Chapter 80 – Borrowed Strength

In the gentle sea breeze and thin sunlight, Xu Chun lay on the soft couch in his cabin room, swaying gently with the ship. His dreams were vivid, like a butterfly, as if he had flown back to Central Plains, fluttering towards Xie Yi’s sleeping lips like a butterfly.

Xie Yi opened his eyes, his gaze as cold as glass beads, staring at him. He reached out his fingers to lightly touch him, and Xu Chun willingly threw himself into his embrace, lingering tenderly, entwining like a soft wind.

When Xu Chun woke up, the sound of the crashing waves outside the window still filled his ears. His face was hot, and his heart was pounding rapidly, as if the intense happiness from the dream lingered in his body. He didn’t even want to move his fingers. He had spent a month in the South Seas, and in this warm weather, he suspected that he was fermenting into a rich, exotic wine that rippled constantly, ready to overflow at any moment. He missed Brother Jiu.

Fortunately, they would soon return to Central Plains.

Over the past month, he had wandered through the islands of the South Seas, purchasing anything good he saw. He bought many little gifts for his family and Brother Jiu, filling several large boxes to the brim.

Ji Sinong had already returned hurriedly, likely because the war there was still ongoing. Fang Zijing never appeared again. Instead, he sent over some local specialties from the South Seas and left a message saying that he had returned to the capital early due to family matters. In the future, if there were any matters, one could find him.

Perhaps he had returned to the capital earlier than Xu Chun. Xu Chun wondered how he had explained things to the princess. Previously, when he inquired, he heard that they were a loving couple…

Suddenly, he heard cheers. He quickly got up and went out, and saw the sailors on the deck cheering. Following their gazes, he saw the distant horizon; they had safely returned home! His eyes couldn’t help but moisten. Brother Jiu…I’m back, the longing surging in his chest.

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“Brother Jiu, your younger brother has returned to Minzhou. When we saw the land of our homeland from the ship, everyone on board was howling and cheering. Counting the days, it has been four months since I last saw Brother Jiu. However, upon returning, I caught a cold, suffering from diarrhea and headache. I have sought medical treatment, and the doctor said it is a minor ailment. Brother Jiu, please do not worry. But I am unable to set out immediately, so I have ordered people to send the gifts I brought back from the South Seas for Brother Jiu to the capital first. Your younger brother bows respectfully.”

Xie Yi opened the letter and frowned, asking, “Have you asked? How serious is the illness? Surely he didn’t fall sick on the ship?”

Su Hua said, “I asked. They said that after mourning and abstaining from meat, his health might have weakened. Although he didn’t get any major illness during his trip, it was because of the warm climate there. After all, he had been traveling by carriage and boat for a few months, so his body was already weak. Returning to Minzhou, it was close to the New Year, and he encountered a cold snap. The sudden change in temperature led to a cold, which requires proper recuperation.”

Xie Yi’s expression darkened. “Diarrhea is no small matter. Send the imperial doctors to select effective medicinal pills and order someone to deliver them to Sheng Changzhou. Also, why didn’t Dinghai mention anything about the illness in his report?”

Fang Zixing stepped forward to report, “Dinghai sent the letter he had written beforehand as soon as he landed, guessing that he wasn’t sick at that time.”

Xie Yi furrowed his brows. “Tell him to report the condition once a day, using carrier pigeons, faster.”

Fang Zixing hastily agreed. Xie Yi looked at him and remembered the mysterious island owner’s portrait in Dinghai’s secret report, asking, “Has Wu Yinghou’s recent health improved? I plan to go hunting recently. If he’s feeling better, come hunt with me.”

Fang Zixing raised his eyes, somewhat blank and straightforward, “Your Majesty wants to hunt in winter. Let me accompany you. Why bother summoning him? Afraid his old wounds might flare up. Recently, the princess received good news, my brother has been accompanying her.”

Xie Yi smiled meaningfully. “Good news? That’s good.”

He turned to order Su Hua, “Give some gifts to Wu Yinghou’s mansion for the marquis and the princess. Let Wu Yinghou come to the palace to play chess with me when he has free time.”

Su Hua hastily agreed.

Xie Yi then ordered someone to open the large box of items, seeing that it indeed contained various items such as wound medicine, silk, sachets, pillows, jade, clocks, masks, etc., all exquisite and thoughtfully selected, uncommon in Central Plains.

He ordered Su Hua to put everything away neatly, but picked out a stack of South Seas flower paper from the table, placing one sheet on the desk. His fingertips brushed across the petals, carrying a hint of tenderness. He picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and was about to write, but after thinking about it, he put down the brush, leaving the page blank.

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Minzhou.

Xu Chun, who had just recovered from a fever after taking medicine, leaned against the pillow, still flushed with fever. He was speaking to Sheng Changzhou beside him, “I’ve told you it’s nothing serious, don’t worry, and don’t let Grandfather worry. You are all busy with the school matters now, there is no need to worry about my minor illness. Have you made progress with the fundraising?”

Sheng Changzhou laughed. “Don’t worry. Grandfather already has a plan. He said that although the merchants in Minzhou formed an alliance, they actually want more benefits from us. But they also fear others gaining the upper hand. Therefore, we only need to make everyone think that one of the families secretly donated to us to curry favor. The other merchants, fearing they will miss out, will panic, and the alliance will crumble on its own. We are planning to visit the Zhang family tomorrow, pretending to inquire about the old patriarch’s illness. Upon returning, we’ll spread rumors that the Zhang family has donated.”

“But if others ask, we will deny it. The more we confuse them, the more suspicious they will be of the Zhang family getting ahead. Then, we can offer a lucrative position to the Zhang family’s son, further confirming the rumor. Eventually, the others will also secretly approach us.”

Xu Chun couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that possible?”

Sheng Changzhou said, “Business is like warfare. Deception is key, it’s always like this.”

Xu Chun suddenly had an idea. “If that’s the case, I have an even better method. There’s a perfect candidate, better than the Zhang family. We won’t even have to offer a lucrative position. Otherwise, there won’t be enough lucrative positions for everyone. It should be a public affair, not a private matter of our family. Everyone should strive for it themselves.”

Sheng Changzhou asked, “Tell me more?”

Xu Chun said, “In Minzhou, I remember there is a large merchant company that used to belong to Pingnan Gong. I recall they specialized in goods from Guangzhou, coordinating with their own fleet. It was called…”

Sheng Changzhou said, “The Yuehai Merchant Company.”

Xu Chun nodded. “Yes. Please have Brother Changzhou send a steward to convey a message. Ask the head to come here. Wu Yinghou in the capital has something he wants me to deliver to them to pass on to Pingnan Gong.”

Sheng Changzhou was half-convinced, half-doubtful. “Will that work? Wu Yinghou is Pingnan Gong’s eldest son, right? Do you know him?” Yet, he recalled what Grandfather had said, and everything matched up perfectly.

Xu Chun said, “Yes. I’ll borrow his name, he won’t be angry. My relationship with his younger brother is excellent.” He didn’t mention Fang Zixing, afraid that if Sheng Changzhou compared notes with his cousins, the island owner’s identity wouldn’t be secure.

Sheng Changzhou didn’t rush to act on it when he came out. Instead, he went to find his grandfather and told him about it. Grandfather nodded and smiled. “Young Lin is the better choice. Pingnan Wang is famous. Even though his territory was revoked, he is still the undisputed king of the southwest. Just go ahead and do it with confidence.”

Sure enough, the steward in charge of the Yuehai Merchant Company came to the Sheng residence that evening. Xu Chun personally met him, handing him a box containing some local specialties that Fang Zijing gave him in the South Seas. “This is something your marquis heard I was returning to Minzhou to visit relatives. He asked me to bring it back and have you deliver it to Pingnan Gong. He said it’s a newly acquired specialty from the South Seas. Unfortunately, I fell ill upon arrival and feared that outsiders wouldn’t handle the delivery properly, misinterpreting the marquis’ instructions. I apologize for troubling the steward to make a trip.”

The steward bowed repeatedly. “Thank you for bringing it all the way here, Your Highness. Did our marquis have any other instructions?”

Xu Chun smiled. “No, just follow the marquis’ instructions and deliver it to the old marquis.”

The steward was greatly surprised. Why would the marquis send goods directly from the capital to Guangdong, bypassing their own channels, and take a big detour to Minzhou first? But abnormal situations often have their reasons. The marquis likely had a deeper intention, and he didn’t dare to ask. He could only respectfully accept the box of South Seas specialties and took a carriage back.

News of the Yuehai Merchant Company’s steward visiting the Sheng residence at night and then leaving with a cartload of goods soon spread through the grapevine.

And the next day, various major merchants, including those from the governor’s office, who had been closely following the progress of the naval academy’s preparations, received the news: Marquis Fang Zijing, upon hearing that the court planned to establish a naval academy, provided generous assistance of 120,000 taels, along with thirty-two books on maps, shipbuilding, and cannon-making techniques.