An exquisite carriage slowly stopped before the imposing Chu Palace. The soldiers who had been standing solemnly with halberds at the palace gates immediately approached upon seeing the carriage.

“Second Master Jin, ten thousand blessings.”

Extremely refreshing laughter came from within the carriage. “You slave, even when flattering you must choose the right words. Saying ‘ten thousand blessings’ to me – what would you say to His Majesty then? Don’t say such things again. If this reaches His Majesty’s ears, we’ll both be in trouble.”

“Yes, yes, yes, Second Master Jin is right. This lowly one was just so happy to see you that I…”

The soldier nodded and bowed, while the person inside had already elegantly stepped out. Under the bright sunlight, robes with silver thread embroidery shone brilliantly, making the already refined jade-like face appear even more extraordinarily handsome. Only the seemingly gentle and pleasant smile at his lips held a hint of calculating strangeness.

The soldier looked up at the person who had alighted and couldn’t help exclaiming in surprise.

How was this not the Second Master?

The silver-robed gentleman smiled at the soldier while straightening his garments. “The Jin family doesn’t have only the Second Master who can ride this carriage. Remember, the person rewarding you today is me.”

Casually tossing the small soldier a fifty-tael silver note, the silver-robed gentleman strode into Chu Palace, with the small soldier behind him bowing deeply and calling out—

“Thank you, Third Master Jin!”

When the mysterious Third Master Jin walked gracefully through the long corridors of the Great Chu forbidden palace, at the other end in Qifeng Hall, Great Chu’s Empress Mother Zhuang was having tea and conversation with Jin Shaohuang.

She took a sip of tea, slowly set down the cup, and said lightly: “Shaohuang, I’ve always considered myself your friend, so I won’t speak empty words before you. Currently, floods devastate the Yangtze River basin. The entire watershed’s millions of qing of farmland and homes have been swallowed by flood waters. Two months have passed, and the national treasury has been over-exhausted for disaster relief. Out of necessity, I hope you can generously assist.”

Empress Zhuang before the hall had brows like distant mountains and eyes like deep lakes. Though appearing not yet thirty, she naturally possessed noble bearing and imposing elegance. To others, Empress Zhuang was a woman worthy of admiration and respect – she had single-handedly helped her husband seize the realm and achieve unification, not inferior to any man. But to Shaohuang, she had one difference – she was the only woman in this world who could see through him. Moreover, as the mother of a nation, she said she considered herself his friend rather than considering him hers – this one phrase was enough.

“The yellow earth where Shaohuang stands is His Majesty’s realm. As a subject of Great Chu, when the nation faces difficulty, naturally one should contribute. Shaohuang bears this responsibility without question. Your Majesty may rest assured.”

Hearing this, Qingxia laughed lightly and glanced at him. “You’re truly a businessman – it pains you to empty your pockets, doesn’t it? Indeed, what would require your involvement could hardly be small money. A mere few hundred thousand or million taels of silver would barely fill the gaps between teeth. This flood disaster is once in a century – the entire Yangtze basin has become a dead sea. Disaster relief, victim aid, reconstruction, replacing old with new… which doesn’t cost money? Unfortunately, Great Chu’s realm is newly established and the treasury isn’t yet abundant, or why would I hold onto your silver so tightly? As the nation’s mother, I won’t owe you this silver.”

Shaohuang listened quietly, understanding the empress was displeased with his insincere words just now. “This… Shaohuang absolutely isn’t making official talk with you…” He paused, then suddenly smiled and waved his hand: “Fine, fine, fine, I misspoke. Since you’ve opened your mouth, how could I not give the silver? Moreover, His Majesty does this for the world’s people. Whether it’s repaid can be discussed later. Even if His Majesty doesn’t repay my silver, I won’t complain. With you here, not repaying silver but issuing a few trade-favorable policies would be the same.”

Qingxia still smiled lightly, but her eyes gained a sharp glint. “You’re quite calculating, knowing real gold and silver aren’t as good as written policies. Forget it, I have my own arrangements.”

Seeing Shaohuang raise his eyebrows with a composed expression, her smile deepened considerably as she picked up her tea cup and asked with interest: “How is Shaojin doing?”

The Shaojin Qingxia mentioned was Jin Shaohuang’s legitimate wife.

The Jin family of Haishi was the wealthiest under heaven, but unfortunately lacked offspring. Though old Master Jin had two sons, the elder was tyrannical by nature and couldn’t achieve greatness, leaving only the second son Shaohuang who was clever and bright – good material for heading the family. But in the old master’s eyes, Shaohuang had a gentle temperament. Worried that bearing the massive money house alone might exceed his capabilities, he secretly sought out a future virtuous assistant for the still-young Shaohuang to help him shoulder the great enterprise.

Shaohuang still remembered that quiet afternoon years ago when his father pointed to a girl no more than ten years old and said to his young self: “Huang’er, she’s called Shaojin. She’s your future wife, the person father carefully selected to assist you. You must treat her well. Understand?”

Faced with his father’s uncharacteristic seriousness, he nodded in seeming understanding.

Thereafter, his father spent seven years forging that girl with rebellious sharp eyes into a handy divine weapon to help him shoulder the Shangqiu money house’s great enterprise. She also viewed this as her mission, serving the Jin family wholeheartedly with unwavering loyalty. With her help, he gradually shed his inexperience and could finally stand alone. However, in the third year after their marriage, the old master passed away. Jin Shaojin, who had always been calm and untroubled, suddenly filled with tears and fainted. When she awoke half a day later, she had developed muteness. A month later, she finally spoke again, but Shaohuang discovered this Shaojin was no longer that Shaojin.

Her formerly silent and prudent nature disappeared completely, replaced by someone shrewd, strange, and flamboyantly individual. She acted high-profile, laughing loudly and walking boldly, often going out in men’s clothing, calling herself Third Master Jin, befriending all kinds of extraordinary people. Somehow, she had even developed close private relationships with the Chu Emperor and Empress, which was puzzling. This woman had devoted ten years to the Jin family – he respected her, so he didn’t constrain her. But in recent years, for unknown reasons, she desperately opposed him, as if she couldn’t rest without creating obstacles for him. Ten years… perhaps the Jin family owed her.

Since he felt he owed her, repaying her was fine, but Shaohuang himself didn’t quite understand why someone as cunning and deeply hidden as he would always inexplicably find himself manipulated by this little woman.

Strange and puzzling indeed.

Therefore, when he heard Qingxia lazily asking about Shaojin, Shaohuang’s heart skipped a beat. The sip of Biluochun he’d just taken nearly sprayed out, and he immediately glared annoyedly at the current empress.

—Mentioning whatever shouldn’t be mentioned!

Since a nation’s mother wasn’t someone just anyone could glare at, Shaohuang immediately paid the price for this.

If he had known his restless wife at home was currently stepping into the Great Chu Emperor’s study, he absolutely wouldn’t have stayed even a quarter hour longer. He didn’t know, so he remained leisurely in Qifeng Hall. Thus, the moment Shaojin crossed the study’s threshold, he was destined to lose something.

Thanks to his ignorance, Jin Shaojin smoothly left a footprint in the Chu Emperor’s study that would make Shaohuang nearly suffer internal injury. Greeting her was the Great Chu Emperor’s furious voice—

“What use are you! Get out!”

The next moment, a minister fled from the hall in panic, practically rolling and crawling. Shaojin helped him up, chuckling softly: “Sir, go slowly, mind the threshold.”

“Is that Shaojin outside? Come in.” Hearing the voice, Chu Li’s anger softened somewhat.

Entering the great hall, Shaojin made a slight bow. “This subject greets Your Majesty.”

The python-robed man sitting high on the dragon throne was Chu Li, past his prime years. His tightly furrowed brow showed his current troubles, while his straight spine and piercing tiger eyes seemed to proclaim his ambition to the world. Seeing Jin Shaojin, he restrained his anger and waved: “Sit beside me.”

He was in a very bad mood today. Jin Shaojin raised her eyebrow slightly, glancing at the remaining young minister in the great hall.

“Zhang Xiaobai, you must remember my meaning in your heart. What should be done must be done well. The Yangtze floods are natural disasters that cannot be avoided, but two months have passed. If time drags on, people’s hearts will become chaotic. I don’t want to see complaints everywhere or hope this natural disaster spawns human calamity!”

“This minister receives your command! This minister will naturally exhaust all efforts, serve wholeheartedly, bow and scrape tirelessly until death!”

Shaojin couldn’t help but laugh with a “puff.” Chu Li glanced at her sideways before instructing Zhang Xiaobai: “You may withdraw.”

After that person left the hall, only then did he ask dissatisfiedly: “What were you laughing at just now?”

“I laughed because it was amusing.” Shaojin swung her legs casually.

Chu Li glared: “I don’t find it amusing.”

Shaojin grinned mischievously, quite grating: “In any era, money makes things work. What you lack is silver.”

Chu Li raised an eyebrow: “Don’t think I’ll beg the Jin family for money like a beggar!”

Shaojin reached for a white jade pear blossom cake, bit into it, and said while chewing: “Though my Jin Second Master is one who won’t actively extend help, you are the Great Chu Emperor. How could I bear to let you lower your dignity?”

Hearing this, Chu Li’s phoenix eyes narrowed as he suddenly found it amusing. “You’re plotting against him again. Tell me, what mischief are you planning this time?”

“Mischief? Hmph!” Shaojin bit another piece of her pastry and continued: “The one who most enjoys mischief is probably you, Great Chu Emperor. Speaking of which, I, the jade-tree-in-wind, imposing Young Master Shaojin, young, wealthy, and rare commodity, neither killing nor burning nor chasing women, spending all day thinking of sharing Your Majesty’s worries and solving difficulties – how did this become mischief? Injustice! Real injustice! Good intentions misinterpreted as viper’s heart… ruining my mood for eating pastries…” She finished by viciously biting the cake.

“Speak seriously!” Chu Li’s mouth twitched with impatience.

Finally swallowing the pear blossom cake, Shaojin grinned and brushed crumbs from her hands.

“Jin Shaohuang was just invited into the palace by the Empress, probably seeking his help with the flood disaster.” Seeing Chu Li’s displeased frown, she added: “Given their friendship, my Second Master will definitely agree. But even though he’ll provide the silver, Your Majesty still can’t save face, right? So I thought of a method…”

“What method?” Chu Li glanced at her.

Shaojin remained silent, grinning slyly as she beckoned him with her finger to lean closer.

Chu Li sat regally on the dragon throne with phoenix eyes slanted, giving her a look that criticized her lack of propriety.

Seeing his non-cooperation, Shaojin sighed and approached the dragon desk, bringing her mouth near his ear: Such and such… this and that…

After speaking, Chu Li stared with a mix of emotions at the person before him who was grinning cunningly, charmingly, and lewdly: “Sinister. This is obviously robbing his silver. I really don’t know how Jin Shaohuang tolerates you repeatedly stabbing him in the back like this.”

Shaojin snorted coldly: “This way neither loses your face, and he can’t refuse to accept it. If you feel bad about it, you can repay him afterward. I just can’t stand his arrogant face that acts like he has everything under control.”

“Qingxia was right – truly only Shaojin and petty people are hard to raise. I absolutely won’t adopt this devious scheme of yours! If you like someone, just honestly say so instead of creating chaos that might backfire.” Seeing Shaojin pout, he couldn’t help laughing: “Quickly wipe your mouth. I estimate your husband doesn’t like seeing his wife’s foolish appearance with pastry crumbs all over her mouth.”

“Who cares if he likes it!”

Shaojin blushed and denied it vehemently, wiping her mouth randomly with her sleeve while thinking: Even if you don’t adopt it, I’ll still do it!

Where there’s a will, there’s immediate action. So the next night under high wind and bright moon, Shaohuang was awakened by a premeditated sound. He opened his eyes in the darkness, bright as torch flames. After brief consideration, he rose and donned a long robe, quietly opening his door.

This was a beautiful, moving night with a lone bright moon hanging in the sky. The vast east wing remained quietly normal in the hazy moonlight. Shaohuang glanced at the dark, lightless side room where Shaojin lived across from him, finally fixing his gaze on a artificial hill between the main and side rooms. Midnight moonlight slanted through cold stone crevices onto the blue stone slabs, revealing a sorrowful plain face behind the artificial hill.

Shaojin?

He suspiciously stepped out and around the corridor, finally clearly seeing a back figure.

Under the cold moon’s clear radiance, Shaojin wore white robes, drinking alone at a stone table among flowers, solitary and alone. Her long hair fell loosely behind her like silk and waterfalls, spreading a helpless softness in the gentle evening breeze. Shaohuang stood quietly in the corridor, watching that heavy-hearted back figure. An inexplicable feeling suddenly surged in his heart. Before he could analyze it carefully, a wind rose, Shaojin’s dark hair flew like butterflies, and the light shirt on her body slipped from her shoulders, softly falling onto the cold blue stone slabs.

Watching that thin figure still immersed in drowning sorrows with wine, he sighed and walked over.

“Evening wind is cold – be careful not to catch chill.”

Shaojin was startled, then felt warmth spreading across her back as Shaohuang draped the long robe over her. She looked up, her jade-like face gazing at him long and steadily before finally saying softly:

“Thank you.”

It was a gaze filled with light sorrow, a thanks tinged with bitterness. This Shaojin before him, lacking her usual spirit, made him involuntarily stunned as he blurted out: “Are you sad?”

After speaking, he was stunned again. Who had just spoken? When had he begun caring about this woman?

Here, Shaojin was delighted to hear this, her eyes suddenly blazing with two flames before dimming again. She smiled desolately: “I encountered my uncle on the road during the day. He recognized me and actually threatened me for money.”

Her uncle… Shaohuang knew this person. His father had bought her custody rights from this man years ago.

Seeing him frown silently, she laughed self-mockingly: “Don’t worry, I’ve already refused him and won’t let him pester the Jin family. I just feel very sad – the only relative in this world, I must personally turn him away… In this life, I seemingly never have any belonging. Perhaps this is what common people call fate beyond one’s control.”

She laughed softly and lowly, tilting her head back to drain the strong liquor in her cup.

Shaohuang still frowned silently. He suddenly discovered he didn’t like seeing Shaojin’s sorrowful appearance because his heart would ache inexplicably at her pitiful expression. This strange feeling made him uncomfortable and left him unsure what to say. Actually, this wasn’t the first time he knew she’d driven away relatives. Years ago outside Jin family’s great gate, he remembered vividly – a young girl held up a bowl of fresh blood to her only remaining relative in this world, coldly saying: “The kindness of your raising me for three years was already repaid the moment Old Master Jin bought me. If you still shamelessly mention the damn blood relations between us – take this bowl of blood and go. From now on, we have no blood kinship whatsoever!”

Those were ruthless eyes a ten-year-old girl shouldn’t have. The middle-aged man before her was dumbfounded, while the girl’s other hand dripped blood at her side…

Another wind rose, dark silk dancing, confusing the eyes.

He returned from the past, silently watching her laugh, watching her tilt her head back to pour wine down her throat, watching her offer him a cup of wine to drink together. He didn’t hesitate, taking the wine cup and slowly draining it. At that moment, he saw her eyes recover their former brightness…

Afterward, Shaohuang couldn’t help questioning himself – that damned brightness, why hadn’t he suspected it then!

Not only had he not suspected then, he also didn’t suspect the next day when he slept until the sun was high, or even when he heard thunderous gongs and drums outside Jin family’s capital villa gates. On the contrary, after waking up, he felt clarity in his heart because after dreaming of Shaojin all night, he suddenly understood what Shaojin meant to him.

“Someone come.”

Hearing the summons, a maid who had been waiting outside for a long time entered.

“Attend to washing and prepare a bowl of ginger soup to cure my hangover.”

As soon as he spoke, several maids filed in with washing implements, the last carrying a steaming bowl of ginger soup.

Shaohuang asked casually: “Who prepared this?”

The leading maid bowed slightly: “Replying to Second Young Master, the young madam had this servant prepare it.”

Shaojin? When had she become so considerate? His lips unconsciously curved in a smile as he asked lightly: “Where is Madam?”

“Madam entered the palace early this morning.”

As the maid replied, the ginger soup in her hands rippled from the thunderous gongs and drums outside Jin family’s gates. Shaohuang stared at those ripples with furrowed brow, his eyelid twitching several times. Just then, a servant rushed over in panic, standing outside the door excitedly saying: “Second Young Master, the capital’s common people have brought you a plaque!”

Why present a plaque?

When Shaohuang, dressed in plain robes, stepped across the threshold of the capital Jin family villa, the people originally surrounding the area surged forward like a tide. Looking out, they were densely packed everywhere. A group of excited young women held cattail fans and twisted their waists, dancing celebratory dances in the center. Thunderous gongs, drums, and suona horns squeezed together in the crowd, playing cacophonously. Just as Shaohuang watched in bewilderment, suddenly someone in the crowd gave an order. The girls stopped dancing, the band put down their instruments, and all the people shouted in unison—

“The capital’s citizens represent the world’s people in thanking Master Shaohuang! Wishing Master Shaohuang fortune and prosperity for life!”

Each word rang in his ears, each sound shaking the heavens. Then two burly men with fierce expressions solemnly carried forward a plaque covered with red cloth. An elderly man who looked venerable and respected trembled for ages before reaching the plaque, then fumbled for another long while before shakily lifting the red cloth, revealing four large characters carved on the plaque—

Noble Character and Integrity!

Shaohuang stared at those characters, pondering what strange event he didn’t know about had occurred. Before he could react, imperial gongs sounded in the distance. The lively crowd parted to make way as several edict-bearing messengers cleared the path ahead with gongs, and an imperial herald rode a tall horse slowly approaching.

“Imperial edict arrives! Jin Shaohuang receive the edict—” the herald dismounted and shouted.

Shaohuang knelt to receive the edict, with all the servants and common people around falling to the ground in worship.

“By Heaven’s mandate, the Chu Emperor decrees: In these times, Jin Shaohuang possesses noble character and simple customs, generously serving the nation. Mindful of his faithful heart, We hereby specially enfeoff him as Great Chu’s First Rank Gold Duke. Let this be known to the world as encouragement for inheritance. Imperial command.”

“This subject thanks Your Majesty’s great kindness!”

Holding up the imperial edict with both hands, the herald fawned obsequiously: “Congratulations to Duke Jin on achieving first rank. His Majesty has spoken – please enter the palace for an audience.”

Shaohuang’s eyelid twitched again. Thinking back and forth, he finally sensed trouble – yes! Here it came again, that feeling of being schemed against…

When Shaohuang arrived at the main palace hall full of suspicion, both the Chu Emperor and Empress Zhuang sat in the center of the great hall, a picture of dragon and phoenix bringing prosperity. Surveying the hall, he indeed discovered Shaojin was also there, rarely dressed in an embroidered silk gown yet not at all dignified, crossing her legs while drinking tea and eating pastries.

Seeing him arrive, Shaojin looked up and gave him a charming smile, her pretty face beaming. This unusually well-behaved appearance made his heart flutter while he couldn’t control a shiver. He didn’t know that one incense stick later, before the Great Chu Emperor and Empress, he would expressionlessly drag Shaojin away.

Here’s how it happened: After Shaohuang approached the imperial throne and performed the proper minister’s ceremony, his revered Great Chu Emperor said this to him:

“Shaohuang, no need to be so formal. It’s merely conferring a first-rank duke title, which is actually far less precious than the eighty million taels of gold you donated. At this moment, Shaohuang’s magnificent deed can truly be called sending charcoal in snow. I am greatly comforted!”

At these words, Shaohuang’s eyes moved. His immediate mental activity was: Eighty million taels? Gold! Donated?!

Qingxia on the rear throne then smilingly continued:

“Early this morning, Shaojin carefully carried a brocade box to the palace for an audience. I thought Shaojin was playing some new trick, never imagining it was actually a promissory note personally written and sealed by Shaohuang. The Jin family generously opens their coffers,献金 for the nation – having you in Great Chu is truly the fortune of all people under heaven.”

Personally written and sealed! He was immediately shocked, then understood this was another prank his wife had played on him. His eyelid had been twitching for ages – it was actually warning him of a villain behind his back, but pitifully he hadn’t paid attention. Now Shaojin had already presented that donation certificate to the Chu Emperor, and the Chu Emperor had joyfully accepted it, even announcing to the world and enfeoffing him as a first-rank duke. Now the entire nation knew of the Jin family’s great deed of generous patriotism. He could no longer extricate himself. Though his heart ached, he couldn’t very well refuse the Chu Emperor’s magnanimous imperial favor. So after a round of insincere pleasantries about how all under heaven belongs to the emperor, how a minister worries about what the ruler worries about, and how when the nation faces difficulty every citizen has responsibility, he took the triumphant Shaojin and bid farewell to the Great Chu Emperor.

To summarize in one sentence: His wise and decisive wife had magnificently donated half of the ill-gotten wealth he’d accumulated over the years through the Shangqiu money house’s private dealings, wrapping it in the glorious mantle of patriotism and service to the people before instantly and splendidly presenting it to the Great Chu Emperor.

He felt very headachy – eighty million taels of gold, earned through painstaking effort… He also felt heartache, thinking of the wine Shaojin had invited him to drink last night, which had actually been laced with hallucinogenic drugs. Once the drug took effect, he was at her mercy – not to mention personally writing a donation certificate worth millions in gold, even asking him to raise a knife to his own throat would have been effortless. Thinking of this, Shaohuang felt bitter inside. That woman with heavy heart troubles that night had stirred his compassion, making him forget vigilance…

Thus, sitting in the Jin family’s exquisite carriage, facing her secretly sorrowful husband, the guilty Shaojin felt extremely uncomfortable under Shaohuang’s scrutiny from a pair of bright black eyes. She couldn’t help shivering, then sneezed like a cat—

“Achoo!”

Seeing this, Shaohuang covered her small hands with his large palms, saying tenderly: “We left in haste – I forgot to bring you extra clothing.”

Shaojin looked at the source of warmth on her hands, delighted in her heart, but when she looked up and caught a flash of sharpness in Jin Shaohuang’s eyes, she angrily flung away his hands: “False sentiment!”

He smiled lightly: “What does Madam mean by this? What wrong is there in your husband not bearing to see you catch cold?”

She glared at him hatefully: “Clearly angry yet insisting on putting on an appearance of indifference – if this isn’t hypocrisy, what is?”

Shaohuang sighed lightly, looking at her helplessly: “Angry? I get angry every time you scheme against me, but now it’s more helplessness.”

She snorted coldly: “Now you’re willing to admit it. It seems eighty million taels of gold really pained you.”

“The pain is real, but when the Chu Emperor needs the Jin family, I’ve never hesitated. Shaojin, before when you opposed me in everything, I only thought you were playing around. But this time, you’ve made my heart cold.” He stared at her, dark currents flowing in his eyes.

He… was angry? After provoking him for so long, she only wanted to challenge his limits and ruin that eternally unchanging leisurely appearance of his. But truly facing Shaohuang’s unusual expression, Shaojin discovered she was actually panicking. She quickly turned her face away from his scrutiny.

Seeing her turn her head away in apparent disdain, Shaohuang’s heart immediately cooled by half. He asked in a heavy voice: “You can act wildly and play pranks against me, ignore my reputation, but you cannot toy with the Jin family’s lifeline in your hands, disregarding the Jin family’s survival. Shaojin, after all this time of causing trouble, don’t you know that I’ve been so indulgent with you because I feel toward you…” He suddenly stopped speaking. After a surge of dark currents in his eyes returned to calm, he only said: “Where did that Shaojin who wholeheartedly served the Jin family go?”

Like being struck by thunder, she sat rigidly in place.

The carriage fell into deathly silence. Two people with equally unpleasant expressions faced each other wordlessly. Despite being only a few feet apart, they seemed separated by an enormous chasm. In a daze, not knowing how much time passed, she laughed lightly and slowly said:

“She… will come back.”

That soft, low sentence struck his heart like a thousand-pound boulder. He suddenly regretted asking that question just now, unclear whether it was because of the vague unease this sentence brought him or because of Shaojin’s smile that looked worse than crying. In his confusion, Shaohuang still didn’t say anything more to her. However, several days and nights later, when he finally understood the meaning of her words, when he again recalled her seemingly leisurely smile tonight, he finally couldn’t suppress his heartache and deep regret. Actually, there were some things he’d rather never understand. Really.

Unfortunately, all regret was futile. He ultimately didn’t take back those words, and she ultimately didn’t hide that sentence.