The Seventeenth Day of Looking for a Wife

Lu Ling said, “It’s actually more than that. If we reopen the seas, maybe even the Maritime Bureau could be revived, and trade between foreign states could be linked up again.”

As she spoke, she spread her hands with complete confidence. “At the very least, annual capital inflow would be eighteen million.”

That was still her conservative estimate.

When Shen Wanxin heard that number, she couldn’t help sitting down beside Lu Ling, and the whole of her fell silent.

She had never thought that her imperial father had banned sea trade because he wanted to stop sea bandits and court officials from colluding with foreign lands to line their own pockets, so he had simply sealed it off rather than let anyone profit from it.

Now it seemed they really did have to learn from Yu taming the floods.

Even while guarding against internal trouble, one still had to be reasonable.

Since the southeastern prefecture bordered the sea and the profits from sea transport were so enormous, why couldn’t the Imperial Court get involved?

Were sea bandits supposed to vanish just because people were afraid of them?

Wouldn’t it be better for the court to use the money it earned to set up a Maritime Bureau and protect the coast?

The maintenance costs would be high, but the profits were just as obvious.

At the very least, annual revenue would be twenty million. And the court’s most basic expenses needed at least ten million; as long as the southeastern prefecture was managed well and didn’t run at a loss, it would be enough to become a force that could drive the court forward.

Then there would be no need to fear the other prefectures running short of money or the national treasury being empty.

“Miss Lu, Miss Lu, what am I supposed to say to you?” Shen Wanxin sighed emotionally. She looked up at Lu Ling, her gaze unusually unsettled. “You’re truly a genius at business!”

Being praised by such a beauty, Lu Ling was indeed happy.

But then she came back to herself. Why had she talked so much today?

Never mind.

At least it felt good to say what she was thinking out loud and have someone actually listen.

Even if the Imperial Court never put these economic reforms into practice.

What she hadn’t expected was that her ideas would soon begin to come true.

Before long, every dock was flooded with goods.

The official ships that had originally been patrolling the islands actually sent someone over on their own initiative to the Lu family dock, asking Lu Ling and Lu Tianxiang to come in person and receive the court’s envoy.

Lu Tianxiang found Lu Ling at once.

She was a little surprised. “Mother knows someone in the Maritime Bureau?”

“No.” Lu Tianxiang shook her head. “These years, ever since the Maritime Bureau was disbanded, everyone basically went their separate ways.”

“They went their separate ways, but maybe some of them are still in official service,” Lu Ling guessed.

Lu Tianxiang wasn’t as optimistic as Lu Ling.

She sighed. “I’ve already heard about the one million two hundred thirty thousand taels in fines. The court probably won’t let this debt go.”

“You deliberately used a million taels to lure the court’s people over; aren’t you afraid they’ll go back on their word like Ye Shengzong?”

Lu Ling said, “Mother, I’m not worried about that.”

“I’m more worried that Haicheng’s economy will collapse. At least I can leave some seeds behind here. If the court can send capable people, then what’s wrong with giving them the credit?”

The moment she said that, Lu Tianxiang’s face filled with relief.

She knew very well that her daughter was small and delicate, but just like her, she had a heart for her country.

“But I’d still rather see Haicheng’s economy flourish through your hands,” Lu Tianxiang said. After all, she was Lu Ling’s mother; she had already guessed what her daughter intended to do.

Lu Ling said, “No. I plan to leave Da Chong.”

“Mother, once you’ve settled the men from the escort bureau, come to Gao Luo.”

“There are plenty of familiar faces in Siam as well. You won’t be lonely.”

Lu Tianxiang seemed to want to say something, but in the end she still did not try to persuade her again.

Once her daughter made up her mind, even she couldn’t stop her.

“If only you had been born a daughter, how wonderful that would have been. At the very least... your talent wouldn’t be buried.”

Lu Ling countered, “No. If this country didn’t shut talented people out of the system just because of their gender, then whether male or female, anyone who could serve the country would be properly used.”

“But right now, I can’t feel any hope from this country.”

“His Majesty is also a woman,” Lu Tianxiang tried to argue. But after saying it, even she felt the contradiction.

In the end, it was still a problem with the system.

Her daughter knew perfectly well that the system could not be changed easily; she could only leave, go overseas, and carve out her own world.

“Being a sea king is better than spending every day embroidering on land.” Though with Lu Ling’s skills, even embroidery could have become a career.

But in the end, it would still only ever be an individual one.

“If you achieve much, you should help the world; but very few can do that. Through the ages, no one has ever truly been free of circumstances. I’m already very well off now.” Lu Ling stood and took her mother’s hand.

“Mother, this is the last thing I’ll do for the Imperial Court.”

“Let’s go.”

“Alright.” Lu Tianxiang lifted a hand and touched her face with aching tenderness.

In the shadows, Shen Wanxin watched Lu Ling’s figure, her expression complicated.

So she had already planned to leave Da Chong.

She didn’t even want to stay in the Central Plains anymore.

Shen Wanxin couldn’t help letting out a faint, bitter smile. “Am I really so disappointing to you?”

“Can’t you give me a little more time?”

But she knew very well that in the month since she had met Lu Ling, Lu Ling had already been extraordinarily patient.

Perhaps, without her knowing it, Lu Ling had already waited a long time.

And now this gifted strategist was about to leave Da Chong.

Was that not, in itself, a sign of Da Chong’s declining fortune?

“Is there any way to keep her?” Shen Wanxin made up her mind in secret.

At the same time, the dock was already so busy that people could hardly find room to stand.

The laborers were all cheerfully helping the Lu family move cargo, and they even took the initiative to lower their wages in gratitude to Lu Ling.

But Steward Tao told them to just move more goods; the pay could not be reduced, since that broke the rules.

Still, he wasn’t taking advantage of the laborers either; he knew the young miss would never allow it. So at noon, all the extra cargo the laborers had moved was rewarded with side dishes.

They ate braised pork.

It had even been specially made from two pigs slaughtered at a nearby farm for the meal.

The laborers didn’t get to eat meat all that often over the course of a year; today, they finally ate to their hearts’ content.

Some even secretly packed some up to take home for their families to taste.

The braised pork had been made with plenty of oil and sugar. Those were all high-calorie foods, perfect for people doing strenuous work.

By the time the people from the Maritime Bureau arrived at the dock, it happened to be the laborers’ mealtime.

The sailors were practically drooling with envy.

Just then, a carriage slowly rolled up to the dock.

Someone suddenly shouted, “The young miss is here!”

In an instant, heads bobbed up and down as people rushed over with their bowls in hand to welcome Lu Ling.

Instead, Lu Ling went around them and headed straight for the official ship.

The laborers didn’t see her and all looked curiously toward the ship.

Even Steward Tao couldn’t help worrying that the young miss might run into danger once she boarded.

The escort soldiers from Water Manor and a few men skilled in fighting had already prepared their weapons, such as nets and explosive pellets. If anything happened on the official ship, they would fight the government people to the end.

They absolutely could not let the young miss suffer even the slightest harm.

The sailors on the official ship naturally noticed this and hurried inside to report to the officer in the cabin. “Commander, the workers in Haicheng really aren’t simple!”

“Their equipment is excellent; they seem ready to block us at any moment.”

Unexpectedly, the man called Commander laughed heartily. “That only proves our young miss is still as beloved as ever.”

“If she hadn’t treated the workers well, how could she have earned their support?”

Hearing that the commander was actually in favor of this, the sailor realized that Miss Lu was perhaps no ordinary merchant, but an important guest.

He immediately passed the word along.

The moment Lu Ling boarded the ship, she instinctively looked over the sailors. Their clothes and posture were fairly neat.

They didn’t seem like a bunch of amateurs, or some riffraff who’d never received proper training.

What she hated most were useless drifters occupying positions they didn’t deserve.

Especially the ones who were only there because of connections.

By the time Lu Tianxiang came aboard, she had barely even made out anyone’s face.

Then a black figure suddenly dropped to one knee. “Luyao pays respects to the young miss!”

That familiar voice made Lu Tianxiang freeze for a moment. She looked at the woman in the Maritime Bureau’s official robe in disbelief.

Her little sister; her former personal maid.

Later, Lu Tianxiang had given her a sum of money so she could make a living at sea.

As long as she didn’t burn, kill, rob, or bully others, Lu Tianxiang would never blame her.

And after Ling’er was born, after Luyao had come to celebrate the child’s hundredth day, she had never appeared again.

Lu Tianxiang had once been deeply heartbroken over that.

Because she knew what Luyao felt for her.

But in the end, she still chose to fulfill her duty, stay in the escort bureau, marry someone of decent character, and inherit everything her parents had left her in Haicheng.

Lu Ling was even more surprised.

She looked at the middle-aged woman kneeling on the ground. Her official robe was blue, embroidered with cloud-and-sea wave patterns; she should have the rank of a fifth-rank official.

And although the Maritime Bureau’s official rank was not high, its actual power was immense.

“Mother, this is...” Lu Ling couldn’t help asking.

Unexpectedly, the woman suddenly looked up and swept her gaze over her. Seeing how similar her brows and eyes were to her mother’s, she was instantly stunned. “You’re Ling’er?”

“You’ve grown so big?”

“You look just like your mother!” Her tone even carried a trace of nostalgia.

Lu Tianxiang suppressed her emotions and helped Luyao up. “Commander Lu, don’t flatter me. I’m no longer the young miss of the escort bureau; I’m just the head of a small escort company now.”

“If there hadn’t been a boss to lead us, I wouldn’t be here today,” Luyao said as she stood.

She invited the two of them inside to catch up.

Although throughout the whole process it was really just Luyao and Lu Tianxiang talking.

Lu Ling strangely sensed that this Aunt Lu’s gaze toward her mother wasn’t quite right.

Her mother’s gaze was a little off too.

Still, she didn’t pry.

Until Luyao started talking about her. “From now on, you can call me Aunt Lu!”

It was the first time Lu Ling had ever dealt with an official, and not even one related to her father.

“Aunt Lu.”

Seeing how listless she sounded, Lu Tianxiang couldn’t help saying, “Luyao has long had the title of Sea Queen on the ocean; she’s been famous in the Kingdom of India for ages. You just didn’t know it.”

“Who would have thought you’d actually be trusted by the court.”

Lu Ling was very surprised after hearing that. “Lu Fei?”

A real-life Sea King!

“You child, where on earth did your thoughts wander off to now?” Lu Tianxiang said helplessly.

“Luyao, are you here this time to take over the prefectural magistrate’s control over water transport in Zhangzhou Prefecture?”

Luyao nodded solemnly and said only, “Da Chong’s sky is going to change.”

“A year ago, I was appointed deputy commander. It was personally conferred by the Fourth Princess, who was then serving as regent.”

Wasn’t that the current empress?

Lu Ling’s eyes lit up; she was even a little eager.

Could it be that the empress wasn’t a foolish ruler?

Far away at the Lu residence, Shen Wanxin let out a tiny sneeze.

Luyao recounted all the changes the Imperial Court had undergone in recent years. Though slow, they were indeed moving forward with real force.

As for the Ye family’s downfall in Haicheng, that had also been the court’s intention.

Luyao also revealed, in particular, that the court intended to support the Lu family.

The instant she heard that, Lu Ling took out the plan she had already prepared and handed it to Luyao without hesitation.

She first explained her plans for Haicheng.

She also said there was no need to specially support any one person; as long as the court could appoint a commercial official here, the tax revenue would basically be no problem.

As for overseas business, the Lu family would help.

But the Lu family would absolutely not claim the credit.

Luyao was a little stunned. She hadn’t expected this niece of hers to have already thought so far ahead.

Even the plan itself was something she could understand.

It was just that she didn’t know what the people above would think. Even if she agreed, it wasn’t something she could decide.

“I’ll draft a memorial and submit it,” Luyao could only say, doing her best to satisfy this niece she was meeting for the first time.

“Thank you!” Lu Ling was inexplicably a little excited.

Even if the court didn’t agree, after she set sail in the future, she could still use this connection with Luyao to continue doing business in Haicheng.

At the very least, it would be smoother than before.

After putting the plan aside, she found an excuse to leave the ship.

Because she could tell her mother wanted to catch up with her little sister.

She might as well let the two of them talk properly.

She took the initiative to leave the dock and asked Steward Tao who the commander was.

Steward Tao was extremely surprised, but he quickly relaxed. He told the others to get back to work.

No need to keep watching anymore.

The moment Lu Ling got off the ship, she found Shen Wanxin already standing in front of her.

“Why did you come out? It’s pretty cold with the wind outside.” She still worried about her health.

But Shen Wanxin instead asked, “Did the people from the Maritime Bureau make things difficult for you?”

“No.” Lu Ling immediately took her hand and helped her into the carriage, afraid the wind would chill her and make her catch cold.

Her body still needed rest.

It was fortunate she hadn’t had another bout of poisoning lately, or she wouldn’t even know where to find He Chou.

He Chou hadn’t sent any word in a month.

“I feel like business in Haicheng will open up in the future; the matter of the sea ban won’t be brought up like before,” Lu Ling said, sounding a little happy.

Seeing that, Shen Wanxin’s lips curved slightly. “That’s good. Want to have a drink tonight to celebrate?”

“Of course!” Lu Ling naturally wanted to have a proper drink.

Recently, because of the official ship, she hadn’t been as carefree as before.

Having someone to share the moment with now was just right.

Only today, Shen Wanxin seemed to be in a very good mood too.

And she looked even more beautiful than before.

It made Lu Ling’s heart pound wildly.

That night, they returned to Yunshui Villa to celebrate.

Lu Ling drank with her for a while, only letting her use tea instead of wine. That made Shen Wanxin both amused and helpless, though she still kept her company.

Lu Ling drank and drank; before long, the alcohol hit too hard and she collapsed into Shen Wanxin’s arms.

Shen Wanxin caught her. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Shen Wanxin, y-you caught me so perfectly.” Lu Ling couldn’t help burying her face in her chest.

Breathing in that clean, gentle scent.

Even drunk, Lu Ling still retained a sliver of clarity.

She realized she might have developed feelings for Shen Wanxin; more than that, she might have fallen for her.

And Shen Wanxin said, “Why do you hate the Imperial Court... especially His Majesty?”

Only when Lu Ling was drunk did she dare ask this.

In truth, lately she had been very concerned about how Lu Ling saw her.

She hoped it wasn’t too late to win back the heart that had already been disappointed in her.

She even vaguely felt that she did not want Lu Ling to leave her.

Though this feeling was still unclear; whether it came from cherishing talent, or something else, she couldn’t yet say.

Maybe only time would tell.

Only, that time was not very far away.

Lu Ling lifted her head and, with her face tilted up, kissed Shen Wanxin’s cheek. “After a hundred days, I’ll return your indenture contract to you and give you another sum of money. You can go wherever you want, alright?”

Shen Wanxin looked at her with complicated eyes. “Why after a hundred days?”

Lu Ling said, “I can’t tell you. And I can’t say I don’t bear to let you go, either, but I still have to set you free.”

“Shen Wanxin, after you leave, wherever you are, if you think of me, write to me, alright?”

“Let me know you’re still alive; let me have something to hope for.”

“Why? You don’t plan to stay by my side?” Shen Wanxin asked in confusion.

Lu Ling couldn’t help snorting. “You’re so stupid. What are we, exactly, that I’d need to stay by your side? You might even get married someday; do you really think we could stay together forever?”

“Why not?” Shen Wanxin had no intention of marrying at all.

She would not allow another child like her imperial uncle’s to be born.

Besides, she already had a chosen heir: her sister’s daughter.

“You don’t understand.” Lu Ling’s expression turned a little wistful.

Maybe only alcohol could make her lower her guard just a little.

“Woman and woman; how could you possibly understand?” Lu Ling shook her head drunkenly. “It’ll scare you.”

As soon as she said that, she fell into Shen Wanxin’s arms and fell asleep.

No matter how much Shen Wanxin tried to make sense of it, she was smart enough to quickly piece it together: during this time she had spent with Lu Ling, just how good Lu Ling had been to her.

So good, in fact, that it made her suspicious.

Why hadn’t she told her she’d been poisoned?

And why hadn’t she told her that she had already sent a physician to look for the antidote?

Why, in the end, had she hidden the fact that she had only one hundred days left to live?

Why had she forced her to take medicine and played the villain?

“Actually, the one who doesn’t understand is you.” Shen Wanxin gently traced the corner of her brow.

She had seen far too many such things between women.

There were countless examples of consorts in the harem being together.