The Yangzhou salt case was far-reaching in scope, with Su Cen, the Junior Chief Magistrate of the Dali Temple, serving as the chief investigator, and Yangzhou Chief Recorder Feng Yiming assisting him. It wasn’t until the early winter months that the case was finally concluded.
He Xiao was found guilty of eight crimes, including bribing officials, maliciously inflating salt prices, disregarding human life, and colluding with rebels. The evidence was irrefutable, and he was sentenced to execution by beheading and public display.
Xue Zhi, the Governor of Yangzhou, was convicted of corruption, abuse of power, and deceiving his superiors. He was sentenced to execution after the autumn harvest. Qiu Jisheng, the Salt Transport Commissioner, and Liang Jiexing, the Imperial Censor, were exiled 3,000 li away. Commander Cao Ren and Deputy Governor Zhang Luan were stripped of their positions and demoted to commoners.
The Yangzhou officialdom was effectively purged.
Jia Wangchun, who had been selling private salt under the guise of official salt, received leniency due to his cooperation in providing evidence and voluntarily surrendering his salt monopoly license. His merits and faults canceled each other out, and he was restored to civilian status.
The Wang family, fearing association with He Xiao’s crimes, voluntarily surrendered their salt monopoly license in an attempt to atone for their misdeeds.
Seeing that the court was determined to abolish the salt monopoly system, other salt merchants in Yangzhou followed suit and handed over their licenses.
Thus, salt operations in Yangzhou were restored to state control. A new Salt Tax Bureau was established, with Feng Yiming appointed as the Jianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner. He was tasked with overseeing salt transportation and trade as well as managing the abolition of salt monopoly licenses across Jianghuai.
Li Shi had been right—Feng Yiming was indeed well-suited for Yangzhou. After years of navigating its officialdom, he handled salt affairs with ease. Upon taking office, he first regulated the price of government-controlled salt, ensuring that the people of Yangzhou had access to affordable salt. Several subsequent policies addressed urgent issues during the transition from private to public control. To deal with merchants unwilling to surrender their licenses, he skillfully turned their own tactics against them. He also cleverly leveraged private salt smugglers’ profit-driven mindset to curb rampant illegal trade.
If Su Cen excelled at discerning subtleties and rooting out corruption, Feng Yiming was adept at implementing policies and managing diverse interests. Li Shi must have seen Feng Yiming’s potential early on when he sent him to Yangzhou for training. Now polished like a sharp blade, Feng Yiming had become a force to be reckoned with, restoring clarity and order to Yangzhou’s officialdom.
Feng Yiming’s rise was nothing short of remarkable. Freed from his previous constraints, he soared like a phoenix breaking free from its cage—a truly striking transformation.
Su Cen and Feng Yiming worked together for over half a month. Initially unable to see eye-to-eye, they gradually developed mutual respect and camaraderie.
One day, after concluding a case where a salt merchant had used the guise of surrendering his license to extort farmland from innocent people, Feng Yiming waited until everyone had left before casually sitting on Su Cen’s desk in court. Smiling, he said, “A new restaurant just opened in the south of the city. Want to go try it?”
Su Cen picked up his cane and smacked Feng Yiming on the thigh with it. Sternly, he said, “This is a courtroom desk—how dare you sit on it? Get down.”
Rubbing his thigh in pain, Feng Yiming grimaced. “You’re even stricter than that old geezer! You’re so young yet so rigid—how do you ever relax around him?”
Su Cen ignored him as he methodically tidied up his case files.
Feeling awkward after being rebuffed, Feng Yiming stood up and dusted off his clothes. “So? Are we going to the restaurant or not?”
Su Cen looked up. “What’s it called?”
Feng Yiming thought for a moment before replying: “I think it’s called Zhuoying Restaurant.”
“‘The clear waters of Canglang can cleanse my tassels.’” Su Cen nodded approvingly. “Good name.”
“Exactly! I thought you’d appreciate it—that’s why I asked you specifically. Anyone else wouldn’t get it.”
Su Cen had promised his elder brother he’d return home for dinner that evening and initially planned to decline outright. But just as he looked up toward the door outside the yamen (government office), he caught sight of someone arriving. The words on his lips shifted into: “Just drinking wine sounds boring.”
Still facing away from the door and oblivious to what Su Cen had noticed, Feng Yiming continued: “Then what do you want? Music? Singing? Or should I find you a few girls?”
Feng Yiming shook his head as he spoke, “Girls, you probably wouldn’t like. How about young men then? Everyone says Yangzhou’s Yanliu Alley is famous, but few know that the Nanfeng Pavilion is equally exceptional. How about we sneak away from that old fox one day, and I’ll take you there? I guarantee it’ll leave you in ecstasy, so much so that you’ll never want to leave.”
Su Cen looked up and smiled at him, then turned his head toward the person standing behind Feng Yiming and said seriously, “You heard him. It’s Lord Feng who wants to take me there—it’s not my idea.”
Feng Yiming stiffened and turned around. The moment he saw who it was, a cold sweat broke out on his back. He immediately lowered his head and respectfully said, “Your Highness.”
Li Shi gave an order over his shoulder: “Shut it down.”
Qi Lin accepted the command.
Feng Yiming: “…”
Li Shi, hands clasped behind his back, continued, “According to the *Great Zhou Code*, what is the punishment for an official frequenting brothels?”
Su Cen replied with a bright smile, “Fifty strokes of the cane, removal from office, and permanent disqualification from holding any government position.”
Feng Yiming: “…”
Li Shi nodded and added, “Isn’t former Minister of Revenue Xun’s family home in Yangzhou?”
Su Cen confirmed, “It is.”
Li Shi continued, “I heard he has a granddaughter?”
Su Cen replied smoothly, “Just turned sixteen.”
Feng Yiming: “…”
The meaning was clear—if you dare to try leading this prince astray again, I’ll arrange a marriage for you. Someone will naturally keep you in line.
If there was ever an example of being complicit in one’s own downfall, Feng Yiming thought it was this moment. He glanced back at that little fox—Su Cen—whose face had been cold as ice earlier but now bloomed with a smile as radiant as spring flowers.
Knowing when to retreat, Feng Yiming quickly made an excuse: “Your servant just remembered there’s a petition I need to draft tonight. I must take my leave.”
Seeing Li Shi nod in acknowledgment, Feng Yiming hurriedly made his escape.
Li Shi turned his gaze to Su Cen, who was still smiling brightly. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he asked, “And what about you?”
Su Cen immediately suppressed his smile and said seriously, “What does this have to do with me? I wasn’t the one who suggested going.”
Li Shi replied calmly, “Though you didn’t go there physically, your heart seemed inclined.”
Su Cen refused to yield and raised his chin defiantly: “If you want to accuse me of something unjustly, you’ll always find an excuse.”
Seeing Su Cen’s clever little fox-like demeanor, Li Shi couldn’t help but laugh. He extended his hand and said, “This is the last time. Alright now, let’s go.”
Su Cen handed his cane to Qi Lin and obediently placed his hand in Li Shi’s. Limping slightly, he let Li Shi lead him toward the door.
Inside the carriage, high-quality silver frost charcoal burned in the brazier. It was smokeless and dust-free, making the interior as warm as spring.
Once seated comfortably, Su Cen asked, “Why does Your Highness have the leisure to visit this yamen today?”
Li Shi handed a hand warmer to Su Cen and replied casually, “If I didn’t come out today, your elder brother might have suffocated from holding back all his complaints.”
Su Cen couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Ever since the Prince Ning moved into the Su family residence, his elder brother had been living in constant anxiety, walking on eggshells. If he arranged things too well, he feared Li Shi might criticize him for overstepping the boundaries of a merchant household. If he didn’t arrange things properly, he worried about neglecting an esteemed guest. He followed Li Shi closely during the day, afraid of being an eyesore, yet if he stayed too far away, he feared he wouldn’t return quickly enough if summoned. At night, he sighed with worry; during the day, he forced a smile. Truly, it was hard on him.
Su Cen, however, understood Li Shi’s intentions. Since Su Cen had handled the Yangzhou salt case, he had undoubtedly offended many people. By staying at the Su family residence, Li Shi not only deterred those who might attempt covert revenge but also prevented anyone from openly targeting the Su family’s business.
Li Shi staying at the Su family residence brought nothing but benefits. His elder brother would just have to endure a few more days.
Li Shi asked, “How is the case progressing?”
Su Cen straightened up and replied, “Those who needed to be punished have been dealt with. The salt affairs have returned to proper order, and with Yangzhou as a precedent, other regions have begun abolishing their salt monopoly licenses. However, the purge of Yangzhou’s officialdom was so severe that it may take some time for it to recover.”
Li Shi asked again, “What’s your opinion?”
Su Cen thought for a moment and said, “Yangzhou is a critical location in Huainan Province. Merchants from across the country gather here, and its tax revenue ranks first in Great Zhou. The choice of governor is crucial. Previously, Xue Zhi and his group turned Yangzhou into a mess. Reestablishing authority is essential. The candidate must first have enough prestige to command respect and stabilize the situation. They must also possess impeccable virtue; otherwise, they’ll just become another Xue Zhi. Lastly, they need to be cunning enough to avoid being manipulated by Yangzhou’s crafty merchants.”
Li Shi rubbed the black jade thumb ring on his hand, nodded, and asked, “Do you have anyone in mind?”
Su Cen furrowed his brows in thought for a while but eventually shook his head helplessly.
“What do you think of Lin Zongqing?” Li Shi asked.
Su Cen’s head shot up in surprise. “You mean… my teacher?”
Li Shi nodded.
Su Cen immediately perked up. “Teacher once served as Imperial Tutor—his prestige is certainly sufficient. He’s unyielding and upright by nature; his virtue is beyond question. Having served in court for so many years, no petty tricks could trouble him. Now that Teacher is retired at home, he truly is the perfect choice. But…”
Li Shi raised his eyes slightly. “But what?”
Su Cen muttered under his breath, “But I’m afraid you won’t be able to persuade him.”
He had heard plenty about how the court once tried to recall Lin Zongqing and how Li Shi personally went to invite him back—only to be thrown out.
Li Shi laughed heartily and said, “I have my ways.”
Su Cen leaned closer out of curiosity: “What ways?”
Li Shi stroked his thumb ring and narrowed his eyes with a sly smile: “I’ll issue an imperial edict. If he doesn’t come, we’ll charge him with defying imperial orders.”
Su Cen: “…”
He knew Li Shi wouldn’t truly resort to force against his teacher but still broke into a cold sweat at the thought. These two had been at odds for years and were both stubbornly uncompromising by nature. He couldn’t imagine how Li Shi planned to bring his teacher around.
When they arrived home and Su Cen got off the carriage, he no longer dared act so openly familiar with Li Shi. Taking his cane from Qi Lin’s hands, he leaned on it himself and followed behind Li Shi at a slow pace.
Out of the corner of his eye, Su Cen noticed something in Qi Lin’s hands and couldn’t help but ask: “Guard Qi has changed swords?”
He saw that Qi Lin’s Qinghong Sword was nowhere to be seen; instead, it had been replaced with a wooden sword.
Qi Lin gave a curt acknowledgment but offered no further explanation.
Su Cen’s eyes sharpened. As he had suspected, although Qu Ling’er hadn’t said anything, the wound on his body was undoubtedly inflicted by Qi Lin.
Quickening his pace, Su Cen pointed to a bird perched on a tree and said to Li Shi, “Your Highness, do you know what kind of bird this is?”
Li Shi stopped and looked carefully before asking, “What kind of bird?”
Su Cen smiled and said, “This bird has a clear and melodious call, like a beautiful song, so it’s called the ‘Miaoge Bird’ (Melodious Songbird). But that’s not the key point. The most notable thing about this bird is its tender, smooth, and delicious meat. In Suzhou, we have a dish called *Floating Clouds White Egret Soup*. It’s made by simmering this bird with water shield greens and perch fish. The result is a soup that melts in your mouth with unparalleled freshness and flavor. Coincidentally, my elder brother’s chef happens to be from Suzhou and knows how to make this dish.”
Li Shi looked at the bright sparkle in Su Cen’s eyes, his demeanor brimming with charm and mischief—a look that could easily sway one’s will. Seeing this little fox acting so beguilingly, Li Shi couldn’t help but laugh and said, “Get to the point.”
Su Cen grinned. “I want to eat it.”
Even though Li Shi knew full well that this little fox was stirring up trouble, he didn’t mind playing along. Like a modern-day King Zhou of Shang indulging in whims, he turned to Qi Lin and ordered, “Catch it and have it made into soup for Master Su.”
Qi Lin glanced at Su Cen briefly before nodding with his sword in hand. Without a word, he accepted the command and went off to catch the bird.
T/N : Spring Festival Eve (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
![Flying Dust [Fei Chen]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9k.png "Flying Dust [Fei Chen]")