……Head hurts so much.

The moment consciousness returned, a sharp pain came from the back of Xiao Qiyuan’s head.

Why does it hurt so much?

Where is he?

Chaotic memories slowly revived.

He remembered, last night he should have been at the songhouse listening to music.

The new piece “Ode to Golden Orchid” composed by Princess Qinghe, though having other intentions, speaking only of the lyrics and melody, was of the finest quality, and was greatly popular in songhouses everywhere.

Then……

Xiao Qiyuan remembered, he saw a little beauty who looked like a celestial fairy.

The little beauty seemed to be looking for someone, with fine brows slightly furrowed, apricot eyes pure and clear, her appearance one of innocence and freshness.

Xiao Qiyuan had always been tender toward fragrant jade, seeing this, he hurriedly stepped forward to inquire, yet unexpectedly that little beauty smilingly asked for his name in return.

Naturally, he did not refuse to answer.

And then—seemed to have taken a stick blow.

Xiao Qiyuan wanted to lift his hand to touch his buttocks.

In such difficult times as these, among high officials and nobles, those fond of men were not few. His looks were not bad, so having such concern was not overthinking.

Who knew that as soon as he moved, Xiao Qiyuan suddenly discovered that his hands and feet were bound, unable to move.

“You’re awake?”

From the right came a clear and cool female voice. Xiao Qiyuan, alert, lifted his head, only to meet a delicate face as lovely as dawn in spring.

She was writing something before the desk, and when she saw him awake, she said to the young man beside her who was holding a sword and dozing off:

“Chang Jun, he’s awake, untie him.”

Xiao Qiyuan examined her for a moment: “…Princess Qinghe?”

Lizhu blinked in surprise.

“That lampstand was indeed bought from me by Pei Zhaoye that day. I wondered, for someone who doesn’t love reading, why he would act like a scholar. So it was a gift for the princess.”

Xiao Qiyuan glanced toward the corner of the desk:

“The princess even carries it with her, it seems she is truly fond of it.”

Xiao Qiyuan heard the sound of river water, proving they were now on a boat. Traveling while bringing along a lampstand—either she was fond of the lampstand, or of the person who gave it.

Lizhu put down her brush, looked at him for a while, and said gently:

“Xiao Langjun truly is a clever man, no wonder your business is so successful.”

“……”

The smile at the corner of Xiao Qiyuan’s lips froze.

Chang Jun untied the ropes on his body. Xiao Qiyuan moved his wrists slightly, his thoughts spinning rapidly.

Did this little princess capture him because of his business of selling private iron among the commoners?

“Xiao Langjun need not be alarmed. I am merely a powerless princess. Whether it be private iron or private salt, there are other officials to investigate. It is not within my duties, and I have no intention of harming you.”

As though knowing what he was worried about, Lizhu smiled. The orange candlelight made her expression seem kind and harmless.

Xiao Qiyuan was momentarily dazed.

Indeed.

If she truly wished to kill or capture him, why would she untie him?

Her attitude was so gentle, her smile so sweet, it even made his heartbeat quicken a little.

…Wait a moment, he almost got fooled by her.

“Then for the princess to go through such trouble to ‘invite’ me here, where is it that you intend to take me?”

The wariness in Xiao Qiyuan’s eyes did not lessen.

“Yanshan.”

Lizhu’s enunciation was firm.

“…Yanshan in Pingning County, Jiangzhou?”

Xiao Qiyuan looked at her suspiciously: “What is the princess bringing me to Yanshan for?”

Lizhu merely smiled.

How could he not know what she was going to Yanshan for?

She had Chang Jun present a box.

“To invite Xiao Langjun here, you have suffered some bodily hardship. Please accept this box, as compensation for your medicine and travel expenses.”

Xiao Qiyuan took the box and lifted the lid slightly.

Even a faint thread of candlelight shining inside revealed gleaming brilliance within.

—A box full of luminous pearls.

By day they gleamed like stars; by night, they shone like the moon. These were treasures worth a fortune.

Lizhu said: “After the matter is accomplished, there will be another box of Hepu pearls.”

Truly a slap followed by a sweet date.

Though the slap stung a little, the date was indeed sweet—so sweet that one could hardly bring oneself to refuse.

Xiao Qiyuan closed the box, tucked it into his sleeve, and said respectfully: “The princess is truly too courteous. Within what this commoner’s ability allows, please command as you wish.”

Lizhu silently let out a breath of relief.

“Tomorrow when we reach the shore, I must trouble Xiao Langjun to act as intermediary and arrange a meeting for me with Wu Yan and Li Da of Yanshan.”

Wu and Li were the leaders of the Yanshan uprising army.

Xiao Qiyuan was not surprised. For the sake of the luminous pearls, he agreed with a smiling face.

After Xiao Qiyuan left, Xuan Ying, standing by the side, could not help saying: “Princess, your generosity is a bit too extravagant.”

A box of luminous pearls, such things were rare even within the royal family.

“Left in the treasury, it only gathers dust. That Xiao Qiyuan trades in private iron; he certainly is not short of money. If I give too little, I fear not only would he refuse to help, he might even harbor evil thoughts and sell us out.”

Lizhu lifted her brush again.

She had to admit, she was timid by nature, so she sought steadiness in all she did, cautious with every step.

Even now, as she wrote letters to the palace, she wrote two identical copies.

While pouring tea for her, Xuan Ying said: “The princess is going to meet the Yanshan uprising army, does she intend to use this to persuade them?”

Lizhu gave a soft “mm.” What was written in the letter was the military policy she herself had proposed in her previous life, later discussed in detail by Pei Zhaoye and several ministers, and finalized after repeated deliberation.

As for what so-called uprising army or mountain bandits—those were not what Nanyong cared about most.

“What the Nanyong court most cares about is that there are no usable troops in the court. As long as I can solve this problem, even if Pei Zhaoye truly goes to Wan Commandery to seize the grain, the great matter can be turned small, and the small matter resolved.”

She took up her brush and wrote the final names on two letters.

One was addressed to her Imperial Father, one to the Grand Preceptor.

The reason she went to such lengths was because Lizhu feared her letter would be intercepted by Tan Jing.

In the past, a princess’s family letter would be read by no one. But now she commanded Yiling; outsiders might not know, but the court surely did. Tan Jing would certainly guard against her.

Lizhu had no power in court; the only person she could rely on was the Grand Preceptor.

If her Imperial Father could not see this letter, once the Grand Preceptor had read it, he would surely present it at court.

Only after such cautious and repeated deliberation did Lizhu feel somewhat at ease.

Just as she was about to blow out the lamp and go to sleep, Xuan Ying, who was laying out her bed, suddenly said: “…What is inside this small bundle?”

Lizhu immediately pounced forward to press it down.

“It… it’s my underclothes.”

Lizhu’s voice was faint, as if embarrassed.

Xuan Ying asked curiously, “What about your underclothes? Aren’t they all washed by me every day?”

“…Good Xuan Ying, in any case, just leave this bundle here. Don’t open it, all right?”

Although Xuan Ying felt it strange, she touched it and found that what was inside seemed to be clothing and such things, so she did not ask further.

Xuan Ying and Chang Jun closed the cabin door.

In the darkness, only then did Lizhu, like a thief, quietly hug that small bundle, the tips of her ears a little hot.

Inside were the clothes Pei Zhaoye had left behind in the government office.

On this journey to Yanshan, not only was Pei Zhaoye not by her side, even Lu Yu had been left behind by Lizhu to guard Yiling, lest within the commandery and the Hongye Stronghold there be no master and others take advantage.

Lizhu was very afraid.

She feared she would not be able to persuade the uprising army of Yanshan, and feared even more that Pei Zhaoye, in a moment of impulse, might do something irreparable.

If Tan Jing fanned the flames in the court, a single imperial decree could brand the name of rebel upon him.

—The Tan family seemed to very much want him dead.

Though Lizhu did not know the reason for it.

What was Pei Zhaoye doing now?

He must wait for her.

Hugging tightly the small bundle that still carried his scent, Lizhu closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling uneasily, and she slept a shallow sleep through the night.

•—–٠✤٠—–•

Xiao Qiyuan was a competent businessman; once paid, he handled the matter without the least ambiguity.

In just one day, he had made the connection for Lizhu, set the time and place, and let Lizhu meet Wu Yan and Li Da in a lakeside pavilion that was difficult to ambush from any side.

“…Refugee soldiers?”

Wu Yan and Li Da both furrowed their brows, looking at Xiao Qiyuan with puzzled faces.

Li Da said, “What does this princess mean? I don’t understand. Old Xiao, you tell us.”

Lizhu had already drunk three cups, her mouth dry from speaking, yet seeing this Li Da still looking dazed, she almost flared up in anger.

Before Xiao Qiyuan could speak, the man beside him, Wu Yan, said: “She means, as long as we don’t rebel against the court, she’ll give grain, give money, give official titles, and let us recruit troops here.”

“Then why did she just say they don’t count as real officials?”

“Refugee soldiers do not cross the Yan River, do not enter Luoyang for audience, can only station in places designated by the court, and are to be deployed by the court—more like private troops kept by the court between the South and the Northern lands—that’s what the princess means, right?”

Lizhu looked at the dark-skinned, calm-faced man before her and nodded.

At last someone who could understand plain speech.

Li Da threw an arm around Wu Yan’s shoulder and dragged him to the side to whisper; muffled conversation floated over.

“…What does this mean? She wants to recruit us, yet treats us like outsiders?”

“She’ll give grain, one hundred thousand shi, and also give the people of Yanshan three hundred thousand shi.”

“The Xue family also gives grain and offices; they don’t suffer this kind of nonsense!”

“The offices the Xue family promised, can they be granted now?”

Wu Yan spoke little, but his insight was sharp:

“And if they truly let us enter Luoyang, would you dare? If we turn on the court, what if they seek revenge on us? As long as the court gives money, grain, and land, and grants us proper offices, we have freedom and are not rebels. I think that’s good.”

However long the two debated, Lizhu’s anxiety matched it.

Yet she could not show the slightest impatience on her face, lest they learn she simply could not produce four hundred thousand shi of grain.

These days she had spared no expense, and still only managed to muster fifty thousand shi.

Lizhu never did things so recklessly; this time she was forced.

—Only by possessing the name of “refugee army” could many things be made legitimate.

A rebel army opposing the court need not lose a single soldier; it would be transformed into a refugee army used by the court.