IDWBE -Chapter 534 Filial Piety

“When young, we fall asleep just as the rooster crows.
When old, we lie awake waiting for the rooster to crow.
Turning back to look at more than thirty years,
One realizes life was worn away in just a few calls.”

After reciting the poem while shaking his head, Emperor Delong looked again at Lin Yi and said, “I’m getting old. In the future, this world will belong to you.”

This sudden emotional display from the emperor left Lin Yi completely confused.

Who was Emperor Delong?

He was a ruthless man who had killed his own brothers, his wife, his concubines, and even his brother-in-law without blinking.

When he said he would wipe out an entire family, not even an ant would survive.

And he always kept his word.

He was never a sentimental man.

More importantly, this old man was obsessed with immortality.

How could someone like that suddenly sigh about getting old?

It made no sense.

If Lin Yi actually believed these words, that would be the real miracle.

“Father,” Lin Yi said, “if you really want what’s best for your son, why not tell me where Aunt’s treasure vault is? You’ve seen my situation—I’m short of money, always short of money. Any problem that requires money is something I simply cannot solve.”

The Grand Princess was still missing, but Lin Yi still dreamed about the treasure vault of the Silent Illumination Nunnery.

If he could obtain that wealth, life would be much easier.

At least He Jixiang and Gan Mao wouldn’t bother him about money every day.

“The Silent Illumination Nunnery has existed for a thousand years,” the emperor said slowly. “No matter how many dynasties rose or fell, it has always remained standing. Its survival is not only because of its martial arts inheritance, but also because of its immense financial strength.”

“I know that already,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “My third brother was able to bribe so many generals in the army almost entirely with money from that nunnery. Without such large sums, those generals wouldn’t have switched sides so easily.”

The most bizarre thing was that the Grand Princess actually supported the Crown Prince.

And she even gave him ten million taels of silver.

Only Lin Yi was the poor one.

No father’s favor. No uncle’s support.

The emperor said, “If I knew the location of the treasure vault, how would I have ended up in this situation?”

Lin Yi froze.

That logic was so sound he couldn’t argue with it.

One major reason for his father’s failure had indeed been lack of money.

A penniless emperor trying to talk about loyalty and patriotism with officials and soldiers?

With words alone?

For a short time people might shout slogans enthusiastically.

But over time, even the most majestic emperor would become a paper tiger.

That was why, after Lin Yi took control of Ankang City, the first thing he did was develop the economy.

Making money.

Still making money.

Making money even if it killed him.

The faster the territory expanded, the more people depended on him for livelihood.

For several months he had even been unable to pay the army.

“It’s said Aunt was richer than a nation,” Lin Yi continued. “For such a huge treasury, there must have been many people managing it. With so many people involved, it’s impossible that no rumors leaked.”

He was trying to help his father brainstorm.

The emperor snorted. “Who told you there was only one treasury? Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows—how could a cautious organization like the Silent Illumination Nunnery have only one?”

“Damn it… that makes things difficult,” Lin Yi scratched his head.

“You’ve been famous your whole life. Don’t you have even one solution?”

The emperor smiled. “A solution? It’s not impossible.”

“Oh?” Lin Yi leaned forward eagerly. “What is it? Just tell me. If we get the treasure, we’ll split it twenty-eighty!”

The emperor said calmly, “Find your aunt.”

“….”

Lin Yi rolled his eyes. “Father, can you be serious?”

There had been many chances for him to capture the Grand Princess before, but he had never forced the issue.

“If you can’t find her,” the emperor said, “then I can’t help you.”

“Father, you’re getting less serious by the day.”

Lin Yi vaguely felt that his father’s personality had changed somewhat.

But he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.

After leaving Qilin Palace, Lin Yi had only taken a few steps before turning around and speaking to Liu Chaoyuan, who was following behind him.

“Master Liu, Father seems to be in pretty good health.”

He hadn’t even heard him cough.

Liu Chaoyuan replied calmly, “Thanks to Your Highness’s blessings, the emperor’s health has been fairly stable recently.”

Today the emperor had spoken with strong energy, nothing like a sick man.

“Master Liu, I’ve always respected you,” Lin Yi said while walking slowly with his hands behind his back.

“Don’t lie to me.”

Liu Chaoyuan bowed respectfully.

“You overestimate me, Your Highness. I wouldn’t dare.”

Lin Yi stared into his eyes.

“You’ve already done everything that needed doing. What is there you wouldn’t dare? Tell me honestly—did you and Father really find some immortality cultivation method? Let me see it too.

In life, one must learn to share—don’t keep good things to yourself.”

“If I truly had such a technique,” Liu Chaoyuan replied, “do you think I would still remain in this palace?”

Lin Yi fell silent again.

No wonder he was his father’s number-one lackey.

Even their speaking styles were identical.

“Your Highness,” Liu Chaoyuan asked, “do you really believe immortality exists?”

“I didn’t,” Lin Yi said. “But you and my father aren’t fools. Surely you wouldn’t waste time chasing something useless.”

Liu Chaoyuan sighed. “The emperor is still human. Everyone grows old. Once people grow old, they grasp at every possible hope—even when they know it’s false.”

Lin Yi frowned. “If the technique is fake, why do you remain here in the palace? What exactly are you searching for?”

Liu Chaoyuan answered, “I dare not deceive Your Highness. I am indeed searching for a technique—but not immortality. I seek a supreme martial art. Back then, the Empress Dowager used this technique so powerfully that even the leader of the Silent Illumination Nunnery dared not provoke her. Later, the Grand Princess only learned a fragment of it, yet by age thirty-three she had already become a Grandmaster.”

“Then take your time looking,” Lin Yi said. “If you find it, let me know.”

“I will see Your Highness off.”

---

The sun scorched the earth.

Lin Yi lay shirtless beneath a locust tree beside a pond while his eldest daughter jumped on his increasingly round belly.

“Damn it! Damn it!”

Like a parrot, she repeated the same phrase again and again.

“Are you finished yet?” Lin Yi’s face darkened.

He had tried to teach his daughter how to speak, but she couldn’t learn anything.

Yet one casual curse he uttered had been remembered perfectly.

Now she kept repeating it nonstop.

“You damn—”

The little girl shouted again loudly, completely fearless.

“What sins did I commit…” Lin Yi sighed.

“You don’t learn anything good—only bad things. If you keep cursing, I’ll spank you!”

The girl burst into tears.

“….”

Lin Yi hurried to comfort her, but she cried even louder.

“Fine, I won’t spank you anymore, okay? Stop crying!”

He was almost ready to kneel, yet he still couldn’t calm her.

“Your Highness,” Zixia said while holding back laughter.

“The young princess hasn’t taken her afternoon nap yet. She must be tired.”

She gently took the child from Lin Yi’s arms.

Hu Miaoyi rushed over after hearing the crying and held the child carefully.

Soon the girl fell asleep peacefully.

Lin Yi said, “I’ve told you many times—our residence doesn’t need all those strict rules. Children shouldn’t stay locked indoors all the time. Take them outside more often. Let them see the world, hear its noises, breathe fresh air.”

Hu Miaoyi replied softly, “I’ve already discussed it with Sister Du. Since the weather is nice, we plan to go on a picnic outside the city tomorrow.”

Lin Yi nodded.

“In a few days we’ll move the residence outside the city. Then outings will be even easier.”

After returning from Sanhe, Lin Yi realized Ankang City was overcrowded.

So he immediately began developing real estate outside the city.

Making money was one reason.

But the main purpose was to separate residential functions from the capital.

Why should everyone crowd inside the city?

Living outside would be much more spacious.

Of course, changing habits wasn’t easy.

So he built military camps, schools, entertainment streets, and food streets outside the city.

Even Prince He’s residence was being moved there.

He had personally chosen the site.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau had even checked the feng shui.

Construction had lasted two years.

When he visited recently, he found it perfect—backed by mountains and facing water.

There were pavilions, fish ponds, and space to raise chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep.

It strengthened his determination never to live in the imperial palace.

To make full use of the palace, he even ignored officials’ objections and rented out the Taihe Hall.

Anyone who paid enough could host banquets there.

Dining in the Taihe Hall with dishes from the Imperial Kitchen was extremely prestigious.

Merchants rushed to pay.

In only half a year, the Ministry of Revenue’s catering company had earned two million taels of silver.

Minister Gan Mao even looked younger.

Now they were preparing a new project:

“Golden Throne Hall One-Day Tour.”

Gan Mao had fully embraced Prince He’s philosophy:

If you have no money, why care about saving face?

“Your Highness,” Hu Miaoyi hesitated.

“Are we really moving outside the city? It’s rather desolate there.”

“Desolate?” Lin Yi laughed.

“That’s called peaceful.”

He stretched lazily and poked his sleeping daughter’s cheek.

“Besides, this residence is too small. We simply can’t fit everyone anymore.”

When he first left the palace years ago, his father clearly hadn’t cared much about him.

The residence given to him in the south city was small and cramped.

Guards slept in stables, maids slept in dormitories.

Life wasn’t comfortable.

“I will follow Your Highness’s decision,” Hu Miaoyi said.

Lin Yi suddenly asked, “I heard your father invested in a broker company and got cheated again?”

Hu Miaoyi smiled awkwardly.

“Father isn’t very good at business. Your Highness already knows.”

Lin Yi said calmly, “These brokers are getting too arrogant. Disrespecting a prince means disrespecting you—and disrespecting you means disrespecting me. The business environment in Ankang City needs some correction. Send a petition directly to the prefectural office and deal with it legally.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Her voice couldn’t hide her excitement.

Her father being cheated had hurt her deeply.

---

Later Lin Yi fell asleep in his chair.

When he woke up, the sun was already setting.

He was covered in sweat.

Looking at the dirty pond water nearby, he didn’t even have a place to bathe.

“The new residence has mountain spring water,” he muttered.

“I’ll be able to bathe anytime.”

The more he thought about the new residence, the more unbearable the old one seemed.

Such was human nature.

Hong Ying said with a smile, “Your Highness is right. The preparations are almost finished. You should be able to move in by the end of the month.”

“Good,” Lin Yi said after finishing a large cup of tea.

“Hurry it along.”

“Yes.”

Hong Ying then added,

“Your Highness, the Prince of Moxi has arrived.”

Lin Yi snorted.

“Finally lost his patience, huh?”

“Your Highness is wise.”

“Let him come in.”

Lin Yi sat on a stone with his feet in the pond, letting goldfish nibble at his soles.

Soon Lin Yuantu, guided by Hong Ying, entered the garden.

Seeing Lin Yi sitting shirtless, he immediately knelt.

“Greetings, Uncle.”

“Get up,” Lin Yi waved. “No need for ceremony. I heard you’ve been studying at the academy these days. Quite diligent for a young man.”

“You flatter me, Uncle,” Lin Yuantu replied calmly. “This visit to Ankang City has broadened my horizons. I learned that there are invisible bacteria, untouchable air, and mysterious gravity. I still can’t imagine that the earth is round and people are standing upside down.”

“Just because you can’t imagine something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “For example, I don’t understand martial arts at all. Yet people somehow cultivate true qi and split mountains with it.”

“Wise men labor with their minds, fools with their bodies,” Lin Yuantu said sincerely.

“Martial arts are only minor paths. Uncle governs the state—naturally you don’t need to bother with them.”

Lin Yi nodded.

“You speak well. Say more.”

“….”

Lin Yuantu froze.

This uncle of his had no shame at all.

He suddenly didn’t know how to respond.

“Just joking,” Lin Yi laughed. “You’ve been here many days, and I haven’t invited you to dinner. Since you’re here today, stay and eat with me.”

“Thank you, Uncle. I will gladly accept.”

Lin Yi smiled. “I heard your father fought a fierce battle against the northern tribes recently. The casualties were enormous.”

“My father…” Tears streamed down Lin Yuantu’s face. “Your son is unfilial!”

“Enough, don’t cry,” Lin Yi said, patting his shoulder. “We’re both sons. I understand how you feel.”

Lin Yuantu’s heart skipped a beat.

Are we really the same?

You locked your own father in Qilin Palace!

“The small kingdom of Moxi and its people rely entirely on Uncle’s decision!”

His tears soaked his clothes.

“You really want me to decide?” Lin Yi asked calmly.

Lin Yuantu shouted, “As long as the people of Moxi can be saved, I am willing to sacrifice anything. Uncle, please teach me!”

Lin Yi smiled. “So you’re as filial as I am. Your uncle likes that. Young man—tell me your request.”