IDWBE -Chapter 537 Comforting Someone

He cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for the guidance, Brother Lei. It’s fortunate you were here today. Otherwise I would definitely have been reprimanded.”

He had only taken over the position of Commander of the Prince’s Mansion Guards five days ago.

And Lei Kaishan and the others didn’t respect him—how could he not know that?

Although he was somewhat angry, there was nothing he could do.

Use his official authority to suppress them?

Lei Kaishan and the others were all seasoned veterans. Who would truly be afraid of him?

If he wanted to gain a foothold in Prince He’s Mansion, he could only rely on his own real ability.

Otherwise he wouldn’t hold this position for long.

“Commander, you’re too polite. This is what we should do,” Lei Kaishan said with a cupped-fist salute. “My lord, should we wait here now, or…?”

Han Deqing smiled and said, “Brother Lei, what if you went to give Guan Sheng a bit of psychological preparation?”

“I can’t do that,” Lei Kaishan refused without hesitation, pointing to his face. “Look at this fierce face of mine. I might scare him. If he looks unhappy in front of the prince, the prince might end up blaming us instead. We need someone kind-looking and eloquent.”

“Kind-looking and eloquent?” Han Deqing couldn’t think of anyone suitable.

Lei Kaishan added, “And someone familiar with Guan Sheng.”

Han Deqing laughed. “Brother Lei, stop beating around the bush. Just say the name.”

Lei Kaishan jumped down from the tree and sat on a large rock by the river. “You just need to call Su the Fatty over.”

“Su Yin?” Han Deqing had thought of many people—but never him.

“Who else could it be?” Lei Kaishan grinned.

“When the prince fishes by the canal, Su Yin often accompanies him. Sometimes he even grills food. Guan Sheng and his daughter know him fairly well and probably think he’s some friend or relative of the prince. Besides, Su Yin is smooth in every direction and very eloquent. Several times he fooled Guan Sheng so thoroughly that the man was stunned. If you send him, it’ll definitely work.”

Han Deqing laughed. “Alright then—Su Yin it is.”

Lei Kaishan said, “If you agree, I’ll go inform him now and have him prepare Guan Sheng mentally.”

Han Deqing nodded, then suddenly stopped him again. “Should we inform Miss Zixia at the mansion?”

He had just realized that being commander of the guards was far from easy.

Everything was about details.

One mistake led to countless others.

Jiao Zhong had been right:
Whatever the prince explicitly ordered, they had to run their legs off to accomplish.
Whatever the prince didn’t mention, they had to think of themselves—actively filling in gaps so there wouldn’t be the slightest mistake.

Lei Kaishan said quietly, “There are no outsiders here—just the two of us speaking frankly. Even if the prince likes Guan Xiaoqi very much, she’s still just a country girl. If we make the matter too grand, where would that leave the princess consort, Jinxiang, and Mingyue? There are precedents in the mansion. Our princess consort is the legitimate wife—married with formal rites and carried in an eight-bearer sedan. But Jinxiang and Miss Du entered the mansion alone, and even Miss Mingyue still has no official title or ceremony. Following the prince’s instructions and bringing Miss Guan into the mansion on a donkey is already a great honor for her.”

Han Deqing hesitated. “But Miss Zixia currently manages the household. We can’t say nothing at all, can we?”

Lei Kaishan replied, “Of course we must let her know—but we shouldn’t foolishly go and discuss what preparations to make. That would make us seem meddlesome and deliberately unpleasant. I’ll simply tell her that the prince plans to bring Guan Xiaoqi into the mansion. Whether she prepares anything is her decision. Why should we say more and make ourselves disliked?”

Han Deqing sighed with admiration. “Brother Lei, you’ve really awakened me.”

---

At Prince He’s Mansion, as the sun set, dark clouds seemed to hang over the mansion.

Du Yinniang smiled at Zixia and said, “Your prince really is quite affectionate. Jinxiang and I haven’t been here long, yet there’s already another one?”

Zixia replied calmly, “Miss Du jokes. Our prince has a gentle temperament and is loved wherever he goes. This is quite normal.”

Hu Miaoyi had been playing with the daughter in her arms. Seeing everyone looking at her, she smiled.

“The thunder and the rain are both the emperor’s grace. Let’s not gossip about it.”

Then she turned to Zixia.

“Zixia.”

“Yes, this servant is here,” Zixia quickly responded.

Hu Miaoyi said, “With another sister joining us, the household will be even livelier. Our prince is wise but often careless with small matters. Help handle the arrangements. Hang ribbons at the gate if ribbons should be hung. Set off fireworks if fireworks should be set off. Don’t make it too shabby and let the new sister feel wronged.”

“Yes.”

Zixia forced a smile.

The princess consort’s words sounded reasonable—but were actually vague.

What did “hang ribbons if ribbons should be hung” even mean? Should they hang them or not?

Should fireworks be set off or not?

The problem was still hers.

And besides, would ribbons and fireworks alone make it less shabby?

Mingyue handed the child to a nanny and said to the princess consort, “Your Highness is truly considerate. When the prince hears this, he’ll surely be pleased. Since the prince likes this girl, he probably wants to honor her. We should simply follow his wishes.”

Hu Miaoyi smiled.

“You’re right.”

“Zixia, take one hundred taels of silver from my private funds and add two bolts of silk.”

“Your Highness is benevolent,” Zixia said.

But inwardly she was uneasy.

One hundred taels and two bolts of silk were a lot for ordinary people.

In fact, when Prince He married the princess consort years ago, the betrothal gifts were about the same.

But at that time the prince had deliberately meant to insult Prince Heshun.

Now he was marrying a girl he actually liked.

This amount looked pitifully small.

If the prince misunderstood and blamed them, they would truly be unable to explain themselves.

At Nightfall, Servants hung red embroidered balls under the big lanterns at the gate.

Soon after, Lei Kaishan led a donkey out of the mansion. Two guards followed carrying bridal chests.

All of them wore plain clothes.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi had spent the entire day loafing around in a teahouse—drinking tea and listening to storytellers.

Confidently, he arrived at Guan’s house.

But the atmosphere felt wrong.

“Your Highness,” Su Yin hurried over. “I’ve already persuaded Guan Sheng… but…”

“But what?” Lin Yi frowned.

Su Yin smiled awkwardly. “Guan Sheng is overjoyed. But Miss Guan… can’t quite accept it yet.”

“Where is she?”

Lin Yi looked around but didn’t see Guan Xiaoqi.

At that moment Guan Sheng knelt stiffly.

“Commoner Guan Sheng greets Your Highness! Long live Your Highness! I did not know your identity before. If I offended you, please forgive me!”

Lin Yi waved it off. “We’re already acquainted—no need for such courtesy. Where’s your daughter?”

Guan Sheng hesitated. “My daughter was too shocked by your favor. She seems to have suffered a mental disturbance… If Your Highness could give us a few days, I will find her and take good care of her. She should recover soon.”

“A mental disturbance?”

Lin Yi hadn’t expected that.

He immediately left the house.

“Where is she?” he asked Han Deqing.

“By the Ju Ma River, near Qianzha Street,” Han Deqing quickly replied. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ve had people watching her the whole time.”

Lin Yi mounted the donkey decorated with a big red embroidered ball and rode toward the river.

Soon he saw the familiar figure standing there.

He climbed down, walked over, and deliberately coughed.

“Hey, young lady ahead—were you abandoned by your husband? Why look like you want to die?”

“You’re the one who wants to die! Your whole family does!”

Guan Xiaoqi spun around and blurted it out before she could stop herself.

Lin Yi laughed. “I like your temper.”

“You said you’d marry me. Why regret it now?”

Guan Xiaoqi wiped away tears angrily.

“You already have wives! More than one! Why did you come bother me? I know you’re Prince He now. I’m just a small woman—I can’t offend you. But you shouldn’t deceive people like this!”

Lin Yi said gently, “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to deceive you. You suddenly said you wanted to marry me, and I didn’t find a good chance to explain.”

“Then why didn’t you reject me at that time?” she demanded. “Cut off my hopes!”

Lin Yi grinned. “What can we do? I already brought the betrothal gifts. You can’t refuse to marry now, right? A promise is a promise.”

“What if I break it?” she retorted. “You’re the Regent Prince. Are you going to chop off my head?”

Lin Yi shook his head. “Talking about killing ruins the mood.”

He stepped forward and grabbed her hand.

She tried to shake him off but hesitated.

“Let go! Don’t think I won’t beat you just because you’re the Regent Prince!”

“Go ahead and hit me,” Lin Yi said, pushing his face closer.

“I promise that even if I scream my lungs out, nobody will come save me.”

“You!”

Guan Xiaoqi stamped her foot.

“You’re just a rascal!”

Lin Yi laughed.

“What did you like about me then? Isn’t it because my skin is thick?”

She said bitterly, “The rumors were right!”

“About me being useless?” Lin Yi shrugged. “I’ve heard it since childhood.”

Guan Xiaoqi almost cried. “I just wanted to marry a man I thought was decent. I never imagined he’d be the Regent Prince of the Liang Dynasty—the Ninth Prince!”

Lin Yi smiled. “You have no way out now. Better just surrender.”

“And if I don’t?”

Without warning, he scooped her up. “You’ll surrender even if you don’t want to!”

He placed her on the donkey. “Back to the mansion!”

“You rascal!”

“Thank you for the compliment!”

“You bastard!”

“Then give me a little bastard!”

“You’re not human!”

“They all call me ‘Your Highness of Ten Thousand Years.’ If I really lived that long, I wouldn’t be human—I’d be a god!”

Guan Xiaoqi finally burst into laughter despite herself.

“You’re so slick-tongued!”

“Let me sing for you!”

Without waiting for her reply, Lin Yi began shouting songs loudly beside the river while dancing and leading the donkey.

Hidden in the darkness, Lei Kaishan and the others watched everything.

They were amazed.

Guan Xiaoqi looked gentle—but she truly dared to scold the prince!

They had never seen anyone speak to Prince He like that.

And the prince himself…

He was truly good at coaxing people.

They realized for the first time—

This is how you comfort a woman.

Near the Mansion, Suddenly Guan Xiaoqi said, “Wait.”

“Regretting again?” Lin Yi asked tiredly.

She snorted, removed the red scarf from her waist, tossed it in the air, and it settled neatly on her head like a bridal veil.

Lin Yi smiled.

“Then let’s go.”

He led the donkey into the mansion.

Fireworks exploded.

He helped her down and said softly, “We’re home.”

When he tried to follow her inside, she pushed him out.

“Follow the rules,” she said. “After you arrange things, come lift my veil.”

Lin Yi sighed and collapsed in the garden while maids massaged his shoulders.

“I’m exhausted after walking so far.”

Zixia covered her mouth and laughed. “You’ve worked hard, Your Highness.”

Lin Yi waved his hand. “Go check on her. She seems carefree but is actually shy with strangers. Teach her the ropes.”

“Yes,” Zixia smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Miss Guan.”