Chapter 100: The Prince's Fortune Collection

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Most who don’t expose the truth usually have secret intentions. The princess knew that Jin Hua Cao was biologically female but preferred to dress as a boy. Frowning, she said, “She came south because of that man. I must speak to her as someone who’s been through it to advise her.”

“We value matching families and social standing. It’s fine to have a fling, but she mustn’t fall in love for real. Our backgrounds and circles make it almost impossible for them to be together; he would only hold her back.”

The other women fell silent upon hearing this. Many had designs on Jin Hua Cao, dreaming of rising like a phoenix from the branches. But now that the princess spoke, were her words directed at Jin Hua Cao or at them?

None of the ladies knew how to respond.

At that moment, Zhao Zongyong, the main figure, received a report from his men.

“Jin Hua Cao is also on the ship?”

His vessel was sizable, and since Jin Hua Cao had instructed secrecy, Zhao Zongyong had only just learned this.

“Replying to Your Grace: Miss Cao has been staying in the princess’s cabin. According to the princess, she sneaked onto our ship from the Royal Uncle’s mansion.”

“Good, we’ll head out immediately.” He was also pursuing Jin Hua Cao. For one engaged in major affairs, wealth was indispensable, and the Royal Uncle’s mansion was famously as rich as a kingdom in the Great Song Dynasty. Many had designs on her.

Of course, not all were after money. Just because Jin Hua Cao’s true gender was hidden, that didn’t mean no one would pursue her. In this economically advanced era, there were many officials who preferred young men.

When they boarded, they saw Jin Hua Cao’s porcelain-like skin. Unfortunately, she stuck close to the princess, and no one dared disrespect her in the princess’s presence.

China was a land of rituals, with strict codes of conduct between men and women, and clear hierarchies, especially in officialdom.

The so-called “rituals” served to maintain order and reason, preventing desire from ruling. For example, many wanted to approach Jin Hua Cao, but since the side hall was reserved for women, reason held them back.

Yet, a graceful lady is a worthy match for a gentleman.

From the moment Jin Hua Cao approached Shen Shi, many eyes turned their way.

“Who’s that young man?”

“Don’t know him. Where’s he from?”

“Could he be a stranger? They look very close. Such a pity.”

Why a pity? Everyone understood. Whether man or woman, good skin was prized. The courtesan had admirers, and young male companions were also popular!

Few knew Shen Shi, but some did — like the Qian brothers and Liu Yuanze.

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Moreover, the Liu family had just aligned with the Prince of Runan’s household. It was said his father had been reinstated, possibly as a censor.

“He’s from a military family in Jinhua. They say he’s a strong fighter. The horse bandits from a few days ago? He was the one who wiped them out.”

“What? A soldier? Why would the prince summon him?”

“That’s odd. If he’s a soldier, why is he dressed in a civil official’s robe?”

Upon hearing Shen Shi was a soldier, many eyes gleamed with envy.

In the Great Song, everyone prized civil over military status. Regardless of whether Jin Hua Cao was male or female, she was a fresh, lively cabbage. And this “cabbage” was about to be devoured by a soldier. Uncles might tolerate it, but not their uncles by blood.

“Let’s go, we should join them.”

Many moved to approach Jin Hua Cao.

A soldier was nothing to fear. Besides, using culture to suppress military might was a very worthy topic. The wise could outwit the strong—why not enjoy that?

Liu Yuanze, anticipating trouble, decided to watch coldly.

Indeed, Shen Shi had saved him before, and he had thought to recruit him. But wasn’t Shen Shi already under Bao Zheng’s wing? Bao Zheng belonged to the Qingli reform faction, while Liu’s father was conservative.

In other words, they were political rivals.

In officialdom, once rivals, what was friendship? Not throwing someone into a well was already a favor.

So Liu said nothing, pretending not to see Shen Shi. Instead, he fraternized with local officials, building connections far more valuable than Shen Shi.

Of course, he still peeked at the scene now and then.

But the more he looked, the more he felt envy and bitterness. He knew Jin Hua Cao’s identity—she was connected to the Runan Prince’s household.

Yet precisely because he had climbed onto the Runan Prince’s side, he felt frustrated. He had risen high, yet on this trip to Jinhua, he hadn’t flaunted his status enough. Shen Shi, however, had made the mistake of not recognizing him and not kowtowing immediately.

But just as he prepared to show off, Shen Shi had allied himself with the Royal Uncle’s mansion.

Truly intolerable!

I teach the classics, he topped the examinations. I want to recruit him to help my father become a county official. I have a prince’s backing, yet he knows the Royal Uncle’s daughter...

Damn it! After I finish my grand pretense, you want to die, huh!

His anger left him no desire to explain to Shen Shi.

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“Why is he a civil official? Isn’t he a soldier?”

Of course, the idea that Shen Shi was a civil official was Zhao Zhen’s doing. He wanted an explanation, but he wasn’t a mind-reader; how could he explain?

“Do you think his family has fallen from grace?”

Military families usually receive military posts. If he took the civil service exam instead, there was only one possibility: the family had declined.

“Well... that’s possible.” Many nodded in agreement.

Liu Yuanze also nodded. The Shen family had indeed fallen on hard times. If they were from a prestigious lineage like the Yang family of Tianbo Prefecture, given Liu’s outsider status, he would have sought them out, even if Bao Zheng had taken the lead.

But a fallen military family was less influential. The conservatives, also called the peace advocates, were those who bought peace with money. Skilled fighters were useful but not worth allying with. Since Liu’s family had aligned with the Runan Prince, a fallen military family naturally held little importance.

At least that was his opinion before he knew Shen Shi knew Jin Hua Cao.

“Look, the prince is coming out.”

With the prince’s honor guard assembled, all eyes turned to see a robust young man in royal robes parting the crowd, striding like a dragon and tiger.

“Greetings, young prince.”

Those eager to approach had to stop and salute Zhao Zongyong.

“This is going to be quite a show,” Liu Yuanze thought, amused.

Though new to the prince’s faction and ignorant of the core secrets, he understood why Zhao Zongyong had come to Yuhang—money.

As a wealthy region in the south, how could a prince’s visit be just a family affair? Along the way, they had collected no shortage of money and gifts.

Moreover, if money was involved, the Royal Uncle’s mansion was the true treasury.

If the prince could marry a wealthy Hangzhou lady for money, then the appearance of the richest Cao family here must also be orchestrated by the old prince.

“Now this really will be a spectacle!”

Liu Yuanze felt he was beginning to grasp the pulse of the Runan Prince’s household—promotion without money was impossible.

The Runan Prince’s mansion maintained many cultivators and numerous retainers who publicized their merits. Their salaries alone were unaffordable without ample funds.