When the rain first began a few days ago, everyone was overjoyed. After all, Sizhou had gone two or three years without rain.
There were even rumors circulating among the people that His Majesty was a man blessed by Heaven.
The moment His Majesty ascended the throne, the heavenly dragon returned to its rightful place, and so Heaven had sent down rain to celebrate.
It was said that the First Prince’s residence—or rather, the palace now—had even held a grand banquet to celebrate this heavenly gift of dragon’s grace.
Chen Xi shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Li Tong sighed. “This is a critical time for the crops to ripen. If the rain keeps falling, I’m afraid it may not be a good thing.”
Chen Xi gave a quiet hum. After a moment, he asked, “Have our goods arrived?”
Whether it was glass, snowflake paper, or soap, he was currently the only person selling them.
Other merchants, including the great clans, had sent people to Fengzhou hoping to get into the glass and snowflake-paper business. The profits were simply too high.
However, Jiang Jin refused to sell them wholesale under any circumstances.
As a result, quite a few people were now trying to find their own way into the business.
But Jiang Jin was no fool. A business that was clearly so profitable could not possibly be handed over to others.
Li Tong nodded. “One shipment just arrived. But with the rain falling like this, the roads farther ahead will be difficult to travel.”
Chen Xi said indifferently, “It’s fine. Sell however much we have. It’s the same in Tao Commandery.”
Li Tong replied, “Don’t worry. Everything has already been arranged.”
Chen Xi sighed. “I wonder whether it has rained in Fengzhou.”
Li Tong shook his head. “No. Fortunately, we have the Liu River in Fengzhou. Otherwise, it really would be troublesome.”
As he spoke, his face filled with longing. “I hear Lord has built dozens of waterwheels. I’d really like to see what they look like.”
Chen Xi was stirred by his words as well. Truth be told, he also wanted to see what Fengzhou, built by Lord, looked like.
Besides, it had been a long time since he had seen Chen Xi.
The docks of Daqing Commandery.
Wang Boshan looked at the woman who had come to receive him and felt that she seemed familiar. “You? Have we met somewhere before?”
Yan Ke tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Lord Wang, please show some restraint.”
Wang Boshan: “…”
He thought about it seriously, but still could not recall who the woman before him was. He could not help lamenting that he was indeed getting old and that his memory was failing.
Then he thought of another question. “You have female officials?”
Yan Ke replied unconcernedly, “All the men have gone off to fight. What’s strange about having female officials?”
Wang Boshan: “...That is a reasonable explanation.”
Not at all. It wasn’t as if all the men had been killed. Why would they need to use female officials?
He did not say anything more. He climbed into the carriage while Yan Ke rode alongside it.
Although she was a civil official, her horsemanship and archery skills were quite good.
In fact, most of the civil officials under Lord were proficient horsemen. Otherwise, they would be unable to keep up whenever rapid marches were required.
Wang Boshan lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the busy commoners in the distance. “Are they building a road?”
Yan Ke nodded. “That’s right.”
Only about half a month had passed since the counties of Daqing Commandery had come under Jiang Jin’s control.
The crops had been planted during Lu You’s time and were already close to harvest, so naturally they could not be plowed under and replanted. For the time being, construction efforts were focused mainly on opening roads.
Wang Boshan did not understand why they needed to build roads when there were already roads in place, but this time he said nothing.
Luo Qingci and Li Zan were already waiting for Wang Boshan in the county office’s council hall, which could be considered a gesture of sufficient respect.
When Wang Boshan saw yet another female official—and one whose position was clearly higher than that of the man beside her—his eyes narrowed slightly before he quickly looked away.
Yan Ke bowed to Luo Qingci. “Commandery Governor, the man has been brought back.”
Luo Qingci nodded and looked toward Wang Boshan. “Lord Wang, you have had a difficult journey. Please, sit.”
Wang Boshan’s pupils contracted. Although he had just guessed that the woman’s status was probably quite high, he had not expected her to be the commandery governor.
No, what exactly was going on in Daqing?
Having female officials was one thing, but even the commandery governor had been replaced by a woman?
His mind was a complete muddle, but nothing showed on his face.
Once they had taken their seats according to rank, Luo Qingci got straight to the point. “May I ask what brings Lord Wang to Daqing?”
Wang Boshan did not answer. Instead, he asked, “Shouldn’t Daqing’s commanding officer be General Lu You? Where is he?”
Li Zan smiled as he explained, “The general is unwell and currently resting. If there is anything you need, you may discuss it with the commandery governor.”
Wang Boshan frowned. It seemed that some major changes had taken place in Daqing.
There was a very good chance that this journey would not go smoothly, and he secretly groaned inwardly. His hands, however, moved smoothly as he took out the imperial edict.
“By His Majesty’s command, I have come to—”
Before he could finish, Luo Qingci interrupted him. “His Majesty?”
Wang Boshan did not care whether she truly did not know or was merely pretending. He simply said, “The First Prince ascended the throne and became emperor in the middle of the seventh month. I have come to convey His Majesty’s decree.”
“I see.” Luo Qingci nodded in understanding. “So that is how it is.”
Wang Boshan nodded. “Exactly. His Majesty’s wishes are—”
“Does the First Prince have the late emperor’s edict of succession?” Luo Qingci interrupted him again.
Wang Boshan: “...Everyone knows the late emperor’s condition. Whether or not there was an edict, the First Prince was the rightful heir to the throne.”
Luo Qingci asked again, “Does he have the imperial seal?”
Wang Boshan was briefly at a loss for words. “Dingyang is still in the hands of the Flood Dragon Army, so the imperial seal should still be in Dingyang City. However, both the late emperor and the Crown Prince have passed away. The First Prince is naturally the emperor of the State of Yan for this generation.”
Luo Qingci smiled faintly. “That is a reasonable argument. However, when it comes to succession, what matters most is that it be legitimate and aboveboard. After all, it concerns the fate of the nation and the lives of the people.”
“Since the First Prince has neither an edict of succession nor the imperial seal, his claim is neither legitimate nor properly established.”
Wang Boshan frowned. “That is incorrect. His Majesty is the late emperor’s eldest son. Since ancient times, the throne has passed to the legitimate heir or the eldest son. In the absence of a legitimate son, passing it to the eldest son is in accordance with Heaven’s will.”
Luo Qingci shook her head. “Who says the late emperor had no legitimate child? Was the Sixth Princess not born of the empress?”
Wang Boshan froze for a moment before frowning. “Since ancient times, there has never been a woman who became emperor.”
As he recalled something, his expression turned solemn. “Could it be that the Sixth Princess has said something to Daqing? Or has Daqing already submitted to the Sixth Princess?”
Luo Qingci’s expression did not change. “Of course not. However, Daqing borders Fengzhou, and we are all Han Chinese. We have cooperated with the Sixth Princess before. The Jinyang Army is powerful enough to ensure Daqing’s security to a certain extent.”
She raised her eyes to look at Wang Boshan, her expression seeming to carry a faint hint of amusement. “May I ask what the First Prince can offer Daqing?”
Wang Boshan finally understood Daqing’s position.
It was not that they refused to submit to His Majesty. They simply wanted benefits.
And they were using Fengzhou as leverage. Were they trying to keep their options open?
Or were they planning to see who offered the greater price?
Wang Boshan narrowed his eyes slightly and secretly studied Luo Qingci’s expression, but her face was calm, revealing nothing of her thoughts.
His emotions were complicated. She was merely a young commandery governor, yet she could keep her feelings completely hidden. Clearly, she was no simple person.
After a moment of silence, he asked, “May I ask what Daqing intends to do now?”
Before coming, he had considered using force to intimidate them. After all, Daqing had only three counties left and could not compare with Sizhou in any respect.
Therefore, neither he nor His Majesty had ever imagined that Daqing would dare refuse to submit to Sizhou.
But now that Daqing had brought out the Sixth Princess of Fengzhou, he had to weigh the situation carefully.
Whether one considered geography or strength, Daqing would gain far more by favoring Fengzhou than by favoring Sizhou.
