Chapter 40: Top Merchant Wen

When the young soldier raised his head, a look of surprise also appeared in his eyes.

Shen Yu, who was sitting beside him, also slightly knitted her brows when she saw the young soldier, her eyes showing a look of thought as if she were trying to remember where she had seen him before.

The young soldier glanced at Fang Rui, then his gaze fell on Shen Yu, a trace of uncertainty in his eyes.

Seeing the expressions on the young soldier and Shen Yu’s faces, Fang Rui knew they must have met before. Since his rebirth his memory had returned, but events from his previous life were too distant and much had been forgotten. Even the best memory couldn’t recall everything.

The young soldier was roughly seventeen or eighteen, with delicate features. After more than half a year of training in the barracks, even the most boyish youth had become steadier and more seasoned, and the fair-skinned handsome lads had their pallor browned to a wheat color, losing youthful naivety and gaining a more masculine aura.

Fang Rui sat in the chief seat above and found the young soldier increasingly familiar. He leaned slightly forward, his elbow on the table, and asked, “Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

The young soldier suddenly bowed to Fang Rui, Shen Yu and Rong Tai in turn, cupping his hands and saying, “Four years ago, thanks to the three of you rescuing me, Ziling was able to live until today.”

At those words, Fang Rui immediately recalled who this person was and exchanged a surprised glance with Shen Yu. It seemed Shen Yu also remembered who the young soldier was.

This soldier called Ziling was the young boy Fang Rui and Rong Tai had rescued in the woods four years ago. They had intended to save this boy, but in the end it was Shen Yu who rescued the three of them.

If Fang Rui remembered correctly, the boy had said his surname was Wen, with the courtesy name Ling.

Wen Ling had not expected to see again in the barracks the person who once saved his life. Like Shen Yu, surprise showed in his eyes. But having not met for so many years, that twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy had grown into a handsome young man, so Shen Yu at first couldn’t be certain.

Fang Rui was sure this was the boy from four years ago and suddenly burst into a smile.

Lei Shengda standing beside them was puzzled and asked, “What, do both Lords and the Grand Steward know him?” Before Lei Shengda entered, the deputy general had repeatedly warned that His Majesty was currently on an incognito inspection and must not reveal his identity. Although Lei Shengda often seemed not very bright, he was surprisingly reliable when it mattered.

A faint smile at the corner of his mouth, Fang Rui looked at Wen Ling and sighed, “You can never predict fate. Four years ago, Rong Tai and I were strolling in the mountains when we saw someone chasing a child, so we stepped in to save him. Unfortunately we weren’t able to overcome our opponents, and the three of us ended up being chased. Fortunately, we met Shen Yu who was about to leave the river. But come to think of it, it was Shen Yu who saved the lives of me, Rong Tai and… Ziling.” Fang Rui paused when he said Ziling. Since Wen Ling had already called himself Ziling, that was his name.

Having said that, Fang Rui smiled at Shen Yu. “Lord Shen, you are our lifesaver.” Back then Shen Yu had been even more youthful than now, just a sixteen-year-old boy… no, a sixteen-year-old girl, with red lips and white teeth, bright eyes and pearly teeth, irresistibly charming. Of course, even now her charm hadn’t diminished. She could still make him dizzy and infatuated.

Shen Yu, having been singled out, repeatedly shook her head and modestly said, “Anyone would have done the same back then.”

Wen Ling cupped his hands to Fang Rui, Shen Yu, and Rong Tai and said, “Ziling once again thanks the three of you for saving his life.”

Fang Rui waved his hand, looked at De’an, and said, “We saved you that day, and now you’ve saved my cousin, so the debts are nearly even. Except back then three of us saved you and now you alone saved Cousin An, so in a way you’re more indebted to Cousin An.”

Hearing the term “Cousin An,” De’an, having just escaped a great danger, didn’t fuss over such an unpleasant address. She stepped forward sincerely and said to Wen Ling, “You saved me in the woods just now. Thank you. I cannot repay a life debt. If you have any request, just say so. If it’s within my power, I will do my utmost to grant it.”

Wen Ling shook his head slightly and said, “It was no more than a small effort, not worth mentioning. Besides, Ziling already owes the three of you so much, how could Ziling make requests?”

But De’an, who saw debts and gratitude clearly, insisted, “They are they, and I am I. How can these favors offset each other? Anyway, make any request you want. Otherwise, I’ll have my… cousin speak to His Majesty on your behalf to get you half an official post, or gold and jewels will do.”

Fang Rui glanced at De’an and thought: she barely escaped death and yet can so smoothly offer someone else’s favors. Only De’an could do this. Clearly it was because she wouldn’t be the one trying to arrange an official post, so she could speak lightly.

Seventeen-year-old Wen Ling was more steady and reserved than his peers, and perhaps because he had endured many things over the years, after he came in he showed no great change in expression except for initial surprise when he saw Fang Rui and the others.

Wen Ling said, “Ziling’s aspirations are not in the court, so such repayment is truly unnecessary.”

De’an was about to say more when Fang Rui spoke first, “Cousin An, since Ziling has refused again and again, let’s postpone this matter of repayment. Let him go rest for a while first.”

Ziling still had mud on him that had dried and cracked. It seemed he had not gone to clean up.

De’an nodded. “Very well, but this repayment must not be lacking.”

Fang Rui replied, “Understood. You should go back and rest as well.”

After a while, Fang Rui dismissed the others, leaving only Shen Yu, Rong Tai, and Lei Shengda.

Fang Rui asked Lei Shengda, “What is that young soldier’s full name?”

Lei Shengda, who had been leading those hundred recruits all month, didn’t hesitate and said, “Him? He’s called Gu Ziling, the nephew of the proprietor of the largest tavern in Jindu City, he got in through connections. When he first arrived he liked to carry an abacus and calculate things. When Your Majesty asked to select a hundred ‘useless’ recruits from the barracks to train, he was one of them. I doubted at first whether I had judged wrong, but this kid endures hardship, never complains of fatigue, and is always first in training.”

At that, Fang Rui glanced at Shen Yu and asked, “What do you think, my beloved aide Shen?”

Shen Yu thought for a moment and said, “I recall he once said his name was Wen Ling, but now he’s become Gu Ziling. Entering the barracks under an assumed name must mean he has ulterior motives.”

Fang Rui nodded, then said to Rong Tai, “Investigate for me: see whether the top merchant Wen family has someone named Wen Ling.”

Hearing “the top merchant Wen family,” Shen Yu was slightly startled and asked, “Your Majesty, do you suspect Wen Ling is from that Wen family?”

Fang Rui nodded. Ever since Chen Chi had given him the jade seal of the Tianxia Silver Bank he had been suspicious. Wen Ling, who had given him a similar jade token, was very likely a member of the Wen family.

He wanted Wen Ling’s matter to be investigated by Rong Tai for the time being.

When De’an learned that her older brother and Shen Yu were to share a tent, she showed a look of disdain, completely lacking the fear and trembling of someone who had just escaped a catastrophe.

Royal women were different from ordinary women, perhaps more delicate and more unreasonable. But compared to De’an, who was raised amidst palace scheming from childhood, a little tantrum was acceptable. The most important thing was to keep her overall emotions steady.

Upon hearing from the eunuch that her brother requested everything be kept simple and not to mobilize troops, De’an inwardly said that her brother was truly using official pretexts for personal ends. She didn’t worry about a single man and woman alone, she feared her brother being alone with Shen Yu. Her brother had openly declared his interest in Shen Yu.

Shen Yu seemed like an easily fooled person. If her brother flirted with her a little longer, even the most rigid iron would be softened by her brother’s melting heat.

Thinking this, De’an could not remain calm, but instead of immediately trying to change her brother’s mind, she held back. Her brother was cunning and experienced, while she lacked his cleverness. Besides, she was a princess and he the emperor. He was senior and ruled on everything, so going to him would be pointless.

After thinking for a while, De’an thought of a good plan and summoned a eunuch, ordering, “Go find General Lei and tell him I’m worried my brother and Lord Shen sharing a tent won’t be suitable for rest. Have him pitch a tent for Lord Shen within an hour.”

Since her brother was unwilling to mobilize troops, as a thoughtful younger sister she would do a little extra work for him.

After the young eunuch left, De’an glanced at Rong Tai standing nearby, slightly curling her lips and said, “Rong Tai, if you have nothing important to do, stay in the tent for an hour.”

Rong Tai gave Princess De’an a faint smile and replied, “Yes, Your Highness.” The smile looked somewhat forced.

These siblings fighting over one man, but he’s the one being tormented!

Your Majesty, it’s not that your servant wouldn’t inform you, but Princess De’an is a crafty little fox.

The barracks were full of men and chaotic. Fang Rui didn’t entirely trust De’an to be alone and had Rong Tai protect her while he himself thought to enjoy leisure with Shen Yu.

Fang Rui had planned everything but didn’t foresee that in the end he’d be trapped by his own sister. Once the tent was set up, it would be hard not to let Shen Yu go.

The worst off was Lei Shengda, who led his large group hastily to pitch the tent, hoping for the emperor’s praise, only to receive a look from His Majesty that seemed almost to want to dig a hole and bury him alive.