The next morning, Lin Zizhuo specifically visited the Garrison Headquarters.

It turned out that the official who had escaped the city the previous day had been interrogated overnight. This minor official, a sixth-rank clerk in the Ministry of Personnel, had embezzled over a hundred thousand taels of silver. Such an amount was enough to warrant the destruction of his family and the confiscation of his property.

According to his confession, due to his role in overseeing the performance assessments of local officials entering the capital each year, all the provincial officials' assessments had to go through him. Thus, he took advantage of the situation, and regardless of the officials’ ranks, few dared not to show him respect.

Occasionally, one or two bold and naive officials, upon receiving a lowly ranking, would learn their lesson by the next year.

"As for the ship you recovered yesterday, besides the books on embezzled funds, there were also the gold and silver he took," Lin Zizhuo said with a smile, raising three fingers in front of Fang Linyuan. "Thirty thousand taels of silver notes, and a golden Buddha statue as heavy as a person."

"As heavy as a person?" Fang Linyuan asked, surprised. "Didn’t he fear the ship sinking?"

"He was more afraid of surviving but losing the money," Lin Zizhuo replied. "I reported the situation last night. The emperor has been worrying about the farmers in the north. Once the current matters are dealt with, I’m afraid he will reward you."

Fang Linyuan had heard of the disturbances among the tenant farmers. Since spring, the northern rains had been poor, and despite repeated petitions to the Ministry of Revenue, the court was distracted by corruption in Jiangnan. Only recently had news arrived that tenant farmers in the seven northern counties had begun causing trouble.

For over half a month, the fields had not been watered, causing crops to suffer, so the farmers dropped their tools and protested at the government office.

"Has it not been settled yet?" Fang Linyuan asked, surprised. This was not a major issue, but it was troubling the emperor, which was unexpected.

In his experience, people who relied on farming were usually the most stable. They had a predictable cycle, planting in spring and harvesting in autumn, much like trees shedding leaves. They wouldn’t rebel unless forced into desperation.

"The court has sent someone to handle it," Lin Zizhuo said. "But those farmers are demanding that the court forgive their rent for this year and let them farm the land for free."

Such a demand was unheard of, and even Lin Zizhuo showed some disdain.

"Simply taking advantage of the situation," he commented.

"How was the harvest in the north last year?" Fang Linyuan asked. "Was it bad too?"

"I don’t know," Lin Zizhuo replied. "Why do you ask?"

Fang Linyuan frowned. "If the people are being forced to this point, it’s probably not a natural disaster but a man-made one."

"Isn’t there another possibility?" Lin Zizhuo tilted his head slightly. "Officials who understand the livelihood of the people think the rebellion is due to greed, a rebellion of troublesome peasants."

"Isn’t that absurd?" Fang Linyuan countered. "Are the people of seven counties all rebels? Who would want to live in such turmoil when they had a good life?"

His serious expression caused Lin Zizhuo, usually so composed, to pause for a moment before laughing and patting his shoulder.

"Alright, if it’s a natural disaster, the emperor will handle it. If it’s man-made, I’ve been dealing with corrupt officials for nearly ten years, so don’t worry," Lin Zizhuo said. "We don’t even know how many rebels there are, so you don’t need to worry so much."

"But it’s already before the emperor’s eyes," Fang Linyuan remarked.

"Don’t worry. The emperor has issued an urgent order, and the situation will be resolved within half a month," Lin Zizhuo said.

"How can you be so certain?" Fang Linyuan asked in return.

"The Princess of the Turks, Saihan, has already set off. The seven northern counties are on her way to the capital, and the chaos must be cleared beforehand," Lin Zizhuo explained. "Otherwise, if the emissaries and the princess see such disorder, how will Daxuan's face be preserved?"

Fang Linyuan was silent for a moment, absorbing the information.

"What are you thinking now?" Lin Zizhuo asked.

Fang Linyuan shook his head.

The officials in the court, including Lin Zizhuo, were concerned about the face and authority of the empire.

However, the growing season for crops was limited, and while face could be restored, the lives lost due to hunger could not be returned.

*

Lin Zizhuo chatted with Fang Linyuan for a while, but had to leave as there were matters to attend to at the local office.

Before leaving, he lightly nudged Fang Linyuan’s shoulder and said, “His Majesty has been highly valuing you recently. Just focus on your duties and don't worry about anything else.”

As a close confidant of the emperor, Lin Zizhuo occasionally shared things that were certain to happen, and his relaxed expression and smiling eyes made Fang Linyuan believe it was good news.

However, Fang Linyuan didn't dwell on it, though he did remember Lin Zizhuo's mention of the tenants in Northern Ji.

Northern Ji, just 100 miles from the capital, was a vast, fertile plain where 70% of the capital's food came from. Many of the farms owned by the Marquis of Anping were also located in this area.

So, upon returning to the estate, Fang Linyuan visited the front courtyard to speak with Sui Chao, who managed the household affairs.

When he asked about the condition of the farms, Sui Chao was surprised: "Since spring began, there have been no unusual movements on the estates."

“Have any tenants requested reduced taxes?” Fang Linyuan asked.

Sui Chao laughed. “Master, the rent we charge our tenants is already much lower than others, and every year we reduce it further. It’s unlikely anyone would make such a request.”

Fang Linyuan nodded slightly.

It seemed that the unrest caused by demands for reduced rents would not be a major issue. If crops failed completely, a few percentage points off the rent would be impossible to recover from.

Finally, feeling reassured, Fang Linyuan didn’t linger. He exchanged pleasantries with Sui Chao and went directly to Huaiyu Pavilion for dinner.

When he arrived, Zhao Chu had just finished reading a letter from Jiangnan. Among the letters was one from Yuan Honglang, who, thanks to a corruption case in Jiangnan, had managed to secure the position of a special envoy to conclude the case. Yuan Honglang had done an excellent job, implementing Zhao Chu’s orders.

With the turmoil from the peasant uprisings, the officials in the capital were too preoccupied to focus on the influence of Jiangnan, allowing Yuan Honglang to carry out a purge. Half of the officials from the Sanguo faction were replaced with his own people.

The other half was intentionally left behind by Zhao Chu.

This was part of his strategy to create a false impression of weakness. Though the officials from the Sang faction were severely weakened, Sang Zhixin and his followers still managed to extricate themselves successfully. Zhao Chu had expected this outcome, leaving them with just a small amount to satisfy their temporary greed.

For future actions, Zhao Chu knew he needed to keep some leverage against them.

As for the other letter...

Zhao Chu lightly tapped his fingers on the table, his expression darkening slightly.

It was from his spies in the South, reporting they had located the former head of the Imperial Medical Department, the one who had cared for Consort Qing's pregnancy years ago.

This man was the one who had attended to the pregnancy of Zhao Jin's mother, Consort Qing.

When Zhao Chu was five years old, Consort Qing had been pregnant with Zhao Jin, the only imperial prince. The Emperor, Hongyou, had been overjoyed and directed all the resources of the Imperial Medical Department to ensure the safety of the dragon foetus.

Zhao Chu had been young and precocious, and he had vivid memories of Consort Qing, Su Yunshuang.

She was the daughter of the then Minister of Personnel, and was the only daughter among three brothers. She had a congenital weakness, which led to her being pampered and spoiled from a young age.

After entering the palace, she carried herself with a haughty attitude, looking down on everyone. Despite her defiant nature, she was favoured by the emperor, causing jealousy and resentment among the other women in the harem.

However, his mother, the Empress, was an exception.

The Empress was indifferent to the pursuit of favour and was known for her impartiality. She was the most dignified woman in the palace.

Su Yunshuang, however, insisted on spending time with her, engaging her in conversation and nitpicking everything from tea to decorations. When her illness flared up, the Empress would personally send for the doctor.

Zhao Chu had overheard a conversation between the Empress and her maid, Song Yan.

"If the Empress dislikes Consort Qing, I can send her away next time," Song Yan said. "Why let her stay and bother the Empress?"

To which the Empress had replied calmly, "She is frail and lonely in the palace, it's also pitiful."

"Niangniang (NT: honorific title to refer to the Empress) still feels sorry for her." Song Yan sighed and didn't try to persuade again.

Zhao Chu had never particularly liked Su Yunshuang either. Her temper was spoiled, and she liked to tease him. Since he had been raised like a girl, with his mother's strict order not to speak unless necessary, he was naturally reserved. Yet Su Yunshuang enjoyed making him speak, and when she succeeded, she would laugh.

"Empress, if my child is a girl, it will be perfect," Su Yunshuang had once said. "My daughter will be more beautiful than any of the palace girls."

However, later in her sixth month of pregnancy, Su Yunshuang miscarried, and both mother and child died. The fetus that was removed was a boy.

She died in the Qifeng Palace.

Empress Dou Qingyi received some exquisite venison, and when Su Yunshuang ate it, her fetus started to move violently. It was later discovered that safflower had been added to it. Her body was weak, and she couldn’t withstand such a miscarriage at such a late stage of pregnancy. By the time the Emperor arrived, her body had already gone cold.

The Emperor cried his heart out.

Those concubines who usually hated Su Yunshuang, wishing her harm, immediately began acting as if they were deeply sorrowed, lamenting her unjust death, cursing Empress Dou for being cold-blooded, and claiming that Consort Qing treated her like a sister but could still do something so wicked.

Yet Zhao Chu saw that on the day his mother was cast into the Cold Palace, she sat for a whole night staring at a pot of begonia flowers that had been brought in by Consort Qing.

The venison, which was too rich, had been partly consumed by Su Yunshuang, but Dou Qingyi stopped her from eating more. This small amount wasn’t enough to cause a miscarriage.

Her true cause of death was in that pot of begonia flowers.

Only Empress Dou Qingyi knew that Su Yunshuang had always been afraid of bitter medicine. The miscarriage medicine given to her by the Emperor was something she secretly disposed of every other day. She had been throwing it into the pot of begonia flowers, where the medicinal residue was later found. Winter mallow, pinellia, and aconite—these were all subtle but effective herbs for causing miscarriage.

Who had put the poison in?

No one knew, and no one understood why Empress Dou remained silent, even though she knew the true cause of death and never spoke out.

Now, after receiving a letter, Zhao Chu understood.

The court official who had been in charge of the case confessed that the Emperor had ordered him to put poison in Consort Qing's medicine. He had kept the proof of this and had hidden away from the authorities after Su Yunshuang's death.

It was the Emperor who ordered the poison, and his mother kept silent because she had suspected it. If she pretended ignorance, she could protect herself and Zhao Chu. But if she had discovered the truth, the Emperor would have tried to silence her.

She eventually realized that the Emperor was a wolf disguised as a man. She could only endure the cold palace, plotting step by step to take the throne from the wolf.

As for Su Yunshuang, the Emperor feared her maternal family’s power and the potential birth of a son that he couldn't control. He also saw Dou Qingyi as a threat and intended to use that unwanted child to kill two birds with one stone. However, Su Yunshuang didn’t take the medicine properly, causing a delay in her miscarriage, which cost her life.

And so, the Emperor cried that night until he fainted, as if he had truly loved her.

*

When Fang Linyuan arrived at the Huaiyu Pavilion, he immediately smelled the fragrant aroma drifting out. His hunger was stirred, and he quickened his steps. Upon entering, the servant girl told him that the princess was in the inner chamber and led him to the door, closing it behind them as usual.

Hearing no movement inside for a long time, Fang Linyuan circled around the screen and immediately saw Zhao Chu sitting at the table, removing the glass cover from the lamp and burning a letter in the flame.

Upon hearing Fang Linyuan enter, Zhao Chubriefly glanced up and calmly said, "If you're hungry, go eat first."

The paper caught fire, and the shadows in the room began to flicker. The flames reflected hotly on Zhao Chuang's face, and Fang Linyuan immediately noticed something was off in his expression: cold, grim, and unsure of what to think.

"What's wrong?" Fang Linyuan cautiously took a few steps forward and asked.

Zhao Chuang's expression didn’t change as the fire burned. After a moment, his expression softened slightly as he looked at him. "Nothing, just some old matters."

Saying this, he tossed the entire letter into the flame and quickly placed the glass cover back on the lamp before the fire could die down.

The fire flared wildly, resembling a monstrous ghost.

All right.

This wasn’t the appearance of someone with “nothing” wrong. But seeing his displeasure, Fang Linyuan didn’t press further, following Zhao Chu to the dining hall and sitting down. He picked up his chopsticks and quietly ate.

The atmosphere was so tense that even the flaky pastry he picked up tasted bitter. He didn’t dare ask what it was made from.

As he struggled with the food, he thought to himself: What could have upset Zhao Chuang? Was there another issue at court? Or had his plans been disrupted?

Fang Linyuan was lost in thought, still fighting with the pastry when a piece of pickled vegetable and wild boar meat landed in his bowl.

Startled, he looked up to find Zhao Chu staring at him with an indifferent expression. He didn’t know how long Zhao Chuhad been watching him.

"This was made especially for you by Master Wang. Why haven’t you touched it?" Zhao Chu asked.

"I..." Fang Linyuan didn’t know how to respond.

How could he admit he was guessing why Zhao Chu was upset?

“I’m fine,” Zhao Chu answered for himself, “It’s a simple issue, and I’ve figured it out.”

Even though Fang Linyuan had tried to mask his curiosity, he couldn’t help asking, "What issue?"

Zhao Chu's gaze lingered on Fang Linyuan’s face for a moment before his lips slightly curled into a faint smile.

"If you hate bitterness and secretly discard medicine you should be taking, within three days, I’ll figure it out," Zhao Chusaid calmly.

Fang Linyuan blinked in surprise. "What medicine?" he immediately retorted, "What did I discard?"

Zhao Chuglanced at the half-eaten, crumbling lotus seed pastry in Fang Linyuan’s bowl.

"This has lotus heart in it. If you find it bitter, you could have just thrown it away," Zhao Chu said, reaching out to take the pastry from Fang Linyuan’s bowl.

Fang Linyuan was so confused he almost had a question mark hovering above his head.

"This is what you figured out?" Fang Linyuan frowned. "You spent all that time thinking, just to figure out I don’t like lotus seeds?"

Zhao Chu didn’t answer, picking up a spoon and continuing to scoop porridge for himself. His expression visibly relaxed.

Fang Linyuan was right; this was indeed the matter Zhao Chuhad figured out.

Zhao Chuhad always understood human nature’s cruelty and knew the Emperor, Hongyou, was hypocritical and ruthless. More importantly, Zhao Chu was all too aware of the blood running through his veins—the same blood that could drive a person to devour those they loved in hunger, a nature passed down through generations.

Someone like him was doomed to be alone, and he hoped no one else would fall victim to his nature.

But could he trust himself not to one day act like Emperor Hongyou when he thought he loved someone?

Love, to him, was a fleeting illusion. He didn’t trust it, not even for himself.

And when he thought that one day he might do the same things as Hongyou, he felt a surge of anxiety and some self-destructive thoughts.

But sometimes, understanding a truth takes only an instant.

For example, when he looked up and saw Fang Linyuan staring at the pastry, lost in thought.

Emperor Hongyou had showered Su Yunshuang with favour for many years, never realizing she was afraid about bitter medicine, and he never noticed the missing pot of her beloved begonias.

He said he loved her, but had he truly paid attention to her?

Hongyou loved no one, pretending to show affection, but it was merely a façade.

Zhao Chu lowered his gaze, and for the first time, he felt a sense of admiration for himself, who had long been accustomed to disdain.

He and Hongyou were different.

His feelings for Fang Linyuan were far deeper.

*

For several days, there had been no rain in the capital, and the weather was growing hotter.

Even when Fang Linyuan patrolled the city, he occasionally heard merchants complaining.

“Last year was a flood, and this year it’s drought. What a year…”

“We’re stocking up on rice, but who knows if we’ll even be able to buy more by the end of the year…”

The sun was growing increasingly scorching. According to Li Cheng'an, the grass at the polo field on the outskirts of the capital had turned yellow from the heat. Wang Chang and others, who usually enjoyed horseback riding, had been staying indoors lately.

The next day, Fang Linyuan was urgently summoned to the palace. The tenant farmers in Jibei hadn’t been successfully suppressed and had become even more unruly.

An official who had been sent to quell the unrest had been dragged off his horse by the mob as soon as he left the government office. If the guards hadn’t acted quickly to rescue him, his life would have been in danger.

When the news reached the Emperor, Hongyou ordered a thousand cavalry to be ready for immediate deployment to suppress the mob.

"I have thought it over carefully," the Emperor sighed from his throne. "I don’t trust any of the martial officials in the capital, but I trust only you, my dear minister."

"Your Majesty, they are just common people. Is it necessary to deploy the army? I ask Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Fang Linyuan was startled and immediately knelt in front of the hall with a solemn expression.

If it were just a civilian uprising, it could be handled with persuasion and intimidation, but deploying the army would mean exterminating them.

Fang Linyuan's expression was earnest, but Emperor Hongyou waved his hand.

"If this reaches the ears of the Turkish emissaries and the princess brought over for marriage, Minister, do you want to discard Daxuan's face?" His expression grew more serious.

"But..." Fang Linyuan quickly spoke up.

"Don’t try to dissuade me any further," Hongyou Emperor interrupted.

"The situation in Jiangnan is still fragile. Daxuan cannot endure more turmoil. You understand the gravity of this task."

When he spoke again, Hongyou Emperor slightly furrowed his brows, and his tone had turned resolute rather than persuasive.

 

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The author has something to say :

Zhao Chuang: Today I give my love a perfect score

 

Translator : DarNan