The several men spoke with blood boiling excitement.

“What if the people from Black Wind Stronghold turn against us and rob us instead?” A hothead stood up and asked.

Manager Hu laughed, “I naturally won’t tell them what we’re really doing. I’ll just say we want to steal a batch of the court’s stone materials. Black Wind Stronghold has been in the underworld for years—they’ve naturally heard of the Qingtian Alliance’s reputation. What did our Qingtian Alliance originally do in the south?”

Liu Ban said, “Naturally went against the dog emperor.”

“Right. So those brutes at Black Wind Stronghold probably think we just want to go against the current emperor, which is why we want to steal stones meant for the emperor’s mausoleum to show our defiance.”

After all, stealing stone materials for building the imperial mausoleum was the greatest provocation against imperial authority.

Manager Hu continued, “We’re all people of the martial world. When the time comes, we’ll give them extra silver in the name of chivalry. Having helped us with this deed, they’ll also fear being caught and beheaded, so naturally they won’t be foolish enough to leak it themselves. Once we six brothers get the silver, we’ll just flee far away. The world is so vast—can the emperor really catch us?”

Hearing this, the several men couldn’t help but feel their blood surge with excitement. Since ancient times, wealth came from taking risks. They were only one step away from success—now they just needed silver to hire Black Wind Stronghold’s people to move the goods out, and wouldn’t they succeed?

“Should we take another desperate gamble?” Liu Ban anxiously made a gesture, his eyes fierce.

Manager Hu pressed his lips together thoughtfully, “Let’s think of other ways first.”

The silver they had used to buy office from the Lu family in Danzhou Prefecture was scraped together only after wiping out two wealthy households. For this silver, their hands were stained with countless blood.

Manager Hu pointed at the ground beneath his feet, “There are still two wealthy families here. We’ll follow the old pattern of courtesy before force. If we can get people to sponsor us willingly, that’s naturally good. If not, then we can only use that method.”

Liu Ban and the others all nodded.

As Manager Hu said, unless absolutely necessary, no one wanted to kill again. Killing was truly not a pleasant experience.

When Qin Yining’s party arrived at Huichuan County, it was the afternoon of the first day of the fifth month.

Although it was just past the hour of wei, lead-gray clouds pressed blackly overhead. Strong winds blew, forcing open gaps in the carriage door through which tiny raindrops drilled inside.

“Princess Consort, this really is… fortunately we’re almost there.”

“Yes.” Qin Yining’s skirt had been dampened by rainwater.

“Halfway through the journey, the carriage started leaking. This ten-day journey has been even more torturous than when we went to the capital.” Bingtang busily helped Qin Yining shield against the rain, couldn’t help but complain.

Ji Yun laughed, “Enough. Look at you—you’ve been nagging the whole way until your mouth could hang an oil bottle. If Huzi saw you, wouldn’t he laugh at you?”

Bingtang’s face turned bright red instantly, stretching her neck as she said, “Well, he’s following the prince anyway. As for you, this great beauty has been drenched into a drowned rat—be careful that Guard Tang doesn’t see you and laugh.”

“You, you naughty girl!” Ji Yun also blushed deeply.

Qin Yining brushed back her rain-dampened temples, watching the two girls tease each other with red faces, and couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

Tang Xiu, following closely outside the carriage, heard the conversation inside and his face turned so red it could almost steam the rainwater into white mist.

The group soon presented their travel documents and entered the city. Since the distance was short and they thought they’d arrive quickly, they hadn’t arranged for anyone to go ahead. After making inquiries, they went directly to the largest local inn and rented a side courtyard that had been vacant.

“Princess Consort, this servant has already told the innkeeper to prepare hot water. You should take a good hot bath shortly. Our little courtyard has a small stove for heating water—this servant will go cook ginger soup later for everyone to drink.” Bingtang said.

Qin Yining nodded, “You should first change into dry clothes before going—that’s not too late.”

“Alright.”

“Please prepare extra portions. Master Xie is elderly, and the guards have all been caught in considerable rain along the way. Everyone should have some.”

“I understand.” Bingtang nodded with a smile. She first helped Qin Yining change clothes with Ji Yun, and only after Zi Yuan and Han Xiao returned having changed their clothes did they go out to tend to themselves.

Qin Yining took the hot tea that Han Xiao brought and cupped it in both hands to warm them. Though it was May, the continuous overcast rain had made it cold.

Qin Yining walked to the window and propped open the latticed window a crack to look into the courtyard. This courtyard with three main rooms, two side rooms, and a row of reverse-facing rooms had stone brick paths laid only in a cross pattern in the center—the rest were dirt paths, now soaked into complete mud.

Looking up, the sky was dark and heavy, as if it might press down at any moment.

From the capital to Huichuan County, more than ten days of travel, it had been raining the entire time.

She wondered how many places this heavy rain had affected. Qin Yining thought she should find court gazettes to read later.

After settling in that day, Qin Yining had Bingtang check Xie Yue’s pulse to ensure the old man hadn’t caught cold.

Xie Yue was very grateful for Qin Yining’s attentiveness.

“Tang girl, when you return, please thank the princess consort for this old one.”

“Yes.” Bingtang smiled as she put away the pulse pillow, then added with a smile, “The princess consort asked this servant to tell Master Xie in passing that this continuous rain isn’t quite normal. The princess consort wants to see court gazettes from various places to see if anything significant has happened elsewhere.”

“The princess consort and this old one think alike. First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll go investigate and gather information.”

“Good, then we’ll trouble you, Master.”

“No trouble at all. This is all part of this old one’s duties.”

Bingtang returned and told Qin Yining.

The night passed without incident. The next day, after Qin Yining met with Xie Yue, she had no immediate intention of going out.

She needed to understand the local situation clearly before meeting with Sitong Trading Company’s people.

When Xie Yue returned, he brought startling news.

“Princess Consort, the situation isn’t good. This rain hasn’t just fallen along the route from the capital to Huichuan County. Various places have experienced heavy rain to different degrees, with the south receiving the most rainfall, centered around the former capital of Great Yan with heavy rain in all surrounding areas.”

Qin Yining frowned deeply as she listened.

“The court’s current situation probably has no surplus. The realm hasn’t been peaceful—with years of eastern and western campaigns, the old foundations of Northern Ji probably have long been exhausted. The imperial mausoleum construction has started and stopped repeatedly. If floods really occur now, the national treasury will be even more strained.”

The national treasury’s tight finances weren’t a matter of just one or two days. Otherwise, Li Qitian wouldn’t be single-mindedly focused on Great Yan’s treasure to solve his urgent needs. To increase revenue and reduce expenditure, one needed to devise methods and have time to implement them.

If floods really occurred in the south, Qin Yining truly couldn’t imagine what the Great Zhou Dynasty would become, or what harmful schemes Li Qitian would devise to solve his urgent needs.

Xie Yue fell into contemplation just like Qin Yining.

“This old one fears the national treasury cannot support the imperial mausoleum construction. Will His Majesty place the blame on the prince?”

Qin Yining also nodded worriedly, “This is what I’m concerned about too.”

Li Qitian was already doing everything possible to weaken Pang Xiao, seizing every opportunity to impeach him. If Li Qitian truly found an opportunity in this matter, he would definitely try every means to destroy Pang Xiao.

The two remained silent for a long time before Qin Yining smiled and said, “Flood disasters aren’t something we can control through human effort. We can only adapt as circumstances arise. Solving our immediate problems should be the priority.”

Xie Yue smiled and nodded repeatedly, “The princess consort’s thinking is clear—this is excellent.” He had initially worried that Qin Yining might act impulsively, expending too much energy on matters currently beyond their control. It seemed his concerns were unnecessary. Apparently, he had also made the mistake of underestimating women—he mustn’t do so in the future.

Qin Yining discussed with Xie Yue how to handle future matters. After clarifying their plans, they each returned to rest.

The next morning upon rising, the weather remained dark and overcast. Though the rain had stopped, its appearance suggested another heavy downpour wouldn’t be long in coming.

After breakfast, Qin Yining asked, “Where is Master Xie?”

“Master Xie left with two elite Tiger Guards, saying he was going to look for houses.” Ji Yun smiled.

Qin Yining nodded, “Then today let’s go see Sitong Trading Company.”

Ji Yun and Bingtang began preparing to go out.

Most roads in the city had no stone paving, making them very muddy. When Qin Yining’s group passed by Sitong Trading Company’s main entrance in their carriage, Qin Yining instructed, “Keep going.”

The elite Tiger Guard driving immediately followed orders and continued forward. Only after turning the street corner did he ask, “Princess Consort, aren’t we going to Sitong Trading Company?”

Qin Yining said, “Let’s stop somewhere inconspicuous in the back. You stay and guard there while I take only the two maids. This way we won’t attract too much attention.”

“Yes.” The elite Tiger Guard smiled, “You’re very thoughtful.”

If the princess consort hadn’t reminded him, he might have driven directly there—wouldn’t that have been conspicuous?

After Qin Yining arranged everything, she took her people to Sitong Trading Company’s side entrance and handed the maple leaf-shaped jade pendant that Qiu Feishan had given her to Ji Yun, “Go knock on the door and request to see whoever’s in charge.”

“Alright.”

Ji Yun wore wooden clogs over her embroidered shoes and held an oil-paper umbrella as she gracefully stepped over a puddle and knocked on the side door.

Soon, a young shop assistant came to answer.

Seeing a charming maid with elegant features whose clothing and bearing clearly marked her as not local, the clever assistant smiled, “Oh, an honored guest visits. What may I do for you?”

Ji Yun smiled and showed the jade maple leaf, “Is your manager in?”

The shop assistant saw the green jade maple leaf with the character “Qiu” and immediately straightened his expression, bowing, “Yes, yes, he’s in. Please wait a moment—I’ll go announce you immediately.”

Ji Yun smiled and nodded, standing under the door’s overhang to wait.

Bingtang and Qin Yining shared a large oil-paper umbrella and whispered, “The rain has started again. Though it’s not heavy, this constant drizzle is truly annoying.”

“Yes.” Qin Yining worriedly extended her jade-white fingers outside the umbrella. Raindrops fell intermittently on her fingertips, so cold that she quickly withdrew her hand.

Just then, a man in his forties wearing a sapphire blue cross-front wide-sleeved robe quickly walked out from Sitong Trading Company’s Huichuan branch. Seeing Ji Yun and the jade pendant in her hand, he smiled and cupped his hands, “So it’s a special envoy sent by the master. My apologies for not welcoming you properly.”