Chapter 60

Shen Qing muttered softly, “It’s me.”

Xiao Wanling quietly tucked the pouch of medicinal powder back into her waistband. If not for his familiar build, she might not have recognized him at all.

His hair was tangled, his face covered in a scruffy beard, and his clothes gave off a pungent smell.

Once the joy of reunion passed, Shen Qing suddenly became self-conscious. Wanling had always liked cleanliness. In this state, she would surely dislike him. He quickly explained, “Some of Prince of Qi’s men came after me for revenge on the road. I made myself look like this so I could get back to you in one piece.”

Xiao Wanling burst out laughing. “Now that we’re in the Prince of Jin’s territory, we should be safe, right?”

Shen Qing looked back at the crowd, thick as a tide. “Let’s go home.”

He lifted Xiao Wanling in his arms and strode to the chestnut-colored horse, setting her on the saddle before leading it up the mountain path.

More and more people were pouring into the market and village, but once they reached the foot of the Shen family’s hill, the crowd finally thinned.

Yin Sheng and Lu Dahai were walking together when they spotted Shen Qing. In unison, they called out, “General Shen!”

Shen Qing replied, “Get back to work.”

Lu Dahai gave a sheepish laugh. He’d thought his return would smooth things over with his wife. But the house was cold and lifeless, just like when he left. Even the vegetable patch was overgrown.

He had wanted to ask Miss Xiao to put in a good word for him, but Shen Qing’s unfriendly aura made him think twice. Sighing, he walked away.

Xiao Wanling glanced at Lu Dahai’s dejected look and guessed his intention. Shen Qing didn’t bring it up, so she pretended not to know either.

Back home, Shen Qing bathed, then sat in the sun. A basin of water stood next to the table. He looked up and smiled at Xiao Wanling.

She lathered his face with soap and carefully shaved his beard. Shen Qing closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Xiao Wanling rolled her eyes with a smile. “Be careful, or I’ll cut you.”

“You won’t,” Shen Qing replied without thinking. “You couldn’t bear to.”

Cheng Qiao’er arrived with food and tea, saw the scene, and quickly covered her eyes, peeking through her fingers. “General Shen, Madam Xiao—your meal is here!”

Reluctantly, Shen Qing let go, grabbed a towel from the clothesline, and wiped the foam from his chin. He went to the door, took the food box from Qiao’er, and shut the door.

He set the box on the table, then carried Xiao Wanling to sit beside it.

The oilcloth in the courtyard had been taken down. Xiao Wanling had planted moonflowers, which Shen Qing said looked like trumpets. Their purple blossoms were perfect for dyeing fabric—especially clothes for her.

Xiao Wanling stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth. “Eat up. With the village full of people, you’ll probably be asked to help keep order.”

Under the table, Shen Qing took her hand. “I know you care. I’ll be back tonight for your personal heater duty!”

Xiao Wanling blushed. He was teasing again.

After eating, Shen Qing took the food box and left, telling her to wait at home. It was just past noon. Xiao Wanling chuckled but gave up the idea of checking on the teahouse. Jiang Ting and Qiao’er would come to her if anything went wrong.

Wandering through the courtyard, Xiao Wanling remembered the twelve corn stalks that had matured. She picked them, peeling away the green husks to reveal golden, plump kernels—similar to yellow field corn.

She left four ears to dry as seeds and planned to use the rest to make corn juice, corn fritters, and boiled corn.

After tasting it, she confirmed its sweet, rich flavor. Corn could indeed be grown on the mountain. It could be started early and sown in spring. Excited, she wanted to tell the farm supervisor that corn, grown in well-lit areas, could yield more than sweet potatoes.

She stepped outside, stood by the mulberry tree, and spotted armored soldiers guarding the road to the market.

Sensing her gaze, Shen Qing came running back. “Hungry?”

“No,” Xiao Wanling replied. “I was looking for the village head and supervisor.”

Yin Sheng grinned. “They’re super busy right now!”

Nobles from the capital were scrambling to buy land and homes. Population registers and residency permits had to be sorted—they didn’t even have time to drink water.

Shen Qing turned serious. “Captain Yin, keep watch here.” He strode off toward the market.

At the new mansion, Chancellor Fu and Master Zhi were enjoying hot pot and wine. A brazier warmed the space beneath the table. Life was good.

They clinked glasses and reached for meatballs when Shen Qing burst in like a gust of wind. “Chancellor Fu, Master Zhi, my wife wants to see you!”

Chancellor Fu smiled, finished chewing, swished his mouth with plum juice, wiped his beard, and pulled Master Zhi, who was still fishing for beef, along with him. “Let’s go see what she wants. Maybe she wants to open more shops?”

Their hotpot ingredients sold out the moment they were served. Life was good, eating hotpot and counting wens.

The emperor, pleased with their earnings, allowed them to attend court once every ten days. It was a dream come true.

Master Zhi flicked his sleeves. “Stop tugging on me! What would people think?”

With graceful agility, he leapt onto his carriage. “To Shen’s residence!”

Chancellor Fu called after him, “Old friend, I’ll catch up!”

He turned to Shen Qing. “What does she want with me?”

Shen Qing shook his head. “She didn’t say.” And then strode off ahead.

Chancellor Fu, unwilling to lose, yelled for his carriage. “No time for soup—we’ll miss the good stuff!”

He suspected Miss Xiao had discovered another delicacy. Clutching the carriage door, he yelled, “Faster!”

A Grand Tutor who had just arrived in Qishan watched the Chancellor’s carriage fly past. Then he spotted Master Zhi’s carriage halfway up the hill.

Previously, he’d dismissed them as old fools, but now it was clear they were hiding something valuable.

Without hesitation, the Grand Tutor ran uphill.

Others saw this and thought, whatever it is—they’re all chasing it. Let’s go too!

Panting and flushed, they reached the Shen household, only to find the gates shut and the high courtyard walls hiding everything.

A fat gray dog lounged on the wall, howling, “Awoooo—”

Everyone shivered.

“Who goes there?”

Shen Qing opened the gate and found a crowd of robed officials and topknotted elders standing outside. He turned and shouted, “Chancellor Fu, you have visitors!”

Chancellor Fu walked out, munching on a piece of golden, sweet corn.

The officials craned their necks to peer inside.

He gave a dry chuckle. “Why are you all here instead of at the capital?”

The Grand Tutor strode in. “As if Jin City could house everyone!”

He spotted an unfamiliar dish on the table and marched over. “What is this?”

Master Zhi quickly stuffed two pieces of corn fritters into his sleeve, wrapped in husks for cleanliness.

Silently counting heads, he realized there wouldn’t be enough to share. He cleared his throat. “You came to General Shen’s home empty-handed?”

Then, trying to block the table, he subtly waved his arm to hide the food.

Shen Qing gave them a puzzled look and turned to Xiao Wanling for guidance.

Seeing their rust-colored robes and emblems and knowing they were acquainted with Chancellor Fu and Master Zhi, she guessed they were capital officials. But they only had ten ears of corn, and four were for seeds; she didn’t want anything to be stolen.

She glanced at Shen Qing and gestured for him to send them off.

Understanding immediately, Shen Qing walked to the gate and barred the others. “My wife has important business with Chancellor Fu and Master Zhi. Please wait outside.”

He shut the gate without ceremony.

The Grand Tutor and Commander had come fast and sat at the table.

Xiao Wanling nodded to the two lords and turned to Chancellor Fu. “Each of these ears came from a single seed. But of the ones the Jin family brought back, only a few seeds remain.”

Chancellor Fu replied, “We’ll find more!”

“Much appreciated,” Xiao Wanling said sincerely.

Master Zhi, with a kernel stuck to his lip, stood up. He intended to sneak the hidden fritters home for his family to try.

The Grand Tutor and Commander were confused. They saw two green bamboo cups on the table, labeled “corn juice.” They each picked one up.

“It’s sweet?” the Grand Tutor said, surprised.

And fragrant!

“What kind of tea is this?” he asked curiously.

Chancellor Fu pointed at the tag. “Corn.”

The Grand Tutor turned to the Commander. “Have you ever heard of corn tea?”

“Nope,” the Commander replied.

The tea was golden yellow. Earlier, they’d smelled something fragrant. Then they saw Fu sneak something into the kitchen.

On the way out, the two huddled together. The Grand Tutor glanced back, picked up the unfinished cup of corn juice, and decided to “research” it.

Their servants were out looking for homes and food. The Grand Tutor paused outside a teahouse and saw patrons holding bamboo cups. He glanced down at his own.

He walked up and asked a woman, “Do you sell corn?”

Sister-in-law Lu was puzzled. “No, but we’ve got sour plum tea, pearl milk tea, red date and longan ginger tea, snow fungus soup, and sweet tofu pudding!”

“What kind of milk? What tea? Pearls?” The Grand Tutor stammered.

“How much?”

“Eight cents for the pearl milk tea—same size as your cup. Everything else is five wen! Bring your own cup, and it’s one cent off!”

Cheng Qiao’er emerged from a nearby shop. Seeing the fearsome Commander and powerful Grand Tutor, she swallowed nervously. “Would you like to buy some? We offer delivery! One tael minimum order!”

The Grand Tutor nodded, amused.

Just then, a group of young ladies arrived; among them was his own family.

His legitimate daughter hurried over and bowed. Her maid stepped forward and handed over a pouch of money. “One of each tea, please. We heard you take pre-orders.”

Cheng Qiao’er weighed the pouch—hefty! “Yes! May I ask where to deliver?”

“The Grand Tutor’s residence,” the maid replied.

“…Where is that?” Qiao’er asked blankly.

The young lady pointed to a distant carriage and baggage train. “Over there.”

Realizing his family knew all about the teas, the Grand Tutor listened as they rattled off unfamiliar names.

Only then did he learn that all the teas at a recent noble ladies’ tea party came from this obscure little teahouse and Ruyi Pavilion.

He glanced at his bamboo cup, then at the beaming young ladies, then toward the mountaintop house.

Clearly, Chancellor Fu was hiding something again.

Back in his carriage, Chancellor Fu clutched the corn and couldn’t wait to report the good news to the Emperor.