Zhao Quan never expected that the White Lotus Sect, painstakingly built over twenty years, would begin to snowball from this year's drought. In less than a year, it grew uncontrollably, and by the winter famine, it was like an avalanche—completely unstoppable.
Half of the fifty thousand followers were driven away by hunger, leaving insufficient manpower for reclaiming wasteland and farming next year. The tree hadn't fallen, but half the monkeys had scattered.
His credibility, reputation, and authority all collapsed during this famine. Sitting on his White Lotus throne in the empty hall, not a single subordinate showed up—clearly, they had conspired in advance to withhold grain contributions.
Unknowingly, the esteemed sect leader had been sidelined.
The mid- and high-level followers who controlled the wealth treated the White Lotus Sect as a tool for amassing fortune. They ate meat with every meal, never went hungry, and didn't believe in the sect's teachings at all. So when the leader demanded they contribute funds to sustain the sect, they collectively rebelled, even intending to turn him into a puppet.
Thus, the only ones Zhao Quan could rely on to regain control were the starving lower-level followers. Half had already been lured away by the ballad promising "return to the homeland, open wasteland, have plenty to eat and surplus grain, five years tax-free with no levies," abandoning their faith to become lawful citizens inside the Pass. The remaining half of loyal believers would either starve to death or question their faith if they had no food left.
With no way out, Zhao Quan took his keys, opened his private treasury, gritted his teeth, and ordered, "Use it all to buy grain. Tell our followers: Join the sect to avoid disaster. If you have no food, come to me. I won't let a single believer starve to death."
Zhao Quan staked everything he had, just as he did over twenty years ago when he founded the White Lotus Sect, was besieged by the imperial court, and forced to lead his followers beyond the Pass to seek refuge with Anda Khan.
Burn the boats—succeed or die.
Aside from digging into his own pockets to buy grain, Zhao Quan had no other options. The forty thousand dan of grain "lent" to Anda Khan was surely a case of "meat buns thrown at a dog—gone forever." If the White Lotus Sect continued to let people starve, with its beggars filling the streets of Fengcheng, the sect would be finished.
After news spread of Leader Zhao Quan aiding the followers, Li Zixin sought out Ding Wu again. "You guessed right. The combined wealth of all of us is just a fraction of the leader's. He's so rich, yet he still demanded money from us."
Ding Wu sipped tea leisurely. "He's the leader, after all. A single hair from his body is thicker than our waists. As long as most followers still believe in him, his position is unshakable. If he secures his leadership, scattered wealth will return. Next year, most of the harvest from the Bansheng Land will still end up in his private treasury. I'm afraid we won't get much."
Li Zixin worried about future retaliation. "What do we do now? We've already offended the leader. He might expel us from the sect."
Ding Wu said, "Take out some of our family's grain and distribute it to the followers alongside the leader. Let's share some of his glory. I said it before: if we don't contribute, none of us should; if we contribute, we all do. This famine is something all White Lotus members endure together—it's not the leader's achievement alone. As our leader, he needs us to carry his palanquin. We're still useful to him."
Hearing this, Li Zixin raised his thumb in admiration. "Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."Thus, all mid-to-high-level members of the White Lotus Sect joined their leader in setting up porridge kitchens and distributing food. Zhao Quan was absolutely furious. He had spent his last penny on disaster relief, only to have these stingy misers swoop in at the last moment to share in the credit!
With morale scattered, the team was hard to lead. Zhao Quan gritted his teeth in anger but couldn’t afford to break openly with his subordinates. He thought to himself, "Just wait until I gradually promote newcomers and push all you old foxes aside!"
At the main branch of the Rouge and Powder Shop.
An unexpected guest arrived today—Zhao Quan, leader of the White Lotus Sect. The female proprietor, Wang Daxia, personally welcomed the distinguished visitor, waving a green peacock-feather fan in the dead of winter.
“Oh, Leader Zhao, what a rare guest! What would you like to see? We’ve just received a new beard-care oil and small agate combs for grooming. Use them consistently for a month, and your beard will become dark, glossy, tangle-free, and without split ends.”
Wang Daxia covered her face with the feather fan, leaning close to Zhao Quan’s ear to whisper, “With a beard like that, kissing a girl won’t prick her at all—no girl would complain. Would you like to give it a try, Leader?”
Zhao Quan was truly astounded. He had long heard that the female proprietor of Rouge and Powder was flirtatious to the bone, but he never expected her to be even more seductive than a fox spirit. Adorned with jewels, she wore a sable coat trimmed with fur and a golden-sprinkled Xiangfei skirt, with a flawless white fox fur stole around her neck—its fur as white as a thick layer of snow.
The plush fur of the stole framed her delicate oval face, her lips red and glossy. The powder on her face contained mica flakes, making her shimmer in the backlight, so dazzlingly beautiful it was almost intimidating, making one hesitant to look directly at her.
Such wealth and allure were truly overwhelming. She was indeed an extraordinary woman—no wonder even someone as deep and inscrutable as Ding Wu was captivated by her, visiting her shop constantly.
Zhao Quan said, “Wrap up that beard oil and the amber comb. How much for both?”
Wang Daxia’s enthusiasm burned like summer heat. “Leader Zhao, this is your first visit—how could I possibly take your money? They’re on the house. You’re such a good man! The whole city is talking about how you’ve spent your entire fortune buying grain everywhere to aid your followers.”
At this point, Zhao Quan had no choice but to put on a brave face. “It’s my duty, and it’s the will of heaven. In times of famine, joining our Sacred Sect can help one avoid calamity. Boss Ximen, I’ve come today to discuss a business deal with you.”
Wang Daxia laughed. “Cosmetics are for looking at, not for eating. You’ve come to the wrong place, Leader Zhao.”
Zhao Quan replied, “It’s not about buying cosmetics. I want to buy a connection. The goods at Rouge and Powder Shop all come from within the Central Plains. The Khanate Court and the Ming court have long ceased trade, yet you managed to open channels as soon as you arrived, ensuring smooth passage for your goods. Truly, a woman surpassing men in capability.”
“You must know that I’ve been buying grain everywhere to aid my followers. Prices in Fengcheng have skyrocketed, with everyone trying to profit from me. So, I plan to purchase cheaper grain from within the passes. But over there, I’m a wanted criminal with a thousand-tael bounty on my head—no one dares to do business with me. If you can buy rouge and powder, you can buy grain. Helping the disaster victims is a virtuous deed. I’d like to ask for your assistance—use your connections to buy some grain for me.”Wang Daxia wore a troubled expression. "To be frank with Leader Zhao, while my business appears prosperous, most of the earnings go toward greasing palms. With no official trade between the two nations, even my small ventures require bribes at both checkpoints. At the Khanate Court, I rely on Ding Yuanpan's assistance, while at the Ming border, I have a few old flames... Still, the necessary payoffs are never skimped—everyone needs to make a living."
"Moreover, cosmetics and rouge aren't major commodities involving military or state affairs like grain or ironware, which the Ming strictly prohibits. Those could easily lead to charges of colluding with the enemy. My connections don't dare risk their positions to let grain pass. Leader Zhao, I apologize, but I can't help with this."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Quan thought, What a flirtatious proprietress! She's actually slept her way into connections on both sides!
Still unwilling to give up, Zhao Quan presented Wang Daxia with a box of pearls. "A humble gift for our first meeting, for your amusement. Please consider my request. If successful, you'll be handsomely rewarded."
This woman loves money. With enough incentive, even the timid become bold.
Wang Daxia thought, Why refuse free loot? and "reluctantly" accepted it.
After seeing Zhao Quan off, Ding Wu arrived. Wang Daxia showed him the gift. "What's our next move?"
Ding Wu replied, "Your persona is that of a greedy woman who values wealth above all. So accept whatever he offers. When he asks for favors, claim your old flames at the Ming border fear repercussions and refuse to cooperate. Bleed him dry."
Wang Daxia was ecstatic. "I'll make a pearl shirt for Caiwei with these. It'll be so cooling to wear in summer."
Ding Wu couldn't stand Wang Daxia's taste any longer. "Banxia dislikes ostentatious jewelry. She prefers simple, natural things."
"Impossible." Wang Daxia admired himself in the mirror. "She adores my elaborate attire."
Ding Wu hit the nail on the head. "She merely loves you and indulges your every whim."
These words instantly softened Wang Daxia. "Once we dismantle the White Lotus Sect and your Ding family's name is cleared, we'll return to the capital. I'll resign from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Wei Caiwei and I will settle somewhere bustling. She'll run an apothecary, and I'll open a cosmetics shop across the street. We'll grow old together, raising children and grandchildren. The Guard always has endless tasks and conflicts—what's the point of living like that? I'm busier than a beast of burden, never resting. Married yet not, couple yet not—I always feel I've failed her deep affection."
Ding Wu thought, You're right, you're not like a married couple—you're more like close sisters! Why does my cousin adore you so...
Inside the pass, over the past several months, Wei Caiwei had gained renown in Datong for her exceptional medical skills. Still operating under the name He Daifu, she specialized in gynecology, notably preventing stillbirths in every delivery she attended.
One day, another family summoned her for a difficult labor. Carrying her medical bag, Wei Caiwei rushed to save the patient. From afar, she heard a woman's agonized screams. Pushing the door open, she saw a woman shrieking—but with a completely flat stomach.
The moment she entered, someone hiding behind the door leaped out and subdued her...When Wei Caiwei awoke, she found herself lying in a palace adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes. For a moment, she felt as if she had returned to the Forbidden City, though the depictions here were more rugged. Pushing open the window, she saw nine layers of palace structures—like a miniature version of the Forbidden City.
Someone entered. Wei Caiwei leaned against the window, concealing a hairpin in her sleeve, ready to act.
It was the same woman who had imitated the cries of a woman in labor, now dressed in a Mongolian round-collared robe and wearing strands of turquoise pendants.
Wei Caiwei asked, "Is this... the Han court?"
The woman bowed. "My apologies for the offense, He Daifu. We had no choice but to bring you to the Khanate Court without your consent. Our Hatun is with child and will give birth in a few months. The Great Khan permits no mishaps and has ordered us to seek out Gynecological Masters from all regions to await the delivery. Once the Hatun gives birth, you will be handsomely rewarded and escorted home. You are our honored guest; if you need anything, just call for me. However, you must not leave the Khanate Court."
Wei Caiwei said, "I value cleanliness. I require a hot bath daily and wash my hair every two days. Go to the Rouge and Powder Shop and buy these items for me—"
She picked up a brush and wrote a list. "Give this to the shopkeeper. They will prepare everything accordingly."
The items on the list were only available at the Rouge and Powder Shop and contained a hidden message. The Embroidered Uniform Guard would surely recognize it and realize she had been kidnapped to the Khanate Court.
Author's Note: The rumored girlfriend and the official wife have met—Wang Daxia, aren't you scared! Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated with nutrient solutions between 2020-10-17 19:38:45 and 2020-10-18 03:22:44~
Thanks to the little angel who threw landmines: Contact 1;
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Little Blue 110 bottles; Contact 20 bottles; Xixi Qingxuyuan 17 bottles; Chu Luoci 10 bottles; Huashao, Warmth, Study Hard 1 bottle each;
Thank you all for your support—I will keep working hard!
OpenNovel