"Madam, you've arrived. Please, have a seat."
Huo Tingshan's expression remained composed, his demeanor courteous.
Pei Ying relaxed slightly upon seeing this. After taking her seat, she raised her eyes to meet his gaze. "I heard the General sought me out regarding the soap matter. Has it caused quite a stir in Chang'an, achieving remarkable success?"
Such a novel item, capable of improving daily life, was bound to become highly sought after by the nobility the moment it appeared.
Huo Tingshan nodded with a smile. "Indeed. The soap was launched at the Shengjing Pavilion in Chang'an. Within the first couple of days after word spread, customers flocked in an endless stream. Those who tried it praised it endlessly, marveling at its wonders. After implementing your suggestion of limiting purchases, wealthy households even sent servants to wait overnight outside the pavilion, rushing in the moment the doors opened to secure some for their masters."
Huo Tingshan picked up a sheet of paper from the desk and walked toward Pei Ying. "Here are the sales and profits from the soap. Please take a look, Madam."
Pei Ying accepted it.
Though she had anticipated the soap would become a sensation, the figures before her still left her astonished.
The Meng residence, which she had emptied and sold as a bare property, had only fetched twenty-five taels of silver.
But now...
Pei Ying was inwardly stunned, though Huo Tingshan had been no less surprised when he first saw the numbers.
Yet beyond shock, he also felt a bitter irony.
Corruption ran rampant in the imperial court, with embezzlement and favoritism rampant. Honest officials who genuinely served the nation and its people found it impossible to survive in this cesspool—either driven to death or forced to resign.
Emperor Zhao cared only for indulgence, drowning in wine and pleasure, reduced to an empty-headed puppet. The withheld military provisions for Youzhou undoubtedly bore the fingerprints of Chang'an's powerful ministers.
When military funds fell short, regional governors typically resorted to extorting wealth elsewhere to fill the gap—most directly by increasing local taxes.
In other words, the governor shifted his burden onto the backs of countless commoners.
Huo Tingshan refused to take that path. The people of Youzhou already suffered enough; raising taxes would leave them with no means to survive.
Instead, he turned his gaze northward to the tribes beyond the Yan Mountains. If they could raid Han territories, he could lead his troops to strike back, capturing prisoners and demanding ransom in cattle and horses from their khans.
If no ransom came, they were executed.
Not every raid yielded profitable captives—often, after much effort, they returned with nothing but a few dozen heads.
Recalling those earlier years, Huo Tingshan acknowledged how truly difficult they had been.
While the elites of Chang'an lived in luxury, they denied others the same comfort. The military provisions they had once withheld through their misdeeds were now returning to Youzhou in the form of their own eager silver—what bitter irony.
"Madam, the funds will be delivered later," Huo Tingshan said.
Pei Ying understood his meaning. "My share is twenty percent, but I’m in no hurry. Transporting such wealth requires utmost caution."
Huo Tingshan agreed. "I’ve dispatched a military escort."
The staggering sum made ordinary merchant escorts impractical, and there were undoubtedly eyes watching in the shadows. Thus, he had sent a unit of Youzhou soldiers disguised as guards.
Pei Ying recalled another matter. "General, has anyone inquired about the soap’s formula?"
"Naturally," Huo Tingshan chuckled. "The Youzhou merchant responsible for sales in Chang'an told me he’s faced more threats and bribes in these past days than in the last ten years combined. His home has been broken into repeatedly—sometimes waking to a blade at his throat."
Pei Ying gasped. "How brazen! Did he report these intruders to the authorities?"
"Madam, have you considered that perhaps the intruders are the authorities?" Huo Tingshan met her gaze steadily.
The soap’s explosive popularity was undeniable among Chang'an’s elite.
Ten taels per bar might seem trivial to the wealthy, but the sheer volume of sales accumulated into an astronomical sum.
Wealth stirs greed—who wouldn’t covet such riches?
Pei Ying paled. "What—what can be done? Is the merchant safe? Is his life in danger?"
When she had provided the soap formula, she never imagined it might endanger someone.
"Don’t worry, Madam. Before sales began, the merchant sent his wife and children back to Youzhou. He remains in Chang'an alone, and crucially, he doesn’t know the formula—he’s merely a distributor. Those scheming dare not harm him, lest the soap vanish forever," Huo Tingshan explained.
When he had ordered Murong Shu to send his family away earlier, the man had been puzzled. Now, he was grateful. Alone in Chang'an and ignorant of the formula, Murong Shu rendered all their schemes futile.
Pei Ying sighed in relief. "If possible, send some guards to protect him."
Huo Tingshan nodded. "A wise suggestion."
With business concluded, Pei Ying grew uneasy.
Huo Tingshan now seemed a far cry from the man she had encountered that night—his solemnity had tempered his imposing aura, making him less intimidating.
Still, she felt awkward. Just as she prepared to take her leave, he called out to her.
As if reading her thoughts, Huo Tingshan said, "Wait, Madam. There’s something I wish to give you."
Pei Ying eyed him skeptically.
What now? More gold and jewels?
Instead, Huo Tingshan took her hand and guided her to his desk.
"General?" Pei Ying was bewildered.
At the desk, he opened a wooden cabinet and placed a deed into her hands.
Pei Ying had been about to pull away when the document touched her palm. Looking down, her eyes widened in delight. "How is this here? When did you purchase it?"
The deed in her hands was for the Meng residence—the very home she had once sold.
At the time, selling the house had been a necessity—she needed funds to secure her and her daughter’s future.
Later, when finances improved, she had considered buying it back. After all, it was where her daughter had grown up, filled with years of memories.
But now in southern Jizhou, far from Beichuan County, she had planned to mention it during their return journey. Yet here he was, deed already secured.
"I sent someone to handle it recently," Huo Tingshan said, watching her eyes crinkle with joy. He suppressed a scoff inwardly.
Gold and jewelry held no appeal—just this old house.
Pei Ying studied the deed intently.
It bore the names of buyer and seller, witnesses, the transaction date, and the price.
The date coincided with their time aiding disaster relief in Changping Commandery—meaning he had dispatched someone shortly after leaving Guangping Commandery. She had sold the empty house for twenty-five taels; buying it back cost twenty-seven.
"Thank you, General," Pei Ying beamed.
Huo Tingshan: "Are you happy now?"
Pei Ying paused slightly, avoiding his gaze. His tone sounded as if he were coaxing a child.
"Does Madam have any pressing matters to attend to at noon?" Huo Tingshan asked.
Pei Ying glanced again at the contract in her hand: "None."
Huo Tingshan: "In that case, Madam shall stay and dine with me."
In the end, Pei Ying stayed.
Lunch seemed to return to how it used to be, with Huo Tingshan occasionally telling her about the frontier, about the lands north of the Yan Mountains.
Of course, none of it involved bloodshed—only the vast grasslands and exotic customs that most Central Plains folk would never witness in their lifetime.
Pei Ying listened with great interest.
She had been to Inner Mongolia and Harbin, but how could the scenery from over two thousand years ago compare to what she had seen?
Noticing she was eating slightly more than before, Huo Tingshan added, "If Madam is interested, I can take you there someday."
Pei Ying hesitated: "We'll see."
After the meal, Pei Ying left the study, intending to take a stroll to aid digestion before returning for a nap.
Yet, just as she turned a corner in the corridor, she heard a familiar voice.
"You’re being unreasonable! It was you who wasn’t looking where you were going and crashed into me, causing your jade pendant to break. How is this suddenly my fault?" It was Nannan speaking.
"How is it not your fault? If you hadn’t appeared out of nowhere and walked so fast, how would we have collided? You did this on purpose, didn’t you? Jealous of my fine jade, afraid I’d outshine you."
"Qingqing, let it go. This girl may be pretty, but her attire suggests she’s short on coin. She likely can’t afford to compensate you now. Why not have her write an IOU? Once she finds better prospects, she can repay you later."
Hearing Zhang Zhizi’s words, Qingqing’s anger flared even hotter: "Zhizi, you’re too kind-hearted, always thinking of others. But have you considered how many new girls keep arriving? There’s barely enough to go around as it is."
Meng Ling'er was both baffled and exasperated.
She had riding lessons that morning, so she’d changed into equestrian attire and removed all her jewelry, tying her hair back simply with a ribbon.
After enduring Squad Leader Chen’s morning training, she was finally free for lunch—only to run into this mess. Had she known taking a shortcut would lead to these two, she’d have stuck to the main path.
A jade pendant? She had plenty in her room. It wasn’t about the money. But this woman’s attitude was appalling, and she refused to be bullied like dough.
Qingqing eyed Meng Ling'er up and down, envy flashing in her gaze: "Pretty or not, with such recklessness, she’d only embarrass herself before nobility. She might as well go home to her mother—what’s she doing here chasing prospects?"
Neither recognized Meng Ling'er. At the banquet, she had sat at the very end, where the lighting was dimmer, and their attention had been fixed on the generals at the front.
But Meng Ling'er recognized them: "Ah, it’s you two. Rest assured, I’m not after what you are. Now move aside—your little auntie needs to eat."
Qingqing was incensed by her arrogance, and after a few more "comforting" words from Zhang Zhizi, she lunged at Meng Ling'er, intent on striking her.
Pei Ying, watching from nearby, nearly stepped in—until she saw her daughter raise an eyebrow and swiftly pin Qingqing to the ground.
This wasn’t a hair-pulling brawl. It was proper combat technique.
Qingqing howled in pain, begging Zhang Zhizi for help—only for her to be subdued just as quickly.
Pei Ying: "..."
Her Nannan clearly didn’t need assistance.
"Squad Leader Chen?" Meng Ling'er spotted a familiar figure from the corner of her eye.
Chen Yuan had been drawn by the screams and arrived to find the two women sprawled before Meng Ling'er.
Recognizing Chen Yuan, Zhang Zhizi and Qingqing hastily adjusted their expressions, tears welling up pitifully.
"Miss Meng, go ahead and eat. I’ll handle this," Chen Yuan said.
Her stomach growling, Meng Ling'er brightened immediately: "Thanks for that!"
Chen Yuan gave a slight nod.
Meng Ling'er scampered off cheerfully.
The two women gaped, their tears now genuine—but from fear.
They never imagined this seemingly plain, jewelry-less girl they’d dismissed as competition would turn out to be someone of status.
After Meng Ling'er left, Chen Yuan regarded them coldly: "Stay in the Floral Courtyard. Don’t leave again."
Relieved it was only confinement, they kowtowed gratefully.
Chen Yuan then nodded toward Pei Ying’s direction in acknowledgment before heading to Huo Tingshan’s study.
When Chen Yuan arrived, the study was occupied not just by Huo Tingshan but also a group of strategists.
With Ji Province secured and absorbed, it was time for reforms.
Whether to win hearts or bolster military reserves, Huo Tingshan intended to revise policies.
Agriculture came first—developing terraced fields where possible and gradually replacing millet with wheat.
Convincing peasants to switch crops wouldn’t be easy, so a carrot-and-stick approach was necessary.
A decree would announce that each household must dedicate at least a third of their land to wheat. Compliant families would receive silver rewards; those who resisted would face forty lashes.
Seeds would be distributed at government offices—not for free (free things were seldom valued), but at less than half the market price. Only a fool wouldn’t see the bargain.
To prevent reselling, recipients’ details would be recorded, and officials would inspect the fields after harvest.
Those who took seeds but didn’t plant would repay triple the market price.
As for funding the subsidies?
The nobles of Chang’an buying scented soap would foot the bill. A fitting return of the wealth they’d extracted from the people.
"Master Chen, draft the proclamation," Huo Tingshan ordered Chen Shichang, who accepted the task.
Once discussions concluded, the meeting dispersed.
As the strategists filed out, Gongsun Liang noticed Chen Yuan waiting outside. Remembering he was assigned to Meng Ling'er’s lessons that day, he asked, "Squad Leader Chen, why are you here? Has something happened to the young miss?"
Chen Yuan: "Not exactly. There are just some matters I need to discuss with the Grand General."
Gongsun Liang stroked his goat-like beard and refrained from further questions.
After reporting his presence outside, Chen Yuan was quickly admitted into the study.
Huo Tingshan looked at him: "What is it?"
Chen Yuan cut straight to the point: "Grand General, how do you intend to deal with the group of ladies in the Blossom Garden?"
Huo Tingshan's brow twitched slightly.
Had Chen Yuan not mentioned it, he would have nearly forgotten about the women Wu Tonghai had brought into the estate.
"Summon Sha Ying," Huo Tingshan instructed the guard at the door.
As luck would have it, just as the guard was about to leave the courtyard, he spotted Sha Ying approaching. The guard hastily relayed Huo Tingshan's summons, to which Sha Ying exclaimed, "What a coincidence!"
Sha Ying strode in confidently, first placing a letter on the desk: "Grand General, a message from Youzhou."
Huo Tingshan broke the wax seal and listened as Sha Ying continued, "Grand General, I heard you were looking for me. May I ask why?"
Huo Tingshan glanced at Chen Yuan. Knowing him well, he understood Chen Yuan wouldn’t bring up the Blossom Garden without reason.
Chen Yuan took the cue and reported, "Miss Meng Ling'er happened to encounter one of the ladies from the Blossom Garden and had a minor altercation with her. Madam Pei witnessed the incident."
He omitted the part where Meng Ling'er had single-handedly pinned both women to the ground.
Huo Tingshan addressed Sha Ying: "Sha Ying, deal with those women. Don’t let them remain in the estate any longer."
As for how they were to be dealt with, Huo Tingshan left it to Sha Ying’s discretion.
Sha Ying grinned: "Grand General, would you like to pick one or two for yourself? If you don’t want them in the estate, you could keep them outside. That one in the red dress from the other night looked quite pretty."
Madam Pei was off-limits, but surely these gifts were fair game.
Huo Tingshan, absorbed in the letter from Youzhou, ignored Sha Ying’s suggestion.
Sha Ying understood—his lord had no interest.
He turned to Chen Yuan instead: "Chen Yuan, your mourning period for your parents ended last month, didn’t it? How about I send a couple your way? It’s not good for a man to be without a woman for so long."
Chen Yuan remained expressionless, as if he hadn’t heard.
Sha Ying’s lips twitched: "Don’t tell me you’re actually following your family’s rule—no women until marriage? Aren’t you afraid your first time will be a clumsy mess?"
Chen Yuan still didn’t react.
Sha Ying rubbed his nose. "Fine, consider it none of my business."
Huo Tingshan said coolly, "Have this settled by tomorrow."
Sha Ying bowed: "As you command."
The matter was simple enough. If the Grand General and Chen Yuan didn’t want them, plenty of others would.
That afternoon, after finishing her lessons, Meng Ling'er was about to return to her quarters when she spotted two carriages leaving the estate.
Her sharp ears caught the sound of women’s voices inside. Curious, she looked over just as a gust of wind lifted the carriage curtains slightly, revealing several young ladies seated within.
One of them, she was certain, was the same girl she had encountered earlier that day.
Meng Ling'er froze.
Were they leaving?
Zhang Zhizi also noticed Meng Ling'er and quickly pulled the curtain shut, her face flashing with panic.
"Zhizi, what’s wrong?"
Zhang Zhizi forced a smile: "Nothing. Just felt a bit unwell from the wind."
"You’re not feeling well? Then you won’t be able to serve any noble guests for a while. What a shame."
Zhang Zhizi gritted her teeth silently.
Meng Ling'er stood there for a moment, watching until the carriages disappeared from sight. Instead of heading back, she detoured to the Blossom Garden.
It was empty—not a single lady remained.
Meng Ling'er rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought for a moment, then went to find Pei Ying.
"...So they were only here for a few days and then left?" Meng Ling'er sat beside Pei Ying, slouching lazily against her mother like a boneless creature.
Pei Ying: "Perhaps they had other matters to attend to."
Meng Ling'er snorted: "Good riddance. At least they won’t accuse me of anything again."
Pei Ying, sensing her daughter’s lingering irritation, gently prodded for details.
Unable to keep it to herself, Meng Ling'er spilled everything about the noon incident, ending with a triumphant wave of her fist: "I wasn’t scared of two of them—even three more wouldn’t have been a problem!"
Pei Ying pinched her arm, noting it felt firmer than before: "Our Nannan is so strong."
"Chen Yuan is a good teacher," Meng Ling'er admitted, then wilted like a flower. "But it’s so exhausting. After every training session, I need Shui Su to massage me, or I’ll be sore the next day."
Pei Ying thought for a moment: "We’ve been in Yuanshan Commandery for a while now but haven’t gone out much. Since you have a day off the day after tomorrow, why don’t we take a stroll outside?"
Meng Ling'er instantly perked up.
Her current schedule was six days of study followed by one day of rest. Last time, she’d spent the whole day sleeping. This time, a trip to the market sounded perfect.
"Alright, Mother. It’s a promise!"
After arranging the outing, Meng Ling'er felt her aches vanish. She happily devoured a meal of stir-fried pork at Pei Ying’s place before skipping back to her own courtyard.
As winter approached, the days grew shorter. In this era, nightlife was nonexistent—people rose with the sun and retired at dusk.
As darkness enveloped the land, lanterns across the city were extinguished.
Pei Ying, too, retired early that night. Since the last time he had applied medicine to her, that man hadn’t mentioned it again.
Perhaps he’d grown bored, she thought.
She never doubted men’s fickleness, especially in an age where women were treated as resources. Men of power could easily amass a collection of beautiful companions.
Women were like garments to them—something to adorn themselves with. But even the finest clothes grew stale with time.
Pei Ying assumed Huo Tingshan had lost interest. Or perhaps, after their intimacy, he’d realized he still preferred women who knew how to please him.
Good. At least she wouldn’t have to live in constant unease.
That night, Pei Ying slept soundly once more.
The crimson sun rose, heralding a new day.
Nothing seemed different from the day before. Pei Ying shared breakfast with Huo Tingshan as usual before they went their separate ways—he to his duties, she to her leisure.
Whether it was because the perceived threat had passed, Pei Ying felt the air in the estate smelled fresher somehow.
"Put this pot here. Move that one over a bit."
"Squad Leader, this one’s wilting—is it dying? I’ve never taken care of these before. What do I do?"
"Shut your mouth. If you don’t know, don’t jinx it."
"Squad Leader, this one doesn’t look good either."
The voices came from the rear garden.
Pei Ying blinked in curiosity and, unable to resist, went to investigate.
The estate’s rear garden was spacious, adorned with artificial hills, exotic stones, lush greenery, and a small bridge over a murmuring stream—a picture of elegance.
A garden often reflects its owner's tastes—for instance, the former Governor of Jizhou was fond of artificial rockeries and exotic stones, while the Dream Fulfillment Master, who once occupied the residence of the Changping Commandery's governor, preferred rare and unusual plants.
However...
Pei Ying stared in astonishment at the clusters of precious flowers lying not far away, each bundle wrapped in burlap with soil still clinging to their roots.
These blooms looked familiar—she was certain she had seen them in Changping Commandery. But why transport them all the way to Yuanshan Commandery? The journey was long and arduous.
"Madam Pei."
"Madam Pei."
The soldiers saluted her as she approached, and the previously lively garden grew noticeably more subdued in her presence.
"Were these brought from Changping Commandery?" Pei Ying asked.
The Squad Leader confirmed, "Indeed."
Pei Ying sighed inwardly. Judging by the sheer number of uprooted plants, it seemed the entire garden from Changping had been dug up and relocated. "But why go through the trouble? These flowers are delicate—they might not survive such a long journey."
The distance between Changping and Yuanshan took three days by carriage, or two if one traveled nonstop. While not excessively far, the trip was grueling for fragile exotic blooms.
The Squad Leader replied plainly, "It was General Huo Tingshan's order."
As for why the general had issued such a command, even the Squad Leader couldn't fathom it.
These things were neither edible nor practical, yet they demanded meticulous care, wilting at the slightest displeasure. Aside from their beauty, they were utterly useless.
Pei Ying paused, recalling Huo Tingshan's faintly disdainful expression when he had last seen the garden in Changping.
Had she misread him? Perhaps he hadn't disliked the flowers at all—maybe he had coveted them so deeply that his frown stemmed from envy, seeing such treasures in the possession of the Dream Fulfillment Master.
Just as Sima Guang was known for his obsession with collecting inksticks, could Huo Tingshan have a weakness for rare flowers?
Pei Ying found the theory plausible.
At noon, Pei Ying was once again invited by Huo Tingshan to dine together.
"I heard you visited the garden. What did you think?" His tone was calm.
Pei Ying wondered if he was showing off. "Quite magnificent."
The corners of Huo Tingshan's lips lifted slightly, but before he could speak, Pei Ying added, "Though those flowers are terribly delicate. Many were damaged during the journey—such a pity for someone who treasures them as much as you do."
Huo Tingshan's smile faded.
