Blossom

The page returned and reported, "The Young Lord is checking the accounts."

Zeng Wu immediately kicked the page: "I already knew the Young Lord was checking the accounts! Who is he checking them with? When did he start? How are the profits from the Thirteen Hongs of Guangdong? Can’t you use your brain to find out more? You’re like a tung oil lamp—only bright when someone pokes you!"

The page clutched his kicked thigh and muttered, "Even the Duke doesn’t know the exact profits from the Thirteen Hongs of Guangdong. How would I know?"

"Calling you stupid, and you dare talk back!" Zeng Wu kicked him again. "Couldn’t you at least see if the Young Lord looked happy or not? No wonder you’ve been a page for years without any progress! Go back and find out properly this time!"

Not daring to retort, the page limped off toward the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Zeng Wu dusted his sleeves and thought to himself: I’m not like that idiot Lü Zheng, stupid enough to walk right into the Young Lord’s fists.

Thinking about how Lü Zheng would now be stuck rotting away in the accountant’s office for the rest of his days, he suddenly felt smug. He grabbed a passing maid. "Go, brew me a cup of Big Red Robe."

The maid shot him a disdainful look. "Big Red Robe is tribute tea. We can only take it with the Duke’s permission."

Zeng Wu sneered. "The Duke wants some too. If you don’t believe me, go ask him yourself."

The maid flushed red. Even though she knew he was bluffing, she didn’t dare question Song Yichun. Head bowed, she went to the tea room and brewed him a pot of Big Red Robe.

Sitting leisurely in the Grand Preceptor’s Chair, he sipped his tea. This time, the wiser page returned with something substantial to report: "The visitors are Zhong Bingxiang, the chief manager of the Thirteen Hongs of Guangdong, and the Manor Heads from the farmsteads. The meetings have been going on for five days. The Young Lord is very pleased—last night, he even hosted a banquet at the Drunken Immortal Tower to entertain those managers and Manor Heads."

Zeng Wu’s mind wandered.

Back when the Duke of England’s Mansion and the Hall of Cultivating Will hadn’t split households, Manager Zhong would bring small gifts for the maids and pages every year when he came to the Capital from Guangdong to settle accounts. Even the pawnshops on East Street would offer a tael of silver for them. But ever since the Hall of Cultivating Will stopped sharing meals with the Duke’s household, they never saw Manager Zhong’s gifts again.

All those goodies just go to those bastards in the Hall of Cultivating Will now!

He burned with envy. He remembered one year when Lü Zheng entrusted Zhong Bingxiang with two hundred taels to invest in Guangdong. The next year, that sum had grown to twelve hundred taels. At the time, Zeng Wu had been tempted, but without any silver to his name, he could only drool over the idea. But now… Yesterday, when he accompanied the Duke to a social gathering at the Drunken Immortal Tower, a general had tipped him five taels. A few days before that, the Duke had craved sesame cakes, and Zeng Wu had earned two mace from running the errand… In just seven or eight days of serving the Duke, he already had over ten taels saved up. It wasn’t as much as Lü Zheng had back then, but it was still a decent sum. Maybe he could also ask Zhong Bingxiang to invest it in that same venture.

But would Zhong Bingxiang still be willing to help now?

Lost in thought, he went to report to Song Yichun: "The Young Lord is currently checking accounts with Manager Zhong of the Thirteen Hongs of Guangdong. Though we don’t know this year’s profits for the Hall of Cultivating Will, the Young Lord seems very pleased. Last night, he even hosted Manager Zhong and the others at the Drunken Immortal Tower."Song Yichun was speaking with the Manor Head of Tianjin: "The forests at the entrance of the estate yielded two thousand taels of silver last year. How is it only eight hundred this year?"

Upon hearing Zeng Wu's words, a surge of anger flared up within him, uncontrollably rising higher and higher.

He grabbed the account book and hurled it at the Tianjin Manor Head's head: "Idiot! Can't even answer a simple question—what use are you?"

The sudden outburst startled the Tianjin Manor Head so much that his legs trembled like a sieve, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. "Please calm your anger, Duke! Last year, the weather was favorable, but this summer, strong winds struck. Some trees were uprooted—there are fewer trees this year, so the profits are lower."

Why was it that his forests suffered from storms while Song Mo's Thirteen Hongs remained untouched, not even a whirlwind in sight all year round?

Song Yichun's face darkened with fury, but his peripheral glance accidentally caught Tao Qizhong's expression—a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Being a suspicious man by nature, Song Yichun felt a sudden unease. He immediately shouted, "Guards!" and pointed at the Tianjin Manor Head. "Drag this lying wretch away and give him twenty strokes of the paddle! Let's see if he dares to speak falsehoods!"

The Tianjin Manor Head collapsed to the ground in terror, wailing and begging for mercy. "It wasn’t the wind! I—I wanted to impress you, Duke, so last year I sold all the mature trees. This year, only saplings remain, and they don’t fetch a good price… I’m not lying! If you don’t believe me, ask Liu Da—he knows best!"

Liu Da had been the previous Manor Head of Tianjin. Dissatisfied with the estate’s returns, Song Yichun had replaced him on the recommendation of his personal page, who had praised his cousin’s competence. Yet now, it turned out the man was all talk and no substance!

Trembling with rage, Song Yichun strode forward and kicked the Manor Head several times. "Get out of my sight! Never let me see you again!"

The Manor Head scrambled to his feet in a daze, his face filled with terror as he fled.

Tao Qizhong gave a light cough.

Realizing his oversight, Song Yichun quickly called to his attendants. "Throw that fool into the woodshed. If he doesn’t account for every last detail, hand him over to the authorities!"

Several guards waiting outside rushed in and dragged the Manor Head away.

Zeng Wu shrank back, shoulders hunched.

Song Yichun had no mood left for further accounting. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed everyone.

The Duke was as unpredictable as the weather—Zeng Wu knew he had to save up while he still had the chance. Even if he fell from grace, at least he wouldn’t be left destitute.

After some thought, Zeng Wu summoned a trusted page. "Go see what Manager Zhong is up to."

The page slipped away quietly and returned by noon with a report. "Manager Zhong has finished his duties for the day. He’s just chatting with people in the side hall. The Young Lord is currently reviewing accounts with the Manor Heads of several farmsteads."

Zeng Wu decided to seek out Zhong Bingxiang immediately. If he waited until evening, he might not only fail to meet him but also end up securely tied and handed over to the Duke by the Hall of Cultivating Will’s men.

The gatekeeper of the Hall of Cultivating Will stopped him at the entrance with a mocking smile. "Who might you be looking for, Master Zeng Wu? Shall we announce your arrival? You are, after all, an esteemed guest!"Zeng Wu didn't dare put on airs in front of the gatekeeper of the Hall of Cultivating Will. He flattered with a smile, "Brother, you flatter me. What kind of distinguished guest am I? Just a runner for the Duke..." He rambled on with pleasantries until the gatekeeper's expression softened slightly, then finally stated his purpose.

Just as the gatekeeper was about to announce him, they saw Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui approaching, chatting and laughing.

Zeng Wu's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Instinctively wanting to avoid them, he hastily said, "Since Manager Zhong has guests, I'll come back later," and then scurried away.

But as he turned past the grove, he abruptly stopped and, without thinking, ducked into the trees.

Through the tall shrubs, Zeng Wu saw Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui standing on the steps of the Hall of Cultivating Will, casually glancing in the direction he had fled before resuming their cheerful conversation.

Soon, a carriage arrived.

A young man in his twenties stepped out.

Zhong Bingxiang and Chen Qushui went forward to greet him.

Chen Qushui introduced the young man to Zhong Bingxiang.

The young man bowed respectfully to Zhong Bingxiang.

Zhong Bingxiang quickly took the young man's arm, smiling and saying something to Chen Qushui.

Behind the young man, five or six pages jumped down from the carriage and unloaded several camphorwood chests.

Chen Qushui, Zhong Bingxiang, and the young man headed toward the Hall of Cultivating Will.

The pages followed behind, carrying the chests.

The group soon disappeared through the side gate of the Hall of Cultivating Will.

Zeng Wu's eyes darted rapidly. He took a shortcut out of the Duke of England's Mansion, pretending he had just arrived from outside, and approached the carriage parked near the Hall of Cultivating Will. Curiously, he asked the groom who was brushing the horse, "Hey, which household do you belong to? Why are you parked here?"

The groom spoke with a thick accent, "We're from Zhen Ding. Manager Zhao told us to rest here."

Zhen Ding?

Madam's maiden family!

Zeng Wu thought of the two chests of silver notes in Dou Zhao's dowry, then the several chests just carried in, and couldn't help but shudder. He wanted to ask more but saw the Hall of Cultivating Will's gatekeeper approaching with a teapot and cup. He hastily mumbled a few words and ducked into the nearby grove, then rushed headlong into the Reception Hall of Cassia Fragrance Courtyard.

"Duke, Duke!" he exclaimed loudly, feigning excitement. "I saw guests arriving at the Hall of Cultivating Will!"

Song Yichun frowned. "What's all this shouting? No manners at all."

Zeng Wu quickly composed himself and bowed respectfully.

Only then did Song Yichun ask, "What happened?"

Zeng Wu stepped closer and whispered, "Duke, I was just about to inquire about the Hall of Cultivating Will's accounts when I saw that Mr. Chen, who used to live there, and Manager Zhong welcoming a strange young man inside. The young man also brought several chests with him."

Song Mo had been rescued, a fact known only to Song Yichun, Tao Qizhong, and Chang Guard in the Duke of England's Mansion. Zeng Wu merely found Chen Qushui's appearance abrupt and suspicious, without suspecting anything else.

Song Yichun's expression changed drastically. "Chen Bo and Chen Bingxiang welcomed a young man together?"

A flicker of cunning passed through Zeng Wu's eyes. "I also found out—the young man's surname is Zhao, from Zhen Ding, a relative of Madam's family... Those chests were made of camphorwood, the kind used to store books or silver notes, to ward off insects."Song Yichun also thought of the two chests of silver notes in Dou Zhao's dowry.

His expression turned extremely unpleasant.

What exactly was the Dou family trying to do?

Song Yichun summoned Tao Qizhong.

Tao Qizhong said with a headache, "Why not call the Young Lord over and ask him directly, my lord? If those chests contain silver notes, given the Young Lord’s character, he wouldn’t deny it. If we send someone to investigate, we might not get the truth."

What did he mean by "might not get the truth"?

Song Yichun was so angry his mouth twisted, but he had no better solution. He could only order Tao Qizhong, "Go and invite the Young Lord here!"

Truly, whoever came up with the idea had to see it through!

Tao Qizhong smiled bitterly.

Meanwhile, Zhong Bingxiang leaped up from the Grand Preceptor's Chair, pointing at the several camphorwood chests in the Reception Hall, stammering, "Wh-what is this?"