IDWBE -Chapter 80 Foolish Loyalty

Lin Yi ran down the steps three at a time, looking flustered. Hong Ying, following behind, was startled and kept both hands hovering as if to steady him, afraid he might fall.

Lin Yi swatted his hands away, anxious: “You can’t even see her anymore! Don’t just stand there—hurry and catch up!”

Hong Ying smiled. “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ve already sent Han Deqing to follow her.”

“Really?”

Lin Yi glanced around but didn’t see Han Deqing anywhere.

“Han Deqing is loyal to Your Highness. This small task he can handle just fine,” Hong Ying reassured him.

Hearing that, Lin Yi stopped to catch his breath, panting heavily. “Damn it… I’m already out of breath from such a short distance.”

He disliked bringing many attendants along on outings; it drew too much attention.

This time, Hong Ying had quietly arranged for Han Deqing to shadow them in secret. Lin Yi wasn’t angry at all; he was even somewhat pleased—otherwise, they might have lost track of the girl!

Hong Ying said, “Your Highness, that young lady is skilled in martial arts. From what I can see, at least third-rank, and her light-footed skills just now were impressive too.”

Lin Yi sighed. “No wonder even I couldn’t catch up with her, running as fast as I do.”

They leisurely descended the mountain and met Han Deqing at the foot, holding a waiting donkey.

Seeing the donkey, Lin Yi was delighted—finally, he didn’t have to walk on two legs.

He climbed onto the donkey and asked, “Did the others keep up?”

Han Deqing smiled. “Your Highness, three groups are following; they won’t get lost. I also inquired—she’s a Miss from the Yan family. She won’t run far.”

“You can run but can’t escape a temple,” Lin Yi finally relaxed. “Let’s not go back yet; let’s wait at the tea stall.”

Han Deqing grinned. “Your Highness, it’s a minor matter—why worry? Should I go personally to the Yan family and bring her here?”

“Bring her?”

Lin Yi understood: it was the subtle pressure tactic. If that didn’t work, they’d resort to binding her.

He had never used this method himself, but in Ankang City, he had seen it many times.

So he said irritably, “If I ever become a spoiled playboy, turning into the kind of person I once hated, none of you will be innocent!”

Han Deqing proudly replied, “Your Highness deems it acceptable; that is the Yan family’s good fortune for generations!”

Lin Yi said, “The Yan family is a respected local clan. They just paid eighty thousand taels in tribute not long ago. I don’t have the face to play tyrant with them now.”

He could feel their loyalty.

They would abandon all standards of right and wrong just to please him.

Whatever he said was correct; whatever he did was justified.

He gradually understood why the wealthier the family, the more likely there were spoiled heirs.

Because they were surrounded by so many “true lackeys,” being a “righteous” person was extremely difficult!

Han Deqing laughed, “Our Lord is the kindest of men.”

Lin Yi impatiently said, “Enough of the flattery. Find a tea stall and rest.”

Han Deqing led the donkey through twists and turns, finally stopping at a tea stall along the newly paved road.

Seven or eight tables were all full.

Hong Ying helped Lin Yi down from the donkey, while Han Deqing rushed ahead, tossing a string of coins to two middle-aged men drinking tea. He bowed, saying, “Gentlemen, the tea is on me. Please make way.”

The two exchanged glances, picked up the coins on their table, and left happily.

Han Deqing hurried to have the waiter wipe the table. Dissatisfied with the cleaning, he grabbed the cloth and rubbed the table and chairs several times.

Lin Yi plopped onto a bench, waving his hand. “Enough, I’m not that delicate. Waiter, bring tea and some snacks.”

The pastry he ate on the mountain was long gone; he was hungry again.

With tea in one hand and a pastry in the other, he watched the sun slowly set.

When Su An arrived on horseback, the tea stall owner was already preparing to close.

“Speak quietly. Don’t make a scene,” Lin Yi instructed.

“Yes,” Su An stepped forward and whispered, “Your Highness, the young lady has returned after buying rouge and powder.”

“Returned?”

Lin Yi felt a little disappointed. “How far is the Yan family from here?”

Su An said, “They live in the countryside, at least fifteen li from here.”

Lin Yi said, “For now, forget your other duties. Just keep an eye on the Yan family. Whenever she goes out, let me know.”

He mounted the donkey and left.

With over ten days until the Spring Festival, He Jixiang’s bandit-suppression team finally returned—but the young lady he had been waiting for hadn’t arrived.

Over twenty thousand displaced people came along, filling the mountains in every direction.

“Your Highness, I have not failed!”

Seventy-year-old He Jixiang, in armor and holding his weapon, walked with clanking steps, yet remained spirited.

“I’ll have someone make you proper armor next time,” Lin Yi said, barely suppressing a laugh.

They had worked hard for him outside; laughing openly would have been insensitive.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness,” He Jixiang said, handing over a massive sword to Shen Chu. “The ringleader has been eliminated. I brought back over twenty thousand displaced people! We seized fifty thousand taels of gold and silver, fifteen carts of grain, and over a thousand horses, cows, and sheep!”

“Ah, dealing with a bunch of poor people must be a losing venture,” Lin Yi muttered. At first, he was happy hearing of their return, but seeing the bills Mingyue and Zixia compiled—stacked over a person’s height—his expression immediately fell.

The displaced people were gold-eaters!

Xie Zan bowed. “Your Highness, these displaced people need to be settled promptly, or trouble will arise sooner or later.”

Lin Yi said, “Haven’t you already surveyed the land? Allocate the unclaimed land in Sanhe to them, per person, regardless of age, one mu each.”

Shiquan said, “Your Highness, these people are extremely poor. How much settlement silver should each receive?”

“Give?” Lin Yi looked at him disdainfully. “Do you think I’m some kind-hearted fool? Of course not! I’m a feudal prince! It’s a loan!”

No wonder he could only be a deputy magistrate—some people just didn’t think straight.

Wang Qingbang smiled. “That’s my suggestion too. We can lend them silver, grain, axes, livestock, and they can build their own shelters. There’s plenty of timber in the mountains anyway.”

“Fine,” Lin Yi nodded. “Wang Xing?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Wang Xing quickly replied.

“The displaced population is complex. Your militia must patrol day and night,” Lin Yi said harshly. “Recite my rules often. Anyone who dares break them will not be spared.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will not fail your trust,” Wang Xing said.

Lin Yi then glanced at the compensation roster Shen Chu handed over, feeling somber. “These people followed me for a thousand li to Sanhe. Didn’t expect to lose their lives here.”

These were real human lives.

Not long ago, they were full of life, flattering him in every way.

Now, they were gone.