IDWBE -Chapter 536 Psychological Preparation

When he used to write modern urban web novels, the domineering CEOs in his stories always had a standard accessory—a villa.

But the problem for a poor loser like him was that he had no idea what a villa actually looked like.

He couldn’t just imagine it like the story of the emperor’s golden hoe, so he had no choice but to constantly search on Baidu.

Most famous villa districts were surrounded by mountains and water, like the well-known Victoria Peak.

They had many advantages.

First, as long as you had money and power, it didn’t matter how remote the location was—it wouldn’t affect your living standards.

Second, large independent houses far away from residential areas meant high privacy and personal security.

Finally, living in such places felt like living in seclusion, something like the poetic line:

“Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely gazing at the southern mountains.”

Of course, not every city had mountains and water.

For example, Shanghai had water, but no mountains.

The highest place in the entire city was just Sheshan Hill.

In short, he knew more about villa districts in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen than many real estate agents.

The only pity was that, like people who know everything about cars—he understood everything, but couldn’t afford any of it.

Still, he sometimes felt those rich people weren’t as smart as him.

If he had hundreds of millions, why would he buy a villa?

He would just deposit it in the bank and live off the interest!

Enough to eat until death.

“Your Highness, as long as you like it.”

Jiao Zhong was also extremely satisfied with the new place.

Ever since moving here, there were no longer annoying neighbors or random people around.

Guard duty had become much easier.

Lin Yi smiled.

“Weren’t you supposed to go to Shuozhou to gain experience? Why are you still hanging around here? Don’t tell me you can’t bear to leave your beautiful wife at home?”

Jiao Zhong laughed awkwardly.

“I was waiting until the mansion finished moving before leaving.”

“But Han Deqing has already been appointed to replace you,” Lin Yi said. “He’s an old member of the household. What are you worried about? If you’re going, go quickly. Otherwise when the war in Shuozhou ends, you won’t get any credit. Even if I want to promote you, I won’t have a reason.”

With the Prince saying things this clearly—

If Jiao Zhong still didn’t understand, he deserved to remain stupid.

He hurriedly bowed.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s favor. I will leave tomorrow.”

Going to the army for experience had long been planned.

The only surprise was the appointment of Han Deqing as captain of the guards.

No one had expected Chief Steward Hong to promote someone so mediocre.

Especially in martial arts—although Han Deqing was a 9th-rank fighter, he still couldn’t defeat people like Lei Kaishan or Tan Fei.

So many guards were unconvinced.

Under the surface, the mansion was full of tension.

Everyone was waiting for Han Deqing to make a mistake so they could strip him of his position.

Jiao Zhong had planned to talk with the guards one by one before leaving.

But now that the Prince urged him, he couldn’t delay any longer.

After Jiao Zhong left, Lin Yi said to Hong Ying: “Our old mansion is empty now. It would be a waste to leave it unused. Give it to Old Madam Sang and turn it into an orphanage. The place is large enough for hundreds of children.”

Hong Ying smiled. “Your Highness is compassionate. Those children will surely remember your kindness.”

Lin Yi laughed. “I do things according to my nature. If I expected repayment, I wouldn’t do anything at all. Because good deeds have the lowest return rate. The highest returns are written clearly in the laws of Liang—murder and arson bring quick riches.”

Hong Ying chuckled.

“Under Your Highness’s wise leadership, Great Liang is peaceful. People don’t even pick up lost items from the road, and doors remain unlocked at night. Who would dare commit crimes?”

“Don’t speak so absolutely,” Lin Yi sighed. “When we went to Jizhou, you saw the situation along the way. Saying people were barely surviving wouldn’t be an exaggeration. We still have a long road ahead. Oh right—how is your sister’s illness?”

Hong Ying replied, “Thanks to Your Highness, she has recovered completely. I even bought her some farmland outside the city. She works all day and refuses to rest.”

“Staying busy is good,” Lin Yi said. “People only get sick when they sit idle.”

---

For several days the mansion was busy with moving.

People came and went constantly.

The noise could be heard throughout the courtyard.

Lin Yi didn’t like the chaos, so he left the mansion.

He planned to return only after everything was settled.

Whenever he went out, his clothing was always the same:slippers, loose shorts, and a sleeveless shirt.

Even laborers used more cloth than he did.

The guards and servants of the Prince’s residence followed his example.

When they weren’t on duty, they dressed the same way.

After a while Lin Yi discovered something surprising—

Many men in Ankang City had stopped wearing long robes.

Instead they wore shorts, short sleeves, and slippers like him.

He had accidentally become the fashion trendsetter of Ankang City.

Some men who refused to wear it were even scolded by their wives.

In the summer heat, everyone preferred saving money on cloth.

Long robes used too much fabric.

Not economical.

Now when Lin Yi walked through the crowd, he blended in completely.

Being indistinguishable from everyone else made him strangely happy.

He loved walking the streets freely without attracting attention.

---

“So this is how you came to see me?”

The first thing Guan Xiaoqi said when she saw him.

“What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?” Lin Yi replied.

“Did you forget what I told you?” she said angrily.

“You told me to rent a house.”

“Then where is it?” she demanded.

“Where did you rent it? How far is it? Is it convenient to go to the market? How much is the monthly rent? Don’t act like a fool and rent something expensive. If you can’t pay later, I’ll be embarrassed too.”

Lin Yi grinned.

“I didn’t rent one.”

“What? Say that again!”

Her glare looked like it could eat him alive.

“I bought one,” Lin Yi said proudly.

“You bought one?” she asked in shock.

“Where? How?”

“Don’t forget,” Lin Yi said irritably, “the money you used to buy this house was borrowed from me. So I can’t buy a house myself?”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you think I don’t know what kind of person you are?”

“What kind of person am I?” Lin Yi asked.

“You’re the type who can’t save money. You spend tomorrow’s money today. The money you lent me was probably newly received before you had time to spend it!”

Lin Yi clutched his chest dramatically.

“That hurts! If you think so little of me, why marry me?”

“No!” she said firmly.

“You must marry me today!”

“What if I don’t?” he laughed.

“You’re so pretty. Surely someone else would marry you.”

A high-level hunter often appears as prey.

Lin Yi felt proud of this strategy.

“Where are you looking?!” she snapped.

“Careful or I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

He had been staring at her long legs.

“Just looking,” Lin Yi said.

“They’re very… eye-catching.”

Then he looked around the courtyard.

“Your father isn’t home again?”

“Are you scared?” she asked.

“Of course not.”

She continued angrily, “Where exactly is this house you bought? How big is it? How much did it cost? Did someone trick you? Such a big matter and you didn’t discuss it with me? You spend money like water! If we really get married, you won’t be allowed to carry a single coin!”

Lin Yi sighed.

If his mother heard this, she might either treat this girl like a sister—or beat her to death.

“It’s outside the city on a hillside,” Lin Yi said honestly.

“Several dozen acres. Not many rooms—just about a hundred. It cost around two hundred thousand taels of silver.”

The new Prince He’s mansion was enormous.

Walking from the main gate to the side halls made him wish he had a donkey to ride.

A true luxury estate.

“Can you talk seriously?!” Guan Xiaoqi snapped.

Dozens of acres?

Two hundred thousand taels?

Even the wealthy developer Tian Sixi only had a three-courtyard residence.

Lin Yi sighed. “You’ll see when you visit.”

Anyone who saw his mansion would love it.

Even Hu Miaoyi, who had complained before, admitted it was a perfect place.

Beautiful mountains and lakes.

If this era had social media, Hu Miaoyi would definitely be posting humblebrags every day.

The house is too big—cleaning is exhausting.

There are too many servants—I can’t recognize them all.

My husband works too much—I have to eat a full table of food alone.

Or maybe:

The lotus flowers in the courtyard are blooming.

Feeding fish out of boredom.

Watching sunrise and sunset from home.

Living in such a mansion meant you never ran out of topics.

“So where is my eight-bearer bridal sedan?” Guan Xiaoqi asked.

“You really want it?” Lin Yi said.

“Are your words meaningless?”

“Alright! I’ll prepare it right now!”

He turned to leave.

“Hey! What are you doing?” she shouted.

“Getting your bridal sedan!”

“You idiot!” she scolded.

“Why waste money like that?!”

Lin Yi froze.

Whatever he did seemed wrong.

She then asked, “I don’t know anything about your family. Tell me about them.”

“I have more than twenty siblings,” Lin Yi said. “But everyone already lives separately.”

“Twenty?!” she exclaimed.

But she relaxed when she heard they didn’t live together.

Mother-in-laws and sisters-in-law were the hardest to deal with.

“My father had many wives,” Lin Yi explained.

“So only one sister shares my mother.”

“So your father must be rich?” she asked.

“He used to be,” Lin Yi said. “But after dividing the family property among all the children, he doesn’t have much left.”

“Will your father agree to our marriage?” she asked.

“Now you’re afraid?” Lin Yi teased.

“Of course not!” she said. “I’m just asking.”

“You’re asking now? Isn’t it a little late?”

She snorted. “If I want to marry you, what does it matter to anyone else? Still… I don’t want to make things difficult for you. Go home, bring your donkey, and come pick me up tonight. If I marry a chicken, I follow the chicken. If I marry a dog, I follow the dog.”

“You make it sound tragic,” Lin Yi laughed. “Like I’m bullying you.”

“You’re taking advantage and still acting innocent!”

“Fine,” Lin Yi said, waving as he left. “I’ll come pick you up tonight.”

Just outside the courtyard, Han Deqing descended from a rooftop.

“Your Highness.”

“I’m getting married,” Lin Yi said.

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“Then why are you still standing there?”

Han Deqing looked confused.

What exactly was he supposed to do?

Lin Yi continued, “Prepare ten chests of betrothal gifts and find Guan Sheng. I’m going to propose. And remember—once you find him, prepare him psychologically first.”

Han Deqing was still wondering what “psychological preparation” meant when Lei Kaishan shouted, “I’ll handle it!”

Han Deqing had no choice but to follow him.

Lei Kaishan stopped on a large tree and blew a whistle.

Soon a man from the Imperial Guard arrived—Zhou Jing.

Han Deqing threw him the command token.

“Find Guan Sheng. This is Prince He’s order.”

“Yes.”

After Zhou Jing left, Han Deqing turned to Lei Kaishan.

“Brother Lei… I’m not very smart. What exactly does ‘psychological preparation’ mean?”

Lei Kaishan laughed.

“It means when we find Guan Sheng, we tell him the Prince’s real identity first. Otherwise when the Prince arrives, he’ll waste too much breath explaining.”

Han Deqing suddenly understood. “So that’s what it means.”