Chapter 97 Birds chirped under the eaves, a chorus of sounds…
Birds chirped under the eaves, and a fallen leaf was carried by the wind, twirling in mid-air before landing squarely in the outstretched palm by the window.
Feng Mian was resting her head on her arm by the window, lost in thought, when the subtle touch of a leaf falling into her palm brought her back to reality. She gazed at it intently; the yellowed leaf lay quietly in her hand, its veins clearly visible. Suddenly, her thoughts were pulled back to that gloomy evening four days prior.
The person who should have set off at sunset found countless excuses to delay. One moment he was reminding her to wear warmer clothes for the new season, the next he was dragging her to look at the weeds growing in the corner of the wall. They kept stopping and starting, chatting about trivial things, until the night was deep and the city lights were coming on one by one. Only then did the two of them finally stand by the corner gate in the backyard to say their final goodbye.
The lantern's glow and the moonlight were dappled by the lush shadows of the trees on either side. Baili Xunzhou stood with his back to the light, his face hidden in the shadows. Feng Mian couldn't see his expression, but she felt him lean slightly closer, bringing with him a familiar, cool scent. His slender fingers gently brushed through her hair, plucking a leaf that had fallen there sometime earlier.
Immediately afterwards, a gentle kiss, cool with the night breeze, landed on her forehead, the warm touch lasting only briefly.
"Wait for me to come back." A low voice, carrying a warm breath, brushed past her ear, and the next moment, there was nothing in front of her.
Bai Lixun nimbly mounted his horse, his movements so fast they were almost hasty. He didn't look back as he rode, as if a moment's delay or a second glance would shake his resolve. His black cloak billowed in the night wind, and in the blink of an eye, both man and horse had disappeared around the street corner, leaving only the sound of hooves fading into the distance on the bluestone road.
Four short days felt like four months. Feng Mian gently clenched her palm, holding the leaf in her hand, and for the first time realized how agonizing parting could be.
She was lost in thought when she suddenly heard light footsteps coming from under the eaves.
With a smile, Liu Ying led someone closer, "Princess, Madam Zhe is here."
Madam Zhe followed behind Liu Ying with a leisurely pace. Her rouge-red dress with gold thread embroidery of intertwined branches made her look even more beautiful.
Since completely severing ties with the Chen family, she realized that the invisible shackles that had bound her in the past were actually nothing. After leaving the Chen family, her business was not affected at all, nor was her family's caravan. On the contrary, because of her open-mindedness, everything went incredibly smoothly.
"Princess." Madam Zhe walked to the window, gave a slight bow, and said with a smile, "Boss Bai is back. The white paper you requested has all been delivered to the warehouse. Would you like to go and take a look now?"
Feng Mian's eyes lit up.
In the storeroom, Bai Diezi picked out the snow-white, soft quilts according to Feng Mian's requirements, piling them into a small mountain like snow. Feng Mian summoned several skilled embroiderers, and in just three to five days, a fluffy and soft winter quilt was made.
"This blanket is so light, it feels as soft as a cloud, and it's so warm!"
The princess stroked the quilt in surprise, while Liu Jixue curiously pinched the corner of the quilt.
"Does the princess also intend to make all the remaining white quilts into winter blankets for sale?" Madam Zhe asked, clearly very interested in this business.
Feng Mian shook his head. "I have a limited number of white quilts on hand, so I don't plan to sell them for now. I'll make some winter clothes and quilts, send some to the army, donate some to orphanages, and distribute the rest to homeless people who are having a hard time getting through the winter."
“In this way, many people will be able to have a warm winter. However…” Liu Jixue pondered, “It’s fine in the military and orphanages, but if we simply give winter clothes and blankets to ordinary people, it might encourage some lazy habits or make other people who didn’t receive clothes and blankets envious.”
“I’ve thought about this too.” Feng Mian nodded. “So why not do work relief instead? There are still large tracts of wasteland in the eastern suburbs that no one is taking care of. We can let people who are willing to work reclaim the wasteland in exchange for winter clothes and quilts.”
In the afternoon, when people were heading home for lunch, a large crowd gathered in front of the notice board outside the government office. The clerk of the office stood on the steps and loudly read the newly posted notices to the people who had gathered around.
"Those who participate in the reclamation of the eastern suburbs will be provided with three meals a day! After ten days of labor, they can receive a set of padded winter clothes; after one month, they can receive a padded winter quilt! The homeless will be given priority!"
Several other teams of yamen runners led people through the streets and alleys, spreading the news with gongs and drums, ensuring that every citizen of Yunzhong County received the message.
Wherever he went, he stirred up a chorus of discussion.
What is "white crepe"? Will the winter clothes and quilts made from it be warm?
"I have to work to receive it? I'm not going. My family has collected several boxes of cattail fluff, enough to make winter clothes and quilts."
However, for homeless beggars, this was undoubtedly a stroke of good fortune. They didn't care what the winter clothes and blankets were made of; they only knew that if they worked for a few days, they could have enough to eat and have a chance to survive the cold winter. So the word spread quickly, and they arrived at the government office early.
When the time for recruitment arrived, the commander of the Imperial Guards personally led a team of guards to the front of the government office to maintain order. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his eyes sweeping over the crowd like lightning. He cleared his throat and emphasized, "These white blankets were painstakingly collected by the princess. There are not many of them. She is not seeking fame or profit, but only to ensure that you all have a warm winter. Please line up in order and do not cause trouble."
The crowd could only nod in agreement, repeatedly thanking the princess for her great kindness.
Commander Lu finally felt much better. The princess's merit should be known to all the people; how could it be allowed to be monopolized by that incompetent prefect who only knew how to smooth things over? He still regretted not accompanying the princess when Luo Chier made things difficult for her, and he harbored considerable resentment towards the prefect. Now that he had the opportunity, he was determined to handle this matter perfectly for the princess.
Just as the line was registering in an orderly fashion, a cold voice suddenly rang out: "I wonder what this white stack of paper is all about. The princess is actually using it to make winter clothes and quilts for the people for free. No wonder all the people of Yunzhong County love and respect the princess so much."
Luo Chier appeared out of the crowd at some point, standing with his hands behind his back, a mocking smile playing on his lips. His unspoken message was one of sarcasm directed at Feng Mian for using underhanded tactics to win people over.
Commander Lu saw that he was very annoyed and gave a perfunctory bow: "The princess is kind-hearted and is distributing winter clothes and quilts to the people. This should not be within Inspector Luo's jurisdiction, right?"
"I'm here to see Lord Gu." Luo Chier's gaze turned to Gu Chunwen at the back of the crowd.
Gu Chunwen looked up and saw this place, then calmly stepped forward. Today, he was wearing a light gray casual robe, which made him look even more handsome and upright.
Luo Chier seemed to deliberately appear familiar with Gu Chunwen in front of everyone, and invited, "Lord Gu, would you do me the honor of having dinner with me? I have some important matters to discuss."
The surroundings fell silent instantly, and all eyes were focused on Gu Chunwen. He pondered for a moment, then nodded gently, "Inspector Luo's hospitality is too kind for me to refuse."
Commander Lu frowned slightly, but Gu Chunwen gently shook his head at him, indicating that there was no need to worry.
Luo Chier smiled smugly and gestured for him to proceed.
The night was as dark as ink, and the lanterns under the eaves swayed gently in the autumn breeze, casting flickering shadows.
A slender figure wearing a bamboo hat quietly appeared at the back gate of the Prince's mansion and gently knocked on the door. The person who opened the door looked up and was surprised to see who was under the hat.
"Lord Gu, what has happened that you came here so late in secret?" Feng Mian, wrapped in a cloak, sat at the table, gestured for Gu Chunwen to sit down, and personally poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it over.
Gu Chunwen took off his bamboo hat, his brows furrowing slightly: "The princess must have heard that Inspector Luo invited me to dinner."
“Commander Lu was afraid you would be made things difficult, so he specially sent someone to…follow you for a while.” Feng Mian’s eyes crinkled into a smile.
Gu Chunwen shook his head with amusement, "Inspector Luo's simple attempt to sow discord is so easy that only Commander Lu would fall for it."
"He was worried too. But seeing Lord Gu's late-night visit, have Commander Lu's worries come true?"
"Inspector Luo wasn't too direct, but he did probe quite a bit during the meal, hoping I would join his ranks." The candlelight cast varying shadows on his handsome profile. "Inspector Luo, you've only just arrived in Yunzhong County, yet you've already stood up for the Chen family. It seems you have some private dealings with them. Your Highness and General Feng have been away from the city these past few days; have you discovered anything?"
Given Gu Chunwen's keen insight and wisdom, Feng Mian was not surprised that he could discover various irregularities, so he informed him about the mine.
Gu Chunwen's pupils contracted slightly, clearly sensing the implication of rebellion.
"Actually, I don't quite understand. The Luo family is incredibly powerful, and Consort Rou is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor in the palace. Why would they need to take such a risky move?" Feng Mian twirled the cup in his hand, truly unable to comprehend it.
“Human desires are insatiable. The greater one’s power, the more one seeks. Moreover…” He paused for a moment, then lowered his voice even further, “The princess should know that the late empress who died young was none other than Lady Luo.”
Feng Mian cast a puzzled look at her. This matter was not a secret. It was just that the late Empress was Consort Rou's older sister, and her uncle seemed to dislike people mentioning her, so very few people in the palace would think about the late Empress.
"Before His Majesty ascended the throne, he had never entered the Eastern Palace and had not taken any wives or concubines for many years. Lord Luo saw His Majesty's hidden talent and wanted to help him rise to power, but he worried that the merit of supporting him would not be secure enough, so he devised a plan to marry his daughter to His Majesty..." He paused, then continued, "The late Empress passed away after only a few days on the throne, and Lord Luo then sent Consort Rou into the palace. In the past ten years or so, His Majesty's power has grown stronger day by day, while Lord Luo has grown old day by day..."
"My uncle is not one to be easily manipulated. So, Master Luo is worried about the Luo family's descendants, probably because he wants to take advantage of his life to rebuild the legacy of supporting the emperor."
Silence fell over the room. Feng Mian wondered, if Master Luo wanted to achieve merit through meritorious service, who was the "dragon" he had chosen?
“Princess, there is no need to worry. Inspector Luo may seem cunning, but he is actually impatient and not very smart. I will try to get closer to him and get some information out of him.” Gu Chunwen stood up to take her leave. “It’s late, so I won’t disturb your rest.”
"Lord Gu, please prioritize your own safety." Feng Mian rose to see him off, solemnly instructing him, the candlelight flickering in his eyes like starlight.
Gu Chunwen smiled slightly, put her bamboo hat back on, and silently blended into the night.
In the deep darkness, a faint light suddenly appeared, emanating from an open seashell. The hand holding the seashell was covered in scratches, and the fingers trembled slightly.
With a sigh of relief, Baili Xunzhou bent his long legs slightly, sat with his back against the stone wall, leaned back against the uneven stone wall, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and breathed in the polluted and thin air.
He found himself in a narrow, boundless darkness. The low mine tunnel was too narrow to walk upright, and the path he had come from on his left was blocked by a sudden collapse of rocks, plunging him into complete darkness.
He dared not light a tinderbox in the mine where sparks could ignite at any moment, but fortunately he had the lamp given to him by Feng Mian with him, which helped him stay calm.
He paused for a moment, then rolled over and groped forward. Suddenly, he heard a faint sound of gravel rolling in a certain direction.
He quickly closed the shell, hiding himself in the shadows, and saw a group of dark figures, illuminated by some kind of mineral, silently carrying boxes and disappearing into the mine tunnel on the other side.
He held his breath and waited in the darkness for a moment before the shadowy figures returned, their hands already empty.
Bai Lixun waited quietly for a moment until the noise completely disappeared before carefully climbing out. His fingertips groped along the rough rock wall and touched a stone doorway that was almost integrated with the rock.
He skillfully and subtly slid the stone door open, and a musty, rusty smell wafted out.
Behind the door was not a mineral vein, but a hidden warehouse converted from a huge natural cave.
Bai Lixun slipped inside and quickly opened the stacked boxes to inspect them. He found that they were full of military-grade swords and longbows, and deeper inside were boxes of gunpowder tightly covered with tarpaulins.
Further inside was a stone platform. He fumbled around until he found the mechanism, opened a hidden compartment, and inside lay a basic ledger. He quickly flipped through it; strange symbols were used to record something.
At that very moment, a loud "boom" suddenly came from outside the mine, followed by more explosions sweeping in from the outside in. The entire mine shook violently, and debris rained down from above, filling the air with dust.
The instant the accident occurred, Baili Xunzhou instinctively pulled back, pressing his body tightly against the corner of the rock wall. However, the shockwaves of the explosion came crashing down, leaving him nowhere to hide.
He felt a sharp pain in the back of his head, and the last thing he saw was a flash of light from an explosion before all light and shadow went out completely.
Endless darkness completely engulfed him.
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