“I have seen it. I posed as a buyer at Zhenlong Pavilion,” Zuoqiu Yuan replied with precision. “It is entirely golden, about the height of a person, with a slender lower handle and a forked upper part. The candle holders are carved as a dragon and a phoenix, standing opposite each other.”
“As I was leaving Zhenlong Pavilion, I happened to encounter someone,” he continued word by word. “The next day, news spread that the candelabra had been purchased. According to my deduction, it must have been this person who bought it.”
Yun’s gaze intensified: “Do you know who he is?”
“Of course,” Zuoqiu Yuan nodded. “I couldn’t be mistaken. This person is the Nineteenth Prince of the Yan Kingdom, Zhao Yun!”
How fortuitous—searching far and wide yields nothing, yet the answer comes without effort. A trace of an intrigued smile appeared at the corner of Yun’s mouth: “Oh, so it’s Zhao Yun.”
The name the buyer registered at Zhenlong Pavilion was Hu Su, clearly an alias.
When Zuoqiu Yuan mentioned the Nineteenth Prince of Yan, Yun compared the shopkeeper’s description with Zhao Yun, and indeed, their physical characteristics matched.
So, it was essentially confirmed. No wonder the Nineteenth Prince had hurriedly left Wuseier City; it was to rush here to purchase this item.
“It shouldn’t be difficult for State Preceptor Yun to catch up with him,” Zuoqiu Yuan analyzed. “He left Luosha City heading north. An object weighing eight thousand jin would slow anyone down unless they possess a storage space of astonishing capacity. The Nineteenth Prince seemed to have come to Luosha City on short notice; I suspect he doesn’t have such a treasure with him.”
A storage space that could hold eight thousand jin would be considered one of the rarest treasures in the world. Currently known items with such enormous capacity included only the Golden Ancient City of the Kingdom and the storage ring in the Yan King’s possession. Despite Prince Zhao Yun’s noble status, Zuoqiu Yuan doubted he would be equipped with such a supreme treasure.
“Why chase after him? To seize the candelabra back?” Yun smiled amusedly. “If he can’t transport it easily, how would we manage any better?”
The Wei Kingdom’s State Preceptor before him didn’t plan to seize the treasure? Zuoqiu Yuan was slightly startled, unable to grasp his meaning. However, Yun had already changed the subject: “What we need more is an insider, yet you’re already a fugitive wanted by the Kingdom.”
Zuoqiu Yuan was confident: “Insiders are merely pawns, and the Wei King and State Preceptor have many at their disposal; they don’t lack one or two more. What I offer is a thorough knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs, military deployments, and even the temperaments of the ruler and his ministers. These, I fear, are what the Wei King truly needs. Speaking somewhat disrespectfully, had I been with Wei during the last eastern expedition against the Kingdom, the Wufu Snow Mountain incident would not have occurred.”
“Domestic and foreign affairs? Very well, let me ask you,” Yun wanted to test him. “What’s your view on New Xia’s recent reforms?”
Zuoqiu Yuan had been a fugitive within the Kingdom, hiding from place to place, having lost his former connections and intelligence sources. For Yun to ask him to analyze recent foreign political events was somewhat demanding.
Yet Zuoqiu Yuan replied without hesitation: “It appears to be a dangerous move, but is safe and calculated.”
“How so?”
“To dare touch the foundations of a nation requires great boldness, such as tax laws. It’s like pulling a thread that affects the entire fabric—one misstep could result in losing public support and a massive drop in elemental power,” Zuoqiu Yuan explained. “But the rulers never intended to truly implement it; it was merely to lay a foundation of public support for New Xia to sign an agreement with Wei. Combined with the southwestern conflict being the perfect opportunity for tax reform, they successfully achieved their goal.”
“Hmm.” Yun’s expression remained unchanged. “Anything else?” The analysis was correct, but which high official from any nation couldn’t see that? If Zuoqiu Yuan only had this level of insight, he wouldn’t be worth using.
“This move also has drawbacks,” Zuoqiu Yuan knew this question would determine his fate. “The ruler will lose people’s hearts.”
Xu Guangxiang, listening on the side, couldn’t help but interject: “She reversed the tax policy, gained sixty million taels, and defeated the Puling Kingdom. By all accounts, public support should be soaring. Why would she lose people’s hearts?”
“That’s public support,” Zuoqiu Yuan corrected. “No matter how ideal the outcome of this policy change, it ultimately involved trickery and coercive tactics. The common people are simple and, having benefited, might quickly forget. But some will firmly remember being deceived, such as the court’s powerful ministers, the western noble families, and of course, the Yan, Kingdom, and Jin nations.”
“As they say, karma comes quickly,” he paused momentarily. “If I were Fu Lingchuan, having offended so many people at once, I would truly be uneasy from now on.”
“Is it Fu Lingchuan?” Yun murmured. “So that’s her plan.”
There seemed to be amusement in his voice, but Zuoqiu Yuan didn’t catch it clearly: “What did you say?”
“Nothing,” Yun smiled. “I also think Fu Lingchuan will face great misfortune ahead.” He poured a cup of tea and handed it to Zuoqiu Yuan. “Drink.”
“I don’t deserve such honor.” Zuoqiu Yuan respectfully accepted it. Did this indicate Yun’s willingness to take him back to serve Wei? However, just as his lips touched the rim of the cup, he heard Yun say languidly, “I’ve added some gu worms and a bit of poison to this. It will ensure your unwavering loyalty to Great Wei. Otherwise, your heart will be pierced and your abdomen will rot, causing unbearable pain before death.”
Zuoqiu Yuan’s movement paused briefly.
Under the watchful eyes of Yun and Xu Guangxiang, he threw back his head and drank it all in one gulp, then solemnly said: “I drink it with pleasure!”
“Good, excellent!” Yun gently clapped his hands twice. “My King appreciates people like you.”
The successive waves of turmoil within New Xia finally began to subside—the treasury was replenished, tax rates were adjusted back, and border threats were eliminated. Although life was merely returning to its normal course, everyone felt as if they had taken a long, deep breath of relief.
A peaceful and stable life was truly hard-won.
With the main difficulties troubling the royal court and the people resolved, Fu Lingchuan, as the State Preceptor who wielded the Ji instrument, could sense the changes in the elemental power gathered in the cauldron.
After the implementation of the tax reform policy, the gathered elemental power had dropped alarmingly low. This indicated that the people were dissatisfied with the new policy, their hearts had turned away, resulting in weak elemental power production.
Elemental power served as a weathervane of the people’s will, closely monitored by all major nations.
During the period of collective petitioning, elemental power had slightly risen. Later, when the royal court decided to sign a diplomatic agreement with Wei instead of allying, elemental power suddenly rebounded!
The speed and trajectory were like a ping-pong ball bouncing off the ground.
Feng Miaojun had thought that if elemental power could return to its original level, it would be remarkable enough since she and Fu Lingchuan intended to reach an agreement without inciting public anger or universal condemnation. The current outcome was even better than imagined, proving that this roundabout strategy had been appropriate.
After the great victory in the southwest, with the Puling Kingdom’s surrender and the army’s triumphant return, elemental power suddenly surged, as if injected with a powerful stimulant!
The inspiring and encouraging effect of a great victory on public sentiment could be seen from this.
The reason Feng Miaojun insisted on having New Xia win this war by themselves, despite the enormous cost in resources and manpower, was not only to train the new army and eliminate barriers but, most importantly, to boost New Xia’s fortunes and consolidate the nation’s elemental power.
When Yun first proposed the alliance, she had been inclined to agree, but the people of New Xia would certainly have strongly opposed it.