Half a month ago, the bandits had already returned to Luoshan, and Shen Zechuan wondered aloud, “Has there been any news of Lei Jingzhe?” He leaned back in his armchair, pinching the bridge of his nose, while continuing to write on the unfinished pages before him.
“There will be news, but it won’t reach us for a few more days,” Qiao Tianya said as he chose a chair and sat. “Besides, Marquis Hou has made thorough arrangements. Once Lei Jingzhe returns to Luoshan, he’ll be under everyone’s scrutiny. He’ll need at least a month just to handle the internal affairs of Luoshan.”
Shen Zechuan said nothing, his hand moving across the paper. Seeing him somewhat absent-minded, Qiao Tianya added, “You only slept two hours last night, and after dinner, you still have to go to the Zhou residence to discuss matters in the study. Resting a bit now won’t hurt.”
Shen Zechuan replied, “I’ll sleep when I return. Is Fei Sheng idle? If he wants work, give him something to do.”
Qiao Tianya rubbed his fingers thoughtfully. “I’ve been considering that these past few days. You’ve left him waiting for over a month. If you delay him any longer, he may grow resentful.”
“He’s sharp,” Shen Zechuan said, setting down his brush to dry the ink. “He knows Ce’an won’t accept him, so he hopes to stay in Cizhou. Zhou Gui and Kong Ling distrust him because he came from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so they won’t employ him. He can only stay with his master, hoping to get a task from me. Now that Gu Jin has returned to Libei, we do need someone to investigate here.”
When Shen Zechuan and his entourage arrived in Cizhou, the various Embroidered Uniform Guard detachments from the capital had also gradually arrived. Even combined, they numbered just over a hundred, half of whom were Fei Sheng’s old followers. Initially, Shen Zechuan had kept Fei Sheng aside because the man’s gaze had been fixed on Xiao Chizhen. But since Xiao Chizhen refused him, Fei Sheng had no choice but to stay with Ji Gang, serving him obediently. In Cizhou, Fei Sheng didn’t actively participate in affairs, yet Shen Zechuan could always spot him—his presence obvious, his intentions transparent.
Fei Sheng was perceptive. Shen Zechuan knew that even if he temporarily overlooked him, he would eventually have to utilize him, for Fei Sheng observed every move and understood where Shen Zechuan’s forces were short-handed.
Qiao Tianya leaned slightly over the desk and asked, “What does the master want him to investigate?”
“Two things,” Shen Zechuan said. “First, he must keep tabs on the tea and rice prices in Zhongbo and Huaizhou at all times. Cizhou is the central pricing hub; to avoid losses, we need to know these prices thoroughly. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has experience in surveillance like this in the capital, so he can assign people to manage it. Second, he must find out the true relationship between Lei Changming, Lei Jingzhe, and the Yan family of Hezhou. Especially Lei Changming—I want to know his life story in detail.”
Qiao Tianya raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Lei Changming is merely a pawn standing outside for Lei Jingzhe. Why not investigate Lei Jingzhe instead, Master, yet you want detailed information on Changming?”
Shen Zechuan paused briefly. “While I was napping, I recalled Lei Changming’s expression before he died. Something about him seemed unusual. The custom of wearing earrings is most common among the gentry families of the capital and the eight major cities. Li Xiong, raised as an orphan by Lei Jingzhe, seldom interacted with such families, having only seen them once before, so he remembered it clearly. Yet Lei Changming, as the leader of the Luoshan bandits, dealt regularly with the governors and military commanders of Dun and Duan prefectures and even interacted with Yan Heru, the young scion of Hezhou’s wealthy Yan family. He must have seen countless men wearing earrings, but before his death, he repeatedly focused on my jade bead…”
Shen Zechuan furrowed his brows. He could vividly recall Lei Changming’s deranged, confused gaze before dying. If not for Li Xiong’s mention, he might never have noticed that Lei Changming’s eyes, in his final moments, had been looking at someone through the jade bead.
Ordinarily, this would be insignificant. Anyone hearing it wouldn’t give it a second thought. Shen Zechuan’s jade bead was not rare—it was a scrap piece polished by Xiao Chizhen during their escape. Compared to the box of earrings previously given to Shen Zechuan in the capital, it was almost worthless. Its apparent value lay only in its rounded shape, which the gentry considered a symbol of “nurtured fortune” when given to a beloved child.
Yet Shen Zechuan felt a subtle unease. His instinct told him there was more to uncover regarding the Lei uncle-nephew pair, some secrets that Zhou Gui and Kong Ling did not know.
Meanwhile, Li Xiong sat by the bronze basin, fumbling with a red string, clumsy as always. Ding Tao splashed water while playing with the fish, drenching him slightly. Irritated, Li Xiong snapped the string and threw it at Ding Tao, scowling, “I want to find my big brother.”
Ding Tao, still holding his sleeves, said, “Don’t bother. What’s so great about your brother? Why not treat me and Qiao Yueyue as your brothers and follow our Master? Our Master gives monthly sweets and never withholds salary.”
“I don’t want silver!” Li Xiong jumped up, frustrated. “Why won’t you let me go? I want to leave the city! I want to return to Luoshan!”
Ding Tao realized reason wouldn’t work. Knowing he couldn’t physically overpower Li Xiong, he cleverly said, “You miss your big brother so much. He must be very capable, right?”
Li Xiong replied, “My big brother is Luoshan’s top hero, of course he’s capable.”
Ding Tao clapped his hands together, snapping, “Luoshan heroes? What are they? My Master is far more capable! I wouldn’t call him a hero!”
Li Xiong, wanting to prove his brother superior to both Xiao Chizhen and Shen Zechuan, insisted, “Lei Changming is capable too—he can flip a child upside down—but my big brother is even stronger!”
Ding Tao seized the bait and asked, “Flipping a child upside down? What kind of technique is that?”
Li Xiong, speaking on the spot, wracked his brain to recall Changming’s deeds. “It’s when you lift a child upside down. Lei Changming loved doing this.” Suddenly, he remembered something. “Ah! Earrings—round, white earrings. Lei Changming lifted children wearing them too!”
After the meal, Shen Zechuan prepared to leave, changing his outer robe as he listened to Ding Tao and Li Xiong yelling and running in the courtyard. The maid bent low at the door, intending to scold them, but Shen Zechuan waved her off, “Let them play.”
Qiao Tianya, who had originally placed his zither on the small table under the eaves, worried the children might knock it over, and carried it back to his room.
Before leaving the courtyard, Ding Tao trailed Shen Zechuan, wanting to say something. Seeing it was getting late, he swallowed his words, holding onto the doorway instead. “If it’s dark, I’ll bring a lamp to wait for Master.”
Shen Zechuan waved to Ding Tao. After he departed, the two children hurried off to Ji Gang’s courtyard, which housed numerous guards and Embroidered Uniform Guards. With more people around, they felt safe.
Shen Zechuan reached the Zhou residence, where the study was brightly lit. Several clerks were seated inside. Summer’s lingering heat made the room stuffy, even with windows open on three sides, so incense was burned to repel mosquitoes. When more people arrived, it grew even more oppressive. Kong Ling, worried Shen Zechuan would be uncomfortable, had the doors pushed open to both sides.
“This is today’s tally of grain. Please review it, Tongzhi,” Zhou Gui said, presenting the ledger. “With autumn harvest approaching, now is the optimal time to negotiate business with Chazhou.”
Shen Zechuan studied the quantities carefully. “In previous years, merchants from Hezhou and Juexi would pass through Zhongbo, traveling to Libei and trading with the Yan clan. But this year, the war disrupted trade routes. Most business will shift to Chazhou.”
Kong Ling adjusted his robes and added, “If we fall behind, even selling grain cheaply won’t guarantee Chazhou can pay. We must act quickly.”
“Exactly,” Shen Zechuan agreed, noting that prompt action would ensure a prosperous year for Cizhou. “Previously, such trade didn’t exist. Merchants from Juexi and Hezhou wouldn’t anticipate it. Our people going ahead will give us a head start. This is a matter of taking initiative—securing both resources and profit. They may not like it, but it’s necessary.”
“That’s the challenge,” Zhou Gui said. “Negotiating with Chazhou’s prefecture and bandits is difficult enough. Just guarding against interference requires effort. Our Cizhou garrison is less than a month old, the drill ground isn’t ready, and the troops are untrained. If they try to deceive us out of our grain, we couldn’t defend against them.”
Shen Zechuan had been waiting for Zhou Gui to voice exactly this concern. He closed the ledger, tapping silently with his finger. “Cizhou currently lacks a commander. None of us are experts in training troops. But the Northern Imperial Guards left some forces at the hunting grounds. If you agree, they can drill the garrison troops first. We’ll finalize the deal with Chazhou before transferring the grain. Are the envoys for negotiation already assigned? I’ll have Qiao Tianya accompany them with the Embroidered Uniform Guards for protection.”
Zhou Gui glanced at Kong Ling, then back at Shen Zechuan. “I can’t leave Cizhou. I’ll have Cheng Feng go, with scribes to assist. It’s fortunate Tongzhi can provide protection.”
Zhou Gui did not fully understand, but Kong Ling’s mind was clear. He steadied himself and said to Shen Zechuan, “But I’m an outsider to commerce. I’m uncertain whether there are skilled traders there. My heart is uneasy… I hope Tongzhi can provide guidance.”
Shen Zechuan smiled gently. “Mr. Cheng Feng is too modest. I have no secret tips to give. If possible, I’ll accompany him on this trip.”
Kong Ling dared not oppose him. Seeing Shen Zechuan present, he felt a steady reassurance.
Shen Zechuan regarded Kong Ling, his expression soft.
He truly was too clever.