Wei Qing saw Xiao Er out.

Min Song glanced at Mo Zi, who sat there unperturbed. “I really admire you. That Young General Xiao has such an imposing presence, yet you just sit there looking completely relaxed.”

“Min Song, do you know how many years it’s been since the Great Zhou fought a war?” Mo Zi took a sip of ginger soup.

“At least twenty years.” Which is why they speak of a prosperous golden age.

“Then do you know how he became a young general?” Through military service and glorious battles? It depends on who he fought.

“I don’t.” Min Song shook his head. Unlike his father’s generation who constantly followed court affairs, he focused more energy on the Nine Skills.

“He got there by raiding mountain strongholds and eliminating bandits—he’s never faced a national army, meaning he’s never been on a real battlefield.” Just like her, a soldier in peacetime. However, his family background was illustrious, so any small achievement was greatly rewarded. This showed that the current emperor was truly a good person.

“That’s only natural. The four kingdoms seemed peaceful until last year when the Great Qiu sent troops to occupy Yuling.” Even Min Song wasn’t ignorant of that much.

“General Xiao’s presence is imposing enough, but the Great Zhou’s soldiers fall far short. I’m not being lazy—I’m just somewhat disappointed in what’s supposedly a powerful nation’s army.” How strong were the troops that Ming Dynasty’s Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang used to conquer the realm? Yet in the end, the Eight Banner cavalry still broke through the pass. By that logic, the Great Qiu’s iron cavalry could have a good chance of victory even if they directly attacked the Great Zhou.

Min Song hadn’t witnessed what happened on the river, so he didn’t understand her sigh.

Mo Zi didn’t want to continue this topic and instead discussed with Min Song two of the three matters Xiao Er had asked Hongyu to handle.

Xiao Er had mentioned three things in total. First, he wanted to see the boat shed. Mo Zi had ultimately agreed. The boats currently being built were all ordinary designs—she was following proper procedures, so let him look. As for the launching rails, he probably wouldn’t be very interested. Second, salvage the sunken ship and inspect the cause of the leak. Third, if possible, repair the sunken vessel.

For these latter two matters, Mo Zi naturally wouldn’t work for free. Salvage and inspection: one thousand nine hundred taels. Repairs would depend on the extent of damage, and if feasible, would cost additional silver.

Xiao Er was clearly dissatisfied with her cunning merchant’s attitude, but the ship had sunk in Hongyu’s territory. If she didn’t do it, he couldn’t find anyone else. Besides, he probably felt there was something suspicious about the leak and wanted to get to the bottom of it no matter what, so he was anxious. Having lost the initiative, he had to accept whatever price she named.

But Mo Zi hadn’t asked for an exorbitant amount. Just the salvage work alone—without mechanical power, she’d need to find how many boats and how many people, and in the dead of winter too. The inspection was even more delicate work, mentally exhausting and time-consuming. Her boat orders were queued up until next spring, yet she had to prioritize this. The opportunity cost had to be calculated. Since this was work for the court, she based the price on actual costs and gave a hundred-tael discount.

Wei Qing came back over an hour later saying that Xiao Er had seen the boat shed without any particular questions, had requisitioned fast horses from the Regional Guard, and had entered the city with Zhong An.

That evening, Zhong An brought back supplies. The hundred-plus men found an open area within the Hongyu cove to set up camp, build fires, and cook, waiting for a new boat to come pick them up.

The next day, she received a deposit of eight hundred taels. Only then did Mo Zi begin the ship salvage operation. The Leopard Gang had a branch helm in the capital, so she went to find Leng Liu.

Leng Liu knew of Mo Zi from Xu Jiu—they’d nodded and recognized each other’s faces. But this was their first time doing business. For Xu Jiu’s sake, he was very courteous to her.

“Does Brother Mo know that Old Jiu will be back in two days?” Leng Liu smiled cheerfully.

Small talk before business—a tradition from ancient times to present.

“Really? I didn’t know. But Lord Jiu has been away for some time this trip, so if he’s returning soon, I imagine things went smoothly.” Leng Liu was Xu Jiu’s most trusted brother and knew all about dealing with the Mackerel Gang, so Mo Zi spoke freely.

“I’ll let Old Jiu tell Brother Mo the details himself, to avoid stealing his thunder.” Precisely because they were brothers, knowing Xu Jiu’s intentions toward Mo Zi, he wanted to help out. “Brother Mo, whatever you need to say, just wait until he returns.”

Mo Zi’s temple twitched. She gave an awkward smile, pretending not to understand. “I can’t wait two days. I must ask for Sixth Master’s help.”

Leng Liu asked, “Oh, what matter is so urgent you can’t wait even two days?”

“I want to borrow three or four cargo ships and thirty or forty of the gang brothers with the best water skills, just for a few days. It’s official business, so I can’t delay.” Moreover, the faster the ship was salvaged, the more clues about the leak would be preserved.

“Official business? No wonder then.” Leng Liu agreed immediately. “Given Brother Mo’s relationship with our Leopard Gang, never mind borrowing ships for a few days—giving them to you wouldn’t be a problem.”

Mo Zi knew those were polite words, but still quickly thanked him. “If Sixth Master wants to give them, I can’t accept. Just borrowing for a few days—I’ll return them after use. The brothers’ meals will naturally be on me. I just don’t know how to calculate the ship rental fee?”

Leng Liu protested, “Brother Mo, such talk is too formal! It’s just borrowing—what money should we take? Don’t mention it again! I’ll make arrangements today. At the latest by tomorrow, I’ll send four ships with the brothers to Hongyu.”

“Sixth Master, even close brothers settle accounts clearly. Moreover, this work is quite demanding, and in this freezing weather the brothers will have to go in the water. I really can’t bring myself to use them for free.” Mo Zi took out the banknotes she’d just received from Zhong An. “Here’s eight hundred taels—whether as ship rental or payment for the brothers, please accept it. Otherwise, I won’t dare trouble Sixth Master for this favor. As for after the work is completed, I’ll give additional reward silver.”

Leng Liu declined repeatedly but finally had to accept the money. Inwardly, he thought no wonder Xu Jiu wanted to marry this woman. She was truly capable of getting things done, understood propriety, and wasn’t arrogant or petty. To be honest, whether she invoked Xu Jiu’s name or the authorities’, she could have paid nothing and he’d still have to provide ships and men.

Having settled this matter, Mo Zi took her leave.

Leng Liu escorted her to the front courtyard. Suddenly several black shadows flew down from above. He shouted asking who they were, and from all around jumped out a dozen or so gang disciples, each holding weapons.

So there had been hidden sentries posted.

Zan Jin, who’d been waiting in the courtyard, shielded Mo Zi as they retreated until they were at a safe distance from the intruders.

“Master Leng need not be alarmed. We mean no harm. We’re just delivering people from your gang here, and since it wouldn’t do to make a big commotion, we came over the wall.” The leader spoke.

Mo Zi heard clearly and saw clearly, surprised enough to open her mouth—unexpectedly, the person was Hua Yi.

Hua Yi had a person slung over his shoulder. The Qianniu Guards behind him, also dressed in blue martial garments, each carried a person as well. Seeing Mo Zi, he froze slightly, then nodded in greeting.

“You gentlemen enter uninvited, carrying our gang members on your shoulders, yet say you mean no harm. Do you take me, Leng, for a fool?” Though Hua Yi had attended the Leopard Gang leader’s succession ceremony, he’d gone under Yuan Cheng’s orders and remained inconspicuous, so Leng Liu didn’t remember him.

At Leng Liu’s words, the dozen Leopard Gang fighters prepared to attack.

“Sixth Master, I know this person. If he says no harm was intended, there must be a reason. Why not stay calm and hear him out in detail?” Mo Zi spoke up for Hua Yi.

“Since Brother Mo knows him, I naturally trust that.” Leng Liu waved his hand, and the gang members stopped their advance.

Hua Yi shot Mo Zi a grateful glance, then told his subordinates to release the people. They all put down those they’d been carrying. With two fingers, he pressed three points, and the people who’d been limp on the ground began to move and groan, climbing to their feet.

To thoroughly astonish Mo Zi, the person Hua Yi had set down was Xiang Shiyi.

She wore a bright red cloak with rabbit fur trim, the snow-white silk lining turned out, hanging askew on her shoulder. Her cloud-like coiffure was disheveled, loose hair falling to one side. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her eyes blazing with fury, her hands clenched into fists. Once upright, she threw a punch at Hua Yi.

Hua Yi dodged lightly. A whip suddenly appeared in his hand, which he extended toward Xiang Shiyi. “Miss, your whip. Hold it well.”

Xiang Shiyi grabbed it and immediately lashed out, unfurling it before swinging it back at Hua Yi.

Hua Yi still didn’t let her strike him. He caught the whip’s tail barehanded, and with one swing of his arm, the whip pulled free from Xiang Shiyi’s hand and fell limply to the ground.

“Shiyi, what are you doing?” Leng Liu sighed. He didn’t need to ask—he knew the one in the wrong was definitely Xiang Shiyi.

Since Hu Tao’s death, Xiang Shiyi had become the Leopard Gang’s most troublesome problem. Originally she’d planned to split off and establish a separate hall, which had relieved both him and Xu Jiu. Who knew that when she saw only twenty-some female gang members willing to follow her while other subordinates refused to leave, she realized that even if she departed, it would have no effect on the Leopard Gang, while she herself would lose her backing. She wasn’t stupid—she immediately clung on shamelessly and refused to leave, saying she’d never again meddle in gang affairs or seek revenge for Hu Tao, only hoping to borrow the Leopard Gang’s name to find a good man to marry, after which they’d be square.

With Xiang Shiyi putting herself in such a humble position, Xu Jiu and Leng Liu couldn’t push things to extremes. After all, with the new and old factions alternating, internal chaos would only give outsiders opportunities. So they reclaimed the branch hall and authority she’d controlled, but still let her keep the title of leader, retaining her twenty-some female gang members, raising her like a pampered young miss. To get her married off quickly, they’d even enlisted almost every matchmaker in the capital to arrange matches for her time and again. But while she said she wanted to marry, she found fault with every prospect and cursed out all the matchmakers. Now, none of them would come anymore.

“I was knocked unconscious! Sixth Brother, instead of helping me teach them a lesson, you’re asking me what I’m doing? I’m not doing anything—I was just bullied and want to hit back!” Xiang Shiyi’s expression was aggrieved, her actions fierce—quite the unreasonable shrew.

“We never struck the miss,” Hua Yi said coolly. “We merely wanted to send the miss home. The miss was too unruly, so we had no choice but to resort to this measure. My lord has instructed that the miss should not behave this way in the future.”

Mo Zi heard something interesting in this. Oh—”my lord has instructed”?

Leng Liu dared to ask what she was thinking. “May I ask if my sister has caused trouble to warrant such efforts from you gentlemen?”

Hua Yi remained silent, but one of his subordinates snorted coldly. “Caused trouble, not necessarily—just thick-skinned. She ran to the residence of Palace Secretary Yuan and shamelessly insisted he marry her. When His Lordship ignored her, she made a huge scene, yelling that she’d marry no one but His Lordship and would rather be a spinster her whole life.”

Leng Liu’s face immediately burned with embarrassment. “Sister Shiyi, how could you be so absurd? What status is Lord Yuan, and what is yours? How could you possibly think His Lordship would marry you as his wife?”

“I know I’m not worthy of him. I never expected to be his primary wife—I’m willing to be a concubine. Any lower won’t do. Though I come from the jianghu, I have martial skills and a dowry, and I can bring my twenty girls as part of my trousseau. That’s quite a blessing.” Xiang Shiyi glared at Leng Liu as she spoke.

Yuan Cheng, destined for romantic entanglements indeed.