2.1 Lady Fengsheng and the Zhen Family

Volume Two
2.1 Madam Feng Sheng and the Zhen Family

Yangzhou Docks.

Four nearly identical cargo-passenger boats, each about fifty tons, slowly slid out from the berth. After leaving the dock, they gradually picked up speed, soon entering the shipping channel and heading south along the Grand Canal, seemingly preparing to enter the Yangtze River.

At the stern of the last boat, Lin Rui stood at the rear end of the deck, his expression complex as he watched the Yangzhou city fade into the distance. Only when the mist on the water obscured the view did he sigh and turn toward the bridge.

“Master, can’t you be more careful?” Seeing him enter the two-story cabin, Xue Yan, who had been standing by, hurried forward, gently helping him remove the rain-soaked straw raincoat with a pang of concern. “Though it’s not cold now, you must still guard against catching a chill.”

“It’s fine; I’m in good health!” Lin Rui waved it off.

Unwilling to have the maid’s obvious misinterpretation, he shot her a playful glare before turning his flushed cheek toward the outside of the ship.

Inside the cabin sat the Lin family mother and daughter.

“Anping, is this really appropriate?” Seeing that he had already tidied up, Jia Min rose to meet him. “I saw you just now calling everyone aboard, yet only Lin Zhao and Lin Yu brought a few men with them. What about the other salt militia?”

“I gave them the chance.” Lin Rui’s face darkened. “They chose to give up themselves.”

When they talked about such serious matters, Xue Yan quickly bowed and retreated to avoid eavesdropping.

“Brother Rui, are you talking about the more than thirty thousand taels sent out a few days ago?” Lin Daiyu asked softly. “Spending over half the family’s ready silver in one go—this little sister was worried something might happen.”

“To maintain troops, you must feed them well; otherwise, who will risk their lives for you?” Lin Rui nodded in explanation. “A few days ago, regarding the matter with the Cheng family, I gave them over a thousand taels at once, but most of it has already been spent. It’s only been a bit over half a month.”

“Is that really the case?” Jia Min’s expression grew serious.

“The finest taverns, the most expensive courtesans—just a group of illiterate salt workers went to the academy, a high-class establishment. No amount of silver was enough to fill the hole.” Lin Rui’s expression was grim despite being prepared from the start.

“Isn’t there a single reliable one?” Lin Daiyu asked in confusion.

“Of course, but sadly, not even ten percent can be gathered.” Lin Rui shook his head helplessly. “It’s not just them; even among my most valued personal cavalry officers, quite a few have slipped away—more than a dozen, disobeying my orders and running off.”

“You saw it too when we boarded this morning, didn’t you? Lin Yu and Lin Zhao each brought fewer than three commanders, boarding the first two boats. Two other commanders are on the boat ahead of us. Altogether, only about eighty men are available. And I’ve trained them strictly for two years!”

His initial plan to align with the Lin family was to “ride their coattails,” since he had no hope of passing the imperial exams. The only path was to become a military officer. With Lin Ruhai’s status at the time, once promoted back to the capital, he would inevitably be a senior civil official.

Then, with one in civil service and one in the military, inside and outside, and with Lin Daiyu as a wife, all would be well.

Therefore, his military training was aimed at laying a solid foundation. The personal cavalry commanders were officers leading the military school; other units, as veteran cadres, could expand the army as needed. Six commanders equaled three hundred men; within a month, expanding to a thousand was very feasible.

More was possible but would require longer training.

Now, with Lin Ruhai’s death, nearly all—if not most—of these preparations had been wasted.

“Brother Rui, knowing all this, you still sent out so much silver?” Lin Daiyu asked with concern.

“Yuer, Anping’s actions were right.” Jia Min sighed softly. “If he hadn’t sent silver a few days ago to steady the salt militia, how could Yangzhou’s factions have persisted in thinking we were not preparing to leave?”

“I had two purposes.” Lin Rui added, “One, as madam just said, was to make the Yangzhou factions believe we weren’t in a hurry to leave. The other was to stabilize the salt militia that was on the verge of losing control.”

They wouldn’t regret spending money like water in the city days ago; they’d only feel sorry their silver was gone and look for reasons like ‘we can earn it back later.’ If I can’t keep making money, you can imagine the consequences.”

Like the late Beiyang warlords.

“Is it really that serious?” Jia Min immediately frowned.

“That thirty thousand taels was to calm hearts. Those willing to follow me would see it as a settlement fee; those unwilling could still be held steady for a few days.” Lin Rui sneered, gazing toward Yangzhou city. “When it’s spent again, I trust the Yangzhou officials will manage it well.”

Lin Daiyu’s expression showed sudden understanding.

Jia Min’s face, however, grew stern, her beautiful eyes flashing with clear alarm.

“Anping, can they really handle it?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“If, after our ships leave the dock and enter the channel, the prefect still can’t guess my little scheme, he wouldn’t hold his current position.” Lin Rui dismissed it lightly. “This won’t cause a stir; just think of it as a small ‘gift’ from me to him.”

“Then... that’s good!” Jia Min sighed softly.

“Mother, Brother Rui, what are you talking about?” Lin Daiyu looked puzzled.

“Nothing, just discussing the situation in Yangzhou.” Lin Rui smiled to reassure her, not wanting the still-innocent Lin sister to absorb too much darkness. “The water route ahead isn’t long; we’ll soon reach Jinling. We can talk if anything arises.”

“I’ve already sent a letter ahead to the Zhen family, but—” Jia Min didn’t continue, gazing at Jinling with emotion. “After so many years apart, I’m not even sure if the old madam will want to see us again.”

“Mother, what’s so special about this old madam?” Lin Daiyu asked in confusion.

“She was once a palace attendant, nominally the wet nurse of the Retired Emperor, though she never actually nursed him. I heard her say so herself when I was young.” Jia Min smiled. “In fact, she is less than ten years older than the Retired Emperor.”

“Oh?” Lin Rui’s expression flickered, recalling two others in similar circumstances—Emperor Chenghua and Consort Wan.

“What are you thinking about now?” Jia Min noticed his odd expression and knew something was amiss.

“Could it be about those two from the Former Ming—” Lin Rui almost said aloud.

“Shut up!” Jia Min quickly interrupted, scared. “How could you say such things?”

Despite this, she soon showed a similarly strange expression.

“Forget it, I was just mentioning it casually.” Lin Rui dared not say more. “According to madam’s plan, once we reach Jinling, can we promptly pay our respects to Madam Feng Sheng?”

“Hard to say.” Jia Min smiled wryly and shook her head. “From what I know, the Retired Emperor’s last southern inspection was at the Xuanwu Lake Royal Garden, where he invited her to stay in a side hall. He summoned all accompanying princes and publicly called her ‘our family elder.’

“During his two-week inspection of the area, he even had all princes pay respects to her as their aunt. Since the Retired Emperor returned to the capital, she’s seldom received outsiders, living quietly in the rear quarters of Tiren Courtyard, no longer involved in external affairs.”

Lin Rui immediately grew suspicious.

Hearing this, it sounded less like closeness and more like a veiled compliment meant to restrain.

“In that case, the Zhen family’s position in Jiangnan is unquestionable.” Of course, given his present circumstances, he had no energy to dwell further and focused first on protecting himself. “With Madam Feng Sheng’s orders to look after us, leaving Jiangnan shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Brother Rui, are you saying there’s still danger for us?” Lin Daiyu suddenly asked in surprise.

“Foolish sister, I kept you here today to discuss this precisely because I don’t want you to remain in the dark.” Lin Rui smiled and explained, “As I said before, we have too much silver, so we can’t take the land route north, not even the Grand Canal. We must follow the plan and take the sea route.”

“The prerequisite is to get out of Jiangnan first.” Jia Min sighed softly.

“But I heard the sea is even more dangerous.” Lin Daiyu nervously nestled into her mother’s embrace.

“That depends on who leads the way.” Lin Rui laughed. “Next, we just need to keep the fleet steady and reach Jinling quickly. I’ll have Lin Yu’s boat lead, I’ll follow with another boat, you two will be third, and Lin Zhao’s boat will bring up the rear.”

“That sounds good!” Jia Min smiled and nodded, embracing her daughter. “Thank you for arranging this.”

Lin Rui said no more and rose to leave the cabin.

At least in public, it wasn’t appropriate for him to share a boat with the Lin family mother and daughter.

Soon, under his command, the four boats began adjusting their formation.

Jinling, Tiren Courtyard.

Here was the Zhen family, universally recognized as “Jiangnan’s foremost household.”

If judging purely by official rank, they weren’t particularly distinguished. The current head, Zhen Yingjia, held the title “Director of Tiren Courtyard,” a fifth-rank official; another, Zhen Yinggui, was a commander of the Yizheng garrison with a fourth-rank title.

Not remarkable by any measure, even in Jiangnan.

But many things couldn’t be measured by rank alone.

Tiren Courtyard was not a government office but a special institution established by the Retired Emperor. The “Tiren” in “Tiren Mudde” meant “To cherish benevolence and nurture virtue.” The director’s title was unconventional, established exclusively for the Zhen family. This estate, neither office nor official rank, lay by Xuanwu Lake, not far from the imperial gardens.

It was the imperial gaze in Jiangnan.

Moreover, with Madam Feng Sheng present, even the provincial governor or commander dared not offend them.

So long as this elderly lady lived, the emperor sent officials to pay respects during holidays.

“Finished reading?”

At the lakeside summer villa, in the main hall’s central seat, sat a white-haired but vigorous old woman smiling at the man before her. “If not for the letter, I’d almost forgotten about Min’er in Yangzhou.”

“Mother, it’s not that I’m hard-hearted, but the Jia family’s young miss—” Zhen Yingjia knelt respectfully, returning the letter, his face troubled. “You know the salt inspector Lin Ruhai was assassinated...”

“Another trouble from the capital.” Madam Feng Sheng smiled wryly.

“All evidence points to the Second Prince.” Zhen Yingjia nodded.

“Such behavior is unworthy of great deeds.” Madam Feng Sheng’s expression was complex. “I didn’t want to meddle, but since Min’er wrote for help, for the sake of the deceased Duke, it’s inappropriate to ignore it.”

“This—” Zhen Yingjia grew even more uneasy.

“Forget it. Just pretend you don’t know.” Madam Feng Sheng’s expression remained complex.

“I understand!”