"This is a major matter, the two of you must not be careless."
Yun Zheng reminded the two of them earnestly, "If Beihuan spies infiltrate the mansion, even if I spare you, Imperial Father will not!"
"Understood, Your Highness!"
The two nodded with grave expressions.
Having settled this matter, Yun Zheng took the opportunity to inform Du Guiyuan and the other two about Emperor Wen's order to strictly investigate the embezzlement of the pension funds.
The three were overjoyed. Believing that Yun Zheng had personally petitioned Emperor Wen on the matter, they repeatedly expressed their gratitude to him, earning Yun Zheng another delightful wave of favorable impression points.
After that, Yun Zheng asked Ye Zi how the gifts had sold.
"They've all been sold," Ye Zi replied. "We fetched a total of one hundred and fifty thousand silver taels."
"What?" Yun Zheng was stunned. "All of them?"
Ye Zi blinked. "Wasn't it Your Highness who told me to sell all of them?"
"I..." Yun Zheng put on an expression of speechlessness. "I only told you to sell some of them in exchange for silver taels, I didn't say to sell the lot! Besides... it's only been a single morning, how did you manage to sell everything off?"
Ye Zi replied, "I happened to know a wealthy merchant, so I had him come straight to the mansion to collect them."
"You..." Yun Zheng's face darkened, and he turned to glare at the steward. "Why didn't you try to stop her?"
The steward looked aggrieved. "This was an order given by His Highness, this old servant dared not interfere!"
"..."
Yun Zheng looked at the two of them speechlessly, then waved his hand. "Fine, fine, sold is sold! Steward, have Gao He accompany you to the blacksmith's shop where Commander Du used to work, and buy that shop in Commander Du's name."
"A blacksmith's shop?" The steward was puzzled. "What does Your Highness want with a blacksmith's shop?"
"Just go buy it first and ask questions later," Yun Zheng waved his hand. "Also, keep all the people currently working there; I'll head over this afternoon, I have matters for them."
"Very well!" The steward agreed helplessly and immediately went to see to it.
Once the steward and Gao He had departed, Yun Zheng motioned for Ye Zi to follow him to the back courtyard.
"Are you out of your mind?"
As soon as they entered the back courtyard, Ye Zi glared at Yun Zheng. "At a time like this, you're buying a blacksmith's shop? And under someone else's name? Are you genuinely trying to seal your fate and confirm that you harbor treasonous intentions?"
"It's fine." Yun Zheng smiled faintly. "I've already spoken to Imperial Father about it!"
*Spoken to him?*
Ye Zi was slightly taken aback, then looked at Yun Zheng with undisguised admiration. "You really are insidious!"
She knew why Yun Zheng had instructed the steward and Gao He to go buy the blacksmith's shop.
He had deliberately used Du Guiyuan's name to purchase the shop, tricking the steward into believing he harbored treasonous intentions so that the steward would report this information to Emperor Wen's agents.
Next, it would all depend on how Gao He chose to act.
He was forcing Gao He to make a choice between him and Emperor Wen!
Yun Zheng chuckled and teased, "You acted your part quite well in front of the steward just now."
"Your Highness was no less convincing," Ye Zi giggled.
The two of them had actually planned this out long ago.
Selling off all the gifts would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Using the pretext that Ye Zi had misunderstood Yun Zheng's intentions to sell off the gifts made the whole affair appear far more natural.
Even if someone suspected that Ye Zi had deliberately sold them all off, they would only assume she was standing up for Shen Luoyan and intentionally making things difficult for Yun Zheng.
Yun Zheng smiled and sighed sincerely, "If only Imperial Father had betrothed you to me instead."
Compared to the fierce and haughty Shen Luoyan, he much preferred an intelligent and resourceful helpmeet like Ye Zi.
Hearing Yun Zheng's words, Ye Zi's pretty face instantly flushed, and she chided angrily, "Your Highness, do not speak nonsense. I have been a widow for years; if words like this get out, how am I to show my face?"
"I was merely speaking off the cuff." Yun Zheng smiled, tilting his head as he asked, "You've been a widow for years, life must have been quite difficult, actually. Have you ever thought of remarrying?"
Ye Zi's face grew even redder, and she retorted irritably, "If Your Highness has proper business, speak of it; if not, spare me your teasing, I am a widow."
"I'm truly not teasing you," Yun Zheng shook his head. "I heard that on the very day of your grand wedding with Luoyan's second brother, he was ordered off on a military campaign. For all these years, have you never..."
"Your Highness!"
Ye Zi cut Yun Zheng off, saying sternly, "I am a fourth-rank *gongren* officially conferred by the Emperor!"
Yun Zheng faltered slightly, instantly left speechless.
He had completely forgotten about that detail.
After the battle of Shuobei, three women in the Shen Residence had been granted official titles bestowed in Emperor Wen's own hand.
Madam Shen was a second-rank Lady of Honor, Wei Shuang was a third-rank Lady of Virtue, and Ye Zi was a fourth-rank *gongren*.
The Da Qian Dynasty did not strictly forbid widows from remarrying; some prefectures even encouraged widows to remarry.
However, women holding such conferred official titles were strictly prohibited from remarrying.
Any man daring to have a clandestine affair with a titled woman of this rank, if caught, would almost certainly face the death penalty.
*Sigh!*
Such a pretty widow, what a waste!
Pulling his thoughts together, Yun Zheng instructed Ye Zi: "Later on, I'll find an excuse to put you in charge of some of the household affairs. Keep a close eye on the people in the mansion and see who else might be suspicious!"
"I understand." Ye Zi nodded softly, then asked, "Are the people from Beihuan really going to assassinate you?"
"Most likely!" Yun Zheng nodded.
Ye Zi furrowed her brow, curiosity piqued. "What did you do to the people of Beihuan this time?"
Yun Zheng shrugged. "Nothing much, just publicly exposed the Beihuan Grand Preceptor's conspiracy..."
With that, Yun Zheng recounted what had transpired in the imperial court.
Hearing Yun Zheng's account, Ye Zi was left completely dumbfounded.
So many things had happened in the imperial court today?
And the tasks he had her carry out earlier had already started bearing fruit so quickly?
It even drove Emperor Wen to disregard imperial dignity and beat his own four older sons right there in public?
After a long while, Ye Zi finally managed to regain her composure, sighing deeply, "If you were sent to Shuobei, you might actually pull off a successful rebellion!"
"Naturally!"
Yun Zheng blinked. "If my rebellion succeeds, I'll definitely revoke your fourth-rank *gongren* title."
"..."
Ye Zi choked back a breath, unable to stop herself from giving him an annoyed glare. "If Your Highness has nothing else, I'll take my leave! If we stay together too long, others will start to suspect us!"
"It's fine." Yun Zheng smiled indifferently. "Even if they suspect anything, it'll just be them thinking we're having an illicit affair."
"You..."
Furious, Ye Zi glared fiercely at Yun Zheng, pulled open the door, and strode out.
Stepping out of the study, Ye Zi felt a mixture of exasperation and amusement.
She truly hadn't seen through him before.
This so-called good-for-nothing Sixth Prince not only harbored grand ambitions, but his audacity with women was by no means small either.
He hadn't even managed to consummate his marriage with Shen Luoyan yet, and already he dared to set his sights on her?
Insidious and cunning!
Despicable and shameless!
Chapter 35: Mind the Sixth Highness Doesn't Thrash You
After lunch, taking advantage of the steward being busy with chores, Gao He quietly pulled Yun Zheng aside.
"Your Highness, later on, if anyone asks, tell them you bought that blacksmith's shop to give to Commander Du."
Gao He glanced around cautiously before speaking earnestly to Yun Zheng.
"Why would I do that?" Yun Zheng feigned ignorance. "I clearly bought it for my own use."
"Your Highness!" Gao He grew anxious. "You bought a blacksmith's shop, yet registered it under Commander Du's name. If word of this reaches the Emperor's ears, His Highness will surely suspect you harbor treasonous intentions!"
"Impossible." Yun Zheng shook his head with a smile. "Imperial Father would never believe such nonsense; how could I possibly commit treason?"
"Your Highness! The imperial mind is unfathomable!" Gao He urged earnestly.
"Is that so?"
The corner of Yun Zheng's mouth curled up slightly, and he finally asked, "You're one of the people planted by Imperial Father to monitor me, aren't you?"
Hearing Yun Zheng's words, Gao He's eyelids twitched violently.
When he recovered his senses, Gao He hurriedly shook his head in denial.
"Not just you, the steward as well, right?"
The smile on Yun Zheng's face was exceptionally brilliant. "Actually, the embezzlement of the pension funds wasn't reported to Imperial Father by me. I only mentioned it to the Third Prince, yet the Third Prince kept it quiet and failed to report it!"
"Today in the imperial court, Imperial Father flew into a rage over this very matter and punished the Third Prince by making him kneel in the Imperial Ancestral Temple for three days!"
"Tell me, since neither the Third Prince nor I spoke of this to Imperial Father, how did Imperial Father find out?"
Hearing Yun Zheng's words, Gao He's expression changed abruptly.
Yun Zheng quietly watched Gao He, then continued, "I'm very glad you were able to tell me these things! You're a smart man, you can take your time to think it over before giving me your answer."
With that, Yun Zheng patted Gao He on the shoulder and walked away on his own.
Watching Yun Zheng's departing figure, Gao He was suddenly struck by a sense of heart-pounding dread.
He abruptly realized that the matter of the blacksmith's shop was likely Yun Zheng testing both him and the steward.
This Sixth Prince possessed a meticulousness of thought far exceeding their imagination.
Afterward, Yun Zheng led Du Guiyuan and the others straight to the blacksmith's shop.
"Your Highness, what are you buying this blacksmith's shop for?"
Du Guiyuan was thoroughly baffled.
"Buying a blacksmith's shop, of course, is for forging iron!"
Yun Zheng smiled. "I read about a method for forging high-strength steel in an ancient text, and I want to see if we can replicate it."
"Ah?"
The three of them froze on the spot.
He really bought a blacksmith's shop just to forge iron?
Upon arriving at the workshop, Yun Zheng directly explained the forging methods to the blacksmiths. He remembered there were a few methods capable of producing Damascus steel.
However, lacking modern machinery, crucible Damascus was probably unrealistic.
Pattern-welded or twisted Damascus should be somewhat more reliable.
And the most reliable among them was twisted Damascus.
After explaining the method to them, Yun Zheng had the blacksmiths begin attempting to forge twisted Damascus steel.
With his scrawny frame, he naturally couldn't do the physical work himself, so he could only stand to the side and give directions.
Without modern machinery, handling this stuff was indeed troublesome; almost every step encountered difficulties, and Yun Zheng stayed right by their sides to help brainstorm solutions.
After struggling until dark, they finally managed to produce a single billet of fused steel.
However, there was still plenty of subsequent work to be done.
Yun Zheng had wanted to continue, but someone from the mansion arrived with a message: Zhang Huai was visiting.
*Zhang Huai?*
Yun Zheng was suspicious. What was this old codger running over here for now?
Never mind, since Zhang Huai had already come, there was no way he could just leave him hanging there.
Although Zhang Huai didn't hold much real political power, his prestige was simply too high!
What's more, this old man was Emperor Wen's former teacher.
"Alright, all of you head back to rest, we'll continue first thing tomorrow morning!"
After giving instructions to the blacksmiths, Yun Zheng led his men back.
Upon returning to the mansion, he saw Zhang Huai studying something intently.
The household servants were hovering nearby, not daring to disturb him.
"Greetings, Grand Secretary Zhang."
Yun Zheng stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Sixth Highness, you're finally back!"
Zhang Huai hurried to his feet, a look of profound distress on his face. "After this old man returned today, I kept pondering the algorithm Your Highness mentioned, but no matter how I calculated, it didn't add up. It's driven me to the point of losing my appetite for food and tea; please, help this old man see where the mistake lies..."
"..."
Yun Zheng was speechless, looking at Zhang Huai with a mix of a smile and tears.
This old man really was a hardcore academic pedant!
Just a math problem like that and he's already losing his appetite?
"How about this, let's head to the study!"
Yun Zheng smiled. "By the time we finish calculating, it should be about time for dinner."
"So fast?" Zhang Huai was surprised.
"It was never difficult to begin with." Yun Zheng smiled.
"Good, good, then let's hurry to the study!"
Delighted, Zhang Huai eagerly pulled Yun Zheng toward the study, as if afraid Yun Zheng would run away.
Seeing this, Yun Zheng couldn't help a secret chuckle.
If this old man were placed in the modern era, he'd probably be a professor single-mindedly devoted to academia.
The old man wasn't a bad person, and his scholarship was profound, he was just a bit rigid and old-fashioned.
He was also one of the core figures of the peace faction.
Arriving at the study, Yun Zheng began teaching Zhang Huai how to calculate.
The core difficulty was nothing more than multiplication tables and carrying over digits.
Fortunately, although the old man was pedantic, he certainly had a knack for scholarly research. Within two quarters of an hour, he grasped both core concepts.
Yun Zheng wrote out the multiplication table for multiplying by two on the side and told the old man to calculate it himself.
He stood by to watch, pointing out any calculation errors as they arose.
Just as Zhang Huai was calculating with intense concentration, a sudden commotion broke out outside.
Yun Zheng furrowed his brow slightly.
Who the hell was this?
Daring to cause trouble at his Sixth Prince's Mansion? Could it be the Third Prince and his crowd?
Just as Yun Zheng was about to head outside to take a look, rapid footsteps sounded from the exterior.
*Bang!*
Immediately afterward, the study door was kicked open.
Shen Luoyan stood in the doorway with a face full of fury, glaring daggers at Yun Zheng, her eyes spitting fire.
Shen Luoyan was furious.
She had just heard that rumors were spreading in the city claiming Yun Zheng was going to Shuobei to rebel.
Upon hearing this news, she rushed over in a panic to speak with Yun Zheng.
As soon as she stepped through the gate, she heard that Yun Zheng had bought a blacksmith's shop.
Normally, that wouldn't matter.
But right now, combining those rumors with the purchase of a blacksmith's shop, it was entirely possible he would be slapped with charges of treason!
For all she knew, Emperor Wen might even think the Shen Residence was instigating him to rebel!
This was practically shoving the Shen Residence straight into a pit of fire!
Looking at the furious Shen Luoyan, Yun Zheng was rendered utterly speechless.
Good grief!
Had this chick taken the wrong medicine?
At that moment, the steward hurried up followed by Gao He and the others, looking panic-stricken. "Your Highness, Grand Secretary Zhang, this... this old servant truly couldn't stop Princess Consort Sixth..."
"Alright, you guys step down first!"
Yun Zheng waved his hand, then fixed his gaze on Shen Luoyan, asking in puzzlement, "What are you playing at?"
"What am I playing at? How do you have the nerve to ask me what I'm playing at?"
Fuming with rage, Shen Luoyan stalked up to Yun Zheng, roaring murderously: "Do you know that people all over the city are spreading rumors that you're going to Shuobei to rebel?"
"At a time like this, you go and buy a blacksmith's shop to forge weapons?"
"Are you determined to make sure the rumors of your treason are set in stone before you're satisfied?"
"If you want to die, don't drag the Shen Residence down with you!"
Disregarding the fact that Zhang Huai was still present, Shen Luoyan let loose a torrent of roars at Yun Zheng.
Coming back to his senses, Zhang Huai hurriedly waved his hands. "Princess Consort Sixth, you mustn't talk nonsense! Mind the Sixth Highness doesn't thrash you!"
"He'll thrash me?" Shen Luoyan was incensed. "Let him try thrashing me!"
"Princess Consort Sixth, this old man is doing this for your own good!"
Zhang Huai puffed out his eyes and said solemnly, "During today's morning court session, His Majesty explicitly told the Sixth Highness in front of all civil and military officials that aside from His Majesty himself, anyone who dares accuse the Sixth Highness of treason is to be thrashed on the spot by the Sixth Highness. If anyone refuses to accept it, they can take it up with His Majesty..."
Chapter 36: Gao He's Allegiance
Shen Luoyan froze.
What on earth?
The Emperor personally gave him permission—aside from the Emperor himself, anyone who accuses him of treason can be beaten?
What kind of situation was this?
Before Shen Luoyan could react, Zhang Huai added with a chuckle, "As for the blacksmith's shop, His Highness already reported it to His Majesty during today's morning court. Princess Consort Sixth, you can stop scaring yourself..."
Ah?
Shen Luoyan was stunned.
He even reported this matter to his Imperial Father?
In other words, she really had been overthinking it?
"Grand Secretary Zhang, you're not lying to me, are you?"
Shen Luoyan looked at Zhang Huai suspiciously.
"What kind of talk is that!"
Zhang Huai looked as though he had been deeply insulted. "This old man has lived an upright life, when have I ever spoken a falsehood? This matter is known to all officials in the court, Princess Consort Sixth can simply ask around and find out."
"I..."
Shen Luoyan's momentum instantly deflated. "It's not that I don't believe Grand Secretary Zhang, it's just that I thought..."
"Fine, fine!" Yun Zheng waved his hand. "Grand Secretary Zhang, ignore her for now. You've already calculated up to the twentieth day, don't let her distract you, let's keep going!"
Coming back to his senses, Zhang Huai nodded eagerly. "Right, right! Let's not delay our proper business!"
With that, Zhang Huai immediately lowered his head and resumed calculating.
Shen Luoyan stared blankly at Zhang Huai and Yun Zheng.
What were these two doing?
How come it felt like Zhang Huai was hanging on Yun Zheng's every word?
Shouldn't it be the other way around?
"What are you staring at?"
With a darkened expression, Yun Zheng shot a glare at Shen Luoyan, pointing toward the study door. "Go fix that door for me right now!"
Having said that, Yun Zheng went back to helping Zhang Huai correct his mistakes.
This chick!
Utterly reckless!
Her brains must have been beaten completely mushy from doing martial arts!
Sigh!
Sister-in-law is so much better!
At that moment, Yun Zheng couldn't help sighing from the bottom of his heart.
Shen Luoyan automatically filtered out the comment about fixing the door, curiously edging closer to see what on earth these two were researching.
Gazing at the strange numbers Zhang Huai was writing down, she was filled with curiosity.
She originally wanted to ask, but seeing how utterly absorbed Zhang Huai was, she didn't have the heart to interrupt.
"Here's a mistake. Two eights are sixteen, you carried one over, so you should have added it to the preceding digit."
"Ah, right, right, this old man was careless and forgot to add it..."
"You forgot to carry the digit over here again..."
Next, Yun Zheng patiently pointed out corrections for Zhang Huai.
Zhang Huai humbly accepted Yun Zheng's corrections.
Shen Luoyan watched from the side, completely dazed.
What was going on here?
It looked like Yun Zheng was actually teaching Zhang Huai?
Zhang Huai was the Grand Academician of the Wenhua Pavilion!
Even Emperor Wen had once taken Zhang Huai as his teacher!
And he needed Yun Zheng to teach him scholarship?
After fussing for a while longer, Zhang Huai finally calculated the exact amount of grain needed on the thirtieth day!
Not a single digit off from what Yun Zheng had stated!
Looking at that string of numbers, Zhang Huai was shocked to his core.
Just by doubling it like this, step by step, in a mere thirty days, such a terrifying number had been reached?
Even though he had known the result in advance, Zhang Huai was still deeply shaken.
After a long while, Zhang Huai smoothed his sleeves and bowed respectfully to Yun Zheng, "The Sixth Highness possesses boundless talent, this old man is utterly awed! If not for you, I would have foolishly thought it at most five million, nearly plunging Da Qian into irredeemable ruin..."
"Grand Secretary flatters me."
Yun Zheng hurriedly supported Zhang Huai. "What the Grand Secretary studies is the Great Way; the little tricks I've learned are nothing more than clever opportunism..."
"Not at all, not at all!"
Zhang Huai waved his hands repeatedly. "These numbers and calculation methods are simple and easy to understand, immensely beneficial for accounting and counting. This method is entirely worthy of being written down as a formal treatise..."
Listening to Zhang Huai, Shen Luoyan wore a look of utter bewilderment.
Stuff that looked like ghost talismans, and he wanted to write a book about it?
At that moment, Xin Sheng arrived to announce that dinner had been prepared and respectfully invited them to partake.