Zhu Huai'an narrowed his eyes and reassessed Li Zheng: "Although the current Imperial Court is dominated by treacherous officials, it still has capable ministers and generals. Why did you choose Grand Preceptor He?"
Li Zheng replied with a smile: "Grand Preceptor has many disciples and former subordinates, greatly influencing the Imperial Court. The Grand Preceptor is grateful for the kindness the Zhao Family has shown and is willing to exert every effort for them. Such a person, if not used for one's own benefit, might as well be removed early. As for the other capable ministers..."
Li Zheng jested: "Like the likes of Yan Xiang, Shi Jinchong, and Pan Song, their personal agendas are too prevalent. Either devoted to internal strife or loyal to their own clan. In Zheng's eyes, these people's existence may hold more value alive than dead."
"In today's world, without them, perhaps things wouldn't be as they are now."
Zhu Huai'an's eyes brightened as he deeply bowed in respect: "Please elaborate on the latter two strategies, sir."
Li Zheng pondered for a moment before slowly speaking:
"The third strategy: winning the hearts of aristocratic families. The Pei Family from Hedong seeks the benefits of salt and iron. If the Crown Prince wishes to undertake any actions in the future, he may secretly permit them access to Jianghuai's trading market; the Li Family from Quyang is troubled by the competition between legitimate and illegitimate sons, support should be given to the legitimate line for succession. It is also advisable to select a noble maiden for a match with the young lord, so that aristocratic families and our interests are intertwined."
"Additionally, the trade route in Qianxi holds great importance for the young lord. Securing assistance from the Qianxi merchants can save at least ten years of hard labor for the lord."
After a pause, Li Zheng suddenly clasped his hands with a laugh: "As for the last strategy, the young lord has already grasped its essence, no need for Zheng to elaborate."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Huai'an's curiosity was piqued instead.
"Please, sir, elaborate a bit more."
Li Zheng shook his head and chuckled.
"The fourth strategy is called: Hidden Edge. Simply put, it's about readying troops and horses while concealing one's sharpened edge, amassing farmland and grain."
"This strategy is of utmost importance and should've been the primary one. Yet surprisingly, the young lord proved to be more foresighted than Zheng, even going so far as to change his name, never revealing the identity of the Crown Prince..."
Zhu Huai'an froze briefly, instinctively reaching for the brocade pouch at his waist.
Li Zheng was a commendable capable minister during turbulent times, praised highly by his father, Changting Wang. Yet, it appeared that the person who gifted him the brocade pouch had even keener foresight than Li Zheng.
"If only I'd known earlier, at any cost, I should've brought Brother Xu to the Northern Territory, even if it meant binding him and bringing him along..."
Zhu Huai'an regretted his earlier decisions.
...
Jinmen Prefecture, Linjiang County.
Recently, two events occurred in Linjiang County.
One was that the wife of the newly appointed County Magistrate Chen Guangrui gave birth to a son.
During this period, many people visited to offer congratulations, but Xu Qing didn't pay much attention to the matter.
No matter who experiences joy, he never takes the initiative to congratulate them.
For someone who deals in the business of the deceased, he is quite aware of his standing.
Even when Wu Zhiyuan got married, Xu Qing didn't plan to attend.
However, Wu Zhiyuan didn't hold it against him, and even sent invitations to him and Hu Baosong, saying that if they didn't attend, it would mean looking down on him, not treating him as a neighborly friend.
It was during that time that Hu Baosong gifted Wu Yaohua and Wu Zhiyuan some peace-keeping talismans as a congratulatory gift.
Aside from the County Magistrate's delight at having a son, Linjiang County has recently seen a number of unfamiliar faces.
Rumor has it that the newly established Jingzhao Office in the capital is coming to investigate a case.
This matter didn't concern Xu Qing; he was merely a law-abiding businessman, conducting small trades, avoiding trouble and conflict, only collecting bodies, allowing people to rest in peace.
Moreover, customers never had any complaints.
To his neighbors, Little Shopkeeper Xu was regarded as a generous scholar, not only gifting eggs at his shop every now and then but also regularly visiting elderly individuals who lived alone.
Even when some were without membership iron certificates, and while advertising substitute burial services, he'd be chased away by old folk wielding broomsticks, Little Shopkeeper Xu never uttered a word of complaint.
Apart from all this, Little Shopkeeper Xu even offered migrant residents in Xin Yao Alley aid worth no less than a thousand taels of grain.
At that time, everyone praised Little Shopkeeper Xu's kindness, but he didn't take the credit, instead claiming the relief grain was funded by an anonymous donor, Shang Shaoyang, Merchant Young Master.
When mentioning Shang Shaoyang's name, Shopkeeper Xu intentionally raised his voice. Given such disdain for fame, how could he possibly be the target of the Jingzhao Office's investigation?
At least during the Jingzhao Office's disruptive and wide investigation throughout the city, Xu Qing's shop was not affected at all.
The reason was simple, his Funeral Shop had become a reputable business in Linjiang County, even praised by the County Magistrate himself for having a commendable presence and good work ethic.
At that time, Constable Zhao Zhonghe patted Xu Qing's shoulder while discussing this matter, making Xu Qing extremely happy.
The County Magistrate is indeed remarkable, if he ever visits his shop in the future, Xu Qing could offer him a twenty percent discount.
...
In the Funeral Shop, Xu Qing lit incense for his mentor Liu Youdao and his grandmaster Yang Qiying.
Today was the Ghost Festival, aside from lighting incense for his seniors, Xu Qing also prepared various offerings.
Burning offerings at crossroads, burning them at Wujue Slope, and bringing along the Cat Immortal Hall's immortal beings to celebrate with the Embroidery Maiden at Shuimen Bridge Villa.
After all, it's the Ghost Festival, an annual event that's rare enough. The Embroidery Maiden was evidently delighted, drinking plenty, and amidst her tipsiness, she even performed a head-flying technique for the group.
Xuan Yu had never seen such magic before. Upon witnessing it for the first time, her entire cat fur fluffed up akin to the rain pouring from dark clouds above.
At the gathering, Xuan Yu couldn't hold back and asked the Embroidery Maiden what it felt like when her head flew.
The Embroidery Maiden blinked and reminisced: "It's like swinging, sometimes it feels like having feet, sometimes not. This magic isn't hard to learn, if Xuan Yu wants to learn, I can teach you."
Xuan Yu widened her eyes, imagining her cat head flying around, promptly shook her head: "No learning! If my head gets snatched by a dog or taken away by a bird, that'd be no fun!"
The Embroidery Maiden was equally taken aback.
"The Embroidery Maiden can weave. If things don't work out, she can weave a rope to tie herself, ensuring her head doesn't fly away."
"..."
Nearby, Xu Qing felt his brain throb.
This isn't kite flying, why tie a rope!
After celebrating with the Embroidery Maiden, Xu Qing and Xuan Yu returned to the Funeral Shop, showing puzzled expressions simultaneously.
"Xu Immortal Family, there seems to be a strange incense in the Dharma Realm."
Xu Qing closed the shop door, then extracted a strand of odd blood-red incense from the golden streaming incense Dharma Realm.
Although the incense was as deep crimson as blood, it exuded an indescribable vibrant vitality.
Xu Qing closed his eyes, carefully sensing the source of the incense, soon opening his eyes in surprise: "Someone has erected a temple for me and sculpted a deity statue."
Xuan Yu, who had been sensing the incense source, also opened her eyes: "There is also a longevity plaque of the Xu Immortal Family. What on earth has the Xu Immortal Family done?"
Xu Qing was equally baffled.
Being a well-behaved zombie, even if he occasionally did good deeds, it never warranted being worshipped with a longevity plaque.
"This matter must be investigated!"
Having one's own temple and being worshipped by the public are entirely different things.
To an immortal family, the latter is a supreme honor.
But for Xu Qing, it was filled with uncertainty.
Being the Ghost Festival, with few outdoors at night, Xu Qing followed the guidance of the strange incense with Xuan Yu, tracing it to a newly constructed small temple outside the city.
Outside the temple, the moonlight spilled, barely discernible were the words "Lady Baosheng" on the plaque.
Approaching the temple, Xu Qing felt an inexplicable sensation brewing inside, faint baby laughter whispered in his ears, small but seemingly piercing through one's soul.
Xu Qing felt increasingly odd, walking into the temple where the name Incense Hall was written prominently before the deity statue.
Inside was a statue of a goddess, holding a Ruyi Dharma Artifact in her left hand and a blood-red bottle in her right, inscribed with small characters.
Xu Qing approached and discovered the writing was "Blood Lake Overcoming Calamities".
Suddenly, Xuan Yu who had been wandering the temple shouted: "Xu Immortal Family, there's your divine position here!"
Xu Qing glanced sideways and from afar, saw the words "Lady Baosheng" on the plaque.
Once again, Xuan Yu shouted from elsewhere in the temple: "Xu Immortal Family, there's your divine position!"
Xu Qing glanced sideways and from afar, saw the words "Lady Baosheng" on the plaque.