Chapter 34 Qixi Festival Invitation

Chapter 34: Qixi Festival Invitation

Making fire starters wasn't as easy as making ice blocks. After several rounds of drying, the first batch of fire starters was finally ready three days later.

Inside the Treasure House at Jinxiu Fang, the shopkeeper Qin Su placed two fire starters on the counter.

The sky was overcast again today, but it wasn’t raining. Qiu Baisan would likely come by.

The Qiu family had long traded, and their collection of novel gadgets far surpassed that of the Treasure House.

However, since the Treasure House was the emperor’s enterprise, other noble families made a point to patronize the business from time to time. Thus, the Qiu family often sent their procurement manager, Qiu Baisan, to handle such matters.

Over the years, Qin Su had become quite familiar with him. When he got the fire starters today, the first person he thought of was the Qiu family.

The Qiu family, with their extensive trade operations and deep pockets, were both the most in need of and the most capable of purchasing large quantities of fire starters.

The palace had already sent over four crates containing nearly five hundred fire starters. The Qiu family alone could likely buy up the entire stock.

It was already July, and autumn would arrive in two months. By then, the demand for ice blocks would decrease, making the ice business seasonal. However, with these fire starters, although each unit was much cheaper than ice blocks, their usage rate was high.

Wealthy families would certainly not balk at small change, allowing this business to sustain long-term.

But recently, it was said that the south had been struck by disasters, requiring imperial disaster relief—both funds and grain. If the revenue from ice blocks were lost, the pressure on the national treasury would be unimaginable.

They still needed to find ways to open new revenue streams.

Qin Su frowned as he worked the abacus.

Recently, he had heard that a certain spice had been introduced from the Western Regions' Serbia, which, when added to food, could enhance its aroma and make it addictive.

He wasn’t sure if it was true, but if it were, he would definitely find a way to bring the spice business to the Treasure House, at least to take some pressure off His Majesty and the Senior Tutor.

"Shopkeeper, Steward Qiu is here," a clerk reminded him.

Qin Su came back to reality and immediately stepped out from behind the counter with a cheerful smile. He walked up to Qiu Baisan and cupped his hands in salute. "For you to come all this way in such hot weather, Steward Qiu, I'm really sorry to trouble you."

"Shopkeeper Qin, you are too kind," Qiu Baisan replied with an equally warm smile, returning the gesture.

He was a small-built and tanned man, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

Just hearing his name made it clear that he was a family servant born into the Qiu family, granted their surname.

Having risen to the position of procurement manager, his capabilities were unquestionable. At a single glance, one could sense the shrewdness of a seasoned businessman.

Qin Su smiled amiably, and Qiu Baisan matched his demeanor. The two exchanged a few pleasantries.

Finally, Qiu Baisan asked, "Shopkeeper Qin, you specifically sent for me today. Do you have something good to show me?"

When the Treasure House first sold ice, the Lu family had taken the lead.

This time, Shopkeeper Qin had specifically invited him, so it was likely he had something rare to offer.

"You read my mind," Qin Su said, leading him to the counter and picking up a fire starter. "Take a look. What do you make of this?"

Qiu Baisan took it and examined it. Wasn’t it just a bamboo tube?

Many ordinary people in the Da Ning Dynasty used bamboo tubes to carry water or food when traveling. But this tube was so small—what could it possibly hold?

He carefully opened the lid, worried that if there were water or food inside, it might spill on him.

But upon opening it, he found it wasn’t water or food but something unidentifiable.

"This..." He looked at Qin Su, puzzled.

Qin Su smiled and said, "Please blow into it."

Qiu Baisan was confused but did as instructed.

As he blew into it, the black substance inside the bamboo tube suddenly burst into flames!

His hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the tube. Fortunately, Qin Su had anticipated this and grabbed his wrist, preventing him from letting go.

Qiu Baisan was a man who was well-traveled, so he quickly composed himself.

At least on the surface, he appeared calm, but only he knew how fast his heart was beating.

"This thing can store fire?" Despite his efforts to suppress his emotions, a trace of excitement still showed through.

Qin Su nodded and explained in detail, "This is called a fire starter, and it comes from the palace. It can keep fire stored for up to six hours."

He picked up another fire starter from the counter and opened it. The core inside wasn’t black and appeared to be made of pulverized plants.

"This is what it looks like before it’s lit. Before the one in your hand goes out, you can light a new one from it to maintain your fire source."

Qiu Baisan took the unused fire starter and studied it carefully, though he couldn’t discern what materials were inside.

But since this item came from the palace, it was undoubtedly the work of that Senior Tutor Chu.

Another marvelous creation.

Qiu Baisan capped the lit fire starter, waited a moment, and then opened it again.

It seemed as though there was no fire inside, but when he blew into it, the flame instantly sprang back to life.

This was truly a marvelous novelty.

For a trading family like the Qius, who were always traveling, starting a fire outdoors was always a chore.

They had flint, and kindling was easy to find, but each time they needed to strike the flint multiple times to produce even a spark.

One wrong puff of air or a sudden gust of wind could easily extinguish the newly emerged spark, making it highly inconvenient.

With this fire starter, carrying and using fire would become much more convenient.

"Shopkeeper Qin, you’ve certainly found the perfect customer," Qiu Baisan said. "How long can an unlit fire starter be stored?"

"At least a month."

"What’s the price?"

Shopkeeper Qin quoted a price with his fingers. Qiu Baisan thought it over briefly before nodding. "Alright. How many do you have in stock?"

"Nearly five hundred," Qin Su replied.

"The Qiu family will take all of them," Qiu Baisan said. "Please have these fire starters sent over to the Qiu compound later, and I’ll take care of payment then."

Qin Su smiled. "Much obliged, Steward Qiu."

"The Qiu family would like to place an order for five hundred more. Can they be ready within three days?"

The Qiu family has two trade caravans departing for the Min-Zhe area in a few days. If they can prepare some fire strikers beforehand, it would be valuable whether for their own use or to sell as novelties at high prices in the Min-Zhe area.

"Rest assured, Manager Qiu, I will have them made quickly."

"That settles it." Qiu Baisan examined the two fire strikers in his hand again. Qin Su promptly said, "Please take these two for your amusement."

"Thank you, Manager Qin." Qiu Baisan did not decline.

Shortly after, Qiu Baisan returned to the Qiu residence with the people from Treasure House. After instructing his subordinates to store the fire strikers properly, he paid the bill with Treasure House.

Once the others had left, Qiu Baisan went straight to seek out the Great Elder, Qiu Hongkuo.

At this time, the family head, Qiu Ren, should be training troops at the suburban estate, and the Minister was still at the government office. Seeking out the Great Elder was the most reliable option.

After being announced by the attendant, Qiu Baisan entered the courtyard, passed through two gates, and arrived at the rear courtyard.

A man around fifty years of age sat in a chair, his hair graying and his back straight but thin and frail. He held a book, turning the pages slowly, occasionally covering his mouth to cough softly.

He appeared truly wasted by illness.

"Purchasing Manager Qiu Baisan pays respects to the Great Elder." Qiu Baisan instinctively softened his voice, afraid of disturbing him.

Qiu Hongkuo set down the book, his profound eyes turning toward Qiu Baisan. His voice was slightly hoarse but relatively gentle: "What treasure have you brought?"

Qiu Baisan immediately took out the two fire strikers from his chest and held them up with both hands.

The attendant beside Qiu Hongkuo stepped forward, took them, and presented them to his master.

"These are fire strikers, seemingly made by Senior Tutor Chu from the palace..." Qiu Baisan relayed everything he had heard from Qin Su to the Great Elder.

Qiu Hongkuo set down the book and picked up one of the fire strikers—the one that had already been lit.

He blew gently into the opening, and a spark appeared, which quickly ignited into a flame.

The firelight flickered in his eyes, bright and dancing.

Truly remarkable.

How many more such inventions does Senior Tutor Chu possess?

Qiu Hongkuo had never met him, but based on the various rumors—both true and false—he had formed a rough understanding of this "immortal."

The abilities he had displayed so far were merely the tip of the iceberg.

What was truly formidable about him was not the ice blocks or these fire strikers, but the weapon he used to kill three assassins on the official road that day.

And even more powerful and valuable than that weapon.

Such a person must either be eliminated or cooperated with.

Elimination was not an option for now, and cooperation was difficult.

If they could tie him to us through shared interests, it would be better than making an enemy of him.

The Qiu family had trade caravans, and Chu Jiubian possessed countless inventions that could accumulate wealth.

If the two sides cooperated, they would amass wealth that could rival the state's. Then, the entire economic lifeline of the Great Ning Dynasty would be in their hands, allowing them to wield power as they pleased. Wouldn't that be ideal?

However, Senior Tutor Chu's methods and intellect were no less sharp than those of the nobles steeped in power who had long been immersed in it. With Qiu Heng's meager cunning, it was unlikely to impress him.

Therefore, Qiu Hongkuo needed to meet Senior Tutor Chu in person.

"What is the date today?" Qiu Hongkuo closed the fire striker.

An attendant replied, "The second day of the seventh lunar month."

In the Great Ning Dynasty, the lunar calendar was commonly used, making it easier for the uneducated common people to track the twenty-four solar terms, unlike the later adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

"Then the Qixi Festival is in a few days." Qiu Hongkuo instructed, "When the Minister returns from his duties, have him come see me."

"Yes."

***

It was nearly evening, and the Ministry of Personnel offices operated as usual.

Chu Jiubian reviewed the latest memorials. Those filled with empty formalities he simply circled and set aside, without forwarding them to the palace.

Since he would be the one reviewing them even if they were sent to the palace, he might as well process them here.

Of course, aside from the trivial memorials, there were also those with substantive content or clear purposes.

For instance, the one before him.

Prefect Lv Yuan of Hexi Prefecture reported that the embankment construction project had been completed successfully, and the people were deeply grateful to His Majesty and Prince Jiannan.

He then praised extensively Prince Jiannan's achievements, followed by claiming credit for himself, and finally commended several subordinates who had performed well during the project.

He mentioned three subordinates, likely those he wished to promote.

Among them, Prefecture Deputy Zhou Boshan, who oversaw the entire project alongside Prince Jiannan, deserved more credit than Lv Yuan. Yet, Lv Yuan did not claim credit for himself, seemingly genuinely intent on promoting Zhou Boshan.

Chu Jiubian understood why: Zhou Boshan's wife was from the Xiao family.

He was likely a son-in-law from a branch family of the Xiao family, seeking to gain merit through Prince Jiannan's influence.

Besides Zhou Boshan, Lv Yuan also mentioned two others: Sun Chang, the official in charge of construction materials and supplies, and Meng Tian, the official responsible for conscripting laborers.

Their posts were too low-ranking for Chu Jiubian to know much about them. One was from Lixiang Prefecture near the border of Shaanxi and Henan, and the other was a local of Hexi Prefecture. Both had bought their offices through the former Vice Minister of Personnel, Zhao Qianhe.

Likely, they had either paid generous bribes or sworn allegiance to Lv Yuan to earn his praise.

However, it was understandable if they had indeed aligned themselves with their superior.

The official system of the Great Ning Dynasty was not like the imperial examination system. There was no fixed three-year rotation system or prohibition against serving in one's hometown. Many local officials served in their home regions or nearby prefectures their entire careers, unless promoted or demoted.

Moreover, due to the strong clan loyalties of the time, if an outsider were appointed to a region, they would be unable to control the local clan forces. Thus, previous emperors of the Great Ning Dynasty had allowed local people to govern themselves.

Yet, the drawbacks of this system were evident: local forces and officials formed tight-knit groups, weakening central control over the regions.

Chu Jiubian sighed.

Thus, the imperial examinations were still necessary.

Moreover, it seemed both civil service and military exams would be held. When assigning officials selected through exams to local positions, military officers would also need to be assigned to provide protection. Otherwise, confronting local forces and clans would indeed prove difficult.

Alternatively, instead of holding military exams, Qin Xiao could directly assign his own soldiers to accompany civil officials to the regions, giving Qin Xiao more leverage over local governance.

However, the premise for this is that Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao could maintain their cooperation in the long run.

If they eventually end up on opposing sides, these local military officers would become the greatest liability for Chu Jiubian.

Chu Jiubian folded the memorial and, along with two other important ones, took them with him as he left the Ministry of Personnel.

The more involved he became in Great Ning's affairs, the more he realized the situation was far more complex than he had initially imagined.

His idea of using officials selected through imperial exams to control local regions seemed rather naive.

This was not something that could be accomplished overnight; it might take years, or even over a decade.

So, ultimately, if he wanted to assist Baili Hong in turning Great Ning into his vision of a prosperous era, it would be best to maintain long-term cooperation with Qin Xiao.

But Qin Xiao was the primary antagonist, destined to become Baili Hong's enemy later on—where would that leave him?

For now, he decided to take things one step at a time. At least for now, his goals aligned with Qin Xiao's.

The powerful families and vassal princes—these tumors and parasites had already gnawed Great Ning to the bone. They had to be cut out one by one so that new flesh and bone could grow.

The soft sedan chair moved steadily toward the imperial palace.

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation within the palace, Qin Xiao had also received the latest news from Qin Zhaoyang.

Huguang was far from the capital, spanning multiple regions. Even by fast horse, it would take seven or eight days to travel between them.

Yet Qin Zhaoyang's messages arrived every three days. This was because the messengers they used for communication were all martial arts experts skilled in lightness techniques, trained by the Qin family for generations. When traveling at top speed, they were even faster than galloping horses.

Human stamina was limited, but Qin Xiao had no shortage of martial artists under his command. Even if they had to switch messengers every half-day, it was no problem at all.

Qin Xiao unfolded the secret letter.

Three days earlier, Qin Zhaoyang had already sent a message describing his initial observations upon arrival.

Qin Zhaoyang had brought over fifty top-tier experts to Huguang. He then sent a few to each of the disaster-stricken provinces, while those remaining in Huguang disguised themselves as famine victims and blended into the refugee groups across different prefectures and counties.

The refugees had reached the point of eating tree bark to survive. Even if Prince Huguang was reluctant, to avoid inciting rebellion, he had no choice but to open the granaries and distribute food.

However, the local officials were just like Prince Huguang, constantly pleading poverty to the refugees. The daily porridge ration was just enough to keep people from starving to death but left them too weak to resist—barely clinging to life.

Moreover, there were already inflammatory rumors circulating among the refugees, such as "Heaven is unkind because the officials are without virtue."

Others claimed that the Son of Heaven had usurped the throne, that powerful relatives were in control, and that this had brought divine punishment, leaving the people with nothing to harvest.

Public resentment was slowly growing. Some scholars and Confucianists in Huguang had even written veiled poems and essays, spouting treasonous words like "The wild sparrow occupies the golden phoenix's nest, the vine steals the spring sun by twining around the crown."

They directly labeled the emperor and Qin Xiao as thieves who stole the throne for the benefit of the Qin family.

But Baili Hong's edict as crown prince was genuine—written in Emperor Yingzong's hand and stamped with his seal. Aside from the postponed enthronement ceremony, Baili Hong was already the crown prince in practice.

A son succeeding his father was only right and proper.

Someone as clever as Qin Feng, having chosen to die, would naturally have prepared everything for his son.

Upon hearing these rumors among the people, Qin Zhaoyang ordered his men to quietly spread another message.

The common people knew nothing of political games. They had never even seen the emperor or Prince Ning. Their resentment toward them was merely because they needed an outlet for their pent-up frustration.

So Qin Zhaoyang and his men redirected this resentment toward the most pressing issue—food.

"Have you heard? They say the magistrate of Quanchun County just took a third concubine the day before yesterday and held a banquet with 108 dishes—what a feast!"

"I heard about it too. They say all the officials and merchants at the banquet left with their bellies full."

"And the Prefecture Deputy of Dayang County married his youngest son to the third daughter of the Hubei prefect half a month ago. The betrothal gifts practically filled an entire street."

"Right. And the Prefect of Nanxiang County, who held a full-month celebration for his grandson, made sure everyone knew about it."

"We can't even afford food, yet these officials have enough money and grain to feast and host banquets like this?"

"What do you expect? In the eyes of those officials, our lives are like ants. When you walk on the road, do you notice if you've stepped on an ant?"

"Are you saying those officials can live so lavishly because they're stepping on the flesh and blood of ants like us?"

"I didn't say that, but I have a cousin who used to guard the granary here in Huaiping County. He said it was packed full of grain—enough to feed us refugees for a year or more."

"What?! Didn't they say there was no grain? That we were waiting for the court to transport grain from Nan Zhili?"

"Are you stupid? That grain is reserved for the officials. If they gave it to us, how would they live extravagantly?"

"Besides, grain prices are so high now. Who knows if they plan to sell that grain to the merchants in the city?"

"This is too much!" A burly refugee slammed his fist on the ground. "I wondered why the guards always looked so well-fed. Turns out it's only us commoners who have nothing to eat."

"I thought it was his fault." One man pointed upward, meaning the emperor, then said angrily, "But it's these corrupt officials in Huguang who are to blame."

"Exactly. I heard before that when he—" the man lowered his voice, "when he ascended the throne, heavenly signs appeared, and even immortals descended to bless him."

"Immortals?!" Everyone gasped.

"Immortals. Many people saw it."

"Good heavens, so he really is the emperor acknowledged by Heaven."

"A while back, I traveled with a merchant group to Bei Zhili. Everyone there was talking about how the emperor and Prince Ning personally sold ice to the nobles to raise money to buy grain for us."

"Yes, but that grain never reached us. It was swallowed up by those corrupt officials above!"

"Corrupt officials! Corrupt officials!" The burly man's eyes reddened with rage as he glared toward the gates of Huaiping County in the distance.

Many others felt the same.

Such rumors, spread by Qin Zhaoyang and his fifty-plus comrades, reached most of Huguang. The refugees no longer cared about divine punishment—they only cared that these corrupt officials had grain but refused to share it with the people.

Public resentment continued to accumulate and swell.

Qin Zhaoyang planned to wait a couple more days until public anger reached a boiling point, then lead people to storm a county granary. After that, all of Huguang would descend into chaos.

But just then, news arrived from Guizhou.

A large group of grain merchants from the southern borders had arrived in Guizhou, Guangxi, and Sichuan—three adjacent regions—and grain prices in these areas had already begun to fluctuate.

Qin Zhaoyang decided to wait and observe a bit longer, holding off on action for now.

This was what he reported in his first letter to Qin Xiao.

At the time, Qin Xiao knew that these suddenly appearing southern grain merchants were likely what Chu Jiubian had referred to as "the solution to the drought."

After reading that message, he had already anticipated what might follow.

As a precaution, he sent Qin Zhaoyang a token representing the emperor's verbal decree. When the time came, Qin Zhaoyang would know how to use it.

In today's letter, Qin Zhaoyang briefly recounted the subsequent events.

The emergence of grain merchants from the Southern Border was an unforeseen variable. Immediately, grain prices in Sichuan, Guizhou, and other regions began to fall uncontrollably.

In truth, the famine victims in the southern regions had some savings, but the sky-high grain prices had forced them into destitution.

If grain prices were to truly drop, coupled with the grain transported from the Southern Metropolitan Region, the crises in Guizhou and Guangxi would undoubtedly be resolved.

As for Sichuan—

When a large number of Southern Border grain merchants entered the region, Prince Pingxi Baili Zheng received the news.

At the same time, he also received a secret letter from Prince Huguang.

After reading the letter, Baili Zheng, who had been frowning for over a month, finally relaxed. He immediately summoned his subordinates and said, "Issue the order: from today onward, make the porridge thicker and prepare palm-sized flatbreads to distribute to the famine victims daily."

A subordinate worriedly said, "Your Highness, if we do this, our grain reserves may not last long."

"Never mind that, do as I say."

"Yes."

The Southern Border grain merchants had already pushed deep into Sichuan, the area hardest hit by the disaster. At this point, it was no longer feasible for them to turn back or return home.

They had no choice but to sell their grain to the people of Sichuan.

Moreover, according to Baili Hao's letter, these Southern Border grain merchants had already been swindled once by the Southern Border Main Stronghold, so they would not dare to gamble on how much surplus grain Sichuan's granaries actually had. Worried about being stuck with unsold grain, they would inevitably lower their prices.

Even if grain prices did not drop to pre-drought levels, Baili Zheng could still purchase the grain at double the price and distribute it to the famine victims.

After that, all they needed was a good rain, and the drought would be over.

However, to guard against the possibility of continued drought, he still planned to discreetly buy up additional grain from the merchants and store it as a precaution.

Meanwhile, Qin Zhaoyang, based in Huguang, received news from his subordinates in Sichuan and immediately understood Prince Pingxi's intentions. He promptly halted the plan to lead people to storm the granaries.

Instead, he spread word among the famine victims in Huguang about Prince Pingxi and Prince Huguang's major efforts in "distributing grain to relieve the people."

The people of Huguang, who had always considered themselves better off and more secure than those in other regions, now wondered why, in a year of disaster, they were faring worse.

Naturally, it was because the vassal prince was incompetent and immoral. If he did not care for the people in his domain, how could they respect or trust him?

This sentiment spread widely, and the people's resentment toward the vassal prince nearly reached its peak.

When Baili Yue learned of this, he was so enraged that he smashed an entire white jade teacup set.

"Fine! Baili Zheng, Baili Hao, you truly are my 'good' brothers!" Baili Yue gritted his teeth. "Someone!"

"Your subordinate is here."

"Issue the order: all counties and prefectures are to open their granaries and distribute grain. Make the porridge thick and the flatbreads large and substantial. Ensure my people are properly fed and healthy!"

The people of Huguang, seeing their rations improve, were thrilled, and their previous resentment largely dissipated.

Under careful manipulation, many even began to feel grateful to the vassal prince.

Qin Zhaoyang and his men quietly spread rumors such as, "We should still thank Prince Pingxi. If he hadn't treated his people well, the vassal prince wouldn't have treated us well either."

This served both to needle the vassal prince and to drive a wedge between him and Prince Pingxi—killing two birds with one stone.

After accomplishing this, Qin Zhaoyang and his men went to meet the grain convoy from the Southern Metropolitan Region and proceeded together to Guizhou and Guangxi.

The prefects of these two regions, following orders from the Xiao and Lu families, had deliberately delayed reporting the disaster. Now, despite seeing the people's discontent, they still refused to release grain.

Even with the arrival of Southern Border grain merchants and a slight drop in prices, they continued to create an illusion of scarcity to drive up prices again.

Not only were ordinary people suffering, but even small merchants with some savings were struggling to make ends meet.

"The court is heartless, the emperor is immoral."

This sentiment, deliberately fostered by certain parties, gradually took root in people's hearts.

Especially when news spread that in regions under the vassal princes' control, the famine victims were being well-fed, some began flooding into the territories of those three vassal princes.

Who would willingly leave their ancestral homes at such a time?

But staying meant starvation, while leaving offered a chance to survive.

For the vassal princes—at least for Prince Pingxi and the vassal prince—their domains were vast and underpopulated.

They needed people to cultivate the vast uncultivated lands and to expand their armies. Population was crucial for building their strength.

Thus, the influx of refugees from Guizhou and Guangxi was actually welcome.

With enough grain to go around, they could afford to support more people.

Once the drought ended and new crops were harvested, the increased tax income could be used for infrastructure or military development, further strengthening their power.

In the end, the vassal princes lost nothing. Instead, they gained reputation, population, and subsequent benefits.

Only the court gained nothing, facing only blame and losing popular support.

Reactions to these developments varied among the factions in the capital.

On one hand, they were pleased to see Qin Xiao and Baili Hong undermined. On the other, they did not want the vassal princes to grow too powerful. However, the vassal princes were still vassal princes—they could not enter the capital without summons.

Compared to them, Qin Xiao and Baili Hong posed a greater threat.

If incidents like those in Guizhou and Guangxi repeated, and the court repeatedly disappointed the people, the blame for all misfortunes would inevitably fall on Baili Hong, the emperor.

With a little guidance, the focus could shift from Baili Hong directly to Qin Xiao.

Once Qin Xiao fell, Baili Hong would become a mere puppet emperor. Whoever gained the upper hand in the court would become the next "power behind the throne."

Of course, they knew Qin Xiao would not be easy to deal with. Grain from the Southern Metropolitan Region had already been sent to Guizhou and Guangxi.

But popular resentment had already reached a boiling point. Even if the grain arrived, the seeds of discontent had been sown and would be easy to nurture in the future.

After reading Qin Zhaoyang's letter, which concisely summarized the twists and turns of the situation, Qin Xiao understood everything clearly.

All these changes had begun when Chu Jiubian assured him that "news would come from the Southern Border."

First, the Southern Frontier King secured grain. Then, Southern Border grain merchants traveled to various regions, and Prince Pingxi took the opportunity to coordinate, forcing the vassal prince to follow suit in distributing grain.

Now, the grain convoy from the Southern Metropolitan Region had reached Guizhou and Guangxi. With the token Qin Xiao had sent, Qin Zhaoyang could conveniently blame the local officials for "the court's failure to release grain."

It was the corrupt officials behind this; His Majesty, in his benevolence toward the people, sent disaster relief grain.

His Majesty also detested corruption, so he issued a verbal decree ordering the summary execution of the corrupt officials in both regions, including the prefects, to appease public outrage.

Even if the two prefects had made preparations in advance, pinning the blame for embezzlement onto their subordinates, they could not escape negligence charges, and questions about the embezzlement would linger.

Qin Zhaoyang could then "escort" the two back to the capital to account for themselves before His Majesty.

After a group of officials were executed, the people of Guizhou and Guangxi would no longer resent the court but instead turn their anger toward the local officials who exploited them.

It's the same idea: the common people did not know the emperor or Prince Ning; they only knew the local officials who directly affected their day-to-day lives.

Rather than hating an unseen figure, it was easier to hate the corrupt officials they could see and touch.

In this way, the schemes of the Xiao and Lu families would be foiled, and they would also lose two local officials with real power.

Once these two were escorted to the capital, even if they escaped execution, they would never be allowed to reenter government service.

And the beginning of all this stemmed from the sudden appearance of extra grain in the Southern Frontier.

That grain must have been related to Chu Jiubian.

How did Chu Jiubian pull it off?

Where did the grain come from, and how was it transported to the Southern Frontier?

When did Chu Jiubian make contact with the Southern Frontier?

And what about the Northern Desert? Who was the so-called High Priest, and what was his relationship with Chu Jiubian?

There were endless questions needing answers, and all signs seemed to point to the only possibility—Chu Jiubian was truly a god.

Qin Xiao's gaze darkened.

After a long pause, he picked up a brush, wrote a few characters on paper, and folded it.

A figure in black combat attire appeared in the study, bowed respectfully.

"Deliver this to Qin Lie," Qin Xiao handed the folded paper to the covert guard, who responded with a low "Yes" before disappearing without a sound.

Qin Xiao lit a tinderbox, set Qin Zhaoyang's letter on fire, and tossed the ashes into a waste basket nearby.

The waste basket was something he had learned from Chu Jiubian, who had several in his room—by the desk, the bed, and even in the courtyard.

It was really useful.

"Sir, the young master is almost here," a servant informed him from outside the room.

Qin Xiao was currently in the study of his own courtyard, in the western side compound of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Upon hearing this, he said, "Invite him in."

"Yes."

He had tea brought in, and just as it was placed, Chu Jiubian arrived.

This was Chu Jiubian's second time visiting the western side compound, though the previous time he had been unconscious and left shortly after waking, noticing nothing.

Now, he got a good look.

There was one main room and two side rooms.

The study was in the front part of the main room, separated from the dining table by a screen, with a layout similar to his own Yaotai Residence.

The study's arrangement was also very similar to Yaotai Residence: a chair behind the desk, and two rows of armchairs with tea tables facing each other.

Seeing him enter, Qin Xiao rose and moved to the less prominent seat, sitting in the chair closer to the desk, and gestured to the opposite chair. "Please, have a seat."

Chu Jiubian didn't hesitate and walked over to sit down.

He picked up the tea from the side table and warned his system internally, "Don't scan it."

"Okay."

The system's voice and tone remained unchanged, but Chu Jiubian inexplicably detected a note of disappointment.

Well done. It really was hoping to dock his points.

Good thing he was clever and saw it coming.

"Did something good happen to you?" Qin Xiao asked.

Chu Jiubian looked up at him.

"You seem to be in a good mood," Qin Xiao remarked, taking a pleased sip of his tea.

Chu Jiubian smiled faintly. "I'm fine. But you seem quite cheerful. Did Qin Zhaoyang send a letter?"

"Yes," Qin Xiao replied, looking at him with an expression Chu Jiubian had never seen before.

Chu Jiubian didn't get it but didn't ask.

After a moment of silence, Qin Xiao spoke again, "Was the surplus grain in the Southern Frontier related to you?"

Chu Jiubian gave a soft laugh, taking a sip of tea.

Qin Xiao also smiled and didn't push the matter.

After all, the drought crisis had been resolved, and he owed Chu Jiubian a huge favor.

"Tomorrow is the Qixi Festival. Would you like to take a stroll?" he asked.

Chu Jiubian set down his teacup, smiling meaningfully. "What a coincidence. Someone just invited me to celebrate the festival together."

Qin Xiao paused, watching as the young man took a letter from his sleeve and unfolded it.

He stood up, moved to sit beside Chu Jiubian, and took the letter.

On it, written in elegant brushstrokes, were two lines:

"I sincerely invite you to join me for a boat ride and lantern viewing on the Qixi Festival night. I humbly request the honor of your presence.

Respectfully, Xiao Zimei."