A grand residence, taking up half a street near the East Market, drew the eye. Two massive stone lions guarded its gates. While not the most opulent in Jindu, its sheer size spoke of the owner's power.
Inside, Guo Shangzhong sat in the courtyard, eyes closed, listening to his private musicians, toying with a green jade thumb ring.
"Patron, this servant greets you," Little Dingzi said, kowtowing before sinking to his knees, his head bowed.
Guo Shangzhong opened his eyes, glanced at him, and waved to an attendant. "Take them for their reward. And find out why this year's tribute is late."
"Yes." The young eunuch led the musicians away, leaving the two of them alone.
"Why are you here?" Guo Shangzhong asked, his attention returning to his ring.
Little Dingzi scrambled forward. "Patron, the Fifth Princess Consort sent me. She has a message."
"Oh?" The eunuch's hand stilled. He looked up. "What message?"
"She requests your presence at the Chengyue Residence tomorrow for wine."
"She requests me?" Guo Shangzhong stood and walked over to the boy, giving him a light kick. "Get up."
"Thank you, Patron."
"Do you know why she wants to see me?"
"I don't. She only told me to send the invitation."
Guo Shangzhong's mind raced. He looked at Little Dingzi, his eyes narrowed. "Have you forgotten who you serve?"
A look of terror crossed Little Dingzi's face. He fell to the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold stone. "Patron, never! You are my savior! I would die before I betrayed you!"
Guo Shangzhong stared down at him. The boy was his piece, placed by Xue Liulan's side years ago. He had been reliable, a perfect source of information on both the prince and his new wife.
"Get up," he said. "I know you're loyal. But for her to send you… it's suspicious."
"Perhaps… perhaps she thought this servant wouldn't be noticed, traveling to and from the palace," Little Dingzi stammered.
Guo Shangzhong nodded. True. They were always overlooked, these eunuchs. And that, he knew, was precisely what made them such a potent threat.
Murong Jin sat in a private room at the Chengyue Residence, watching the crowds below. Her gaze flickered to the window opposite, where a shadow sat watching her back.
The door opened. Little Dingzi bowed Guo Shangzhong in.
"Greetings, Fifth Princess Consort."
"There's no need for titles here, Eunuch." She gestured to the seat. "Please."
"Then, I will obey." He sat across from her.
"Little Dingzi, wait outside."
"Yes." The door clicked shut. The room was silent, save for the sound of wine warming on the table.
She poured him a cup and pushed it across the table. He looked at the cup, then at her.
"Your Highness was injured. Alcohol…"
"A little is fine," she interrupted. "Everything has its limits. As long as one stays within them, who cares about the rules? Wouldn't you agree?"
His brow twitched. He knew she was talking about more than just wine. This woman was no simple general.
He looked down at his jade ring, then laughed softly. "Your Highness speaks in riddles."
"Do I?" She smiled. "Or perhaps you have something on your mind? The speaker is careless, but the listener is attentive. Come, try the wine."
She raised her own cup and drank, a genuine smile in her eyes.
He watched her, then took a sip. "Why did you summon me?"
"I wanted you to see something." She placed a gold bar on the table. "Do you recognize it?"
His eyes tightened. He picked it up. On the back was a complex stamp, a mark he alone knew. He put it down, his face a mask. "I do not. Should I?"
Her hand tensed. Did Liulan guess wrong?
"Ah, you don't recognize it?" She smiled, slow and cool. "Then this is simple. My men intercepted some contraband. I wasn't sure what to do with it. Since you don't know the insignia, I suppose I'll just hand it over to the treasury." She made to rise.
"Wait," Guo Shangzhong said. "If this… contraband… is in your hands, perhaps I can dispose of it for you."
She smiled. "I can. But… a favor for a favor, no?"
"What is the price?"
"My husband is in prison, while the Seventh Prince walks free. I find that… irritating."
He understood. "If there is anything this old slave can do, I will do it for the Fifth Prince."
"Good." She leaned in. "Has the Seventh Prince given any... gifts... to the Emperor recently?"
He thought for a moment. "He presented a five-foot coral tree. His Majesty is very fond of it. It's in his sleeping chambers."
She nodded, filing the information away. She pushed the gold bar back to him. "The men who were carrying this are in a ruined temple outside the city. They haven't eaten in days. I'm sure you'll want to… feed them."
"I understand." He took the gold. "I had heard you and the Prince were not… on good terms?"
"We're not," she said, standing. "But he is still my husband. And I will not have him bullied by others. It reflects poorly on me." Her smile was proud, and cold. "With your support, I trust he will suffer fewer… inconveniences."
"Of course. This old slave watched him grow. I would never turn my back on him," he said, his own face a mask of loyalty.
"Good. Then I was right to do this. My apologies for today's trouble."
"Not at all, Your Highness."
"Little Dingzi." The door opened. "See the Eunuch out."
After he was gone, Murong Jin closed the door, her smile vanishing. This game is exhausting.
"Well played." Yi dropped from the window opposite, a wine cup in hand.
She sighed. "He wouldn't have dared do anything to me. Not here. You were watching from across the street."
"He's a snake. Better to be careful. How did you know about the gold? And the routes?"
"Liulan told me."
"Him?" Yi was stunned.
"He figured out Guo Shangzhong was skimming from the Wei River relief funds. He's the real mastermind."
"That's… impressive." Yi looked at her. "Sister Jin, maybe you didn't marry the wrong man after all."
Murong Jin blushed. "You're never serious."
They were talking when a new sound came from the door—a sharp rap, not Little Dingzi's timid knock.
A woman's voice, low and urgent: "Lady Die Man has been captured. She will be sentenced soon."
What!
Murong Jin threw the door open. The corridor was empty.