When Wedding Envoy Wei Qun led the delegation and dowry by boat into Yueyang City, Princess Qingyang’s situation in Yueyang finally improved.

No matter how deeply the Dowager Consort suspected Princess Qingyang and doubted she was secretly colluding with Han Qian, she couldn’t possibly prevent Yang Yuanpu from meeting Princess Qingyang forever.

Even if it was inappropriate to discuss marriage matters before the three-month mourning period for Emperor Tianyou was complete, they couldn’t possibly leave Shu’s Director of the Court of State Ceremonial Wei Qun in the guesthouse without any attention. They could only arrange for ministers to discuss the marriage privately, temporarily not publicizing it.

In the past, Chu was a great power and Shu was a small state. But after the dramatic changes in Jinling, Great Chu was torn into four parts, and Liang had also fallen into great chaos, unable to threaten Shu from the north. The stable Shu suddenly became the strongest force, not to mention that Shu Lord Wang Jian was still in his prime.

Han Qian had determined that Shu Lord Wang Jian no longer had ambitions to seize the world, but Wang Chan’er, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, Han Daoming, and others knew very little about Shu Lord Wang Jian’s mentality of suspecting his eldest son. In their hearts, they were still very worried that Shu Lord Wang Jian might lead his army out through the Wu Mountain Long Gorges.

If Shu Lord Wang Jian led his army eastward, would they gather forces to resist the Shu army together with Zhang Xiang and Du Chongtao, or abandon Jing-Xiang and sit by watching Zhang Xiang and Du Chongtao be swallowed by the Shu army?

Wang Chan’er, Zheng Yu, Zheng Chang, and Han Daoming were no longer thinking of ways to sabotage the marriage by every means possible, but worried that Shu Director of the Court of State Ceremonial Wei Qun, under orders from Shu Lord Wang Jian as wedding envoy entering Yueyang City, had other purposes besides presiding over the marriage between Princess Qingyang and Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu.

They speculated Wei Qun’s intention in his mission to Chu was to persuade them to abandon Zhang Xiang and Du Chongtao, allowing Jing-Xiang to be seized by them, or that this was the condition for the Shu Lord to acknowledge the marriage between Princess Qingyang and Prince Tan.

Not only were Wang Chan’er and Zheng Yu worried about this, Yang Yuanpu and Shen Yang also worried that Wei Qun coming over would represent Shu in making unreasonable demands.

Today, Chai Jian had even directly used concern that the Shu army might possibly come out through the Wu Mountain Long Gorges as grounds to suggest transferring Li Zhigao to serve as Langzhou Governor, deploying troops to strengthen defenses along the northwestern shore of Langzhou, which made Yang Yuanpu’s mood even worse.

Perhaps Chai Jian’s worry was genuine, but suggesting the transfer of Li Zhigao to serve as Langzhou Governor concealed other motives.

Li Zhigao currently served as Shaozhou Governor, leading the Right Longque Army and local provincial forces from both Shao and Heng prefectures, totaling over twenty-five thousand troops, establishing a defense line in the Wuzhi Ridge area south of Shaozhou and Hengzhou, guarding against the possibility that Zhao Sheng’s and Luo Jia’s rebel forces who had retreated to Yongzhou might make a comeback.

At this time, Chai Jian jumped out to suggest Li Zhigao transfer to Langzhou. It would be impossible to withdraw all the Right Longque Army from the Wuzhi Ridge defense line. Yang Yuanpu wasn’t a three-year-old child—he immediately determined that Chai Jian’s actual purpose was to split the Right Longque Army commanded by Li Zhigao in two, with one part assigned another commander to continue remaining in southern Shaozhou at Wuzhi Ridge guarding against southern rebels, and one part following Li Zhigao to strengthen Langzhou’s defenses.

This would achieve the goal of reducing Li Zhigao’s military authority.

Yang Yuanpu could see through Chai Jian’s thoughts but couldn’t rebuke him, because after all, Chai Jian’s suggested reasoning was utterly proper.

“Your Highness, Feng Liao has come to Yueyang together with Yuzhou Judicial Participant Cao Gan!” At this moment, Lin Haizheng entered the great hall to report to Yang Yuanpu.

“Please invite them into the residence quickly,” Yang Yuanpu’s spirits suddenly lifted upon hearing Lin Haizheng report this news. Then thinking this was too lacking in composure, he said to Lin Haizheng, “You dispatch someone to first inform Master Shen Yang.”

What excited Yang Yuanpu wasn’t that Cao Gan was coming over representing the Marquis Changxiang, but that this was the first time since Han Qian returned to Xuzhou that he had dispatched someone from Xuzhou to Yueyang to see him.

Besides the promise Jiang Huo brought back ten days ago that Han Qian “would certainly not fail him,” for over a month Yang Yuanpu hadn’t received any more definite response from Han Qian. How could he not be anxious?

Shen Yang’s lodging was near the temporary palace. After receiving word, he quickly rushed over and suggested to Yang Yuanpu: “First summon Feng Liao over to see what good suggestions Xuzhou has regarding the marriage.”

There was no rush to meet the person sent by Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong. Even if they met, the setting should be more formal. Feng Liao was a confidant employed by Han Qian, so they could treat Feng Liao as a private reception and be more casual.

More critically, at this moment Shen Yang also wanted to know Han Qian’s views on the current situation.

Everything before their eyes was too chaotic, too complex and intricate.

Although Chuzhou forces and the Imperial Guards and Palace Guards controlled by Anning Palace hadn’t yet started fighting, although Xu Mingzhen hadn’t yet led the main Shouzhou forces across the river, this battle was already unavoidable. Moreover, it would affect everything—no one could see through how the future situation would develop or into what degree of chaos it would descend.

In the past, Shen Yang hadn’t liked Han Qian’s style of taking the sword’s edge, but at this moment he truly hoped for a stratagem that could calm the chaos, reunify Great Chu, and reduce civilian displacement and casualties. If they waited until everything was shattered before cleaning up and reorganizing, how many people would die?

Hundreds of thousands? Millions?

“Lin Haizheng, personally go and invite Feng Liao over.” Yang Yuanpu calmed down at this time and instructed Lin Haizheng to personally receive Feng Liao.

Cao Gan went to see Wedding Envoy Wei Qun. Feng Liao knew Prince Tan would summon him. After entering the city and meeting with Lin Haizheng, he waited nearby. Within half an incense stick’s time, Lin Haizheng brought him to a pavilion in the inner residence, having him meet with Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu and Executive Secretariat Left Minister Shen Yang.

Although Feng Liao hadn’t accompanied Han Qian on the mission to Shu, he thoroughly understood the mission to Shu and the escape back to Great Chu. After arriving, he first explained to Yang Yuanpu and Shen Yang the matter of Shu Lord Wang Jian suspecting Crown Prince Marquis Qingjiang and intentionally wanting to use his second son, Marquis Changxiang, to manage southern Ba so his sons could counterbalance each other:

“Both Liang and Chu are in chaos. The cause of the late Emperor’s death remains a mystery, while Liang Emperor Zhu Yu impatiently imprisoned and then murdered his father. These events will only make Wang Jian’s suspicion of his Crown Prince, Marquis Qingjiang Wang Hongyi, even heavier, causing the Shu army to temporarily lack conditions for sending troops against Jing-Xiang—this time is even an opportunity for Yueyang and Yuzhou to strengthen close cooperation. This time Cao Gan came over representing the Marquis Changxiang precisely to explain this meaning. They were just uncertain about the situation on Yueyang’s side, so they thought to first go to Xuzhou to see my lord and also Yang Xingfeng of Sizhou…”

Some confidential matters Feng Liao also didn’t know very clearly. At present he simply explained to Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu and Shen Yang the plan for Yuzhou to join forces with Sizhou to attack the Wu Man people from both sides, as well as the role Xuzhou played in this matter.

“…” Only at this moment did Yang Yuanpu finally set down his worries about Western Shu. He fixed his gaze on Feng Liao and asked, “Regarding Great Chu’s current situation and what I should do in Yueyang, does Master Han have any suggestions?”

“My lord mourns before the grave, reading books daily to resolve his grief. He rarely speaks, and rarely speaks with us. Only these past few days has he gradually emerged from his sorrowful emotions to chat with us about some matters. Regarding the current situation, my lord advocates stillness over movement—Tanzhou should still observe changes quietly as the best course,” Feng Liao said.

“We don’t need to worry about the Shu army coming out of Eastern Sichuan, yet we should still observe changes quietly?” Yang Yuanpu asked somewhat impatiently.

Shen Yang was also somewhat perplexed.

Liang was in great chaos, and currently news had come that Liang Emperor Zhu Yu committed patricide, meaning Xu Mingzhen completely didn’t need to guard the northern front and could withdraw all Shouzhou’s elite forces to move south.

At this time, Anning Palace and the Crown Prince controlled most of the Imperial Guards and Palace Guards stationed in the capital, expanding to over one hundred thousand men. If Xu Mingzhen then led Shouzhou’s elite forces south, their military strength would be nearly double that of the Chuzhou forces planning to cross the river.

If they were worried about the Shu army threat, they needed to be more steady. But with Han Qian now determining that the Shu army wouldn’t come out of Sichuan to seize Jing-Xiang, if they continued to sit and observe changes rather than gathering forces at the fastest speed to advance east along the river and contain Anning Palace and the Crown Prince’s rebel forces from the Jiangzhou or Chizhou line, would they sit by and watch their temporary alliance with Chuzhou forces be defeated one by one?

Feng Liao spread his hands, indicating he was only responsible for conveying the message and didn’t know what Han Qian’s reasoning for such a suggestion was.

After meeting with Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu and Shen Yang, Feng Liao rushed to the eastern part of the city to see Princess Qingyang.

After Wedding Envoy Wei Qun entered Yueyang City, Princess Qingyang moved to a more spacious and magnificent residence. At the same time, two nannies who had cared for her since childhood and an old eunuch also from the Divine Tomb Bureau, along with over ten inner attendants and palace maids, followed Wei Qun into Chu to attend to her.

She was no longer completely alone, nor did she have to worry about every word being twisted by people behind her back.

Of course, Princess Qingyang still kept Du Qiniang by her side to handle affairs.

Thinking of the desolate helplessness of being abducted to Chu and the prisoner-like isolation of these days in Yueyang, how could Princess Qingyang not harbor some resentment toward the chief culprit behind all this?

When Feng Liao came over seeking an audience, Princess Qingyang’s beautiful eyes stared coldly at him as she demanded: “Han Qian hides in Xuzhou. Xuzhou has already become his possession. Can he still think of me?”

Feng Liao said: “My lord says he has painstakingly schemed entirely for the Princess and His Highness. As years and days pass, the Princess will increasingly understand my lord’s utter loyalty.”

“Utter loyalty? I’d like to ask you, Feng Liao—are you loyal to Han Qian, or loyal to His Highness?” Princess Qingyang wouldn’t be fooled by Feng Liao’s rhetoric.

“My lord is loyal to the Princess and His Highness. I am loyal to my lord. Ultimately, I am still loyal to the Princess and His Highness,” Feng Liao said impassively.

“Forget it, don’t beat around the bush. Does Han Qian have nothing else he wants you to convey?” Princess Qingyang said.

“My lord says the Shu Lord has no heart for eastern schemes. He asks everyone to peacefully attend to their own affairs,” Feng Liao said.

“…” Princess Qingyang suddenly ground her teeth again. What did Han Qian mean by this—was he saying the Shu army was weak and powerless to threaten the east? Was he indicating that even now she couldn’t borrow her homeland’s power, telling her to also be more docile?

That bastard!

“This is my lord’s gift list. When the Princess and His Highness complete their marriage, it will be presented first.” Feng Liao took out the gift list and handed it to Du Qiniang to pass before Princess Qingyang.

Seeing the amounts written on the gift list, Princess Qingyang’s expression improved slightly.

Shu Lord Wang Jian had Wei Qun bring all attendants and dowry to Yueyang. The dowry consisted mainly of silk skirts and robes, headdresses and hand ornaments—all exquisite personal items. Although they were quite valuable, Princess Qingyang in Yueyang had no way to directly convert these items into money, grain, fields, or residences to win over private supporters.

Han Qian had separately prepared gifts for Prince Tan Yang Yuanpu and Princess Qingyang. For Princess Qingyang, besides twenty thousand strings of cash as a wedding gift, there was also a deed to an estate with two thousand mu of land outside Yueyang City and a deed to a pawn shop inside Yueyang City.

Possessing these things, Princess Qingyang could not only win over private supporters but also use the estate and pawn shop to support some people.

Even though Princess Qingyang understood Han Qian’s purpose in doing this—he still wanted to use her to deal with that old demon woman Wang Chan’er and the forces of the Marquis Xinchang’s residence—she ultimately needed these things.

After marrying over, she was ultimately only Yang Yuanpu’s secondary consort. The dowry money she could normally receive was limited, even a step below the principal consort Li Yao. Her homeland was ultimately distant, and hoping for secret financial support from her brother was also unrealistic. In the end, she still had to rely on that fellow Han Qian.