Prince Yu Residence.
Wang Yan wore a plain azure robe, official boots, and a white jade hairpin. With his hands behind his back, he stood before the side gate of Prince Yu Residence.
"This humble one is Feng Bao. Greetings, Magistrate Wang. Please follow me."
"Sorry to trouble you, Eunuch." Wang Yan cupped his hands, then slipped him a banknote.
Feng Bao said, "There is no need for such courtesy, Magistrate Wang. The Old Ancestor is this humble one's godfather. He was the one who sent me to the Prince Residence to serve the Heir Apparent."
"So that is the connection between us. My apologies, my apologies." As he spoke, Wang Yan replaced it with a banknote of greater value. "Since we're one of our own, take this silver and spend it."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. If the Old Ancestor learned that this humble one had accepted silver from Magistrate Wang, he would surely fly into a rage."
"Take it and spend it." Wang Yan tucked the banknote into his sleeve. "It can't be easy for you in this residence. After all, Prince Yu is still a prince. Everything requires careful consideration. Those of us doing the work beneath them must be cautious in all things. Yet we still have to handle affairs for His Highness, and how can anything get done without silver? Spend it without worry. I have some silver to spare."
"Then this humble one thanks Magistrate Wang. Your words truly warm this humble one's heart."
"We all serve the imperial family. Shouldn't we look out for one another? We can't be like Yan Song and Yan Shifan—those bastards are far too domineering. If you don't listen to them, they freeze you out? They deserve to be dealt with. It's only because His Majesty cherishes