IDWBE -Chapter 530 The Envoy

Lin Yi stretched lazily and said, “Princess Xuan is returning to the country. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be within these two days.”

“That’s quite rare. Throughout history, I’ve never heard of a princess sent for a political marriage being able to come back,” Consort Yuan said in surprise. “But in any case, it’s good news. My elder sister Sun must be very pleased.”

As she spoke, she immediately stood up and turned to leave.

“What are you doing?” Lin Yi grabbed her arm, puzzled.

Consort Yuan smiled and said, “Such wonderful news—Sister Sun must not know yet, right? I’ll go tell her myself and make her happy.”

Lin Yi said helplessly, “Don’t rush. Let me finish first.”

His mother came from a military family, skilled with bows and horses, and had a fiery temper.
In the entire imperial harem, aside from Emperor Delong, she looked down on everyone else.

The only person she got along well with was Lady Sun, the birth mother of Princess Xuan.

Consort Yuan urged, “Then hurry up and say it.”

Lin Yi replied, “Better invite Lady Sun here. You don’t need to go personally.”

Given his current status, when he said “invite,” it was effectively an order.

No matter what, Lady Sun would not dare refuse. Nor did she have any reason to refuse.

Xiao Xizi, who had been crouching by the door, said, “I’ll go right away.”

After Xiao Xizi left, Lin Yi continued speaking to Consort Yuan: “Princess Xuan is now the chief queen of Chabi, the Khan of Moxi. The Moxi people call her Kedun. Her status is extremely honored. When she enters the palace later, I’ll have to rely on Mother to handle the arrangements.”

“You don’t need to tell me that,” Consort Yuan replied. “I’ll take care of it myself.”

Then she suddenly asked, “But what about your father?”

Lin Yi said casually, “When Princess Xuan comes back, they can meet together. It’s nothing serious.”

But in his mind, even if she did meet his father, the scene probably wouldn’t be pleasant.

A princess sent to a distant land for marriage was usually one not favored by the emperor.
Otherwise, why would he let her go?

Princess Xuan had been unlucky—exiled far away, and to a bitter, cold frontier.

There was no way she had no resentment in her heart.

Filial warmth between father and child?

Impossible.

Seeing the old and trembling Emperor Delong might even make her laugh out loud.

“Princess Xuan is a woman of the inner court,” Consort Yuan said lightly. “You’re not planning to let those old men like He Jixiang receive her, are you?”

Lin Yi laughed. “Your son isn’t that muddleheaded. It’ll all be the Crown Prince’s responsibility.”

Consort Yuan frowned. “You’re letting the Crown Prince leave the palace?”

Lin Yi replied casually, “Mother, there are reasons for what I do. You don’t need to worry. Just manage the affairs of the harem.”

Consort Yuan snorted. “As if I wanted to meddle in your affairs.”

Soon after, He Lian came in to report that Lady Sun had arrived.

Consort Yuan immediately called toward the courtyard gate, “We’re old sisters. No need to be so polite—come in.”

Lady Sun entered. Before she could bow, Lin Yi said, “You two chat slowly. I’ll take my leave first.”

He then left Ci’an Palace.

Standing atop the high steps, he gazed toward the mountains outside the city.

Wisps of smoke occasionally rose from the hills.

“Didn’t I order that nothing be burned outside the city? Why is it burning again?”

“Your Highness,” Xiao Xizi said with a smile, “it’s not straw or wood. The common people keep those as fuel and wouldn’t waste them. Tian Sixi is building houses outside the city. Since bricks are short, he built several kilns nearby and is firing bricks with coal.”

“Nonsense!” Lin Yi snapped angrily. “No wonder my nose has felt uncomfortable lately. These bastards keep creating air pollution. Issue an order—shut them down immediately!”

Creating air pollution right under his nose was absolutely intolerable.

In winter he could tolerate the smog caused by people heating their homes. But now it was spring and summer—he couldn’t stand it.

If not for the officials’ desperate protests, he would have already moved the capital to Sanhe.

Sanhe had good water and clean air.

Most importantly, winters there weren’t cold. After living there for so long, returning to Ankang City felt unbearable.

Xiao Xizi hurriedly said, “I’ll notify the military command to shut them down.”

Tian Sixi stood under the setting sun, watching soldiers from the Military Command place explosives in the kiln entrance. With a loud boom, the kiln collapsed.

He nearly cried.

Sighing to Commander Zhang Mian, he said, “Couldn’t you at least wait until these bricks finished firing?”

Zhang Mian mocked him. “You knew Prince He forbade burning in Ankang City, yet you still did this.”

Tian Sixi forced a smile. “I urgently need bricks. I can’t exactly haul them from Jizhou.”

Zhang Mian snorted. “Prince He is merciful not to pursue it further. You should be grateful.”

“All praise to His Highness,” Tian Sixi said miserably. “But I spent an entire month building this kiln. It’s all money!”

Deputy Commander Jiang Yi added, “With your wealth, can’t you afford to lose one kiln?”

Tian Sixi, like Bai Lin of Sanhe Bank and Song Cheng of Dongfeng Escort Agency, was a merchant tied to the government—a “state merchant.”

They held no rank or office, but they handled Prince He’s finances.

Anyone who touched Prince He’s money bag was someone he’d fight to the death.

Thus, officials treated men like Tian Sixi with relative politeness.

---

Lin Yi walked slowly along and muttered, “When I was young, I liked pretending to be artistic. Now that illness cured me, I only like money. Only money gives me a sense of security.”

His career as a failing web novelist was largely due to his youthful literary pretensions.

Later he ended up in a wheelchair.

He had to make a living.

“Your Highness is wise,” Xiao Xizi said, confused but obedient.

Then Lin Yi suddenly rubbed his belly and muttered, “I really wish there were someone who could make me think of them day and night… unable to eat or sleep… growing thinner day by day…”

Xiao Xizi understood this part.

Prince He wanted to lose weight. “Your Highness, you’ve already grown thinner lately,” Xiao Xizi said, trying to flatter him like his master Hong Ying would.

Before he finished speaking, he received a kick to the waist.

Lin Yi slapped his belly loudly and shouted, “Have you lost your conscience? How dare you lie with your eyes open!”

“This servant is guilty,” Xiao Xizi said, kneeling again miserably.

Inside, he felt wronged.

Why could his master say the same thing but he couldn’t?

Where was the justice?

---

When Princess Xuan finally returned, the North Gate of Ankang City was opened wide.

Outside the gate, royal banners fluttered. Led by the Crown Prince, Prince Dai, and Prince Yong’an, nobles and ministers stood in rows to greet her.

Inside the city gate, soldiers stood in tight ranks.

Lin Yi watched from afar, satisfied. They had given Princess Xuan plenty of ceremony.

Pan Duo bowed and said, “Your Highness, the princess’s carriage has arrived.”

Lin Yi squinted and pointed to a young man beside the carriage.

“Who’s that?”

Pan Duo replied, “That is Princess Xuan’s son—the Prince of Moxi, Burigude, meaning ‘Eagle of the Grasslands.’ However, he admires Liang culture deeply and has given himself a Liang name—Lin Yuantu.”

Lin Yi nearly spat out the tea in his mouth.

That name felt ominous.

“My nephew doesn’t look like a man of the steppe at all,” Lin Yi said.

In his mind, steppe people were rough and burly.

But this prince looked refined, holding a folding fan like a scholarly gentleman.

Pan Duo said, “He was personally educated by Princess Xuan. Skilled in archery and horsemanship, and also well-versed in classics and literature. Even Scholar Xie Zan praises his poetry.”

“Is he really that impressive?” Lin Yi asked.

“This subordinate wouldn’t dare exaggerate,” Pan Duo replied.

Lin Yi yawned. “Looks like Moxi is truly desperate this time. Otherwise they wouldn’t send their prince personally.”

The Wadan army was pressing them hard.

Without Moxi serving as a buffer in the northwest, the Liang kingdom would face enormous pressure.

Thus Moxi still had value.

He had no reason not to help.

But how he helped—that was another matter.

Before armies move, provisions must go first.

And Moxi would have to supply those provisions.

He wasn’t going to make a losing deal.

That evening, however, Lin Yi received unexpected news.

His nephew had come alone to the Prince He’s Residence asking for an audience.

Lin Yi wiped watermelon juice from his mouth and dismissed the maids massaging his shoulders.

“Let him in,” he told Hong Ying.

Lin Yuantu entered alone.

When he saw Lin Yi, he immediately knelt and kowtowed respectfully.

“Your nephew greets Uncle. May Uncle live ten thousand years.”

Lin Yi was startled.

“My dear nephew, no need to be so formal. Sit. Bring tea.”

Looking at the refined young man before him, Lin Yi felt he saw the shadow of Prince Dai.

Lin Yuantu sat upright, calm and respectful.

Lin Yi smiled.

“You just arrived today. I should have welcomed you personally, but I was too busy.”

Lin Yuantu stood up quickly.

“Uncle bears the burdens of the realm and works tirelessly for the people. Your nephew admires you deeply.”

“Your learning is impressive,” Lin Yi said. “Idioms one after another.”

Lin Yuantu replied sincerely, “Only when standing atop high mountains can one see the mighty rivers flowing below. Only upon reaching great peaks can one feel the vast winds. Coming to Ankang City today, I finally understand the grandeur of a great nation. I am dull and far inferior to the talented people of Liang.”

Lin Yi waved his hand. “Enough. Sit down. You’ve traveled a long way—you should be resting.”

Lin Yuantu shook his head. “No. Paying respects to my uncle is proper etiquette. Ritual must not be neglected.”

Only after saying that did he sit down properly.