In the evening, Gu Mochen had just finished vomiting.
Zhou Huaili knelt before the bed and reported on the incidents of the soup kitchen on South Street, the grain store in the west of the city, and the riots by the displaced people. The room was so quiet that only the crackling of the charcoal fire could be heard.
Gu Mochen leaned against the pillow, his cheeks sunken and his eyes heavily bruised.
Where is the princess?
"The princess is taking inventory of the imperial treasury."
"What happened to the money donated by her thirty-seven merchants? They can't even last a few days?"
Zhou Huaili's back slowly bent down.
"The records say it has been exchanged for grain, firewood, and supplies for soup kitchens."
Gu Mochen stared at him.
"The accounts say so? How could that be! So much of that charitable money, how much of it was skimmed off layer by layer?!"
Zhou Huaili pressed his forehead to the ground, not daring to reply.
Gu Mochen grabbed the teacup beside his pillow and threw it at Zhou Huaili. The teacup hit Zhou Huaili's shoulder, rolled to the ground, and shattered into pieces.
"Investigate!"
"Your Highness, it's time to investigate the Princess Consort..."
"I'm ordering you to investigate!"
Gu Mochen tried to get up by supporting himself on the bed, but a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, and he fell back onto the bed, his fingers gripping the corner of the blanket tightly.
Zhou Huaili dared not persuade him any further. As he left the room, he heard retching sounds behind him again, so he quickened his pace.
Anyang was in chaos, while Yi Prefecture was peaceful and tranquil.
In the backyard of the old prince's mansion, there was a charcoal brazier, and a teapot was placed on a small stove, with white steam rising from the spout.
Tiedan rode his wooden horse around the corridor, while Yun Zhengze sat to the side, holding a peeled orange in his hand, looking at it for a long time but not daring to offer it to him.
Yun Shuyue couldn't stand it anymore and snatched the orange from Tiedan's hand.
"Eat."
Tiedan took the orange and glanced at Yun Zhengze.
Uncle Yun, will you come again tomorrow?
Yun Zhengze sat up straight.
"I'll come if you want me to."
"Then remember not to come empty-handed."
Yun Zhengze nodded quickly.
Yun Shuyue looked at him and couldn't help but laugh.
Yun Zhengze smiled along, and the slight restraint on his face finally eased a bit.
Gu Moran sat by the brazier, holding a cup of hot tea. Liu Ruyan reached out and poured him half a cup. Shen Ling'er sat on the other side picking out medicinal herbs. Su Yao and Xie Wanqing huddled under the lamp to check the expenses needed to open the sugar shop.
It's very warm inside.
At that very moment.
The neighing of warhorses came from the front yard as they came to an abrupt halt.
Immediately afterward, with hurried footsteps across the corridor, Zhen Daijin barged directly into the backyard.
He knelt on one knee, his throat feeling as if it had been rubbed raw by wind and snow.
"Your Highness, urgent news!"
Gu Moran put down his teacup.
Zhen Daijin raised his head, his face extremely grim.
"King of Dali has died suddenly!"
He took out a wax-sealed urgent report from his pocket and handed it to Gu Moran with both hands.
Gu Moran unfolded the letter, his gaze sweeping from beginning to end, his finger pausing on the last line.
The King of Dali died suddenly on the night of the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The palace gates were sealed, and there were unusual movements of troops within the city. Tubo cavalry had already appeared in the northern border villages.
Where did the information come from?
Zhen Daijin voice, " The Dali caravan's informant first delivered the message to North Post, and the North Post intercepted two escaped merchants from beyond the pass. Their accounts match up: the King of Dali was ill for a few days and then suddenly passed away, leaving no will. The heirs are starting to stir."
Lin Qingdai was taken aback, and then spoke.
" Dali into chaos, Tubo will definitely not sit idly by."
" Chisang suffered a loss at North Post before. If he turns to attack Dali, I'm afraid there will be another breach in the southern part of Jiannan Circuit in the future."
She stood beside Gu Moran, her fingers pressing against the scabbard at her waist.
Should we call in reinforcements first?
Gu Moran did not answer immediately.
The sudden death of the King of Dali came at too great a time. The Tubo had just withdrawn their attention from Yi Prefecture when Dali was thrown into chaos. If Chisang had taken advantage of the situation, he would have seized far more than just a few border fortresses.
If Dali falls, the grain routes, trade routes, and checkpoints of Yi Prefecture will all need to be redeployed.
Yun Zhengze sat to the side, his smile completely gone.
Although he was not a military commander, he could read maps.
" Dali and Yi Prefecture are separated by mountains. If war breaks out in the south, trade routes will be cut off first, and refugees will flock to Jiannan. The newly built post stations and grain routes will also be affected."
Gu Moran looked up at him.
" Lord Yun, could the Provincial Surveillance Commission investigate a matter for me?"
"Please speak, Your Highness."
"Investigate whether large quantities of medicinal herbs, salt, iron, and grain flowed through Jiannan before and after the sudden death of the King of Dali."
Yun Zhengze's expression changed slightly.
"You have doubts?"
"Check first."
Gu Moran placed the letter on the table.
"Let's investigate first."
Yun Zhengze stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.
I'll return to the yamen tonight.
Tiedan Dan was playing on the rocking horse nearby when he heard Yun Zhengze to leave. He grabbed the rocking horse's ear, glanced at him, opened his mouth, and then turned his head away.
When Yun Zhengze reached the door, Tiedan called out to him in a low voice.
" Uncle Yun."
Yun Zhengze, they turn back.
Remember to come tomorrow.
"Good."
After Yun Zhengze left, Gu Moran asked Uncle Fu to bring the map of Jiannan Circuit. Zhen Daijin squatted by the brazier and circled the North Post, the Salt Road, and several mountain roads leading to Dali one by one.
"The garrison will remain in place for now; the change of guard will continue as before."
Gu Moran to the mountain path on the south side.
"Send scouts along these two routes, but don't enter Dali territory. Only check for Tubo horse hooves, grain carts, and signal flames. If you see anyone, hide immediately. Don't risk your life trying to capture a prisoner."
Zhen Daijin salute.
"This subordinate understands."
"Send someone to find Pu Qinghe again."
Gu Moran looked at Lin Qingdai.
"The people of Mount Qingcheng know the mountain paths well. We asked if they could send a few experienced hikers to guide our people along the southern route."
Lin Qingdai nodded.
"I'll send someone."
Murong Xue sat to one side, holding a candied hawthorn in her hand.
She looked at Gu Moran, her tone unusually serious.
"You're going to Dali in person?"
"I won't go. I'm not in good health; climbing mountains is too tiring."
Gu Moran picked up the teacup and took a sip of the tea that had cooled down.
"But with the King of Dali dead, no one will wait for us to slowly get through the first month of the lunar year. The game in Jiannan Circuit has to be played all over again."
At the Foot Care Hall in the south of the city, Pu Yunshan nailed a plaque to the door. Qin Hongxiu stood below, holding a lantern. When she looked up and saw the words on the plaque, her eyes welled up with tears.
You've worked hard.
Pu Yunshan jumped off the wooden frame and brushed the sawdust off his shoulders.
"Once the shop opens on the fifteenth of the first lunar month, you'll be the manager."
Qin Hongxiu gripped the lamp handle tightly, about to speak, when suddenly the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.
A royal guard dismounted and ran quickly to the gate.
" Young Master Pu, His Highness has ordered you to return to the manor immediately for a meeting."
Pu Yunshan looked up in the direction of Prince Yi's Residence's residence.
Qin Hongxiu handed him the lamp.
"Go."
Pu Yunshan took the lamp, reluctant to leave.
Qin Hongxiu brushed the sawdust off his collar and said softly, "I'll watch the house until you come back."
Pu Yunshan nodded, turned around, and mounted the horse led by his personal guard.
The horse's hooves pounded the dust on the street corner as it galloped toward the old palace.