Chapter 533 - 535: Untrustworthy

Chapter 533: Chapter 535: Untrustworthy

After dinner, having handed their two children over to the nanny, Ancient Wen Heng eagerly pulled Jin Qianqian into the main house.

Watching their master and madam shut the door firmly, Lichun and the other maids blushed and retreated far away.

The moment they were inside, Jin Qianqian swatted him lightly. "Couldn’t you be a little more discreet? Must you be in such a rush?"

Ancient Wen Heng instantly realized his wife had misunderstood him. ’But,’ he thought, ’I can use this misunderstanding to my advantage.’ Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, he said, "We’re husband and wife. What’s there to be discreet about?"

"It’s too hot out here. Let’s talk in the space."

This was the one thing about the space that Ancient Wen Heng appreciated the most.

Its temperature was constant year-round. Inside, he feared neither heat nor cold and could always be in a state of complete relaxation.

The moment Jin Qianqian saw his expression, she knew exactly what he was thinking.

After a shameless interlude in the space, Jin Qianqian said lazily, "Later, I’ll look for the rest of those agricultural books. Even if there’s nothing in them, I think I have some vague memory of ancient oil-pressing methods. It’ll just take a little more effort."

"You know me best, darling," Ancient Wen Heng said, massaging her shoulders. "I’ll have to trouble you again."

Jin Qianqian replied, "It’s no trouble. I’m just worried... once this oil-pressing method gets out, will it cut into someone else’s profits?"

Ancient Wen Heng said, "Of course, I won’t be the one to introduce it. I already caused a big enough stir with the new farm tools, that was plenty of limelight. I plan to give the credit for this away."

"You’re willing to part with it? You realize a formula for pressing oil could revive an entire family."

Ancient Wen Heng laced his hands behind his head and leaned against the headboard. "Well, society needs to progress for us to have a better life."

"Fame and fortune... you can’t take them with you. We might as well do more good deeds and build up some good karma. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a chance to be together again in our next life."

Jin Qianqian said, "...This life isn’t even over, and you’re already scheming about the next one."

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "I think about that sometimes, too. Fate must have had a reason for sending us to this dynasty."

"Whatever the reason, we’re a part of this world now. If we have the ability, we should do more to help the common people."

"As the saying goes, a family that performs good deeds will have blessings to spare. We’ll have descendants here. If not for ourselves, we should at least pave an easier road for them."

Jin Qianqian sighed. "Ever since we had Luo Luo and his sibling, I’ve felt more and more like we belong here. But in a dynasty ruled by imperial power, the path is fraught with peril."

Ancient Wen Heng pulled her into his arms. "That’s why we have to start planning for our descendants now. We’ll be the first generation of power and wealth."

Jin Qianqian said, "...If we do everything, what’s left for them to do?"

"Be the second-generation powerful and the second-generation wealthy," the man said with utter confidence.

...

***

「In the cells of the Prefect’s Office.」

Prince Zuo Tengshang could no longer sit still.

He had been able to maintain his composure at first, sitting and staring at the wall in contemplation. But many days had passed since he requested to see the Magistrate, and the prison chief simply turned a deaf ear. He was beginning to suspect his request had never even been reported.

"We report it every time," the prison chief said dismissively in response to his question. "But our Lord Prefect isn’t as idle as you lot. He’s an incredibly busy man. When would he have time to meet with a bunch of prisoners?"

"How do I know you’re not doing this deliberately? Ever since we clamored to see your superior, our daily rations of food and water have dwindled. You’re doing this on purpose!"

The prison chief glanced back at Tu Zhong, who had spoken. "What a ridiculous thing to say. Have you forgotten why our grain is so precious?"

"Every autumn harvest, you lot show up right on schedule to plunder our supplies. It’s gotten to the point where our people have lost the heart to even plant crops."

"Why bother with all the effort when the grain they grow might not even end up in their own mouths?"

"Now that grain is scarce, we can barely feed ourselves. How are we supposed to provide for you?"

Tu Zhong’s face flushed red. "You don’t have to be so crude. Isn’t ’good neighborly relations’ one of your principles?"

"Besides, we’re just facing temporary hardship and asking for a bit of help. Why do you have to be so stingy?"

The prison chief’s hand suddenly "trembled," spilling more than half of the already meager amount of water. "You know, I suddenly think you have a point. The camellia bush outside my courtyard is about to wither from thirst. I’m sure you gentlemen would be willing to spare this water to help out a neighbor. Enjoy what’s left."

With that, he picked up the bucket of water he was supposed to give them and started walking away.

The bandits behind him immediately erupted. "Are you trying to kill us with thirst? We get so little water as it is, and now you’re taking it away?"

The prison chief retorted, "Thank you for your ’good neighborly relations’ in the past, helping us by eating our grain. So now, I’ll help you by using this water."

’These people are just ridiculous,’ he thought. ’Even now, they refuse to admit they were wrong. So why should I be nice to them?’

’...Then again, it’s not like I’ve ever been nice to them...’

"Stop," Prince Zuo Tengshang finally spoke. "I wish to see your highest official."

"Our lord is a very busy man. He’s not someone you can see just by asking."

"He has to figure out how to get rations for all these people. If you want to keep getting food to live, you’d best make less trouble and stop making a scene all day."

"After all, talking and moving around so much burns through rations."

Prince Zuo Tengshang said, "I’ll trouble you, Officer, to provide me with a brush and paper. I will write a letter to your superior. As for whether he comes to see me, that will be his decision."

"Now that’s more like it. That’s something I can consider."

"You wait here. I’ll go request it from my superiors."

After saying this, the prison chief walked out with the bucket. Only after he had rounded the corner and disappeared from sight...

...did the men in the cell remember that he had just walked off with the water they had so desperately awaited for days.

Touching their chapped lips, they no longer had the strength to speak. They each slumped down behind the cell bars.

"Tu Zhong, I recall that your calligraphy in the Han script is quite good. You will be the one to write the letter."

Tu Zhong wished he could turn back time. ’If my Han language skills, both spoken and written, weren’t so outstanding,’ he thought bitterly, ’perhaps I wouldn’t have been included on this expedition at all.’

But for now, he had to bow to the circumstances. He was still counting on the Prince to get them back to their homeland. "As you command," he said, his voice weak.

***

Ancient Wen Heng passed the letter to He Gaofei and the others. "Look. He couldn’t hold out any longer."

"But all it says is that if we let them go this time, they promise to never invade again. Can we trust their word?" Lu Shenggen sneered, looking at the atrocious handwriting with disdain.

"This handwriting is worse than a child’s first scrawls."

"There are even a few incorrect characters. I had to guess and puzzle it out just to string the sentences together."

"Of course not," said Ancient Wenheng. "But deals are meant to be negotiated."