IDWBE – Chapter 7 Comparisons Kill

“Greetings, Crown Prince, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Seventh Brother!” Lin Yi bowed to each of them in turn.

“Greetings, Ninth Brother,” the Twelfth Prince, Prince Yong’an, also bowed to Lin Yi.

“Greetings, Your Highness!”

Aside from Chancellor Qi Yong, who stood motionless, the officials of the various ministries all saluted Lin Yi.

“We are brothers—there’s no need for such formality,” the Crown Prince said graciously.

“Elder Brother is right,” Lin Yi replied, looking at the tall Crown Prince and feeling a little sorry for him.

He had been made Crown Prince at eleven years old. Now he was forty-one—he had held the title for a full thirty years.

If anyone most hoped the old emperor would die, it was probably him.

In recent years, the emperor’s health had indeed worsened, yet each time he narrowly survived.

And even if the old emperor did die, the throne would not necessarily pass to the Crown Prince.

After all, he had so many outstanding brothers.

The Third Prince, Prince Yong, like the late Second Prince, had served in the army. Later he was granted Yong Prefecture, commanding one hundred thousand troops and dominating his region.

He had remained in his fief for years. His excuse for returning to the capital now was that their father was ill and he had come to show filial devotion.

The Fourth Prince, Prince Jin, was extraordinarily talented—mastering music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. His maternal grandfather was Han Wenhu, the Salt Transport Commissioner.

Though only a third-rank official, that position meant enormous wealth.

Lin Yi had reason to believe that whoever became emperor in the future—if short of money—could simply confiscate that old man’s property and instantly become rich.

Moreover, the Fourth Prince’s aunt was married to He Wengong, the Director of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau, another fabulously wealthy household.

It was said the Fourth Prince had already used money to win over many military officers.

Living off the enormous revenues of his Qingzhou fief, he stubbornly lingered in the capital instead of leaving.

The Seventh Prince, Prince Nanling, had as his maternal grandfather the great general Mei Jingzhi, who commanded troops in one region, second in power only to the Duke Pillar of the State.

As for the Twelfth Prince, Prince Yong’an—

Lin Yi suddenly walked over, slung an arm around his shoulder, and said casually, “Old Twelve, I heard you held a banquet recently and invited quite a few people?”

“Ninth Brother…”

As he spoke, Prince Yong’an couldn’t help glancing at the Crown Prince and the officials nearby.

Someone help me out here!

What does Ninth Brother mean this time?

I don’t want to fall into another trap…

He had suffered before.

“So you remember I’m your brother?” Lin Yi sighed leisurely. “You invited everyone—except me. What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ninth Brother,” Prince Yong’an said apologetically, “you misunderstand. It was to celebrate my enfeoffment.”

“Oh, I see,” Lin Yi said, nodding in realization, then added in puzzlement, “But I was enfeoffed too. Why did no one come to celebrate for me? My gate is deserted, no carriages or horses in sight—truly bleak and miserable. Tell me, we’re brothers, so why such a huge difference? I’m truly envious!”

Damn it all!

Six days since his enfeoffment—and not a single gift!

Infuriating!

Comparisons really do kill.

“This is my fault,” Prince Yong’an quickly cupped his hands in apology.

If not for fear of being accused of disrespecting an elder brother, he would have cursed outright.

My fief, Yong’an, lies in the wealthy Jiangnan region!

Of course people came to congratulate me!

And yours? Sanhe!

A miasma-ridden wasteland!

Anyone who goes there is unlucky!

You’re probably sulking or raging at home already. If people came to congratulate you, you might even think they were mocking you. Who would dare go?

Lin Yi pretended indifference and said, “I heard Crown Prince Brother gave you a fine steed named Zhuifeng, Third Brother gave you ceremonial carriages and guards, Fourth Brother gave you a coral as tall as a man, and Fifth Brother gave you four beauties. Only I, your poor elder brother, gave you nothing. That’s my failing.”

At this point, anyone who wasn’t a fool understood what the Ninth Prince meant.

He wasn’t blaming himself for not giving gifts to the Twelfth Prince—he was accusing everyone else of not giving gifts to him.

And considering his reputation as a notorious miser, everyone found it perfectly plausible.

“If not for General Yuan’s triumphant return today,” the Crown Prince said with a smile, “we would certainly have come to pay our respects.”

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all,” Lin Yi beamed. “This younger brother will be waiting at any time!”

Whether he wanted to be close to the princes and officials was one matter.

Whether he accepted gifts was another.

“Your Highness, it is getting late,” Chancellor Qi Yong said. “Scouts have just reported that General Yuan is less than two li away.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Prince He.

In truth, when Prince He had beaten his son Qi Zhong, he had been pleased.

Prince He was not close to the Yuan family—but as long as Noble Consort Yuan lived, the connection could never truly be severed.

Whether Prince He or Qi Zhong had been right or wrong, whoever struck first was at fault. That meant Chancellor Qi could later face Yuan Ang without courtesy—and this was something the emperor was happy to see.

But that did not mean he bore no resentment.

He was the Grand Chancellor, a senior minister of two reigns, second only to the emperor, with disciples and protégés across the realm. What dignity he possessed!

From the Crown Prince to the Third and Fourth Princes, all treated him with respect.

Yet this brat Lin Yi showed him not the slightest face.

And although he himself was a civil official, his son was skilled in both letters and arms—he could knock down that useless Prince He with a single finger.

His gaze drifted briefly to Hong Ying.

That dog of a servant…

He had long promised his son that sooner or later he would flay Hong Ying alive.

After the Crown Prince nodded, he turned to Lin Yi. “Ninth Brother—”

“Apologies, Crown Prince Brother,” Lin Yi interrupted before he could finish. “A man has urgent bodily needs. I’ll catch up later.”

Using the excuse of needing to relieve himself, he quickly turned his donkey and slipped away.

Without the emperor’s command, going to welcome his uncle would be improper.

Sometimes he behaved recklessly—but that didn’t mean he was stupid.

Watching Lin Yi ride off on his donkey, the crowd couldn’t help laughing.

This prince truly was one of a kind—he didn’t even know how to ride a horse!

For Lin Yi, it was another dull day.

Bare-chested, he lay sprawled on a chair in the pavilion, while the maids Mingyue and Zixia fanned him.

Occasionally he woke to sip tea and play with the black, fine-haired hound at his feet.

Its snout was sharp, its waist, legs, and neck long and slender—an excellent hunting dog, swift and tireless.

Hunting himself was out of the question—he couldn’t ride a horse—but in winter he didn’t mind taking the hound to catch rabbits.

Thus the day passed: eating, drinking, walking the dog.

Under a bright moon and sparse stars, the study in Prince He’s residence remained lit late into the night.

Hong Ying was still copying texts, sleepless.

The next morning, Lin Yi noticed he was still full of energy.

After helping him dress, Hong Ying said with a smile, “Your Highness, Noble Consort Yuan requests your presence in the palace.”

“The sun must be rising in the west,” Lin Yi muttered.

His own mother, disappointed in him to the extreme, usually refused to see him even when he went to visit. A simple excuse of poor health would send him away.

Over time, he had stopped bothering.

Yet today she had summoned him.

Hong Ying said with a polite smile, “Yesterday General Yuan entered the palace to report to His Majesty. The Emperor has granted permission for the Old Madam of the Yuan family to enter the palace and reunite with Noble Consort Yuan.”

Lin Yi frowned and sighed helplessly.

“She still hasn’t given up…”

His mother, a general’s daughter, was an ambitious woman.