In the interrogation room.

Zhang Tang looked at Mu Fengliu, whose cheeks were now swollen high on both sides, and thought: a man like this probably wouldn’t be described as *fengliu* — dashing and free-spirited — much longer.

He appeared to be around forty, and still carried himself with remarkable bearing — refined, handsome, the kind of presence that lingered even after youth had passed. He’d still be the sort to draw people’s attention.

And he was a wealthy man, at that. Every underground money house in Jizhou — the whole shadow network of them — might well be in this man’s hands.

In his time, Lu Wuman had been able to casually control an entire city’s economy. Mu Fengliu, naturally, could do the same.

The reason Prince Ning hadn’t ordered his execution yet, and had instead turned him over to Zhang Tang’s handling — Zhang Tang understood perfectly well what his prince had in mind.

Prince Ning’s greatest pleasure…

Making money.

If the underground money houses Mu Fengliu controlled could be unearthed, the figure involved might be too large for anyone to fully imagine.

Their ambush at Lu County had indeed cost them dearly — but it hadn’t been without gains. The money houses under the name of Manager Zhou of Lu County alone had yielded enough silver to fully equip an army of thirty thousand — complete with everything. Given the exceptional standard of Ning Army equipment, one could imagine just how vast a sum that represented.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

Mu Fengliu looked into Zhang Tang’s eyes and read his thoughts — not that it was especially difficult.

He smiled with quiet confidence: “You’re thinking that if you could seize the enormous wealth I hold, Prince Ning could use that money to arm countless soldiers.”

Zhang Tang said: “May good people live long and peaceful lives.”

Mu Fengliu: “?????

Zhang Tang: “Well then — do you actually want to try what the Tingwei forces’ instruments feel like?”

He stood and walked toward the instruments arrayed against the wall, pausing in front of them, a trace of quiet pride in his manner: “I’d advise you not to be stubborn — though I must confess, I would find it rather satisfying if you were.”

Mu Fengliu said: “A man like you should understand — a fortune of this magnitude could never be concentrated in one person’s hands. That’s an absolute prohibition. You could wear all your instruments down to useless scrap and still come up empty.”

Zhang Tang replied: “Then at the very least, I can discover where the design flaws are in what I’ve made — whether any of it holds up.”

Mu Fengliu turned to look at Zhang Tang: “I’ve suddenly realized — among Prince Ning’s people, including Prince Ning himself, including your Chief Tingwei, normal people do seem to be in short supply. You, however, count as one.”

Zhang Tang sighed: “If that’s truly the case, I find myself somewhat worried.”

He returned and sat down across from Mu Fengliu.

“Let us speak plainly.”

Mu Fengliu: “About what?”

Zhang Tang: “About the matter of winning someone over.”

Mu Fengliu: “Are you mocking me?”

Zhang Tang: “You think I mean — for you to continue your attempts to win *me* over? If that were my meaning, yes, that would qualify as mockery.”

Mu Fengliu: “Then?”

Zhang Tang: “My meaning is: I could attempt to win *you* over. With what you know of the River-Mountain Seal’s inner workings — if you were willing to come over to Prince Ning’s side, your testimony alone could help me dig out far more.”

Mu Fengliu: “So you are mocking me.”

Zhang Tang: “Feel free to name some conditions.”

Mu Fengliu let out a cold snort and said nothing more.

Zhang Tang didn’t hold it against him. With both sides of his face swollen as they were, speaking must have been painful.

Zhang Tang: “Certain you won’t talk?”

Mu Fengliu: “Were all of these instruments personally designed by you, Zhang?”

“They were.”

“Then I invite you to personally verify how well they work.”

Mu Fengliu closed his eyes: “If I reach a point where I can’t hold on, I suppose there’ll still be time to speak then.”

Zhang Tang gave a soft sound of acknowledgment, rose, and issued instructions: “Give Mu Fengliu the full experience. No rushing — work through them in order. Use the ones that don’t draw blood.”

He turned and headed for the door: “I need to have my own wounds redressed. If he can’t take it, come fetch me.”

“Yes, sir.”

His Tingwei subordinates answered in unison, then went to the wall and began lifting down the instruments one by one.

Zhang Tang returned to his private study. The Tingwei Army’s physician was already waiting.

After the dressing on his wound was changed, Zhang Tang asked: “What’s the condition of Early Cloud Interval? Have you been to change his dressing?”

The physician replied: “I came to your study earlier, but was told you were in the interrogation room, so I went to Early Cloud Interval’s quarters first. His dressing has been changed. No serious complications — it’s a through-and-through wound on his lower leg, without damage to the bone or sinew. Before I came here, Prince Ning and the Chief Tingwei went to visit him.”

Zhang Tang slowly exhaled.

*Having a master like this — how could one’s heart not feel warm?*

Early Cloud Interval’s quarters.

After Li Chi had asked after Early Cloud Interval’s condition and received the answers, he nodded: “Rest properly and recover well. I just learned that your appetite has been poor these past two days — you’ve not been eating much?”

Early Cloud Interval answered quickly: “My appetite has indeed been off, Your Highness — please don’t trouble yourself on my account. It’s only that…”

Li Chi waved a hand: “Not eating enough won’t do. Here’s what we’ll do — from now on, each day after Auntie Wu finishes cooking, I’ll have someone bring you over, and you’ll eat with us. Whatever I eat, you eat.”

Early Cloud Interval’s eyes went very wide.

Gao Xining said: “No frightening people. No threatening people.”

Li Chi: “Hm?”

Was that frightening him?

Gao Xining: “But recovering properly and as quickly as possible is necessary. I’ve already decided — once your wound heals, you’ll be promoted to a full Thousand-Supervisor in the Tingwei Army. There will be more for you to manage from then on.”

Early Cloud Interval’s eyes went wide again. He rushed to say: “This subordinate does not dare — this subordinate was derelict in his duties this time, I cannot possibly—”

Gao Xining: “I said so, and that’s final.”

Early Cloud Interval fell silent.

“Enough. Rest now. We’ll head back. If you need anything, just tell someone.”

Li Chi gave Early Cloud Interval a light pat on the shoulder: “About the meals…”

Early Cloud Interval immediately sat up straight: “This subordinate will eat properly. There’s no — no need to come over and eat with Your Highness every day.”

Li Chi: “You seem very firm about this.”

Early Cloud Interval, firmer still: “This subordinate is resolute!”

Li Chi shook his head: “What is so terrifying about eating?”

The two of them left Early Cloud Interval’s quarters. Li Chi glanced up at the sky — already afternoon. He felt there was still time to go out and attend to something.

So he asked Gao Xining: “Shall the two of us go take care of what we should be taking care of?”

Gao Xining startled, raising both hands to wrap around herself: “What are you trying to do?!”

Li Chi stared at her. He didn’t understand at first. Then it dawned on him, and he burst out laughing: “What kind of nonsense is floating around in that head of yours all day?!”

He turned and walked off: “I meant we should go take care of some actual business.”

Gao Xining watched his retreating figure and let out a small “hmph.”

She kept walking, muttering under her breath: “Is it not supposed to be *you* thinking about all this nonsense? And here you are scolding me… The least bit more initiative from you, and would it even be my turn to think about it?”

Li Chi turned around: “What did you say?”

Gao Xining, perfectly composed: “I said proper business is important.”

—

The Eastern Plains Escort Bureau.

Zhuge Wutu sat in the courtyard watching the sky — blue without a trace of impurity.

Such beautiful weather. No wind, no clouds. All the cold of winter had been sent off, and none of the summer heat had yet arrived.

The climate made one feel unaccountably comfortable.

“Report.”

A subordinate came quickly from outside — it was the Eastern Plains Escort Bureau’s proprietor, Wei Dongqing.

He bowed: “Director, the matter has been accomplished.”

Zhuge Wutu’s eyes lit with a faint gleam.

He asked: “Mu Fengliu went in?”

Wei Dongqing bowed: “In reply to the Director — word just came in. He’s been taken into the Tingwei Army headquarters.”

Zhuge Wutu nodded, and seemed to relax, breathing out a long exhale: “All of you must remember — Mu Fengliu placed himself in harm’s way to protect everyone here.”

Wei Dongqing immediately replied: “Yes. All of us here understand the magnitude of Mu Fengliu’s sacrifice.”

Zhuge Wutu: “So you all must remember — during this period, no one is to take any action. Carry out your duties, but do not leave your assigned territory.”

Wei Dongqing: “This subordinate has already given the order three times over. No one will dare defy the Director’s command.”

Zhuge Wutu nodded: “So many people died and were wounded at Lu County. Prince Ning will certainly be furious. Everyone should keep a low profile for the time being — no need to make ourselves targets for his wrath.”

He rose and began to pace slowly through the courtyard: “However — with losses this severe, there are many who must be compensated. And if there are compensations to be made, large sums of silver must be moved.”

He looked at Wei Dongqing: “On your end — what’s accessible in your accounts?”

Wei Dongqing bowed: “In reply to the Director — the escort business has been difficult. There’s almost nothing liquid in our accounts. If we move money through the bureau’s books, it would be too easy to trace.”

Zhuge Wutu thought for a moment: “The money houses in Jizhou — how long since you last had contact with them?”

Wei Dongqing: “Roughly a year and a half.”

Zhuge Wutu: “In a few days, make a trip. Withdraw silver from the money houses. There’s no risk of those funds being traced. Arrange the compensation payments — if people’s hearts grow cold, there’ll be no one left to employ in the future.”

Wei Dongqing bowed: “This subordinate will comply.”

Zhuge Wutu let out a long sigh: “It’s a hard life in Jizhou. Everyone just has to endure a little longer.”

—

Two hours later. Tingwei Army headquarters.

A Tingwei officer hurried to Zhang Tang’s study door and bowed: “Thousand-Supervisor Zhang — Mu Fengliu has lost consciousness three times but still refuses to speak.”

Zhang Tang looked up at him and murmured to himself: “He can actually withstand that. Remarkable man.”

He rose and stepped toward the door, then stopped: “Go and report to the Chief Tingwei — I wish to borrow something from her.”

Shortly after, in the interrogation room, Zhang Tang sat down across from Mu Fengliu and studied this man, who was now soaked through from head to foot — not with water, but with sweat born of extreme pain, enough to saturate every layer of clothing.

“Your instruments are indeed impressive, Zhang.”

Mu Fengliu said between labored breaths: “But I’m also rather impressive.”

Zhang Tang gave a mild shrug: “We haven’t tried everything yet. Perhaps hold off on the confidence.”

Mu Fengliu: “Then show me more of what you’re capable of.”

Zhang Tang: “It’s on its way.”

As they spoke, a sound of grunting and huffing came from outside. Mu Fengliu turned his head with some difficulty to look toward the door — and saw an enormous wild boar.

The giant boar waddled to the doorway with an air of self-importance, Doglet perched atop its back, as arrogant as ever.

Yu Jiuling came in behind them, grinning: “Chief Tingwei said you needed help?”

Zhang Tang rose: “General Yu — I do.”

Yu Jiuling stretched out his arm, and Doglet flew to land on it. His arm was wrapped in thick leather to protect against the talons.

Yu Jiuling sat down across from Mu Fengliu and said sympathetically: “Don’t blame me for any of this. Blame Zhang Tang — he thought it up. So when you start cursing people out in a moment, curse him.”

Mu Fengliu sneered coldly: “What do I have to fear?”

Yu Jiuling: “Talking big…”

He had his men pull Mu Fengliu’s arm up, then sliced off a thin sliver of flesh with a small blade. Mu Fengliu’s face twisted in pain.

Yu Jiuling handed this small morsel of flesh to Doglet. Doglet caught it in his beak, tossed it back a few times, then swallowed it.

Mu Fengliu’s eyes went very wide.

Yu Jiuling moved in with a second cut. Mu Fengliu immediately tried to wrench his arm back — but couldn’t.

A second thin sliver was cut free and fed to Doglet.

Yu Jiuling thought for a moment and said: “This seems like a bit of a hassle.”

He extended his arm forward: “Doglet — just eat it yourself. I find this tedious.”

As the arm drew close to Mu Fengliu, he found himself staring into Doglet’s eyes.

Those eyes were staring directly back into his.

“No!”

Mu Fengliu let out a scream.

—