“What does the letter say?” He Yuan asked nervously. He had never met this cousin, Duan Wangfei, but he knew she was quite formidable.
He was worried that the family troubles with the He household might make the Wangfei think he was incompetent—even unable to protect his wife and child.
Just as Xu Jishu was about to speak, his wife, Madam An, came over upon hearing that her sister-in-law had arrived.
Xu Qingyao smiled and said, “You two talk. I’ll go have a word with Sister-in-law.”
Madam An smiled at her and said, “I was just thinking of sending for you. Yesterday they brought up a huge fish from the sea—let’s try it today.”
“Wonderful, Sister-in-law. I’m in for a treat again today.”
“I’ll have someone bring our nephew over too, save you an extra trip,” Madam An said gently, with a soft voice and careful manners.
Xu Qingyao really liked this sister-in-law and said to her, “It’s a letter from the Wangfei. I was afraid of delaying official business, so I came myself.”
Madam An nodded slightly. “I’ve prepared some seafood. Once it’s dried, I’ll send it to the capital. If not for the Wangfei’s care, how would we have our good life today?”
“I’ll prepare a portion too,” Xu Qingyao said, feeling a little guilty. She hadn’t even sent any local gifts to her cousin since arriving in Donggang.
“I’ve already included yours as well—no need to worry,” Madam An replied. She knew her husband only had this one sister, and her in-laws treasured her like the apple of their eye.
She had thought it would be difficult to get along, but after marrying in, Qingyao had treated her with genuine sincerity, helping her get used to life in the household quickly. Their personalities matched well, and they got along like real sisters.
Madam An led Qingyao to the main hall and casually asked, “Why did the Wangfei’s letter go to you this time? Before, it always went to your brother.”
Xu Qingyao smiled at the question. “I wasn’t here before, so she had to send it to Brother. Now that she knows I’m in Donggang, of course it comes to me.” She leaned in and said softly, “Sister-in-law, after all, my brother is a man outside the family. The Wangfei has to be mindful of appearances.”
Madam An relaxed her grip on her handkerchief slightly and said in a soft voice, “Wangfei truly is an exceptional person.”
Despite her own success, she still went out of her way to support her relatives.
“That’s for sure. When you meet her someday, you’ll know—she’s really the best kind of person.”
“How could I not know? Before Wangfei acknowledged her family and returned to the capital, who in our circles hadn’t heard of the eldest daughter of the Duan family?”
As the daughter of the wealthiest family in Jiangcheng, in the eyes of merchants like them, she was like the moon hanging high in the sky.
They knew she was skilled in both civil and martial matters, that she led convoys with a long spear, and that even common bandits didn’t dare lay a finger on her.
They knew she had a great talent for business—even the most difficult ventures would show a glimmer of hope in her hands.
She also knew that the Wangfei had once been her husband’s beloved.
But she also knew clearly that it was one-sided—most likely, the Wangfei wasn’t even aware.
When she had first married, her husband had given her a congratulatory gift from the Wangfei: a jade carving symbolizing many sons, much happiness, and long life. When she saw that, she knew the Wangfei had truly offered her best wishes.
Her husband was a sincere and honest man. After marrying her, even if his heart had someone else in it, he still treated her with respect and care.
She should be content—it was only one-sided affection. But humans are often unsatisfied. She too hoped that one day, her husband would fully let go of the Wangfei.
Still, this letter today made Madam An feel quite conflicted—Wangfei truly was a thoughtful person.
As she chatted with her sister-in-law, she added, “This time, my family’s goods are being loaded onto the ships too.”
Madam An’s family made lacquerware. As a married-out daughter, she usually stayed out of her family’s business. After moving to Donggang with her husband, even if she wanted to help her family, she didn’t ask her husband directly.
She had wanted to observe first, and if things looked good, send a letter to her brother to scout the place. Only if things got difficult would she ask her husband for help.
What she hadn’t expected was that her husband had taken the initiative and written to her family himself. When her brother arrived in Donggang, that was the first she’d heard of it.
Now, with this sea voyage, their family’s goods could also be loaded onto the ships. Her husband valued her family, which naturally made her feel happy.
Xu Qingyao smiled and said, “That’s great news. If it sells well, things will only get better from here.”
Madam An thought the same. They were all benefiting thanks to the Duan family. If her husband could feast, it was more than enough for her family to sip the broth.
As the two women chatted and laughed, in the other room, Xu Jishu put away the letter and said to He Yuan, “I plan to go to Dongjiang and check things out myself.”
He Yuan shook his head. “I’ll go. You’ve met Governor Gao before—if he sees you, it may not go smoothly. I’m unfamiliar to him, so I’ll be better suited.”
Xu Jishu was still hesitating, but He Yuan made the decision firmly.
A favor received must be repaid.
“Then be careful. They’re taxing all sea voyages in Dongjiang—things might not be going well there. Don’t act rashly—just gather information and come back.”
“Don’t worry.”
The next day, He Yuan went to Dongjiang and spent half a month traveling along its coast. Only after getting a clear picture of the situation did he return to Donggang.
He carefully reported everything, and Xu Jishu personally wrote a letter and sent it to the capital through a trusted aide.
Mingxi was quite surprised to receive the reply so quickly. After reading it thoroughly, she put it away and handed it to Xiao Muchen when he returned to the residence.
As Xiao Muchen took the letter, he casually asked, “Whose letter is this?”
“From Donggang. Take a look first.” Mingxi took the cloak he removed and hung it on the intricately carved huanghuali clothes rack.
Xiao Muchen sat on the couch by the window and opened the letter. As he read, his expression turned serious.
Mingxi brought in tea and set it beside him. “Does it match the intelligence your men gathered?”
Xiao Muchen shook his head. “Different channels. This letter’s information mainly comes from local fishermen, while my people went through official routes.”
Mingxi understood and sat opposite him, speaking slowly. “I heard that Zhang Gelao submitted a memorial asking His Majesty to merge the Dongjiang coast with Donggang under the jurisdiction of the Maritime Bureau.”
Xiao Muchen nodded. “The discovery of the island’s silver mine is good news for the national treasury, but taxation is the real foundation of the country. Unifying the coastal regions isn’t a bad move—but beneath the surface, it’s likely about consolidating power. That’s the real goal.”
“Why would Zhang Gelao suddenly propose such a memorial? What’s his intention?”
Xiao Muchen shook his head. “Zhang Gelao has always been attuned to the Emperor’s wishes.”
Mingxi’s heart sank. That meant this could very well be the Emperor’s intention.
“Do you think the policies Gao Zhan is implementing are part of this plan too?”
A sharp look flashed in Xiao Muchen’s eyes. “Whether they are or not, the outcome will make them so.”
“You’ve decided, then?”
“Yes,” Xiao Muchen stared at Mingxi. “I plan to add fuel to the fire—give Gao Zhan another push upward. That will surely shake up Donghua Palace.”
This time, the Emperor must abolish the Empress. Only when the Empress is completely toppled will Donghua Palace lose all hope of turning the tide.
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