Spring tide rises
Spring in the fifteenth year of the Jinghe era seemed to arrive earlier than usual. Shortly after the Lantern Festival, the ice and snow began to melt, and the willow branches were already eagerly sprouting tender yellow buds. However, it wasn't just the river water that thawed; it was also the forces that had been dormant all winter.
Lu Qinglan's wedding was set for March 16th, just two months away. The Lu residence was becoming increasingly busy, and Wang had almost completely delegated the management of the household affairs to her, euphemistically calling it "advance familiarity." Lu Qinglan welcomed every opportunity, keeping the Lu residence's affairs in perfect order. However, she secretly used this opportunity to further embed her own personnel in key areas like purchasing and personnel management. In the Hengwu Courtyard's study, news from various regions began arriving with increasing frequency.
That day, she was reviewing the account books Chen Xing had sent her. Yunshang Pavilion, capitalizing on the New Year's holiday and Lu Qinglan's rising reputation following the Grand Canal case, saw its business flourish. Not only had it established a firm foothold in South City, it had also begun to venture into the more lucrative silk and spice trades. Shen Chong's caravan, through several "special" freight trips, had become even more closely tied to Yunshang Pavilion, becoming Lu Qinglan's reliable eyes and ears on the Grand Canal route.
"Miss, Boss Shen sent a message saying that several newly appointed officials in the grain transport department recently seemed to have not fully implemented the previous 'military supplies first' policy, and they are still secretly making things difficult for the caravans and demanding regular payments. Moreover, he vaguely heard that people from the Third Prince's Mansion have close dealings with several of them." Fu Yu reported in a low voice.
Lu Qinglan wasn't surprised. The Third Prince's faction had suffered a loss in the canal transport case, and they wouldn't let it go. While Xiao Jingche couldn't be stopped from planting his hand in public, there would definitely be some hidden obstacles. She wrote a few lines and sealed them in a letter: "Have Chen Xing deliver this letter to Cui Shuwen at Linqing Gate through Shen Chong's channels." In the letter, as a "friend," she reminded Cui Shuwen to pay attention to the new officials' movements and "accidentally" mentioned that a retainer of the Third Prince had recently had a banquet with one of the officials. Han Mingyuan would have to continue to be used as a knife.
After handling this matter, she picked up the secret report sent by Zhao Tieshou. Progress regarding the Western Region caravan and Prince An's residence was slow. The caravan leader, known by the alias "Sabiel," had left the capital after the New Year and his whereabouts were unknown. The Prince An's residence was heavily guarded, making it difficult for Zhao Tieshou's men to penetrate. They had only gathered that Prince An seemed to have recently become obsessed with alchemy and Taoism, with alchemists frequently visiting the residence.
"Alchemy and cultivation..." Lu Qinglan tapped the tabletop lightly with her fingertips. Was Prince An's behavior truly an obsession, or... a cover-up? Was the mysterious sorcerer Xuanji Zhenren from his previous life connected to this? She instructed, "Have Zhao Tieshou find a way to find out if there's any alchemist named 'Xuanji' among those entering and leaving Prince An's mansion, or if there's anyone... skilled in using Western spices."
The Jinxiu Poetry Society resumed its gatherings after the Lunar New Year. At the first gathering, Lu Qinglan sensed a noticeable change. More noble ladies attended, including some whose fathers and brothers held less prestigious positions but were the families of officials in key departments. Their attitude toward Lu Qinglan was almost reverent, like a pilgrimage.
Su Yueming continued to play the role of a capable assistant, with a gentle smile and thoughtful manner. However, Lu Qinglan noticed that she had a pair of exquisite jade bracelets on her wrists, which seemed to be quite different from her usual plain attire. Fu Yu secretly investigated and found that the bracelets were a "gift" from Miss Liu. Su Yueming's notebook had also been replaced with the more exquisite and expensive Xue Tao paper.
"Miss, Su Yueming has been spending a lot of time with Miss Liu recently, and they are almost inseparable. Moreover, she seems to be secretly inquiring about the preferences of several officials and their families in the Seventh Prince's Mansion." Fu Yu's tone was filled with worry.
"Let her go." Lu Qinglan's expression remained unchanged. "The more proactive she is, the more flaws she will reveal. Have someone keep a close eye on Miss Liu and see if she's the Third Prince or someone else."
What pleased Lu Qinglan most was the change in Lin Wanru. She seemed to have completely let go of her burdens, no longer silent in the poetry club, and she and Wei Linlang, one martial artist and one literary scholar, complemented each other perfectly. She even took the initiative to ask Lu Qinglan for advice on some financial matters, her eyes bright and full of curiosity. Lu Qinglan was happy to give her advice, secretly handing her over some less important information channels, considering it a kind of training and test.
On this day, at an elegant gathering, everyone was discussing a spring outing when the doorman suddenly came to report that the Seventh Prince's Mansion had sent someone to deliver a few pots of precious Wei Zi peonies, saying that they were for Miss Lu to enjoy.
The vibrant peonies were carried in, instantly capturing everyone's attention. Such a rare variety was rare even within the palace. Everyone marveled in amazement, their eyes filled with envy and awe as they looked at Lu Qinglan.
Lu Qinglan's expression remained calm. He thanked the messenger and ordered the peonies to be arranged. But his heart was clear: Xiao Jingche's move was not only a gesture of goodwill, but also a declaration to the outside world of his regard for his future wife. She needed this regard, but she also needed to be wary of being constrained by this "favor."
At this moment, a slightly shrill voice rang out, "Seventh Prince is truly considerate of Sister Lu! I heard that His Highness has been pushing for a clean-up of the Ministry of Revenue's long-standing accounts in the court recently, and has offended many people. He must be very hard-working. When Sister Lu marries, please comfort His Highness and don't overwork him."
The one who spoke was Miss Liu. She had an innocent smile on her face, but her words were like a knife coated with honey.
Everyone fell silent, their eyes flickering between Lu Qinglan and Miss Liu. An investigation into the Ministry of Revenue's past accounts? This was a matter far more sensitive and far more far-reaching than the grain transport case! The Third Prince's mother came from the Ministry of Personnel, a ministry she had long wielded. Xiao Jingche's move was a direct declaration of war!
Lu Qinglan picked up the teapot and poured herself a refill, her movements graceful and composed. She raised her eyes, calmly gazing at Miss Liu, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Sister Liu is truly well-informed. Your Majesty and the other ministers are responsible for the affairs of the court. Women like us should be chaste, virtuous, and abide by the rules of the inner chambers. How could we presume to discuss state affairs and interfere with His Highness's decisions? If my words were to get out, I'm afraid they would damage the reputations of your father and brother."
Her tone was gentle, but every word was sharp. She pointed out that Miss Liu had overstepped her bounds, hinted that her behavior might bring harm to the family, and finally threatened her with her "reputation."
The smile on Miss Liu's face froze instantly, her face turned red and white, she lowered her head in embarrassment, and dared not say another word.
Seeing this, everyone was filled with awe, their awe of Lu Qinglan deepening. This future prince's consort was not only exceptionally talented, but also extremely resourceful, making her no easy target.
After the gathering, Lu Qinglan returned to Hengwu Courtyard, a trace of solemnity between her brows. Xiao Jingche had begun his investigation of the Ministry of Revenue… his movements were faster and more drastic than she had anticipated. While this would certainly further undermine the Third Prince, it also meant that the struggle would intensify, and the vortex she was in would become even more dangerous.
She spread out the letter paper, pondered for a moment, and then wrote: "The waters of the Ministry of Revenue are murky, and there may be hidden reefs. The old accounts are like hemp, and we should look for the thread. We should proceed steadily and avoid any rash advances."
She did not stop, nor could she stop Xiao Jingche's ambition. All she could do was remind him to be cautious when he was radical, and provide necessary support when he encountered obstacles. She wanted to take advantage of his momentum, but also ensure that he would not capsize too early.
After delivering the letter, she stood alone in the porch. A spring breeze blew, bringing with it the fresh scent of earth and flowers. The pots of purple peonies in the courtyard were in full bloom, graceful and elegant, their beauty and fragrance abounding.
But what she saw were the thorns hidden beneath the delicate petals and the potentially bottomless mud that nourished this rich flower.
The spring tide has risen, and the undercurrent is flowing.
Her little boat needed to hold the steering wheel tightly and see the direction clearly in order to break through the waves in this increasingly turbulent undercurrent.
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