11

"This, this, this…!"

Was this something he should be hearing?!

Liu Chou'er widened his eyes, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start. In the end, he could only sincerely remark, "Prince Xiangding is truly no ordinary man."

What do you mean, "no ordinary man"? Gu Fang couldn’t even be considered human.

Jing Xuan no longer cared about his current appearance as a young lady. He sat boldly across from Liu Chou'er and slammed down the labor contract that Xie Buzi had sent to the palace in front of him. "Stop stammering. Just tell me, do you have a way to get this kind of medicine or not? If not, then pay up."

"No, no, no!" The mere mention of money was like a death sentence to Liu Chou'er. He quickly said, "When did I ever say I couldn’t? Just wait."

With that, he rushed into the house. The sound of rummaging through boxes and cabinets followed, and soon Liu Chou'er came running back out, panting, with a delicate, small glass bottle in his hand. He placed it in front of Jing Xuan.

"I don’t have the medicine, but I do have a gu insect. In our Miao region, it's called the 'Xiangyin Gu.' If a woman raises it, it enhances her beauty, making her skin fair and delicate. If a man raises it, he might become slightly more handsome, but very soon, he will… ahem, become particularly weak and completely lose his virility."

"?" Jing Xuan suspiciously picked up the tiny bottle, which wasn’t even as long as his thumb. "Just this? One is enough? Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure." Liu Chou'er straddled the stone stool again and continued grinding herbs. "If you don’t believe me, go ask around. I’ve been doing business in Zhangtai Alley for so many years, people complain about my high prices, sure, but when has anyone ever said my products were bad?"

Jing Xuan hesitantly turned to look at Hua Ting.

Hua Ting hurriedly said, "Now that he mentions it, I do remember seeing something like this in medical books when I was younger. Those books also mentioned things like the 'Full Moon Flower Gu' and the 'Departing Love Gu'. All very sinister stuff. But Grandfather said they were evil tricks that harmed people and forbade me from reading further."

As Hua Ting spoke, Liu Chou'er's grinding motion paused for half a beat, but he quickly resumed, his tone unreadable as he said, "Of course, they're evil tricks meant to harm people. You're taking it, aren't you? Aren't you planning to use it to harm someone?"

Jing Xuan replied without hesitation, "It’s just stopping him from doing that for a while. It’s not like he’ll die. How is that harming anyone?"

"But it will make him unable to have children."

"?"

"Besides, while it's harmless for women and might even be beneficial, it's ultimately a pure yin creature. If used on a man for too long, it will drain his yang energy, and he will suffer an early death."

"???"

Jing Xuan slammed the table, so anxious that he started stammering. "When did I ever say I wanted to drain his yang energy and make him die early?!"

Liu Chou'er looked up curiously. "But isn't he the one who imprisoned you, captured you, and tormented you? Don’t you hate him? Wouldn't this be exactly what you want?"

Jing Xuan: "…"

That… actually made sense.

At least, based on the act he and Gu Fang had been putting on the other day, it certainly did.

Or perhaps, even without following the script of that day’s act, simply considering the real situation between him and Gu Fang, it should be like this.

After all, in the beginning, he had allowed Gu Fang to rise in power because, at that time, Gu Fang was the person he trusted most in this world. He himself was powerless to contend with the noble clans, and Gu Fang had indeed protected him for many years.

But later, as Gu Fang's ambitions grew, unspeakable secrets and schemes accumulated between them. Mutual suspicion and jealousy arose, and their relationship gradually deteriorated until they became sworn enemies, locked in a life-or-death struggle.

And now, he had already cultivated his own forces in secret, merely waiting for the right moment to seize power.

That Gu Fang, who was destined to one day usurp the throne and humiliate him, should indeed be eliminated as early as possible.

He should do it. He had always said he would.

But why, now that he truly had such an opportunity before him, was his instinctive reaction like this?

Jing Xuan didn’t understand.

Hua Ting was also puzzled.

Only Liu Chou'er continued grinding herbs leisurely as he remarked, "Could it be that you still have feelings for your Prince Xiangding?"

"…Bullshit!" Jing Xuan instantly exploded with rage. "Even if every man in this world were dead, I’d rather fill my heart with dung beetles than have even the slightest bit of space for him!"

"Then there you have it." Liu Chou'er was not at all surprised. "So, Madam, are you taking this insect or not?"

Jing Xuan: "…"

"I'll take it!"

If nothing else, he could always use it on one of those wicked men who had spent years oppressing the weak. That wouldn't be a bad deed, either.

With a dark expression, Jing Xuan untied the silk cord at his waist, intending to hang the bottle there.

But Liu Chou'er suddenly stopped him. "Wait a moment."

Jing Xuan lifted his head from under the veil hat.

Liu Chou'er looked at him and asked, "Madam, are you aware of the mining disaster in Qianzhong Province eight years ago?"

"Of course I know. The copper mine collapsed, causing tens of thousands of casualties. What of it?"

Jing Xuan originally intended to ask whether that disaster had any connection to what they were doing now.

But in Liu Chou'er's ears, it became something entirely different.

Tens of thousands of casualties—"What of it?"

These nobles really had such broad minds.

Liu Chou'er's heart turned cold, but his face remained ingratiating as he smiled. "Nothing much. It's just that this insect happened to be found near the mountains where the disaster occurred, so it's quite rare now. Therefore, Madam…"

Ah, so he wanted money.

Jing Xuan directly pulled out a silver ingot and tossed it to him. "Look at you, will this be enough?"

"Enough, enough." Liu Chou'er caught the silver ingot and, as if it were his lifeblood, stuffed it into his robe. He added a reminder, "Before using this gu, Madam must first awaken it with a few drops of that person’s blood. That way, the insect will naturally recognize its master."

"Alright, got it. I don't have time to waste with you right now. I'll find you again later."

Jing Xuan tucked the small bottle into his waist and hurriedly left with Hua Ting, getting into the carriage.

Once the carriage tracks had completely disappeared at the entrance of Zhangtai Alley, heading toward the western part of the city, a dark figure slowly emerged from behind the courtyard wall.

"What kind of gu did you give her? Why didn't you inform Minister Jiang Yue beforehand?"

Liu Chou'er continued grinding herbs without turning his head. "You must have heard everything from the back just now. That Prince Xiangding forces himself on her night after night, tormenting her. What woman could endure that? I have a kind heart. I'm merely helping this madam escape her suffering."

The person still seemed skeptical.

"The matter concerning Minister Jiang Yue is settled," Liu Chou'er said. "The box in the third row, second compartment inside the cabinet, it's already prepared. Go retrieve it yourself. But it must first be activated with Miss Jiang’s fingertip blood before handing it to His Majesty. By Mid-Autumn, there will naturally be a pleasant surprise. As for what I gave that madam, it’s nothing more than something to cut off Prince Xiangding’s bloodline—one deal, one gift. Surely Minister Jiang Yue will be satisfied?"

As if deciding that there was no need to press further, the black-clothed man left behind a single remark: "It had better be so."

Then he disappeared into the night.

Liu Chou'er continued grinding herbs, the corners of his lips curling into a smile.

These noble lords of Chang’an truly thought themselves clever, yet they were just as blind.

He would indeed avenge his family, who had died unjustly.

But that Jiang Yue? He was unworthy of wielding the blade that could cut to the bone.

---

By the time Jing Xuan and Hua Ting arrived at the western outskirts of the city, Xie Buzi had already instructed his men to set up a canopy in advance. He was sitting on a grand master's chair, legs crossed, rocking the chair while sipping tea, issuing orders as he directed his subordinates and the servants from Golden Jade Pavilion into a frenzy.

Thirty carriages loaded with silver taels formed a grand procession. Yet, when set against the endless line of refugees by the Luo River, they seemed as insignificant as a cup of water trying to douse a cartload of firewood.

"Three hundred thousand taels of silver, twenty thousand refugees—each person can receive fifteen taels. Given the current prices in Chang'an, that might not even be enough to see them through the winter. Looks like I'll have to gamble with Young Master Xie again."

Jing Xuan, veiled under a wide-brimmed hat, sat down leisurely beside Xie Buzi. While doing so, he casually remarked on Xie Buzi’s garish green robe: "Haven't seen you for three days, Young Master Xie, you've grown even uglier."

Xie Buzi was just as blunt: "Haven't seen you for three days Young Master Xuan, you've turned into a woman."

Jing Xuan stiffened.

Xie Buzi turned to him. "No really. At first, I didn’t believe it but now that I see you dressed as a woman, your figure is surprisingly nice. Looks like you really are a genuine woman after all."

Jing Xuan gave a deadly smile.

"But being a woman doesn’t matter. If you kick that Prince Xiangding aside, this young master here will still take care of you." Xie Buzi snapped open his folding fan, threw him a flirtatious glance, and fully embodied the image of a lecherous scoundrel.

Jing Xuan lowered his head, fingers tracing the small glass bottle at his waist, considering whether to put the Xiangyin Gu to work immediately.

Fortunately, the manager of Golden Jade Pavilion arrived just in time to save Xie Buzi’s future descendants: "Madam, Young Master Xie, all three hundred thousand taels of silver have been distributed. Should we now dismiss them to prevent any confusion or unrest from the crowd?"

Xie Buzi was just about to answer when Jing Xuan beat him to it: "Of course not."

Xie Buzi: "?"

Golden Jade Pavilion Manager: "?"

Jing Xuan, hidden beneath the veil of his hat, made a deliberate effort to appear as a gentle and virtuous wife.

"My husband has said that with the weather turning cold and prices in Chang'an soaring, the silver given to each refugee may not be enough to purchase sufficient supplies for winter or the travel expenses to return south if they go to the regular markets."

"Therefore, my husband has taken out all the reserves from the royal residence to procure a large batch of winter clothing, grain, oil, and medicine, which will be sold exclusively to the refugees outside the city at twenty percent below market price. This way, we won’t disrupt the city’s economy, and the refugees will have hope for spring."

"I assume Young Master Xie and the manager would both be willing to lend a helping hand, yes?"

Jing Xuan spoke in a tone that was pitifully innocent yet impeccably justified, seamlessly weaving together compassion for the people and the greater good.

Xie Buzi didn’t hesitate: "Naturally, that’s great. That means for this relief effort, your household contributed eighty percent, while I only paid twenty percent—what a deal."

"But…"

The manager of Golden Jade Pavilion had barely begun to object when a joyous shout suddenly erupted from the crowd: "Winter clothes! Someone is giving us winter clothes!"

"And food! And medicine! All fresh and of the highest quality, not like the moldy, worm-infested supplies given out by the Jiangnan officials!"

"And it’s only twenty percent of the market price—our fifteen taels are worth forty to fifty taels here! Everyone, hurry!"

Carriage after carriage filled with supplies rolled in from the main road outside the city, and the starving refugees instantly surged forward, clutching their silver, scrambling to buy whatever they could.

The guards and drivers escorting the supplies wore simple cotton and linen garments, looking like ordinary men. Yet each of them was shockingly strong and well-trained, working in perfect coordination with Xie Buzi’s men to maintain order. The process of distributing goods, collecting payments, and registering names proceeded smoothly and efficiently.

Anyone could see that this had been carefully prepared in advance.

The manager of Golden Jade Pavilion turned pale on the spot. His expression twisted in urgency as he snapped: "We at Golden Jade Pavilion have fully cooperated without a shred of disrespect, so what exactly is Prince Xiangding trying to pull here?"

Jing Xuan looked puzzled, timidly asking, "Manager, what do you mean? My husband has been confined to his residence, yet he still seeks to do good for the country. How could that be wrong?"

"You, you, you… anyway, none of you are allowed to buy!" The manager of Golden Jade Pavilion wouldn’t dare reveal the true reason, but he absolutely couldn’t let this continue. He immediately shouted for his subordinates, urgently ordering, "Grab all your weapons! If anyone dares to buy here, make sure they regret it! Pick the fastest runner and send them to the Ministry of Revenue to report this at once!"

"What do you mean by this, Manager?!" Xie Buzi’s face instantly darkened. "I paid for the silver, the supplies came from Prince Xiangding’s residence, and this is the territory of the Great Yan. You are just a lowly gambling house manager, what right do you have to give orders here? All of you, listen up! If anyone dares to stop the refugees from purchasing supplies, beat them with sticks and throw them out! If they die, I'll take the blame!"

At Xie Buzi’s furious command, the enforcers from both sides immediately clashed into a chaotic brawl.

Jing Xuan clutched his chest and took a step back. "Ah… why are you all so rough and unreasonable? And Manager, if you’re so determined to stop my husband’s act of charity, could it be that you have something to hide?"

Of course, he had something to hide!

So much illicit silver marked with batch numbers had flowed into Chang’an from Jiangnan. Laundering it cleanly was no simple task, which was why they had taken the risk of mixing a hundred thousand taels into this bet.

Originally, each refugee would only receive fifteen taels. These people had suffered from hunger and cold for so long that they would surely spend the money quickly. Many weren’t used to Chang’an’s harsh winters and were already planning to return to Jiangnan, meaning that the silver would vanish like stones sinking into the sea. Who could possibly trace it?

Even if someone did trace it, there would be no solid proof.

But now, just after he helped distribute the silver, Prince Xiangding immediately brought supplies to sell.

On the surface, it was under the banner of disaster relief. In reality, it was a perfectly legal way to recollect all the silver that had just been handed out.

After all, in broad daylight, with countless witnesses, it was clear that the silver never actually changed hands. So many tainted silver ingots appearing at once—there was no way Golden Jade Pavilion would escape unscathed.

This was clearly a trap Prince Xiangding had set!

He couldn’t afford to worry about appearances anymore.

"Has Prince Xiangding reported this to the authorities? Registered it with the Ministry of Revenue? If not, then this is blatant hoarding and malicious sales, an attempt to ruin Chang’an’s markets! As a merchant of Chang’an, how could I not stop this?!"

The manager spoke with righteous indignation, trying to intimidate the woman before him—who, despite her small tricks, was ultimately an ignorant and powerless "foolish wife."

But he never expected that the entire scheme had been orchestrated by this so-called "foolish wife."

Jing Xuan gasped in fear, stretching out both hands, eyes brimming with tears. "Then just arrest me."

Golden Jade Pavilion Manager: "???"

"After all, I’m just my husband’s mere concubine. If you want to arrest someone, go ahead and take me."

Golden Jade Pavilion Manager: "!!!"

"Don’t think you can do whatever you please just because you are under Prince Xiangding! He has already been confined to his residence, surrounded by Silver Crane Guards. He’s like a clay idol crossing a river, barely able to save himself! If I hand you over to the authorities, I’d like to see if that so-called virtuous prince will dare bend the law for his own selfish gain!"

Seeing that his men could no longer hold back the desperate, starving refugees, and calculating that the Ministry of Revenue’s enforcers would arrive soon, the Golden Jade Pavilion manager decided to break the pot rather than try to mend it—seizing one last chance to protect his master.

But just as he shouted his orders, a commanding voice rang out behind him:

"In the Emperor’s domain, how dare you commoners act recklessly! We are here under the orders of the Minister Jiang Yue to arrest Prince Xiangding's treacherous concubine! All of you, step aside at once!"

The crowd turned in shock.

Golden armor gleamed, red horses snorted, and cold steel flashed in the sunlight—it was none other than the Golden Scale Guards.

Had this matter really escalated to the emperor so quickly? But why was it under the Minister Jiang Yue’s command?

Not only the Golden Jade Pavilion manager and Xie Buzi but even the refugees who had been desperately focused on buying supplies froze in place.

Then, they saw Commander Zhao Wei, leading the charge, raise his sword aiming straight at the one who had won them silver, brought them cheap supplies, and whom the entire Prince Xiangding residence treated as a delicate beauty incapable of fending for himself.

He was going to stab Jing Xuan!

They wanted to cry out, but there was no time.

They wanted to stop it, but they didn’t know how.

All they could do was watch in horror and despair as the sword stabbed straight at Jing Xuan’s throat.

Then, they saw a jade-like hand appear out of thin air, gripping the sword tightly. Fresh blood trickled down the pale skin, over the icy blade, and dripped onto the deep, solid earth below.

The one holding the sword was dressed in azure robes with crane embroidery, his cold gaze lifting slightly.

"My person, even the emperor wishes to take them?"

The moment those words fell, the previously stunned crowd erupted in shock, it was Prince Xiangding?!

And the Silver Crane Guards, who had slipped in unnoticed, immediately emerged from behind him. Though they wore plain clothes, their expressions were resolute, their killing intent chilling, it was clear at a glance that they were the elite of the Silver Crane Guards.

Jing Xuan immediately let out a "thud" as he collapsed into Gu Fang’s arms, tears brimming in his eyes.

"Ah! Your Highness! While you were away, they bullied me, they hit me! It hurts so much, I’m so pitiful!"

Zhao Wei, who was certain he had never touched him: "…."

He endured it.

"Gu Fang! You already returned the Silver Crane Command Token, and you are currently under house arrest! With actions like this, where do you place the emperor?!"

Zhao Wei was furious.

But Gu Fang seemed utterly indifferent. He merely let go, turned, and calmly straightened Jing Xuan’s robes. His tone was faint as he said:

"Who in the world doesn’t know that I am the sole commander of the Silver Crane Guards? And as for the emperor, if I refuse to obey, what can the emperor do to me?"

As his words fell, everyone present including the Minister of Revenue, who had just arrived in haste suddenly felt as if their own heads were hanging by a thread.

And the emperor himself, currently held in Gu Fang’s embrace: "…"

He knew it. Gu Fang could never have truly handed over the Silver Crane Command Token.

To think he had even been briefly moved, forgetting that this was the very same man who held the privilege of carrying a sword into court, advancing without haste, and receiving obeisance without being named. The most powerful minister of all. Their alliance was merely a temporary convergence of goals and interests.

Once the corruption case was fully investigated, if he didn’t use this as an opportunity to charge Gu Fang with great disrespect, he might as well never have children in this lifetime!

Jing Xuan gritted his teeth in hatred, but he still had to sob pitifully in Gu Fang’s arms.

"Your Highness, I’m so scared. They wouldn’t let me distribute supplies to the refugees. They’re so cruel."

Gu Fang’s long eyes swept across them, his gaze as cold as deep winter.

Zhao Wei: "…"

Golden Pavilion’s Manager: "…"

Minister of Revenue: "…"

That damn beauty!

The manager of the Golden Pavilion was the first to break.

"Your Highness! This humble one had no such intentions! I was merely worried that this might violate the laws!"

The Minister of Revenue immediately followed, "Yes, yes! Your Highness, this matter indeed violates the laws!"

"Oh?" Gu Fang turned to the common people. "Do you think this violates the laws?"

The commoners shook their heads furiously.

Gu Fang turned back and said indifferently, "See? That means it doesn’t violate the laws."

Golden Pavilion’s Manager: "…"

Minister of Revenue: "…"

Zhao Wei: "…"

Fck you!

"Gu Fang! You defy imperial authority and disrespect the emperor! Today, by the command of the Minister Jiang Yue, we shall take you into custody!"

With that, a sword flashed forward, striking toward Gu Fang with lightning speed.

The sword was so fast that even Gu Fang and the Silver Crane Guards failed to react in time.

The onlooking commoners widened their eyes in despair.

Then, with a "pfft", the long sword stabbed straight into Jing Xuan’s back.

At the last moment, Jing Xuan had turned around taking the sword strike for Prince Xiangding.

Fresh blood spilled from his robes, the pale fabric instantly dyed a striking crimson.

"Your Highness… I have hated you for eight years. If I must go first, then I ask you… please protect these people for me."

With that, Jing Xuan collapsed to the ground.

His long sleeves fluttered in the wind, revealing a pale, slender wrist stained with bright red blood, both tragic and resolute.

Everyone stood frozen, utterly shocked by the sudden turn of events.

Only Prince Xiangding, the man who never wavered even in the face of mountains collapsing, tightened his grip around Jing Xuan’s body, his eyes red, his voice cold and sharp:

"Investigate. Investigate thoroughly. Detain every person and object present. Leave nothing unchecked!"

All the officials dropped to their knees in terror, crying out,

"Your Highness, please quell your anger!"

The commoners stared at the kind benefactor who had given them silver and food, now lying there, life or death uncertain.

For a moment, they couldn’t even process what had happened.

But once they did, rage surged like a tide.

Who even was this Minister Jiang Yue?

They didn’t know him!

They only knew whoever gave them food, whoever gave them clothes, was the good one!

So they shouted,

"We commoners will give our all to assist Your Highness in investigating this to the very end!"

By the Luo River’s banks, the voices of the people rose in a great wave, this uproar would reach the imperial court and the refugees alike. Nothing could be hidden anymore.

This case, this silver—the entire empire would now investigate it to the very end.

The Minister of Revenue and the Golden Pavilion’s manager collapsed to the ground in despair, shutting their eyes in defeat.

Meanwhile, lying in Gu Fang’s arms, Jing Xuan took the opportunity to secretly use Gu Fang’s sleeve to wipe away the snot bubble he had produced from crying too hard.

Zhao Wei who happened to see this: "…"

He silently turned his head away, discreetly blocking the sight.

But unnoticed by all, a tiny insect crawled out from a shattered glass bottle.

It greedily sucked a single drop of Gu Fang’s blood, then without a sound, burrowed into Jing Xuan’s pale wrist.

Next