36: Chapter 36 Beautiful women have always had tragic fates (7)

07 Jiangnan Capital — Yezhou

Jiangnan is a prosperous land, a land of fish and rice.

At dusk, in a large mansion within the city, Wan Xianzhi, the richest man in Jiangnan, was frowning.

"Master, is something troubling you?" Having been married for many years, how could Madam Wan fail to notice?

Wan Xianzhi put down the brush in his hand and said, "I have been in business for many years, and I consider myself to have never bullied others with power or taken advantage of people in precarious positions. But now, for this piece of soft jade, I have caused people to be imprisoned... My heart is uneasy."

"What does the Prince say?"

"The Prince gives me no room to maneuver, setting a one-month deadline to obtain the most flawless, rare soft jade before the Lantern Festival on December 16 to present to that Miss Bai."

"The Prince has already sent quite a few rare treasures to that Miss Bai, hasn't he?"

"Who is to say otherwise?" Wan Xianzhi sighed again.

"And what are that Miss Bai's intentions?"

"I heard a while ago that, accompanied by the King of West Chu, Chu Yao, she toured the scenery of West Chu, but she will be coming to my Jiangnan territory next month. She has accepted the Prince's invitation to watch the Yezhou Lantern Festival."

Madam Wan nodded.

"This Miss Bai has quite the background. The Prince has been running to the West Chu border quite a bit these past few months. I'm just afraid that..."

"Afraid of what?"

Wan Xianzhi and his wife share a deep bond, and he never keeps his affairs from her. "The reason the Prince values this Miss Bai is largely due to her status, but the letters from the Wuzhong and East Lake branches..." Wan Xianzhi hesitated. "There is also a fairy-like Miss Bai over there."

"Ah?" Even though Madam Wan was knowledgeable, she had not expected this.

"The way that one over there conducts herself sounds more like a member of the Bai Clan than the one the Prince is pursuing."

"Then... does the Prince know about this?"

"He has likely heard rumors, but probably not in the detail that I have. I have a Wan family rice shop in East Lake city. A while ago, a fairy-like figure arrived at the refugee camp in the northern suburbs. Not only was her appearance as radiant as a celestial maiden, but her conduct was also extremely courageous. She brought those refugees into complete submission, and the garrison commander of East Lake praised her endlessly. Everyone was convinced by her."

"After hearing this news, I was suspicious, so I ordered my men to collect information regarding her previous whereabouts."

"In a small town on the outskirts of Wuzhong, she taught the common people how to defend against barbarian raids, instructed them on planting high-yield crops, and helped the local villagers with flood prevention and drainage. When she left Wuzhong, the people of Wuzhong knelt in succession to see her off."

"Although the records are incomplete, I surmise that she must be an extraordinary woman."

"That is why I am worried..." Wan Xianzhi's following words were self-evident.

Madam Wan tightened her grip on her handkerchief, worried... Compared to the one accompanied by the Prince, touring the mountains and waters, the latter seemed more like a fake.

A commotion came from outside the door.

A servant came running, passing through several doors before dashing into the study, panting heavily. "Mas—Master, Master, the Fuji Rice Shop... someone has come to visit the prisoners."

The worry that had been on Wan Xianzhi's face while he sat at his desk instantly dissipated. He stood up hurriedly and asked, "What kind of person? Is it their owner?"

"Yes, it is the owner, that is what they said." The servant panted, "The government office sent word that it is two young ladies."

"The white-clad young lady in the lead left word that she is staying at Wanlin Pavilion and told us to go find her there if we have any business."

Wanlin Pavilion? Isn't that his own property?

"This person is quite interesting. It seems she knows we have designs on something, so I shall go and meet her." Wan Xianzhi's chubby, round face beamed with a smile, looking quite amicable.

The door to the private room in Wanlin Pavilion was knocked upon, and a pleasant, clear "Please come in" came from within.

A stick of incense ago, if anyone had told Wan Xianzhi that he would be swayed by a young woman, it would have been absolute nonsense. But a stick of incense later, the look in his eyes grew increasingly bright, as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.

After the initial amazement and attraction, he felt an irrepressible ecstasy in his heart.

In the eyes of others, the young lady before him was like a celestial maiden from the heavens, but in Wan Xianzhi's eyes, she was no celestial maiden—she was his God of Wealth descended to earth.

"So, Miss, do you truly have a route to the Western Regions?"

"Naturally, I do." Zhao Yan nodded. "Otherwise, Master Wan would not have had my people arrested and imprisoned to force me to show myself."

Wan Xianzhi's old face flushed, but he did not fidget. He said sincerely, "This matter was indeed my fault, and I apologize, Miss. It is truly because the higher-ups were pushing too hard; I was in a helpless situation and made a terrible move. I will immediately notify the government office to release them at once, and any losses suffered by the shopkeeper and staff will be charged to my Wan family."

"Then I shall trouble you, Master Wan."

Wan Xianzhi was from Yandu, Liang State. Orphaned in his youth, he wandered to Jiangnan. With a sharp mind, diligence, and upright character, he won the admiration of the only daughter of a wealthy Jiangnan merchant named Li, and married her. They have been happily married ever since, with three sons and one daughter.

What Zhao Yan had gathered was only the surface. Someone who climbed from the bottom to become the richest man in Jiangnan, and even the richest in Liang State, must have some methods. It was just that Jiangnan was now somewhat wary of him, as his assets in various countries were already wealthy enough to rival a nation.

However, he and the Prince of Jiangnan, Li Nanxi, had a very close relationship.

In other words, he was essentially Li Nanxi's money bag.

When Zhao Yan first arrived in Jiangnan, she saw that the rice shop's doors had been sealed. After asking around, she learned that it seemed to be because the prefect's brother-in-law had taken a fancy to the shop's business and often sent people to provoke them. The shopkeeper and staff had repeatedly backed down, but this time, those hooligans had actually molested the shopkeeper's wife and daughter, leading to a brawl between the two sides.

Both sides suffered some injuries, though only minor ones. However, since the other party had backing, the government office sent men to take everyone from the rice shop away and threw them into prison.

As for this rice shop, it was inconspicuous and not a very profitable business. Why would the prefect's brother-in-law take a fancy to it? There was likely more to the story. Zhao Yan realized upon reflection that someone must have discovered something amiss.

This was no ordinary rice shop.

All the merchants she had across the five countries had transit points within their respective territories. The transit point here in Jiangnan was this inconspicuous rice shop.

Tea and brushes from East Lake, ginseng and livestock from Beichuan, water tobacco and fine wine from Wuzhong, wolfberry and saffron from West Chu—when these goods arrived in Jiangnan, they first entered the backyard of this rice shop before being distributed and sent to other local spots for sale. There were even routes further afield; for instance, high-yield and filling agricultural crop seeds like potatoes and corn brought into the Central Plains by Western Region merchants were all uniformly distributed and arranged for shipment from the local transit points upon reaching the five countries.

The route to the Western Regions, in particular, was time-consuming and arduous. The journey was long, and the hardships and dangers could be imagined. Those who set out were not ordinary merchants, but elite secret guards personally led by Uncle Fu.

Over a year ago, Zhao Yan had ordered people to set up points everywhere, travel extensively, and draw maps, all to better open up trade routes and connect the economic lifelines of the five countries.

To rebuild the Liang State, provisions and wealth were indispensable.

In the early stages, it indeed cost a lot of money and manpower, but in the later stages, the benefits were very obvious. Now, profits were already growing steadily.

Wan Xianzhi's powers of observation and keenness made Zhao Yan marvel. They had been so careful in their actions, yet he was still able to see the trickery in this Fuji Rice Shop. One could imagine this man's meticulous mind and the information network he had spread across the Central Plains.

"To be honest, Miss, I have a request, and I hope you can help."

"Master Wan, please speak."

"The Fuji Rice Shop does not only sell rice, grain, and the like; it also has many scarce materials, covering the entire Central Plains, and even silks passed on to the Western Regions. I do have transportation lines in the Central Plains, but I do not have any for the Western Regions. The Western Regions are far away, and there are too many variables, making it difficult to open up. Since you have these rare items, you must have your own merchant caravans and routes. I will not ask about these; everyone has their own secrets. I only want to ask you, Miss, is there a type of jade in the Western Regions called soft jade? It is pure white, with a smooth luster, and a tough and delicate texture. It is said that the person who wears it can eliminate internal heat, moisten the heart and lungs, nourish the five internal organs, calm the soul, and smooth the blood vessels?"

"Indeed, there is. Depending on its purity, the fewer the impurities, the better the efficacy."

"I just want to ask to buy such a piece of soft jade with almost no impurities from you. You name the price."

Zhao Yan lightly rubbed her thumb against her index finger and smiled, her tone becoming a bit lighter. "Master Wan is buying this to give to someone? And a woman at that."

"How did you know?"

"Women prefer this, especially a woman who is learned and knowledgeable."

Wan Xianzhi looked at the young girl before him in admiration and nodded; she had guessed correctly.

If it were not for the Prince trying to curry favor with that Saintess Bai of the hermit Bai Clan, he would not have to do such difficult things, making himself out to be like a bully who forcibly takes things, colluding with officials to throw people into prison at the slightest disagreement.

"Soft jade with almost no impurities is indeed hard to find, but, as it happens, I have one."

This was something Uncle Fu had scouted out during his first time leading a team to open a path to the Western Regions. She thought it looked nice, so she had kept it.

"Miss, name your price, just say it. This favor of parting with the jade, consider it a favor I, Wan, owe you."

One could not even see how she moved; with a casual wave of her wide sleeves, a piece of radiant white jade appeared in her palm. It was truly crystal clear and incomparably warm and moist.

"I do not lack gold, silver, or jewelry." Zhao Yan seemed uninterested.

Wan Xianzhi's heart jumped to his throat again. That was true; she even held the routes he could not open in her hands, so would she lack money?

If she were truly unwilling to part with it, what should he do?

Wan Xianzhi's mind had already raced through a thousand thoughts, but fortunately, the young lady opposite him quickly gave him some reassurance.

"I have long heard that Master Wan is a heroic, open-minded, and upright person, and I have been wanting to make your acquaintance. I wonder if Master Wan would be willing to make a friend of me?"

"Miss, you are a heroine who does not yield to men; of course, I would be delighted."

Zhao Yan placed the soft jade on the corner of the table and gently pushed it toward Wan Xianzhi, smiling slightly. "Since we are friends, then I, Zhao Yan, shall present this piece of soft jade to Master Wan as a token of our first meeting."

Wan Xianzhi's eyes widened. Such a treasure was not something one just gave away; such jade was hard to come by.

"I hope you will not decline." Zhao Yan pushed it further toward him.

Wan Xianzhi carefully scrutinized her, seeing that her expression did not seem fake. With a complex expression, he nodded and agreed. "Then many thanks, Miss. In the future, if there is anything you need from me, Wan, just speak up."

Zhao Yan smiled. "Master Wan, rest assured. I, Zhao Yan, swear here that I will not engage in any wrongdoing, nor will I defy the world at large. If one day I must ask something of you, it will surely be for the benefit of the country and the people."

Only then did Wan Xianzhi breathe a sigh of relief. He had spoken impulsively a moment ago and regretted it afterward. What if—? Now, hearing her say this, and seeing the clarity in the young lady's eyes, without a shred of hidden malice, he finally put his heart back in its place.

Afterward, the two chatted, and things became much more harmonious.

As a result of the chat, Wan Xianzhi was amazed; the young girl was young, yet extremely knowledgeable. Not only in business, but even in water conservancy, agricultural planting, and even the art of leading troops and maintaining balance—she touched upon everything, and the topics were quite profound.

The young girl's eyes were curved in a smile, unhurried, neither humble nor pushy. Speaking with her felt like a breath of fresh air; he wished he could immediately count her as a friend across generations—it was truly a case of meeting too late.

When Wan Xianzhi came out of the private room in Wanlin Pavilion, he was in a daze. He had actually been able to converse eloquently for half a day with a woman nearly twenty years his junior, and he still felt unsatisfied.

Suddenly, Wan Xianzhi slapped his forehead, a flash of inspiration hitting him. He finally understood what was wrong.

Her appearance was ethereal, like a fairy; dressed all in white, she was transcendent and refined. "And she is also surnamed Bai!"

Could it be that the one inside was the same one from East Lake and Wuzhong?

That's right, what had she said earlier? That she heard the Fuji Rice Shop was in trouble and had rushed over from East Lake with her guards overnight.

He turned to look at the closed door, his expression unreadable. How could there be so many capable people in the world? As soon as it was said that the Bai Clan had come out of the mountains, two white-clad fairies appeared out of thin air, both surnamed Bai. It was very thought-provoking.

When he had followed the Prince in West Chu, he had been fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of that one—the same snow-white attire, the same outstanding appearance. But that one was arrogant and cold, while this one was gentle, soft, and eloquent; their temperaments were vastly different.

His heart tightened, and he felt increasingly uneasy. Clutching the rare soft jade, he walked quickly toward the Prince's mansion.

When he arrived at the Prince's mansion, he presented the lustrous, crystal-clear, rare soft jade with both hands.

It felt warm and delicate to the touch. Li Nanxi clicked his tongue in wonder. "Is this the soft jade that can eliminate internal heat, moisten the heart and lungs, nourish the five internal organs, calm the soul, and smooth the blood vessels?"

"Exactly."

Li Nanxi played with the jade in his hands and gently placed it near his nose. A faint, subtle fragrance drifted out, indescribable—sweet, light, distant, and fresh. It made one feel unconsciously joyful.

Glancing at Wan Xianzhi, who was standing to the side with an uneasy expression, he asked casually, "Anything else?"

Wan Xianzhi pondered and asked cautiously, "Prince, when will that Miss Bai depart for my Jiangnan?"

Li Nanxi looked over with his elegant eyes.

"Prince, are you sure that the one beside the King of West Chu is the Saintess of the Bai Clan?"

"That is only natural. Otherwise, how could Chu Yao treat her as a precious treasure and protect her so?"

Wan Xianzhi added, "Is there a possibility that the King of West Chu has also been deceived?"

Li Nanxi immediately felt something was wrong. The word "also" was used perfectly.

Li Nanxi understood Wan Xianzhi; he was not one to make baseless claims.

"The hermit Bai Clan has enjoyed great renown since the founding of the Liang State. The ancestor, Bai Shang, was the military strategist for the founding emperor of the Liang State, Emperor Wu of Liang. Emperor Wu of Liang was peerless in martial arts and had great ambition; Bai Shang was a white-faced scholar with great wisdom. He could devise strategies, and the two complemented each other. In the end, Emperor Wu of Liang founded the Liang State."

"Afterward, Bai Shang achieved success and retired, voluntarily resigning and taking the Bai clansmen to live in seclusion on the top of the snowy mountains. Emperor Wu of Liang was reluctant to let him go and tried hard to persuade him to stay. At that time, Bai Shang said that he had already become indifferent to fame and wealth, was tired of the secular world, and only sought peace for the world and to return to the fields. If one day the world were in chaos and the people of the Central Plains needed him, he would naturally send the Bai clansmen down the mountain to help, choosing a wise ruler to assist."

"Over the hundreds of years of imperial succession in the Liang State, the Bai clansmen have also been rumored to be increasingly magical."

"In these hundreds of years, the Bai clansmen have come out of the mountains three times, and each time they have appeared, the world has changed drastically. The Bai clansmen are proficient in classics, strange arts, military strategy, and Taoism. Both times, they selected people with great talent to assist, helping them ascend to the throne. For example, the fourth ruler of the Liang State, Emperor Jing of Liang, was of humble origin, born to a palace maid. Fortunately, he was selected by the Bai clansmen to be assisted, turning the tide and finally ascending the throne."

Li Nanxi was a bit confused; he naturally knew about this. What did Wan Xianzhi mean by saying this now?

"Prince, you have spent quite some time with the one beside the King of West Chu. Does the Prince think that Miss Bai fits the description?"