IDWBE -Chapter 539 Casual Family Talk

If it weren’t for her father’s constant nagging and persuasion, Guan Xiaoqi really wouldn’t have returned to Prince He’s Mansion.

Once inside the mansion, all her pride and self-respect seemed to disappear.

As Miss Zixia had said, everything had rules.

She wasn’t stupid.

Of course she understood these principles. But living a life bound by rules in exchange for wealth and glory was not something she desired.

Lin Yi smiled and said, “If you’re unhappy, come out for a walk with me. I’ll fish, and you can dig lotus roots or pick water chestnuts—do whatever you like.”

After fooling around with Du Yinniang all night, he was still full of energy and didn’t feel tired at all.

This surprised him.

So he decided not to waste time staying at home—going fishing was the proper thing to do.

Guan Xiaoqi pouted.

“I’m not riding a donkey.”

“Then we’ll walk. Treat it as exercise—so you won’t complain that I’m fat.”

Lin Yi clasped his hands behind his back and walked down the steps.

Living here had another advantage: the forest coverage was high, trees everywhere providing shade. Even walking along the official road, the sun couldn’t reach them. If they got tired, they could sit on a tree stump.

Most importantly, there were canals and ponds everywhere.

Fishing spots were easy to find nearby.

Unlike when he lived on Prince He’s Street in the city—there were only a few crooked locust and elm trees, and not even shade when stepping outside.

The only river inside the city was the Ju Ma River, and it wasn’t great for fishing. If he wanted to fish, he had to travel far outside the city.

Now he liked this mountain residence more and more.

Guan Xiaoqi followed behind him with her hands behind her back and suddenly asked, “Are you angry?”

Lin Yi laughed. “Since when did you start caring about other people’s feelings?”

She rolled her eyes. “Am I really that bad?”

“Well, you’re definitely not a good woman,” Lin Yi sighed. “You make me sleep alone every night. What are you plotting?”

If she refused to consummate the marriage, he really had no solution.

She knew martial arts—one push from her and he couldn’t force anything.

Every time he exhausted himself and ended up with nothing.

“Hmph,” Guan Xiaoqi said disdainfully. “You think I’m stupid? Every time you leave my room, Sister Zixia goes straight into yours.”

Lin Yi forced a calm expression. “She’s my maid. Isn’t it normal for her to come in to make my bed and pour tea?”

“You know exactly what bad things you’re doing!”

Guan Xiaoqi said angrily.

Lin Yi chuckled awkwardly. “Then tonight I’ll stay with you?”

“I don’t want you staying with me!”

Lin Yi grabbed her hand and swayed it gently. “You’re already in my mansion. Who else could you marry?”

“And even if you dared marry someone, no one would dare marry you.”

After all, Guan Xiaoqi already carried Lin Yi’s mark.

Unless someone had a death wish.

“You still dare say that!” she snapped angrily.

“Alright, don’t be angry,” Lin Yi said with a smile. “I’ll treat you well from now on, okay?”

“You have so many wives. Who knows which one you’ll treat well?”

The moment she said it, she realized she had misspoken.

This man actually had only one official wife.

She and the others like Du Yinniang were merely concubines—secondary wives.

Not true wives.

Thinking of that made her even more depressed.

“Come on, I’ll teach you how to fish. Tonight we’ll cook fish soup to nourish you.”

Ignoring her thoughts, Lin Yi dragged her down to a lake at the foot of the mountain.

The water was crystal clear, aquatic plants swaying gently beneath the surface.

Seeing this, Guan Xiaoqi couldn’t help saying, “There’s so much pig grass here! If I’d known earlier, I would’ve come to harvest it.”

Lin Yi laughed. “Then harvest it. I’ll buy you a few pigs to raise, and you can feed them this grass every day.”

“You’re teasing me again. Not a single word of truth.”

How could pigs possibly be raised in the luxurious Prince He’s Mansion?

Even if the prince allowed it, she wouldn’t dare.

It would make people laugh at them.

Lin Yi said seriously, “I’m serious. You don’t have to raise them in the mansion. I’ll give you money—pick any place nearby and build pigsties and sheep pens. Raise as many as you want.”

Guan Xiaoqi shook her head. “This wild mountain area—people will steal them. In three or five days everything will be gone.”

Lin Yi said, “You lack imagination, sister. I’ll tell you clearly: all the mountains within twenty miles belong to me. They’re private property—untouchable.”

“Raise whatever you want. If anyone dares steal, I’ll take your surname.”

He didn’t know exactly how the mansion’s security system worked.

But he knew all the important routes nearby were guarded.

Maybe not even mosquitoes could be stopped—but stealing one of his pigs would be harder than climbing to heaven.

“Just focus on fishing,” Guan Xiaoqi said.

She tied her skirt around her waist, sat by the shore, removed her shoes, and dangled her feet in the water happily.

Lin Yi stared at her straight, long legs.

His eyes could hardly look away.

---

News that the Chuanzhou army had entered Nangu Valley spread through Ankang City like wildfire.

From streets and alleys to the imperial court, people were discussing it intensely.

“Nangu Valley has always been an inseparable part of the Liang Empire,” Lin Yi declared loudly while looking at a rough map.

“These Western barbarians want to occupy it? No way. Send orders to Bao Kui—not an inch of land is to be given up.”

Both his uncles, Yuan Zhen and Yuan Shuo, were stationed in Chuanzhou.

One was the Military Inspector, the other the General.

With Lin Yi’s support, they had gradually gained control over the military and administration of Chuanzhou.

They had maintained peaceful relations with Jizhao Temple and Chunshan City.

But unexpectedly, a group of Western barbarians suddenly appeared.

They had already taken Ayu Kingdom, and now had seized most of Nangu Valley.

The barbarian king of Tugu Temple—whom Consort Wen had praised so highly—had fled with his monks.

Now the enemy’s cannons were stationed on the border of Chuanzhou.

How could he tolerate others sleeping beside his bed?

Lin Yi decided not to endure it anymore.

He ordered Bao Kui and Wang Dahai to bring 30,000 troops from Yuezhou and Hongzhou to reinforce Chuanzhou.

Win or lose, they would test the enemy first.

He Jixiang stepped forward.

“Generals Yuan Zhen and Yuan Shuo are seasoned veterans. Your Highness can rest assured.”

Standing in court, Lin Yi’s legs began to ache.

He glanced at the dragon throne above the steps.

After hesitating, he chose not to sit on it.

He didn’t want to cause misunderstandings that might lead to political turmoil.

Instead, under everyone’s stunned gaze, he walked forward, sat down on the steps, hugged his bare foot, and looked around.

Then he said to the pillar-state minister Yuan Ang: “General Yuan, you’re very… uh…”

He struggled for the right idiom.

“Strategic? No… uh… anyway, you’re very capable.”

The court officials stared at him in shock.

“If you have time, write more letters to your sons and give them advice.”

Beside him, Chen Yan covered his face.

The biggest regret of his life was becoming Prince He’s tutor.

How could someone in this world be so uneducated?

He couldn’t even use an idiom properly.

Embarrassing!

“Your Highness is wise!” Yuan Ang said loudly. “This old minister obeys!”

Lin Yi nodded, very satisfied with his attitude.

Your sons and grandsons are all under my control anyway.

If he ever decided to become a tyrant, none of them would return to Ankang alive.

In life, one must know how to adapt to the times.

“Anything else?” Lin Yi spread his hands. “If not, court is dismissed. Go home and find your mothers.”

The officials’ expressions changed again.

If Prince He kept behaving like this, the court etiquette established by the founding emperor would disappear entirely.

As for dignity—

Only Prince He still had it.

Everyone else had already lost face.

---

In the Imperial Garden, With nothing to do, Lin Yi strolled to Qilin Palace.

Emperor Delong half-closed his eyes and said calmly, “You seem to have plenty of leisure.”

Lin Yi smiled. “Father, about the deal you mentioned earlier—I think it can work. Please write a letter to Third Brother. Whether he accepts is up to him.”

“You must go to Jinzhou,” the emperor said indifferently.

“Father, Jinzhou is too far. I don’t have the time or energy to travel that far.”

“Just write the letter. I’ll make sure it reaches him.”

“Hopefully he will repent and return to the right path.”

Emperor Delong sighed. “I hope so.”

Liu Chaoyuan immediately presented a sealed letter.

Xiao Xizi quickly took it.

Lin Yi said, “In that case, I’ll take my leave. Just wait for my good news.”

As Xiao Xizi followed him with the letter, he whispered, “Your Highness… should I open it for you?”

Lin Yi stopped by the lotus pond. “Give it to Minister He to read. If there’s no problem, let him send it.”

His father’s handwriting was wild and difficult to read.

Looking at it too long would give him a headache.

Better not bother.

---

As Lin Yi fed the fish, he suddenly saw Consort Tang.

She had already noticed him and tried to slip away quietly.

But their eyes met.

She had no choice but to approach.

“The Regent Prince is busy with state affairs every day. I didn’t expect you to have such leisurely elegance today.”

Lin Yi smiled.

“I call this balancing work and entertainment.”

Every time he saw Consort Tang, he couldn’t help comparing her beauty to Du Yinniang’s.

Consort Tang was graceful, fair-skinned, elegant—someone suited to be a soulmate.

Du Yinniang had a wild beauty like an untamed horse—something every man wanted to conquer.

Faced with these two women, only an adult would know what choice to make.

Someone shameless like Emperor Delong would probably choose both.

“Your Highness is still as humorous as ever,” Consort Tang said with a smile.

Lin Yi said, “I recently told the Twelfth Prince to come visit you more often.”

“It is his blessing to serve Your Highness,” she replied. “I’m not so old that I need filial care. As long as he serves Your Highness well, I’ll be satisfied.”

Just then Lin Yi saw another figure approaching.

His mother.

Consort Tang immediately withdrew with her maids.

Consort Yuan looked at Consort Tang’s departing figure and muttered, “Fox spirit.”

Lin Yi sighed. “Mother, did she offend you?”

Consort Yuan snorted. “You came out of my belly. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking!”

Lin Yi blushed awkwardly. “You’re overthinking, Mother.”

She sat down calmly. “I heard you brought a common girl into your mansion—and she even dares to throw tantrums at you? You’re the Regent Prince, and you allow that? What kind of dignity is that? No rules at all! If I saw her, I’d beat her to death!”

Lin Yi sighed.

“Mother, what does this have to do with you?”

“You must remember,” she said coldly, “your father is still alive.”

Lin Yi groaned helplessly.

“Mother, you really are my real mother. The more you talk, the stranger it gets.”

There were so many palace servants around.

Couldn’t she speak more carefully?

If she weren’t his mother, someone’s face would already be suffering.

Consort Yuan continued calmly: “You’re not as bold as your father.”

“When your father wants something, he does it openly—no matter what people say.”

Lin Yi waved away the servants. “Mother, I’m timid and stupid. If you have something to say, just say it directly.”

She said slowly, “Since ancient times, when a father dies, the son marries the stepmother. When a brother dies, the younger brother marries the widow.”

“That’s normal. Nothing unusual.”

“The more you hide it, the less dignified you look.”

Lin Yi’s face turned red. “Where did that even come from?!”

He was both amused and helpless.

“Mother, I really have no such thoughts. You’re misunderstanding.”

Consort Yuan sighed in disappointment.

“With your personality, no wonder that little fox dares play hard-to-get with you.”

“Mother, are you hungry?” Lin Yi quickly said. “I’ll accompany you to lunch. Let’s stop this conversation.”

As a modern person, once topics touched moral taboos, he felt completely confused.

But Consort Yuan continued: “You think that fox spirit doesn’t have such intentions?”

“For the sake of her son, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do.”

“You should show more courage.”

“Stop being so timid. You’re embarrassing your mother!”

She grew angrier the more she thought about it.