IDWBE -Chapter 526 The Richest Man

But those delicate, obviously inexperienced fingers only dared to wander and slide around his shoulders.

Lin Yi lay in the bathtub, silently counting the time as he waited. Gradually, he grew a little impatient.

I gave you the chance, and you still can’t handle it?

He turned his head and looked at Du Yinniang, whose body was covered in fragrant sweat from the rising steam. Unable to hold back, he said,

“You must be tired from kneading my shoulders. And you look pretty dirty yourself. Want to bathe together?”

Du Yinniang froze for a moment.

Although she had already prepared herself to devote her body to Prince He, everything was happening so suddenly—and in such a small roadside inn. Deep down, she felt somewhat unwilling.

After all, the Nie family had once been a prestigious noble clan.

Even now, roaming across the seas, few people dared to underestimate them.

But when she recalled Hong Ying’s words from earlier, she finally compromised and said brightly,

“Your Highness truly knows how to care for others.”

She raised her chin proudly and removed the clothes draped over her body.

“Ah—”

This time it was Lin Yi who was startled.

Facing such “danger” head-on truly shocked him.

Before he could say anything, Du Yinniang leaped directly into the water. Despite the already cramped bathtub, not a single splash was made.

Lin Yi gave a wicked smile.

On a narrow road, the brave wins.

Du Yinniang had spent years at sea and practiced martial arts. There was not a trace of excess flesh on her body. As she moved, her graceful figure swayed elegantly.

Lin Yi experienced a sensation he had never felt before.

After everything was finished, he simply lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Late at night he woke up thirsty. When he got up to drink water, he noticed Du Yinniang sitting cross-legged on the couch nearby, arms wrapped around herself, seemingly practicing martial arts.

He didn’t disturb her.

Just as he was about to go back to sleep, the door opened.

Hong Ying entered carrying a tray, smiling broadly.

“Your Highness, the journey has been tiring and you slept deeply. You must be hungry now. I prepared some pastries for you.”

Lin Yi casually grabbed a piece of red-bean cake and sighed.

“This is why I can’t live without you. I was just wondering whether I should eat something.”

Du Yinniang suddenly opened her eyes and cupped her fists.

“Your Highness. Chief Steward Hong.”

Lin Yi pointed to the tea and pastries on the table.

“You must be hungry too. Eat something.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Du Yinniang sat in front of him and began eating on her own.

Lin Yi waved at Hong Ying.

“You’re not needed here. Go get some rest yourself. We have to travel tomorrow.”

Hong Ying replied, “Jin Buhuan sent an invitation. Tomorrow he’s hosting a banquet at Spring Phoenix Pavilion. What does Your Highness think?”

Lin Yi laughed. “In Liang, the names of brothels really lack creativity. If it’s not Apricot Blossom then it’s Pear Blossom, or something like West Phoenix or East Phoenix. But that has one advantage—people immediately know what kind of place it is.”

A vulgar place should naturally have a vulgar name.

If the name is too elegant, people might check their wallets and be too scared to enter.

A name that fits the masses and reflects ordinary people’s reality—that’s a good name.

Hong Ying smiled. “A crude place like that probably has nothing special. Your Highness honoring them with your presence is already their fortune.”

“Not necessarily,” Lin Yi said while shaking his head.

“Every place has its own characteristics. One must not underestimate them. I must personally conduct a thorough inspection.”

Hong Ying chuckled.

“Your Highness personally examining the development of Liang’s entertainment industry truly is a blessing for the people.”

Du Yinniang finally couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

Like master, like servant.

They could even make visiting a brothel sound elegant and refined.

She was impressed.

“Go rest,” Lin Yi yawned. “It’s getting late.”

“Yes.”

Hong Ying withdrew and quietly closed the door.

Lin Yi looked curiously at Du Yinniang.

“You’re not usually this hardworking. Practicing martial arts at this hour?”

Du Yinniang smiled.

“I obtained a new inner-energy technique, so I can’t put it down. I want to master it as soon as possible.”

Lin Yi casually wrapped an arm around her soft waist and said with a smile, “Then keep working hard. As long as you work hard enough, I won’t have to. I’ll just lie down and win.”

“Lie down and win?”

Du Yinniang hesitated before asking, “Your Highness, do you know what technique I’m practicing?”

Lin Yi asked curiously, “What’s special about it?”

Du Yinniang said, “If I master it, Your Highness really can lie down and win.”

Now she was finally certain—the prince had no idea she was practicing a dual-cultivation technique.

She had always known Hong Ying was powerful in martial arts and extremely ruthless.

But when he taught her this so-called dual-cultivation method earlier today, she sensed an even stronger sinister aura.

Hong Ying had shamelessly said that their prince was precious, busy with national affairs, and couldn’t waste time on trivial things like martial arts.

So she should become the prince’s furnace.

How could such an evil martial art exist in the martial world?

She had seen a lot in her life, yet she had never even heard of such a thing.

Still, she agreed—half believing, half doubting.

Or rather, she was forced to agree.

Whether she believed it or not, she had no way to refuse at that moment.

If she refused, Hong Ying might not harm her out of respect for the prince.

But what about her father? Her uncles?

Who could guarantee they wouldn’t be implicated?

Facing such an unpredictable and moody eunuch, she didn’t dare gamble.

Yet after practicing this technique for just over an hour, she already felt a trace of inner energy.

If she weren’t already a martial arts expert, she would have thought she imagined it.

What kind of martial art could produce results so quickly?

“If lying down really means victory, that would be wonderful,” Lin Yi said while stretching.

“I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”

But how could someone else sleep peacefully beside his bed?

That night, he slept soundly.

When he woke up in the morning, he felt a faint warmth in his lower abdomen.

Did I upset my stomach?

But there were no other symptoms.

After breakfast, Jin Buhuan came to visit.

After chatting about random topics from all over the world, Lin Yi took the disguised Du Yinniang and wandered through the streets and alleys.

Although Port City had some dilapidated areas, it was completely different from the places he had previously seen.

Crowds everywhere.

Lively and bustling.

After nightfall, he went to Spring Phoenix Pavilion for the banquet.

The women were all beautiful, but comparison ruined everything.

After thinking of Du Yinniang, everyone else looked like cheap powder and rouge.

He quickly lost interest.

So he simply focused on drinking and chatting with Jin Buhuan.

“I really underestimated you,” Lin Yi said. “So you’re actually the richest man in Jizhou.”

“Not worthy, not worthy,” Jin Buhuan waved modestly.

“Pride leads to decline. I keep a low profile.”

Lin Yi rolled his eyes.

“I don’t see anything low-profile about you.”

Jin Buhuan shook his head.

“Brother Long, you don’t understand. Even though I’m so rich, I only have five concubines.”

“….”

Lin Yi stared at him.

“That’s already bragging.”

Jin Buhuan replied, “You’re mistaken. Many businessmen in Port City are poorer than me, yet they dare to marry ten or eight concubines!”

Lin Yi asked, “Then who has the most concubines here?”

“That would be the Prince of Haixi,” Jin Buhuan said immediately.

“How many wives does he have?”

“Twenty-one,” Jin Buhuan sighed. “And every one of them is stunning.”

“So many?” Lin Yi was surprised.

“Didn’t the court cancel stipends for the royal clan? How can they afford that?”

Jin Buhuan laughed.

“Families of wealth and nobility never rely on those small stipends. Which of them doesn’t own vast lands and countless servants?”

Lin Yi’s eyes lit up.

“So this Prince of Haixi must be very rich?”

“Of course,” Jin Buhuan said. “My Jin family owns many businesses in Port City, but we still can’t compare with the reputation of ‘Lin Half-City.’ Half the shops, restaurants, pawnshops, banks, and warehouses in this city belong to the Lin family.”

“Lin Half-City?” Lin Yi frowned.

He almost suspected that officials like Xie Zan and Tao Yingyi were blind.

Such a fat sheep, and they never sheared it—yet they cry poor in front of me every day.

Jin Buhuan nodded. “Although he lives extravagantly, he’s very smart. When General Shen Chu campaigned in the north, he donated 200,000 taels of silver. When the Liang court canceled royal stipends and introduced new land policies, he was the first to support them. In Jizhou, he was also the first to distribute land to the common people. He even burned their debt notes and donated ten schools to ten villages. Because he employs so many workers and servants, his businesses in Port City became a model for poverty relief. Last year he even received an Immunity Gold Token. Now no one dares to touch him.”

“Immunity Gold Token?” Lin Yi was stunned.

I never issued anything like that.

Jin Buhuan looked puzzled.

“You didn’t know?”

“Explain.”

“It’s the ‘Liang Empire Poverty Relief Model’ award,” Jin Buhuan said.

“As long as someone helps the government solve people’s livelihood problems and create jobs, they can receive this immunity token.”

Lin Yi suddenly understood.

It was just a rumor that had grown exaggerated.

Originally, he had created that award to encourage landlords to forgive peasants’ debts.

If they helped commoners and improved employment, their previous sins would be forgiven.

But as the story spread, it turned into an ‘immunity medal.’

Something once only granted to founding heroes could now be obtained by spending money—no wonder people rushed to get it.

“So nobody dares to trouble this Lin Half-City now?”

“Who would dare?” Jin Buhuan snorted. “Anyone who does would be accused of discouraging poverty-relief pioneers. If it reaches the court, they’ll be in serious trouble.”

Lin Yi slapped his thigh and pointed at him. “When you went to Ankang City earlier… you were trying to get one too, weren’t you?”

Jin Buhuan laughed. “My Jin family doesn’t evade taxes, doesn’t bully others, and has a good reputation. We donated 500,000 taels during the northern war and employ over a thousand workers. Do you think we qualify?”

“Did you get it?”

Jin Buhuan sighed.

“If it were that easy, would I still be so cautious? Otherwise I’d have married more than a dozen concubines already!”

Lin Yi gave him a thumbs-up.

“Ambitious.”

Jin Buhuan raised his cup.

“You flatter me.”

Lin Yi drank and continued asking, “So what kind of person is this Prince of Haixi?”

Jin Buhuan snorted. “Have you ever seen someone with good morals become an official and accumulate wealth?”

Lin Yi was stunned by the question.

After a moment he sighed. “Brother, you really are insightful.”

Looking across the Liang court…

Aside from himself, everyone else seemed morally questionable.

Officials like He Jixiang, Chen Desheng, and Xie Zan dreamed of destroying enemies with a smile.

Human lives were merely numbers to them.

Even his own guards were hardly good people.

And in the imperial harem, if palace maids displeased his mother even slightly, they would be beaten to death.

Sigh… no good people anywhere.

Even Mingyue and Zixia—those delicate beauties—dared to defy him.

“Enough talk,” Jin Buhuan said, raising his cup.

“Let me toast Brother Long again.”

Lin Yi finished an entire pot of wine.

After chatting a while longer, he refused to stay overnight and left.

That night.

With fragrant beauty in his arms.

Du Yinniang said worriedly, “Your Highness, everything should be done in moderation. You must take care of your health.”

Lin Yi glanced at her. “You mean I’m not capable?”

Du Yinniang covered her mouth and laughed. “Your Highness is in the prime of life—full of vitality.”

Lin Yi nodded. “Exactly. If a young man doesn’t work hard, he’ll regret it when he’s old.”

Du Yinniang stared blankly before realizing he was quoting poetry.

“You can use poetry like that?” she laughed. “Your Highness’s words are always enlightening.”

Lin Yi said, “A woman is like a flower—when it blooms, you should pluck it. Don’t wait until the flower is gone and break an empty branch.”

“Your Highness is right.”

Then he asked, “Sounds like you knew Jin Buhuan before?”

Du Yinniang sat up and began massaging his shoulders. “Your Highness, as Pan Duo probably told you—before the sea ban was lifted, the Jin family was already a famous maritime merchant house. Anyone trading across the seas had to give them some respect. Even my father relied on them for certain things.”

Lin Yi laughed. “Your father, that domineering pirate king, also gave them face?”

Du Yinniang replied, “Even if you’re invincible at sea, you still need food and supplies. Many necessities had to be purchased from the Jin family. And valuable goods often had to pass through their channels to be exchanged for silver. Since the sea ban was lifted, most merchants in Jizhou rent ships from the Jin family. They earn more silver every day than they can even count.”