Upon first hearing the serene melodies echoing from the mountain temple and the gentle scent of incense wafting before the Buddha, a fragrance so thick and lingering, it was the gift presented by Baihuajun of Eastern Jin in the fourth year of Daxing, exclusively found within Moju in all of Northern Wei.
His ink-black pupils slightly contracted, Jiang Xuanjin furrowed his brows as he carefully examined the letter Sun Qing had given him, taking a moment to inhale its scent. The letter, brought in not long ago, wouldn’t normally be permeated so deeply by the room’s fragrance unless the paper had been kept here all along.
His fingers froze on the parchment. Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze, studying the two letters before him with earnest scrutiny. A thought flickered in his mind, quickly dismissed with certainty. It couldn’t be. Danyang was already dead; this was her handwriting, penned before her death. If someone were attempting to forge it deliberately, he would spot it at a glance.
But… how to explain this fragrance?
His usually clear mind was unexpectedly muddled. He shook his head vigorously, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Cheerful footsteps sounded outside the door.
Jiang Xuanjin snapped out of his reverie, swiftly tucking both letters into his sleeve and turning to face her.
“Hm? Why did you run off over there?” She entered, smiling warmly as she approached to pull him closer. Her smile faded as she wrinkled her brow. “Why are your hands so cold?”
Soft fingers slipped into his, holding him tightly. She was in good spirits, her thumb caressing his hand as she spoke with a playful curve to her lips, “Once your treasured calligraphy is framed, I’ll hang it in this room. Let’s see which young lady dares to visit us then!”
With a gradual tightening of his grip, Jiang Xuanjin held her hand in return, remaining silent.
“What’s wrong?” Sensing something amiss, Huaiyu blinked up at him. “Are you upset?”
“No.”
“Then what is it? Your complexion looks off.” She worriedly reached to touch his forehead. “Don’t tell me you’re getting sick again. Just as you’re recovering, our Moju might as well turn into a pharmacy.”
He closed his eyes in silence for a moment, then returned to his usual self, murmuring, “Would you gift me a piece of calligraphy?”
“Huh?” Huaiyu was taken aback. She struggled, “But I told you, I can’t write.”
“I’ll teach you.” He insisted, pulling her towards the desk. “Just a few simple characters.”
Apart from ‘one,’ nothing else could truly be considered simple.
Huaiyu shook her head repeatedly, half hugging him, half leaning against him, pouting, “Your calligraphy is beautiful, I’d gladly accept, but I can’t write. Even if I did, it would be embarrassing. Besides, there’s only one place to hang calligraphy in here. Where would you put another piece if I gave you one?”
Jiang Xuanjin frowned, “You don’t want to?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but…” Her mouth twitched, grabbing his hand to playfully plead, “I’m so tired. Look at how late it is.”
The moon had risen high. Normally, they would have retired by now.
The person in front of him pursed her lips slightly, appearing somewhat displeased.
Huaiyu gently coaxed him, “Don’t be upset. While you’re charming when you’re angry, you’re even more handsome when you smile. How about we sleep? We can discuss everything tomorrow.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her face so close that he could see the indulgence in her almond-shaped eyes.
Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze, placing a hand on her waist, remaining silent for a long moment before whispering, “Let’s sleep.”
“I’ll help you undress!” Relieved to have diverted his attention, Huaiyu grinned mischievously and reached for his clothing.
The next morning, Jiang Xuanjin attended court while Huaiyu had nothing to do, so she had Qingsi fetch a plain handkerchief and awkwardly started embroidering characters on it.
“Ouch!”
Qingsi stood by, already accustomed to this sound, calmly stating, “That’s the fifth time.”
Frustrated, Huaiyu threw the handkerchief to the ground, exclaiming, “This thing isn’t suitable for me!”
Back in the palace during her childhood, no nanny dared to teach her needlework; she would chase them out of the palace with a needle in hand! Who would dare make her embroider now?
But… thinking of Jiang Xuanjin’s unhappy expression last night, she gritted her teeth and stooped to pick up the handkerchief again.
Qingsi’s expression was complicated. “You could gift something else.”
Others could embroider; this prince was more apt to inflict wounds.
“He wanted characters, didn’t he?” Huaiyu huffed. “I can’t write, only embroider.”
It might not be pretty, but if she embroidered a few more layers, the strokes of the characters would be discernible, right?
After a few haphazard stitches, Huaiyu picked up the handkerchief, somewhat satisfied, and continued embroidering.
“The palace banquet in mid-August is coming soon,” Qingsi murmured. “You can still enjoy the moon in the palace this year.”
At the thought, Huaiyu’s eyes lit up. “Perfect timing. The things at Mingshan Palace should be destroyed by now. Left untouched, who knows what could go wrong.”
“You’ll go get them?” Qingsi frowned disapprovingly.
“I’m the only one who can go with Lord Ziyang,” Huaiyu replied lightly. “No one else can do it. Without the Eldest Princess, neither Lu Jingxing nor Han Xiao knows the way to Mingshan Palace.”
Once able to fill a table with supporters, the “Eldest Princess Party” was now in disarray. She should handle what she could without bothering them anymore.
Glancing at Qingsi’s expression, Huaiyu reassured her, “No need to worry too much. Mingshan Palace is cold and empty. There’s rarely anyone there. Even if I were to dig the ground, no one would notice.”
With that said, Qingsi ceased her objections and stood quietly to the side.
With two letters as evidence and Sun Qing’s testimony, Jiang Xuanjin went directly to the Prime Minister’s residence with Liu Yunlie, intending to confront Qi Han face to face.
However, the steward of the Prime Minister’s residence unexpectedly said, “Unfortunately, my lord received an imperial order the other day to inspect Dongjun County. It may take several days for him to return.”
“When did he leave?” Liu Yunlie asked blankly. Jiang Xuanjin frowned as well. They hadn’t heard anything; they assumed Qi Han was on vacation these past few days. Who knew he had left the capital?
“What do we do now?” Liu Yunlie inquired.
What else could they do? Jiang Xuanjin turned and walked away.
They couldn’t question him now; they’d have to wait for Qi Han to return to the capital. All the evidence was gathered; they weren’t afraid of waiting a little longer.
Passing by several newly opened shops on the way back to the Ministry of Justice, the street resounded with firecrackers and was crowded with onlookers.
Jiang Xuanjin glanced over, slightly curious. “Three shops opening simultaneously?”
Liu Yunlie, unfazed, replied, “It’s typical for properties belonging to the Lu family. They bolster each other’s visibility, and the people enjoy the spectacle.”
Lu family? Jiang Xuanjin squinted. “Lu Jingxing?”
“Who else?” Liu Yunlie shook his head, hands behind his back. “His business has been growing steadily. We thought without the Eldest Princess backing him, he’d lose some ground. Turns out, he’s quite cunning, relinquishing a few properties to avoid trouble with the authorities. Then, reopening them here.”
Let him manage for another two years, and he’d likely control half the capital.
Firecrackers filled the air with smoke, and Jiang Xuanjin watched coldly. Below the red silk plaque, Lu Jingxing, dressed in a soft, silver brocade robe, emerged from his shop, fanning himself. He smiled and said something to the crowd outside, who cheered and eagerly entered the store.
“Do you still want to see?” Liu Yunlie withdrew his gaze. “Let’s hurry back to the Ministry of Justice. There are unfinished matters.”
“You go ahead.”
Liu Yunlie was taken aback. Before he could ask why, Jiang Xuanjin had already walked towards Lu Jingxing.
His gaze shifted slightly, Liu Yunlie didn’t turn away, watching as Jiang Xuanjin exchanged a few words with Lu Jingxing before entering the shop. After a moment’s thought, he followed suit.
With the new shop opening today, Lu Jingxing was in a good mood. Seeing the serious expression on Jiang Xuanjin’s face, he narrowed his eyes and smiled, “What’s this? Has Your Highness found another offense against me?”
In the secluded teahouse, with no one nearby, Jiang Xuanjin placed the two letters directly in front of him. The envelopes bore the identical “Prime Minister’s Personal Seal,” causing Lu Jingxing’s smile to freeze momentarily.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, he raised his fan to shield his eyes, frowning slightly.
“Do you have an explanation?” Jiang Xuanjin asked.
“Well… what’s there to explain? Your Highness wrote these two letters as a precaution,” he replied.
Picking up the newer letter, Jiang Xuanjin sneered, “March twenty-seventh, your Highness had already passed away. When was this second letter written?”
“Is that important?” Lu Jingxing set down his fan, looking at Jiang Xuanjin with a puzzled expression. “What does Your Highness care about? The letter is genuine, not forged. Even if there are two identical letters, you could pick either one…”
“This letter was kept in Moju,” Jiang Xuanjin interrupted him. “And for quite some time.”
Listening to Jiang Xuanjin’s confident tone, Lu Jingxing tensed up, thoughts racing in his mind.
“What’s so strange about that?” Having made up his mind, he spoke, “Qingsi brought this letter out from the palace. She’s at Moju now, isn’t she?”
Qingsi? The letter had been placed in Moju early on, only to be delivered to him indirectly through Lu Jingxing’s hand. What was the meaning of this?
Jiang Xuanjin stared at Lu Jingxing with a dark expression, lightly tapping the tabletop. “I dislike being manipulated.”
These two letters were as suspicious as a conspiracy.
“Who’s manipulating you?” Lu Jingxing retorted irritably. “I’m trying to help you, too. You want justice for Danyang, and I want to see that case overturned. Mutual benefit. Where’s the manipulation in that?”
“Do you truly only seek to help?” Jiang Xuanjin didn’t believe him. “Danyang has passed away, and you, sir, are a shrewd businessman who knows how to avoid risks and seek advantages. Going to such lengths for just one case doesn’t seem very profitable.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingxing’s face darkened.
“Jiang Xuanjin,” he said coldly, “how much do you actually know about me and Danyang?”
“Not much,” Jiang Xuanjin replied. “I often saw Your Excellency in the palace, frequently mingling with her.”
With a scoff, Lu Jingxing folded his fan and placed it on the table, raising his eyes to look at him. “In the third year of Daxing, I was manipulated by rivals in the industry and lost half of Luji’s territory. Frustrated, I went out for a trip and met the Eldest Princess.”
At that time, Pingling Jun was still around, and Li Huaiyu’s days were not easy, with no less worry on her face than his. They fought over the last jar of wine in the restaurant and finally sat in the alley, drinking.
“I’m a businessman,” he said at the time.
“Oh,” she nodded, took a drink, and handed him the jar, “I’m a princess.”
Originally, he was worried. But he laughed when he heard this: “You’re a princess, and I’m the emperor.”
“The emperor is only ten years old, and you’re a bit older,” she said.
Lu Jingxing didn’t smile anymore, staring at her blankly. He found that this girl looked really noble, dressed in plain clothes with hidden embroidery of peony patterns, a golden flower on her eyebrows, and lips as red as blood.
Sensing his gaze, she kicked over with one foot and cursed, “What are you looking at!”
This kick was very powerful, almost knocking him down. Lu Jingxing grunted and muttered with a complicated expression, “Playing dumb, which princess is as rude as you?”
“There are even ruder ones. Do you want to try?” She picked up the wine jar and lifted it above his head.
Lu Jingxing turned around and was about to run.
“Hey,” Li Huaiyu stopped him, half-drunk and half-awake, “what’s your name? Tell me so I can help you.”
Stopping in his tracks, he turned to look at her, not really thinking she could help him, but still said, “Lu Li, with the style name Jingxing.”
“Admire the lofty mountains and the solemn demeanor?” She raised her eyebrows, laughing heartily, “You don’t look serious at all, yet you talk about admiring lofty mountains?”
Lu Jingxing’s face darkened, “Hasn’t anyone taught you not to mock others’ names to their faces?”
“No!” She replied boldly, digging her ear and swaying as she walked over, grinning as she handed him the wine jar, “Drink!”
“Me? No… huh?” Just as he was about to say he wouldn’t drink, the person in front of him suddenly collapsed. Lu Jingxing hurriedly threw aside the wine jar and caught her before she hit the ground. The jar shattered with a crisp sound, filling the narrow alley with the strong aroma of liquor.
Initially, Lu Jingxing had actually considered leaving her in a pile of junk and walking away. But seeing her current state, he realized she might be taken advantage of if left there. Out of kindness, he decided to take her home.
Later, he learned that Qing Si had been watching from the shadows the whole time. If Lu Jingxing had made any wrong move, there wouldn’t have been a future for Lu’s business.
Thankfully, he behaved himself, taking care of her throughout the night and sending her off in a carriage the next day.
“Until we meet again!” she waved with a smile.
Lu Jingxing waved back, thinking to himself: “I hope we never meet again!”
The store owner who held a grudge against his family had some powerful backers in court, and he was oppressing Luji more and more. Eventually, he even set a trap that landed Lu Jingxing in prison. Lu Jingxing had always been focused on his business, and he wasn’t familiar with the concept of “collusion between officials and businessmen.” As he sat in jail, he thought he might be there for years.
However, the next day, someone came to release him. A government official unlocked his shackles and gestured for him to leave.
Confused, Lu Jingxing walked out of the prison gate and saw Li Huaiyu standing there, hands on hips, scolding him the moment he stepped out. “With a brain like yours, you still want to do business? You might as well go home and farm pigs.”
He stared at her in bewilderment, not understanding. But she came forward, grabbed him, and pulled him away. “Even the insignificant Jingzhao Yin can bully you like this? Come on, I’ll back you up!”
Seeing the long procession behind her, Lu Jingxing finally realized she wasn’t lying. She seemed to be a princess.
Just a very rude one.
With the backing of this rude princess, Luji made a fierce comeback. In just two months, they not only regained lost shops and goods but also forced their enemies to shut down several stores.
“So, you see, it’s all about the collusion between officials and businessmen,” Li Huaiyu said, squatting with him in front of the closed doors of their enemy’s shop, handing him a chicken leg. “Let me show you what real collusion between officials and businessmen looks like!”
She had done him a huge favor, yet never asked for anything in return. She casually talked and drank with him, offering these words as they shared a meal.
“I’m relieved of my troubles,” he said, looking at her deeply. “But what about yours?”
“Don’t worry,” Li Huaiyu waved her hand nonchalantly. “I can handle it myself.”
She said it lightly, but he later heard that she had nearly lost her life several times in her ongoing battles with Pingling Jun.
He’s just a merchant, fundamentally unable to help.
Reaching out, Lu Jingxing poured half a cup of tea for Jiang Xuanjin in front of him and asked, “Do you know how it feels to be powerless?”
Jiang Xuanjin lowered his eyes. “I’ve never experienced it.”
“Haha, Lord Ziyang, who wields power over the court and the people, naturally has never tasted that feeling, but I know it very well.” Setting down the teapot, he continued, “You see her every day. She smiles at you, drinks, and plays games with you, but you know she’s in a difficult situation and there’s nothing you can do. You can only watch like a fool.”
“Now I finally have a chance to help her. Why are you here asking me about the pros and cons?”
“I am a merchant, but does that mean I’m not human?” His voice grew slightly impassioned as he spoke, and Jiang Xuanjin fell silent. He had indeed only considered these two as drinking buddies before, never imagining there was such a backstory.
“Never mind,” he said. “I am overthinking.”
Though the two letters were peculiar, they were sent to assist him. If Qingsi had truly hidden the letters in the main house, it would make sense given the timing mentioned in the letters.
His furrowed brow finally relaxed, and Jiang Xuanjin stood up to leave.
“Hey,” Lu Jingxing called after him, “How is Zhuji doing these days?”
Turning back with displeasure, Jiang Xuanjin replied, “Since Your Excellency shares such deep affection with the Eldest Princess, why the concern for others?”
Of course, he would be concerned; they were the same. Lu Jingxing smirked and, seeing Jiang Xuanjin had nothing more to say, waved him off. “Consider my question withdrawn.”
Jiang Xuanjin chuckled coldly, brushed his sleeves, and left without going to the Ministry of Justice, heading straight back to Ink Residence.
Feeling he had misjudged someone, over the next two days, Jiang Xuanjin stayed at Ink Residence, keeping company with Bai Zhuji, allowing her playful antics without objection, showing remarkable tolerance.
Bai Yu once felt as if red rain were falling from the sky. Peeking out the window, she muttered softly, “This is too rare, isn’t it?”
Reaching out to pull her back inside, Jiang Xuanjin instructed, “Go and change your clothes properly.”
There was a banquet in the palace tonight, and the old master had sent over several sets of formal attire early in the day for them to choose from. Bai Yu turned to look and found Jiang Xuanjin already dressed in a wide-sleeved robe embroidered with dark cranes and silver threads, standing tall and elegant, like a flourishing pine in spring.
Stunned for a moment, she suddenly wondered what a child from such a distinguished and graceful man would look like.
Seeing her standing there motionless, Jiang Xuanjin gently shook his head, approached, and began to fasten the sash at her waist one by one.
“At the palace banquet, there are many people. Stick close to me and don’t get lost,” Jiang Xuanjin instructed.
“Okay,” Bai Yu absentmindedly replied, her fingers tracing the embroidered patterns on his chest.
Why did others’ embroidery look so good? She was so focused, yet she hadn’t finished embroidering just four characters.
Gently pushing her hand away, Jiang Xuanjin frowned. “Behave properly when entering the palace.”
“I know!” Bai Yu snapped back to attention, smiling, and then linked her arm with his as they walked out together.
“Master,” Qing Si quietly called after her, gesturing reassuringly.
Was everything arranged? Bai Yu nodded subtly, pretending to be nonchalant as she continued to look ahead.
The Joyful Palace was spacious, specifically used by the royal family for banquets, and not far from Ming Shan Palace. Upon the Jiang family’s arrival, it became even livelier, with many people greeting and engaging them in conversation, pulling them in different directions until they dispersed.
Bai Yu stuck with Jiang Xuanjin the whole time. He handled conversations while she focused on the food in front of them, their roles clearly defined, making for a harmonious partnership.
However, it didn’t take long before these court dignitaries, feeling uninhibited during the auspicious full moon festival, started to push drinks on them.
Jiang Xuanjin’s poor alcohol tolerance was vaguely remembered. Seeing the cup Xu Xian offered him, Bai Yu quickly intervened, protecting him: “Lord Yun and Lord Han are still here. How can General Jiang drink before His Highness?”
Xu Xian raised an eyebrow. “Lady Yun won’t even let His Highness drink?”
“It’s not that he can’t drink, there should be some etiquette,” Bai Yu adeptly replied to this group, “Lord Yun just got promoted. Wouldn’t it be proper for you to drink with him first?”
“Good point!” Xu Xian immediately turned to Yun Lanqing, who looked at Lady Yun with a complex expression and then emptied his cup in one go.
“Well done!” Han Xiao clapped foolishly beside them.
Yun Lanqing was furious. “Well done for what? Shouldn’t you drink too?”
“Why?” Han Xiao was puzzled.
Placing the wine glass in front of him, Yun Lanqing said, “I’ve been worried about you for a long time. When I give you a drink, you ask why?”
“Fair point!” Han Xiao nodded and straightforwardly downed his drink.
Originally, they had come to toast him with drinks, but now they were fighting each other. Jiang Xuanjin found it amusing and thought these people were quite interesting.
Nevertheless, even with Bai Yu shielding him from the drinks, there were simply too many people at the palace banquet, and he still had to drink a few cups here and there. After two cups, Jiang Xuanjin fell silent and pulled her away to a quiet corner beside the Joyful Palace.
Bai Yu understood and half-supportively asked, “Are you drunk?”
“No,” he replied stiffly.
She chuckled softly. Leading him to a fake rockery, Bai Yu gently suggested, “I’ll pour you a cup of tea. Will you wait for me here?”
The full moon hung high, palace lanterns lit the surroundings brightly, and laughter echoed from the banquet in the distance where cups clinked. Jiang Xuanjin, in a drunken haze, looked at the person in front of him and nodded obediently, “Okay.”
Smiling, she reached out to pat his head. Unable to resist, Bai Yu gave him a firm kiss before lifting her skirt and walking away.
Had he not been drunk, Jiang Xuanjin might have noticed she wasn’t heading back to the banquet. But in his intoxicated state, all he remembered was that she asked him to wait here.
So wait he did.
Sitting up straight, hands resting on his knees, Little Jiang stared eagerly down the path where she had disappeared, intending to compliment her when she returned.
However, this time, he waited a long while, but no one returned along the deserted palace road.