Chapter 77: Attending the Banquet

Gan Sui felt that Banxia possessed a mysterious power; whenever his mood was troubled, a simple conversation with her would ease his heart considerably.

“I wonder how Anzi is doing now?”

“With Lin Tianyu protecting him, and surrounded by Lu Ying and Shan Zhi, he should be safe.”

“Jiaojiao, when she woke up today, kept looking around with her little head, searching for Anzi. When she couldn’t find him, she burst into tears. It made me sad just watching her. How is it that such a tiny child can understand so much already?”

“Children forget quickly; she’ll be fine soon. You shouldn’t be sad either. Anzi isn’t as fragile as you think.”

“That may be so, but when Anzi first arrived at our house, he wasn’t even as tall as that stool. Now he’s grown into a handsome youth, and the child I raised has suddenly become another’s. Am I not allowed to feel sorrow?”

“No, if you’re sad, I feel uneasy as well.”

“You’re always so good at soothing me with sweet words. But it’s been half a year since you started thinking of names for our children, and still you haven’t decided. Your so-called triple academic honors aren’t all that impressive after all.”

“Well, I could never compare to your wisdom, Madam. Why don’t you come up with a name?”

Banxia, unwilling to lose face, glanced at the bright moon outside the window. “Vast and boundless is my longing, chasing the moonlight as it flows. How about naming Naonao ‘Longing’ and Jiaojiao ‘Flowing Light’? What do you think?”

Gan Sui hadn’t expected Banxia to come up with names so quickly. The little girl’s name was settled in an instant, and he felt a touch of melancholy.

“I think it’s perfect. Let’s go with that.”

Banxia, triumphant in her victory over the scholar, joyfully kissed Gan Sui at the corner of his lips.

A beauty’s favor ought to be cherished. Gan Sui’s eyes darkened, and he pressed Banxia beneath him.

Spring nights warm beneath the canopy, moonlight pure and clear, while hundreds of miles away, Anzi and his companions found themselves in peril.

They set out that day, and Anzi sat quietly in the palanquin. Though he had accepted the reality of parting, his heart remained heavy, especially when he recalled Jiaojiao’s cries. Jiaojiao rarely wept, so such bitter tears worried him. What if she fell ill from grief?

The more he thought, the sadder he became, wiping his eyes in secret. Outside, Lin Tianyu waited in silence. Anzi was not yet ten—what had Lin Tianyu been doing at that age? Riding with friends, feigning illness to sneak off and play polo, slipping away when servants weren’t looking to wander the streets, hiding in corners to watch as crowds searched for him, laughing at their confusion.

He had never been so well-behaved. This temperament was much like his mother’s. Yun’er was gentle and insightful, her scholarly opinions remarkable; Grandfather often sighed, lamenting that she wasn’t born a son.

Lin Tianyu, recalling the past, felt even more protective of Anzi.

At dusk, they crossed a mountain. Lin Tianyu checked the map and called out, “Stay alert! Once we pass through the narrow gorge ahead, we’ll reach the town. There, we can rest.”

The weary soldiers, invigorated by the promise of respite, quickened their pace. The trail was eerily quiet, the rhythmic hoofbeats disturbing birds that fluttered away in a rush.

As the lead group entered the gorge, Lin Tianyu sensed danger.

“Fall back!”

But it was too late. Massive stones rolled down from above, crushing those in the front, tearing flesh and ending lives in an instant. Horses bolted, throwing riders who failed to react quickly enough.

“Don’t panic—retreat, move back!” Lin Tianyu shouted.

The soldiers, seasoned in battle, obeyed and began to retreat, while a group of eunuchs and civil officials scattered in confusion.

Suddenly, a volley of arrows shot from the forest. Lin Tianyu, disregarding those ahead, stood guard by Gan Sui’s carriage. “Protect the emperor!”

Lu Ying and Shan Zhi immediately moved to shield them.

From the woods, over a hundred men in black emerged.

“This is the royal carriage. Who dares to intercept us?” Lin Tianyu challenged.

The attackers remained silent. Swords swept forward, their blades aimed straight for the carriage roof. Lin Tianyu and Lu Ying raised their swords in tandem to block, but the sword energy still sliced off the precious pearl atop the carriage.

Seeing the carriage unharmed, Lin Tianyu launched a counterattack, and the fight began in earnest. Shouts and clashes echoed through the valley. Anzi sat steadily inside, clutching the dagger Lin Tianyu had given him. This was not his first experience with violence; after the incident in Liangzhou, he’d endured nightmares for half a month, dreams filled with blood. Yet it had toughened him—now, he could calmly listen to the chaos outside.

After about half an hour, the sounds of battle faded.

The bandit leader had been slain; the remaining dozen, surrounded with no hope of escape, bit down on poison capsules and ended their own lives.

Lin Tianyu’s situation was grim as well. Of the original three hundred, half were lost. Worse still, dusk was falling, the road ahead destroyed, forcing them to spend the night in the wilderness, with ten days’ journey still to the capital.

The soldiers, accustomed to death, quickly pitched tents after the panic. Pots were set over fires, some went hunting in the forest. By nightfall, smoke curled from the camps. Lin Tianyu, after testing the food for poison, handed a meal to Anzi.

“Any clues about the assassins?”

“They were meticulous—no trace of identity. Old foxes never show their hand easily.”

“Do you think we’ll make it home alive?”

“Don’t worry; as long as your uncle is here, you’ll be safe.” He patted Anzi’s head. “Are you afraid?”

“Not afraid…”

“That’s good. You’ll see scenes like this countless times.”

The next eight days were grueling. They endured five more ambushes, leaving fewer than fifty survivors. On the ninth day, they finally entered the capital’s territory. The prince himself welcomed them along the ten-mile avenue; the Crown Prince of Liang had arrived.

The winds in the capital were shifting once more.

A swift rider in black, face concealed by a hat, entered the Marquis Wen’s residence via the back gate. He made his way directly to the study, where Steward Wen stopped him. “Wait here, Lord Long; the marquis is seeing someone…”

From inside, the sound of porcelain shattering was heard.

Clearly, the marquis was not in a good mood. Long Yuan stood respectfully behind the steward, as silent as a shadow.

Inside the study.

“Useless! You act invincible, but when I send you to ambush a child, you let him arrive in the capital alive! Outrageous!”

Since hearing the news of the Crown Prince’s return that morning, Marquis Wen had been unable to quell his anger.

“Marquis, the brothers did their best, but the prince’s guards are formidable. Lin Tianyu alone is formidable, then there’s Lu Ying… each can take on a hundred men… Our skills are decent, but against those two, we’re simply outmatched…”

‘Outmatched’ was an understatement—the gap was unbridgeable, though he dared not say so.

“I knew you were lacking, which is why I sent so many. And you still failed… Useless!” He flung a teacup at the man.

“Yes, yes, I’m useless. Please don’t be angry!” The man didn’t even dodge; the cup struck his shoulder heavily, but he acted as if nothing had happened, still smiling obsequiously.

“Get out! Next time you fail, bring your head to see me.”

“Thank you for your mercy, Marquis. I will remember.”

The man quickly withdrew.

Steward Wen entered to announce the black-clad visitor.

“Marquis…”

“How were the harvests this year?”

“Better than previous years. Here are the accounts.”

Marquis Wen flipped through the ledgers. “I trust your work. No trouble from the two Huai regions?”

“Liang Cheng’an is still stubborn as ever. Song Mingyuan remains indifferent. When I left, a new governor had just arrived in Yangzhou.”

“You must be cautious with this one—not a pushover.” Marquis Wen immediately thought of Gan Sui.

“Should I…” The visitor made a killing gesture.

“He’s just arrived; the salt merchants are adept at handling people. They once boasted that as long as someone eats and breathes, they can deal with them. I want to see if the former top scholar can withstand them… Still, keep a close eye. If the salt merchants can’t handle him, you must find a way to remove him. Do it cleanly, leave no evidence.”

“Yes.”

“Very well. There’s much to do in Yangzhou; hurry back.”

“Yes.”

The man slipped away like a ghost.

Meanwhile, Liu Youcai had begun his offensive against Gan Sui. Introduced by Magistrate Han, the governor and his wife were invited to Liu Youcai’s estate for a banquet. The manor was no ordinary place, modeled after the famed imperial summer retreat of the previous dynasty, costing tens of thousands of gold taels—a palace of gold in truth.

Upon arrival, it was clear that Chairman Liu was a skilled host. The room was filled with local officials, except for the textile commissioner and salt transport supervisor. The ladies were ushered into the inner courtyard.

“Governor, you’re new to Yangzhou. This meal is but a small gesture to welcome you and sweep away the dust. Please don’t disdain it.”

Gan Sui glanced at the lavish spread. “Chairman Liu, you are too generous. I am most grateful.”

Gan Sui maintained the proper posture, and Chairman Liu, ever the diplomat, soon had the atmosphere lively after just three cups.

The scene grew more animated in the women’s quarters. The saying ‘three women make a play’ was no exaggeration. Banxia was attending a Yangzhou social gathering for the first time—and truth be told, she was not skilled at such affairs.

No sooner had she entered than Madam Liu greeted her warmly, as if they were sisters long separated.

Banxia forced a smile and listened as they chatted—not about ordinary family matters at all.

“Madam, this is your first time in Yangzhou, isn’t it? Too bad you missed the best season. Had you come a little earlier, during the August tide of the Qiantang Lake, it would’ve been wonderful. Last year, we invented a new game. Would you like to hear about it?”

“Please, go on…” Banxia took the chance to sip her tea.

“We have servants carry several baskets of gold leaves, and when the tide rises, we toss them into the river. Silver waves crashing against gold, it’s truly a spectacular sight.” Madam Liu spoke with a gleaming smile, her silver teeth shining in the sunlight. Banxia, however, felt a chill.

Such extravagance—meat rotting behind mansion walls while bones freeze in the streets. Last year, the court was desperate for military funds, and these people threw their wealth into the river for amusement. The irony was bitter.

“What do you think, Madam?”

“Oh, I’ve never seen gold in my life,” Banxia replied, playing the role of a simple countrywoman to perfection. “We’re poor, with two children, just hired new servants, and my husband’s salary barely keeps us afloat. Gold? I’ve never even laid eyes on it… But it must be beautiful, as you describe.”

“A governor so upright is truly a blessing for Yangzhou’s people. I admire honest folk above all, and would like to present you with a set of gold jewelry.” She clapped, and a maid brought out a peony-patterned gold set.

“Do you like it, Madam?”

“This is for me?” Banxia feigned wonder.

“Of course.”

Banxia reached out to take it, and Madam Liu’s smile broadened—such an easy mark was rare. But just as she was about to touch the jewelry box, Banxia withdrew her hand.

“Oh dear, I just remembered—I get headaches if I touch gold. Oh, my head hurts, I can’t go on, I need to return… Xiangyu!”

Xiangyu promptly entered.

“Let’s go home.”

Leaving the salt merchants’ wives utterly bewildered.