IDWBE -Chapter 544 A Test

Of course, there was no possibility of regret.

Nowadays, the village head of the place where he lived, the local rich men of the same village, and even the constables of Ankang Prefecture and the Capital Garrison all respectfully addressed him as “Master Guan.”

A few days ago when he went to see a doctor, even Hu Shilu, the most famous divine physician in Great Liang, personally performed acupuncture on him.

The doctor’s manner was gentle and warm.

This level of prestige was something he could never have earned in his lifetime by his own ability.

“I won’t disturb you father and daughter chatting. I’ll take my leave. Come visit the residence when you have time.”

Seeing how cautious and timid Guan Sheng looked, Lin Yi knew that no matter how long they talked, it would just be the same repetitive phrases. There was no point in continuing.

Guan Sheng hurriedly said, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Watching Lin Yi’s figure gradually disappear into the distance, he sighed after a long while.

“Everything else is fine… except that a father-in-law has to bow to his son-in-law. It feels too awkward.”

Guan Xiaoqi looked around carefully. Seeing no one nearby, she lowered her voice.

“Father, don’t talk nonsense. He hasn’t treated you badly. Don’t be ungrateful.”

“I’m not ungrateful,” Guan Sheng said awkwardly. “There’s no one else here, just the two of us. I was only speaking casually.”

Guan Xiaoqi sighed. “You’d better not speak casually. Just in case—I mean if by chance—someone hears you, it wouldn’t be good.”

“Alright, I understand,” Guan Sheng said.

Then he asked, “Now that you’ve entered the residence… don’t you have a proper title?”

Guan Xiaoqi shook her head. “Father, why are you worrying again? Didn’t I tell you before? I’m not the only one without a title. Even Sister Mingyue has followed him for many years and still doesn’t have one. So stop asking.”

Guan Sheng became anxious. “If I don’t ask, you must ask! Don’t remain confused like this, ending up like a bedchamber maid.”

Guan Xiaoqi said irritably, “That’s exactly what I am. What else do you think?”

“Uh…”

Guan Sheng glanced around again before whispering, “I think he’s a good person. If you speak to him properly, he wouldn’t refuse to give you a title.”

“Can you stop interfering in my affairs?” Guan Xiaoqi said helplessly.

“How can I not interfere?” Guan Sheng said urgently.

“You’re my daughter. Of course I’m doing this for your good! Look at you—raising sheep and cattle here every day. What kind of behavior is that? You smell like goats all the time. People might start despising you.”

“Other than you, who would despise me?” Guan Xiaoqi replied while pouring crushed corn kernels into the sheep pen.

“You don’t understand. In the residence I either eat or drink all day. If I’m not eating or drinking, I’m staring blankly into space. If I don’t find something to do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll rot from boredom.”

“And that’s not good?” Guan Sheng stomped his foot angrily.

“You don’t know how to enjoy good fortune! How many people beg for this life but can’t have it!”

Guan Xiaoqi brushed corn dust from her hands.

“You want to enjoy good fortune? Fine. The bride price Prince He gave you last time should be enough for you, right? If that’s not enough, I’ll give you my monthly allowance of twenty taels too. You can stay home all day without stepping out. How about that?”

“That would suffocate me to death!” Guan Sheng blurted immediately.

“And you think I wouldn’t suffocate?” Guan Xiaoqi said, pointing to the sweet potato vines on the ground.

“If you really have nothing to do, why not help me with some work?”

“I still have things to do,” Guan Sheng said quickly. “I’ll go first.”

“Wait.”

Guan Xiaoqi stopped him and warned seriously: “I know you have some money now, and lately you’ve become addicted to gambling. But listen carefully—if you lose too much, I won’t help you. And if you drag Prince He’s name into it, who will respect me in the future? Neither of us will have good days then.”

Guan Sheng replied confidently, “Do you really think your father is stupid? I’ve traveled all over the world. I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry—I just play small games. Nothing serious.”

With that he hurried away.

Guan Xiaoqi sighed silently.

Without realizing it, her father had changed.

But exactly how he had changed, she couldn’t quite explain.

---

Lin Yi rode onto the newly built cement road and mounted his donkey.

He said to Han Deqing beside him, “My father-in-law looks full of energy these days—like he’s enjoying a second spring.”

Han Deqing replied, “As expected, nothing escapes Your Highness. Ever since Miss Guan entered the residence, many matchmakers have taken an interest in Master Guan. And Master Guan has indeed taken a liking to one woman.”

Lin Yi chuckled. “You’ve improved lately. Even gossip like this you can find out.”

Han Deqing smiled politely. “All thanks to Your Highness’s guidance.”

“You’re starting to sound more and more like Xiao Yingzi,” Lin Yi said while shaking the reins.

“Of all people to imitate, why imitate him?”

“If I could achieve even one ten-thousandth of the Chief Steward’s ability, I would be satisfied,” Han Deqing said proudly.

“You really…” Lin Yi stared at him.

If he hadn’t known him well, he might have suspected someone else had replaced him.

The change was too great.

“You’re quite a talent. Study well under Hong Ying. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I’ll send you to the imperial palace for further training.”

Han Deqing almost said “Your Highness is wise” out of habit.

But when he heard the last words, his legs nearly buckled.

Further training in the palace?

That meant becoming a eunuch!

Absolutely impossible.

Even death would be preferable.

He hurriedly said, “Your Highness, I only wish to guard your side.”

“If you cut off the root of trouble, you could still guard me,” Lin Yi joked. “Don’t you think?”

“Your Highness…” Han Deqing looked like he was about to cry.

“Alright, stop making that face,” Lin Yi yawned.

“Tell me—who did my father-in-law fall for?”

Han Deqing answered, “Apparently a widow who runs a cosmetics shop. She’s quite attractive and currently has no children.”

Lin Yi nodded. “Investigate her carefully. If she has any dirty background, this marriage cannot happen. Otherwise it would damage my reputation.”

Han Deqing clasped his hands.

“Rest assured, Your Highness. I’ve already investigated. The widow was born and married in the South City. After her husband died of tuberculosis, she focused entirely on running her cosmetics shop. She has had no improper connections with anyone. But of course… she probably hopes to gain some advantage from the relationship.”

Lin Yi laughed.

“If she didn’t want to gain something, what would she see in Guan Sheng? His poverty? Or his old age?”

Han Deqing smiled awkwardly.

Prince He could joke freely about his father-in-law.

But a subordinate certainly could not.

“Remember to send my father-in-law some of this year’s new tea,” Lin Yi said as they arrived at the residence gate, tossing the reins back to Han Deqing.

“If he’s courting someone, he’ll need good tea when he invites her over.”

“Yes.”

Han Deqing quickly agreed.

---

The weather was stifling.

The once-empty street suddenly became crowded because of a caravan passing through.

The Military Police Office had to dispatch men to maintain order.

Standing on the steps outside her shop, Li Sanniang stretched her neck to watch the passing carriages.

“These natives from the South Seas came too?”

The people were dark and thin. She was certain she wasn’t mistaken.

When Sanhe first opened its sea trade, merchants from Sanhe and Nanzhou had hunted natives across the islands of the South Seas like mad.

Those natives had nowhere to escape and eventually followed the Sanhe people out to sea.

Soon, large numbers of natives gathered in Sanhe.

Not only merchants and commoners liked buying them—even Bian Jing, the official supervising Sanhe’s construction projects, bought them.

After all, it was a one-time investment with lifelong benefit.

They ate little, worked hard, and were obedient.

Statistics once showed that one out of every five people in Sanhe was a native.

At the peak there were more than one hundred thousand of them.

But not long after, Sanhe banned the buying and selling of people.

Natives could only be hired as laborers.

Once freed, most returned home with sea merchants, though many stayed behind.

For example, Li Sanniang’s small clothing shop had more than a dozen native women working there.

They spoke Sanhe dialect even better than northerners.

If one only listened to their voices without seeing their faces, it would be impossible to guess they were natives.

“You want to know?” Tian Sixi said. “That’s easy.”

He grabbed a dark, skinny middle-aged man.

“Old An, look—Is the one riding that tall horse your high priest?”

The man called Old An was furious at being grabbed by the collar.

But once he saw Tian Sixi, he quickly bowed.

“So it’s Shopkeeper Tian. The one leading the group is indeed our respected priest Dag.”

After speaking, he ignored Tian Sixi and, like many others among the crowd of dark, thin natives, knelt down and kowtowed.

Tian Sixi frowned.

“These natives have lived in Great Liang for years, yet they still respect Dag so much.”

Li Sanniang asked curiously, “The South Seas are tens of thousands of miles from Liang. How did news of this auction travel there so quickly?”

Tian Sixi shook his head. “They might not have come for the auction. Maybe it’s just coincidence. The Westerners have already occupied the islands of the South Seas. They’re not as merciful as Prince He. They kill natives on sight and use every torture imaginable. The natives hate them to the bone. If this continues, their people may truly face extinction. Perhaps they came here to ask Prince He for justice.”

Tian Shiyou looked at Tian Sixi in surprise and laughed.

“You dog—finally showing some improvement.”

“You dog yourself,” Tian Sixi snapped back. “Want to fight? Do you think I’m afraid of you?”

He had made a fortune developing real estate outside the city.

Not only did he earn money, he also made Prince He a great deal of silver.

Prince He even praised him as the God of Wealth.

He was no longer the small bandit chief from Golden Rooster Mountain.

Moreover, his master was Ye Qiu.

Who was Tian Shiyou to challenge him?

Another reason was that Tian Shiyou had begun competing with him, also developing housing projects outside the city—with Prince He’s support.

Competitors were natural enemies.

Tian Sixi wished he could cut him down with a single blade.

“Pick a date,” Tian Shiyou said with a faint smile. “Let’s go outside the city and settle it.”

“Shopkeeper Tian,” a sudden voice said. “If you want to exchange martial skills, I would gladly accompany you.”

Tian Shiyou immediately noticed Ye Chen standing beside him.

“Hmph,” Tian Shiyou sneered. “If Young Master Ye wants to spar, I’d welcome it. I’m just afraid beating the younger one will bring out the elder.”

If it weren’t for Ye Qiu, he would have beaten Ye Chen senseless long ago.

Having a Grandmaster brother was indeed impressive.

“Master Ye has already reached the Ninth Rank,” Tian Sixi added. “If he beats you, why would he need to call my master? You think too highly of yourself.”

Tian Shiyou snorted. “Even if the two of you came together, you might not beat me. But I’d rather not have Lord Ye misunderstand and think I’m bullying you.”

Although Ye Qiu held no official title in Prince He’s residence, anyone who saw him addressed him respectfully as “Lord Ye.”

Ye Chen said calmly, “My elder brother is busy. He has no time to bother with such trivial matters. Shopkeeper Tian must have misunderstood.”

He was telling the truth.

Since coming to Ankang City, he had only seen his brother once—when he himself was injured by river bandits in Jiangnan.

Tian Shiyou naturally didn’t believe him.

He snorted. “Tell me—what do these natives have to do with you? Why are you staring so eagerly?”

Ye Chen replied, “Then why are you here, Shopkeeper Tian?”

He glanced toward Liang Qingshu, Mo Shun, and others.

“And you shopkeepers—why are you here?”

Liang Qingshu smiled.

“The natives arrived so suddenly. We just came to watch the excitement.”

Ye Chen cupped his hands.

“I happened to have some free time, so I came to watch as well.”

Tian Shiyou said, “Don’t underestimate these people. Many of them secretly learned Huiyuan Gong while in Sanhe. Even though they didn’t learn the full technique, some are quite talented. Some have already broken through to the Third or Fourth Rank. Old An, am I right?”

As the native convoy moved farther away, Old An—who had just stood up—shuddered when he heard Tian Shiyou.

He hurriedly smiled apologetically.

“Shopkeeper Tian, you flatter us too much. Thanks to Prince He’s kindness, many of us only learned a few basic martial skills while working as laborers.”

Tian Shiyou suddenly placed a hand on Old An’s shoulder, expressionless.

“You’re not being honest.”

“Shopkeeper Tian…”

Seeing that Tian Shiyou wouldn’t relent, Old An looked miserably at Liang Qingshu and Ye Chen.

“Shopkeeper Liang, Shopkeeper Ye—you know me. I’ve always run my business honestly in Baiyun City and Ankang City. I’ve never dared cross any lines.”

Ye Chen placed one hand on Old An’s other shoulder and said calmly, “You’re not cultivating Huiyuan Gong.”

Tian Shiyou glanced at him.

“So you do have some insight.”

Old An suddenly collapsed to the ground after the two men removed their hands.

He covered his mouth, but blood still flowed through his fingers.

Li Sanniang rushed forward, handing him a handkerchief and wiping the blood.

She scolded the two men. “Why deliberately agitate his inner energy? He’s only a Third Rank cultivator—how could he withstand that?”

Tian Shiyou laughed. “You misunderstand. This old fellow learned Absorbing Star Technique. His inner power isn’t under his control. When he sensed my inner energy, he instinctively tried to absorb it. The backlash injured him.”

“Absorbing Star Technique?!”

Liang Qingshu and the others looked at each other in shock.