanting.

“You are truly generous—”

“Don’t praise me yet,” the boss said with a smile.

“Giving you money doesn’t mean I’m generous. According to Liang law, what you’re doing counts as disturbing public order and extortion, doesn’t it?”

“Boss, exactly!” the innkeeper quickly agreed.

The boss sneered. “You dare cause trouble at my door without even asking who I am? What are you waiting for? Report him to the authorities! And hire a lawyer. No matter how much it costs, I’ll make him experience labor reform.”

Two waiters immediately tackled the beggar who tried to run.

The atmosphere in the inn became even livelier.

Lin Yi squinted and looked carefully at the fat owner.

When the man approached, he casually asked, “Have we met somewhere?”

The owner cupped his hands.

“Honored guest, you may have forgotten. We once had a pleasant conversation in Ankang City.”

“Oh!” Lin Yi slapped his thigh.

“I remember now. Jin Buhuan!”

He remembered that name very clearly.

Once he had even liked this fat man and considered sending him to the palace as an amusing eunuch.

Unfortunately, the next day he had exhausted himself wandering the hills at home. His already weak body worsened, forcing him to stay home for several days.

After that, he completely forgot about the man.

Besides, constantly thinking about another man would be rather strange.

He hadn’t expected to meet him again here.

Jin Buhuan cupped his hands.

“That’s right—me.”

Lin Yi smiled.

“This big inn is yours too?”

Jin Buhuan sat beside him.

“That’s right. Since Brother Lin has come to Port City, everything tonight is on me. As you once said—I’m not short of money. Eat, drink, and enjoy as much as you like.”

“Not short of money?”

Lin Yi laughed.

“I like the sound of that.”

The innkeeper whispered something to Jin Buhuan, who looked at Lin Yi in surprise.

“You’re quite extravagant, Brother—bringing your own chef on your travels.”

Lin Yi smiled. “I’m not used to other people’s cooking.”

Jin Buhuan nodded. “The kitchen is yours then. Treat it like your own home.”

Soon Su Yin brought out the dishes he had prepared.

Lin Yi invited Jin Buhuan to join them. Jin Buhuan didn’t refuse.

After only a few bites, his eyes widened in shock. “No wonder you say you can’t get used to outside cooking. Compared to this, what I’ve been eating is basically pig feed!”

Lin Yi was extremely tired from traveling.

After drinking a little wine and chatting briefly, he went upstairs.

He lay back in a bathtub filled with hot water, arms resting on the wooden rim, eyes closed.

Du Yinniang stood hesitating at the door.

Hong Ying’s words still echoed in her mind: “This dual cultivation method is enough to enter the ninth rank.”

At first she had wanted to ask why the Prince’s Consort wasn’t practicing it.

Then she realized—

No matter how arrogant Hong Ying was, he wouldn’t dare force the princess to practice such a “dual cultivation” technique.

After hesitating for a long time…

She finally pushed the door open.

Lin Yi allowed the soft hands to massage his shoulders.

After all, between people…it was better to meet each other honestly and openly.