On the early morning of the 19th of the twelfth lunar month, Yu Hongchang, who had just completed her daily routines at Hualong Pool, received a talisman paper from Li Xuan.
This struck her as odd, as she thought to herself, hadn’t Xuan just sent a letter three days ago? Why did he send a talisman paper so quickly?
After Li Xuan went north, he would send her a talisman paper every five days, describing his encounters in the Capital City and expressing his longing for her.
Even though these talisman papers had to go through at least twelve relay stations from Beijing to Longhu Mountain, each one costing thousands of patterned silver, Li Xuan persisted without interruption.
This was now what Yu Hongchang looked forward to the most. Thus, every fifth day in the late evening, she would pause her cultivation, eagerly watching the sky.
After a moment of bewilderment, Yu Hongchang couldn’t wait to open the talisman paper.
"Hongchang, it’s been a while. I hope you are doing well? The cold weather is getting worse, take care."
"— I mentioned to you before, after dealing with the Demon Qilin incident, I have now tentatively found my footing. However, the deputy Venerable seems to have some intention of making things difficult by increasing the workload for the Shenyi Department."
The format of the letter was the same as usual. After a brief greeting from Li Xuan and an overview of the situation in the Capital City, came words that made Yu Hongchang’s cheeks burn with embarrassment and affection.
"— I woke up from meditation today feeling somewhat melancholic. I’d gotten used to your presence in Nanjing City and still find it uncomfortable without you. The ancients said a day apart feels like three years, I always thought it was an exaggeration.
"Now every time I wake up, I’m reminded of the song ’Wang Feng·Cai Ge’ from the Book of Songs. I miss you more each day without you, every day is torture. A day with you was worth more than three years now."
At this moment, Yu Hongchang couldn’t describe the sweetness in her heart, but then she saw that Li Xuan’s words took a turn, as he started talking about something else.
"Shenqi Union?"
After Yu Hongchang finished the paper, her eyes flashed with a sharp light. She called her maid over.
"Inform the Steward and the twelve palace supervisors, as well as the four departments and eight offices, to halt all purchases related to the Shenqi Union from today onwards! Use urgent flight talismans, don’t skimp on the money."
The maid was taken aback, worriedly said, "I can deliver your order, Princess, but the people below may not listen. Shenqi Union has a wide network of connections."
"I don’t care about that!"
Yu Hongchang looked at her coldly, her words leaving no room for dispute: "When I say stop, I mean stop, unless they want out. Keep an eye on them, anyone disobeying will be sent to guard the tombs in Fengyang of the central capital."
The maid immediately wore a stern expression: "I will obey the princess’s orders!"
If it had been any ordinary princess, she would not have been capable of carrying this out - the palace eunuchs with slightly higher status would not even consider them.
But the one in front of her was the crowned Princess by the Emperor and currently held a heavenly level status, her authority and power were extraordinary.
Yu Hongchang then spoke in a chilly voice: "Also, all tributes given by Shenqi Union must be increased! You’ll decide on the specifics, just ensure the Court can’t catch any faults. The more, the better."
The maid’s pupils narrowed slightly, she thought, this princess is planning to push Shenqi Union to desperation!
’Tributes,’ to those businesses, were a double-edged sword. They could promote their goods with it, but it also meant they would bear substantial yearly costs.
When Wang Zhen was still around, merely increasing Jingdezhen’s tributes by half, led to numerous craftsmen’s bankruptcy.
"Yes!" The maid bowed: "I will not disappoint the princess."
"Also, find out why Xuan is clashing with Shenqi Union?"
Holding the talisman paper, Yu Hongchang looked worried.
Previously, when Li Xuan moved in and out of the Capital City, word had spread that he had had an affair with the concubine of imperial uncle, Sun Jizong. At the time, she was unable to sit tight anymore, ignoring her Yin-yang Counterflow affliction she had wanted to rush back to the Capital City.
Although it later proved that the imperial uncle had set him up, in the end, Xuan was still entangled with his daughter, Sun Chu Yun.
The greatest pain for her after falling in love with Li Xuan was this. That man appeared to be a strong and healthy stallion who constantly attracted other mares’ attention, causing them to approach shamelessly.
Thinking about this, Yu Hongchang couldn’t help but sigh, she needed to return to the Capital City as soon as possible.
At the same time, Xue Yunrou was also viewing a talisman paper. Her face was also flushed, but after she put down the paper, she couldn’t help but ’tch’.
"The matter with that Sun Chu Yun is not yet clear. Now he’s clashing with Shenqi Union because of Leng Yurou, that heartless lothario—"
Unlike Yu Hongchang who was confined to Hualong Pool, Xue Yunrou, who was gradually taking control of the Heavenly Master’s Mansion, had more timely and detailed information.
But still, she cherished the talisman paper and tucked it back into her sleeve with care. She thought to herself, how does that guy, Li Xuan, know how to coax women so well?
Thinking of Li Xuan’s words in the letter, phrases like ’I suddenly fear growing old, fear death, fear the unexpected. If one day I am no longer by your side, who will protect you? Who will accompany you through the fleeting years of your life?’
And also ’Whether you are by my side or at the ends of the earth, knowing that you exist in some corner of the world makes the entire world feel gentler and more stable.’
After reading this, Xue Yunrou very much wanted to open up Li Xuan’s head to see exactly how he came up with such sweet and tender words?
Xue Yunrou managed to suppress the ripples in her heart, then she shook the silver bell in her hand.
Not long after, an elderly Taoist appeared before her.
"Senior Brother, no need to be so formal." Xue Yunrou lifted him up with her mana, her smile delightful: "The reason I called you over is that I wanted to know, how much business do we have with the Shenqi Union?"
"Approximately 1.4 million taels of patterned silver," the elderly Taoist replied respectfully. "Just this year, we have purchased goods worth 470,000 taels of patterned silver from them, while they have procured talismans worth about 960,000 taels of patterned silver from us."
"From tomorrow on, stop it all. Stop buying and selling."
Xue Yunrou’s voice was gentle, but left no room for doubt: "As far as I know, we can get the things that Shenqi Union sells from Mo, right?"
"That is—"
The Taoist hesitated: "Indeed, Mo does have all of the hidden weapons that Shenqi Union deals in, but they are not accepted by the court, and everything is one or two percent more expensive than the market price."
"But we must stop no matter what!"