IDWBE -Chapter 548 The Grand Princess Returns

“Like this old man?”

Guo Zhao was stunned for a moment before he understood what Han Deqing meant. After hesitating, he sighed. “Sir, I’m a native of Ankang City. I’ve always had a loose tongue by nature. In this city, if you randomly pull someone from the street—so long as they’re a local—they’re probably the same as me. We can say nice things in a way that doesn’t sound flattering, and when we insult people we can make it sound like we’re not insulting them at all. It’s passed down from generation to generation. We learn it without teachers. In other words, different places produce different kinds of people. It’s like how Ankang doesn’t produce lychees and Sanhe doesn’t produce grapes. Every climate grows its own crops—it’s all arranged by heaven. If you insist on planting rice in dry land or soybeans in flooded fields, you’re just asking for trouble. The only thing that grows everywhere is weeds. And if I may say something inappropriate—what talents do I even have? Aside from amusing Prince He a little, what else can I do? But you, sir, are the commander of the guards. What Prince He cares about isn’t what you say, but what you do. If you do your job well, your future will naturally be limitless.”

Han Deqing widened his eyes. He hadn’t expected Guo Zhao to say something so profound.

He cupped his fists respectfully.

“Thank you for the insight. That was truly enlightening.”

Guo Zhao chuckled.

“I’m only clear because I’m an outsider looking in. But I’m sincere. Just look at Lord Shen Chu and Lord He Hong—they are both commanders in their own right. One day you will surely become the same.”

“I wouldn’t dare compare myself with them,” Han Deqing said honestly. “Please continue guiding me in the future.”

This time he was telling the truth.

He couldn’t even compare with the unreliable Wang Xu or Bao Kui, let alone Shen Chu and He Hong.

“You’re too polite,” Guo Zhao said, secretly pleased.

It seemed that as the gardener and carriage driver of Prince He’s residence, he still carried some prestige.

---

The sun was setting.

Lin Yi had caught a full wooden bucket of crayfish.

On the way back to the residence, he stopped at a pool beneath a mountain stream and took a bath.

After returning home, he gulped down some tea, then went to the kitchen and personally instructed Su Yin on how to cook spicy crayfish.

Su Yin was extremely nervous but managed to avoid any mistakes.

The dish looked, smelled, and tasted perfect.

What Lin Yi hadn’t expected was that after two large basins of crayfish were served, no one except him ate any of it.

Everyone was afraid of the spiciness.

He didn’t force them.

After all, Mingyue and Hu Miaoyi were still nursing children.

After everyone left the dining hall, he simply had the table moved into the garden.

Spicy crayfish with grape wine—the more he drank, the more intoxicated he became.

Before he knew it, he was already tipsy.

“Old Guo, come here. Have a drink with me.”

Lin Yi spotted Guo Zhao in the garden instructing his son Guo Cong on how to trim branches.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Guo Zhao didn’t hesitate. He sat down across from Prince He, filled Lin Yi’s cup first, then poured one for himself.

“I could smell the fragrance of this wine from far away. Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. Otherwise I’d never have the chance in my life to drink such fine wine.”

“Cut the nonsense,” Lin Yi rolled his eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know—you and that old fellow Sang An are the same. You’ve both bought big houses and shops outside the city. Just the rent alone brings in more than a dozen taels each month. With your wealth, what wine can’t you afford? Don’t cry poverty. We’re friends here.”

In fact, Guo Zhao’s wealth might even surpass Sang An’s.

The Guo family might be a small household, but they were locals who had accumulated property over several generations.

Sometimes wealth really depended on historical accumulation.

To put it elegantly—heritage.

It reminded Lin Yi of his own past life.

He had been an orphan. After graduating from college, he earned five thousand a month.

His coworker also earned five thousand—but his parents had already saved up a house and a car for him.

The coworker didn’t pay rent, ate with his parents, and kept every cent he earned.

He could buy the latest camera, phone, and computer.

But Lin Yi’s five thousand had to cover rent, food, and all living expenses.

Not a single cent remained.

He used the same old ZTE phone until it nearly froze from lag before replacing it.

Their quality of life was worlds apart.

Any problem that could be solved with money—he couldn’t solve even one.

“As expected, Your Highness is well-informed,” Guo Zhao said proudly instead of denying it. “People who don’t know might think I’m poor. But who would guess that although I’m only a humble carriage driver, I own several courtyard houses? In Ankang City, I may not be among the richest, but I’m certainly better off than many. Your Highness, let me toast you.”

He drained his cup in one gulp.

“Look at you showing off,” Lin Yi scoffed. “You’re getting a bit carried away.”

“Your Highness, you need to finish yours so I can refill it,” Guo Zhao said, glancing at Lin Yi’s cup.

After Lin Yi finished drinking, Guo Zhao continued: “My ancestors fled here from Jizhou. We’ve taken root here for at least four generations. Each generation has lived better than the last. I can face my ancestors with pride.”

Han Deqing, standing nearby, admired him even more.

No one dared drink with Prince He like this!

Well… except Consort Wen Zhao.

Lin Yi laughed. “You should already be retired by now—walking around with a birdcage and enjoying life. Why bother working here?”

Guo Zhao grinned. “Your Highness, my whole family lives in the residence. We get food and housing without paying rent. Meanwhile our own houses are rented out for income. I’m not stupid.”

“Damn,” Lin Yi glared at him. “You’re exploiting me and still acting proud about it?”

Guo Zhao raised his chin. “Unless Your Highness drives my family away, we’re definitely not leaving.”

“Drink,” Lin Yi said, raising his cup again. “Your skin is thicker than I thought.”

Guo Zhao laughed. “There’s an old saying: thick skin means you get to eat your fill; thin skin means you go hungry.”

“You win,” Lin Yi said.

He hadn’t drunk this happily in a long time.

Suddenly—

A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.

Before Lin Yi even realized what was happening, a group of guards jumped out from the shadows with drawn swords and surrounded him.

Guo Zhao immediately stood up and stepped out of the protective circle.

Han Deqing stood beside Lin Yi.

“Your Highness, please remain calm.”

“Damn it. Even drinking wine isn’t peaceful,” Lin Yi muttered.

He kept sitting on the stone stool and continued drinking.

If someone managed to kill him on his own territory, then he deserved it.

Soon Tan Fei came over and reported:

“Your Highness, the Grand Princess has returned.”

Lin Yi was surprised.

“Why would she come back? Invite her over.”

Before he even finished speaking, the Grand Princess floated down gracefully.

Lin Yi said helplessly, “Aunt, can’t you just walk through the main gate like a normal person? Why jump over the wall?”

She wore a white silk dress.

Her features were still exquisitely beautiful, though her once flawless skin now carried traces of hardship.

There was a calm, aloof charm about her—subtle and distant, beyond mere physical beauty.

What a pity.

She was his own aunt.

Ignoring the guards, the Grand Princess sat across from him.

“I’ve never had the habit of using the front gate.”

“Everyone stand down,” Lin Yi waved to the guards.

Then he told Han Deqing,

“Why are you standing there? Bring my aunt a new bowl and chopsticks, and add a few dishes. She must be hungry after traveling.”

He had just been sending people to search for her.

Yet she returned on her own.

Truly puzzling.

The Grand Princess said calmly, “You left your old residence—I can understand that. But why move out of the palace to live here?”

Lin Yi sighed. “Aunt, you don’t understand. Your nephew is financially struggling these days. My income can’t cover my expenses. I’m trying to increase income and reduce costs—but reducing costs isn’t easy, so I can only focus on increasing income. Since the year before last, I’ve been actively renting out places like the Golden Throne Hall, Taihe Hall, and Meridian Gate. As long as they pay, people can visit, host banquets, hire opera troupes, or even perform exorcism rituals there.”

“Absurd!”

The Grand Princess frowned.

A maid brought fresh utensils.

Lin Yi poured wine and said casually, “You’re like a full man who doesn’t know the hunger of the starving. Come, drink some grape wine—it helps you sleep.”

After finishing her cup, the Grand Princess said, “I heard you’re hosting something called the Emperor’s Lunch Auction?”

Lin Yi laughed. “The news spreads fast—even Aunt knows?”

She snorted. “Your father is a proud man. How could he agree to such a thing?”

Lin Yi replied, “Father understands the greater good. As long as it benefits the Liang Kingdom and its people, he’s willing.”

The Grand Princess sighed. “I underestimated you.”

Lin Yi grinned and cupped his hands. “You flatter me. I’m also planning to have Father leave the palace and participate in commercial events. If merchants invite him to attend events, charging them a small fee should be reasonable, right?”

For example, if a merchant wanted publicity, the emperor could appear and endorse them—charging eighty or a hundred thousand taels per appearance.

“Ridiculous!”

The Grand Princess’s expression turned cold.

Lin Yi said respectfully, “I’m slow-witted. Please enlighten me, Aunt.”

Why was she angry?

Because Emperor Delong would leave the palace?

Or because he’d participate in commerce?

It seemed strange.

The Grand Princess stared at him.

“Do not underestimate your father. You may end up losing more than you gain.”

“So you’re saying I shouldn’t let him leave the palace?”

“Just take care of yourself,” she said coldly.

“Thank you for your concern,” Lin Yi replied.

Then he asked curiously, “Where have you been all this time?”

She took another sip of wine.

“I went to the Western Wilderness. I went to the Xingchen Sea.”

Lin Yi poured her more wine and listened.

“This time the Xingchen Sea failed to unify the Western Wilderness,” she said slowly. “The Western barbarians plundered everything. They bombarded the Great Buddha of Xingchen Sea, and the flames burned for seven days and nights. The followers of Xingchen Sea scattered and fled.”

Lin Yi was shocked. “So that Li Buddha—who was talked about like a legend—was also defeated so easily?”

His belief in technology only strengthened.

No matter how strong martial arts were—they feared cannons.

The Grand Princess continued, “These westerners are tall, with blond hair and blue eyes. They look just like the foreigners in the Imperial Observatory. You should guard against them—they might be spies. After conquering the Western Wilderness, Liangzhou and Jinzhou are not far away.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Lin Yi said, raising his cup again. “If Liang Kingdom falls, wouldn’t that suit you perfectly?”

She sighed. “The people of Liang are innocent.”

Lin Yi didn’t believe that nonsense.

None of the Lin family truly cared about the people—not his father, not Prince Yong, not his other brothers.

His aunt was no exception.

Their hearts were black.

Any good they did for the people was simply political theater.

“I’m tired,” the Grand Princess said.

Lin Yi immediately ordered, “Someone escort my aunt to a bedroom.”

“Yes.”

Zixia stepped forward. “Princess, this way.”

As Lin Yi watched her figure disappear into the corridor, he told Han Deqing quietly: “Send more guards to protect the young prince and princess. My aunt must not get close to them.”

With heavy guards around him, she wouldn’t dare attack him.

But the children?

He wasn’t so sure.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Han Deqing quickly arranged additional guards around the women’s quarters.

Lin Yi muttered to himself, “Maybe I should just send her back to the palace.”

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly shouted, “Someone! Send a pigeon message and summon Consort Wen back to the capital. Where is that bastard Liang Yuanzhi?”

Women understood women best.

And the two of them were even martial relatives.

Let Consort Wen deal with this aunt.

More importantly, Lin Yi still wanted to learn more about the secret treasury of Jizhao Nunnery from her.

“Your Highness, you called me?”

Liang Yuanzhi appeared, sweating heavily.

Lin Yi repeated the news he had heard from the Grand Princess.

“Go to the Governor’s Office immediately and tell Lord He. Also push Mo Shun to accelerate research on firearms. I don’t care how much it costs.”

These westerners he had never seen had suddenly become a serious threat.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Liang Yuanzhi hurried away.

---

Lin Yi slept poorly that night.

When he woke up the next morning, he still felt groggy.

Sun Cheng came to report that the natives wanted to see him again.

Lin Yi lay lazily in his chair, not even wanting to bother.

Sun Cheng hesitated. “Your Highness… this is their gift list.”

Lin Yi took it casually, glanced at it, and threw it on the ground. “Foreign tin, foreign salt, ebony, coral, ambergris, turkeys, rhinoceroses, divine deer, heavenly horses, slave girls…What nonsense is this? Do they think I’m some country bumpkin? Throw them out!”

Soon Chen Jingzhi came again to apologize.

Lin Yi refused to see him.

Chen Jingzhi had no choice but to leave with a bitter face and vent his anger on the natives.

Savages were savages.

Impossible to teach.

He felt utterly helpless.