Volume One, Chapter 14: The Princess's Affection

Wang Caiwei’s eyes lit up instantly at Qin Bao’s words.

She wanted to make a fortune.

She wanted to make the Kingdom of Liang wealthier.

She wanted to build a pleasure garden for her father and mother, a place where they could stroll and ease their minds.

Leaning forward slightly, Wang Caiwei asked urgently, “Little Mister Qin, what way do you have to make big money?”

Qin Bao averted his direct gaze and replied, “Qin Sheng rushed to Diecui Garden last night, begging me to have the Princess testify that the one hundred thousand taels of silver he sent were to help Qin Youde.”

Wang Caiwei asked, “Do you mean to extort him? If he doesn’t pay, I won’t help. If he does, then I’ll help.”

“Absolutely not!”

Qin Bao shook his head. “Helping him explain is solving his problem for him.

“What we must do is drain even more money from the Qin family.

“In my estimation, the Qin family still has at least two hundred thousand taels of silver. If they sold their mansion and assets, it would be even more. With your cooperation, Princess, we can get that two hundred thousand taels.”

Hiss—

Wang Caiwei drew a sharp breath.

They’d just swindled one hundred thousand taels, and now another two hundred thousand—this was truly a masterful act of fleecing one’s own kin.

Yet, she was delighted.

She rose and walked up to Qin Bao, a waft of delicate fragrance drifting toward him, making his heart waver.

A little enchantress!

Qin Bao composed himself, fixing his gaze on his nose, his nose on his heart, to steady his spirit.

Wang Caiwei’s eyes blazed as she asked, “Little Mister Qin, how should I cooperate?”

Qin Bao replied, “You should ask His Majesty for an imperial decree, granting Qin Sheng a real position of authority. Best if it’s a post typically held by the noble factions, so when Qin Sheng is sent there, he’ll draw all their fire.”

Wang Caiwei blinked. “So Qin Sheng is essentially spending two hundred thousand taels for a real office. And since it’s a position among the nobles, he’ll face collective attacks from their faction.”

“Exactly.”

Qin Bao smiled.

Wang Caiwei pondered a moment and asked, “What if Qin Sheng refuses?”

“He has no choice.”

Qin Bao’s expression was resolute as he explained, “Firstly, the matter of him donating one hundred thousand taels to His Majesty is already established.

“The nobles allied with the Retired Emperor will never trust Qin Sheng again.

“In their eyes, anything less than absolute loyalty is absolute betrayal.

“The noble faction won’t trust him anymore; instead, they’ll look for ways to drain the Qin family’s wealth.

“Secondly, the Qin family still has plenty of silver, but without a patron, under the pressure of the nobles and marquises, what’s left of the family estate will be devoured.

“Thirdly, Qin Sheng wants to push the Princess forward as a shield. If we refuse, he’ll have no way out.

“By donating two hundred thousand taels for an official post, he’s essentially pledging his allegiance to His Majesty, standing fully on the Emperor’s side.

“He’ll have no one to rely on but the Emperor.

“Fourth, this is an opportunity to split the noble faction and show them the Emperor is willing to employ new people.”

Qin Bao smiled. “Right now, Qin Sheng is like a three-year-old child clutching a gold brick, wandering through a bustling marketplace—everyone is eyeing him. We’re not extorting two hundred thousand taels from him, we’re helping him! I’m practically the model of filial piety.”

Wang Caiwei’s alluring face twitched despite herself.

What a perfect display of ‘uproarious filial devotion’!

Yet, she felt no dislike at all—on the contrary, she found Qin Bao quite agreeable, even likable.

It’s the foolishly filial who are truly frightening.

Stirred with excitement, Wang Caiwei nodded. “There’s no time to lose. I’ll enter the palace at once to see my father.”

“I’ll await your news, Princess,” said Qin Bao.

Wang Caiwei took a few steps, then turned and asked in a low voice, “Would you rather come with me to see His Majesty and present the plan yourself?”

“I’m not the right person for that,” Qin Bao replied, shaking his head.

He and Wang Caiwei could discuss their calculations regarding Qin Sheng, but he didn’t want to bring them before Emperor Xuanwu.

Wang Caiwei didn’t press him. She ordered tea to be served, changed into formal attire, and entered the palace for an audience.

Emperor Xuanwu, ever diligent, was reviewing memorials late into the night. Seeing Wang Caiwei, he asked in a grave tone, “Why do you come to the palace at this hour instead of resting? What brings you here?”

Wang Caiwei went straight to the point. “Father, please issue a decree for Qin Sheng. The Duke of Rong and the Duke of An have already begun extorting him. Qin Sheng sought out Qin Bao, wanting me to clarify the origin of the one hundred thousand taels of silver.”

A cold glint flashed in Emperor Xuanwu’s eyes—how bold Qin Sheng was!

How would Qin Bao respond? Would he foolishly help his family, or would he stand by the Princess?

Without revealing his thoughts, the Emperor asked, “What do you think should be done?”

Wang Caiwei replied with enthusiasm, “Qin Sheng, that old fox, is up to no good. I want to seize this chance to extort two hundred thousand taels from him.

“If Your Majesty just gives him an official post, preferably one held by the noble faction, the matter is settled.

“One decree in exchange for two hundred thousand taels—that’s a huge profit.”

Emperor Xuanwu’s expression eased, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

This sort of plotting was not his daughter’s usual style.

It had to be Qin Bao’s idea.

Only Qin Bao would know the Qin family’s finances inside and out.

Emperor Xuanwu was happy to see Qin Bao turning on his own house. The more he distanced himself from his noble roots, the better for the Emperor, and abandoning foolish filial loyalty was all the better.

Having thought it through, Emperor Xuanwu dispensed with further questioning. “There’s a vacancy in the Ministry of War—a proper fifth-rank Langzhong in the Arsenal Department.”

“Is that a post usually held by the nobles?” Wang Caiwei asked.

Emperor Xuanwu stroked his beard. “The Langzhong of the Arsenal Department is Dou Ji, nephew of Dou Zheng, the Duke of Rong. He was just dismissed for misconduct.”

“Thank you, Father,” Wang Caiwei replied joyfully, quickly grinding ink for him.

Emperor Xuanwu wrote the imperial edict, stamped it, and handed it to her. “Remind Qin Bao to prepare well for the Four Kingdoms Literary Assembly. That’s the most important matter for now.”

“Yes, Father. I will remember.”

Wang Caiwei left Zhangtai Palace and hurried back to the Princess’s residence. Handing the edict to Qin Bao, she said, “Father has conferred the post of fifth-rank Langzhong in the Ministry of War, under the Arsenal Department. The previous holder was Dou Ji, Dou Zheng’s nephew.”

“All the better,” Qin Bao replied, putting away the edict.

A proper fifth-rank Langzhong in the Ministry of War—a real position of power. Qin Sheng would certainly be tempted.

When he took up the post and found it a pit of trouble, that would be entertaining.

Qin Bao rose. “Princess, I’ll head straight to Diecui Garden and settle this tonight. By tomorrow morning, Qin Sheng’s two hundred thousand taels of silver will be delivered.”

“Thank you for your efforts,” said Wang Caiwei.

Qin Bao shook his head. “All of this arose because of me. That you don’t hold it against me is already the greatest favor—I hardly deserve your thanks.”

“Farewell!”

Qin Bao left the Princess’s residence and returned at once to Diecui Garden.

Upon entering the main hall, he was met by Qin Sheng, waiting anxiously, eyes full of hope. “Bao’er, what did the Princess say?”

“The Princess refused,” Qin Bao said bluntly.

Qin Sheng’s face changed dramatically.

All his hopes had been placed on Princess Changle. Now that she refused to clarify the source of the one hundred thousand taels, even if he jumped into the Yellow River, he couldn’t wash himself clean.

Even if he claimed he had scraped together the hundred thousand, the Duke of Rong and the Duke of An would never believe him.

Remembering Dou Zheng’s demand for fifty thousand taels, Qin Sheng grew even more anxious.

Once he paid that, countless others would come to borrow or extort from the Qin family, as word spread that they still had money.

Qin Sheng looked at Qin Bao expectantly. “Bao’er, is there really no chance?”

“There is a way,” Qin Bao replied after a pause. “I pleaded with the Princess, and she said you have only one path—throw in your lot with His Majesty and become his loyal subject.”

“I’m willing!” Qin Sheng answered without hesitation.

Though born a noble, he held no special loyalty to the Retired Emperor.

If the Emperor needed him, he would be glad. Previously, because of his ties to the Marquis of Changping, he wanted to join the Emperor but would never have been trusted. With Princess Changle’s recommendation, he’d be considered one of their own.

From then on, he’d be a direct follower of the Emperor.

If Dou Zheng tried to extort him, he wouldn’t play along—he’d simply insist he had no money.

His mood lifted, and he praised, “Bao’er, you truly are my most beloved son.”

Qin Bao continued, “To win the Emperor’s recognition, you must make a show of loyalty. Since you can’t inform on the nobles, you can only pay up.

“The Princess said that if you contribute three hundred thousand taels, you’ll become one of the Emperor’s inner circle and be appointed Langzhong of the Arsenal Department—a proper fifth-rank official.”

Qin Sheng’s eyes widened.

Three hundred thousand taels—he didn’t have nearly that much. The Qin family’s cash on hand was at most two hundred thousand.

Qin Sheng shook his head. “We don’t have that much left.”

Qin Bao assumed a helpless air. “I thought if you pledged yourself to His Majesty, you’d have his protection and needn’t fear the Dukes of Rong or An. Now it seems, nothing can be done.”

But Qin Sheng was unwilling to give up.

If he handed money to the Dukes of An, Rong, and the Retired Emperor, he’d gain nothing. If he gave it to the Emperor, at least he’d get an official post.

Besides, the Qin family could always earn more.

He gritted his teeth. “Bao’er, there really isn’t that much in the house. If I sell everything, I could raise two hundred thousand taels. Would that suffice?”

Even as he spoke, his heart ached.

No official post cost so much to buy.

With two hundred thousand taels, if someone backed him, he could get a far higher position. But with the Retired Emperor and the nobles coveting his wealth, he could only resign himself to humiliation.

Qin Bao said, “Since you’re willing, how can I not help? Very well, I’ll accept on behalf of the Princess.”

“Good, good!” Qin Sheng exclaimed. “You really are my dearest son.”

Qin Bao drew the edict from his sleeve and handed it over. “Here is His Majesty’s decree—keep it safe.”

Qin Sheng took it, first wild with joy, then stunned.

If Qin Bao already had the edict, the position was settled; the only issue was how much money he’d hand over.

It could have been one hundred and fifty thousand taels, perhaps just a hundred thousand, or even fifty thousand.

But in his panic, he was about to give away all he had. The worst part was that his unfilial son, Qin Bao, hadn’t told him ahead of time.

It was a clear calculation against him.

Qin Sheng’s face twitched as he ground out, “Why didn’t you tell me you already had the imperial edict?”

Qin Bao replied blandly, “You didn’t ask.”

Pfft!

A sweet taste rose in Qin Sheng’s throat. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the floor in a faint.