When the earthquake struck Jinli Town, a flood of tasks needed attention. From Secretary Zhao down to the lowest clerk, everyone was overwhelmed with work.
Yu Jinshen had earned the love and trust of Jinli Town’s people. His involvement made many matters easier to manage, so he was no less busy than the officials.
Only the Crown Prince had become completely idle.
Since that night when the Crown Prince carelessly promised large sums of silver, embarrassing the officials, everyone sought to prevent him from causing further trouble. They deliberately assigned a clever clerk to accompany the Crown Prince on his excursions in Wuji Town.
Wuji Town naturally had little to offer in entertainment, and the Crown Prince dared not wander elsewhere, fearing another earthquake like in Jinli Town. Bored out of his mind, he instructed his eunuch: “Have the clerk take you to where the Jinli Town refugees are staying. Yesterday when I was speaking there, I noticed a young woman in blue clothing who looked quite charming…”
The eunuch hesitated, “Your Highness, that young woman wore blue yesterday, but she may not be wearing blue today. I’m afraid I might bring back the wrong person…”
On this matter, the Crown Prince’s mind was much sharper. He glared at the eunuch and scolded, “Fool, think about it. They’re all disaster victims. Their homes are in ruins. How could they have clothes to change into? The young woman who wore blue yesterday must still be wearing blue today.”
“Your Highness is most wise!”
Fearing the eunuch might bring back the wrong person and spoil his mood, the Crown Prince thought for a moment and said, “That young woman had a small mole on her cheek. Remember that.”
“This servant will remember. However—”
“However, what?”
“Your Highness, what if that young woman doesn’t comply? After all, we’re away from the capital—”
The Crown Prince laughed dismissively, “That’s precisely why it’s easier to handle. I’m the Crown Prince. Who would dare object if I want to bed a simple village girl? If the young woman is unwilling, just give her more silver. Keep offering money until she agrees.”
“This servant understands.”
The eunuch called over the clerk and whispered about the matter.
The clerk was only briefly surprised before regaining his composure.
It was perfectly normal for the Crown Prince to seek some entertainment after leaving the capital’s splendor for this small town.
Yes, compared to the dazzling Prince Yan, this Crown Prince was more like what the clerk imagined a noble should be.
Without hesitation, the clerk led the eunuch quietly toward where the Jinli Town refugees were staying.
A charming young woman in blue clothing—
The eunuch’s eyes darted about, scanning every female with a maiden’s hairstyle. There were quite a few wearing blue, but none could be called charming.
In the end, he didn’t even spare girls of twelve or thirteen, yet still couldn’t find anyone charming.
Now the eunuch was troubled.
Seeing that much time had been wasted, the clerk couldn’t help but ask, “What exactly is the public servant looking for?”
The eunuch replied wearily, “Someone wearing blue, charming, with a mole on her cheek.”
The clerk pointed, “Public servant, look at that woman washing clothes by the stream. Is that who you’re looking for?”
Woman?
The eunuch’s first reaction was to deny it, but his gaze instinctively followed the clerk’s finger.
Several women were washing clothes by the stream.
In the past, women gathering to wash clothes would be full of chatter and laughter. But now, with their homes destroyed, they could no longer smile. Most silently scrubbed their clothes, and those who spoke did so in hushed tones.
The eunuch’s gaze fell on a woman in blue clothing.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a slim figure and fair skin. While not exactly beautiful, compared to the other women with rough skin, she could indeed be called charming.
More importantly, the young woman had a distinct black mole on her cheek.
This was the person the Crown Prince was looking for!
The eunuch first breathed a sigh of relief, then became dumbfounded.
This, this was a married woman…
Seeing the eunuch’s hesitation, the clerk helpfully said, “Don’t worry, public servant. A married woman is even easier to deal with than a young maiden.”
“Oh?”
“Surely His Highness doesn’t intend to take this woman back to the capital?”
The eunuch’s face hardened, “Of course not.”
A woman of this appearance wouldn’t even qualify as a palace maid, let alone anything more. She was merely the best available in this backwater. Of course, His Highness wouldn’t take her back.
Moreover, the Crown Prince was here to comfort disaster victims. Taking a woman back would surely incur the Emperor’s wrath.
The clerk smiled, “Well, there you have it. If His Highness had his eye on an unmarried maiden, it might be troublesome to leave her behind later. After all, a maiden would still need to marry, and losing her virginity would be problematic. A married woman is different. When it’s time to part, as long as she’s well compensated, it’ll be like the wind passing without leaving a trace…”
The eunuch grinned and patted the clerk’s shoulder firmly, “You’re a good man. I’ll be sure to put in a good word with His Highness.”
“Thank you for your kind words, public servant.”
“Well then, go ahead and arrange it.” The eunuch gestured with his chin.
For such matters, it was indeed best for a local to handle it.
The clerk didn’t rush. He first inquired about the woman in blue from others, but instead of approaching her directly, he went straight to her husband.
Upon hearing the proposition, the husband became agitated, “How could this be allowed!”
The clerk slipped a small pouch into the man’s hand.
The man felt its contents and his expression changed instantly, “This, this is gold?”
The pouch indeed contained gold leaves.
The clerk smiled, “You’ve never seen this before, have you? Let your wife accompany the noble for a few days, and you’ll have more benefits than you can imagine.”
Staring at the dazzling gold leaves, the husband hesitated.
Seeing the man’s hesitation, the clerk immediately said, “Brother, let me be frank with you. With this much gold, you could buy a heavenly beauty, couldn’t you? Not to mention the additional rewards the noble will surely bestow later. Take this money, and when your wife returns, you can either continue your life together or find a younger, prettier wife. It’s all profit and no loss. What are you still hesitating for?”
The husband was increasingly tempted.
The clerk continued to persuade him, “I’ve also heard that you’ve been married for years and your wife hasn’t given you any children. To put it bluntly, she’s like a hen that doesn’t lay eggs. Brother, with this much money, even if you don’t want to replace your wife, you could at least take a concubine…”
The husband finally nodded.
Seeing this, the clerk smiled.
Money can make ghosts turn millstones – this was indeed true. With so much gold, not just this peasant, even he would be tempted.
Feeling the gold leaves hidden in his secret pocket, the clerk’s spirits soared.
Plucking a goose in passing – this too was a real principle.
That night, the Crown Prince got his wish and bedded the “charming young woman.” He was even more pleased upon learning she was a married woman.
The encounter with Consort Yang had been both a nightmare and an indelible mark for the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had to admit that he now found married women far more intriguing than young girls.
Of course, this was not something he could share with others.
The Crown Prince became so engrossed in his carnal pleasures that he neglected everything else.
The other officials were only too happy to have the Crown Prince cause less trouble, so they paid little attention.
It wasn’t until the day the Censorate Official and Pan Hai’s disciple Little Lezi – two imperial envoys – arrived that the Crown Prince was shocked into hastily sending the woman back.