Wu Wei’s letter to Gao Ningxue spanned a full five pages of paper. In it, she not only recounted the entire sequence of events in detail but also enclosed the recipe for making fertilizer, along with its properties and color once completed, as well as instructions for use.
Wu Wei repeatedly impressed upon Gao Ningxue just how critical this matter was. Qinglu County had indeed seen two snowfalls the previous year—a simple fact—and should the crops fail to thrive, the consequences would be unthinkable.
The following morning at dawn, Wu Wei packed some dry rations and traveling money, mounted Chou Chou, and set off.
She had long since committed the communication address Gao Ningxue had given her to memory. Taizhou bordered Qinglu County directly, and locals from Qinglu often traveled to Taizhou City. Thus, even amid Prince Pingyan’s relocation and Prince Yi’s takeover, Wu Wei entered the city without incident.
Once inside, Wu Wei wandered aimlessly for a time. She noted how the city walls of Taizhou rose high and deep, impregnable and sturdy. The streets carried an air of ancient elegance, lined with shops that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Every avenue in the city was paved with bluestone bricks, and whenever carriages passed over them, they produced a pleasing, crisp clatter.
The residents of Taizhou City dressed far more finely than those back in Qinglu County—coarse hemp garments were a rarity. Though the realm still observed the mourning period, the plain-colored attire worn by most was made from fabrics of no small quality.
Carriages and horses, scarce as hen’s teeth in Qinglu County, were commonplace here.
Wu Wei had no idea if every major stronghold’s populace lived in such prosperity, but Taizhou City’s flourishing state owed much to the governance of the Old Yan Prince.
For Prince Yi to pluck such a ripe fruit from the tree, one could only wonder if the former Prince Yan—now Prince Pingyan—was furious enough to spit blood.
After taking in the sights, Wu Wei observed that the city boasted shops of every variety. Nearly every street featured at least one pill-refining hall, their back courtyards piled high with stones like small mountains—many the very raw materials needed for fertilizer.
Wu Wei came to a halt before the address Gao Ningxue had provided. Tilting her head back, she read the six bold characters freshly inscribed on the gleaming new signboard: Taizhou Splendid Peace Pawnshop.
She stepped inside, where a clerk greeted her warmly. “Honored guest, this way please.”
Wu Wei followed the shop assistant into the pawnshop. He led her to the outermost counter and said with a grin, “First, sir or madam, let me have a look at your item to pawn. Then one of our expert appraisers will give it a proper valuation. Splendid Peace takes everything—family heirlooms, curios and antiques, paintings and jewelry, all eighteen classes of weapons, furs and fine silks, cotton quilts and bedding. If you’ve got it, we’ve got a deal for it.”
Wu Wei thought to herself that Gao Ningxue’s business was clearly thriving.
After a moment’s pause, Wu Wei said, “Brother, if I may ask—is your esteemed owner surnamed Gao?”
The clerk raised an eyebrow, giving Wu Wei a subtle once-over before scanning the other customers in the front hall. “This way please, miss. I’ll fetch the head manager for you.”
Wu Wei’s heart settled as she followed him into a side chamber. The room was modest, furnished with a square table, two carved wooden armchairs, an ancient painting on the wall, and a pair of large-bellied vases standing nearly as tall as a person on either side—clearly priceless treasures.
The clerk poured Wu Wei a cup of tea and left to summon the manager.
Moments later, a middle-aged man entered the room. He smiled amiably, cupping his hands in salute to Wu Wei before taking the seat across from her. “Miss, what brings you inquiring after our shop’s owner?”
Cautiously, Wu Wei asked, “Might I confirm if your esteemed owner goes by the surname Gao?”
“That’s correct.”
“And may I ask her full name?”
A flicker of puzzlement crossed the manager’s eyes, but he smiled and replied, “Forgive me, miss—I’m just a humble clerk and dare not speak my employer’s name lightly.”
A trace of doubt stirred in Wu Wei’s mind as well, but considering Gao Ningxue’s status and the era she now inhabited, she let it go. Lowering her voice, she pressed on. “Is the proprietor here the Pingjia County Princess?”
The manager’s expression grew peculiar as he eyed Wu Wei. “Miss, the County Princess is not presently in Taizhou.”
“I know that. But is this truly her pawnshop?”
“It is indeed one of the Gao family’s establishments.”
Wu Wei sensed something amiss but reasoned it might belong to Gao Ningxue’s grandfather. The manager’s answers made sense in that light, and besides, Gao Ningxue had assured her these were all trustworthy retainers. Wu Wei put her suspicions aside, drew the letter from her bosom, and slid it across to the manager. “I have an urgent letter here—of utmost importance. Please dispatch a rider at once to deliver it to the County Princess.”
The manager picked up the envelope and glanced at the inscription: “To Miss Gao, Personal.”
Wu Wei had originally planned to address it to the “Second-in-Command,” but mindful of the Bright Mirror Division’s precarious situation, she had changed it.
“Rest assured, miss,” the manager said. “I’ll send someone posthaste—it’ll arrive swiftly. Might I have your surname?”
“The County Princess will know who I am once she reads it.”
“Will there be a reply?”
Wu Wei considered and nodded. “A response would be ideal. When shall I return for it?”
The manager thought for a moment. “One month from today, same time.”
Hearing this timeframe, Wu Wei couldn’t help but sigh at the sluggish pace of communication in this era. Her hopes for Gao Ningxue dimmed a touch further, though she knew this was already remarkably swift.
“Very well. I’ll return in one month. And please relay to the County Princess: if she can’t come herself, a bit of silver will do just fine.”
“Consider it done, miss.”
…
The head manager of the pawnshop personally escorted Wu Wei to the door, watching as she mounted her ugly horse and vanished into the bustling street. Turning to the clerk behind him, he said, “Prepare my sedan. I have business outside.”
“Yes, sir.”
…
The former site of the Yan Prince’s Residence in Taizhou had been fully repurposed just days earlier. Its new signboard now bore three massive gilded characters: Prince Yi’s Mansion.
Long before the imperial decree reached the common folk, the reshuffling among the vassal princes and the Imperial Court had already begun. With the Yan Prince’s Residence vacated, a number of shops in the city stood empty—opportunities Prince Yi, newly arrived in Taizhou, eagerly seized for his own.
Vassal princes of the Liang Dynasty received a one-time settlement from the court upon taking up their fiefs, after which they were expected to be self-sufficient while paying annual taxes and tribute. To support their garrison troops and maintain their households, they typically dispatched retainers to manage various enterprises—farms, shops, escort agencies, grain transport, and more. For Prince Yi to snap up the shops left behind by the departing Prince Yan was only natural.
Poor Wu Wei had ultimately fallen victim to delayed intelligence. Had she arrived a month sooner, her letter would never have ended up in the wrong hands.
…
Prince Yi was the Late Emperor’s second prince, born to a concubine who had since passed. A vigorous lord in the prime of manhood, he had volunteered for the remote fief of Taizhou after Prince Yan’s reassignment.
The New Emperor was privately delighted by Prince Yi’s choice and showered him with gifts before his departure. Prince Yi wasted no time, mustering his troops and arriving in Taizhou just three days after receiving the decree.
At that time, the Old Yan Prince and Gao Ningxue were in the Capital. The Old Yan Prince’s advanced age made long journeys inadvisable, so he had sent only a handful of trusted stewards to oversee the transition—efforts to which Prince Yi had contributed substantially.
After hearing the manager’s account, Prince Yi laughed and chided him. “You sly fox—if the letter was for my little cousin, why not simply send someone to deliver it? What was the point of deceiving the girl?”
The manager remained grave. “That young lady claimed it was a matter of utmost urgency, Your Highness. With you newly arrived in Taizhou, caution is paramount in all things. Moreover, the Elder Prince Pingyan is no longer Taizhou’s lord. Such urgent intelligence cannot bypass Your Highness.”
Prince Yi merely chuckled indifferently and waved the manager away.
Once alone in the hall, he tore open the envelope. As he scanned the pages, the easy expression on his face vanished, replaced by shock and gravity.
Upon reading the final line of Wu Wei’s letter, Prince Yi shot to his feet and stormed out.
Wherever he went, servants prostrated themselves in salute. After walking for about the time it takes for half a joss stick to burn—roughly fifteen minutes—he reached a serene garden, where the obsequious greetings fell silent. Only the birds in the branches chattered animatedly in small clusters.
Prince Yi pushed open a round gate and entered a small courtyard. He paused to survey it before striding directly to the study and rapping on the door.
“Knock knock knock.”
“Please, come in.” A woman’s calm voice sounded from within.
Prince Yi entered, skirting the screen partition. The woman, who had been seated at the desk, had risen and stepped aside. Now she stood by the desk and offered a cupped-hand salute. “This subject greets Your Highness.”
“Sit.” As he spoke, Prince Yi himself dragged over a chair and placed it opposite the desk before taking a seat.
The woman returned to her place. Prince Yi shook out the letter in his hand. “Something rather intriguing has come up. Take a look.”
She extended her palm, and Prince Yi laid all the pages into it. Upon glimpsing the handwriting, a glint of recognition flashed in her otherwise serene eyes.
With just one glance, she said, “I know the person who wrote this.” Her voice remained even, but as she turned the pages, her face took on the same solemn cast as Prince Yi’s had moments before.
“What do you make of it? Quite the curious tale, wouldn’t you say?” Prince Yi smiled, his tone light and familiar—they were clearly on intimate terms.
“Although the events described in the letter are shocking to hear, I believe she must have solid evidence in hand. This matter concerns the very survival of an entire county’s people—we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
Prince Yi let out a tsk and said, “Is your friend perhaps some kind of divine seer disguised as a commoner? How else could she have foreseen such astonishing events? If that letter gets out, it wouldn’t be undeserved if someone burned her at the stake.”
The woman gave a light chuckle and replied, “Her name is Wu Wei. She lives in the Half-Mountain Courtyard on the outskirts of Zhang Family Village in Qinglu County. And speaking of which… she’s also with the Bright Mirror Division.” Her gaze dimmed, and she fell silent.
“In that case,” Prince Yi said, “how about This Prince sends someone to invite her here? That way, the two of you could meet face-to-face.”
The woman shook her head. “It’s not time to meet her yet. I advise you not to see her for the time being either. Taizhou Prefecture may be a thousand miles from the Capital, but it’s still crawling with spies and informants. The person who wrote the letter is special—the Qinglu County Magistrate has wanted her dead for a long time now. If Zhang Kuan finds out she has ties to Prince Yi too, it won’t end well for you or for her.”
Prince Yi nodded reassuringly. “Rest easy. Although This Prince has only just arrived, Prince Yi’s Mansion is an iron fortress. You can stay here without a worry in the world—even if an Imperial Court envoy shows up, they won’t search these grounds.”
“Thank you.”
Dongfang Rui!!??