Zhang Yulan nearly fainted upon hearing this, his old face turning red as if someone had grabbed him by the throat.

Qing Xia smiled faintly and said indifferently: “Truly worthy of being a young master from a great southeastern family, with such bearing. Commissioner Zhang, your Jiangnan region has outstanding people and beautiful landscapes—the figures it produces are indeed blessed with natural talent.”

Zhang Yulan knew this was serious trouble upon hearing this. Gritting his teeth slightly, as the saying goes, “common people don’t fight with officials”—forced into a corner with no choice, he figured if he spoke truthfully, the second young master of the Jin family wouldn’t make things difficult for a minor clerk like him. He said to the granary guards on both sides: “Come, arrest this criminal who forcibly abducts women!”

The guards on both sides shouted and were about to step forward when the Jin eldest son angrily said: “Who dares touch me? I’ll have your heads!”

“Such arrogance!” Chu Li suddenly snorted coldly and stepped forward angrily. His long sword suddenly left its sheath with a swish. The fine horse under the Jin eldest son immediately whinnied and crashed to the ground. The Jin eldest son was thrown head over heels in a sorry state, and before he could get up, Chu Li stepped on him.

“If you hadn’t given your name, I would have thought you were the great emperor of Southern Chu, the Heavenly King himself.” Chu Li’s voice was cold as ice. In his dark blue long robe, looking down from above, he gazed sideways at the Jin family’s eldest son and said in a deep voice.

“What are you? Just wait—my second brother won’t let you off!”

“Just a useless waste who depends on his brother.” Qing Xia snorted coldly: “Commissioner Zhang, tie him up and send him back to Young Master Jin’s residence for proper education. If I encounter him causing trouble again, his head won’t be safe.”

Zhang Yulan quickly nodded and bowed in agreement.

“Let’s go.” Qing Xia said to Chu Li.

Chu Li nodded and was about to mount his horse when the yellow-clothed woman suddenly stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve. Two streams of tears fell like rain as she cried: “Please, benefactor, save me! If you leave, I’ll surely be captured by them again.”

This woman had thought they couldn’t defeat the Jin family earlier, but unexpectedly that seemingly young man was actually the southeastern grand governor. She immediately grasped this lifeline and pleaded for help.

Chu Li frowned, seemingly unwilling to be pulled at like this, and was about to push the woman’s hand away. But the woman suddenly knelt before him and said tragically: “Benefactor, if you leave, Qianru will surely fall into an even more tragic situation. Please save me, benefactor!”

Qing Xia frowned and said to Zhang Yulan nearby: “Commissioner Zhang, later you send this woman home and don’t let anyone else bully her.”

“This… this…”

Chu Li saw the woman crying pitifully and felt annoyed. He turned to Commissioner Zhang and said sternly: “You’re being evasive over such a small matter—what use is it for the court to support useless people like you?”

Poor Commissioner Zhang, though he didn’t know Chu Li’s identity, could see he spoke so casually before the governor, so he must be a trusted confidant of the grand governor. Not daring to argue back, he could only say helplessly: “My lord, you don’t understand. This woman is a gift for the Ryukyu prince—a newly appointed dancer from the Maritime Rites Department. Young Master Jin is an administrator in the Maritime Rites Department. This… this…”

Qing Xia frowned and pointed at the Jin eldest son who was bound, gagged, and still indignant: “He’s actually a court official?”

“Well… not exactly,” Commissioner Zhang wiped his sweat with a small white handkerchief while stammering: “He bought his position, bought his position…”

Chu Li laughed coldly and suddenly said sternly: “I’ve long heard that Eastern Qi had the shameful practice of gifting women to other nations as tribute alongside money and livestock, but I never imagined even the weak Ryukyu vassal state could enjoy such treatment. Truly eye-opening.”

The man in dark blue robes suddenly turned around, staring directly at Commissioner Zhang with raised eyebrows, saying sternly: “Men who cannot protect their own women are the most worthless men. Nations that cannot protect their own women are the most worthless nations. You people enjoy the court’s salaries and the people’s support, yet instead of thinking how to serve the country and benefit the people, you use women to grovel before neighboring states. Is this your way of being an official?”

These words were spoken with resounding force, like breaking gold and stone, with amazing vigor. Commissioner Zhang’s legs went weak and he nearly fell.

Chu Li pulled over the yellow-clothed woman, suddenly lifted her onto his horse, and said coldly: “Today I insist on taking her away—let’s see what you can do about it. Zhang Yulan, fifth-rank commissioner of the southern city granary—very good, I’ve noted this.”

With that, without another glance at anyone, he rode off first into the distance.

Qing Xia sighed helplessly and quickly signaled to Le Song and others. Half of the Black Guards immediately split off to protect him. Qing Xia turned to Commissioner Zhang, who was somewhat stunned from Chu Li’s scolding: “Do as that gentleman just said. Change this rule immediately. Ryukyu is such a tiny country, smaller than one of our counties—how dare they demand women from our great Chu? Utterly presumptuous. I’m leaving this matter to you. If you can’t handle it properly, you needn’t appear in Haishi again.”

With that, she called out and left. The surrounding commoners immediately buzzed with discussion and praise.

“Yu’er, let’s go! What are you standing there for?” After walking a few steps, Qing Xia noticed Dongfang Yu’er hadn’t followed and turned back in confusion.

Dongfang Yu’er sat dazedly on horseback. Hearing Qing Xia call her, she came to her senses and hurried to catch up. No longer chattering as she had on the way there, she silently pondered her own thoughts. Just as they were about to reach Narcissus Hollow where the Jin residence was located, she suddenly blushed and gently tugged at Qing Xia’s sleeve: “Lord Xia, that gentleman just now… who is he?”

Qing Xia raised an eyebrow, glanced at Dongfang Yu’er, and immediately understood after a moment’s thought.

“He’s a good friend of mine from the capital, surnamed Wu, named Jizhou.”

“Wu Jizhou, Wu Jizhou.” Dongfang Yu’er repeated the name several times. When she looked up, Qing Xia and the others had already gone far ahead.

The Jin family truly deserved to be the wealthiest household in the southeast. Before Qing Xia and her party even reached Narcissus Hollow, brocade and colored silk had been laid all along the road, with Jin residence servants in matching clear-colored clothing coming out over a li to greet them, quietly awaiting the southeastern grand governor’s arrival.

Jin Shaohuang personally led over eighty members of the Jin household, along with various officials and wealthy family heads from throughout the southeast, to welcome Qing Xia’s grand arrival at Zuiweng Pavilion. His attitude was extremely humble—completely unlike his swaggering older brother, as if they weren’t born from the same mother.

Having met countless people in her life, even Qing Xia couldn’t help but admire this man’s dignified bearing and refined elegance upon seeing Jin Shaohuang.

This southeastern region’s foremost young tycoon wore a blue-green long robe with no ornamentation, white boots and blue shirt, standing in the wooden pavilion surrounded by lake scenery and mountain views. The fading evening sun cast red light upon him, filtering through sparse, dappled tree branches to create patches of light on his blue robe like green stone deep in a bamboo forest. Despite the noisy crowds and chaotic figures around him, nothing could disturb his composure in the slightest. Watching him, Qing Xia couldn’t help but recall Bai Juyi’s five-character poem, softly reciting: “Now I know true hermits need not dwell in mountains and forests.”

A cold snort immediately came from behind. Qing Xia turned to see Chu Li with an icy expression, not looking at her, standing proudly behind with Le Song and others not daring to stand beside him, making him appear even more extraordinary. The yellow-clothed girl named Qianru stayed close by his side like a small bird, unwilling to leave even half a step.

Qing Xia felt a surge of anger but ignored him, smiling as she walked toward Jin Shaohuang. Before reaching him, she cupped her hands with a smile: “This official is new here and should have called at your residence long ago, but was entangled in mundane affairs. Only today could I find time. Please forgive me, Young Master Jin.”

Jin Shaohuang stepped forward with a gentle smile: “It’s Jin who was inconsiderate. Your lordship graces us with your presence, bringing honor to my humble residence. Today I’ll host a welcoming banquet—I’ve prepared some modest wine. My lord, please.”

Qing Xia smiled: “Young Master Jin need not be so modest. If this place can be called humble, then my governor’s residence would be a cowshed or stable.”

The large group walked grandly toward the Jin family’s great residence, passing through flowers and willows into the estate.

Reaching the estate grounds, Qing Xia looked up to see the gate was actually formed by two naturally grown giant banyan trees, towering and lush with intertwining branches at the top. Where they connected hung a plaque reading: “Hall Full of Gold and Jade.”

The calligraphy was vigorous and bold with impressive style. Though the name was somewhat vulgar, it matched the Jin family name and could be considered complementary.

About half a tea’s time later, having crossed three gardens, they finally reached the estate’s main hall. On the gate formed by two pillars of East Sea nanmu wood, two rows of vigorous large characters danced like dragons and phoenixes. The upper couplet read: “Solitary lamp and bright moon, brewing wine and making tea, loyal blood facing loyal heart, discussing the world’s great affairs.” The lower couplet: “Standing with horse and spear, single-handedly overturning clouds, sword following unconventional paths, judging the world’s heroes.” The horizontal inscription: “Gathering Heroes and Attracting Talents.”

Seeing such a couplet, Qing Xia couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows inwardly. Though the literary talent was ordinary, the tone was magnificent and not to be underestimated. Did this dignified Jin Shaohuang merely want to live peacefully as a wealthy man, or was he accumulating strength and coveting imperial power?

But regardless of his intentions, they would be difficult to fulfill. Qing Xia smiled faintly, maintaining her composure while pointing at the two rows of couplets with a smile: “Young Master Jin has such grand ambitions!”

Jin Shaohuang smiled gently: “My ancestors particularly enjoyed making friends through literature. This is precious calligraphy left by the sage Master Zhu.”

Qing Xia smiled without answering, remaining silent.

Walking along, countless carved beams and painted rafters, flying eaves and bracket sets created a dizzying sight like a landscape painting done in heavy ink. Compared to Xichuan’s simple elegance, Northern Qin’s grandeur, and Southern Chu’s refinement, Eastern Qi’s architecture tended toward diversification. But the Jin residence was contrary to custom, full of Jiangnan style—artificial mountains and potted landscapes, long corridors and wall paintings, everywhere exuding thick classical Chinese atmosphere. Qing Xia felt as if she had boarded a time machine, slowly strolling through an ancient Jiangnan palace. Looking around, lush forests and trees were everywhere, with streams and colorful butterflies. Charming young women would often appear, swaying their skirts with eyes full of allure. Seeing the visitors, they showed no panic, only smiled and bowed with misty eyes that frequently glanced at the guests, their lips full of smiles.