Chapter 33

Chapter 33

In the midsummer of May, the sun blazed in the sky, and Yongzhou grew increasingly hot and dry. Warm winds carried the drone of cicadas.

Branches swayed, reaching into the half-open lattice window of the study. Dappled light filtered through, falling upon the low couch behind the screen.

A figure reclined on the couch, the hem of his purple robe swaying gently.

As the saying goes, drowsy in spring, weary in autumn. Zhu Qinghou was feeling lazy and weary, leaning against a backrest. Wrapped in a fox-fur cloak while fanning himself with a cattail-leaf fan, he was both afraid of the cold and greedy for coolness. His eyes were lowered to the scrolls beside him.

Outside the screen.

A group of officials trembled with fear, treading on thin ice.

Strangely enough, no one knew what kind of bewitching potion this man surnamed Zhu had given the Prince. His Highness insisted on bringing him into the study for political discussions every time. The first couple of instances could be dismissed as minor affairs, mere child's play.

But now, the trend seemed to be pointing toward bringing this man into the very core of Yongzhou's power center.

A slave—no matter how glorious his past might have been—was now merely that, branded on the forehead as a criminal. What right did he have to sit as their equal, or even above them?

Someone couldn't help but speak up to admonish: "Your Highness, the Zhu Faction perpetrated countless crimes and was despised by all. If we openly allow a surviving member of the Zhu Faction to appear before others, I fear it will tarnish your reputation."

As these words were spoken, some peered through the screen at Zhu Qinghou's expression. The screen was embroidered with purple Nalan flowers, their sprawling patterns shifting with the light and shadow, making his expression impossible to discern.

No matter how shameless one might be, upon hearing such words, they would surely feel ashamed and prostrate themselves.

Zhu Qinghou casually turned a page. As he read, he began to feel somewhat hungry and casually picked up a piece of lion-mane cake from the small table to eat.

The others: "..."

This man was simply too shameless!

While others were admonishing him, he was nonchalantly eating pastries.

They still clung to a final shred of hope. Prince Su had always been upright, uncompromising, and ruthless in his methods. With Zhu Qinghou acting so arrogantly, Prince Su would certainly not let it slide.

Sure enough.

"Get out," Prince Su said coldly.

The one who had spoken up looked toward the screen, feeling a hint of secret delight. Indeed, given the Prince's temperament, he would never allow a slave to climb over his head—

The next moment.

The royal soldiers standing nearby stepped forward, smiling at him and silently making a "please" gesture.

The man was utterly bewildered and flustered. "His Highness told that slave to get out, not your humble servant. You..."

Before he could finish, the soldier took another step closer. His dark, cold eyes fixed on the man, a smile that didn't reach his eyes, scaring him into swallowing his words.

After that man left, the others in the study felt both apprehensive and secretly amused. Prince Su's favoritism toward Zhu Qinghou was obvious to anyone with eyes. Yet, that man had dared to speak ill of Zhu Qinghou right in front of Prince Su.

This minor episode was quickly brushed aside. Zhu Qinghou couldn't even be bothered to speak. There were too many people who hated him, looked down on him, wanted to kick him when he was down, and trample him into the dust—so many that he couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind.

Sensibly skipping over this matter, everyone turned to serious business. "Your Highness, the Trade Superintendency is due to arrive in Yongzhou. Most of them are from the Eastern Palace."

The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace had always been wary of their Prince. Everyone present was well aware of this. Moreover, the last time, the Supervising Censor had lost his mind in Yongzhou and had only recently been sent back to Yejing.

It was likely that the Eastern Palace's arrival this time was with malicious intent.

But it was simply a matter of meeting soldiers with soldiers and water with earth.

Zhu Qinghou finished reading the scrolls and casually set them aside. "I'm not afraid of him coming; I'm only afraid he won't come."

The study fell silent for a moment. No one responded to Zhu Qinghou's words, tacitly ignoring him with remarkable unanimity.

Zhu Qinghou didn't mind. He offered a few pointers on his own and instructed everyone to make preparations.

The others initially had no intention of listening, letting the words go in one ear and out the other without careful consideration.

Prince Su said calmly, "Those who disobey will be punished."

These three simple words carried undeniable authority. No one dared to be negligent any longer and quickly assented. Upon careful thought, they realized this slave's words held some merit.

In the past, the Zhongzheng officials of Yejing had evaluated Zhu Qinghou as "of illustrious lineage, uniquely peerless in brilliance," and said he was of unparalleled intelligence. It seemed these claims were not entirely unfounded.

Separated by the screen, Zhu Qinghou couldn't see the changes in these people's expressions. But just by listening to their voices, he could tell the vast difference in their attitudes before and after.

If it weren't for Li Zhen backing him, these people would probably each take a turn stepping on him.

He didn't take it to heart. Instead, he found it amusing, wanting to see their expressions of suppressed anger.

Sooner or later, even without Li Zhen's support, he would make these people obediently listen to him and follow his every command.

Before that, he needed to promote those who were compliant.

Those exiled officials didn't hold high enough positions. Being newcomers, their seniority was also insufficient to enter the Feudal Prince's study for now.

...He needed to find a way for them.

Zhu Qinghou tapped the scrolls, lost in thought as he gazed at the map beside him. Coincidentally, the others were discussing sending someone to take up a post at the frontier trade market. This was a tough assignment—unfamiliar territory beyond the frontier, dealing with the Wei people, and engaging in subtle confrontations with the court's Trade Superintendency. It was troublesome indeed.

Those present were the most powerful figures in Yongzhou, seated at the center of authority. Naturally, they wouldn't personally go to oversee the frontier market. Their discussions revolved around deciding exactly who to send.

Zhu Qinghou hesitated for a moment. Between direct recommendation and indirect suggestion, he chose the former. "I think these few individuals are quite suitable." He read out their names one by one, stating their strengths and suitable positions.

His reasoning was clear, his wording precise, leaving no room for fault.

Li Zhen "looked" toward Zhu Qinghou, neither approving nor disapproving.

The others hesitated briefly, not immediately responding. Whether the people Zhu Qinghou recommended could be used still required observation.

Moreover, these individuals had once been Chancellor Zhu's protégés and had been quite close to the Eastern Palace. What if, upon meeting the Trade Superintendency, they switched sides...

Zhu Qinghou suddenly laughed, a light, faint chuckle that startled everyone. Why was he laughing for no reason?

They heard Zhu Qinghou say calmly, "If the Trade Superintendency wants to control the trade market, they certainly won't tolerate Yongzhou's officials. I originally intended to send them as the vanguard, saving you all the trouble." His tone was even. "Since you find it unsuitable, then forget it."

His words made no attempt to hide that the people he had just recommended were connected to him.

Everyone was stunned. They were all shrewd individuals; how could they not see that Zhu Qinghou wanted to give those people an opportunity? In officialdom, if one only sought to secure a position without striving for advancement, simply showing up for duty each day was enough. But if one wanted to climb higher, what was most lacking was opportunity.

If those people performed well, it would be fine. To the others, they were merely tools to get things done.

They all looked down on this remnant of the Zhu clan who relied solely on his beauty, hoping he would take a big fall soon to temper his presumptuous nature. After some contemplation, they silently acquiesced to Zhu Qinghou's suggestion.

Li Zhen sat upright in the foremost seat, calmly sensing the undercurrents. All of Xiao Yu's influence relied on him to stand firm. Once separated from him, it could collapse at any moment.

Xiao Yu clung to him like dodder, growing upward, their roots entwined, difficult to separate.

This realization stirred a rare feeling of pleasure within him.

Zhu Qinghou rested his chin on one hand while the other idly fingered the scrolls, his gaze deep and contemplative. The opportunity had been offered; it was up to those men to seize it.

Come to think of it, it was already May. If Lou Changqing's sorghum truly could ripen every three months, it should be lush by now.

Pei County.

Sorghum, still green, swayed in the wind, undulating like waves under the sun.

A calf was walking along the field ridge, followed by a group of people led by the county magistrate, who wore a bamboo hat and a straw raincoat.

Lou Changqing, with his trousers rolled up and his straw boots caked in dried mud, was following the calf.

A panting crowd chased after him. "Magistrate Lou, slow down!"

This man had come from the opulent and sophisticated capital of Yejing, rumored to be a protégé of the Zhu Faction. By all accounts, he should have been indolent and pleasure-seeking. Yet, here he was, resembling a mud-stained farmer. Not only had he arrived leading an ox, but he had also immediately begun studying how to cultivate sorghum.

Preposterous! How could sorghum possibly grow in Yongzhou?

But lo and behold, he had actually succeeded!

Those who had scoffed now felt their faces burn with embarrassment. Their initial skepticism toward Lou Changqing's claim of a "three-month harvest" wavered, replaced by a grudging half-belief.

As he tended to the calf, Lou Changqing recalled the Young Master's words.

At Prince Su's banquet that night, the Young Master—whom they had thought long dead—had spoken up for them. He had even managed to secure daggers as rewards from His Highness. Later, in a secluded spot, the Young Master had asked him privately, "Are you content to remain a meek, exiled official?"

Without hesitation, Lou Changqing had declared he was not.

The Young Master had smiled then, the faint crimson mark near his eye lending vivid brightness to his expression.

"Then listen to me. I will ensure your meteoric rise."

Upon receiving their transfer orders, the men couldn't help but recall those words. The journey to Tong Pass was long and arduous, fraught with peril. They would face external threats from foreign tribes and internal pressure from court officials, caught in a pincer movement—hardly a desirable assignment.

And yet—

Gazing at the tea and silk cloth prepared in advance, and thinking of the soaring prices following the market's completion, the words of the man in purple robes echoed incessantly in their minds.

One by one, they reached out to accept the transfer orders, kneeling to receive their commands, their backs ramrod straight.

Then they rose, took hold of their horses' reins, and set off toward the lands beyond the pass.

"The sky is vast, the wilderness boundless; the wind blows the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep."

From afar, the songs of herdsmen drifted from all directions, carried by the wind across the sprawling wilderness.

Zhu Qinghou seemed to sense something. His gaze drifted past the window lattice, looking out beyond the hall.

He had expected at least one or two to decline such a hot potato of a task. To his surprise, not a single person refused. All accepted their orders and set off for the frontier.

Beside him, Li Zhen, seated at his side, seemed to perceive his shift in mood. Leaning closer, Li Zhen gently draped a blanket over him.

"I will ensure they return safely."

His voice was soft, devoid of emotion, as cool and detached as ever.

Zhu Qinghou was taken aback for a moment before responding with a muffled "Mm." He didn't consider himself the sentimental type. In the past, he cared for nothing and paid no mind to others. Such matters were trivialities he could resolve with a single word, hardly worth his concern.

Now, with his status plummeted, he had to handle everything personally, planning and scheming with utmost caution, forced to be increasingly meticulous and attentive.

...That was all there was to it.