Chapter Fifty-Three: Li Zheng's Departure

After Lin Miaomiao finished speaking, she cast a disdainful glance at Li Zheng. Li Zheng pointed at himself and said to Lin Miaomiao, “Old, me?”

Lin Miaomiao didn’t reply, but her expression said everything. The two of them had made a round through the factory. When Li Zheng saw Lin Miaomiao’s order, a sardonic smile flickered across his face. As expected, the capital’s waters were becoming murky.

Li Zheng’s smile grew strange as he looked over Lin Miaomiao’s order. Lin Miaomiao gave him a sidelong glance and said, “What are you grinning like that for? It’s creepy.”

Li Zheng looked at Lin Miaomiao and asked, “What do you mean by ‘creepy’?”

Lin Miaomiao snatched the factory order from his hand. The sky was gloomy, and sparse snowflakes had begun to fall. Lin Miaomiao sighed, lost in thought, and muttered, “Winter is coming soon. The New Year is almost upon us.”

Li Zheng heard her words and nodded, saying, “That person already knows you willingly gave up ten percent of the profits.”

Li Zheng spoke carelessly, and Lin Miaomiao, noticing the beauty of his fingers pointing toward the sky, furrowed her brows.

Li Zheng hadn’t expected Lin Miaomiao’s reaction. She frowned at him and said, “I’m cooperating with you in business. There’s no way you’d shoulder that share alone. Does it matter if others know or not?”

After Lin Miaomiao said this indifferently, Li Zheng felt as though he had learned a great deal. He smiled handsomely, nodded, and said, “True. The second prince won’t be able to return anytime soon.”

He glanced at the sky and continued, “It’s getting late. I should be on my way. If I push hard, I can reach the post station before nightfall.”

Lin Miaomiao nodded at his words, then walked out of the factory. Li Zheng mounted his horse and quickly rode away.

Lin Miaomiao stood there for a long while, and only when Li Zheng’s silhouette had vanished did she turn to Lin Qi and say, “It seems the capital is far from peaceful.”

This winter seemed blessed by heaven. Though it snowed, the weather was not bitterly cold, and the animals and livestock on the grasslands flourished.

Batu stood atop the highest point of the grasslands, gazing toward the direction of Da'an Pass, and said to Jin Ge, “We are favored this year.”

Jin Ge followed behind Batu and nodded. Batu studied the map in his hand. He was an ambitious man, uniting the various tribes of the grasslands under his command.

This winter was not harsh, and their livestock had enough to eat. If they seized a bit of grain from the frontier villagers, they could easily get through the season.

But Batu frowned at the thought of entering the pass. After a year of reforms under Li Yanhe, the fifteen border towns were no longer so easy to raid.

Whenever they entered a village, the villagers quickly hid their grain, and by the time Batu’s men arrived, the people had vanished. Soon, smoke signals would rise behind the village, summoning frontier soldiers who responded swiftly. Batu’s forces suffered heavy casualties.

Villagers even set traps throughout their villages, specifically designed for Batu’s men. Upon entering, they would unwittingly stumble into these traps.

Batu suffered many losses last year, though he did manage to seize some grain. Who knew what would happen this year?

Batu had a warrior’s spirit. With ample supplies on the grasslands, he was tempted to send soldiers to probe the frontier. If the traps were more cunning this year, they might gain nothing and would need a new strategy.

Ideas churned rapidly in Batu’s mind, but none seemed feasible. Suddenly, he remembered the young girl who had spoken to him from the carriage that day.

“Perhaps bringing that girl to the grasslands would bring new vitality,” Batu murmured. Jin Ge remained silent behind him.

Li Zheng left the frontier. Now, Crown Prince Li Hanwen and Fourth Prince Li Deren had entered the court and were involved in politics.

Their situation was much improved, while Third Prince Li Taian was stationed at Da'an Pass and thus not under much pressure.

Seventh Prince Li Yankang and Ninth Prince Li Yonghe were rivals, but not worth worrying about. Since neither was involved in court affairs, they had no real voice.

The Crown Prince’s faction had been riding high recently. No one noticed the gaze Emperor Yongchang cast at the Crown Prince. Although the Crown Prince had been reprimanded over the capital’s refugee crisis, he remained the heir apparent.

Looking at the increasing accounts from his shop, the Crown Prince’s lips curled. The capital’s winds now blew toward Da'an Pass.

Many sourced goods from the Lin family’s processing factory. The prices were cheap, the quality excellent, and the food produced was fresh. Profits came easily.

Fourth Prince Li Deren entered the Eastern Palace and, seeing the Crown Prince’s expression, felt intimidated and dared not approach.

The Crown Prince glanced at him and said coolly, “Speak your mind. Don’t dawdle.”

Fourth Prince Li Deren handed a letter to the Crown Prince and said, “The third prince is coming back. If he returns, our days of smooth sailing are over.”

The Crown Prince laughed coldly, “Hmph, if the third prince returns, we’ll intervene and ensure he gains nothing.”

“It’s only a matter of time before he comes back. Since that’s inevitable, let our father dislike him more. Later, if anything needs to be done, we’ll have to rely on Consort De.”

The Crown Prince wore this year’s newest agate ring and was quite fond of it.

Fourth Prince Li Deren nodded and continued, “The New Year is almost here. The seventh and ninth princes are finally getting what they want.”

Standing beside the Crown Prince, Fourth Prince Li Deren absentmindedly kneaded his shoulders. The young palace maid, seeing him approach, curtsied and withdrew.

“The seventh and ninth princes think they’ll get their way? If father allows you to stay in the Ministry of Rites, I can make sure they never get what they desire.”

They both laughed, saying nothing further. There was no need to bring such matters into the open; everyone understood.

The Crown Prince enjoyed Deren’s shoulder massage, squinting and saying, “Your skills have improved lately.”

Fourth Prince Li Deren smiled and replied, “Brother, you have so many affairs to manage. Shouldn’t I learn something to show my filial respect?”

The Crown Prince chuckled quietly, then tapped Deren’s nose affectionately, “Mischievous.”

As dusk descended, the women serving them entered, finding the Crown Prince and Fourth Prince chatting and laughing.

A flash of disgust for Li Deren crossed one woman’s eyes, but both men were shrewd and not easily fooled.

That night, screams echoed from the Eastern Palace. The woman was beaten to death, her body bearing clear signs of intimacy. Yet, she was dead, and the cold palace’s well gained another corpse. No one knew how she died, and even if they did, it was unlikely anyone cared.

Third Prince Li Taian looked at the letters on his desk, pinched his brow, and said to Xiao Gexu, “Every day I waste time here, and the waters of the capital must be growing muddier.”

Xiao Gexu gave a charming smile and replied, “Our shop has earned a lot lately. You’ve seen the accounts yourself.”

Li Taian laughed softly and, feeling cheerful, said, “This year the Southern Barbarians likely won’t invade. Father will surely reward the six palaces.”

He smiled, “Too bad the second prince can’t return. If he could, he’d be the youngest prince in the history of the Dayong dynasty.”

His lips curled, but no one knew what he was thinking. Xiao Gexu said nothing, and after a long while, the candle was extinguished.

On Li Taian’s desk, one could faintly see the words, “Consort De may be honored.”

Those in the palace were all shrewd; no one failed to see which master would be favored. Saying “maybe” was just to avoid leaving evidence or making mistakes.

Emperor Yongchang looked at his treasury; the silver reserves had soared this year, and with tax revenue, the national coffers were full.

Leaning against the imperial desk, he said to the chief eunuch Bai Qiu, “This year we’ll have a good New Year, unlike last.”

With the emperor in a good mood, the servants prospered. Otherwise, if the master was displeased, the servants could expect nothing.

Emperor Yongchang continued his work, noticing that the frontier, aside from soldiers’ salaries, requested nothing else.

Puzzled, he looked at the memorial. Bai Qiu, as shrewd as any, explained, “The girl following the Prince of Shengxuan made clothes for the frontier soldiers.”

Emperor Yongchang instinctively frowned. Bai Qiu continued, “The girl is clever. If one wishes to do business, under heaven all land belongs to the king; all who reside upon it are his subjects.”