Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Enemy’s Olive Branch

The loud voices from the study earlier had evidently attracted the attention of the household guards and servants. “What are you all staring at? Get back to work! The master’s affairs are none of your concern!” Si En, who had somehow appeared beside Zhu Cilang, shouted angrily, driving them all away.

Only Zhang Zhen tossed aside a wooden staff and strode to a distance of about ten feet from Zhu Cilang, then said, “Master, I’m not here to fight. My father told me about that thing you wanted… eat… eat…”

“Is it a gear?” Zhu Cilang could not hide his delight.

Zhang Zhen nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, that’s what my father said—the gear! My father said it’s finished!”

Zhu Cilang burst out laughing. “Excellent! Zhang Zhen, you’re in luck! You’ll get meat again!”

Zhang Zhen raised his head with a goofy grin. “Master, will you lift my ban?”

“The master will reward your father with silver! Si En, pass on my order: for crafting the gear, reward the blacksmith Zhang Choulv with fifty taels of silver! The rest shall be rewarded as I previously decreed—see that it’s done!” Zhu Cilang spoke briskly, not waiting for any response, and immediately hurried into the craftsmen’s courtyard.

Zhang Zhen remained stunned in place.

Si En approached, holding fifty taels of silver, and looked at Zhang Zhen with a cheerful smile. “Silly boy, what are you standing there for? Take the silver and go claim your reward from your father! Soon you’ll have meat and wine whenever you wish!”

After Zhang Zhen ran off gleefully with the silver, Si En finally felt the sting of giving it away.

Si En was not like the other eunuchs who entered the palace, obsessed with money. He was much better than the palace servants, for before entering, he had a posthumous child, and so he harbored hope in his heart. Thus, unlike other eunuchs who hoarded money to guard against a miserable old age, Si En’s thoughts were wholly devoted to seeing Zhu Cilang ascend to the position of heir as soon as possible. His loyalty was sincere, and he restrained himself from causing trouble for Zhu Cilang.

Others saw Zhu Cilang stirring up storms in the Ministry of Revenue and being revered in his own residence, but only Si En, in the quiet of night, could sense how much pressure Zhu Cilang endured.

Leaving aside the feuds in the Ministry, which Si En knew little of, even within the household, Zhu Cilang had purchased three neighboring courtyards, hired three master craftsmen and a dozen apprentices, and with their families, the Qin residence had grown to a scale of over a hundred souls.

This expenditure poured out like water, yet not a single coin came in. Every day, a hundred mouths depended on Zhu Cilang’s savings for sustenance.

And yet, these hundred people seemed to accomplish nothing discernible; when allies visited, they met only with derision and mockery, as if even the allies sent by Fu Shuxun thought Zhu Cilang a burden, of no use.

Only Si En knew how many days and nights Zhu Cilang had spent under the lamp, drafting blueprints for the craftsmen’s courtyard, consuming piles of paper and exhausting himself.

Thinking of this, Si En sighed softly.

Upon hearing the mention of Tanxi Mountain, Zhu Cilang looked up and saw the exhaustion etched on Si En’s face. Reflecting on Si En’s recent hardships, Zhu Cilang sighed inwardly but smiled, saying, “Grand Eunuch, is our household running short?”

Si En hurried to reply, “Your Highness need not worry about such matters…”

“Of course I need not worry!” Qin Xiao raised his hand to quiet him, smiling. “Do you remember the hundred taels of silver I took last time? I wagered it all at the gambling house. By now, I should have made a thousand taels. I used a token from the Cao Huayu family, so no one will dare investigate when I collect the winnings.”

Hearing this, Si En was dumbstruck, his worries vanishing instantly.

Seeing this, Zhu Cilang merely smiled. “Enough, Grand Eunuch. Bring me pen and ink. I need to write a letter. Oh, and prepare three stacks of white paper—I suspect one won’t be enough.”

Si En felt sympathy for the prince’s labors, but remembering that his small trouble was swept away by the prince’s casual gesture, he became jubilant, intending to collect the winnings as soon as he finished assisting Zhu Cilang.

…

Heading west from Chengqing Alley, one soon arrived at the eastern end of Nanxun Alley, almost adjacent to it.

Nanxun Alley was ideally situated; from the main gate after the imperial audience, heading east along the road brought one there directly.

Further east and north, at the northeastern tip of Dongjiang Rice Lane near Taiji Factory, stood the residence of Fu Shuxun, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Returning home, Fu Rugui and Yu Qing barely paused to catch their breath before meeting with Fu Shuxun.

Thus, Yu Qing, still simmering with indignation, exaggerated and recounted every incident encountered in the Qin residence.

“That Qin hero is incapable of managing his household. As soon as Brother Fu and I entered, we were assaulted by vicious servants—a thing unheard of among officials. Upon inquiry, I learned that Qin’s residence is so beset by threats that no one dares leave. Outsiders fear attacks and assume that local thugs cause trouble.”

“That Qin hero has truly incurred the wrath of heaven and men; neighbors all detest him, and he is nearly abandoned by all. Most crucially, the accounts—none can be audited. Only Qin himself can access the books; not even a steward is allowed. I’ve heard he is skilled at abacus calculations, but no matter his ability, what can a lone man accomplish?”

“Finally, Brother Fu counseled him, and I kindly forgave past grievances to seek his advice, hoping for some cooperation. Yet, when we discussed the Ministry’s plan, Qin demanded the Chief Minister’s best policy and sixty thousand taels. Such outrageous behavior—how could we remain in his household and endure his wild talk?”

…

Fu Shuxun listened quietly until Yu Qing finished.

Though Yu Qing spoke with much emotion and embellished his account, he nonetheless covered the crucial points.

Hearing it all, Fu Shuxun’s expression grew somber, but at the final words, his gaze sharpened. He turned to Fu Rugui and asked, “Did Qin truly say such things? Unruly behavior, no one to audit, and a plan for sixty thousand taels reported to the Ministry?”

Fu Shuxun distilled the key points, leaving Fu Rugui no room to evade. After a moment’s thought, he nodded slowly. “The young brother Qin did indeed say these things.”

Fu Shuxun nodded slowly and dismissed them both, sinking into contemplation.

Yu Qing had expected Fu Shuxun to erupt in anger and severely punish Qin. But seeing Fu Shuxun so calm, Yu Qing came to his senses. What would punishing Qin achieve, besides venting his own frustration and wasting his allies’ energy?

Upon this realization, Yu Qing felt a little lost and his spirits sank.

That night, Yu Qing received an unexpected but not unwelcome visitor at his small courtyard.

“No need to worry. Even the Chief Minister has seen Lord Fei Jizong,” Kong Tian said softly, smiling. “Why persist, Master Yu?”

Yu Qing was about to speak but found himself at a loss for words, gazing into the dark night. He gritted his teeth, stepped aside, and let Kong Tian in.

They slipped into the study; before Yu Qing could say anything, Kong Tian remarked, “I’ve heard of today’s events at the Qin residence and was quite astonished. Why not consider, Master Yu, what is so unkind about collaborating with such people? Even if you are unjust, what does it matter?”

“But…” Yu Qing hesitated, then suddenly asked, “Nan… Lord Nan?”

“Correct… Today, Lord Nan Yunji should also be at Minister Wang’s wealthy tea gathering. Ah, Wuyi Mountain’s Da Hong Pao… as valuable as gold…”

At this, Yu Qing fell silent for a long time, finally uttering dryly, “If the Chief Minister flees far away, what position could I still hold in the Ministry?”

Kong Tian smiled faintly. “It would be difficult for a key post in the Yunnan Division to remain, but being posted to a southern prefecture, perhaps as governor, or entering another division in the Ministry, would be quite advantageous.”

With Kong Tian’s terms laid out, Master Yu offered a token resistance, then slowly nodded in agreement.