"Agui, what do you think of this manual and Ning Liheng now?"
As the Prince Consort's sedan chair passed through the streets of Jiangning at dusk, Kang Xian asked this question. Lu Agui pondered for a long while before answering.
"In the past, it would have been difficult to come to a conclusion, but after seeing this manual today, I believe Ning Liheng... might be a man of extraordinary practical talent."
"I feel the same..." Kang Xian sighed. "This single manual touches on a wide range of disciplines—how to manage, guide, and subtly motivate disaster victims to maximize their efficiency without resorting to blind suppression. This truly exemplifies the essence of enlightened governance. His remarks on sanitation are no mere idle talk either. When he spoke of gewu (the study of investigating things) in the past, he said it requires the identification of laws inherent in all phenomena, recording similar events systematically, and analyzing their causes and effects through comparison and induction—rejecting superstition or unfounded assumptions. His examples regarding sanitation today likely stem from his application of gewu principles."
He paused, then added, "Tonight, I'll carefully review this manual and consider how best to present it. Tomorrow, I'll discuss it further with Master Qin. Disaster relief is an urgent matter, and once the situation eases, Agui, I want you to summon all the available physicians and officials for a detailed review. Compare the occurrence of various illnesses with their surrounding conditions, just as Liheng suggested. Record everything rigorously, grounded in facts, leaving no room for baseless claims."
"Yes, sir."
"After the floods, epidemics will inevitably follow. Certain measures can be initiated even now. Deploy personnel from the family business to observe and record in all affected areas. This year, disasters abound. Master Qin will distribute the manual widely, and I'll submit it to the imperial court. Some will use it effectively, while others may dismiss it. Regardless, I'll demand they document implementation details—the onset and duration of outbreaks, conditions before and after, and calculate... what was it Liheng called it? Proportions. If this method truly prevents epidemics, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved... That would surely be a great act of merit in the eyes of the Buddha."
"Yes, sir."
"It's a pity he refuses to fully commit to such matters," Kang Xian lamented, shaking his head. "I've always been skeptical of purely theoretical ideas. But to claim he submitted this manual merely to have Master Qin take in Nie Yunzhu as an adopted daughter for some measure of protection—ha, such a mix of idealism and naivety. Do you believe that's his true intent?"
"Subordinate... does not believe so," Lu Agui replied after some thought. "Although Master Ning speaks with some practicality, the significance of this manual far surpasses what any merchant could achieve. Given his current rapport with Master Qin and you, sir, even minor requests for assistance would be but a small favor. For ordinary business matters, he could approach someone like me, and I would resolve them easily. Master Ning is far from incapable himself. The weight of this manual... I believe he may have considered such motivations, but presenting it might also serve as an excuse to decline an official post."
Kang Xian chuckled. "Haha, could it be that he himself does not view the manual as significant?"
"There are humble individuals in this world," Lu Agui reflected. "Master Ning, though modest in demeanor, demonstrates exceptional precision in his insights. If he truly regarded these two matters as equivalent, it would indeed be puzzling. Even with his sense of gratitude toward Master Qin, he should recognize the importance of this manual. Otherwise, he would not have so earnestly insisted that his name remain undisclosed."
"Precisely. Yet, despite everything, he remains content to be a mere son-in-law in Jiangning. In The Analects, in the chapter Wei Zi, Zilu said, 'A gentleman enters office to fulfill his duty.' He harbors a reclusive spirit yet actively involves himself in many endeavors. Though his rhetoric is occasionally provocative, he is not rash. Presenting this manual demonstrates his concern for the people's welfare, yet his intentions are baffling."
"Perhaps," Lu Agui hesitated, "he once offended a superior or suffered injustice, leaving him disillusioned with the bureaucracy. From what I've heard, though young, Master Ning speaks of intrigue and manipulation with noticeable sentiment."
Kang Xian nodded. "This matter was not thoroughly investigated before. This time, have someone look into it closely. If he indeed offended someone... we'll address it when the time comes."
"Yes, sir."
The sunset bathed the horizon in resplendent hues as the sedan chair returned to the Prince Consort's residence. Upon entering, a servant reported that the Crown Prince's children were visiting and playing in the back garden with the princess. Kang Xian smiled and proceeded inside.
The term "princess" often conjures images of youth, but Kang Xian's wife, Princess Zhou Xuan, was already fifty-four years old. As the emperor's paternal aunt, she was once highly talented in her youth and had maintained a harmonious marriage with Kang Xian. Although the princess kept a low profile, her and Kang Xian's extensive business dealings gave them considerable influence within the royal family despite avoiding political entanglements.
This neutrality and wealth made them favored companions among similarly affluent royal members. For example, today's visitors were Zhou Yong's children, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu, who frequently came to play. They had brought along several of their younger relatives, who now scampered around the garden. Zhou Xuan, elegant and poised, watched from a pavilion with a smile. Seeing Kang Xian approach, she greeted him, "You're back, my lord," and poured him a cup of tea. Soon, the children excitedly rushed toward them.
Among them, Kang Xian particularly favored the precocious Zhou Pei. The girl was undeniably brilliant, outshining his own grandchildren. Meanwhile, Zhou Junwu, often bullied by his sister, had become popular with the younger ones. Truly, Zhou Yong had an exceptional pair of children. No sooner had Kang Xian sat down than Zhou Pei ran over.
"Grandfather Consort! Grandfather Consort!"
Her sweet voice signaled a request. Kang Xian knew exactly what she wanted. This clever girl had recently devised a method for calculating grain allocations for disaster relief and had brought it to him, brimming with confidence, hoping it could be presented to her "Uncle Emperor."
"Grandfather Consort, how's that method coming along?"
The little girl beamed brightly, and Kang Xian smiled as he praised her.
"Your method is indeed insightful, balancing resource allocation and efficiency remarkably well. The accountants in my household even marveled at your brilliance. There were just a few minor adjustments regarding the distribution between counties—small details you might not have been aware of..."
He pulled out a ledger and explained the corrections, which were indeed minor. Once that was done, he took out another manual.
"However, I received another proposal today, one with a different focus. Since you're skilled in this field, take a look and give me your opinion."
The young girl, elegantly dressed, tilted her head in curiosity. "Oh? Sure!"
She began flipping through the manual, guided by Kang Xian's finger to a specific section. After reading for a moment, her brows furrowed, and she hurried off to the study. Through the window, one could see her rummaging for paper and pen, sketching and calculating with intense focus. Zhou Xuan, watching from the pavilion, turned to Kang Xian. "My lord, what did you show her?"
"Nothing concerning. Let her finish, and then we'll discuss," Kang Xian replied with a smile, turning his attention to his grandchildren. Zhou Junwu glanced curiously toward the study but remained with the group.
When Zhou Pei emerged, manual in hand, her expression was crestfallen. She flipped through it again, her face growing more perplexed with each page. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, she placed the manual beside Kang Xian with a sigh.
"Grandfather Consort, who wrote this?"
Kang Xian looked at her, pondered for a while, and then said, "I really shouldn't tell you this, but… Pei'er, if you swear to keep it secret, I'll tell you. This is no joke, so think it through carefully. If you're certain you can guard this secret, only then will I speak."
Zhou Pei thought it over for a moment. After some time, with a serious expression, she raised her right hand.
The slanting sunset cast its warm golden glow on the eastern city wall, filling the courtyard with light. Moments later, a sudden exclamation echoed from the pavilion, "Huh? That barbarian?"
At that moment, little Junwu was leaning closer. Hearing his sister's words, he asked curiously, "Barbarian? Sister, what has Ning Liheng done this time?" Since the Dragon Boat Festival, his sister had been unimpressed with the famed scholar, referring to him as "that barbarian."
Zhou Pei glared at him. "Get lost!"
"I'm still a little prince! You can't treat me like—" Seeing his siblings watching from a distance, Junwu decided to fight back but trailed off mid-sentence when he caught sight of his sister's eyes. He quickly turned and fled.
"Oh…"
For Ning Yi, the two items he had gifted to Master Qin and Master Kang were not as simple as they seemed. While one reason was his compassion for the disaster victims and his desire to do some good, the main purpose was to secure Master Qin's acceptance of Nie Yunzhu as his adopted daughter. Though Kang Xian and Lu A'gui might have considered the cost and benefit of this action imbalanced, for Ning Yi, it was part of a more calculated plan.
Since the incident with Gu Yanzhen, Ning Yi had been paying close attention to the unfolding changes. Finding Nie Yunzhu a reliable protector wasn't just about shielding her from encountering people like Gu Yanzhen in the future or making her business dealings smoother—those were only partial reasons. Another factor was that he noticed constables had already been questioning Li Pin and Nie Yunzhu about Gu Yanzhen.
Although his meetings with Nie Yunzhu were limited to the early hours before dawn, the possibility of skilled investigative techniques tracing him through her was not negligible. Furthermore, Gu Yanzhen, who had plotted to kidnap Nie Yunzhu, might have left some evidence behind, leading the constables to focus their investigation on her. To preempt any issues, Ning Yi decided to elevate her status, cutting off the constables' inquiry at this level. This was beneficial for both Nie Yunzhu and himself.
His meticulous planning had become second nature—eliminating threats before taking another step forward. Even in the worst-case scenario, such as if Gu Yanzhen hadn't revealed the truth before his death and others knew about the kidnapping plan, Ning Yi could rely on the disaster relief ledger's significance as an adequate safeguard. If he killed in self-defense, this ledger provided strong leverage to support his case.
By adding this layer of protection, fulfilling the altruistic aspirations of Master Qin and Master Kang, paving a path for Nie Yunzhu's future, and ensuring his own peaceful life, Ning Yi achieved an optimal outcome. As a businessman, he believed in fair exchanges. With this arrangement, everyone benefited, and no one owed anyone anything. It was perfect. In saving lives, he also satisfied his compassionate side—fewer people might die from illness or hunger this year. To help the world at such a small personal cost, why not?
He hadn't yet informed Nie Yunzhu about arranging her an adoptive father and wasn't sure of her feelings about it. They'd have to discuss it in the morning. He knew she'd grown up in a well-off official family, and Master Qin, with his good nature, would treat her kindly. Of course, if she was uncomfortable with it, he'd step in to refuse on her behalf.
This thought occupied his mind as he headed home that evening. By chance, he noticed Xiao Chan speaking anxiously with a man in a small courtyard near the main gate. During dinner, she appeared rushed, but he didn't think much of it. Xiao Chan often managed household matters with urgency but handled them well. It wasn't until later, when the family gathered in the living room to chat and play chess, that he realized something was wrong. Xiao Chan sat in the corner, silently stitching shoe soles, her muffled voice occasionally reaching him. Observing her for a while, Ning Yi called out, "Xiao Chan, come here."
"Yes, Master?" Xiao Chan replied with a cheery tone, lowering her head as she approached. Ning Yi reached out and wiped her face, noticing the dampness near her eyes. Glancing at Su Tan'er, they exchanged looks. Su Tan'er set down her ledger, walked over to Xiao Chan, and gently guided her to sit down. "Chan'er, what's wrong? What happened?"
"Someone from my family came this afternoon… My father passed away two days ago…" Xiao Chan bit her lip before breaking into tears. "I'd like to ask the Young Mistress for leave to go home, but she's been so busy lately…"
The room fell silent.
"How could you keep this to yourself? I'll ask… uh, Chief Steward Chang to accompany you home. Why are you worrying about the household's affairs?" Su Tan'er wrapped her arms around Xiao Chan, her tone both firm and tender.
"But Chief Steward Chang is also busy, and if the city gates close, we won't make it back…"
Chief Steward Chang held the highest position among the main house's staff. Sending him along would signify the Su family's regard for Xiao Chan. Such an arrangement wasn't necessary, but having grown up with her maids as sisters, Su Tan'er deeply cared for Xiao Chan, who also managed the household well. Shaking her head, Su Tan'er said, "Stop overthinking. Just focus on going home, laying your father to rest, and settling things before you return. We're like sisters. If I weren't busy, I'd go with you myself."
"Young Mistress…" Xiao Chan cried harder, while Juan'er and Xing'er, also teary-eyed, gathered around.
After some thought, Ning Yi spoke up. "Then… I'll accompany Xiao Chan home."
Xiao Chan turned, wiping her tears. "Master…"
"You've taken care of me for so long. Chief Steward Chang is busy, and Tan'er can't go. I'm free, so why not? It's also a way to show respect. What do you think?"
Silence lingered for a moment. Xiao Chan kept dabbing at her tears, unable to stop crying, deeply moved. "Master… Master shouldn't go… Your hand hasn't healed yet…"
Su Tan'er embraced Xiao Chan and, smiling, exchanged glances with Ning Yi before nodding slightly. She gently patted Xiao Chan's cheek. "That's settled. It'll be hard on my husband to make the trip. Take Guard Geng along for safety—there are more and more disaster victims arriving, so be cautious on the road…"