IDWBE -Chapter 580 Benefits

“Are you criticizing me?” Emperor Delong’s tone carried even more grievance.

“Son has no such intention,” Lin Yi replied leisurely. “Father, the Western barbarians are asserting their strength at sea. Southern Gu, Ayu, and the Western Wastes have all been slaughtered. Our Da Liang Kingdom faces a century-unseen upheaval, an unprecedented enemy. If we continue clinging to the old ways, I might end up like that Li Fo—fleeing to the sea to become a ruler of an island.”

“How dare you!”

Emperor Delong’s voice was full of hatred.

Lin Yi froze for a moment, half-amused, half-exasperated. “Father, what exactly do you want?”

The emperor sighed. “I’ve devoted my whole life to sparing the people from suffering. Now, Wadan is at its peak. Once war begins, countless lives will be lost.”

Lin Yi smiled. “Father, two years ago at Liangma River, I already won one battle against them. I can win again. Father, you must understand: if Wadan is not destroyed and the northern steppes remain unconquered, our descendants in Da Liang will suffer. What I do now is for the sake of the future. If you truly care for Da Liang, you must let me act freely and directly unify the northern steppes. I remember you and Xuliewu are old rivals. He even insulted you. I will bring him before you personally, and you can deal with him as you wish.”

When Xuliewu first unified the northern steppes, he was like a hawk over the grasslands, ambitious and daring. Within two years, he had mobilized troops and marched south.

At that time, Emperor Delong had just ascended the throne—a young, vigorous ruler raised on horseback. Facing an old rival, he would not yield and personally led the campaign.

The ideal was noble, but reality was cruel. At Liangma Terrace, Delong’s camp was pierced by the Wadan troops, forcing him into a humiliating retreat.

Xuliewu directly pursued him, mocking him as a child emperor.

Only Mei Jingzhi, Yuan Ang, and others risked their lives to save him, allowing him to escape.

Delong considered this a lifelong humiliation.

Although Mei Jingzhi, Yuan Ang, and other descendants of military families had proven themselves, they were ordinary generals at the time. But after saving the emperor, they gained his trust, taking full command of the northern steppes. Wadan troops could not advance beyond the Liangshui River, and their fame skyrocketed.

No matter the state of the court, they remained unshakable.

If not for his existence, these two entrenched old generals might have been selling their services to the highest bidder.

Both Prince Yong and the Crown Prince would surely revere them as ancestors.

“Xuliewu!”

Hearing the name of his enemy, Emperor Delong’s lips twitched. “If you truly capture him, I will grant you one request.”

“What request?”

Lin Yi asked curiously.

“To live out your days in peace, free from worldly affairs,”

Emperor Delong said calmly.

“Father, let’s be frank,” Lin Yi said with a grin, “do you still have any trump cards you haven’t revealed?”

“Even Jizhao Hermitage fell to you. I assume Vajra Terrace won’t give you trouble anymore. What trump card do I still have?”

The emperor sighed. “My only reliance is this weakened body. If you truly commit an outrageous act, I will hang myself in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.”

“Father.” Lin Yi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “We’re father and son—do you really need to go this far?”

He trusted Emperor Delong could do it!

If it came to that, even if he wanted to ascend the throne, he wouldn’t have the chance!

Maybe he wouldn’t even be able to serve as Prince Regent!

If he forced his father to death, the empire would be filled with scandal and gossip.

How could he control the endless mouths of the world?

Even if he brazenly continued, it would be hard to get people to accept his policies and decrees.

The common people would no longer genuinely support him.

This was a truly dangerous situation!

“Capture Xuliewu, and I want to live,” Emperor Delong said, walking away without another word.

Lin Yi sighed and left the Qilin Palace, stepping onto the thick snow. As he walked, he said, “Xiao Yingzi.”

“I’m here,” Hong Ying lowered his head and followed. Having served Lin Yi for many years, he could sense the Prince Regent’s dissatisfaction from his tone.

“You nearly killed Jingkuan and Jingyi last night?”

Lin Yi asked sideways, annoyed.

“Your pardon, Prince,” Hong Ying hurriedly smiled. “Jizhao Hermitage tried to assassinate you repeatedly. I hate them, so when I saw them last night, I got angry and couldn’t hold back.”

“Be more careful next time,” Lin Yi said, walking on without looking back.

“Thank you, Prince,” Hong Ying was naturally overjoyed.

After catching up, Lin Yi asked, “Did you really just drain their cultivation?”

It felt almost mystical.

“Reporting, Prince,” Hong Ying bowed. “I used the Star-Absorbing Method to drain their skills. They shouldn’t have survived an hour, but Chen Xinluo acted on his own and let Yu Xiaochun transfer energy to them. They survived. I’ll have to deal with them later; they’ve really underestimated me.”

“Then you should thank them,” Lin Yi said slowly, hands behind his back. “If Jingyi and Jingkuan had really died, I would have sent you to the Laundry Bureau for two years, no return.”

“I accept my fault,” Hong Ying laughed, unconcerned.

Lin Yi continued, “This time I’ll have Mei Jingzhi and Yuan Ang reclaim the northern steppes. I appoint you as supervising officer. What do you think?”

Hong Ying smiled. “Prince, whether you say it or not, I’d like to see the frontier myself.”

Wadan’s Bodu and Ali were masters, while the blind man and monk were far in Chuanzhou. A-dai and Yu Xiaoshi were still weak in skill. He had to go personally to capture Xuliewu alive.

This was the Prince Regent’s promise to Emperor Delong.

“Then it’s settled,” Lin Yi said, reaching the Hall of Supreme Harmony’s entrance, watching snowflakes fill the sky. “Where is Qi Peng? He hasn’t come to see me in so long—should I go find him?”

Hong Ying glanced back. He Lian quickly said, “I’ll go to the Imperial Guards immediately.”

Having followed the two for so long, he couldn’t help but feel gratitude for the Prince Regent’s favor.

To commit such a grave crime against Jizhao Hermitage and be lightly forgiven by the Prince Regent? Incredible.

Lin Yi returned home and had just taken a sip of tea when Qi Peng was pushed in on a wheelchair by Jiang Qiu.

“Long live the Prince Regent, long, long, long may he live!”

“Do you even have the face to come here?”

“You summoned me, Prince, I dare not refuse,” Qi Peng said, bowing properly.

“You haven’t been in office long, and already your official aura is rising?”

Lin Yi’s tone grew sharper.

“No matter how high my rank, it is by your grace, Prince,” Qi Peng finally put away his flippant attitude upon seeing the Prince Regent’s expression.

“Are you aware of today’s court affairs?”

Lin Yi asked.

“Prince’s expedition to the northern steppes—such an important matter—how could I not know?”

Qi Peng took the tea cup offered by a maid, sipped lightly, and replied.