Sun Zheng shook his head. “Chen Xi certainly appears to be nothing more than a businessman. The people he associates with most are those who have business dealings with him.”
Jiang Chun frowned. “He hasn’t had any contact with influential nobles or aristocratic clans?”
Sun Zheng shook his head again. “No. His daily activities are simple as well. At present, there’s nothing unusual about him.”
“Whether or not he is one of the Sixth Princess’s people, we shouldn’t touch him at this critical juncture. We can use this opportunity to arrange our own people in Fengzhou.”
“However, we can spread some rumors in private and make it difficult for Fengge Pavilion to gain a foothold in Sizhou.”
Jiang Chun lowered his head and pondered. After a moment, he nodded.
Just as the First Prince began arranging for “merchants” to go to Fengzhou, no one knew what had happened, but from the aristocratic clans and nobles of Jiu’an down to ordinary citizens, everyone had learned of Ge Feng’s prosperity—and, even more importantly, of the strength of the Jinyang Army.
It was said that in less than two years, Princess Jinyang had gone from having nothing to reclaiming more than half of the Han territory in Fengzhou.
By comparison, the First Prince, despite possessing abundant resources, had still lost two commanderies in succession. The difference was obvious.
Of course, no one dared say such things openly. Everyone discussed them in private.
Quite a few people had begun considering a move to Fengzhou. Whenever they met, they exchanged thoughts on the matter, while some of the more clever ones even tried to obtain information from Fengge Pavilion.
It was said that Fengge Pavilion’s glass and snow paper were both supplied by Ge Feng. What could be more convincing than someone who had personally done business with Ge Feng?
Hua Yuanyi had not expected the news to spread so quickly. He had not even made a move yet.
But after thinking about it, he immediately understood. The three hundred soldiers from Sizhou who had returned with them were the best possible source of information.
At Fengge Pavilion, Qiu Tai wore a deeply displeased expression. “Brother Chen, you’re not being fair! How could you keep such a wonderful place as Ge Feng from me?”
Chen Xi smiled bitterly. “It’s not that I wanted to keep it from you. When I left Ge Feng, it was truly impoverished—terribly so. It had only one county. Who could have imagined that in just over a year, it would conquer more than half of Fengzhou?”
Qiu Tai glanced around and only spoke after making sure no one was nearby. “Have you met the princess? I heard she’s breathtakingly beautiful.”
Chen Xi thought for a moment before replying, “I have. But if you meet her, her appearance won’t be the first thing you notice.”
Qiu Tai did not quite understand what he meant, but that was not important. He simply pretended that he did.
“Brother Chen, what do you think would happen if I went to Fengzhou and opened an apothecary?”
Chen Xi smiled encouragingly. “It would certainly do well. Fengzhou is poor and lacking in everything. Medicinal herbs should be in short supply too.”
Apart from the Qiu family, Sizhou had countless pharmacies and medical clinics, making the competition fierce.
Fengzhou, on the other hand, had no pharmacy or clinic besides the one Jiang Jin herself had opened. It was a painfully bleak situation.
As Jiang Jin’s territory rapidly expanded and its population grew sharply, medicinal herbs had become one of the things Fengzhou lacked most.
Qiu Tai was eager to give it a try, but then he remembered something and immediately deflated. “Where do you think Lady Hua has gone? I haven’t seen her in so long. If I go to Fengzhou, it’ll probably be even harder to meet her.”
Chen Xi’s lips twitched. He consoled him, “I don’t know either. But if you’re meant to meet, you’ll meet eventually.”
Qiu Tai sighed. “Someone like Lady Hua… After not seeing me for so long, she probably doesn’t even remember me anymore.”
Chen Xi smiled. “There’s no need to be so pessimistic. I think if you can make a name for yourself, you’ll give her an even better reason to remember you.”
Qiu Tai’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Suppressing his guilty conscience, Chen Xi nodded firmly.
Qiu Tai grew excited. “Brother Chen, give me some advice. What should I do?”
Chen Xi glanced around, then lowered his voice and repeated something he had already told countless people over the past few days.
“Since we’re brothers, if you’re thinking of going to Fengzhou, I have a few connections there. I can’t promise much, but I can help you rent a good storefront and purchase a decent residence.”
“If you don’t have a suitable means of transportation, I can also arrange a safe vessel to transport your goods. Overland travel is too dangerous. Sea transport is safer.”
Qiu Tai’s face brightened. He too lowered his voice. “Y-You have connections in Fengzhou?”
Chen Xi waved his hand. “That’s too grand a way to put it. I was simply one of the earliest people to settle in Ge Feng, so I made a few connections there.”
Jiang Chun soon learned that many people in Sizhou wanted to go to Fengzhou. He was so furious that he smashed two more cups, yet there was nothing he could do.
His good imperial sister had already placed herself in the open. He himself had arranged for “merchants” to go to Fengzhou. If he tried to stop everyone else, it would only make him appear petty.
At that moment, he bitterly regretted sending people to Fengzhou in the first place. His attempt to assert dominance had failed, and instead he had caused trouble for himself, leaving the people of Sizhou restless.
What infuriated him even more was that he had finally learned that in Ge Feng, glass was an ordinary household item found in common people’s homes.
And he, like a clown, had treated glass as a rare treasure for so long, proudly showing it off to everyone he met.
The thought made him feel as though he might vomit blood.
Sun Zheng consoled him, “They’re merely ignorant petty merchants. None of the nobles or great clans have made a move.”
The nobles and great clans owned vast amounts of land and resources in Sizhou. They would not leave unless absolutely forced to.
Of course, that did not rule out the possibility that some of them would send servants to Fengzhou to investigate the situation.
Seeing that the First Prince still wore a dark expression, Sun Zheng thought for a moment and quickly realized what was troubling him. The muscles on his face twitched involuntarily.
“Fengge Pavilion certainly went too far. But glass is fragile, and the journey from Ge Feng to Sizhou is a long one. It’s only natural for them to sell it at a higher price. Besides, rare goods command high prices, and you really are the only person in Sizhou who possesses glass.”
Sun Zheng was not wrong about that. Even Fengge Pavilion itself had been unable to afford glass. Every piece they had at the time had been sold to the First Prince.
While Sizhou was in turmoil, Ye Shang, in Wenxia City, received a letter from Jiang Jin.
He had now established a status of sorts in Wenxia City. He had joined the Ji Army as its lowest-ranking soldier, ordinarily responsible for patrolling the city and occasionally going out on patrol.
Of course, every patrol included other Ji soldiers, and the captain was always a member of the Ji clan.
Late one night, Ye Shang led his men into a dilapidated courtyard.
The only person inside was an old man. He wore ragged, stiff clothing, and his cheeks were sunken. His complexion was dark and sallow.
“Uncle Liu, didn’t we bring you rice and flour? Why haven’t you eaten any?” Ye Shang asked helplessly.
Uncle Liu shook his head. “I’m old. It doesn’t matter whether I eat or not. I’m used to it. Save the rice and flour for the young people.”
Ye Shang and the others had brought some food into the city, but there had not been much. Aside from what they needed for themselves and what they had given Chu Qing and the others, there was barely anything left to distribute among the city’s residents.
Uncle Liu had once served under Chu Xiong. Later, after injuring his hand and becoming unable to perform strenuous labor, he retired from the army and became one of Chu Xiong’s stewards.
When Chu Xiong realized that Chongzhou could not be defended, he immediately ordered the servants and stewards of the marquis’s residence to flee alongside the common people.
After escaping, Uncle Liu learned of Chu Xiong’s death. Before he had time to grieve, he heard that Chu Qing had been captured and might have been brought to Wenxia City.
After going through great difficulties, he finally found a way to enter Wenxia City.
The reason Chu Qing and the others had managed to survive for so long was due not only to Young Marquis Wei Tai and the people of the city, but also to Uncle Liu’s considerable efforts.
When Ye Shang met Chu Qing for the second time, Chu Qing told him where Uncle Liu was and assured him that the old man could be trusted.
“What brings you here this time?” Uncle Liu asked.
Ye Shang considered his words carefully before saying, “My lord cannot bear to see the young general suffer, so he wishes to seize Wenxia City as soon as possible.”
