The office in the Imperial City felt stuffy at noon.
The door was pushed open, and a few officials hurried in, bringing with them a gust of fresh air that disrupted the stagnant atmosphere. Huang Cheng, who seemed to be dozing at the desk, opened his eyes.
"Sir, the Duke of Chengguo's military achievement petitions have arrived," they said.
Huang Cheng looked at the thick stack of documents handed to him and chuckled.
"The Duke of Chengguo has quite the appetite, doesn't he? Writing so many memorials—how much credit does he want to claim?" he remarked.
"This is just a portion," one of the officials said, his expression equally displeased. "There's more at the Minister of War's office."
Huang Cheng smiled but said nothing. He reached out and began flipping through the documents.
"So, the Qingshan Army has officially formed, huh?" he murmured as he read.
"With those divine weapons, the Duke of Chengguo wouldn't let it go," another official added. "Rather than keeping them as private troops, wouldn't it be more legitimate to formally incorporate them into his command and expand his strength openly?"
For them, the expansion of the Duke of Chengguo's power was not a desirable outcome.
"Sir, should we submit this petition?" another official asked in a low voice.
Huang Cheng smiled faintly, tossing the documents onto the desk.
"Submit it," he said. "I'm not even going to read them. Hand up everything he's requested, and have it all publicly read aloud during the Grand Court Assembly."
The Grand Court Assembly, then?
Huang Cheng suddenly had a thought. Leaning on the pillow, he pointed a finger at the desk.
"This won't be lively enough. Include petitions from everyone—those who came to reinforce, those who came to defend against the Jurchen incursion—everyone contributed, so everyone will demand credit. Let them all fight for it."
With that, he flicked his sleeves and laughed coldly.
"Let everyone see just how profitable warfare is and how much it inflates appetites for glory."
The seated officials understood and nodded in agreement.
"Exactly, let them all see how arrogant the Duke of Chengguo has become."
"Moreover, what kind of achievement is this? It's outright defiance. Losing so many government soldiers just to pull him out—what's there to be proud of?"
"If he demands rewards for this, then surely Shanxi, Shandong, and Zhejiang commands can also demand rewards. Let everyone witness the chaos he's brought to military and government affairs."
"The emperor is merciful. Though angered by his harm to the nation, His Majesty is still joyful about his survival and is generously rewarding him. This is the emperor's grace, not something the Duke of Chengguo inherently deserves."
"Give it all to him, give it to everyone. Let the people see how gracious the emperor is to his vassals, and let them also see how brazen and unruly the Duke of Chengguo has become."
Listening to his subordinates' discussions, Huang Cheng closed his eyes again, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as a faint, mocking smile crept onto his lips.
The more you revel today, the higher you climb, the harder you will fall tomorrow.
Duke of Chengguo, on this trip to the capital, you shall arrive in glory and die in glory.
Huang Cheng suddenly opened his eyes—clear and cold, piercingly sharp—which sent a shiver down the spines of the others, silencing their chatter.
"Get moving quickly. Don't give Zhu Shan the excuse of delaying his return to the capital under the pretense of military achievements," he commanded in a deep voice.
The officials immediately straightened their postures and responded affirmatively.
As the first imperial decree summoning the Duke of Chengguo back to the capital left the Imperial City, news of his imminent return to receive his honors spread like wildfire.
The Duke of Chengguo had not returned to the capital in nearly a decade. Even when the late Emperor passed, he had only mourned in mourning garb from the northern lands, paying his respects from afar.
Add to that this recent northern campaign, where the Duke's survival after being presumed dead captivated the public. The people were eager and excited to catch a glimpse of this famed duke.
The entire capital bustled with anticipation, while urgent documents and dispatches flew about in all directions.
Fang Chengyu's desk was piled high with letters and accounts, too chaotic to tidy up, and even scattered onto the floor. He seemed unconcerned, letting the mess be.
At the moment, one of his hands held a pen as if to write something, while the other received a letter just handed over by Manager Gao, freshly opened.
"…This just came from Dingzhou; there should be more coming shortly," Manager Gao said.
Before his sentence was finished, the sound of footsteps was heard, and someone entered the room.
There were only two people in the Fang Family who could come and go in Fang Chengyu's study without prior notice.
Without raising his head, Manager Gao instantly bowed in greeting.
"Madam," he addressed respectfully.
There was a faint jingle of ornaments, the swish of a flowing skirt, and Lady Fang strode past him, stopping directly in front of Fang Chengyu's desk.
"Mother…" Fang Chengyu looked up with a smile.
He had barely started to speak when Lady Fang reached out and snatched the letter from his hands, her expression icy as she silently glanced at it.
Fang Chengyu remained unhurried.
"Mother, why not sit down to read?" he suggested.
Manager Gao had already brought over a round stool.
"Madam," he also invited her politely.
Lady Fang ignored him, standing still and focusing solely on the letter in her hand.
Fang Chengyu gestured to Manager Gao, who took a step back and returned to his seat. The room fell into a brief silence.
At last, with a harsh swish, Lady Fang folded the letter and slapped it heavily onto the desk, staring at Fang Chengyu.
Fang Chengyu grinned at her.
"How many pearls this time?" she asked, reaching out to touch the hairpin on his head.
Fang Chengyu had a fondness for pearls, and all his ornaments were of the finest quality, sought-after treasures.
"Mother," Fang Chengyu laughed heartily. "It's not as if we've reached the point of pawning valuables, is it?"
Lady Fang's expression remained humorless as she let out a mocking "Oh."
"Not yet, huh? Half the household's wealth has vanished already, and you didn't even inform me. Your grandmother and I are still indulging ourselves, wearing gold and silver, eating and drinking lavishly. When the family is completely broke, when everything's gone, do let us know. So we can pawn our jewels, strip off our silks, dress in tatters, carry bamboo sticks and porcelain bowls, and beg for a living," she said.
Manager Gao lowered his head deeply at the biting sarcasm, knowing he should have exited earlier.
Fang Chengyu only laughed.
"Mother, you've clearly been watching too much theater. Your words are truly dramatic," he jested.
Lady Fang's cold gaze bore into him.
"Don't give me that flippant smile. I'm not like you, whose mere grin can captivate nations," she retorted.
Fang Chengyu straightened up, his smile fading into a more serious expression.
"As the daughter-in-law of the Fang Family, may I ask where the family's wealth has gone?" Lady Fang demanded, pointing to the documents on the desk. "It seems Miss Jun has completed her task and is coming back. My asking won't delay or interfere with her, will it?"
Fang Chengyu nodded.
"Mother," he said, "she conducted two business ventures in the north, which cost some money."
"Business, huh?" Lady Fang asked coldly. "A business that has swallowed half of the Fang Family's fortune—this must be quite the enterprise. How has the return on investment been?"
"There have been profits, there have been profits," Manager Gao quickly interjected, snatching up an account book from the scattered piles on the floor. "They've just come in."
Lady Fang cast him a sidelong glance.
"Four hundred thousand taels," Manager Gao reported.
Lady Fang let out a hollow laugh.
"Four hundred thousand taels! What a vast sum," she exclaimed.
Her tone sounded as if surprised, but her face betrayed no joy.
In truth, four hundred thousand taels didn't mean much to Lady Fang.
Manager Gao forced an awkward laugh and lowered his head again.
"Mother, patience is key. Business ventures take time…" Fang Chengyu began.
His words were cut off by Lady Fang.
"Forging armor, purchasing weapons, aiding countless refugees, raising private troops, commandeering government soldiers, venturing into Jurchen territory to kill enemies," she said, leaning toward Fang Chengyu as her voice dropped to a deliberate, chilling cadence. "Fang Chengyu, is she conducting business on a heavenly scale?"
The phrase "heavenly scale" could be taken as an indication of the venture's grandiosity—or, if "heaven" referred to the Emperor, the phrase could imply a challenge to imperial authority.
"…Is she aiming to replace the Emperor…" Lady Fang continued.
This time, she hadn't finished her sentence before both Manager Gao and Fang Chengyu leapt to their feet.
"Hush! Hush!" they exclaimed in unison, their faces alarmed as they hurriedly surrounded Lady Fang. "You mustn't say such things! You mustn't!"