Within the tribute goods transported north by the Baojiang Workshop from the southern regions lay the corpse of the Ministry of Revenue Vice Minister's son.
Inside the corpse was hidden a document, bearing a few written words: Steward Ren, and also... I have come.
Once the news spread, it immediately caused an uproar throughout the imperial court and the public.
Steward Ren was promptly taken into custody, the North Gate Inspection and Transport Office was sealed, and all related items were impounded.
The Vice Minister's son died instantly from a heavy blow to the head. There were no other struggle wounds on his body, making it impossible to determine the primary death location.
According to a servant, Young Master Shu had gone to attend a banquet at the First Prince's residence, yet the crate containing the body was shipped directly to the imperial city via the river.
The twists and turns of the matter were inexplicable.
Steward Ren, the only person ostensibly connected to the incident, was found dead by suicide in his own room on the very night he was taken into custody, before the judicial interrogation could even begin.
He left behind a confession letter.
The general meaning was that Young Master Shu had approached him to purchase the Baojiang Workshop's river delicacy tributes, which he refused, but he did reveal the tribute transport route.
He never imagined Young Master Shu would go directly to steal the tribute goods, and he didn't know what mishap occurred that led to the young master's tragic death inside the crate. He expressed deep regret and, consumed by guilt, could not sleep at night.
Therefore, he took his own life.
-
Purple Palace Hall.
Emperor Chongzhao gave a cold laugh: "This confession letter is utter nonsense."
"Who could possibly believe it?"
Eunuch Yu: "Believable or not isn't the most important thing, Your Majesty. What matters most is that this matter must be brought to a close."
And Steward Ren was that closure—for the Vice Minister's household, and also for the future First Princess Consort.
Emperor Chongzhao: "Not long after the marriage was decreed, just a few days after the First Prince's banquet, his own future brother-in-law is gone. Yu Decai, who do you think is behind this?"
"Those officials secretly aligning themselves with factions, or perhaps one of my sons. The Second Prince? The Third Prince? They've only just begun attending court deliberations."
Eunuch Yu wiped cold sweat. "Perhaps it was simply an accident."
Emperor Chongzhao: "An accident that required freezing the body, was it?"
He slowly folded the confession letter, pacing while lightly tapping the paper with his fingers.
"However, I have another doubt. If the goal was to disrupt the marriage I arranged for the eldest, why not deliver the body directly to the First Prince's residence? Why did it appear at the Inspection and Transport Office?"
Eunuch Yu remained silent. Emperor Chongzhao pondered, "Perhaps there was a mishap in the middle... Or perhaps, I am overthinking it..."
"Your Majesty, what about Vice Minister Shu?"
Emperor Chongzhao handed him the confession. "Deliver the 'closure's' severed head, along with the body, and have the First Prince take them to the Vice Minister's residence."
"Have Young Master Shu properly laid to rest. Inform him that the marriage alliance between the Shu family and the First Prince remains unchanged. I will dispatch the Eastern Depot to investigate this matter thoroughly."
As for how long the investigation would take, or whether it would yield results, that was another matter.
If they truly discovered which prince was involved, reporting only to the Emperor might be manageable. But if it were made public, the ones losing their heads might well be from the Eastern Depot.
Eunuch Yu: "As you command."
Emperor Chongzhao: "However, if the aim was to damage the relationship between the eldest and the Vice Minister's household, this attempt will likely backfire."
-
The First Prince arrived at the Vice Minister's residence with two corpses.
The residence was already draped with white mourning cloth and funeral couplets.
Shu Wenxin, clad in mourning garments, stood in the courtyard, her face streaked with tears as she watched her elder brother's coffin being carried into the mourning hall.
The coffin remained sealed. Once frozen, a body decomposes rapidly. Due to the hot weather, the corpse had already become severely putrid and foul-smelling.
The First Prince hesitated for a moment, then walked over to her.
"Um... don't cry too hard."
Shu Wenxin raised her hand to wipe away her tears. "I've heard everything from my father. This matter can only be left as it is; it cannot be clarified. Your Highness, tell me, do you know something?"
Her voice trembled, so light it was almost inaudible.
"Could it be... the Second Prince...? Or the Third Prince...?"
She had married the Crown Prince, and immediately afterward, her own brother met with misfortune. Calculating the timing, it was precisely on the day of the Crown Prince's banquet. Only the Second Prince and the Third Prince, or the court officials standing behind them, had the motive to sabotage the Crown Prince's event.
The Crown Prince said, "I don't know about this matter either."
He spoke irritably, "But it is dangerous, regardless. If you no longer wish to marry me, I will speak plainly to His Majesty the Emperor. You will not be implicated further."
"No. Our marriage arrangement will remain unchanged, just as His Majesty decreed."
Shu Wenxin took a deep breath, her eyes rimmed red.
Her father, Shu, also approached. In just a few days, he had aged considerably. He cupped his hands and bowed deeply towards the Crown Prince.
"From this day forward, my Shu family and Your Highness are people on the same boat."
Shu Wenxin added, "We only beg that in the future, the murderer may be found, and we can slay our enemy with our own hands."
The Crown Prince stared at her for a moment, then nodded vigorously and helped Shu's father to his feet.
"Please rise, please rise. That goes without saying."
-
The matter of the death of the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue was temporarily settled.
When news came that Wen Xiaochun had been promoted to Chief Inspector of the Northern City Gate Inspection and Transport Office, Qu Dubian knew that this affair had nothing to do with his own people.
A great weight lifted from his heart. Involving a death, neither Xiaochun nor Ye Banban had been willing to discuss the details with him, fearing he might have nightmares.
Once this boulder had been set aside, a feeling of admiration followed.
Xiaochun truly had honed her skills during those more than three years away. She handled matters with such efficiency.
He didn't pay further attention to the subsequent developments.
He gave the over two thousand taels of silver the Crown Prince had bribed him with to Xia Fuyang, instructing him to promote "Even in Death, the Chivalrous Bones Remain Fragrant," recruit illustrators, and create picture-book illustrations.
He wondered how it was going now.
Qu Dubian sat cross-legged on the roof, chin propped in his hands.
He probably hadn't messed it up, right?
Maybe he should still go out and take a look.
Thinking this, Qu Dubian climbed down the ladder—he still couldn't jump down with any panache just yet, but he felt it was only a matter of a few years.
He would definitely become a master who could fly around.
Even Dahei hadn't said it was impossible.
-
The capital city.
A place of literati and artists, wealth and romance.
Young nobles from wealthy districts vied for favors, and a single song from a red-sleeved performer was beyond count.
A courtesan's smile was worth a fortune.
But in the past half month, the hottest topic wasn't the courtesans competing for the title, nor the aloof male performers in the pleasure quarters, but several storytellers at Ruyi House, Fugui Tile, and the Heaven and Earth Pavilion—
Hey, these storytellers, advanced in years, had never been patronized by so many people! They told their tales daily with boiling passion!
With a slam of the storytelling block, the audience below would respond with cries of "Whoa!" and "Incredible!"
In the private rooms upstairs, there was no shortage of sons and daughters from official and wealthy families, ladies from respectable households, and even courtesans and qingguan (young male) performers. Coins tossed down as rewards would occasionally strike someone.
It was now evening, and the atmosphere was even livelier.
Dressed as a young master from an ordinary wealthy family, Qu Dubian swaggered through the main gate of Ruyi House, fanning himself.
—He would have looked quite dashing if one ignored the safety tether Ye Xiaoyuan had tied to his wrist.
Ye Xiaoyuan said, "Young Master, it's not safe at night. Should we come back tomorrow? If we return too late, the Old Madam will worry."
"Relax, Sixty-Six is still here."
That's what he said, but as Ye Xiaoyuan looked at the jostling crowd around them, he couldn't shake the nervous feeling that the child might be stolen.
"Sev... Young Master! Young Master Qi!" Up on the second floor, Xia Fuyang, with his sharp eyes, spotted him in the throng and quickly waved. "Come up here!"
The guards stationed at the staircase, who prevented outsiders from going up to the private rooms, promptly invited Qu Dubian upstairs.
Successfully squeezing through the crowd below and avoiding the copper coins raining down from above, Qu Dubian let out a great sigh of relief once he stood on the upper floor.
He fanned himself with his hand and exclaimed, "Your promotional efforts... are this effective?"
Xia Fuyang ushered him into the private room.
Even with the door closed, the resonant voice of the storyteller still penetrated through the open window, clear and distinct, a testament to his considerable skill.
Xia Fuyang chuckled. "Your script is of high quality, and you gave me so much money for promotion. The combination of the two naturally yields excellent results."
"Actually, it wasn't this crowded at the very beginning. It was Lady Jinyue from the Chunfeng Pavilion who, after hearing the story, wept profusely and actively promoted it. She really likes Hero Duan from the tale."
Hero Duan, a man of aloof temperament, whose face remained ageless despite a severe poison running through his veins, and who had five disciples under his tutelage.
His teaching methods were cold and rigorous, yet his disciples still revered and loved him. Later, when bandits attacked the mountain sect, the five disciples defended the gate, one severely injured and four lightly wounded.
Hero Duan rushed back at the critical moment, slaughtered the bandits to avenge his disciples, and ultimately succumbed to his poison.
On his deathbed, he merely said, "In the past, others protected me. Today, I protect you."
An old acquaintance arrived and told the disciples that Hero Duan's own mountain sect had also been attacked by bandits in the past. He was the youngest then. His master, senior brothers, and senior sisters, in order to defend the sect and protect the few who hadn't yet grown strong, perished together with the enemies.
Qu Dubian: "This character has quite a lot of 'cool factor,' no wonder people like him."
Xia Fuyang: "'Cool factor'?"
"It means, well, he's charismatic... the key is he's handsome."
If he weren't handsome, he'd just be an unfortunate old man who met his end.
"Understood," Xia Fuyang nodded. "Originally, I wanted to hire storytellers for all four markets—east, west, south, and north—but I was worried we wouldn't be able to print enough books in time."
Qu Dubian: "Take it slowly."
If it becomes too popular too quickly, a small printing house like ours would collapse under the strain.
Xia Fuyang closed the window. "Tomorrow, we'll end on a cliffhanger and announce we're stopping the storytelling sessions, directing everyone to our bookshop instead."
Qu Dubian: "Good. I'll be staying at the Marquis's estate these next few days. Come find me if anything comes up."
Xia Fuyang glanced at him and lowered his voice. "You're truly the first prince I've ever seen who can move back and forth between the Imperial Palace and a Marquis's estate to stay. Impressive."
But who knew how many twists and turns, transfers of power, and compromises had occurred in between.
Qu Dubian thought to himself, while maintaining a smiling expression. "Indeed."
Xia Fuyang: "And, how should I put it... the feeling of being around you is more comfortable than with the other princes."
"We all have one nose and one mouth," Qu Dubian said. "Enough flattery. Hand over the food box. Is my grandmother's favorite treat ready?"
Xia Fuyang presented a food box.
"Here you go."
Qu Dubian: "Then I'll be off."
Xia Fuyang saw him out, stopping only when they reached the street just one block away from the Marquis's estate.
Qu Dubian waved to him, and he waved back with a smile. Once the figure was out of sight, Xia Fuyang leisurely turned around, hands clasped behind his back, humming a nameless little tune.
He couldn't quite explain it himself, why he got along so well with the Seventh Prince, despite their four or five-year age difference.
Perhaps when talking to the Seventh Prince, he subconsciously overlooked the fact that he was just a child. Or perhaps, it was because the Seventh Prince's gaze lacked that uncomfortable, condescending look so common among the noble scions of the capital.
The Seventh Prince was affectionate towards Ye Xiaoyuan, warm towards the Dowager Marchioness, and towards him—towards ordinary, common folk—his gaze was always level, meeting them as equals.
He saw people as people, not as objects.
-
The next day.
The storyteller stopped abruptly at the most thrilling part, refusing to continue.
He said if you wanted to know what happened next, you had to go buy the book at the Cangwen Bookshop.
At first, everyone cursed, but even as they grumbled, they rushed towards the shop. Their complaints died when they saw the scrolls hanging outside, painted with vivid, lifelike portraits of the story's characters.
The shopkeeper was calling out, "Come take a look! The sequel to 'Even in Death, a Hero's Bones Remain Fragrant' is here! Buy the complete book for a chance to get a character portrait! Limited supply, first come, first served!"
"Any customer who buys a book and then purchases ink, brushes, paper, or inkstones in our store gets twenty percent off all paper within the next three days!"
"Don't miss out! The owner is taking a huge loss—buying now is pure profit!"
Instantly, the small bookshop was packed to the rafters.
Within two days, the printed copies were running dangerously low.
Xia Fuyang was running around in a frenzy, scrambling to pay for an emergency reprint.
Qu Dubian, who was only responsible for coming up with the ideas, stayed at the Marquis's estate keeping his grandmother company.
On a pillar outside the bedroom of the estate, he had carved many marks, each one recording his growth in height.
He and his grandmother lay side by side on reclining chairs, basking in the sun. A small table between them held melons, fruits, and pastries.
Qu Dubian asked, "Grandmother, in Third Uncle Grandfather's family, do I have another uncle? How come I've never seen him?"
Wu Siwan gently rocked her chair, using a fan to cool him as she smiled. "Perhaps... it's just not yet the right time."
-
Xia Fuyang's bookshop was booming, completely draining the customer traffic from the bookshop across the street.
The owner of the rival shop couldn't sit still any longer.
That very afternoon, he stormed out.
Upon reaching his destination, Xue Letian shouted at the top of his lungs, "Ahhhhh! You have to do something! If this goes on, the bookshop is going to go under!!"
Dressed in purple robes, he strode with vigorous, forceful steps, the characters 'Heaven-Sent Charm' on his fan practically fluttering into a blur as he made a beeline for the Bamboo Garden.
In the pavilion within the garden, a figure in blue robes was playing chess against himself.
"Xu Tingfeng! Xu Tingfeng!"
"Sigh..." Xu Tingfeng let out a sigh and placed a white piece. "Sit down first. What's the matter, all this panic?"
Xue Letian grabbed the teapot from the table and gulped the tea down like an ox drinking water.
"It's our bookshop. All the customers have been stolen."
He recounted the events of the past few days. "Who knows where they found some mastermind across the street? They published a book called something like 'Hero's Bones Fragrant' and came up with all these strange, flashy tricks to lure people into spending. If this continues, we're definitely going to lose money!"
Xu Tingfeng raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Do you know who's behind the Cangwen Bookshop?"
Xue Letian: "Not entirely clear. Seems like it might be a shop set up by some lady from a prominent family. What do we do?"
"What do we do?" Xu Tingfeng smiled. "If they can steal them away, we can steal them back."
The business arena is like a battlefield. There's no room for courtesy or concessions.
