How does Wuchang compare to Xudu?

To speak plainly, Xudu truly pales in comparison to Wuchang County.

Yet, Su Ming could hardly say as much aloud! If he were to claim Xudu was inferior to Wuchang, would that not play directly into Sun Quan’s hands and dampen his own prestige? But at the same time, Su Ming could not bring himself to utter blatant falsehoods. The state of Xudu was something everyone knew all too well. To lie with open eyes would only make him an object of ridicule.

How to answer—this was indeed a test of skill.

Yet Su Ming was quick-witted. In that critical instant, his eyes flickered, and a response formed in his mind.

“No matter how prosperous Wuchang County may be, it is still the territory of the Son of Heaven, is it not? The Marquis of Wu is but the regent shepherding the people on behalf of the Emperor—not the true master here. One must not mistake the six counties of Jiangdong for personal property.” With these words, Su Ming cast a glance at Sun Quan.

Sun Quan drew breath in great, heaving gasps, clearly infuriated by Su Ming’s words.

Su Ming’s remarks were indeed infuriating. Moreover, he had begun to say this was the Prime Minister Cao’s land, but halfway through, as if realizing the impropriety, he had deftly corrected himself to say the Son of Heaven’s domain.

Driven to exasperation, Sun Quan turned his face away and ignored Su Ming altogether.

“This fellow is insufferably arrogant—truly maddening!” Sun Quan muttered to Zhang Zhao at his side.

But Zhang Zhao could do nothing; having already served as the sacrificial stone, what else could he do? He could only offer a bitter smile in response.

After accompanying Su Ming, the imperial envoy, on a tour of Wuchang, Sun Quan finally said, “General Su, I have military and governmental duties to attend to. I shall leave Zhang Zhao here to accompany you.”

Sun Quan found Su Ming irksome, and the feeling was mutual. Thus, his departure was more than welcome.

“If the Marquis of Wu is busy, please see to your affairs,” Su Ming nodded in agreement.

If possible, Su Ming would have gladly sent Zhang Zhao away as well. But Sun Quan would surely not allow him to wander Jiangdong unsupervised. Even if he forced Zhang Zhao to leave, Sun Quan would no doubt set secret sentries to watch him. In that case, having Zhang Zhao as an open escort was preferable to being shadowed by an unseen hand.

Su Ming had come to Jiangdong on official business, not for leisure.

After Sun Quan departed, Su Ming instructed Zhang Zhao, “Let us go to Wu County.”

Wuchang County lay on the border between the six counties of Jiangdong and the nine counties of Jing and Xiang, while Wu County was deep within Jiangdong’s heartland. The journey from Wu County to Wuchang would take several days. Not wishing to linger in Wuchang, Su Ming set out for Wu County immediately after Sun Quan’s departure.

Zhang Zhao, well aware of Su Ming’s purpose, was only too eager for him to finish paying respects to Sun Jian and Sun Ce and quit Jiangdong as soon as possible. In Zhang Zhao’s eyes, Su Ming was a calamity—so long as he remained, Jiangdong would know no peace.

Zhang Zhao had already dispatched Ling Tong and Zhu Ran with two contingents, prepared to strike decisively and rid themselves of Su Ming once he left Jiangdong—for good.

With Zhang Zhao leading the way, Su Ming’s party traveled unimpeded even through the heart of Jiangdong. From Wuchang to Wu County, the journey took seven days before they finally arrived.

Setting foot again in Wu County, Su Ming was overcome with emotion. Only months before, he had barely escaped with his life, grievously wounded, fleeing from Wu County. Now, mere months later, he returned, and the officials of Jiangdong were obliged to treat him as an honored guest.

Such is life—fortune’s wheel ever turns.

Wu County.

The Marquis of Wu’s residence.

“Now that we have arrived, General Su is well acquainted with the place. Please, make yourself at home. When the time comes for your departure, I shall see you off,” Zhang Zhao said, then took his leave.

Sun Shangxiang, bewildered, asked Su Ming, “Brother Su, why did he leave? He trailed us all the way here like a shadow, and now, upon our arrival, he goes off on his own?”

Zhang Zhao’s surveillance along the way had been obvious. Now, for him to leave was most irregular.

Sun Shangxiang was still young and guileless; many matters were beyond her understanding.

But Su Ming saw through it at once.

“Hmph!” Su Ming snorted coldly, watching Zhang Zhao’s departing figure. “He fears Lady Wu.”

Lady Wu was Sun Jian’s wife, mother of Sun Ce, and Sun Quan’s stepmother.

Zhang Zhao, a scion of Jiangdong’s old families, could not escape blame for Sun Ce’s death. If he were to meet Lady Wu, she would likely have beaten him to death with her cane. More importantly, given Lady Wu’s status, even if she killed Zhang Zhao outright, no one would dare do anything about it.

Would Sun Quan truly dare make trouble for his own stepmother over an outsider?

Since Sun Ce’s death, the great families’ ministers of Jiangdong had come to fear Lady Wu as mice fear a cat.

“Let’s go in quickly! I miss my mother!” Sun Shangxiang exclaimed, pulling Su Ming along. As they walked, she suddenly added, “And I miss my sister-in-law too!”

“And I miss my nephew!” Su Ming blurted out.

Da Qiao, having received word of Su Ming and Sun Shangxiang’s return, was already waiting in the main hall with all the family, save for Lady Wu herself.

“You’re back,” Da Qiao greeted him calmly, cradling little Sun Xu in her arms.

“Yes, I’m back,” Su Ming replied in equal measure.

After a moment’s pause, Da Qiao spoke again. “You must be careful.”

Since Su Ming’s arrival, these had been her only words—spoken in a calm tone, yet filled with concern.

Da Qiao felt immense gratitude toward Su Ming. When her husband had died under suspicious circumstances, in all of Jiangdong, only Su Ming had sought justice for him. While others urged her to consider the greater good, it was Su Ming who proved that duty to the greater good did not mean calling wrong right, or black white.

Su Ming grinned at Da Qiao. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. They can do nothing to me! I come and go from Jiangdong as I please.”

With that, Su Ming waved his hand, and two soldiers brought in Huang Zu, tightly bound.

“Sister-in-law, this time I have brought a great gift for my brother. In life, he always wished to avenge our uncle. He died with regret, but as his brother, I must help him settle this account. I wish to bring this man before my brother’s and uncle’s graves to offer sacrifice,” Su Ming said to Da Qiao.

Seeing the tightly bound Huang Zu and hearing Su Ming’s words, Da Qiao’s eyes filled with glistening tears. To her, Sun Ce had not chosen his friends in vain.

“You have a good heart. If your brother knows this in the afterlife, he can finally rest in peace,” Da Qiao replied, her voice choked with emotion.