Chapter 184: Five-Stone Powder

Outside Xie Bai Ju, it was already near evening.

Wei Liang didn’t spend much time inside. As he walked out, thinking about what to plant next, he noticed that the hired carriage was still waiting for him.

However, there was now another carriage outside.

He looked up and was slightly taken aback.

It wasn’t an overly luxurious carriage, but the wood used for the carriage was of excellent quality, finely lacquered, and sturdy. The sides were inlaid with carved window frames, and there was an additional curtain inside.

The coachman was also strong and muscular.

When he glanced at others, his eyes were sharp, and his arms were muscular, indicating he might have some martial skills.

Wei Liang was curious and took a closer look at the carriage.

Coincidentally, someone was getting out of the carriage.

She was wearing a pleated skirt with a pattern of golden butterflies on a ginger-yellow background. She was young, with delicate features and a calm demeanor, though her brows were slightly furrowed as if something was troubling her. She glanced at Wei Liang.

Wei Liang didn’t know her.

She didn’t know Wei Liang either.

They exchanged a glance, nodded at each other, and went their separate ways—one got into the carriage, and the other walked into the villa.

As the carriage left Wuyi Lane and entered the bustling street, Wei Liang suddenly remembered, “The Ren family from Shu!”

Although the carriage had no obvious markings, the horse did.

The bridle had a snowflake-like emblem.

That was the mark of the Ziliujing Salt Merchants’ Guild.

The person who had arrived was none other than You Fangyin.

Two months ago, Emperor Shen Lang had announced a southern tour for the following year, traveling along the Grand Canal to Jiangning. Everyone knew that the Tianjiao sect had deep roots in the south.

People speculated that the tour was an opportunity to strike at the Tianjiao sect and demonstrate imperial power, allowing the people of Jiangnan to see the emperor. However, the national treasury, though not empty, was not abundant either. A southern tour would be a grand affair, costing a significant amount of money. Since the treasury couldn’t cover the expenses, the burden would fall on the people.

The local governments along the canal had their own ways of preparing for the emperor’s visit.

Some increased taxes on the people, while others sought contributions from local gentry.

In Jiangnan, the wealthiest were the salt merchants, followed by large merchants in rice, cloth, and other trades. The officials, lazy and unwilling to think too much, sent out notices half a month ago, summoning the heads of major merchant guilds to Jinling to discuss funding, under the guise of “setting next year’s salt permits.”

Although the Ren family’s salt fields were in Shu, two years ago, after Jiang Xuening arrived, she began investing surplus money in the lucrative Jiangnan region, either in merchant ships traveling between the north and south or by acquiring small and medium salt merchants in Yangzhou. She also leveraged her connections with silk merchants to enter the raw silk and cloth trades.

Thus, while the Ren family’s roots were still in Shu, most of their business had expanded to Jiangnan.

With money in hand, they made money faster.

Jiang Xuening personally taught them the concept of “money makes money faster; having money makes it easier to make more money.” The money invested was not a loss, and as long as more ventures succeeded than failed, their wealth would continue to grow.

The local government in Jiangnan needed funds for the emperor’s visit and the construction of a temporary palace. While this wasn’t inherently a good thing, if it was tied to next year’s salt permits, it became a business opportunity that couldn’t be missed. If they didn’t take it, someone else would.

So You Fangyin and Ren Weizhi had come.

However, her visit to Xie Bai Ju today wasn’t just to discuss business.

After sending Wei Liang off, Jiang Xuening glanced through the account book and then went to retrieve her fishing rod from the railing.

When she reeled it in, she found that the fish had already eaten all the bait.

The fishing line was left with a bare hook, glinting in the light of the setting sun.

You Fangyin’s footsteps were slightly hurried, and before she even reached the pavilion, she called out, “Second Miss!”

Jiang Xuening turned and saw her, surprised. “Fangyin, what brings you here?”

After “marrying” into the Ren family in Shu, although her marriage to Ren Weizhi was fake, he insisted on making the act convincing, entrusting her with all the household affairs. No one dared to gossip about it.

Gradually, she shed the timidity she had in the Bo family.

She managed the household affairs well, took on responsibilities, and even when discussing business, she no longer appeared inexperienced. Though still quiet, she had become more adept.

She had come for this matter, but upon seeing Jiang Xuening’s bright, smiling face, she paused for a moment before saying, “We were discussing business with the Huishang Guild and encountered…”

Jiang Xuening’s heart skipped a beat. “Encountered who?”

You Fangyin’s gaze fixed on her face, and she slowly said, “The owner of Youhuang Pavilion, Master Lu.”

Lu Xian!

A chill ran down Jiang Xuening’s spine. She had heard of this name over the past two years. Lu Xian’s business was vast, and he held a significant share in the Ren family’s salt fields, receiving a portion of the annual dividends.

But they had always kept to themselves.

She pretended not to know Lu Xian, and he never troubled her.

Now…

Why would such a busy man personally come to Jinling for business?

Others might not know, but she was well aware—

This man was Xie Wei’s trusted confidant and right-hand man.

In recent years, people said that Emperor Shen Lang favored the national teacher, Monk Yuanji, over Xie Wei, the imperial teacher.

But Jiang Xuening didn’t believe it.

The common people thought Monk Yuanji was favored because of his rivalry with the Tianjiao sect leader, Wan Xiuzi. But Xie Wei’s reputation and influence were rooted in the court and among scholars, far beyond the reach of ordinary people. How could they know his secret plans?

Being sidelined, distanced from power, even retreating to Wutai Mountain or Sanqing Temple to practice Buddhism and seek immortality…

She didn’t believe any of it!

Jiang Xuening crossed her arms, deep in thought, feeling a bit uneasy. She frowned and said, “The emperor’s southern tour next year will bring many business opportunities to Jiangnan. Lu Xian wouldn’t come without profit. Since he hasn’t made any moves in previous years, there’s no need to worry too much.”

You Fangyin bit her lip.

Jiang Xuening noticed and sensed something was wrong. “What’s the matter?”

You Fangyin recalled the incident on the boat and said, “In the past, we only exchanged greetings with Lu Xian. But this time, on the Qinhuai River, he asked about your recent activities.”

Jiang Xuening’s fingertips trembled slightly.

If that’s the case…

It was indeed unusual.

*

As night fell, the fishing boats on the Qinhuai River docked, and the beautifully decorated pleasure boats lit their bright, fragrant lanterns, reflecting on the water and swaying gently with the ripples.

On the boats, there were elegant poetry recitations and vulgar drinking games.

The sound of silk and bamboo instruments filled the air, and the sight of red scarves and green sleeves was enchanting.

Lu Xian hadn’t returned to Jinling for a long time. Revisiting the Qinhuai River, it was still filled with the same fragrant and beautiful scenery. Though the faces had changed, the expressions and hidden thoughts remained the same.

The thin horses appeared reserved but were actually waiting for the right price;

The wealthy merchants, holding beauties in their arms, were calculating their business deals.

The merchants of Huizhou were renowned for their elegance, but upon arriving in Jinling, a city nurtured by the aura of six dynasties, and boarding the boats on the ancient Qinhuai River, their elegance faded, and their resolve softened.

A drunken man across from Lu Xian raised his cup to him.

Lu Xian smiled and drank, ready to seize the opportunity to secure the fabric deal and negotiate the price. But then he noticed a small boat cutting through the waves, approaching the pleasure boat and laying a plank to the bow.

A sharp-witted young boy in coarse clothes walked up the plank and spoke to the attendant outside the beaded curtain.

The attendant nodded, lifted the curtain, and entered.

He silently approached Lu Xian and whispered, “Master Lu, someone outside has an urgent message for you.”

Lu Xian hadn’t brought many people with him to Jinling this time.

Although he couldn’t see the person outside clearly, he could tell from the figure that it was none other than Xiao Bao.

He apologized to the people around him and got up to leave.

The autumn wind on the river brought a chill, dispelling the heady fragrance of the boat’s perfumes.

Lu Xian asked, “What message?”

Xiao Bao, now taller and looking spirited with a leather belt around his waist, handed him the letter. “A secret message from the border, sealed with wax. No one dared to open it.”

From the border?

Lu Xian’s eyelid twitched. He didn’t waste time speaking and quickly broke the wax seal to read the letter.

It was a thin page.

But the content shocked him!

Xiao Bao observed him, “Is there going to be a war?”

Lu Xian didn’t answer, instead urgently asking, “Has this message been sent to the capital?”

Xiao Bao replied, “The message was split into three parts and sent simultaneously to Jiangnan, Huangzhou, and the capital. The master should have received it too.”

Lu Xian’s eyes flickered, but his expression remained tense. He read the letter again, recalling the person’s actions over the past two years, which had been no different from previous years, yet a cloud of worry settled over him.

He folded the letter and handed it back to Xiao Bao.

Xiao Bao asked, “Is there anything else to instruct?”

Lü Xian remained silent for a long time before saying, “We’ll know when the person arrives.”

The person?

Xiao Bao was stunned.

*

The autumn nights in the capital were much colder than those in Jiangnan’s Qinhuai.

The palace chambers were filled with the chill of autumn winds.

Unlatched doors banged against each other, creating an eerie atmosphere.

In the side hall of Fengchen Palace, only two lamps held by bronze cranes provided light, casting flickering shadows on the windows and blurring their shapes.

A qin hung on the east wall.

The tea in the cup on the table had long gone cold, reflecting a silent face.

In the distance, laughter and music could be heard from the imperial garden, where the emperor was being entertained by the concubines.

Xie Wei lowered his eyes.

On the desk before him were the “evidence” brought by the imperial physicians, condemning the palace alchemists. Five porcelain bowls with crackled glaze held various crushed stones, a used porcelain cup, a pestle resting in the corner of a lacquered tray, and a small pile of mixed powder on a piece of paper.

The head physician’s angry words still echoed in his ears: “Five-Stone Powder, also known as Cold-Food Powder, was originally used to treat illnesses. But taken without illness, it causes dryness and heat in the body, hallucinations, and a sense of euphoria, making one feel as if they have ascended to an immortal realm, free from worries. However, it is highly addictive and harmful to the body, leading to reckless behavior! These charlatans offering it to the emperor are utterly reprehensible!”

Hallucinations, free from worries.

Xie Wei had stared at them for so long that he began to feel a strange dizziness, as if the bowls were twisting into mouths and eyes in the darkness, conveying messages to him.

He hadn’t slept well in a long time.

Standing tall and unyielding, free from desires.

With no attachments, there is no fear, far from delusions, ultimately achieving nirvana.

…

He had read Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian texts over and over, but found no escape from the sea of suffering. Life seemed like a series of painful trials, and he wondered if forgetting oneself or perishing could bring relief.

No one knew that this imperial teacher had been teetering on the edge of an abyss for a long, long time…

His pale fingers, tinted yellow by the flickering light, reached for the paper on the lacquered tray. The mixed powder was indistinguishable.

He brought it closer, feeling its lightness.

After a moment’s hesitation, he dipped his ring finger into the powder and stared at it for a long time.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A young eunuch announced from outside, “Master, an urgent message from the border.”

Xie Wei snapped out of his daze.

He grabbed a silk handkerchief to wipe his hand and said calmly, “Come in.”

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