Divide into three routes
In the sixth month of the lunar calendar, gold melts and stones crumble.
Normally, very few people would linger in the market. But today, the people in the market, under the scorching sun, were soaked in sweat, then dried, yet no one wanted to leave early.
The area in front of Tianhong Cloth Shop, the second largest cloth shop in Beijing, is the most bustling.
The shop assistants, their faces contorted in rage, joined hands to form a human wall, blocking the shop's entrance.
"Give me two bolts, no, five bolts of cotton cloth."
"Shopkeeper, I want to buy ten bolts of Yun brocade."
"Make way, I got here first, I'll buy first."
There was a commotion outside the cloth shop. The price of cloth had been halved, something that had never happened before. Everyone wanted to squeeze to the front, afraid that the cloth would be sold out by the time it was their turn.
The shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his brow. Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, he quickly clapped his hands loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, please listen to me!"
People outside were busy pushing forward, shouting and cursing, and guarding their spots; no one heard the shopkeeper's voice.
The shopkeeper shouted at the top of his lungs, "If you keep arguing like this, my Tianhong Cloth Shop will close immediately."
The words "closing down" were like a choking hand, instantly silencing the shouting and cursing crowd.
The shopkeeper, his face stern, said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please line up in two orderly rows. I'm warning you now, if anyone is caught cutting in line or causing a ruckus, the shop will close immediately."
The crowd was intimidated by the shopkeeper and obediently followed the instructions of the cloth shop assistant, forming two lines.
Apart from the largest Qin family cloth shop, long queues formed outside all the cloth shops in the capital.
A shop assistant from Qin's Cloth Shop rushed into the store in a panic, shouting, "Manager Zhang, something terrible has happened!"
Without looking up, Manager Zhang continued working on his abacus. "What is it?"
The shop assistant exclaimed in horror, "The cloth shop across the street has lowered its prices! Lowered them by half!"
Manager Zhang accidentally moved the wrong bead on the abacus. He looked up in disbelief, "Say it again!"
The shopkeeper repeated himself and added, "Go and take a look outside. The line of people buying fabric across the street is almost reaching our door."
When Manager Zhang went out and saw the long queue, his expression changed. He immediately instructed his assistant, "You stay here and watch the shop. I'm going to see the owner."
Prince Yi's Mansion.
Yue Xiao listened to the tune with a cheerful mood. Han Qing was imprisoned, and his deputy had already defected to him. Sooner or later, the 50,000 elite troops in the Jingshan camp would fall into his hands.
"Young master, the manager of the cloth shop requests an audience."
"Let him in."
After entering the room, Manager Zhang noticed that Yue Xiao was in a good mood, which reassured him somewhat.
"Young master, for some reason, other cloth shops in the capital have joined forces to lower cloth prices."
Yue Xiao closed his eyes and listened to the little tune, "So be it."
"Young master, their cloth price has been reduced by half."
Yue Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, "It's dropped by half?"
"yes."
Yue Xiao glanced to the east. "That person in the east must have guessed my plan and used a tactic that kills a thousand enemies but also loses eight hundred of his own. He just wanted to distract me. I don't need to pay attention to him."
The Jin family, Buquan Temple.
Jin Xiaoxiao sat at the desk, staring at the two characters "Han Qing" in deep thought.
Han Qing and the Jin family were in similar situations; they were both stepping stones for Yue Xiao to rise to a high position.
With Yue Jia protecting them, the Jin family is safe for now. But once Yue Xiao seizes Han Qing's military power, he will definitely target the Jin family.
Moreover, Han Qing was an upright and honest person, so it's a pity he died like that.
Jin Xiaoxiao pulled out another piece of paper and wrote many words on it.
After she finished writing, she folded the paper, put it in an envelope, and called Baiguo over, "Sister Baiguo, could you go and deliver this letter to my senior sister?"
She went out herself and went into Kim Min-ji's yard.
When Jin Minzhi saw her arrive, he instructed Shumo, "Go and fetch two ice chests."
Jin Xiaoxiao cut to the chase: "Brother, what do you think about General Han Qing being imprisoned?"
Jin Minzhi noticed the fine sweat on Xiaoxiao's forehead. "Xiaoxiao, the sweat on your forehead—" Before she could finish speaking, Ji Jun gently wiped it away with a handkerchief.
Jin Minzhi changed the subject before she could finish her sentence: "General Han has been wronged."
Jin Xiaoxiao slammed her hand on the table. "That's right, the person who framed General Han was Yue Xiao. He has a Gu poisoner under his command, and General Han was poisoned and controlled by them. Brother, you don't know, that bastard Yue Xiao also put a love potion on Auntie."
Jin Minzhi's expression hardened. "A love potion?"
Jin Xiaoxiao nodded, "The prince found out about the love potion. Brother noticed it too, didn't he? Auntie acted strangely as soon as she met that bastard."
Kim Min-ji nodded.
Jin Xiaoxiao looked up at Jin Minzhi and said resolutely, "Brother, I want to rescue General Han Qing."
Jin Minzhi supported her without hesitation, "Okay, what does Xiaoxiao want her brother to do?"
"I need my brother to persuade the great Confucian scholar Zhou Wuyai to write an article commenting on General Han Qing's merits and demerits, and analyzing whether General Han Qing betrayed the country."
Kim Min-ji's eyes widened, her heart pounding as if it were about to burst out of her chest.
He clutched his heart. "Xiaoxiao, Mr. Zhou has been gone for a long time, I—"
Jin Xiaoxiao said confidently, "Just because Mr. Zhou doesn't see others doesn't mean he won't see my brother."
Upon receiving Jin Xiaoxiao's affirmation, Jin Minzhi's eyes shone brightly, and his blood rushed to his head. "Alright, brother will go and ask to see Mr. Zhou."
Jin Minzhi took a bath and changed his clothes, and went to see the great Confucian scholar Zhou Wuyai with great enthusiasm.
Jin Xiaoxiao returned to her study, wrote and drew, stared at the intertwined names of people and pondered for a long time, and then did two more things.
She took out a piece of white paper, wrote a few words, folded it, and handed it to Ji Yun. She then whispered some instructions to Ji Yun, who left the Jin family alone after listening.
When Bai Guo returned after delivering the letter, Jin Xiaoxiao opened the money box, took out a stack of silver notes and gave them to Bai Guo, and also gave her some instructions. After listening, Bai Guo went out again.
After they all left, Jin Xiaoxiao gulped down three cups of tea in one go.
The Imperial Palace, Fanghua Palace.
Wan Niang, Jin Xiaoxiao's senior sister and the newly promoted Consort Zhao, opened the letter that Jin Xiaoxiao had written to her.
A moment later, she set the letter she had just read, along with the envelope, on fire.
Staring at the ashes of the paper, Wan Niang placed her hand on her lower abdomen. "Ying Chun, I'm not feeling well. Go and fetch a royal physician."
Yingchun arrived at the Imperial Hospital, and the imperial physicians, upon learning that she had come for Consort Zhao, all responded enthusiastically. Consort Zhao had been the most favored concubine for the past two months; everyone in the palace knew this.
Yingchun soon led an imperial physician to Fanghua Palace.
The imperial physician took Wan Niang's pulse, closed his eyes and concentrated. After a while, he opened his eyes and congratulated Wan Niang with a smile, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, it's a pregnancy pulse."
A captivating smile bloomed on Wan Niang's lips, "Welcome Spring!"
Yingchun happily slipped two silver notes to the imperial physician.
The imperial physician did not refuse, and put the silver note into his sleeve. He carefully instructed Wan Niang on precautions for pregnancy.
After the imperial physicians left, Wan Niang had a palace eunuch inform the emperor of the news.
Upon learning this, the emperor put down the memorials he had not yet finished reviewing and eagerly moved to Fanghua Palace.
"My beloved concubine, are you truly pregnant?"
Wan Niang was only halfway through her formalities when the emperor pulled her back up.
With a maternal glow in her eyes, Wan Niang leaned gently against the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I am indeed pregnant."
The emperor was overjoyed. "Good, good. My beloved concubine has rendered meritorious service and deserves a reward. She shall be promoted to Consort Xuan."
Wan Niang raised her eyes and gazed at the emperor with deep affection, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The emperor pulled Wan Niang to sit down, "My beloved concubine, what other reward would you like?"
Wan Niang raised her clear, bright eyes and glanced at the emperor, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
"Hmm? My beloved consort, please speak freely. I will forgive you."
Wan Niang's eyelashes trembled violently, and her two hands clenched tightly together. "Your Majesty, I heard from the palace servants that General Han Qing has been imprisoned."
The emperor's smile vanished, and he asked in a low voice, "Does my beloved concubine wish for me to release him?"
Wan Niang's expression turned somber. "Your Majesty, I had no such intention. Now that General Han is imprisoned, even though I am not familiar with the affairs of the previous dynasty, I know that General Han must have made a mistake. However, General Han saved me once, and I believe that one should repay kindness. If General Han has not committed an irreparable mistake, I beg Your Majesty to give General Han a chance to repent and defend himself."
The Emperor parted Wan Niang's clenched hands and laughed, "My beloved concubine, you are truly innocent and adorable. Confess and defend yourself? Hahaha, I grant your permission."
After laughing, the emperor asked, "My beloved concubine just mentioned that Han Qing saved you. What happened?"
Wan Niang pursed her lips, a hint of annoyance on her face. "Before I entered the palace, I was once stopped by a bully on my way out. He actually tried to snatch me in the street. Fortunately, General Han happened to pass by and saved me. That's how I had the honor of entering the palace and becoming one of Your Majesty's concubines. Therefore, I am very grateful to him. It was he who made me meet Your Majesty."
Wan Niang raised her eyes, her gaze towards the emperor filled with love and reverence.
The Emperor reached out and stroked her smooth, fair cheek. "In that case, it's no wonder my beloved consort pleaded for Han Qing. Does my beloved consort know who that bully is?"
Wan Niang nestled shyly into the emperor's arms, a slight smile playing on her lips. "He is the third son of the Duke of Song."
Jin Minzhi arrived at the Zhou residence under the blazing sun. The gate of the Zhou residence was open, and the courtyard was quiet and serene.
As soon as Jin Minzhi stepped onto the first step, she saw Zhou Wuyai sitting in the pavilion, engrossed in reading a book.
Jin Minzhi, afraid of disturbing him, stood motionless on the steps.
An hour later, Zhou Wuyai put down his book, turned to look at the door, glancing past his chapped lips and sunburned cheeks, and smiled when he met his star-like eyes.
"Young friend, it's sweltering outside. Why don't you come in and have a cup of tea to cool off?"
Jin Minzhi's eyes lit up, and she bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, sir."
Meanwhile, Ji Jun arrived at the Jingshan camp.
Two guards blocked his way with their swords drawn, saying, "This is a military camp; outsiders are not allowed to enter without permission."
Ji Jun held up the token, "I want to see General Han's adjutant."
After the soldiers checked his token, they led him into the camp.
The soldier led Ji Yun to the outside of a tent. "Wait here while I go in and report."
The soldier quickly came out and said, "You can go in now."
Ji Jun entered the camp and, without giving Wang Bijiang a chance to speak, said, "If you want to save Han Qing, shut up and listen to me."
Ji Yun's commanding tone made General Wang frown, but the soldier who delivered the report specifically mentioned that Ji Yun was holding Han Qing's token, so he could only suppress the urge to curse and listen to what Ji Yun had to say.
Ji Yun placed the note Jin Xiaoxiao had given him on the table and said succinctly, "Give this to Han Qing." After saying that, Ji Yun stared intently at General Wang.
Wang Bijiang picked up the note, looked up, and stared at Ji Jun.
Seeing that Ji Jun didn't speak, he asked in confusion, "That's all?"
Once Ji Yun confirmed that the note was in his hand, she turned and left without looking back.
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