FBC – Chapter 340 A Dilemma

Yiyun returned to the small courtyard. When Yintao saw her in her room, she immediately followed her inside.

“What did the Princess Consort say to you?”

Yiyun glanced at her. “Didn’t she say the same thing to you?”

Yintao raised an eyebrow. “How do you know what the Princess Consort told me? Trying to trick me? No way!”

“The Princess Consort told me.”

Yiyun sighed. “So… what do you think we should do?”

Yintao looked suspicious. “What exactly did she tell you?”

Yiyun replied irritably, “What could she say? She asked what we did for the Empress and also inquired about any other spies.”

Yintao’s heart skipped a beat. “You told her?”

She quickly glanced at the wooden hairpin in Yiyun’s bun.

It was still there.

“How could I dare? But if we don’t do something, do you think the Empress will leave us alive? If she decides we’re useless, killing us would be as easy as turning her hand. And the Yong Prince’s residence would never let us leave. Wouldn’t we just die here quietly?”

Yintao’s face went pale. “Did she… also tell you all the ways we could die?”

Yiyun nodded, worried. “Terrifying.”

Although Gu Hua didn’t tell her that handling Yintao would require a different method, Yiyun could already figure it out from Yintao’s words and expression.

At this moment, Yiyun was even more certain that she should trust Gu Hua, not the Empress.

Gu Hua was cunning, and she had already investigated Yiyun’s father to ensure her compliance.

And the Empress? Yiyun had begged the Empress to save her father before coming to Juzhou. The Empress had readily agreed, yet after all this time, she hadn’t mentioned anything about saving him—her father was still suffering.

Who was more reliable, who was more useful, Yiyun’s mind was clear.

Whether joining Gu Hua would ensure her survival was irrelevant.

As long as she could save her father, her own death was insignificant.

Yintao paced anxiously around the room. “What should we do? The Princess Consort isn’t exactly gentle either.”

Yiyun tested her. “Do you want to escape, or continue helping the Empress?”

“Escape? How? Isn’t the whole world the king’s land? Where could we possibly run?”

Yintao’s voice rose in panic, then she paused mid-sentence. “Escape? Not impossible… if we fled to another country, would that work? But we’re trapped here; we can’t even get out of the residence gate.”

Yiyun suddenly thought of a way to sneak out unnoticed.

“My father has an old acquaintance who apparently lives in Juzhou. I want to find him, see if he’s willing to help us. He’s a merchant and often travels to other small countries.”

A glimmer of hope appeared in Yintao’s eyes. “Then ask the Princess Consort to let you go find him?”

Yiyun nodded. “I’ll try right away.”

When Gu Hua heard Yiyun’s request through her attendants, she didn’t object and allowed her to leave.

Yiyun left the residence that same day.

The people of Chiyu followed her secretly.

…

Lady Li returned to Bazhou from Juzhou, feeling gloomy.

Her husband, Qian Junheng, returned to the residence and, unusually, came to her courtyard.

Lady Li was delighted. She quickly ordered tea and snacks, politely asking if he would stay for dinner.

Qian Junheng waved his hand impatiently. “I have business later. Did you see anything during your visit to Juzhou?”

Although disappointed, Lady Li was relieved that he had come personally and mentioned his inability to dine. There was at least some hope.

She knew her husband and father had different political stances: her father supported the emperor, while her husband sought shortcuts, allying with the Empress and the Crown Prince.

And she was caught in the middle, a pawn for both sides.

If she helped her husband, her natal family would ignore her even more, and she would still not earn his favor. If she helped her father, she couldn’t assist her husband either. Either way, she would fail.

Thinking of this, she felt sorrow rise in her chest.

Carefully, she probed: “What does my husband want to know?”

Qian Junheng frowned, looking at her as if she were useless. “The Yong Prince is recruiting soldiers. Did you notice more troops and men in the city?”

Lady Li considered her words. “Yes, and the city guards were strict.”

Qian Junheng looked down on her narrow-mindedness; being born of a concubine clearly showed.

His tone grew harsher.

“Nothing else?”

Lady Li wanted to relay what Gu Hua had said but feared his rebuke. Before she could speak, Qian Junheng lost patience, rose, and strode away.

Lady Li hurried after him. “Husband, the Princess Consort said to act in accordance with circumstances. Please consider carefully before acting.”

Qian Junheng stopped mid-step, then immediately turned and returned swiftly. “You met the Princess Consort?”

Lady Li was overjoyed. “Yes! Not only did I meet her, she even sent a piece of kesi embroidery worth three thousand gold coins as a gift for my mother.”

“Three thousand gold coins?” Qian Junheng narrowed his eyes.

He nodded slowly. “This Princess Consort is very capable, especially in business. The Mu family has fought for generations but never accumulated wealth. Several southern cities are dilapidated, and the people live in hardship. Even if he becomes king, the taxes collected by the Mu family army are a drop in the ocean. Do you know why?”

Lady Li, rarely addressed like this, quickly feigned interest. “I don’t understand. Please teach me, husband.”

Qian Junheng patiently explained: “Half of the army’s funds were embezzled, and the other half of the relief funds were intercepted by the Jiang and Yuan families. The Mu family proclaims loyalty to the emperor, but don’t think: if the emperor truly valued them, would he turn a blind eye? How many have died in fifty years? How much money in relief funds? Enough to buy Daliang itself.”

“But ever since the Yong Prince married this Princess Consort, their ability to earn silver has grown.”

Qian Junheng stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Lady Li was elated. In two years, this was the most her husband had spoken to her.

Though she barely understood his meaning, she was just happy to be spoken to.

All of this was thanks to Gu Hua’s words. Lady Li continued, “So… should my husband listen to what the Princess Consort says?”

“Ha! A mere woman’s words? What’s this about ‘acting in accordance with circumstances’? Who will be the next emperor? Naturally, I follow the circumstances. Wang Heng is an idiot—educated but clueless about strategy!”

Qian Junheng whispered, “Keep in contact with the Princess Consort. When the time comes, I’ll tell you what to do.”

Lady Li smiled and nodded. “Yes, husband.”

Qian Junheng thought for a moment. “The court has decreed that we must pay the previously waived additional taxes and also make up for what was withheld. Think about how to get the Princess Consort to pay some silver to help us.”

Lady Li’s smile stiffened. She had no idea how to do that.

How could she get the Princess Consort to pay Bazhou’s taxes? This was a huge sum!

She knew her husband worried about it constantly. If they had to pay back taxes, the people would be taxed multiple times over. As an official, he might be beaten to death.

“Why must we pay? Didn’t the emperor himself waive half because of the southern wars and the hardships of the people?”

“You foolish woman! The Crown Prince now rules! Debts must be repaid. The Empress also wants leverage over us.”

Qian Junheng frowned. “Tell the Princess Consort: if she wants us to make way for the Mu family army, she can just provide the silver.”

He sneered, “Whether we actually step aside is another matter.”

Lady Li shivered. “Isn’t that… tricking her? If the Princess Consort finds out, will she spare us?”

Qian Junheng’s expression darkened. “Born of a concubine, you understand nothing! No wonder your father had the audacity to marry you to me as the main wife! If you fail at this, return to the Li family. What use are you?”

Lady Li stared blankly at her husband as he strode away.

This… what should she do?