On a dark and windy night, Cold Fengchang’s men left the city for the Great Wei military camp. Shen Zaiye was already waiting. Upon seeing them arrive, he asked, “With the great battle imminent, has Lord Cold made his decision?”
Zhang Tian bowed and said, “Lord Cold has received the Prime Minister’s sincerity. The promised provisions will be sent immediately. Here’s the transport route. Please cooperate and send people to intercept it.”
Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow and took the map. “Does anyone else know this route?”
“Of course not,” Zhang Tian smiled. “This is confidential. Lord Cold giving it to the Prime Minister shows his absolute trust.”
“Won’t your lord be implicated when the provisions are intercepted along this route?”
Zhang Tian bowed again. “That’s why I’m here today. My lord will inevitably face blame, so he wants to entrust his family’s safety to the Prime Minister first. When there’s no way back, he’ll bring people to join you. Until then, he’ll do his best to help.”
“Good,” Shen Zaiye nodded. “Send them over. I’ll surely protect Lord Cold’s family.”
“After they arrive, the capital’s side gate will also open for the Prime Minister,” Zhang Tian added. “What you want will be within reach.”
Shen Zaiye smiled and waved for someone to escort him out. Then he sat in the tent, rubbing his fingers.
Xu Yangui emerged from the shadows, frowning at the tent entrance. “This Cold Fengchang is trusting, actually handing over his family’s lives to you.”
“He has no other choice,” Shen Zaiye smirked. “This move also shows his sincere defection. With his connection, conquering Zhao will indeed be much easier.”
Xu Yangui frowned. “Isn’t Jiang Taohua supposed to be clever? How did she not notice this person?”
“She probably did notice,” Shen Zaiye smiled. “But now the Zhao capital is in chaos, and Cold Fengchang is the head of the Nine Ministers. Without solid evidence, she can’t do anything to him.”
Xu Yangui glanced at him. “We’re now enemies with the Jiang family, a position you chose yourself. Since we’re enemies, can you not use such a doting tone when mentioning her?”
Displeased, Shen Zaiye said sternly, “Your ears are the problem. My tone is normal. But, is her health alright? When I saw her today, her complexion hadn’t improved much, still quite haggard.”
Although her not being pregnant gave him less to worry about, her pallor when that arrow was shot still concerned him.
Xu Yangui snorted. “If you’re really that concerned about her, end this war quickly and bring her back to take care of her.”
A quick victory? Shen Zaiye sighed. With so many troublemakers in Zhao, it wouldn’t be resolved so easily.
Qianbai Mei and Qingta had emptied many corrupt officials’ nests. Given their excellent martial skills, the authorities couldn’t catch them. When officials complained to Jiang Changxue, he helplessly replied, “The city is in chaos, and we’re short on troops. Where can we find the resources to chase thieves? You’re all upright officials, so your losses can’t be too great. We’ll compensate you later.”
The officials’ faces turned green upon hearing this. They couldn’t tell the Third Prince that it was a substantial sum, so they had to swallow their losses.
Taohua and Qianbai Mei were counting the money in their room, grinning ear to ear. “Master and Qingta worked so hard!”
This huge sum was enough to aid the entire world.
Qianbai Mei flicked her forehead. “If I’d known this would make you so happy, I’d have stolen all the silver in the capital for you.”
Taohua froze, staring blankly at her master. He paused, quickly turning away. “It would save you from always frowning, making those around you unhappy too.”
“I see,” Jiang Taohua smiled again, counting the banknotes. “You should be happy when you want to be. Don’t mind me.”
How can we be happy when you’re not? Qianbai Mei sighed, shaking his head slightly. Then he said, “By the way, there’s movement in Cold Fengchang’s house.”
“Oh?” Taohua put down the banknotes and quickly asked, “What kind of movement?”
“He seems to be planning to send his family away. They’re packing valuables, but… his family vault was the most thoroughly emptied. He’ll probably come looking for you soon.”
Covering her mouth to laugh, Taohua said, “What use is it to look for me? I won’t admit the silver is here.”
Just as she finished speaking, Qingta’s voice came from outside. “Master, Lord Cold Fengchang requests an audience.”
He came so quickly! Taohua raised an eyebrow, pushed her master out the window, then went to open the door.
Cold Fengchang’s face was grim. As soon as he entered, his gaze was unfriendly. He looked at her and said, “Second Princess, the Zhao national treasury is empty, with no extra silver for provisions. Yet you generously gave so much. May I ask where your silver came from?”
Taohua smiled calmly. “I’ve said it’s my private funds. Don’t you believe me, my lord?”
“I indeed don’t believe anyone’s private funds could be so much!” Cold Fengchang said. “Recently, many officials’ homes in the capital have been robbed. Could the money in the Second Princess’s hands be related to this?”
“My lord overthinks,” Taohua replied composedly. “I’ve always kept substantial private funds in Great Wei. If you don’t believe me, you can check with Guantong Bank. I previously sent over ten thousand taels of gold to Changxue for military needs, delivered to the official account in his military camp. The records should still be there. Does my lord consider ten thousand taels of gold a small sum?”
Cold Fengchang frowned, wondering if Great Wei was truly so wealthy.
“Moreover,” Taohua smiled, “you say I gave a lot of silver. Are all our court officials corrupt? How could robbing just a few households yield so much money?”
Cold Fengchang pressed his lips together and bowed. “I was hasty and didn’t investigate thoroughly. I’ll assign others to look into this matter.”
“Fine,” Taohua said. “Investigate as you wish, I won’t interfere. But remember one thing, my lord: you are a Zhao citizen. Never do anything to betray Zhao.”
Cold Fengchang’s heart jolted, and he involuntarily glanced at Jiang Taohua.
Had she figured something out?
At this point, he had no other way out. If she had indeed discovered something, he’d have to flee. It was better than constantly being subordinate here!
“I understand,” he bowed and retreated.
Taohua watched his retreating figure, chin in hand. She called Qingta and sent a message to Changxue, telling him to be prepared.
The final batch of provisions was about to reach the capital. Once it entered the storehouse, Jiang Taohua felt she could sleep soundly.
However, the highly secretive transport route was still discovered by Shen Zaiye. The convoy was completely wiped out, and the provisions were stolen. When Jiang Changxue heard this, he was furious.
“There’s a traitor!”
The transport route had been changed many times to prevent Great Wei from knowing. They even chose to transport it at midnight, yet it was still intercepted. Great Wei’s forces couldn’t possibly be lying in ambush outside all night, so someone must have leaked the information in advance.
Cold Fengchang and the Minister of Revenue knelt outside, both pleading innocence: “We know nothing, absolutely no information was leaked. We beg the Second Prince to investigate clearly!”
Jiang Changxue gritted his teeth in anger. “Only you knew the route. If you didn’t know, then who did? Lord Cold keeps saying he fights for Zhao, yet he stabs Zhao in the back?”
The officials discussed it among themselves. Cold Fengchang insisted, “I am innocent!”
Suspecting him of being a traitor was just a guess. Without clear evidence, Jiang Changxue, after venting his anger, could only temporarily detain Cold Fengchang.
“Sister,” back in the palace, Changxue frowned. “What can I do with Cold Fengchang?”
Taohua calmly replied, “His treacherous heart is evident, but we lack concrete evidence. Now his family is trying to leave the city, blocked at the gate by your men, right? Let them go.”
“Let them go?” Jiang Changxue shook his head. “How can that be? Knowing he has rebellious intentions, if we let his family leave the capital, won’t he become even more unrestrained?”
“That’s exactly what we want,” Taohua said. “You only lack a reason to convict him. If he’s willing to give you one, why refuse?”
After pondering for a while, Jiang Changxue understood and immediately ordered his men to let Cold’s family out of the city. But they couldn’t just release them directly; they had to make it look like an accidental escape, chasing them out of the city gates.
With his family gone, Cold Fengchang breathed a sigh of relief, but the court was abuzz with discussions.
“In the face of great danger, Lord Cold wants to save only himself?” Lai Shiqing said disapprovingly. “Even the Second Princess remains in the city, what does it mean for you to send your family away?”
“Indeed,” Fan Yushi added. “Could it be true, as they say, that Lord Cold intends to betray us?”
“How could that be?” Cold Fengchang smiled. “My family is just timid, so they went to avoid danger. After all, we’re not sure if we can defend the capital. Do you two lords wish to drag your entire families to die alongside the Second Prince?”
While his words made sense, his actions were still despicable.
“The Second Prince no longer trusts you, so please hand over the side gate’s token,” Lai Shiqing said. “The matter of provisions will be temporarily handled by others.”
Cold Fengchang smiled and lowered his head without speaking. Seeing this, both senior officials’ hearts sank. “What do you mean? Are you unwilling to hand it over?”
“It’s not that I’m unwilling,” Cold Fengchang sighed. “I’m just not in control of the situation.”
The token was no longer with him. By now, Great Wei’s forces had probably already been led through the side gate disguised as provision transports.
Taohua and Qianbai Mei were crouching on the city wall by the side gate.
Sighing despondently, Taohua said, “The court is full of corrupt and treacherous officials. Look at this Cold Fengchang, talking about protecting the country while making such deals behind our backs.”
Below the city wall, provision transports were entering the gate. Qianbai Mei casually grabbed one soldier and brought him up for Taohua to interrogate.
(End of Chapter)