IDWBE -Chapter 527 Farmland

Lin Yi sighed. “I was still hesitating about whether to slaughter the pig.”

He had gotten along very well with Jin Buhuan.

But friendship was friendship. If sacrificing that friendship could help Liang achieve a moderately prosperous society sooner, he could abandon it without much hesitation.

After all, Jin Buhuan was the richest man in Jizhou. Scraping just a little from his bowl could rescue countless people from hardship.

But after hearing Du Yinniang’s explanation, he began to hesitate again.

If the Jin family were crushed, the trade routes might collapse. In the end, the losses could outweigh the gains.

What else could he do?

Just endure it for now—just like in Sanhe.

“Slaughter the pig?”

Du Yinniang had not spent long with Lin Yi yet and still couldn’t fully understand his metaphors.

Lin Yi pulled her softer body closer and recited with a smile:

“Kill the dogs and slaughter chickens to prepare the night feast,
Even the year-end pig makes the bowls fragrant.
Let us cook lamb and butcher cattle for joy—
We must drink three hundred cups in one sitting.”

Du Yinniang leaned into his arms and said gently, “Your Highness speaks of state affairs. I am only a woman—how could I understand so much?”

Lin Yi replied, “It’s fine if you don’t understand. Just remember this:
When the world bustles, it is all for profit;
When the world rushes about, it is all for gain.”

Her arm slipped around his neck as she whispered, “Thank you for your teaching, Your Highness.”

Lin Yi shivered slightly and said nervously, “You’re welcome… you’re welcome.”

Faced with such a little temptress, one needed strong self-control.

He truly didn’t want to become a walking stud dog.

Relying purely on willpower, he finally closed his eyes.

Nothing happened that night.

Before dawn.

Without needing Lin Yi to say anything, Jiang Chou, Luo Han, and the others began preparing the horses and carriages to depart.

Lin Yi looked around and asked, “Did Song Cheng return to Xing City?”

He had been urging Song Cheng to take a short trip home to visit his wet nurse and show some fatherly affection to his child.

Song Cheng always agreed verbally but never moved.

Now that he didn’t see him, Lin Yi guessed he had finally left.

Hong Ying bowed and said, “Your Highness showed him kindness. How could he not understand? He left last night and rode through the night. By now he has likely already reached Xing City.”

“Good.”

Lin Yi hugged the teapot and sipped from it occasionally.

“That guy is just too cautious—always asking me about everything. When you have time, give him some guidance so he stops overthinking things.”

Hong Ying replied, “Yes, Your Highness. I will have a talk with him and help broaden his thinking.”

“Good.”

Just as Lin Yi finished speaking, the innkeeper approached with two servants carrying a large chest.

“Master Long,” the innkeeper said respectfully, pointing to the chest.

“This is a small token of appreciation from our master. We hope you will accept it.”

Without waiting for Lin Yi’s signal, Luo Han walked forward and opened the chest.

In the morning sunlight, it gleamed brilliantly.

Gold.

“Your master is generous. Thank him for me.”

Lin Yi accepted it without hesitation. “Thank you for honoring us, Master Long,” the innkeeper said.

With a wave of his hand, the servants carried the chest of gold to a nearby cart used for transporting horse fodder.

Soon the convoy slowly left Port City.

Around noon, they left the wide open plains and entered rolling mountain terrain.

At the hottest time of day, they stopped to rest under thick shade.

Seeing Du Yinniang looking fresh and alluring, Lin Yi couldn’t resist temptation and indulged once more.

Afterward, when he came back to his senses, he felt regret.

Do I even want this body anymore?

Yet what surprised him was that his energy remained abundant.

Not a hint of fatigue.

Instead, Du Yinniang was the one gasping heavily, making him feel a little guilty.

As they continued traveling—stopping and resting along the way—Lin Yi achieved something he had never done before.

He even wondered if he was experiencing a burst of vitality before death.

The day they returned to Ankang City, all the civil and military officials gathered at the northern gate to welcome him.

From inside the carriage, Lin Yi waved impatiently through the lifted curtain.

“Everyone go home and find your own mothers.”

He said nothing more.

There was a saying: the closer you are to home, the more nervous you feel.

Right now, he had only one thought—to see his precious daughter.

What if she had forgotten him during these months away?

The thought made him uneasy.

Officials from the Ankang Prefecture and the Military Command cleared the road with gongs and drums.

The Flag Guard marched in the middle carrying their tall banner.

Lin Yi’s carriage followed at the end.

The convoy traveled straight from the north gate to Prince He’s Mansion Street.

The citizens of Ankang City had already heard that the Regent was returning, and cheerful voices filled the streets.

Among the crowd stood Zhu Rourong, head lowered.

He glanced at the prince’s convoy and then at Li Sanniang, Jiang Dasheng, and others standing far away, deliberately avoiding him.

He sighed deeply.

“The world isn’t what it used to be.”

When there’s nothing wrong, everyone eats and drinks together—brothers for life.

But when trouble comes, you’re on your own.

Such is reality.

For the past month and a half, his wife had been searching for him like a madwoman.

He had been hiding everywhere, unable to sleep at night.

Only today—taking advantage of the prince’s return—did he dare come out for a breath of fresh air.

He was certain that even if his wife saw him today, she wouldn’t dare cause trouble.

She wasn’t stupid enough for that.

And if she truly were that stupid…

Then heaven would be blessing him.

Li Sanniang noticed him and smiled before turning to Jiang Dasheng.

“You’re quite something. You arranged a place for his concubine too?”

Jiang the butcher shrugged. “What else could I do? That girl doesn’t know martial arts—she can’t even defend herself. His wife might not dare to kill her, but if she found her, she’d definitely torture her half to death. Besides, he’s stuck in the middle. We can’t just stand by and watch.”

Deng Ke stroked his beard and laughed. “That fellow’s courage is incredible. Keeping a concubine secretly outside would’ve been fine, but bringing her back to Ankang City? He really doesn’t know how to spell the word ‘death.’”

Li Sanniang said, “If they can’t live together anymore, they should just divorce. It’s not the end of the world. But if they keep fighting like this, they’ll only become a laughingstock.”

Jiang the butcher said gleefully, “The problem is his wife controls all the money. She’ll never hand over the family fortune so he can live freely. But if he truly breaks everything and walks away, he’d have to start from scratch. So the stalemate continues.”

---

Lin Yi’s carriage arrived at Prince He’s Mansion.

The entrance was already filled with kneeling servants.

Lin Yi didn’t even glance at them.

He walked straight to Hu Miaoyi, who was holding their daughter.

He took the child into his arms and teased her gently.

The child stared blankly—and burst into tears.

“Ah… just as I expected.”

He returned the baby to Hu Miaoyi.

Then he looked at Mingyue, whose belly had grown even larger.

Meanwhile, Mingyue and Zixia were both staring at Du Yinniang, who had gotten out of the carriage with Lin Yi.

Du Yinniang stepped forward gracefully and bowed.

“Greetings to the Princess Consort.”

Hu Miaoyi smiled. “So you are Mistress Du. Your beauty could topple kingdoms— even I can’t help but feel moved when I see you.”

Du Yinniang replied calmly, “Your Highness flatters me.”

Four women together could stage a whole drama.

Lin Yi decided not to get involved.

He strode straight into the mansion.

After bathing and changing clothes, he lay down and immediately fell asleep.

By evening, a torrential rainstorm began.

Wind and rain pounded against the windows and roof tiles, waking him from his dreams.

His body was sticky with sweat.

He opened the window and let the strong wind blow through.

“Your Highness, you’re awake?” Zixia asked as she brought him tea.

Lin Yi rubbed his sleepy eyes and nodded.

Then he looked at Mingyue and asked directly, “When did the midwife say the baby is due?”

Before Mingyue could answer, Zixia said, “Your Highness, you returned at the perfect time. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be within the next couple of days. The Princess Consort kindly kept Chen Xilian and Yan Hong here at the mansion just in case.”

“Then lie down and rest these days,” Lin Yi said, holding Mingyue’s hand and patting it gently.

“Don’t worry too much. Just take it slowly.”

Mingyue bowed despite her heavy belly.

“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness.”

Lin Yi waved her away.

“Go rest well. You’re not needed here.”

That night.

Lin Yi faced a difficult problem.

Whom should he sleep with?

In his heart, he preferred Du Yinniang.

According to proper etiquette, it should be Hu Miaoyi, his legitimate wife.

But in reality, Mingyue, who was about to give birth, needed companionship the most.

Especially when he remembered the lonely look in her eyes.

After drinking two cups of tea, he finally decided.

First half of the night—Hu Miaoyi.

Since she gave birth, they had not shared a bed, and things had become awkward.

Lin Yi reluctantly forced himself to “practice before battle.”

Later in the night he went to Mingyue’s room, hoping to relax.

But Zixia was serving there too.

Her longing gaze and bright red undergarment made it impossible for him to refuse.

So he shared his attention equally.

He had never worked so hard in his life.

Yet when morning came, he woke up full of energy.

Standing at the hall entrance, watching the endless rain, he said, “This is the perfect time to plant sweet potato seedlings.”

Whether the people could eat their fill depended entirely on heaven’s mercy.

More rain meant better harvests.

Less rain meant poor ones.

The rain continued without stopping.

On the fifth day, Mingyue suddenly felt labor pains.

That evening she gave birth to a boy.

The news spread across Ankang City.

Officials like He Jixiang and Chen Desheng were overjoyed.

Prince He was no longer young.

Having an heir was already heaven’s blessing.

Who cared whether he was the legitimate eldest son?

Even a concubine-born son was enough.

Inside the imperial palace, Emperor Delong laughed loudly while Consort Yuan smashed three teacups in anger.

“How can a lowly maid deserve this!”

Her chest heaved with rage.

Neither Xiao Xizi nor He Lian dared to say a word.

Lin Yi held his newborn son in his arms and glanced at Xiao Xizi.

“That old lady is causing trouble again.”

He dismissed him with a wave.

After playing with the baby for a while, he returned the child to Mingyue and smiled.

“Take care of yourself. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

She had actually given birth to a son.

She was happy—but also worried.

Throughout history, what good fate had concubine-born sons ever had?

Looking at the tiny baby in her arms, she clenched her fists under the blanket.

She seemed to gather the strength to fight the entire world.

Mingyue, at the peak of the ninth rank, is not someone to be bullied.

She had already made up her mind.

She must reach Grandmaster level as soon as possible.

Otherwise, with no powerful relatives and no authority, life for her and her son would be difficult.

If she herself were not strong, everything would be meaningless.

He Jixiang braved the rain to visit Prince He’s Mansion.

While helping wipe the rain from him, Jiang Chou said with a smile, “Old sir, you could’ve just sent a message. Why come personally in such heavy rain?”

He Jixiang sat slowly, picked up a cup of tea, and sipped it.

“Cannot say, cannot say.”

He had only come to confirm the news.

Now that he knew it was true, his excitement overflowed.

Lin Yi entered the hall and sat across from him.

“You all look so excited,” he said irritably. “I’m not dead yet.”

Why were they so eager to secure a successor?

He Jixiang smiled awkwardly. “Your Highness, please calm your anger. I only came to congratulate you.”

What he was thinking, however, was different.

Now the prince could even entrust his heirs if necessary.

At least then they wouldn’t constantly worry about his safety.

It was like the difference between a family with one child and a family with many.

With only one heir, there was always the fear of losing him.

Lin Yi said, “If you have time, go down to the grassroots and check the spring farming. Supervise the planting of soybeans, corn, and sweet potatoes. No matter what turmoil Liang faces, food security must come first. The people must not go hungry.”

He Jixiang nodded firmly. “Rest assured, Your Highness. The Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, Censorate, Supreme Court, and Imperial Clan Office have already formed joint inspection teams. They’re touring the provinces to investigate corrupt officials, criminal gangs, and illegal high-interest loans.”

Lin Yi stood beneath the eaves and let rain splash into his palm. “You don’t always need my instructions. Try to understand what I mean. If you can’t, ask someone who can—like those young people with active minds. Give the young more opportunities.”

He Jixiang quickly said, “Your Highness is right.”

He understood the message clearly.

The prince was deliberately pushing against them old officials.

“Good,” Lin Yi said. “Use your brains more. If you ask me about everything, I get tired too.”

He really wanted to be a hands-off ruler.

But he couldn’t stand seeing Liang continue along its old path.

If officials like He Jixiang didn’t change their thinking, all their effort would only be like smearing mud on a wall.

That wasn’t what he wanted.

He wanted Liang to develop science.

Inventions. Creativity.

Gradually enter an industrial society with division of labor and specialization.

He Jixiang replied solemnly, “I will follow Your Highness’s guidance.”

Lin Yi waved his hand. “I’m not forcing you. Some things take time—especially education. Everything depends on education. You must find ways to develop subjects like physics, chemistry, and mathematics. How to encourage children and adults to study seriously, and how to apply what they learn—that’s the real challenge you must face.”