Kneeling before the Buddha statue, Master Wuse personally shaved Liu Muyan’s head. His dharma name, as Meng Jianqing had suggested, would be “Seven Treasure.”
The gold bricks and silver ingots stored in Wanfo Temple totaled over one hundred thousand taels, all donated in Master Wuse’s name. They were transported by forced march by the Quanzhou garrison to Quanzhou Prefecture, then forwarded to Yingtian.
Since Wen Ruhai’s injuries had not yet healed, Meng Jianqing stayed several more days. The Yun siblings also remained, having many matters to handle.
Watching Wen Ruhai and Long Yan together, Meng Jianqing could see they truly shared common interests. Yun Yanran privately laughed to Meng Jianqing that perhaps the Ministry of Rites had intentionally sent such an unmarried young talent to worship Mazu—the drinker’s intention was probably not the wine. Yun Yanjiao just smiled with pursed lips. When asked what she was smiling about, she said softly: “I’m just wondering what His Majesty would think if this marriage came to pass.”
Meng Jianqing was startled. The Long family was so wealthy that probably anyone who married Long Yan would attract suspicion—though the Hongwu Emperor only viewed Long Yan as a weak orphan, he wouldn’t think the same way about her husband.
But Yun Yanjiao smiled and said: “I’m afraid His Majesty would think: the Long family raising one parasite is one thing, but two parasites sitting idle and consuming everything—how could that work!”
Yun Yanran and Meng Jianqing looked at each other in surprise, then burst out laughing.
The Hongwu Emperor would probably think exactly that. But was this perhaps his intention?
Chen Liuru privately told the three of them, “Wen Ruhai will probably spend even more money than Long Yan in the future.”
Meng Jianqing glanced at him: “Is there a problem with that?”
Chen Liuru’s face reddened slightly. After steadying himself, he said, “I’m not saying Wen Ruhai is bad. I’m just wondering if he might disrupt some balance. Everything has its measure—excess is as bad as deficiency.”
Meng Jianqing couldn’t help but be slightly startled.
Chen Liuru looked toward the Lotus Viewing Pavilion, where Long Yan and Wen Ruhai were currently appreciating the marble-pieced “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains.” From a distance, both their silhouettes seemed to radiate the same leisurely contentment.
Chen Liuru’s gaze was somewhat gloomy, but his tightly pressed lips undoubtedly showed his determination.
This was not someone who would sit waiting for death or willingly give up.
Meng Jianqing thought for a moment and said, “Long Yan is so clever—Brother Chen, do you think she also understands the principle that excess is as bad as deficiency?”
Chen Liuru’s smile was somewhat bitter: “Knowing is easy, acting is hard. Moreover, the Long family people all have that kind of carefree attitude: ‘When flowers bloom and can be plucked, pluck them directly—don’t wait until there are no flowers to pluck empty branches.'”
Meng Jianqing remained silent. If Long Yan made such a choice, how would Chen Liuru react? What consequences and effects would his reaction have?
When leaving Quanzhou, Meng Jianqing ordered the Imperial Guard team responsible for monitoring Wanfo Temple to also monitor Chen Liuru.
Leaving Quanzhou and returning to Yingtian with him were the Yun siblings and Chen Sha.
That dark, lean youth appeared and disappeared on the Thousand-Li Ship like a fish in water, as agile as a mountain ape, his nimble figure radiating obvious joy.
The Yun siblings specially came over to greet Meng Jianqing about this.
Meng Jianqing waved his hand: “Brother Yun needn’t be polite. How to handle Chen Zuyi’s former subordinates and relatives isn’t my concern—one shouldn’t meddle in affairs outside one’s position.”
Yun Yanran looked at him meaningfully: “Brother Meng is too modest.”
Meng Jianqing could make his own decisions about such major matters as handling Seven Treasure Child—what about one small Chen Sha?
Meng Jianqing smiled without speaking.
He suddenly remembered that the Yun siblings seemed to have completely forgotten about Chen Laozhong. Did they consider this person unimportant and not worth mentioning, or had they cleverly guessed Chen Laozhong’s fate?
Chen Laozhong’s position wasn’t high enough to require careful treatment to avoid affecting the overall situation, nor was it low enough to be insignificant and easily overlooked.
For someone like this, once fallen into Imperial Guard hands, there was only one outcome.
So whether Master Wuse or Seven Treasure Child, they had both endured it and no longer asked about Chen Laozhong’s whereabouts.
Though the cunning rabbit wasn’t yet dead, the hunting dog had to be abandoned.
When ordering Chen Laozhong’s execution, he had felt no hesitation—keeping this witness to Five-Colored and Seven Treasure Child’s plot against Long Yan would have been troublesome.
But his heart wasn’t without subtle feelings.
Yun Yanjiao observed him and said softly, “There’s one thing I’ve never quite understood. The Seven Treasure Child matter was so significant—did Captain Meng’s handling receive prior instruction?”
To let him off so lightly—were there more severe consequences to follow?
Yun Yanjiao asking this question with such a gentle smile and soft words made it difficult for Meng Jianqing to deflect vaguely—he supposed the Yun siblings were still worried about Master Wuse’s safety.
After pondering, he said, “Minister Shen once told me that when handling cases, don’t just think about that one case. Plan, consider the big picture, adapt to circumstances, and solve problems rather than create them. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to work independently.”
Yun Yanran remained silent.
If Meng Jianqing had insisted on arresting Seven Treasure Child, he would probably have had to burn Wanfo Temple, kill Master Wuse, and raze all of Longwang Valley—though he would likely have had to get past Yun Yanjiao first, as she probably couldn’t stand by regardless. And if Master Wuse were provoked to anger, the consequences would certainly be severe and terrifying. At that point, who would kill whom would be unclear. Then, considering what kind of place Longwang Valley was…
Meng Jianqing wasn’t someone who feared trouble, but perhaps he just felt that if there were better ways to solve problems, why create troubles that would inevitably drag down all of Quanzhou city? And if Seven Treasure Child were spared, Master Wuse, owing this favor, would naturally do his utmost to ensure he never again became involved in treasonous affairs, striving to maintain peace in the region. If the Imperial Guard spared even Seven Treasure Child—as long as he could honestly stay at Wanfo Temple as a monk—others would presumably know what to do.
After long contemplation, Yun Yanran said, “Does the Imperial Guard also answer to the Crown Prince?”
Meng Jianqing was startled, then replied: “The Crown Prince bears responsibility for supervising the state, so Minister Shen naturally also answers to the Crown Prince.”
He understood Yun Yanran’s meaning. This matter’s handling didn’t follow the Hongwu Emperor’s usual approach but seemed like a decision the Crown Prince would make.
Tension and relaxation, the way of civil and military affairs. Had the Hongwu Emperor intentionally or unintentionally left this latter path for the Crown Prince?
Yun Yanjiao sighed softly: “To handle it so calmly is naturally for the best.”
A new round of northern campaigns and the southern advance that the Immortal Mountain of the Sea was vigorously promoting were both in preparation.
Meng Jianqing’s approach could indeed be considered, looking at the big picture.
When Yun Yanran took his leave to return to his ship, he suddenly said: “Having completed this matter, Brother Meng will surely be promoted again?”
Meng Jianqing smiled: “People plan, Heaven decides.”
He didn’t hide his desire for promotion—not wanting promotion would be unreasonably strange.
Yun Yanran laughed heartily: “Then, when Brother Meng is promoted, be sure to invite me for a drink!”
Watching the Yun siblings return to their ship, Meng Jianqing still wore a smile, but his hands, clasped behind his back, slowly tightened.
This time Wei Huan had performed great service—he could almost be certain Wei Huan would be promoted.
People who followed him on cases were promoted quickly, like Qin Youming.
But ever since receiving that gold medallion from Shen Guangli, he had remained stuck at the captain position.
Shen Guangli gave him power—even the various colonels had to be polite to him because of it—but never gave him promotion.
Why? Fear that he would approach that position too quickly?
The port was now far behind them, and sea breezes blew continuously. Meng Jianqing raised his head and took a deep breath.
So what if he wasn’t promoted for now?
It didn’t matter—he was still young and could wait.
Wait for that opportunity to come.