IDWBE -Chapter 586 Du Zhong

The thought of his son—soon to sail the seas as a pirate—made Lin Yi furious. Tan Xizi, still chattering beside him, immediately got a swift kick.

“Congratulations on your sister!” Lin Yi snapped.

“My sister?”

Tan Xizi took the kick without dodging, let out a habitual shriek, then curiously asked, “Prince, you know my little sister too?”

After he made his fortune, all his siblings benefited as well—a real “chickens and dogs ascend to heaven” situation—but they had all stayed in their hometown, never coming to Ankang City.

His youngest sister was indeed quite attractive, but how could the Prince know her? They shouldn’t have met before!

“Your sister! What’s wrong with your brain?”

Lin Yi, both angry and amused, decided to ignore him and headed straight to the Du residence.

“Greetings, Regent Prince! Long live the Regent Prince!”

Wen Qian led the group, kneeling and bowing.

“Lead the way.”

Lin Yi said nothing else.

Following him, Tan Xizi noticed that the Du residence had guards every three steps, sentries every five. On closer inspection, each was a master of fifth rank or higher—stricter than the Prince’s own guards.

What were these pirates planning? Did they not trust the military bureau, the Ankang Prefecture, or even the capital garrison?

Did they have no confidence in Ankang City’s security?

He knew the Du family was close to the Prince, but for safety, he stopped the Chief of Guards, Han Deqing, and asked quietly, “It’s not just you few, right?”

Han Deqing was still floating around ninth rank—his martial skill lax! Tan Xizi couldn’t understand how Master Hong Ying had agreed to let him be Chief of Guards.

Han Deqing smiled awkwardly. “Xizi, don’t worry. Though I am slow, I would never joke with the Prince’s safety.”

Unlike Ma Gui, He Hong, or Jiao Zhong, who were skilled, well-connected, and held high ranks—capable of ignoring Tan Xizi—Han Deqing was just an ordinary guard. Even as Chief, he couldn’t command the Prince’s household fully.

Without Hong Ying’s backing, Lei Kaishan and Tan Fei would have long thrown him to the moat.

Tan Xizi whispered, “Are A-Dai and Yu Xiaoshi there?”

“….”

Han Deqing could only smile bitterly. A-Dai and Yu Xiaoshi were now Grand Masters!

Even the so-called “upright and incorruptible” officials of the court had to respectfully address them as Lord Yu or Lord Cui.

Tan Xizi, despite being the imperial censor, dared to call Grand Masters “fools”? He had really become arrogant.

If they heard him, getting beaten would be the least of it—even losing an arm or a leg wouldn’t be surprising.

If the Prince found out, he would probably just smile and advise him to be magnanimous.

As Tan Xizi was about to continue, a sudden chill struck him. He shivered and, without warning, a hand slammed onto his shoulder!

He was a peak ninth-rank master! Normally, no one could approach him unnoticed, let alone lay a hand on his shoulder! Only a Grand Master could do that.

According to the Prince, there were only two types of Grand Masters in the world—those who serve the people, and those who oppose them.

Those against the people, like Jingkuan and Jingyi, were still in the Dali Temple prison. Even the head monk of Vajra Platform had submitted!

Now, the remaining Grand Masters were all tightly centered around the Prince.

Master Hong was overseeing troops in the north; the blind man and the monk held positions in Chuanzhou.

Only a handful of Grand Masters could even enter the Du residence.

He turned his head cautiously, just in time to see a fist the size of a bowl smashing toward him, followed by a roar:

“How dare you insult our fool! Dog food for your rice!”

Lin Yi walked ahead, faintly hearing Yu Xiaoshi’s angry shout.

Then came a scream—whose, he couldn’t tell.

An assassin? He didn’t bother.

Guided by Wen Qian, he arrived at Du Yinniang’s room. Two maids opened the door. Standing nearby were Chen Xilian, known as the “Child-Delivering Guanyin,” and Yan Hong, called “Granny Yama.”

Lin Yi waved without waiting for them to bow.

They knew the Prince well—what he liked and disliked.

Their master Hu had once said: the Prince hated unnecessary formalities more than his enemies.

The Prince was noble, had faced enemies, but had never seen anyone act arrogantly before him—except for endless formalities, which were irritating.

To please the Prince, one had to be his “friend” and follow his principle of “equality for all.”

Bending the truth? That was called a well-intentioned lie.

A baby’s cry clenched Lin Yi’s heart.

He stepped forward, looked at the wrinkled little face in Du Yinniang’s arms, and all complaints vanished.

His son—even if a pirate—didn’t seem so terrible.

“Prince.”

Du Yinniang tried to rise.

“Rest.”

Lin Yi lifted the child into his own arms. Seeing her worried face, he reassured her: “Don’t worry, I’ll hold him carefully.”

Having grown up in an orphanage, he had held and comforted hundreds of children—he was experienced.

Yet the moment the child was in his arms, he cried even louder.

“Prince.”

Du Yinniang, distressed, snatched the baby back.

“Take good care of him.”

Having disturbed the child, Lin Yi felt guilty.

“Thank you, Prince.”

Du Yinniang, unconcerned, opened her clothes and nestled the baby to her chest. The child stopped crying.

“Hard work, indeed.”

Just like telling a girl in pain, “Drink more water, let me rub it for you,” empty words—no real effect. But still, courtesy demanded it.

“Prince,” Du Yinniang brushed the messy hair from his snow-white forehead, her voice serious. “My father gave him a name before he was born. I hope the Prince will approve.”

“What’s the name?”

Thinking of the pain she endured giving birth, Lin Yi’s previous temper vanished.

“Du Zhong.”

“Surname Du?”

Tan Xizi flinched, glancing at the Prince’s expression, but couldn’t help saying, “Your Highness, that’s… not proper.”

Du Yinniang lowered her head in silence.

Lin Yi sighed. “Approved.”

No matter the surname, nothing could change the fact that this was his own son.