Chapter 41: The Riddle

Princess Changle looked at He Zhongan, a child born out of wedlock, entering the He estate in a disheveled state.

It suddenly reminded her of the days before her father, the Emperor, launched his southern campaign. Back then, her mother was the lowest-ranking concubine in the harem, and she herself was at the very bottom of the palace hierarchy, already several years old without even a name, let alone a noble title. She had to navigate life by reading the expressions of others every single day.

A flicker of sympathy for He Zhongan stirred within her.

Watching him now—how he crafted pocket watches and music boxes to curry favor with her, and especially the way he skillfully manipulated Eunuch Qin—a faint smile appeared on her face. "A clever little fox," she whispered to herself.

Reports had reached her detailing how He Zhongan had spun gold from nothing with his coal briquettes, leading to a conflict with the Fengyu Firm. The accounts included every word spoken by Pei Er at the Guangde Tower, along with the subsequent involvement of the Zheng family.

Princess Changle let out a cold scoff.

Standing nearby, Xueqing remarked, "Princess, this Pei Er is no good. Come to think of it, I remember when we were discussing potential candidates for your consort, Pei Er was among them."

Having finished the reports, the Princess had reached a decision. "Xueqing, go and see He Zhongan."

"What for?"

"See what his bearing is like. If he appears hateful or his manners are wretched, come straight back. If he is passable, offer him terms."

"Terms? What kind of terms?"

"Tell him to propose them himself."

***

At the Bureau of Imperial Manufactures, Xueqing scrutinized He Zhongan. She found his appearance acceptable and his manners neither hateful nor wretched. "The Princess has investigated everything," she said. "But why should she tell you?"

He Zhongan bowed and replied, "Miss Xueqing, if she did not intend to tell me, you would not be here."

Xueqing was momentarily taken aback. After a brief pause, she said, "Still, I cannot tell you for nothing."

"Whatever Princess Changle desires, she need only ask."

"The Princess says you are to name your terms."

He Zhongan’s mind raced. *The Princess has gone to such lengths; the person behind all this is exactly who I suspected. I only lack certainty as to which one it is.*

Though he wasn't certain of the individual, that deduction alone was enough to keep him in an invincible position. However, this matter involved his life, his livelihood, and the rise and fall of the He family. He could not rely solely on his own guesswork; he needed definitive confirmation from the Princess.

***

*What terms would satisfy Princess Changle?* He Zhongan could not fathom it. As the most favored princess in the Great Xia Dynasty, she lacked nothing. Whatever he offered might not even catch her eye.

"Coming from a humble background, I truly do not know what could satisfy the Princess," He Zhongan said, taking a deep breath. "If the Princess does not find me beneath her notice, from this day forth, I, and indeed the entire Wuning Marquis estate, shall be under your command. Whatever the Princess desires, she need only issue an order, and the entire He household will carry it out."

He Zhongan had never minded working for others. In politics, one only has value if one is useful. Isn't that what factions within factions are all about? He could be a pawn for the Zheng family of Nanhai, or he could be under the banner of Princess Changle—it made no difference. He would serve whoever offered the best benefits. Besides, the more banners he flew, the greater the influence he could leverage.

Walking on two boats is the hallmark of a scoundrel, but in politics, it is basic practice. Even Yan Xishan knew how to dance on three eggs; He Zhongan was only balancing two. Naturally, he could not afford to capsize. To capsize would be to end up like Li Shangyin—an outcast in all circles.

Xueqing was stunned, unsure if this offer was a loss or a gain for them. She had read He Zhongan’s files and knew the Wuning Marquis estate was a military family with influence. The Princess gaining this force seemed useful.

He Zhongan had laid out the best terms he could offer. But then again, what would the Princess need with power outside the palace?

Xueqing felt conflicted, but after a moment’s hesitation, she decided that having an extra errand runner wouldn't hurt. "Without distinguishing between first and secondary wives, yet divided into three houses; if you look behind at the west and east, you will find it is 'not a thing' (a wordplay)."

This was the riddle the Princess had specifically instructed her to convey. If He Zhongan couldn't even solve this, he had no business playing the game of politics. He was simply too dense.

Upon hearing this, the meaning instantly became clear to He Zhongan.

In a split second, he had deciphered it. *So, it is him.* With the realization that he was the backer of the Fengyu Firm, everything fell into place.

Now, He Zhongan felt the confidence of certain victory. From this point on, no matter how this game was played, he could not lose. The only question remaining was how he would win, and by how much.

***

"You disastrous fool! Look at the mess you've made!" Pei Fu, the Duke of Ning and Commissioner of the Great Xia Privy Council, was fuming, his face purple with rage as he brandished a whip at Pei Zhao.

"I... I... what did I do this time?" Pei Zhao cried out, hiding behind his mother.

"What did you do? You ask me what you did? Everyone else is asking me the same thing!" Pei Fu roared. "The members of the Privy Council are asking how the He family of Wuning, an old京城 (capital) family that has always been respectful to us, was forced to turn to the Zheng family!"

As previously noted, the Wuning Marquis estate was in such an awkward position because they had ties to both sides, yet neither was strong. In reality, families like the Wuning Marquis were the norm. Even within a single household, the primary and secondary branches were clearly delineated.

The founding nobility faction was led by the Duke of Ning, but it was not limited to his family alone. Lady He’s claim that they had connections among the founding heroes was not entirely false. The fact that they had been pushed into the arms of the Zheng family by Pei Er had caused much dissatisfaction. People felt that the He family only wanted to make some money; even if there were business conflicts, everyone could have taken a step back—giving the north of the city to the He family and the south to the Duke of Ning’s estate would have sufficed.

In truth, such compromises among the powerful were the norm. In physics, all motion tends toward the path of least resistance; the same holds true in politics. Conflicts and annexations between the nobility come at a cost. Even a tiger, unless starving, will not hunt another large predator for fear of injury.

For the elite—whether nobility, scholars, or capitalists—the best approach is to collude and share in the spoils of the common people. But now, Pei Er had forced a Marquis estate to change its political stance simply for the sake of money. The nature of the situation had changed entirely.

So much so that several old families had come to visit, offering cryptic advice: "When one can show mercy, show it," "A man of great character cannot avoid having an unvirtuous wife or an unfilial son, but they must be disciplined," and "A tree must be pruned to grow straight, and a man must be tempered to be of worth."

Pei Fu had not understood at first, being the last to learn what had happened. Now, he was livid.

Trembling with rage, Pei Fu shouted, "Tell me, has the family ever denied you food or drink? What possessed you to stir up such trouble? Whose side are you on? And who exactly does that Fengyu Firm belong to? Why were you the one to stick your neck out?"