Su Minguan lingered at the Tianjin Customs for several days, with all customs staff assuming he was Hede’s distinguished guest. Everyone pooled their thoughts together, contributing insights here and there, instantly helping Hede construct a network diagram spanning multiple regions.

Hede immediately discovered: “Ah, this Wu Shan, student of Yusheng, is also from Hefei, Anhui. Same as Li Hongzhang.”

An Anhui native among the customs staff mustered his courage and whispered: “This Wu Shan once organized a militia in Anhui. When the Taiping rebels attacked, he abandoned Prefect Li and fled alone. Prefect Li nearly died at the hands of the rebels. Our locals composed satirical songs mocking this coward. But later, he wasn’t punished either, presumably protected by his mentor. I only dare mention this to Director Hede – outside the customs house, this humble one would never dare speak so freely.”

Su Minguan lifted his eyelids slightly, a glimmer flashing in his eyes.

“Director Hede, much obliged.”

October tenth was the Empress Dowager’s birthday. As this date approached, the inner city of the capital was already filled with a festive atmosphere. Every household had bought colored paper lanterns to hang outside, and teams of oxen, horses, and camels passed through heavily guarded city gates, transporting tribute gifts from various provinces of the empire.

Beggars on the streets had all been cleared away, and among the street performers, only the able-bodied remained – those missing arms or legs had completely disappeared. Performance troupes and variety acts from across the nation, speaking in various regional dialects, had already crowded into the southern city, practicing from dawn to dusk daily, preparing to make a stunning impression before the Empress Dowager.

Jiangsu Governor Li Hongzhang, having achieved merit in suppressing the Taiping rebels, traveled the great distance to the capital to receive commendation.

In the inn where he lodged along the Beijing-Tianjin post road, an unexpected visitor arrived.

“I’m not being critical, Lubin… but you intercepted me halfway just to discuss this? – Hey, stop looking toward the door all the time. What’s so interesting about your attendant? – Look at this official.”

Li Hongzhang was extraordinarily tall, a rare example of upright bearing among the typically short and hunchbacked Qing officials. He wore a gray silk robe and black silk cap, radiating authority with every gesture.

Hede hastily withdrew his gaze and smiled: “If I’ve been discourteous, please forgive me.”

His attendant now waited outside the room. Hede prayed silently – God preserve us, may this fellow not act impulsively and kidnap Li Hongzhang too.

Thank heavens, the new “attendant” retained his reason, merely waiting properly outside without doing anything alarming.

Though at various customs ports, Hede could be considered a masterful manipulator who moved with ease, before this Eastern bureaucrat, well-versed in officialdom, he unconsciously restrained his arrogance and became respectful.

Li Hongzhang’s temporary lodgings were luxuriously appointed. Hede was surprised to taste genuine Brazilian coffee here. But he had no mind to enjoy the coffee’s aroma, getting straight to the point with his request.

Due to mediating the Suzhou massacre incident, Li Hongzhang greatly relied on this red-haired foreigner and didn’t stand on ceremony. Some things unsuitable to discuss with the Chinese, Li Hongzhang didn’t mind chatting about with him.

“That’s right, Yusheng and I don’t get along. I also have dirt on him.” Li Hongzhang slowly puffed his water pipe, saying, “But back then, I was insignificant with little influence. I didn’t pursue it then, and now, where forgiveness is possible, forgiveness should be given. Even if I impeached him now, what would come of it? The Empress Dowager is celebrating her birthday – a joyous occasion. Would you cause her displeasure?”

Hede felt slightly disappointed. From current appearances, Li Hongzhang seemed difficult to buy off. He could obtain Brazilian coffee and gulp it down cup after cup like tea. Hede doubted he would worry about money in his lifetime.

He argued reasonably: “But Yusheng slanders you for selling out the country through foreign affairs, trying to strangle all your Westernization and self-strengthening efforts…”

“The innocent are naturally innocent. Everyone has their position in current circumstances.” Li Hongzhang, not directly implicated, felt no crisis and patiently lectured the foreigner, “Some positions will ultimately be ours. Cannot rush. Cannot be impatient. See the water in this landscape arrangement? It flows slowly from top to bottom, following natural law. You cannot force it to flow upward – that would disrupt many things…”

Knowing Hede’s impatient nature, Li Hongzhang deliberately spoke slowly and methodically. Sure enough, the patience on the foreigner’s face gradually thinned and faded, obviously wanting to speak but holding back.

“Truly just for a merchant woman?” Li Hongzhang suddenly asked with a smile, “What virtue and ability does she possess to merit such painstaking efforts from an Englishman to clear her name?”

Hede glanced at the “attendant” by the door and assumed a very professional attitude, answering without revealing anything: “She was previously employed by the customs. Out of humanitarian spirit, I must make an effort.”

Plus his years of careful notes, passport seals – all now in others’ hands. He must make an effort.

Li Hongzhang nodded, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally smiling: “I thought our Lubin finally had a Chinese girl who caught his eye-ah, I’ve missed witnessing another romantic tale.”

Hede choked on his coffee, mentally rolling his eyes wildly.

This wasn’t the first time. Whenever he chatted with Chinese people and casually mentioned some girl or young lady, the topic inevitably veered toward marriage, as if all women in the Qing Empire had only one purpose – matrimonial alliance.

…At least the one in prison wasn’t like that.

He felt a dangerous gaze suddenly focus on his forehead and quickly scrambled for humble words, saying a lot about being “unworthy” and “unsuitable.”

Li Hongzhang laughed heartily, feigning disappointment.

“I was hoping to witness some entertainment.” He drew an envelope from his sleeve and placed it before Hede. “It seems that the woman is indeed a remarkable person of the jianghu, able to attract so many foreigners to discuss ‘humanitarianism’ with this official.”

Hede saw the signature on the letter – Shanghai Foreign Arsenal Director Ma Qingchen respectfully bows in salutation.

Hede couldn’t help but wonder. Had this Macartney truly reformed, actually setting aside past grievances to speak up for Miss Lin? Moreover, he’d written three whole pages!

Glancing through it, surprisingly it was all heartfelt praise, neither servile nor arrogant in tone, without sarcasm, and making no mention of his and Miss Lin’s past enmity.

As if he were purely a warm-hearted gentleman who, seeing injustice, helped speak up for a bullied lady.

Li Hongzhang retrieved the letter and began making small talk: “Speaking of this foreign arsenal, has Lubin visited? – Never mind if you haven’t, it’s quite small. I’ve inspected it – the factory uses Chinese-style clay furnaces, mills, files, lathes, and other hand tools. The craftsmen are all country folk who can only copy others, manufacturing the simplest earthen cannonballs. Qingchen is, after all military surgeon by training, still an amateur at military manufacturing… though I’m even more amateur, haha, don’t understand…”

Hede was somewhat puzzled, not knowing why Li Hongzhang suddenly changed topics. However, as an unofficial “advisor” to the Zongli Yamen, he was always obligated to listen to Chinese officials’ questions about foreign affairs.

He chose his words carefully: “Everyone starts from zero. What’s not understood can be gradually explored.”

“Training troops requires manufacturing weapons first. It would be wonderful to have a complete Western-style iron works. Shanghai has several ready-made ones, but they all shut me out.” Li Hongzhang sighed, “Foreign merchants are wary of us and refuse to sell. Or they demand exorbitant prices – that Banner Iron Works wants two hundred thousand taels of silver. Ha, does he know how many disaster victims this money could feed, how many bullets it could provide soldiers? Making demands so casually… couldn’t reach agreement, forget it, this matter cannot be rushed…”

“I’ve visited Mr. Cole’s Banner Iron Works. The equipment is complete, truly worth that price.” Hede couldn’t help saying, “Li Daren, what’s your budget?”

Li Hongzhang smiled without answering, looking at Hede until his heart felt anxious. After a long while, he finally said: “What budget do I have? My budget all went to preparing birthday gifts for the Empress Dowager. Speaking of which, Lubin, you might as well prepare something too. I’ll help present it together later, let the two Empress Dowagers see your loyalty.”

Hede quickly agreed: “Thank you for Li Daren’s guidance.”

“Do you like the coffee here?” Li Hongzhang stood tall like a crane, having someone show the guest out. “It was intended as a gift for the capital. Shall I have some packed for you? Don’t be polite!”

“I don’t understand, Mr. Su, why you won’t seek an audience with Li Hongzhang yourself. He doesn’t refuse to see commoners… insisting on posing as my attendant. If he discovers you, how do I explain? You’re not even a wanted criminal, why so bashful…”

Having consumed a belly full of coffee, Hede emerged from Li Hongzhang’s inn in high spirits, complaining for half an hour.

Su Minguan wore a politely perfunctory smile, patiently listening to his nagging.

Hede suddenly had an inexplicable thought, suspiciously saying: “You… you’re not a wanted criminal, are you? I… I will report—”

Su Minguan smiled: “Then you’d better prepare an explanation in advance for why you’d employ a wanted criminal as your attendant.”

Hede coldly laughed: “The customs don’t enforce the law. Why are you panicking?”

This mysterious Chinese merchant seemed to possess a natural affinity. Even knowing the other was kidnapping him for private gain, Hede couldn’t help developing some empathy, generating subtle goodwill of heroes recognizing heroes.

“You heard it too. Li Hongzhang wouldn’t guarantee anything. But he sure said a lot of pretty words.” Hede said, “This isn’t surprising. Impeaching Yusheng offers him no benefit. Morally and emotionally, he’s completely unmoved. I did my best…”

“No. Li Hongzhang already pointed you toward a clear path.” Su Minguan, who had eavesdropped on the entire conversation, immediately refuted, “Unfortunately, you didn’t catch that hint. So he didn’t persist.”

Hede was surprised, thinking for a long time before saying: “Could it be that iron works? – No, Li Hongzhang knows I can’t help him. The customs isn’t a money tree. This fiscal year has already ended, all surplus tax revenue has long been allocated – mainly for war reparations and military supplies. If I arbitrarily misappropriate funds, it would trigger a series of unpredictable consequences…”

Su Minguan smiled coldly, staring at him.

Hede’s heart inexplicably trembled, suddenly remembering the Chinese man before him wasn’t some model of Chinese-foreign friendship, just an unscrupulous kidnapper. These days of friendly interaction hadn’t made him relax his grip on the gun.

Hede declared proudly: “Believe it or not. To squeeze out two hundred thousand surplus taels would require waiting until at least mid-next year… and even if customs had this money, I wouldn’t use it to fill my private affairs. This is a principle I established from taking over Guangdong Customs. It’s not that I don’t care about Miss Lin – put it this way, even if I were framed and imprisoned, I wouldn’t use customs funds to escape. This is my bottom line. Sorry, you may shoot now.”

He raised his hands, his brow pressed low, beneath his dignified expression remaining the spirited idealism of an idealist.

Unexpectedly, the kidnapper didn’t fly into a rage.

Su Minguan pondered these words steadily for a while, sighed, and suddenly a trace of dim fatigue flashed in his eyes.

“Return to Tianjin.” He boarded the carriage.

Throughout the journey, the oppressive silence was unbearable. Hede began with a stern face, but by the latter half, he couldn’t help feeling sympathy for this reckless criminal, seeing in him a classical quality unique to Chinese people, persisting despite knowing it was futile.

“…Alright,” Hede hesitated repeatedly before couldn’t help saying, “I have personal savings of eight thousand pounds… damn it, if I’d originally hired her as personal assistant, twenty years wouldn’t cost that much… Mr. Su, I greatly admire everything you’ve done for Miss Lin. I’m willing to contribute everything I have. But this is far from enough…”

“Who asked you for money?”

Su Minguan’s single sentence choked him back. Stroking the gun beneath his clothing, cold and silent, his exhaled breath like a blade’s edge, like a tragic soldier stepped from a watercolor painting.

Only occasionally, for an instant, his expression suddenly became solemn, as if he’d made some great resolution.

Finally returning to Tianjin Port, Su Minguan had Hede disembark and led him into a shabby teahouse. After exchanging a few words with people inside, he turned around moments later with a case in hand.

Hede had noticed from the first day of the ship hijacking that Su Minguan carried a heavy leather case. Besides some disguised clothing, it contained other things.

With several loud slaps, several heavy ledgers crashed onto the tea table before Hede, raising dust like light smoke.

Hede reached out to flip through them, emerald ripples suddenly rising in his green eyes, like an eagle spotting prey.

He couldn’t help leaning forward, reading page by page, carefully and thoroughly.

“This is…”

“The complete accounts of Shanghai Yixing Shipping Company. From the twenty-seventh year of Daoguang until the second year of Tongzhi, before I took over.” Su Minguan smiled slightly, explaining word by word, “The original version, never tampered with.”

Memory flashed back, as if years of tangled threads were straightened. Hede slammed the table and stood up, furious, the plastic friendship accumulated over recent days swept away.

“I knew it, I knew there was falsification…”

“If customs suddenly received additional income, completely legal in source, just enough for the Qing government to purchase iron works…”

Hede angrily waved his fists: “How dare you disrespect customs…”

“These past days, you’ve been thinking of settling scores with me afterwards, finding opportunities to thoroughly investigate Yixing, haven’t you?” Su Minguan’s expression was stern as he spread his hands, “Don’t be polite, please proceed.”

On October first, Jiangsu Governor Li Hongzhang jointly with Censorate officials impeached Grand Secretary Yusheng, listing numerous past incidents with solid evidence, causing great uproar in court and countryside.

Everyone knew Li Hongzhang and Yusheng, though politically opposed, had no substantial conflicts. Moreover, Li Hongzhang had been serving in other regions and hadn’t seen Yusheng for at least three years. Why dredge up these old matters?

Furthermore, for Li Hongzhang to get so many officials to co-sign required enormous networking resources. People couldn’t help wondering – this favor could be used for anything else, why waste it on stirring up these trivial old matters, creating trouble for oneself?

But Li Hongzhang was a rising star of the Westernization faction. Zeng Guofan was already old and his reputation tarnished by allowing the Hunan Army massacres. Li Hongzhang commanded elite Huai Army troops. Though not highly ranked, everyone could see his limitless future.

Li Hongzhang’s official response was also standard: “Do not commit small evils. Officials must remember their original intentions. Old matters also merit investigation; otherwise, how do we set examples for posterity?”

Simultaneously, foreign newspapers in Shanghai’s foreign settlements questioned Grand Secretary Yusheng across the void, asking why he viewed foreigners as floods and savage beasts, preferring to frame innocents rather than damage Qing-foreign relations.

Someone initiated a joint petition from major foreign firms, submitted through consulates to the Zongli Yamen, demanding that the Qing court provide explanations; otherwise, they couldn’t conduct business.

Yusheng was attacked simultaneously from multiple directions, with small issues blown out of proportion. Years of accumulated dust were all turned up, catching him off guard with poor responses, dragging down several “pure discussion” Beijing scholar-officials along with him. With Empress Dowager Cixi’s birthday approaching, this bucket of filth splashed over her head, enraged her greatly. She borrowed the Emperor’s voice to severely reprimand Yusheng, ordering him to prove his innocence within a time limit.

Yusheng fell ill with anger. During his illness, Li Hongzhang secretly sent someone to visit and talked for an hour.

The next day, Yusheng entered court to confess guilt, actively admitting that the matter of “Wenxiang privately dealing with foreigners and keeping large sums in foreign firms” had been a misunderstanding. His subordinate had been incompetent, using discarded letters found elsewhere to seek rewards. This person had now been sent for punishment. He lacked cultivation, was eager for sensationalism, and failed to verify before publicly embarrassing Wenxiang, and should personally apologize to Wenxiang.

Only three days remained before Cixi’s birthday. The Empress Dowager was focused on celebrating and was too lazy to investigate further. Li Hongzhang opportunely provided a way out, withdrawing his previous fierce impeachment and petitioning the Emperor and Empress Dowager to judge the matter on its merits, punishing Yusheng just this once. Considering Yusheng’s meritorious service to the Qing, past matters need not be pursued.

Thus, Wenxiang was vindicated, returned to the Zongli Yamen, and even received food from Cixi to calm his nerves. Court officials celebrated, all praising the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s wisdom.

Yusheng lost his concurrent position in the Grand Council but retained his Grand Secretary status to serve in Hongde Hall – essentially “kept at court under observation.”

Just as this matter concluded, the court received another joyful report. Shanghai’s largest Western Banner Iron Works, through continuous mediation efforts by Westernization faction officials and scraping together silver, had finally reached a price agreement and fallen into Qing court hands. Henceforth, the Qing would have its first fully equipped, comprehensive military factory capable of building large and small steamships, explosive shells, and foreign guns…

Western technology was entirely within Qing grasp – the best birthday gift for the Empress Dowager. Momentarily flattering words flowed like tide, as if the Qing could revive ancestral achievements tomorrow, intimidate foreign barbarians, and return to the world’s center.

Cixi was so delighted she couldn’t sleep. At this moment, several Westernization faction officials “suddenly” remembered that the innocent woman implicated, Su Lin.

Cixi momentarily couldn’t recall: “Who?”

Chief Eunuch An raised his orchid finger, pointing to the half-empty French flower water beside her hand. Only then did Cixi suddenly understand. She seemed to have met such a person.

Quite a clever woman, I rather missed her. Why had she been angry with her then? Somewhat forgotten.

Birthday, iron works – double happiness. Li Hongzhang’s rare parrot whispered sweet words in her ear: “Empress Dowager is benevolent! Empress Dowager is wise!”

Cixi was unprecedentedly pleased and immediately authorized the release of the woman. Previous rewards and imperial edicts would all be restored as before. Grant some silver and let her go.

“When she returns, tell her not to forget to send those promised items to the palace! More of that flower water – ten more bottles! I’m waiting!”

As for how Su Lin had spent these two months, whether cold or hungry, whether tortured or humiliated… this wasn’t the Empress Dowager’s concern. Imperial grace was vast – being able to lift the pot of blame already placed on her head meant she should go home and burn incense in gratitude.

The minor storm within the Forbidden City dissipated completely as people resumed universal celebration, making final preparations for the Empress Dowager’s birthday.

Lin Yuchan held that edict written in parallel prose, even more bewildered.

Confined too long in one courtyard, seeing mostly ants and pigeons daily, eating mostly porridge dregs stuck to pot bottoms, she felt her mind somewhat sluggish. Only after being urged several times did she hoarsely express gratitude.

The female warden opened the courtyard gate. A calico cat jumped away.

Lin Yuchan looked around in confusion. She could leave just like that?

She’d almost forgotten what Beijing looked like. Among the other homeless criminal women in the same courtyard, one died of illness, one was tried and sold, and one inexplicably gave birth and was taken by a family.

Feng Yikan no longer came with messages. Suo Erniu occasionally sang outside her window.

Fortunately, she hadn’t devolved into livestock. Sometimes threatened and abused by fierce guards, sometimes harassed by Baoliang, but sometimes people came to find her, offering inexplicable comfort and berating those who treated her rudely.

Within high walls, she couldn’t hear outside rumors, but she could vaguely sense invisible forces struggling in darkness beyond her reach.

She didn’t know how many unspeakable deals lay behind this edict. If she heard correctly, it wasn’t “leniency” or “reduction,” but direct exoneration? The commendation edict in her hands seemed genuine.

As if time had reversed to the moment she made cake for Cixi, when she cleverly amused the Empress Dowager… simply dreamlike.

Quite different from Baoliang’s previous promise of “working connections to at least avoid some punishment, worst case using a servant as a substitute.”

She held the Empress Dowager’s reward of one hundred taels of travel money, hardly daring to believe it. The female warden coldly pushed her back.

“Can’t bear to leave? Oh, if you’re not ashamed, go ask the Ministry of Justice for your confiscated luggage and property. We don’t care!”

Two meals daily of thin porridge, coarse grain with pickles, and at most some sweet potato, taro, or stinky tofu. Lin Yuchan felt herself visibly thinning, stumbling when pushed by the matron. She immediately ran.

She’d assumed her confiscated belongings had long been divided up. Only upon inquiry did she learn that since the Ministry of Justice fire office handled official cases, inevitably, some people fell from grace only to rise again later, so the Ministry dared not carelessly offend. Small confiscated items were locked in several storerooms. Only those unclaimed for three to five years would be sold off and divided.

The storeroom guard put away his opium pipe, looked askance at Lin Yuchan, and drawled: “Little lady, don’t try to deceive people. Your things were claimed long ago!”

Lin Yuchan couldn’t believe it: “Who?”

“Me.” Baoliang hurried over, face full of smiles. “Miss Lin, the sedan chair is ready. I’ve had your luggage and traveling funds sent to our home. Let’s go!”