Chapter 5: A Way Out

Ling Qingyu took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

Although she had seen the *Along the River During the Qingming Festival* before and had already imagined such realistic prosperity, she was still shaken by the scenery before her eyes.

Along the banks of the Qiantang River lay a busy wharf. Boats moved back and forth in the river, following one after another in a continuous stream. On the wharf, porters loaded and unloaded goods, and there were all kinds of vendors—some selling food, others selling sundries. Extending from the wharf was a sprawling neighborhood with rows upon rows of buildings: teahouses, wine shops, inns, and butcher shops, as well as specialized shops for silks and satins, jewelry and spices, and incense and paper effigies. Additionally, there were medical clinics, carriage repair shops, fortune tellers, and barbers. Every industry imaginable was present, and the streets were crowded with pedestrians, shoulder to shoulder, in a ceaseless flow.

Ling Qingyu had already figured out the era she was currently in. This should be a parallel world where history had taken a turn at the end of the Tang Dynasty. Zhao Kuangyin had not been draped in the yellow robe to become emperor; he had merely become a Duke. The founder of the dynasty was the Great Zhou's Emperor Shizong, Chai Rong. However, during the early stages of the Great Zhou, wars were constant. Through the reigns of Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Taizong—thirty years across two generations—the south was finally unified and a peace treaty was reached with the Liao Dynasty. This was followed by sixty years of peaceful prosperity, the opening of sea territories, and the gradual relaxation of restrictions on industry and commerce, leading to a period of great economic prosperity for the Great Zhou. Comparing it to what she knew, this was basically the Northern Song, though there were some differences. Because Zhao Kuangyin had been draped in the yellow robe, the Northern Song had always valued civil officials over military ones, and the subsequent emperors were unreliable. In this Great Zhou Dynasty, the position of military generals was relatively high, while the emperors were even more unreliable than those of the Northern Song. The Northern Song emperors favored literature, whereas the Great Zhou emperors loved luxury goods—especially the current reigning Emperor Xiwen, who loved jewelry and spices. He renovated palaces every year, using the finest wood, gold, silver, and jade, in numbers too vast to count. This left the national treasury empty, so they opened up maritime transport. Previously, only shipping companies registered with the government and holding licenses could conduct overseas trade; now, as long as one paid a certain amount of silver, a license could be obtained. However, regardless of the type of ship, they were required to deliver a certain amount of spices and treasures upon their return. Consequently, maritime shipping flourished, and the ports became incredibly prosperous.

However, Ling Qingyu had not expected it to be quite this prosperous.

Recalling what she had heard on the road—drought in the north and flooding in the south—these years had been plagued by constant natural disasters, causing refugees to rise in some areas.

"Miss, Miss," Zheng Xi's calling brought Ling Qingyu back to her senses. She couldn't help but let out a light chuckle. Even if the Great Zhou was already riddled with holes, it wouldn't fall into trouble in the short term. The most important thing now was to accumulate her own strength and then seek revenge.

"I asked," Zheng Xi ran up to Ling Qingyu, wiping sweat from his brow, and said, "There is a boat going to Quanzhou today. It was originally chartered by a wealthy household, but I heard you are a female head of household, so the lady of that house showed kindness and allowed us to hitch a ride."

Ling Qingyu nodded. Zheng Xi was Madam Zheng's son. After coming out, she had asked and learned that Madam Zheng was her mother's wet nurse from her dowry. Her mother had long since returned the indentures of their entire family. The eldest son, Zheng Dong, helped his mother manage the dowry shops, while the younger son, Zheng Xi, followed his father as a runner for the shipping company. Before the end of the year, the father had sent Zheng Xi ahead to Wuxian to deliver a message, which had allowed them to avoid that great catastrophe.

After Ling Qingyu buried her parents together, she had Madam Zheng and Lv Xiu stay in Wuxian—firstly to continue looking after the remaining two shops with Zheng Dong, and secondly to keep an eye on the movements of the Lin and Wu families. She had only brought Zheng Xi with her to Quanzhou, where her father's *Fengshen* ship was located.

Ling Qingyu pressed her hand against her chest. The banknotes she had taken from her mother's vanity case had amounted to ten thousand taels when she counted them later. Ling Qingyu had kept them in a small pouch against her chest. Since leaving Wuxian, she had brought nothing else; the only things she carried were these ten thousand taels in banknotes and the handkerchief her mother had coughed blood onto before she died.

The ship bound for Quanzhou was a medium-sized passenger vessel. Ling Qingyu and Zheng Xi boarded via a small gangplank at the rear cabin. Zheng Xi followed the sailors to the sailors' quarters. A maidservant wearing a yellow shoulder-piece led Ling Qingyu to a small room in the rear cabin and said, "We'll have to trouble you to squeeze in with us, Miss."

"I'll have to trouble you, Sister," Ling Qingyu gave a deep bow and thanked her with a smile. She wore a clean cyan dress, and instead of her hair being tied in a formal bun, it was braided into a large plait adorned with a small white velvet flower. She was tall, and although her figure was plump, she looked clean, brisk, and healthy; even her smile was simple and honest, making people like her.

The maid felt a sense of fondness and couldn't help but say a few more words: "My lady is the kindest person. I heard from the Wang family's people that your servant was looking for a boat and that you are an orphaned girl who independently opened a female household to manage your own affairs. They said it was quite pitiful; otherwise, an ordinary person wouldn't be able to board our Fan family's ship."

Ling Qingyu did not know how powerful the Fan family was, but she simply smiled and said, "It is all thanks to the lady's kindness. I must trouble you, Sister, to convey my thanks to her. If possible, I would also like to kowtow to the lady to express my gratitude."

"There's no need for that. My lady isn't someone just anyone can see."

"In that case, I'll trouble you, Sister, to convey my sentiments." Ling Qingyu took the maid's hand and slipped a silver ingot into it.

The maid weighed it, estimating it to be about one tael, and couldn't help but smile more sincerely. "Just rest well here. Our ship is fast; we should arrive in Quanzhou in a few days."

Ling Qingyu bowed again and saw the maid out before finally relaxing and beginning to carefully consider how to act once she reached Quanzhou.

In the main cabin of the ship, a young woman had her sleeves rolled up. Her slender, jade-like hands held a Jun kiln plum blossom pot, pouring tea into a cup. The clear tea broth carried a faint fragrance that was refreshing to the soul.

"Good tea," the blue-clad young gentleman praised reflexively.

"Mingliang brought it. It's Biluochun from before the Grain Rain; naturally, it is good tea." Fan Ye took a sip of tea and glanced sideways at the person sitting opposite him, who was freeloading and refusing to leave. He said, "As the legitimate son of the Fan family, you spend every day idling about. Aren't you afraid of breaking your uncle's heart?"

As the youngest legitimate son of Fan Ze, the current Minister of Personnel, Fan Zheng's reputation had always been mediocre. He had passed the provincial examination at fifteen but did not continue his studies; instead, he began traveling and indulging in countless romantic affairs, making him a true outlier in the Fan family.

"With my eldest brother around, Father has always been at ease with me," Fan Zheng smiled, then leaned closer to Fan Ye and said, "But I must congratulate my cousin on your recent promotion to such a good position."

"What good position?" Fan Ye sighed and said, "The establishment of the Maritime Trade Bureau in Quanzhou is certainly a good thing for maritime management, and I will do my best to fulfill my mission. However, previously, foreign trade was controlled by the Guangzhou Maritime Trade Bureau and had always been held by the Wang family. Now, because the Emperor loves incense and luxury, from Luoyang and Bianliang to Hangzhou, Sichuan, and Shu, the trade in spices and treasures is booming. The profits from foreign trade have surged, and the number of maritime merchants has increased greatly. I fear that what you and I know is only a fraction of the massive transaction amounts; most of it is being swallowed by the Wang family."

"Is that why they are establishing the Maritime Trade Bureau in Quanzhou this time, and letting the neutral Fan family act as the Bureau Commissioners?" Fan Zheng toyed with his empty cup. The high-quality Jun kiln porcelain was crystal clear and pleasing to the eye. He smiled and said, "With maritime shipping booming, this position of yours, cousin, is quite a lucrative one."

Fan Ye glared at him and said, "A lucrative position? I fear it's a death trap! Currently, Noble Consort Wang is supported by the Wang family and controls maritime shipping. The Empress Dong's family has produced Grand Secretary Dong, and there is also a Dong serving as the Minister of Revenue. With the new Maritime Trade Bureau opening in Quanzhou, both families are staring intently at such a lucrative position. If I am not careful, I won't even know how I died. You brat, did you come here specifically to tease me?"

Just as Fan Zheng was about to speak, he heard footsteps outside the door and stopped, looking toward the entrance.

"Madam," a voice called softly from outside the door.

The Madam, Lady Yang, glanced at the two men, lowered the bead curtain, and said, "It's Shanyao. Come in."

Shanyao entered the cabin with her head bowed. She glanced at the hanging bead curtain, performed a bow, and said, "Madam, I have brought that young lady to my cabin."

"Oh," Lady Yang's gaze swept over Fan Zheng's silhouette behind the curtain, and she smiled. "How is the young lady? Is she well-mannered?"

"Though the young lady is not old, she is very well-mannered. She looks like an honest girl," Shanyao replied with her head bowed.

"It is quite pitiful, to have opened a female household on her own at such a young age," Lady Yang waved for Shanyao to withdraw and raised the bead curtain. She smiled at Fan Zheng and said, "It is rare for Sixth Brother to actually show such kindness."

Fan Zheng smiled but did not answer. Before boarding the ship, he had seen that young lady from Wuxian asking around with a servant to see if there were boats to Quanzhou. He had felt a pang of compassion, and knowing that Lady Yang was a kind person, he had mentioned it to her. As expected, Lady Yang allowed the young lady onto the ship. But hearing her words, it seemed she thought it was just one of his romantic debts from outside; he did not defend himself, only smiling without a word.

"Sixth Brother, you are not young anymore. It is time to properly seek a marriage," Fan Ye said, frowning.

"Lady Wu has actually proposed a few families to Father. One is the second daughter of the Wang family's third branch, one is the fifth daughter of the Wu family, and another is the concubine-born younger sister of the Second Prince's consort. Cousin, which one do you think is suitable for me?" Fan Zheng smiled, but there was a hint of coldness in that smile.

Fan Ye was speechless. Not only had his uncle's second wife driven Fan Zheng away, but she also wanted to manipulate his marriage. The Fan family had always maintained neutrality in the imperial court and never participated in the struggle for the throne, which was how they had remained undefeated for a hundred years. Lady Wu was clearly trying to pull the Fan family onto the Second Prince's side. Did she think the men of the Fan family were fools? Thinking of the eldest uncle's indulgence of Lady Wu, he could only shake his head.

"That young lady's father was originally a maritime merchant," Fan Zheng thought for a moment and then said, "Since she is going to Quanzhou, if you can help her, cousin, please give her a hand."

"Heh," Fan Ye laughed. "A woman... fine. If she also goes to run maritime shipping, I will help her if I can."

Seeing that his smile was full of contempt, Fan Zheng shook his head and said no more. He looked out the window at the prosperous scenery, and his thoughts drifted elsewhere, speaking to Fan Ye about the spring drought in Henan Road. That young lady was like a ripple on the water, leaving no trace behind.