The Princess Smells So Good (GL) - Chapter 54

After Wang Youzhi left, in just a few days, Haizhou City returned to its previous state.

Manager Jin had realized that his only hope now was to align himself with Wei Zhao. Together, they could take down Yu Jinye and secure long-lasting wealth and status. As a merchant, wealth and peace were what he had sought for many years. Suddenly facing a major upheaval was deeply unsettling for him.

However, Manager Jin understood the origins of Duobao Pavilion even more clearly. If one day the officials and the emperor were to break their ties, Duobao Pavilion would have no choice but to side with the emperor. After years of comfort and affluence, he had almost forgotten this. Now, thinking about it again, he felt a cold sweat on his forehead.

Wei Zhao, on the other hand, didn’t care about Manager Jin’s thoughts. But, after years of cultivating power in Haizhou City, Manager Jin had accumulated a lot.

“The Governor went back and immediately lifted the public ban, but he is still secretly investigating and has arrested many people. A few days ago, he visited Yu Jinye, but it seems it didn’t end well,” Manager Jin said softly.

Wei Zhao squinted. “You don’t know what they talked about? What exactly has Duobao Pavilion been doing in Haizhou all these years?”

Duobao Pavilion was originally set up by people from the inner court. On the surface, it was a wealth powerhouse, but internally it was all about intelligence. During Wei Nanfeng’s time, it was rumored that secret meetings were held in hidden rooms, and by the end of the night, portraits of those involved, their expressions, and what they had said were all accurately presented. This caused great dissatisfaction among many ministers. However, for the royal family, such power was too hard to relinquish.

In the end, the emperor made a concession, establishing Duobao Pavilion as a cover, and its operations shifted from being open to underground activities. Over time, peace settled, the emperor’s rule became firm, and the ministers united. The Great Zhou expanded at an incredible pace, becoming the true center of the world. Duobao Pavilion gradually shifted from an intelligence network to a money-making enterprise.

Now, with these two comparisons, Wei Zhao thought…

“Go back and tell the emperor to retire Manager Jin. Let him live out his days in peace.”

Manager Jin didn’t understand why, but he shivered at the thought. He pondered briefly before saying, “For now, the Wei Guard hasn’t arrived. Your Highness should be cautious in your actions.” He was worried that Wei Zhao might act impulsively, so he quickly added, “Since the Wei Guard knows you are here, they’ll likely arrive by nightfall. In such a moment, impulsiveness is dangerous.”

Wei Zhao glanced at Manager Jin and smiled faintly. “Of course, I am being cautious. Even my personal slave has gone out to do work and expose himself. Isn’t that cautious enough?”

Manager Jin wondered whether Wei Zhao was blaming him or the slave.

Manager Jin wasn’t particularly impressed with Fa Yilian. To him, she seemed to be like Wei Zhao’s shadow; wherever Wei Zhao was, Fa Yilian was sure to follow. Such people weren’t uncommon in wealthy families. They usually earned the trust of the master and were the ones to speak and act on behalf of the master. There were many matters the master could not do or say, but the servants, without pride or status, could carry them out.

However, ordinary servants had a chance to buy their freedom if they saved up enough money. Slaves, on the other hand, were bound for life. They were often from foreign lands, looked different from others, and there were even official systems for reporting runaway slaves. Some people, lacking funds, would falsely accuse ordinary foreigners of being slaves. If the authorities protected them and they were caught, they would be branded and subjected to endless suffering. Therefore, ordinary families would never choose a slave to be their representative, especially not in the royal family.

So, while Fa Yilian was a trusted ally of Wei Zhao, Manager Jin and others didn’t consider her to be a decision-maker. In fact, Manager Jin held a certain amount of disdain for her, though he didn’t show it.

“Your Highness, a letter has arrived,” A Zong rushed in, breathing heavily.

She was quick, light as a bird. Manager Jin stepped aside hurriedly. He inwardly sneered at the lack of manners but Wei Zhao didn’t mind; since her downfall, she had cared little about such things.

Wei Zhao took the letter, read its contents, and her face softened slightly, a smile appearing. “So you remembered to write.”

The letter was meant for A Zong, and only someone with her skills could ensure it wasn’t stolen. Wei Zhao glanced briefly at it, her expression becoming serious. The letter was concise, a report of what had happened, written in a quiet, impassive manner. At the end, she noticed an unrelated line: “From the east of the Duke, the head is like a flying weed.”

This was a poem expressing a wife’s longing for her distant husband.

Wei Zhao smiled lightly. “Seems like the writing is a bit clumsy.” She folded the letter and tucked it into her chest, feeling her heart thumping. It was warm, almost like a fluttering joy.

Luckily, no one else could hear the rapid beat of her heart.

A Zong blinked, confused, then glanced at Wei Zhao. Seeing that she didn’t seem injured, she turned her gaze away without a word.

Wei Zhao, using this moment, looked at Manager Jin and asked, “How many warships do you have?”

Manager Jin was taken aback, then sighed, “Haizhou has official ships for protection…”

“Even merchants need bodyguards. After all these years in Haizhou, you don’t have a single guard ship?” Wei Zhao said, her tone calm but pointed.

Manager Jin quickly responded, “We do have some, but they aren’t used much. If Your Highness intends to use them to deal with pirates…”

“Exactly,” Wei Zhao nodded. “I’m going to deal with them. Deal with the Black Flag.”

Manager Jin froze, falling to the ground in shock. His precious, hard-earned force might be wasted by this impulsive prince. He shuddered, immediately saying, “Your Highness, Your Highness, pirates are fierce, and the Wei Guard isn’t here yet. We need all our resources, we can’t just waste them.”

“The Black Flag kills countless people. They are the ones who stop the crying of the children in Haizhou City. In the vast seas, no one has yet discovered their lair. In ancient times, when armies attacked the grasslands, they always came back with nothing, because the barbarians were cunning, always moving with the grass and water. The sea is even vaster than the grasslands,” Wei Zhao said. “So think carefully, Your Highness.”

Wei Zhao glanced at Manager Jin’s anxious face, then lowered her head and looked at the letter in her hand. She suddenly smiled. “You’re right. Then, let’s bring Wang Youzhi into this as well.”

Manager Jin’s eyes filled with tears, his heart sinking. Wang Youzhi? Would he agree to this? Sending soldiers to the sea like this?

Wei Zhao waved her hand dismissively. “Go, tell him to come. But don’t worry about your wealth. Figure out how to get my people here faster.”

Judith and the others were watching the distance. Behind them, many sailors knelt. Fa Yilian sat in a large chair, her red hair falling to obscure her face, making her look slightly tired. But as Judith approached, Fa Yilian’s eyes shot up, gleaming with sharpness like a hawk preparing to strike its prey.

“Are we there yet?” Fa Yilian asked.

“Should be soon,” Judith replied. “We avoided three patrol ships.”

Fa Yilian nodded. “It looks like this is their place.”

They were now at a small fishing village near Haizhou City, surrounded by mountains on three sides, and facing the sea, a natural fortress. It wasn’t exactly a small village, as according to the sailors who had been tortured, the entire village was made up of pirates. They fished for a living but also plundered passing ships, killing those who resisted and selling captured goods.

Judith gestured. “They have a lot of weapons. How should we attack?”

Fa Yilian paused for a moment before answering. “We’ll soon have reinforcements.”

She couldn’t help but think of that person, the one who made her feel both love and hate. That person knew her as well as she knew herself. The contents of the letter were as expected—more like a synchronized dance, performed without words but in perfect harmony, each step matching the other.

The letter wasn’t long and was to the point, but it held a certain weight. Fa Yilian read it slowly, her fingers tracing the inked characters, until she reached the final line: “The storm is coming, be careful.”

Fa Yilian frowned. She thought for a long time before turning to Judith and asking, “What do you think of ‘The storm is coming’?”

“You people…” Judith almost said “You people of the Great Zhou,” but stopped herself, not wanting to offend. She quickly changed her words, “I don’t understand what you all say. What about it? ‘The storm is coming’… then?”

Fa Yilian paused, then began to laugh. “The storm is coming, the rooster crowing doesn’t stop. If I see the gentleman, why wouldn’t I be happy? Why wouldn’t I be happy…” Fa Yilian suddenly stopped and burst into laughter.

Judith stayed silent for a moment, shaking her head. She didn’t want to deal with Fa Yilian anymore. She just wanted to knock some sense into that person’s head and hope Fa Yilian didn’t show up in front of her again.

“After so many years of searching… what was it all for?” Judith pressed her hands to her head.

On a moonless, stormy night, a small boat infiltrated the supply convoy, delivering a secret letter to Fa Yilian.

What Judith didn’t expect was that the so-called reinforcements were none other than a fully armed squad of the Great Zhou’s royal guards.

Author’s Note:
Wei Zhao: No one knows what I’m thinking!

A Zong: ??? Your Highness, your heart is beating so fast!

Wei Zhao: …