Qian Qiyue was a true spark of energy, pulling Tang Ning into lively chatter and laughter that filled the room with warmth.
When Xiao Yan returned, he heard the cheerful voices from within before even stepping inside. Knowing it was Qian Qiyue and the others, he paused in the outer room, choosing not to interrupt their gathering. Without sending anyone to announce his presence, he turned and headed to the adjacent Helian Hall.
“Isn’t the Governor planning to discuss something with the Young Lady?” Jinyun asked in a low voice.
“It’s not urgent. Let them enjoy themselves first.”
Compared to the aloof Governor Xiao of old, who seemed untouched by worldly matters, Xiao Yan now shed his cold edge. When speaking of Tang Ning, his expression softened. “Tang Ning doesn’t have many friends in the capital. Qian Qiyue is straightforward and sincere, Zhou Yuchang has a good character, and that young lady Wang, Tang Ning rarely takes a liking to someone.”
For the people and things Tang Ning cared about, Xiao Yan always showed an extra measure of indulgence.
It was a gathering of young women, and he had no desire to dampen their spirits.
Back in Helian Hall, Xiao Yan attended to pressing matters brought from the palace. As he reviewed documents, he listened to Jinyun’s report on external affairs.
“After the Dragon Court Guards set out from the capital, they traveled swiftly. The Emperor’s men followed them as far as Puchang Fort before turning back, but the Crown Prince’s men have been trailing the Guards, looking like they intend to follow all the way to the northwest.”
Xiao Yan’s hand didn’t pause, his red brush marking a stroke on the paper as he asked, “What did Di Tao promise him?”
Jinyun replied, “The Crown Prince poured out his woes to Young General Di, saying his title as Crown Prince is hollow and no one respects him. Young General Di, full of youthful zeal and unwilling to see his new friend suffer, wrote a letter to General Di, offering to help the Crown Prince’s men establish a foothold in the northwest.”
“But the northwest is harsh, and the Zhenan Army is stretched thin, relying on court-issued supplies to survive. With you holding significant power, the Ministry of Revenue on good terms with you, and the tiger tally in your hands, Young General Di doesn’t dare offend you.”
“And?” Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow.
Jinyun stifled a laugh. “So the Crown Prince scraped together everything in his residence, sold off a good deal of his possessions, and gathered sixteen thousand taels of silver to send to General Di for support.”
“Young General Di said this silver won’t be shared with you. You’re wealthy enough, but General Di’s side is scraping by. He finally caught such a generous fat sheep and wants to keep the connection strong, lest General Di keeps wearing the same clothes for three years.”
Xiao Yan couldn’t help but chuckle. “He’s quite the one to secure funds for his father. Tell him to go easy on the plucking, the Crown Prince isn’t rich.”
Once a nobody in the palace, overlooked and without a prominent maternal clan, Xie Pingjia had been strapped for cash. Only after aligning with aristocratic families did he begin to rise, amassing some wealth when Emperor An used him to counter the Empress and her son. Add to that the gifts he received after entering the Eastern Palace, and this move likely cost him a significant chunk of his fortune.
Jinyun laughed aloud. “Don’t worry, my lord. I’ll remind Young General Di to pace himself.”
Xiao Yan swiftly reviewed the reports sent up from below, setting aside the critical ones to be sent to the Secretariat and the palace later, while multitasking with Jinyun. “What about Hou Zhang? How long until the Cao family’s people arrive?”
Jinyun answered, “Three or four days, likely. Lord Cao has been diligent, sending people ahead at full speed. The gold sent earlier has reached the vicinity of the Hou residence. Our men have already investigated the Hou family’s background but haven’t made contact with Hou Zhang yet.”
Xiao Yan said, “Tell them to hold off until the Cao family’s people arrive.”
After a pause, he added, “Those heading to Yanzhong need to move quickly. After the autumn harvest, grain is plentiful, and merchants from all over are mixed in. It’s the best time to stockpile grain without drawing attention. Tell them to speed up, send several groups, and spread out to avoid alerting Southern Qi’s spies.”
Jinyun asked, “Haven’t you already convinced Lord Cao to help? Do you not trust him?”
“Not at all.”
Xiao Yan’s hand didn’t stop. “I don’t doubt those I employ. Cao Dejiang has helped me more than once, and since he’s agreed to enlist Hou Zhang’s aid, I trust him. But the Hou family’s clan relations are complex. Even if Hou Zhang agrees to stockpile enough grain, it’ll take time.”
“Grain for the army is a serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Preparing for both possibilities ensures no mistakes.”
He never left himself without options.
Besides, with ample silver in hand, grain stored for three to five years wouldn’t spoil. Great Wei’s treasury was so empty that even rats would starve inside. Stockpiling more would always find a use. At worst, if there was too much, he could sell it to Emperor An and still come out ahead.
Jinyun nodded, finding the reasoning sound, and said he’d send word to Yanzhong to urge them to buy grain quickly.
Xiao Yan worked through the reports at a brisk pace, discussing external matters with Jinyun while sorting through documents sent to the capital. He tossed aside the unimportant ones, reviewed the critical ones, and soon had a thick stack piled beside him.
Jinyun stepped forward to organize them, sorting and storing them in boxes, then hesitated, as if wanting to say something.
“What’s on your mind that’s got you hemming and hawing?” Xiao Yan asked without looking up, his tone calm.
Jinyun hesitated. “The Lu family members in exile, they’re all dead.”
Xiao Yan’s hand paused, and he looked up, frowning. “Who did it?”
“On the surface, it was Emperor An. Dig deeper, and it’s the Crown Prince, but…”
“But there’s someone else?” Xiao Yan’s expression sharpened.
Jinyun nodded. “The men we sent to find Lu Jiu’an never located him. There’s no trace of him at Prince Pingshan’s residence either. Prince Pingshan has been completely open with the court’s envoys, saying he was deceived by Lu Jiu’an, who claimed to be acting on the court’s orders. The grain and horse purchases were done in his name by Lu Jiu’an.”
When Lu Jiu’an went to Prince Pingshan’s residence, the Lu family hadn’t yet fallen. Though Lu Chongyuan’s influence had waned, to outsiders, Emperor An still seemed to yield to the Lu family, and Empress Lu was still in power. It was plausible to claim ignorance of the Lu family’s treason and believe they were acting for the Emperor.
“The Qian family did confirm that the horse buyers were linked to Prince Pingshan’s residence, but the Prince claims that person had long been colluding with Lu Jiu’an and betrayed the residence. His family’s whereabouts are unknown too. Prince Pingshan never showed his face to the Qian family. If they try to pin a crime on him, he insists he’s been wronged.”
“Liu Tong’en’s men tried to summon Prince Pingshan to the capital under the pretext of an imperial audience, but he refused outright. He said the He family, loyal to the throne, was unjustly destroyed. With the Emperor’s recent edict of self-reproach admitting his wrongs, Pingshan fears entering the capital now, lest he follow the He family’s fate.”
“Liu Tong’en’s men wouldn’t back down and tried to forcibly take him. In the clash with Pingshan’s men, they injured the Prince’s heir, nearly killing him. In a rage, Prince Pingshan killed most of them. The few who escaped are spreading rumors that Pingshan has rebelled.”
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