IDWBE – Chapter 9 Timid as a Mouse

Lin Yi thought about his current face—handsome, perfectly matched to his temperament, and seamlessly fitting him!

He absolutely had to thank this mother of his!

And he deeply felt the importance of marrying a beautiful wife for improving one’s genes.

He had seen the portrait of Lin Baozhi, the founding emperor of the Liang State. A long horse-like face, narrow squinting eyes—and that was already the result after painters had racked their brains to beautify him while still trying to remain truthful.

It was said that Lin Baozhi, who had risen from being a cowherd, took this portrait—meant to be admired by future generations and his subjects—very seriously.

Some painters were too realistic, even painting the nose hairs on his nose. The old emperor felt this failed to display his dragon-like bearing and heavenly appearance; it didn’t match how he imagined himself.

They were dragged out and executed.

Other painters were too flattering, painting him outright as a handsome man who didn’t resemble the emperor at all.

The old emperor was even more dissatisfied.

Wasn’t that just mocking him?

They were dragged out and executed as well.

After seven painters were killed, the great master painter Xian Youdao finally completed the task.

Without losing realism, he added an imposing aura—“a majesty so awe-inspiring that one would not dare look directly at him.”

That painting had been preserved in the current emperor’s study.

After seeing it once, Lin Yi was deeply impressed—so much so that he thought even the most powerful beauty filters couldn’t have saved that face.

After ascending the throne at forty-six, Lin Baozhi had thoroughly expanded the imperial harem, filling it with women of extraordinary beauty.

Now, by the time of Lin Yi’s so-called emperor father, Emperor Longde, Lin Xun, fifteen emperors had passed, and the dynasty had lasted 214 years.

After dozens of generations, the imperial bloodline had improved considerably: the men were elegant and handsome, the women beautiful as flowers.

“Mother Consort, why be so upset?” Lin Ning comforted her. “Elder Brother must have his reasons.”

She felt wronged on her brother’s behalf. Clearly he was a man of great talent and charm!

Yet the whole world mocked and misunderstood him!

Even their mother thought him foolish and beyond saving.

Her brother must feel terrible…

Consort Yuan affectionately rubbed Lin Ning’s hair and sighed. “It’s a pity you were born a daughter.”

Lin Ning smiled awkwardly. “Mother Consort worries too much.”

“Think of your maternal grandfather and your uncle—how wise and valiant they are! Even I, with my family’s traditions, began practicing martial arts at five and reached the third rank by fifteen!”

Consort Yuan said proudly, “After entering the palace, although I neglected my martial training, I still reached the fifth rank. Yet I never imagined…”

She did not finish her sentence, only cast a resentful glance at Lin Yi, who lounged there lazily, grinning at her.

What a pity—this was her own son.

Otherwise, how satisfying it would be to beat him to death and spare her the sight of him.

“Mother Consort is beyond comparison,” Lin Yi said with a flattering smile. “This son is incompetent and has made Mother angry.”

“You are what you are; I no longer place much hope in you,” Consort Yuan said, glaring at him. “My greatest wish now is that you grow closer to your maternal family. Think about who the Old Madam is! She is your direct great-grandmother. Back in those days, she followed your great-grandfather on campaigns. The great general Yu Boxu, who recently suppressed the bandits in the northwest, was once just an ordinary guard at her side. His son is now Yuwen She, commander of the Imperial Guards. And your grandmother and aunts are all heroines among women, respected even within the army. Others would beg for the chance to associate with them. Don’t chill their hearts.”

“Mother Consort speaks wisely,” Lin Yi replied.

He already understood her temperament well. No matter what the matter was, agree first; whether he actually did it later was another issue.

Settle accounts afterward?

By then, he would probably already be in Sanhe.

Thinking of this, a smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Seeing his expression, Consort Yuan barely restrained the urge to smash the teacup in her hand at him.

After taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, she continued, “I’ve already prepared a list of gifts for you. In the next few days, take them to your maternal grandfather and grandmother. Speak properly. Even if not your uncle, just a few words of guidance from your cousins would benefit you.”

“Mother Consort may not know,” Lin Yi said, “this son has just been enfeoffed. Everyone is preparing to celebrate, so I’ll be rather busy these next few days.”

He thought to himself: even like this, his mother still refused to give up on him!

She insisted on trying to plaster this ‘lump of mud,’ as she saw him, onto the wall.

But she didn’t seem to consider that the Yuan family was already powerful in the army, their merits so great they overshadowed the throne. The old emperor must certainly be wary of them.

If he drew too close, he might end up dragged down with them.

Even if the Yuan family ended well, and helped him fight for the throne—what then?

Many regions suffered year after year from droughts, floods, and locust plagues. Crops failed, the people were displaced, villages stood empty.

The old emperor was considered diligent, yet even imperial benevolence had limits; corpses of the starved still lay everywhere.

In the northwest and southwest, many desperate people had no choice but to join rebel armies.

They might be suppressed now—but what about the future?

Meanwhile, the Wadan tribes in the north continued their invasions. The treasury was empty. Without money, how long could generals like Yuan Qing, Prince Yong, and Mei Jingzhi hold the line?

So this wasn’t being emperor—it was being a patch-up craftsman, constantly repairing a crumbling wall.

One mistake, and history’s cycle would repeat: long division leads to unity, long unity leads to division; rise and fall, order and chaos, endlessly recurring.

“Bastard! Fool!”
Consort Yuan slammed her slender jade-like fingers onto the table in anger. “They’re deliberately humiliating you! What is there to celebrate in that wretched place of yours?”

Lin Yi smiled apologetically. “This son thought to collect more gifts—to use as travel expenses on the road.”

“You really intend to go to your fief?” Consort Yuan froze in surprise.

She knew her own son well. Since childhood he couldn’t endure hardship—if he could lie down, he would never sit.

What kind of place was Sanhe?

Could her son possibly endure it?

“This son has always remembered Mother Consort’s teachings,” Lin Yi said solemnly. “A true eagle should spread its wings in the vast sky; a wolf should—”

Seeing his mother’s expression growing darker, he wisely stopped speaking.

Consort Yuan snorted. “When have you ever listened to my teachings? Speak honestly.”

Lin Yi smiled. “That was the honest truth.”

If the old emperor did not insist, there was really no need to go. Taking the income from the fief and staying in the capital to enjoy life would be far better.

Among the twelve princes, aside from the second prince who had died young, only the third prince, Prince Yong, had actually gone to his fief.

“You truly give me no peace of mind,” Consort Yuan said. “Do you even know what kind of place Sanhe is? Since the previous dynasty, it has been a place of exile, with bandits gathering in groups and unruly tribes within. Since your father ascended the throne, three military campaigns have been launched there, consuming vast sums of money and grain. In recent years they say it’s been pacified—but in truth, there isn’t even a provincial governor’s office. Those savages still govern themselves, fighting every day. You know no martial arts at all. If you go, you might not even keep your life.”

After speaking, she waved her hand impatiently. “Enough, go. In a few days someone will deliver the gift list to you.”

She did not believe that after such a fright, her son would still want to go to his fief.

Her son was timid—no braver than a mouse!

He was afraid of falling to death if he rode a horse, so he would only ride a donkey. He said donkeys ran slowly, so even if he fell it wouldn’t matter; horses ran fast, and a fall might leave him crippled even if he survived.

Of course, there were exceptions.

At seven years old, he had already said, “Men die for wealth as birds die for food.”

For the sake of a little silver, he had even dared to curse Jiang Chong, the fearsome commander of the Imperial Guard, right in the street.

“This son takes his leave.”

After leaving the palace, Lin Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He thought to himself that he should hasten the schedule for departing to his fief.