Bihan City lay in the central plains of Longsha. It was not by the sea, so the climate was mild without being overly damp, and the continuous mountain ranges to the northwest blocked the cold northern winds. Winters were therefore not too harsh, making the weather pleasant all year round.
Compared to Xiling, which pursued upright dignity and emphasized orderly tradition, Longsha bordered several nations and enjoyed flourishing trade. It absorbed influences from every neighboring country, so its own character instead hid beneath the prosperity, often causing people to overlook it easily.
This trait was displayed especially clearly at the banquet in Huifeng Tower: the entire hall’s furniture was made from dense-grained Timo rosewood, while the folding screens and paintings were works by famous Dongyu masters. The dishes were authentic Fengdu-style cuisine from Xiling, while the grape wine and silver cups engraved with entwined grapevine patterns came from the overseas Kingdom of Shushan.
The hosts were distinguished nobles from Qiyun, the guests were important officials from Xiling, yet the topic of discussion was Longsha’s national affairs.
Inside Huifeng Tower’s private room, Pingdu’s Resident Port Envoy Yuan Tian Jing sat on one side, while Liangang’s Resident Port Envoy Shang Zhen sat on the other. Wei Fu occupied the seat of honor, with Deputy Envoy Feng Xie seated below him, and accompanying them was Wei Gan Cong, a Director of Longsha’s Ministry of Revenue.
After Qiyun obtained Longsha’s two ports, it stationed officials there under the title of “Resident Port Envoy,” permitting them to establish their own administrative offices within the ports, known as “Resident Port Offices,” to manage all military and civil affairs inside the harbor districts. In doing so, they squeezed out Longsha’s original Maritime Trade Office.
Furthermore, according to the agreement between the two nations, aside from maritime shipping, the Resident Port Offices held authority to intervene in matters such as merchant guilds, repairs, and engineering within Pingdu and Liangang. Conversely, local governments were forbidden from interfering in port affairs at all. The ports even maintained their own stationed troops and naval forces, practically becoming independent states within the cities.
Yuan Tian Jing and Shang Zhen were immensely wealthy and powerful. Though nominally stationed at the ports, they had long since become thoroughly familiar with Bihan City. They entered these wine houses filled with nightly revelry as casually as if returning home—after all, no one could control them. The fact that they had even dragged along an official from Longsha’s Ministry of Revenue to accompany them showed how thoroughly they had greased the wheels throughout officialdom.
This was their first formal meeting with the Assistant Chancellor from Xiling, though not their first interaction.
When Wei Fu had first entered Bihan City, subordinates of Yuan and Shang had already tried to present him with gifts and favors, all of which Wei Fu dismissed. Later, however, when senior officials from Longsha’s ministries hosted banquets for him, he accepted readily instead of refusing. After hearing this, the two men vaguely grasped his intentions, and so invited Wei Gan Cong to act as intermediary while they personally hosted tonight’s banquet.
They had originally assumed that, because Wei Fu was young, he might be self-important, unwilling to conform to worldly customs, perhaps even somewhat awkward socially. Yet after only a few rounds of exchanging cups at the banquet, they discovered he was an exceedingly agreeable man—easy to talk to and fun to entertain, while also cleverly maintaining the proper boundaries in their interactions.
Holding a wine cup lightly between his fingers, Yuan Tian Jing leaned forward and asked, “Chancellor Wei is so young and handsome—have you married yet?”
Wei Fu wore lotus-blue casual robes, with broad sleeves flowing elegantly. He was tall, and his features were strikingly vivid; pale colors could not support his bearing, so only bold shades suited him fully. Yet when he sat there smiling, it was like spring water melting ice, without the slightest sense of sharpness or aggression. “Thank you for the compliment. My achievements are not yet complete, so I haven’t had time to consider such matters.”
Yuan Tian Jing immediately seized the opening and flattered him further. “I heard His Majesty had a new residence built for Chancellor Wei. Having only recently arrived in Bihan City, you surely need someone at your side to care for your daily comforts, and the estate itself requires attentive management. If you do not mind, I could send Your Excellency a few clever and considerate young women, to ease the loneliness of those long nights and empty pillows.”
Everyone laughed with teasing intent. Wei Fu raised a purple bamboo folding fan to cover his chin and pointed openly at Feng Xie. “Lord Yuan needn’t ask me. Lord Feng serves under the Censorate, specifically responsible for impeaching officials’ misconduct. Ask him instead. He’ll write a memorial back to our emperor, and if His Majesty doesn’t send someone to strangle me, then perhaps it would be possible.”
Yuan Tian Jing burst into laughter. “The emperor is far away in the heavens above—why bother asking permission? Lord Feng, does your household happen to lack servants?”
Feng Xie answered with complete seriousness, “Thank you for your concern. My wife governs the household very strictly. If my residence dared to ‘lack people,’ then my household would truly end up lacking people.”
He was past thirty, with thick brows, large eyes, and a short beard. When not joking, he appeared rather stern, so when he suddenly produced such a line, even Wei Fu failed to hold back a laugh and raised his cup in admiration.
After hitting two walls in succession, Yuan Tian Jing still refused to give up and was about to say, “They’re only fleeting romances anyway, what’s there to fear?” when Shang Zhen shot him a look to silence him. Then he tested cautiously, “Lord Feng and his wife are deeply devoted to one another—that sort of blessing cannot be sought even if one tries, truly enviable. More remarkable still is that someone like Chancellor Wei, at your age and with your appearance, remains so clean and self-restrained. Could it be that you already have someone in your heart?”
A gleam flashed through Wei Fu’s eyes. He smiled at Shang Zhen meaningfully. Shang Zhen took this as tacit confirmation and pressed on, “Is it some great noble house in Xiling, or perhaps a distinguished person within the palace?” Afraid the question might sound presumptuous, he added, “Please don’t think me nosy, Chancellor Wei. We oversee the ports and often deal with merchants and officials from Xiling. Now that we share this connection, if in future Your Excellency wishes to present gifts to your future in-laws, or if the two lords wish to offer rare treasures to the palace, Brother Yuan and I could contribute a small measure of assistance.”
To win him over and show goodwill, they had practically exhausted every possible method—even devising these winding social strategies. All the things Wei Fu had sent the emperor came out of his own pocket, and Yu Gong Zhao Ye had even supplemented many of them. If someone else helped prepare tribute gifts for him, it truly would save him a great deal of silver.
“I appreciate Lord Shang’s kindness, but unfortunately I lack the fortune to enjoy it.” Wei Fu flicked open his fan, hiding the smile at his lips as he spoke leisurely. “The one I admire comes from Longsha. He is a person of pure heart and steadfast integrity, the sort whose eyes cannot tolerate even a grain of sand. If I wish to make him happy, then I probably can only devote myself wholeheartedly to Longsha, exhaust my mind and strength in planning for its benefit, and strive toward ‘the silkworm spinning silk until death.’”
Had Yu Gong Feng Ting not already passed away, Shang Zhen might have suspected Wei Fu intended to become Yu Gong Lie’s stepmother.
What kind of husband-selection standard in Longsha demanded total devotion to the court and state? If he loved the country so much, then why was he entangled with a man from Xiling?!
This bolt from the blue struck friend and foe alike. Even Feng Xie choked on his wine in shock, repeatedly slamming his knee into Wei Fu’s leg beneath the table. His facial expression was so vivid it practically had its own voice: “Does His Majesty know you’re this suicidal?!”
How could Wei Fu possibly tell him that the truly suicidal part was that His Majesty knew—but the beloved person still didn’t.
So he merely smiled inscrutably, pretending everything remained under control.
“Send……”
Shang Zhen stammered “this…” twice without finding words. Wei Fu lifted his gaze toward him. “If two households grow close, then two nations grow close. In truth there’s little difference. To take, one must first give. I carry His Majesty’s heavy trust, so naturally I must contribute my share of effort for Longsha.”
Hearing deeper meaning in his tone, Shang Zhen seemed to understand something. “Yes. Chancellor Wei speaks correctly.”
Yuan Tian Jing still hadn’t grasped it. “Which family’s daughter in Longsha has caught Chancellor Wei’s eye? Our Qiyun’s Princess Huarong has been granted the title of Noble Consort by His Majesty himself. Since Chancellor Wei is interested, if Noble Consort Huarong mediated the match, how could it possibly fail?”
“Indeed,” Wei Fu replied, yet instead of answering directly, he changed the subject. “I heard Lord Yuan is related to the Noble Consort? The Noble Consort married far away into a foreign nation. Having trustworthy relatives stationed here in Longsha to support her must give her far more confidence than I possess.”
At the mention of this matter, Yuan Tian Jing immediately displayed some pride, though he feigned modesty. “Ah, it’s nothing much. Princess Huarong’s mother was the youngest daughter of our Yuan family. I’m her maternal uncle.”
Meanwhile Shang Zhen was still contemplating Wei Fu’s earlier words. Suddenly something clicked in his mind. Wei Fu and Princess Huarong were in rather similar situations—both had left their homeland for Longsha. Perhaps this so-called “beloved person from Longsha” did not truly exist at all. Rather, Wei Fu was using layered speech to hint at his own political stance.
Now positioned as the chief minister of Longsha’s Inner Cabinet, whatever Wei Fu did, at least outwardly, had to benefit Longsha. If Qiyun’s people wished to befriend him, regardless of their schemes, they had to stay within that red line. Wasn’t he even bringing a censor with him to drinking banquets? That was clearly to avoid leaving any handle for either Xiling or Longsha to seize against him.
This banquet had supposedly been only for initial acquaintance. They had used every possible means to flatter him, yet never directly mentioned any requests. But from Wei Fu’s demeanor, it was obvious he understood everything perfectly—not only what they wanted, but how he intended to respond.
He appeared to want nothing, yet inwardly carried a set of scales, constantly weighing every person before him. Mere gold, silver, and beauties could not tempt him. His “taking” and “giving” would inevitably involve far greater interests.
Could Qiyun truly afford that price?
And if they really paid it, would it be using a small investment to gain enormous returns—or negotiating with a tiger for its skin?
Even by the end of the banquet, Shang Zhen still had not figured it out. Distracted and thoughtful, he and Yuan Tian Jing escorted Wei Fu and the others to the entrance.
Night had already deepened, yet the street remained brilliantly lit, with carriages and horses constantly passing back and forth, transporting drunken banquet guests.
The curtains of the Chancellor’s carriage were half open. As a wealthy merchant’s carriage rolled past nearby, lantern light from beneath the eaves shone briefly through the opposite window. In that instant of brightness, Shang Zhen thought he saw a pale silver gleam inside the carriage. The color was extremely light, yet inexplicably cold, like thin frost beneath a silent autumn night, or moonlight reflected upon wave crests.
But it lasted only a dreamlike instant before being completely blocked by Wei Fu’s figure, leaving Shang Zhen wondering whether he had merely drunk too much.
The carriage wheels rumbled eastward as the early spring night breeze drifted softly by. Beside him, Yuan Tian Jing suddenly sneezed with earth-shaking force.
“Pretty cold tonight. Let’s head back.” Rubbing his nose, he glanced toward the night sky overhead. “Oh ho, what a dark and windy night.”
“A rare guest indeed.”
Wei Fu settled into the wide cushioned seat inside the carriage. Casually tossing aside his folding fan, he also discarded the composed elegance and measured grace he displayed before others. Lazily propping his head against one hand, he asked, “Does Your Highness avoid using the front entrance even within your own territory?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye’s face remained dark. Seeing Wei Fu half-lidded, with faint redness at the corners of his eyes and dark shadows beneath them, he seemed either drunk or exhausted from prolonged fatigue. Considering how busy he had been these past days, Yu Gong Zhao Ye restrained his temper and replied patiently, “I heard you’ve had many social engagements lately, so I came to take a look.”
“To see whether I’ve been colluding with the enemy?” Wei Fu laughed once. “Or to see whether I’ve been accepting bribes and lining my own pockets?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye sensed the bitterness hidden in his tone and suppressed his irritation. “If I came to investigate those things, then forget the front entrance—this entire building wouldn’t still be standing tonight.”
“Liar.” Wei Fu’s lips curved downward as he said resentfully, “You said you wouldn’t interfere in court affairs. Now I’m part of the court too, so you have even more reason not to bother with me. For over a month you never asked a single question, yet tonight a banquet hosted by Qiyun’s Resident Port Envoys was enough to alarm Your Highness personally. You didn’t come to see me at all!”
“So now the person who spends half the month away from home is blaming me instead?” Yu Gong Zhao Ye immediately shot back. “Tonight is your tenth drinking banquet this month. Keep this up and next month you won’t be going anywhere—you’ll stay home drinking porridge.”
Only after hearing that did Wei Fu finally tilt his head slightly and glance at him from the corner of his eye. “Your Highness has actually been keeping count for me?”
Yu Gong Zhao Ye replied coldly, “Otherwise what? Wait until you drink yourself into vomiting blood before visiting you?”
“…Then why secretly keep count instead of just coming to see me directly?” Wei Fu endured it again and again before finally exploding. “Every day I sit in the residence waiting helplessly, not knowing whether you’ll come or when you’ll come, and I can’t even run off to Yeguang Hall to look for you… What exactly are you worried about? You don’t even need to climb walls in Bihan City!”
Futile Devices Scans 
Leave a comment