After hearing Lin Hong’s description of the disaster situation and refugee matters, Zhao Ai had originally formulated a thorough plan.
Suzhou belonged to the Zhexi Circuit and had been elevated to Pingjiang Prefecture by imperial decree decades ago, but people still called the city Suzhou according to previous dynasty customs. This morning, Zhao Ai went to the Pingjiang Prefecture office and showed his jade fish seal to Prefecture Magistrate Xu Jichuan to reveal his identity, suggesting that Xu open the Ever-Normal Granary to provide disaster relief.
Xu Jichuan looked troubled, and his response was indeed similar to Lin Hong’s guess: “Your Highness doesn’t know—using Ever-Normal Granary funds and grain must have court approval. The magistrate has no authority to open the granary without permission. This locality’s Ever-Normal Granary was already opened this year, and by His Majesty’s great fortune, relief quickly stabilized people’s hearts. Now that Pingjiang Prefecture’s disaster situation has eased, the Ever-Normal Granary has been closed. The arrival of Shaoxing refugees here is truly due to inadequate local disaster relief. These refugees are not under Pingjiang Prefecture’s jurisdiction, and this official truly has no authority to use the local Ever-Normal Granary for relief.”
Zhao Ai had anticipated this refusal and calmly said: “You prefectural officials even check household registers before providing disaster relief, but in His Majesty’s eyes, everywhere under heaven is the emperor’s land. Whether from Pingjiang or Shaoxing, all disaster victims are his subjects. Now Pingjiang has surplus grain, and Shaoxing disaster victims have come here seeking survival. If you ignore them and let them fend for themselves, to His Majesty this is like his hungry younger son visiting his elder son’s home, only to be driven out by the elder son without even a bite of food. Tell me, how would His Majesty feel seeing this situation? How would he view Magistrate Xu?”
Xu Jichuan broke out in cold sweat and said: “Thank you for Your Highness’s teaching. This official feels enlightened and realizes his shallow understanding… This official will immediately write a memorial and have it rushed to Lin’an by fast horse to request His Majesty’s permission to open the Ever-Normal Granary for refugee relief.”
Zhao Ai shook his head: “Too late. By the time the memorial reaches Lin’an and is presented to His Majesty, it must follow procedures for court officials to discuss. Those officials can argue endlessly over small matters and may not all agree. Even if they finally agree, this back-and-forth will delay unknown days and starve unknown numbers of refugees to death. Magistrate Xu should act decisively—first open the granary for relief, then submit a memorial confessing fault and requesting punishment.”
Xu Jichuan exclaimed: “Acting first and reporting later—how… how is this possible!”
Zhao Ai smiled: “I can guarantee that as long as His Majesty sees your action aims to pacify and save people, he absolutely won’t punish you—he might even reward you.”
As Xu Jichuan still hesitated, Zhao Ai continued: “This matter cannot be delayed. Each day without relief will increase refugee deaths considerably. Moreover, if basic needs aren’t met, people will take desperate measures. When trouble breaks out everywhere, how can Pingjiang Prefecture remain unaffected alone?”
After speaking, Zhao Ai set down his teacup and stood, telling Xu Jichuan: “There’s already an incident now. Please have Magistrate Xu dispatch some officers to accompany me to quell it… Leave immediately, or it may be too late to handle.”
Xu Jichuan, following Zhao Ai’s request, mobilized almost all officers and personally led them with Zhao Ai to Shiyi Garden. When the ruffians were loudly demanding the Shiyi Garden owner bring out money to distribute, Zhao Ai’s group had already arrived and positioned themselves behind the crowd. Zhao Ai had Xu Jichuan hold back temporarily and observe developments.
Soon the ruffians led refugees rushing into the garden. Xu Jichuan dared not delay and, without waiting for Zhao Ai’s orders, commanded officers to quickly enter the garden and arrest the ringleaders. Some residents who had mixed with refugees hoping to fish in troubled waters saw this scene and shouted “Officials are coming!” before scattering like birds and beasts. But many hungry refugees still lingered, continuing to loot throughout the garden.
Xu Jichuan found the chaotic scene appalling and deeply felt Zhao Ai’s words were reasonable. He steeled himself, rode his horse toward where refugees gathered in the garden, and shouted loudly: “The Ever-Normal Granary will open soon for disaster relief! Please everyone wait outside the warehouse!”
The officers also joined him in shouting this message repeatedly to the refugees. The refugees gradually stopped their actions and headed out of the garden to find the warehouse location.
As events progressed to this point, Zhao Ai still felt everything was under control.
By increasing the newsletter print run, Shiyi Garden’s relief grain would quickly fall short of demand, gathering many people outside the garden in a short time. Zhenzhen planned to print a thousand copies, which would probably only result in people making noise outside the gate, but printing three thousand copies would multiply the crowd several times—under heated emotions, they might break in.
Of course, he wouldn’t let this get out of control. By meeting Xu Jichuan beforehand and bringing officers over, once anyone caused trouble, they’d be promptly arrested without letting Shiyi Garden suffer excessive damage. This disturbance would also prove that the refugee problems he’d discussed with Xu Jichuan truly existed, prompting him to decide to open the granary for relief promptly.
Moreover, this would conveniently frighten Lin Hong and give him some trouble. Besides, once refugees entered the garden, he would presumably panic, and seeing this, Zhenzhen would surely lose much respect for him…
Zhao Ai couldn’t help but smile, mentally patting himself on the shoulder: Multiple birds with one stone—truly a genius!
However, he never expected that Lin Hong would actually pull Zhenzhen into hiding in the cave…
After the refugees dispersed, Zhao Ai searched the garden for Zhenzhen. Hearing from A’Che that she and Lin Hong had been standing on the artificial mountain, he went to check, but found no trace of them on the mountain and continued searching below.
Walking into the cave, seeing the dim, quiet interior, he felt an ominous premonition and couldn’t help but slow his pace, walking silently inward.
Indeed, the two were in the cave’s concealed area. Lin Hong was cupping Zhenzhen’s face, kissing toward her eyelashes. And Zhenzhen showed no resistance, closing her eyes with a faint smile!
Zhao Ai was furious and immediately moved to stop them, but was caught around the waist by A’Che who had followed, half-dragging him back outside the cave.
“What are they doing? How outrageous! What impropriety!” He pointed toward the cave interior, angrily telling A’Che.
A’Che opened his eyes wide, looking at him innocently: “Food Preparation Manager Wu obviously got sand in her eyes, and the young master is blowing it out for her!” Then he lowered his voice, advising: “Your Highness, please speak softly—if others hear, they might misunderstand.”
This brought a thread of reason back through his rage: indeed, he couldn’t make a scene. If this matter got out, Zhenzhen would surely face severe punishment.
So he could do nothing but rush to the large rock ahead and sit down angrily. A’Che had already turned back toward the cave, coughing loudly and asking the two to come out.
After Lin Hong and Zhenzhen emerged, Zhao Ai drew his sword and, holding it in his right hand, walked step by step toward Lin Hong.
Contrary to Zhao Ai’s earlier prediction, Lin Hong remained quite calm, showing no trace of fear on his face and displaying no panic at the approaching sword, only quietly watching him.
Reaching Lin Hong, Zhao Ai slowly raised his sword, pointing it at Lin Hong.
Zhenzhen immediately stepped forward, blocking Lin Hong, and shouted: “Second Prince, what are you doing?”
Anger, heartache, grievance, unwillingness—various emotions surged in Zhao Ai’s heart, churning endlessly.
This? Zhao Ai thought. Despite Feng Xian’s advice, he had found ways to leave the capital, traveling thousands of li to Wuyi Mountain, then rushing to Suzhou—was this what he wanted to see? He had protected her everywhere, remaining silent even when seeing her intimate with Lin Hong, yet she cared nothing, having eyes only for Lin Hong.
His eyes couldn’t help but redden.
“Uncle,” finally, staring intently at Lin Hong, his sword still firmly pointing at that man, with splitting fury and murderous intent, he said: “My sword has dust on it. Please lend me a handkerchief to wipe it.”
Lin Hong was somewhat surprised but still took out a square cloth and handed it to him.
Zhao Ai took it, withdrew his sword, and slowly wiped it with the cloth. He tossed the cloth back to Lin Hong, then held up the blade sideways to examine it, letting the cold light pass over Lin Hong’s face before blowing away a fiber from the blade and sheathing the sword.
“I’m leaving,” he told Zhenzhen.
His actions left Zhenzhen baffled. Seeing his sudden farewell, she didn’t know how to respond and just nodded: “Oh.”
Zhao Ai had been waiting for her to ask him to stay, never expecting she had no such intention. He immediately turned away angrily and walked out, thinking all the way: “Three thousand newsletters was really too few—should have printed thirty thousand!”
Lin Hong and Zhenzhen then directed the garden’s servants to clean up the mess, working another half day before returning to the study to rest briefly. Zhenzhen took the opportunity to ask Lin Hong: “How are you considering returning to the capital?”
Lin Hong pondered silently without answering. Zhenzhen continued: “Publicly, I’ve explained the principle of serving during good governance—you surely understand this better than I do. Privately… don’t you want to see me often?”
Lin Hong turned his face away, concealing the smile about to show: “No.”
Zhenzhen smiled and turned toward him, determined to look directly at him: “You say the opposite of what you mean. ‘One pool of autumn water, one round moon—will my old friend come tonight?’ Sanniang told me someone went to my room on Mid-Autumn night and sat alone all night.”
Lin Hong’s ears began to redden again.
Zhenzhen became even more interested and continued: “That day at Furong Pavilion, you called me Food Preparation Manager Wu as soon as you saw me. How did you know my position? You must have inquired everywhere right after arriving at the palace, eager to know my situation.”
Lin Hong had no choice but to acknowledge this with a slight smile, then said: “Very well, I agree to return to the capital with you, but there’s one thing you must promise me first.”
Zhenzhen asked: “What?”
Lin Hong said seriously: “The palace is not like the outside world—palace rules are strict… you must not be disrespectful to me again.”
Zhenzhen was stunned, then understood this “disrespectful” referred to her twice taking the initiative to kiss him. She blinked, moved slightly closer to him, and asked quietly: “So… only you can be disrespectful to me?”
Lin Hong was speechless with amusement.
Zhenzhen was pleased to discover his ears had reddened a few more degrees.
However, he wasn’t completely defeated by this remark. He calmly met her eyes, then glanced behind her and called to the empty air at the doorway: “Second Prince.”
Zhenzhen turned around in alarm, thinking it would be too embarrassing if Zhao Ai had heard her shameless words.
Seeing the doorway empty, she realized Lin Hong was teasing her. Zhenzhen was immediately both embarrassed and annoyed. Seeing Lin Hong laugh aloud, with no way to vent her mixture of anger and affection, she rushed toward Lin Hong, grabbed one of his hands, and bit down on the back of it.
Lin Hong laughed and sat still, letting her bite until the pain became unbearable, then withdrew the hand she was holding.
That night, Zhenzhen still returned to Rongqiu Garden to rest. Lin Hong alone packed his luggage in his room. While organizing books, he accidentally knocked over a small box that fell from the bookshelf to the floor, its lid breaking open.
It was a sandalwood box. Seeing it, Lin Hong stopped what he was doing and stared silently for a moment before bending to pick it up.
The box contained only a silver acupuncture needle that glinted with thread-like weak light in the flickering candlelight.
Lin Hong looked down at it, the hand holding the box gradually beginning to tremble slightly. After a moment, he firmly closed the lid, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, unable to bear looking anymore.
Just then, a cheerful voice came from outside: “Uncle, open the door!”
Lin Hong was startled and immediately placed the wooden box back on the bookshelf before opening the door.
Zhao Ai entered with broad steps, carrying bedding, and smiled: “Uncle, not asleep yet?”
Lin Hong was speechless. Originally, when he saw him leave that afternoon, he couldn’t help but feel relieved. Returning to his room felt much more comfortable, and he immediately had A’Che and others move away the tea bed and wash it thoroughly. He didn’t want that bedding either and let A’Che dispose of it as he wished. He never expected Zhao Ai to return.
Zhao Ai had thought it through himself.
Originally full of indignation, he had left Zhenzhen behind and galloped away on horseback, wanting to return to the capital alone. But after leaving the city, the more he thought about it, the more wrong it seemed: If I just leave like this without any effect on them, maybe they’ll have fewer concerns and Zhenzhen will need Lin Hong to blow out even more sand from her eyes… If I return angrily like this, won’t it look like a complete break from Zhenzhen’s perspective? How could I approach her again later?… If I’m gone, will Zhenzhen still stay at Rongqiu Garden tonight? Won’t Lin Hong pull her to stay at Shiyi Garden?
Thinking of this, he couldn’t bear it and immediately turned his horse around, galloping back to the city.
In Shiyi Garden, Lin Hong told Zhao Ai, who was holding bedding: “Second Prince, unfortunately, the tea bed you used was washed today and hasn’t dried yet—it hasn’t been moved back. Why don’t I have A’Che prepare another spacious guest room for Your Highness to use?”
“I know the tea bed was moved out, so I asked A’Che for bedding first.” Zhao Ai walked to Lin Hong’s bed, put down the bedding, and spread it out. Then he smiled at Lin Hong, whose face had turned green: “Heaven wants us to share a bed—Uncle and I are just that fated!”