Chapter 8: Huo Shiming Severely Injured and Unconscious.

Chapter 8: Huo Shiming Lies Gravely Injured and Comatose.

Before anyone else, she caught wind of the Qiang Rong’s movements.

Unable to stop the inevitable crisis, she instead used it to secure a prime position for her father, ensuring Xingtang Pass was prepared and ready in advance.

This whole chain of events could be considered Huo Ling's proudest achievement.

Huo Ling had originally believed herself to be someone who was all about the results.

As long as her goals were achieved, she didn’t care whether anyone knew what she had done.

Thus, apart from explaining when Wu Mo asked, even her younger brother Huo Ze—since he never inquired—she never brought it up.

It wasn’t until today, when Prince Duan mentioned that he could guess her role in these events, that Huo Ling realized she actually craved recognition.

She still wanted others to recognize her abilities.

Under Prince Duan’s gaze, Huo Ling flashed a radiant smile. Unlike her usual polite, restrained smiles, happiness practically glowed from the corners of her eyes and brows, making her voice brighter as she spoke.

Huo Ling owned a tea shop and a grocery, both inherited from her birth mother. Over the years, she had expanded their operations.

She made it a habit to go over the books every two months. At the end of April this year, the managers of both shops met with her at the same time.

After going through the books, Huo Ling discovered that the amount of tea sold in the past two months alone matched a whole year’s worth of sales.

When she asked about it, the manager explained that a high-roller had recently visited the shop, purchasing all the tea in stock at once, resulting in a huge sale.

Prince Duan: "So you sensed trouble then?"

Huo Ling shook her head. "I wasn’t suspicious at the time—in fact, I was quite pleased. Who doesn’t love big orders when in business?"

"Then how did you realize something was wrong?"

"It was when I looked over the grocery’s books."

Huo Ling took a sip of Liren Gui, a light wine that won’t get you drunk.

If one could get used to its tart edge, it even picks you up.

"The grocery sells all sorts of stuff. The prices of these goods aren’t fixed—they often fluctuate due to various factors."

"Every time I go over the books, I also check the prices of these goods to understand the reasons behind their fluctuations."

This long-standing habit paid off.

Because she noticed that the price of Qiang salt was two coppers cheaper than usual.

Ever since the Qiang Rong submitted to Great Yan, Great Yan had established trade markets to conduct business with them.

However, the Qiang Rong had scarce resources, so the number of goods they could trade with Great Yan was limited.

Among these few commodities, the most favored by Great Yan’s people was the Qiang Rong’s fine salt.

Not only was Qiang salt finer than Great Yan’s official salt, but it was also cheaper.

To avoid disrupting Great Yan’s official salt market, the trade volume of Qiang salt had always been capped and never allowed to exceed the designated quota.

Of course, rules are rules, but as long as there's profit to be made, they can't stop the endless stream of salt smugglers.

However, no matter what, the supply of Qiangrong green salt could never meet the demand of Great Yan's people. So for decades, the price of green salt had only risen—never fallen.

The first drop in decades couldn't have happened without reason.

Prince Duan, now intrigued, remarked, "Only two coppers less—not much of a drop."

"But the most likely reason for the price decrease is that a large amount of Qiangrong green salt appeared on the market in a short time, exceeding the people's demand."

Huo Ling nodded and continued, "Most of the tea in my shop comes from the south. Aside from a small portion sold to local townspeople, the majority is traded to Qiang Rong."

On one hand, someone was stockpiling tea in large quantities; on the other, someone was offloading green salt...

As long as the trading post remained open, Qiang Rong would never lack tea, nor would they need to worry about selling green salt.

Yet they were showing such concern...

Did this mean they feared Great Yan might close the trading post with Qiang Rong?

Why would they think that?

Huo Ling: "I already had a bad feeling then, but I didn’t dare draw conclusions hastily. So I asked the two managers to make inquiries and see if other shops had encountered similar situations."

The reports from the managers confirmed Huo Ling’s suspicions.

Huo Ling immediately went to Huo Shiming.

Huo Shiming’s network far exceeded Huo Ling’s. After taking over the matter, he conducted a more thorough investigation before presenting the memorial.

Prince Duan clapped in admiration: "Each link connects perfectly—truly brilliant."

Though the details sounded simple, only someone as meticulous as Huo Ling could have peeled back layer after layer.

"As long as Your Highness enjoys the tale," Huo Ling fingered the jade pendant at her waist, "I was afraid the story wouldn’t be exciting enough, and you’d think this deal wasn’t worth it."

Prince Duan refilled her cup himself: "This deal is more than fair. Since you’re in a pleasant mood, I have one more question."

"Was the Huo family’s donation of silver and grain also under your direction?"

Huo Ling’s smile remained unchanged: "Yes."

She replied frankly: "Once I knew Qiang Rong was planning a rebellion, I had to prepare. So I ordered all the autumn harvest grain to be stored in warehouses."

Prince Duan: "You predicted the snow disaster?"

Huo Ling: "No one can predict the heavens."

"But in times of war, keeping extra grain in reserve is always useful."

After a moment of thought, Prince Duan continued questioning: "Then who provided the silver? Today, I saw you settling payments at the medical tents."

A flash of surprise crossed Huo Ling’s face.

Had Prince Duan arrived at the relief area so early?

Did that mean he also seen her exchange with Magistrate Qiu?

Her expression finally pleased Prince Duan. Without waiting for her answer, he said, "The grain was from the Huo family, but the silver must have come from your personal funds."

Huo Ling slowly composed herself. "Time is short. If I provide the silver, there will be no need to haggle. The Huo family has always hoped to return to the capital. The opportunity presented by the Qiang Rong rebellion comes only once—we must seize every chance we can."

She made no attempt to conceal her thoughts.

The gap between the Huo family and Prince Duan was too vast. Before such a superior, showing some vulnerability was not a bad thing.

Ambitious people are easier to trust.

"The Huo family is impressively daring," Prince Duan remarked, his gaze full of appreciation as he looked at Huo Ling. "And so are you."

What was even rarer was that she possessed the capability to match such daring.

Daring, capability, and a beauty as pure as new-fallen snow—these qualities melded together into an irresistible appeal.

He could almost see, through her calm face, the surging vitality coursing through her veins. Not like a dazzling peony in full bloom, but more akin to a fiercely burning flame, breathtakingly beautiful.

The clear sky lasted only half a day before light snow began to fall again, soon coating the second-story ledge with a thin layer.

The lunch had run longer than planned. After finishing the last bite of dessert, Huo Ling took her leave of Prince Duan at the tavern's entrance.

Just as she turned to leave, an oil-paper umbrella was handed to her from the side.

Prince Duan said, "Miss Huo, until next time."

Huo Ling took the umbrella and opened it, revealing a painting of a tree laden with red plum blossoms on its surface.

She descended the steps and stepped into the blanket of snow.

After only a few steps, she suddenly paused and turned to look back at Prince Duan.

The umbrella spun slightly with her movement, as if red plum blossoms were scattering across the snow.

"Your Royal Highness praised your humble servant for her daring," she said.

"Your humble servant also finds Your Highness quite fascinating."

"Quite different from what I had imagined."

***

Inside the carriage, Huo Ling rested with a heating pad, with her eyes closed.

Sensing Wu Mo's repeated glances, she didn't open her eyes but asked, "What is it?"

Wu Mo leaned closer. "Aren't you afraid, miss? That was Prince Duan."

Huo Ling chuckled and raised her hand, accurately patting Wu Mo's head. "Is that what you're curious about?"

Wu Mo grinned mischievously. "What did you think I would ask?"

Huo Ling pushed her away with feigned irritation.

After their playful banter, Wu Mo pointed at the deer-shaped jade pendant. "This isn't the kind of thing Prince Duan would hand out lightly, is it?"

Huo Ling was startled, only then recalling what she had told Wu Mo in the woods that day after killing the rabbit: "Things given casually by others need not be taken too seriously."

She unfastened the pendant, finding it warm to the touch.

The jade was clear and flawless, without a flaw. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the white deer carved with such life.

The pendant had clearly been worn and handled often—every inch of the deer's texture was worn smooth from handling, clearly the 'treasured possession' Prince Duan called it.

Seeing Wu Mo's interest, Huo Ling handed the jade pendant to her: "Put it away in the box when we get back."

Wu Mo fumbled as she caught it: "Miss, why aren't you wearing it?"

After seeing her mistress accept the pendant and immediately fasten it to her belt, she had assumed Huo Ling liked it very much.

Huo Ling: "It's kinda heavy."

Wu Mo: "..."

Wu Mo instinctively hefted it in her palm.

Hmm, it was indeed quite heavy.

Best keep it in the box.

It wouldn’t be too late to have her mistress wear it the next time they ran into Prince Duan.

This run-in was merely a ripple in Huo Ling’s otherwise tranquil life, barely making a dent.

The next morning, as usual, she counted up the money and went to settle the medicine fees with Doctor Chen.

Just as she took out the banknote, Magistrate Qiu popped up beside her, wringing his hands as if he had urgent business with her.

Huo Ling let Doctor Chen go about his business first, then turned to Magistrate Qiu: "Magistrate Qiu, have you seen Prince Duan?"

Magistrate Qiu had come precisely for this matter: "No. His Royal Highness Prince Duan left Yong'an County yesterday afternoon, heading to Dushui County. Why do you think he took off in such a rush?"

"Probably because he'd finished what he came for."

Huo Ling knew what Magistrate Qiu wanted to ask and preemptively relayed Prince Duan’s evaluation of Yong'an County’s aid work.

Magistrate Qiu indeed breathed a huge sigh of relief, all his worries melting away.

"By the way, Miss Huo, I met Young Master Fang yesterday. I heard his family owns a merchant caravan that also deals in medicinal herbs. Is that true?"

Huo Ling recognized this as Magistrate Qiu’s way of being friendly: "Yes, that’s correct."

Magistrate Qiu smiled: "Then I’d better have Advisor Zhang get in touch with them right away."

When Huo Ling returned home, she also ran into the shopkeeper.

It wasn’t the usual day for reviewing accounts, but the shopkeeper had shown up unexpectedly because the shop had received a large order from the county office.

Huo Ling only instructed: "Charge the regular prices."

With her straight answer, the shopkeeper knew exactly how to proceed.

Several days later, news of Prince Duan’s incognito inspection started making the rounds.

Rumors spread that several county magistrates had been chewed out by Prince Duan, with one even stripped of his official robes and hauled off to jail then and there.

Under Prince Duan’s supervision, aid work in Yanxi finally accelerated.

The number of refugees accommodated in Yong'an County kept climbing, and the tents in the open space by the city gates now went on forever.

On Laba Festival, as Huo Ling was finishing her bowl of Laba Festival rice porridge, a commotion broke out outside.

Huo Ze couldn't sit still and was the first to slip out to inquire. Before long, his excited shouts echoed in the courtyard: "Mother! Sister! We won big at Xingtang Pass!"

"The imperial court deployed thirty thousand troops to attack the Qiang Rong, and they've reportedly pushed them back dozens of miles from Xingtang Pass!"

Everyone broke into delighted smiles.

When Huo Ze returned inside, Fang Shi immediately asked the question she cared about most: "Any news of your father?"

Huo Ze shook his head repeatedly. "No way it’d come that fast. We'll have to wait for more detailed reports. Don’t worry, Mother—Great Yan won this battle, so Father will surely be safe. He might’ve even bagged a huge achievement!"

"Right, right—look at me, I’m so giddy I’m not thinking straight." Fang Shi’s smile was radiant. "I wonder if your father can make it back for the New Year."

"He definitely won’t." Having studied many military texts and strategies, Huo Ze understood the situation far better than Fang Shi. "This is just the Qiang Rong falling back. To keep them from bouncing back, the court will surely press the advantage and force them into submission."

Fang Shi was a little bummed, but her joy still prevailed.

She glanced at Huo Ling and said she wanted to visit Ciji Temple the next day to offer incense, praying for Huo Shiming’s safety, and asked if Huo Ling would join her.

Huo Ling agreed with a smile.

Even Huo Ze, who normally hated tagging along with his mother and sister to temples, decided to join in this time.

But they never got the chance to go.

—Just one day after news of the frontline victory reached Yong'an County, the Huo family got word: "Huo Shiming’s badly hurt and out cold."