With one sentence, Consort Jing had moved Emperor Tai’an to consider selecting a Crown Prince Consort, but he didn’t say much more. Leaving Ningxin Palace to return to the Warm Pavilion, he mentally deliberated over suitable families.

The braziers in the Warm Pavilion burned vigorously, and the incense rising from the gilded double-dragon censer was somewhat overpowering. Emperor Tai’an rubbed his temples and instructed Head Eunuch Liu Chuan: “Summon Master Wang.”

Liu Chuan respectfully complied and quickly dispatched someone to fetch True Man Mingxin.

Before long, True Man Mingxin arrived with the palace attendant. Seeing Liu Chuan, he nodded politely: “Eunuch Liu.”

“Master Wang, please come in quickly. His Majesty has been waiting for you for some time.” Liu Chuan wore a smile on his face, but felt uncomfortable inside.

He had anticipated that this old Wang would be kept in the palace—after all, he understood the lost art of golden needle pain relief. But he had never imagined that old Wang would gain His Majesty’s favor with his unique massage techniques.

These past days, whenever His Majesty felt his head was heavy, he would summon old Wang for a massage, and seemed to have become somewhat dependent on him.

This put Liu Chuan on alert.

Could this old fellow be trying to steal his place in His Majesty’s heart?

True Man Mingxin walked in and paid respects to Emperor Tai’an.

“Master Wang, quickly come massage my head.”

Immediately palace servants brought over a water basin, soft cloths, and other items, attending to True Man Mingxin as he washed his hands, then handed him a hand warmer.

True Man Mingxin was very familiar with this routine by now. Completing it smoothly, he moved behind Emperor Tai’an to massage his temples.

Emperor Tai’an’s expression quickly relaxed.

Liu Chuan watched once, then again, becoming more and more puzzled.

It clearly seemed unremarkable, as if anyone could learn it at a glance—so why, when he had tried to massage His Majesty that time, had His Majesty told him to get lost?

Liu Chuan lowered his eyes, deciding that out of sight was out of mind. He wouldn’t try to learn it anymore.

After a while, Emperor Tai’an felt his mind was much clearer and couldn’t help but let out a long breath: “Fortunately there’s Master Wang, who has greatly relieved my chronic headache problem.”

A throne seized by force wasn’t easy to sit on, and those years had coincided with the Qi people’s most rampant period. Internal troubles and external threats had eventually resulted in chronic headaches. Though not severe, the occasional flare-up was quite vexing. Who would have thought Master Wang possessed such skills?

“Master Wang, how is the Crown Prince’s hand recovering?”

When Emperor Tai’an asked this question, the other palace servants withdrew, leaving only Liu Chuan and two highly skilled internal guards present.

Unlike the evasive responses when questioning the imperial physicians, True Man Mingxin calmly said: “From what I can see currently, it’s not going very smoothly.”

Emperor Tai’an’s expression darkened somewhat.

Currently the officials hadn’t discovered anything amiss with the Crown Prince’s left hand, but if they noticed, there would be discussion.

Though a dysfunctional left hand had little impact, it was still a defect.

“With Master Wang’s great talents, is there no solution?”

“Your Majesty flatters me. This commoner only understands some unusual techniques, not miraculous medical arts. His Highness the Crown Prince’s left hand should still follow the imperial physicians’ arrangements for gradual recuperation—this cannot be rushed.”

Emperor Tai’an sighed in disappointment: “The Crown Prince doesn’t let me rest easy. Recently the Qi people’s provocations have been increasing, with frequent reports of border harassment. This also worries me greatly.”

When state matters were mentioned, True Man Mingxin tactfully didn’t respond.

A sound of hurried footsteps approached. Liu Chuan walked over to receive an urgent report and presented it to Emperor Tai’an.

Emperor Tai’an opened and read it, then threw the memorial onto the desk, his face livid with rage: “Outrageous!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Don’t harm your health.” Liu Chuan urged.

“How can I calm my anger?” Emperor Tai’an pointed at the memorial. “The Qi people are too arrogant! Not only did they plunder a border village’s wealth, they actually abducted dozens of women. Liu Chuan, immediately summon the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers to the palace for discussion.”

Liu Chuan accepted the order and left. Emperor Tai’an paced several steps with his hands behind his back before remembering True Man Mingxin was still present.

“I’ve given Master Wang cause to laugh.”

True Man Mingxin lowered his head and cupped his hands: “Your Majesty’s words are too much for this commoner.”

“Has Master Wang ever been to the north?”

True Man Mingxin shook his head: “This commoner has never been there.”

“Then Master Wang hasn’t witnessed the Qi people’s savage brutality. We fought several battles in earlier years, and the Qi people behaved themselves for a while, but these past two years they’ve set their sights on Great Zhou again.”

“This commoner doesn’t understand these matters well. I only remember those battles in earlier years had considerable casualties.” True Man Mingxin said this aloud, but in fact greatly admired Emperor Tai’an’s courage in daring to make war against the Qi people back then.

When retreat was no longer possible, paying tribute and ceding territory would only invite more greed. Only bloodshed could defend territory and people—unfortunately, the previous monarch hadn’t understood this.

True Man Mingxin was loyal to Emperor Pingle, but didn’t agree with Emperor Pingle’s approach of seeking peace through retreat.

Hearing these words, Emperor Tai’an’s eyes grew heavy, his expression showing both helplessness and anger: “Without casualties, how would we have had these years of stability?”

He recalled the difficulty of insisting on meeting the enemy in battle back then, then thought of how when they convened shortly, there would surely be many advocating peace and few advocating war. His recently relieved headache returned.

“Master Wang, massage me again.”

True Man Mingxin quietly began massaging Emperor Tai’an, his mood becoming complicated.

Ministers arrived one after another, and Emperor Tai’an dismissed True Man Mingxin. This discussion between ruler and ministers lasted until lanterns were first lit. During this time, True Man Mingxin was summoned again to massage the emperor’s head. The lights in the Warm Pavilion remained lit almost through the night.

The court’s movements were known to few, and the capital remained shrouded in New Year festivities.

On the ninth day of the first month, an inconspicuous eatery opened for business.

The eatery was reasonably spacious with no private rooms, just square tables and long benches throughout the main hall. The tables and chairs appeared only seventy percent new.

Lin Hao looked at the person who had brought her here with mixed feelings: “Heir, are our funds for opening this shop quite limited?”

If she had known, she would have contributed two hundred taels.

Qi Shuo was dressed in ordinary blue cotton robes today. Looking at Lin Hao disguised as a young man, he smiled slightly: “With Second Miss Lin as a partner, funds aren’t difficult. However, this eatery primarily serves common people as customers—older tables and chairs actually put them more at ease.”

Hearing this, Lin Hao couldn’t help but nod: “The Heir’s thinking is still more thorough.”

As firecrackers exploded with crackling sounds, attracting many onlookers, a shop attendant with a white cloth over his shoulder called out loudly: “One bowl of mutton bone soup plus two large steamed buns for only three wen—come one and all to try it!”

One bowl of soup plus two buns for three wen was neither expensive nor cheap. People watched curiously, but for a time no one was the first to try it.

The shop attendant wasn’t discouraged and raised his voice even louder: “The mutton bone soup comes in clear broth or spicy broth. The clear broth has a delicious flavor, and drinking a bowl of spicy broth with the buns will keep you warm all day. We’ll even give you two cloves of pickled garlic…”

Quite a few people, hearing the shop attendant’s description, unconsciously swallowed their saliva.

It sounded very delicious—should they try it?

Several people walked in, surveyed the simple (shabby) environment of the main hall, and felt reassured.

By the looks of it, this didn’t seem like a place that would cheat customers.

“Bring me a bowl of spicy mutton bone soup with two buns.” The first to speak was a burly man, who didn’t forget to remind: “Don’t forget the pickled garlic.”

The shop attendant responded with a cheerful “Right away!” and quickly brought over the food.