Outside Xiebai Residence, evening was approaching.

Wei Liang’s visit inside hadn’t taken much time. His mind full of plans about what to plant once he returned to the fields, when he walked out, the carriage he had hired was still waiting outside.

However, at this time there was also an additional carriage outside.

He raised his head and was slightly startled.

That carriage couldn’t be called extremely luxurious, but the wood used to build the carriage body was all of the finest quality. The lacquerwork was exquisite, the wood hard and durable. Both sides were inlaid with carved lattice windows, with curtains added inside.

The driver was also strong and robust.

When his glance swept toward others, there was actually a sharp gleam in the depths of his eyes. His two arms were knotted with muscle—one could tell at a glance that this was probably someone with martial arts skills.

Curiosity arose in Wei Liang’s heart, and he took a few more looks at that carriage.

As it happened by coincidence, someone was just getting out of the carriage.

She wore a ginger-yellow hundred-butterfly-piercing-flowers gold-threaded pleated skirt and was also quite young, with refined features and a calm countenance. However, she seemed to have encountered some matter, as her brows were slightly furrowed. Glancing around, she likewise noticed Wei Liang.

Wei Liang didn’t recognize her.

She didn’t recognize Wei Liang either.

The two looked at each other once, neither greeting the other. They merely speculated about each other’s relationship with the owner of Xiebai Residence. Each nodded to the other, then one boarded his own carriage while the other walked toward the villa.

It wasn’t until the carriage had wound its way back out of Wuyi Lane and onto the main street outside, listening to the lively marketplace speech around them growing bustling again, that Wei Liang had a flash of inspiration and suddenly remembered: “The Ren family from Shuzhong!”

Although there were no obvious markings on the carriage body itself, there were markings on the horse.

At the top of the horse’s bridle was printed a snowflake-like pattern.

That was the mark of the Ziliujing Salt Merchant Guild.

The person who had arrived was none other than You Fangying.

Two months ago, Emperor Shen Lang had established in court that he would make a southern tour next year, traveling along the Grand Canal all the way to Jiangning.

Who didn’t know that the Celestial Doctrine had always had deep roots in the south?

Everyone speculated that this trip was to use the opportunity of the southern tour to strike at the Celestial Doctrine, as well as to manifest imperial authority and let the Jiangnan people behold the Emperor’s countenance. However, in recent years, although the national treasury couldn’t be called empty, it wasn’t abundant either. A southern tour required mobilizing armies and masses—the silver required would be no small sum. The treasury couldn’t come up with this money, so naturally it had to be sought from the people.

The various government offices along the canal route that had to receive the imperial procession each had their own methods.

Some increased taxes on the common people; some sought contributions from local gentry.

The wealthiest in this Jiangnan region were the salt merchants, followed by major merchants in rice, cloth, and other trades. Those incompetent bureaucrats in the government offices were too lazy to think much. With a stroke of the brush, half a month ago they had sent letters informing all the major merchant guilds’ decision-makers to gather in Jinling to discuss how to contribute money, euphemistically called “determining next year’s salt permits.”

Although the Ren family salt business was in Shuzhong, after Jiang Xuening arrived two years ago, she began investing surplus silver into the Jiangnan region where it was easiest to make money—either investing in merchant ships traveling between north and south, or absorbing small and medium salt merchants in Yangzhou. Moreover, leveraging the connections established with silk merchants initially, she entered the raw silk and cloth trades.

Therefore, although the Ren family’s foundation was still in Shuzhong, the vast majority of their territory had already expanded to Jiangnan.

With money in hand, money came even faster.

Jiang Xuening personally taught them to witness what it meant that “money begets money faster, and having money makes it easier to earn money.” Money invested that lost didn’t matter—as long as successful ventures outnumbered failed ones, and money earned exceeded money lost, the wealth in their hands would continuously grow.

The government offices in the Jiangnan region wanting to receive the imperial procession, needing to build traveling palaces, and asking salt merchants to pay—this itself wasn’t a good thing. But if it was linked to next year’s salt permits, then it became a business where if you didn’t do it someone else would, and giving it up would definitely result in being squeezed out of your position.

So both You Fangying and Ren Weizhi had come.

However, the reason she visited Xiebai Residence today was not merely to discuss this matter.

Having just seen off Wei Liang, after flipping through the account book briefly, Jiang Xuening went to retrieve her fishing rod propped on the railing.

Reeling in the line, she saw that the fish had long since eaten the bait clean.

At the end of the fishing line remained only a bare hook, reflecting the light and shadow cast by the setting sun, glinting brightly.

You Fangying’s footsteps were slightly hurried. Before she had even walked to the outside of the water pavilion, she called out: “Second Miss!”

Jiang Xuening turned her head and saw her, startled: “Why has Fangying come?”

After You Fangying “married” into Shuzhong, although she and Ren Weizhi were false husband and wife, the other party claimed that since they were putting on a show, they should perform it realistically. He truly dared to hand over all matters of the Ren household for her to manage, allowing no one inside or outside to speak half a word of gossip.

Thus, she gradually shed the timidity from her days at the Earl’s residence.

Able to manage household affairs and shoulder responsibilities, even when discussing business with others she no longer had that initial awkwardness. Although she still looked reticent and spoke little, she had gained several parts worldly experience.

She had come originally for this matter. Arriving before Jiang Xuening and seeing Second Miss’s smiling, radiant face, she somehow paused, silent for a moment, before saying: “Just now, we were discussing business with people from the Huizhou Merchant Guild and encountered…”

Jiang Xuening’s heart jumped slightly: “Encountered whom?”

You Fangying’s gaze fixed on her face as she slowly said: “That person from Youhuang Hall, Boss Lu.”

Lu Xian!

A truly ominous chill crept up her spine with a shiver. In these two years, Jiang Xuening hadn’t not heard this name—after all, Lu Zhaoyin’s business was large, and he still held substantial silver shares in the Ren family salt business. At year-end dividend distributions, his portion was indispensable.

But both sides could be said to keep to their own affairs.

She acted as if she didn’t know Lu Xian, and Lu Xian never caused her any trouble.

Now…

For no reason at all, what business discussion would require such a busy person to personally make a trip to Jinling?

Others might not know, but she understood more clearly than anyone—

This person was Xie Wei’s trusted confidant, his right and left hand.

These two years, everyone said Shen Lang relied heavily on National Preceptor Master Yuanji and his regard for Xie Wei, the imperial tutor, was far less than before.

But Jiang Xuening didn’t think so.

Common people outside thought Master Yuanji enjoyed deep imperial favor because of his conflict with the Celestial Doctrine’s leader, Perfected Wanxiu. But Xie Wei’s reputation and power lay firstly in the court and secondly in scholarly circles. Compared to Master Yuanji, they were worlds apart—eight poles couldn’t connect them—and both were levels that ordinary people couldn’t touch. How would common people know how this person schemed and planned in the shadows?

Being neglected, being sidelined, distanced from the center of power, even going to Mount Wutai and Sanqing Temple to cultivate Buddhism and seek immortality…

She didn’t believe any of these claims at all!

Jiang Xuening folded her arms in thought, her mood adding several parts vexation. She only frowned and said: “The Emperor will make a southern tour next year, so the Jiangnan region will inevitably generate many business opportunities. Lu Zhaoyin never rises early without profit—personally making a trip is also reasonable. Moreover, there’s been no movement in previous years, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

However, You Fangying bit her lip.

Jiang Xuening glanced and noticed something was wrong, asking: “Not so?”

You Fangying recalled the events on the pleasure boat earlier, saying word by word: “In the past when we met Lu Xian, we exchanged greetings at most. But this time meeting on the Qinhuai River, he asked me about Miss’s recent circumstances.”

Jiang Xuening’s fingertips trembled slightly.

If that was the case…

Then it was indeed very unusual.

Night gradually descended. The fishing boats on the Qinhuai River were put away, but the beautifully adorned painted pleasure boats lit up bright lanterns reeking of powder and rouge, their reflections on the water’s surface gently swaying with the rippling waves.

On the boats were pretentious poetry recitations as well as vulgar drinking games and finger-guessing contests.

The sounds of strings and bamboo assailed the ears; red scarves and jade-green sleeves bewitched the heart.

Lu Xian hadn’t returned to Jinling in a long time. Revisiting the Qinhuai River, it was still the same river full of fragrant powder and glamour. Although people’s faces no longer resembled those of bygone years, the expressions between their brows and the thoughts hidden in their smile dimples remained unchanged.

The “thin horses” appeared reserved but were actually waiting to be sold to the highest bidder.

The wealthy merchants embraced beauties while calculating business in their hearts.

Huizhou merchants were famous throughout the realm and had their own style, but upon arriving in this city nurtured by six dynasties of imperial authority and boarding these boats that had drifted through the ages on the Qinhuai River, their style was gone and their bones went soft.

The person across from him raised a cup toward him with drunken, drowsy eyes.

Lu Xian also smiled and drank a cup. Just as he was about to seize this opportunity to secure this round’s cloth business and haggle down the price once more, from the corner of his eye he saw a small boat breaking through the ripples approaching this pleasure boat, laying down a gangplank at the bow.

A clever young man dressed in coarse cloth and hemp walked across the plank and said something to the attendant guarding outside the pearl curtain.

That attendant nodded and lifted the curtain to enter.

He silently walked to Lu Xian’s side and quietly reported: “Boss Lu, someone has come outside with an urgent letter for you.”

On this trip to Jinling, Lu Xian hadn’t brought many people.

Although he couldn’t see the person outside very clearly, from the build he could roughly distinguish—if it wasn’t that lad Xiaobao, who else could it be?

He apologized to the people beside him and rose to walk out.

On the river surface in early autumn, the wind carried a coolness, rushing against his face, dispersing the cloud of powder and rouge fragrance that made one’s head dizzy and swollen that he had brought out from inside the boat.

Lu Xian said: “What letter?”

Xiaobao had grown somewhat taller now. A leather belt fastened at his waist made him look extremely spirited. He merely handed the letter to him, saying: “A secret letter from the border, sealed with wax. No one else dared open it first.”

From the border?

Lu Xian’s eyelids jumped. He didn’t even bother speaking first, but quickly broke the wax seal and pulled out the letter paper to read.

A thin single page.

But the contents written on it truly shocked him!

Xiaobao observed him: “Are we going to war?”

However, Lu Xian couldn’t spare time to answer him. Instead, he urgently asked: “Has this letter been delivered to the capital?”

Xiaobao said: “The letter was split into three copies, simultaneously transmitted to Jiangnan, Huangzhou, and the capital. Sir’s side should have received it as well.”

Lu Xian’s gaze flickered, yet his expression wasn’t the least bit relaxed. He read the words on the paper once more, thinking of that person’s actions and behavior over these past two years that had been no different from previous years. Yet in his heart, a layer of worried dark clouds gathered.

He folded the letter paper and handed it back to Xiaobao.

Xiaobao asked: “Nothing to instruct?”

Lu Xian was silent for a long while before saying: “We’ll know when someone comes.”

Someone comes?

Xiaobao was immediately stunned.

The autumn night in the capital, compared to the Qinhuai in Jiangnan, was considerably more desolate and cold.

The autumn wind rustled through the palace chambers.

Improperly closed door panels slapped against each other, sometimes making one feel an eerie, ghostly atmosphere.

In the side hall of Fengchen Palace, only two lamps held by bronze cranes beside the pillars provided light. Between the flickering light and shadow, people’s silhouettes were cast on the windows, yet their shapes were blurred.

A qin hung on the eastern wall.

In the tea cup on the table’s edge, the tea had long since gone cold, reflecting half a silent face.

From far away, outside the window came the sounds of laughter and pleasure—the sounds of the various imperial consorts from the rear palace accompanying the Emperor in feasting and entertainment in the Imperial Garden.

Xie Wei’s eyelids drooped.

On the desk before him was the “evidence” brought by the Imperial Physicians condemning the palace alchemists—five porcelain bowls with ice-crack patterns contained five types of scattered stone fragments. Beside them was a used porcelain mortar, the medicine pestle placed in the corner of a lacquered tray. On the paper at the very front was spread a small pile of medicinal powder that had already been mixed together.

The words spoken by the Chief of the Imperial Medical Bureau, his face flushed red with anger, seemed still to echo in his ears: “Five Stone Powder, also called Cold Food Powder, was originally used to treat patients. But when consumed by those without illness, it generates dry heat in the body and produces hallucinations in the mind. Although it makes one feel as if floating up to an immortal realm with all worries dispelled, it is addictive and difficult to quit, greatly harmful to the body, causing wild and unrestrained behavior! These charlatan alchemists presenting such substances to His Majesty—it’s utterly absurd, their intentions truly deserve punishment!”

Producing hallucinations in the mind, dispelling all worries.

Xie Wei had stared at them for too long, slowly developing an odd sensation of vertigo, as if these bowls were distorting, transforming into mouths and eyes growing in the darkness, transmitting something to him, narrating something to him.

He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a very long time.

“Like a cliff standing a thousand ren high, one is strong when without desire.”

“With no attachments in the heart, without fear, far from inverted dream-thinking, ultimately reaching nirvana.”

…

Daoist canons, Buddhist scriptures, Confucian classics—read over and over exhaustively, yet in this sea of suffering, there was simply no method of liberation to be found. Human life in this world seemed to be a painful ordeal of experiencing countless tribulations, yet one didn’t know whether forgetting oneself, whether this body perishing, could bring release.

No one knew that this current imperial tutor had been wandering at the edge of a bottomless abyss for a very, very long time…

His pale fingers were dyed dim yellow by the wavering flames. Xie Wei reached toward the paper in front of the lacquered tray, where the five-colored powder ground together could no longer be distinguished.

He pulled it closer—light and weightless.

He paused again for a moment, finally using his ring finger to dip a little, staring at it for a long time.

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound outside.

A young eunuch reported from outside: “Minister-Tutor, a secret letter from the border, delivered express.”

Xie Wei jolted.

Only then, as if awakening from a dream, did he grab a nearby silk handkerchief to wipe his hands, saying coolly: “Come in.”