It was almost dawn when he went to sleep last night. Throughout the entire morning court session, Wang Dian was practically half-asleep standing up. He only slightly lifted his eyelids when he vaguely heard something about selecting consorts, but quickly closed his eyes again.
On the way out of the palace after court, Qi Ming teasingly said to him, “Wang Daren, what were you busy with last night? Why do you look so listless?”
“Spent half the night coaxing my sweetheart,” Wang Dian replied wearily.
Qi Ming patted his shoulder knowingly, “Wang Daren is truly a romantic.”
“Not like you, Yue Hong, with your harem of wives and concubines,” Wang Dian said bluntly.
Qi Ming pulled him close and said in a low voice, “Don’t blame me for saying this, but having many wives and concubines is just trouble. Now when I return home, I get a headache. I’d rather deal with official business every day. Zhongqing, you should be cautious about taking concubines in the future.”
“My partner is the jealous type,” Wang Dian sighed. “Forget about concubines, if I so much as look at someone else, they go mad.”
Qi Ming looked at him in shock, “Zhongqing, are you really so henpecked?”
“If I’m not afraid, someone will die,” Wang Dian said with a wooden expression.
Thinking he was exaggerating, Qi Ming laughed heartily, “It seems you truly like them. I wonder when I’ll have the honor of meeting this spouse of yours, brother.”
Wang Dian thought to himself, “You see them every day,” but only smiled and said, “They’re shy around strangers. They only act tough with me.”
Qi Ming teased him a bit more, then invited him to have breakfast at Yingsu Square.
“When my junior brother and I were studying at the Imperial Academy, we often came here. Sometimes when we were in a hurry, we’d run while eating sesame cakes, often swallowing a lot of air. His stomach wasn’t good, so he’d often feel unwell during class,” Qi Ming couldn’t help but reminisce about the past.
“I often hear you talk about this junior brother of yours. Where is he now?” Wang Dian couldn’t help but ask.
Qi Ming paused for a moment, then smiled, “I thought you were so familiar with our teacher that you knew everything. My junior brother… is Baili Cheng’an, the famous Young Master Wenbin.”
Wang Dian suddenly understood. Although he had only met Baili Cheng’an briefly a few times, he vaguely remembered the other’s appearance: gentle yet not lacking pride, talented with good looks and refined bones. The whole person seemed to have a halo, as if he had walked straight out of an ancient book, the very image of a cultured scholar.
“Baili Daren was sent to Hexi County. I estimate His Majesty will soon recall him,” Wang Dian said.
“Not necessarily,” Qi Ming shook his head. “I’ve discussed this matter with our teacher. He thinks junior brother doesn’t need to rush back.”
Wang Dian raised his eyebrows curiously, “Hexi is a harsh place, and Baili Daren is now just a small county magistrate.”
At the time, he had unfortunately become a sacrifice in the power struggle, almost exiled.
“Junior brother has great talent, but his pride is too strong, and he’s too upright and unyielding,” Qi Ming said. “Our teacher wants him to temper himself outside for a few more years, to steady his temperament.”
“I see,” Wang Dian said. “The Imperial Preceptor is always far-sighted.”
Qi Ming shook his head, “Enough about him. How’s that nephew of yours recently? Is he able to get through those books?”
“Oh, speaking of him, I actually have a favor to ask of you.”
“Zhongqing, you’re too polite. Just say it directly.”
****
Wang Dian returned to his residence close to noon. Yu Lang was waiting at the main gate and greeted him from afar, “Young Master, you’re back.”
Wang Dian handed him the things he had bought and smiled, “Why are you waiting outside in this cold weather?”
“It’s not cold,” Yu Lang smiled slightly.
“What’s making you so happy?” Wang Dian rarely saw him smile, so he asked.
“Young Master, since the great poets Liu Ce and Qi Ming gifted us their calligraphy, our Changyun Restaurant’s business has been booming. Now all the students in the capital are eager to come. This kid has been busy with the restaurant affairs these past few days, counting silver until he can’t help but smile,” Zhou An approached with a grin. “Yesterday we tallied this month’s accounts, waiting to report the good news to you.”
Yu Lang nodded vigorously.
“Well then, I must have a good look,” Wang Dian said with a smile.
After reviewing the account books, Wang Dian was quite satisfied. He was never stingy with encouragement and praise for his subordinates. Besides verbal compliments, he preferred practical methods, “Tell the restaurant manager to raise everyone’s wages by half.”
“Ah, good, good. They’ll certainly be happy,” Zhou An said smiling.
Wang Dian smiled and handed him the account book, “Steward Zhou, you’ve worked hard lately, managing these affairs and teaching disciples. How about this: go to the accounting office and withdraw 300 taels of silver. 100 taels will be your bonus, and keep the rest for any necessary expenses. I’ll be counting on you to take care of things in the future.”
“This is all part of my duty. Young Master, you really are…” Zhou An was both happy and moved. “Since the Young Master trusts me so much, Zhou An will certainly not let you down.”
Wang Dian patted his shoulder, then turned to Yu Lang and asked him some related questions. Yu Lang answered thoroughly, while Zhou An praised him greatly, saying he was the quickest learner among the dozen or so disciples, and could even figure out many things on his own.
Wang Dian was increasingly pleased and rewarded him with 50 taels of silver. After Zhou An left, he suddenly asked Yu Lang, “Would you be willing to go gain some experience with the fleet in Hexi County?”
Yu Lang was stunned for a moment, then said, “As long as the Young Master wants me to go, I’ll go.”
“It’s not absolutely necessary, but Hexi is far from the capital, and there are always things I can’t attend to. Steward Zhou has many affairs to handle and can’t leave the capital. I still want to send my own people to oversee the fleet,” Wang Dian smiled gently. “But you know, Hexi County is a harsh place, and Yunshui is not peaceful. If you want to go, you should first ask your parents’ permission.”
“Young Master, I’m willing to go and help ease your burdens,” Yu Lang said with determination. “I have an older brother and younger sister at home. My parents will agree.”
Wang Dian smiled slightly, “Good. Since that’s the case, I’ll assign you twenty men, all skilled in sailing ships and conducting trade. It will certainly be very difficult at first, but we’ll see if you have the ability to win them over. I’ll give you three months to get the Hexi fleet up and running.”
Yu Lang nodded firmly.
By the time Wang Dian finished his affairs at the residence, it was dusk outside. He entered the inner chamber through a secret passage. The physician who was tending to someone hurriedly stood up and looked at him nervously, “Young Master, may this lowly one ask when I can return home?”
“Hmm?” Wang Dian paused and looked at him. “Didn’t Zhou An explain everything clearly when he found you?”
When Wang Dian wasn’t smiling, his expression was distant and cold, quite intimidating. The physician nodded and smiled apologetically, “It-it was explained clearly. This lowly one can only return home after the sixteenth of next month.”
“I know you have concerns about being confined to this small secret room,” Wang Dian’s face took on a gentle and reassuring smile. “My residence is not peaceful, with people watching all the time. If you run out before the sixteenth, you might be caught and taken somewhere, perhaps even losing your life.”
The physician turned pale with fright and fell to his knees with a thud, crying, “Young Master, this lowly one is just a physician with elderly parents and young children at home. Please have mercy!”
Wang Dian helplessly helped him up, “Listen to me first. If you wait until the sixteenth to leave, not only will your life be safe, but I can ensure wealth for your entire family.”
The physician’s smile looked worse than his crying face.
“Since you’re so uneasy, I’ll give you a token,” Wang Dian took out a letter from his sleeve and placed it in his hand. “When you leave, if anyone takes you away, give them this letter.”
The physician tremblingly accepted the letter.
Wang Dian smiled and pressed the letter into his palm, saying softly, “This is something that can save your life. Make sure to keep it safe.”
The physician hurriedly tucked it well into his sleeve.
After “reassuring” the terrified physician, he finally had time to walk to the bedside and look at the expressionless person lying there.
Jian Ling stared at him coldly, “Why did you save me?”
“Naturally, because saving you is useful,” Wang Dian sat down casually on the bed’s edge and reached out to tug at his blanket. The next second, a sharp needle was pressed against his neck.
The physician fell to his knees again with a thud, wailing, “Young Master, I didn’t give it to him, he stole it himself! He would have killed me if I didn’t give it to him! Young Master, please understand!”
Wang Dian calmly smoothed out the crumpled blanket and smiled at Jian Ling, “Commander Jian, please calm down. Although we serve opposing sides, I quite admire you as a person.”
The murderous intent in Jian Ling’s eyes had not yet dissipated.
“In the secret imperial dungeon, how many of Cui’s men changed their tune and surrendered, cursing their former master and even slandering them, just begging to be spared? Yet you never wavered from beginning to end,” Wang Dian slowly pushed away the needle pressed against his neck. “Even if our political views differ, I greatly admire Commander Jian’s integrity.”
Hatred erupted in Jian Ling’s eyes, “If it weren’t for Liang Ye’s despicable scheming against me, how could he have won so easily!”
Wang Dian nodded in agreement, “He is indeed very clever.”
Jian Ling wore an expression as if he had swallowed a fly. After a long while, he said, “Since you rescued me, you and Liang Ye must not be of one mind.”
“Who dares to be of one mind with the emperor?” Wang Dian chuckled. “I used to be a merchant. In business, the most important things are trust and profit. Naturally, I wouldn’t save your life for nothing. I have a deal here, I wonder if Commander Jian dares to take it?”
Jian Ling frowned at him, “Where do you get the confidence that I would do business with you?”
Wang Dian spoke unhurriedly, “Although Cui is dead and the Jian family has been confiscated by Liang Ye, apart from the executed men, the women and children of your Jian family have been exiled to the northwest. You may not have a wife and children, but you’ve always been fond of your cousin’s two children. The journey into exile is harsh. Do you want to watch them die on the road? Even if they survive by chance, they’ll be slaves for life. Don’t you want to save them?”
Jian Ling’s face changed, “What do you want me to do?”
“It’s not what I want you to do, but what you want to do,” Wang Dian looked into his eyes. “Now that the Cui and Jian families have fallen from power, you could certainly choose to die fearlessly in an attempt to take Liang Ye down with you. But setting aside the slim chances of success, you could also save your two young nephews and flee far away.”
“It all depends on how you choose.”
