Chapter 218: Remote Duel

"Sick?" Li Zhao stroked his white beard. "Sick at a time like this? So many people are waiting to meet the new Administrator."

"He should have entered Xiazhou territory yesterday, but with this delay, we don't know when he'll arrive in Dunyu," Shu Qian said. "Nian Zanli sent small groups of rebels to bypass the front lines, penetrating nearly a hundred miles into Xiazhou to loot. Several of our family's shops, and those of the Zhan family, have been robbed, incurring significant losses. I see the Zhan family is already thinking of leaving; despite your warnings, they've been secretly selling off assets these past few days."

Old Master Li sighed, "When heaven decides to rain, or a mother decides to marry, you can't stop it. Since they don't have faith in Dunyu, let them go."

Shu Qian silently cursed the old fox. When the Li family's warnings to the Zhan family proved fruitless, they drove the acquisition price so low it was almost subterranean. Yet the Li family was the most domineering local power in Dunyu; no matter what price they offered, who would dare to bid higher?

If the Zhan family were to sell at such a paltry price, it would be like tearing out their own flesh and eyes. Seventy percent of their years of accumulated wealth and business efforts would be stripped away, leaving them nothing but a bloody skeleton, even if they managed to leave Dunyu.

The Zhan family must now harbor deep hatred for the Li family, especially since the Zhan family has produced talented individuals in recent years who have risen through the ranks in the royal court. Their own family's standing has grown, their voices have become louder, and last year they even sought to challenge the Li family.

The Li family seized this opportunity to severely punish them, ensuring they knew that Old Master Li remained Old Master Li.

Alas, that old man Li isn't just a fox. He's a vulture, a jackal.

"Are you truly so optimistic about the new Administrator?" This was the question the Shu family's patriarch wanted Shu Qian to subtly probe. "Can he genuinely join forces with General Zhao Pan to repel Nian Zanli's attack?"

The people of Dunyu City were restless, and even the prominent families inevitably considered leaving. If they fled too late, Nian Zanli's army would sweep south, turning everything in its path into rubble and reducing decades of their painstaking efforts and accumulated wealth to nothing.

"This Administrator He certainly possesses some talent. He killed Sun Fuping, annihilated the rebel army, and recently appears to have saved Ke Jihai's life in Shihuan City, which prevented trouble on the western front. Appointed to manage Xiazhou's defenses during a crisis, he must be quite capable." Li Zhao spoke in one breath, then paused to catch his breath. A maid immediately served him tea, perfectly lukewarm.

"The Minister had instructed that Dunyu is the very foundation of the Li family's prosperity, and we cannot leave easily."

He only said they couldn't leave *easily*, but didn't say they *wouldn't*, nor did he say they *definitely wouldn't*.

Dunyu was very close to the southern state border, making escape to the south relatively easy.

Shu Qian hesitated, "Will Administrator He also investigate the granary fire?"

"The case has been reviewed, and the culprits sent to the capital. Most importantly, all the grain was burned. What more can he possibly investigate?"

A birdcage hung in the hall, housing two lovebirds with green heads, red beaks, and yellow bellies. Outside, snow fell abundantly, but inside, it was warm as spring, and the two small birds were very active. Old Master Li walked over, personally adding food to the cage, saying, "For Administrator He, the most crucial thing now is to sincerely cooperate with the four prominent families."

Otherwise, He Chunhua would find his actions constrained at every turn, just like all officials before him and currently serving.

The four great families were as solid as iron, while officials came and went like water.

"Since he's here both as an official and a military commander, he'll inevitably ask us for money, grain, or personnel," Shu Qian said, glancing at the lovebirds and noticing tiny paper slips tied to their ankles, though he had no idea what they were for.

"That will depend on Administrator He's performance," Old Master Li said, teasing the lovebirds with a confident smile. "For cooperation between officials and the people, sincerity is required from both sides."

"So, everything as usual?" he asked, referring to the old routine for new officials taking office. "I'll go back and discuss with my elder brother about sending Administrator He an additional substantial gift."

Shu Qian stood up.

Old Master Li smiled warmly, "Quite right. One must offer a welcoming gesture first, after all."

After Shu Qian left, the smile on Old Master Li's face also disappeared.

Dinner remained abundant, but he only ate a few bites. Both of his sons were somewhat worried and repeatedly questioned him.

Old Master Li saw through their feigned concern at a glance, feeling even more choked up. If only these sons had inherited even a fraction of his true capabilities, and engaged in less internal strife, the vast Li family wouldn't have to be shouldered entirely by him alone.

He was seventy after all, and old.

His only solace was that his sixth grandson showed good talent; with two more years of proper cultivation, he might be able to succeed him. This grandson was his second son's child, and his eldest son, discerning his father's intentions, had been relentlessly suppressing his brother.

Alas, what a misfortune for the family.

In truth, Old Master Li was not optimistic about Dunyu. More precisely, he wasn't optimistic about the Yuan Royal Court.

Old men his age might still be lost in the former prosperity and glory of the Great Yuan, but his eyes were clear and his heart was not blind.

The nation's power was declining.

Old Master Li sneered inwardly. The Li family did things discreetly, unlike the Zhan family, who ostentatiously sold off their properties, making it known throughout the city.

When the enemy comes, will land still be valuable?

Over the past two years, the Li family's wealth had been secretly transferred inland. He and Minister Li had already identified a safe haven. If the war spread south, they would immediately relocate their entire clan.

The warm fire in the room made him feel sleepy again. Noticing this, the maid beside him whispered, "Old Master, it's time to rest."

Old Master Li nodded, and she went to the outer room to take down the birdcage and hang it in front of the bed curtains.

Two thirteen-year-old maids had already warmed his bed, and tonight, as usual, they would curl up at his feet.

Before getting into bed, Old Master Li routinely checked the bed curtains. Yes, the two copper plaques tied to the hanging ropes were both there. These were evil-repelling plaques; if any malevolent entity approached, they would be bewildered by the plaques, unable to see him or detect his presence.

He then pointed to the top of the bed, and the maid immediately took down a red sachet from the canopy.

Li Zhao personally opened it, seeing a yellow amulet hidden inside. The talisman was correct.

"Put it back." Now he could sleep peacefully.

He had offended many people over the years, so he was accustomed to caution.

The travel-weary Steward Qian once again hurried to Ruxian and met He Chunhua.

"Administrator He is sick?"

The door closed, leaving no one else in the room. He Chunhua suddenly stood up, wiped his face with a cloth, and the sickly yellow complexion disappeared. "Where did this illness come from? I've been waiting for good news from Steward Qian."

Butler Old Mo served warm tea. Steward Qian, parched, took several gulps before smiling, "Fortunately, I did not fail my mission."

He took out a tightly bound blue cloth package and opened it.

Inside were two more layers of oiled paper.

Opening the oiled paper revealed two layers of coarse paper.

In the center of the coarse paper lay a porcelain bottle the size of a pinky finger.

Given its volume, this bottle was perfectly suited for administering medicine or poison.

"This is?"

He Chunhua reached for it, but Steward Qian quickly warned, "It's foul-smelling, Administrator, be careful."

The Administrator hesitated, "I thought you brought hair, fingernails, or something similar."

The charcoal brazier warmed the room. Steward Qian, having just come in from the freezing cold, surprisingly had a bit of sweat on his forehead:

"I wish I had. But Old Master Li is extremely paranoid. Last autumn, a diviner told him he would face a great calamity this year, but if he passed it, he would live safely to eighty-eight. So the Li family is exceptionally cautious. All of Old Master Li's clipped nails and fallen hair are specifically collected and burned. It's said he also wears a protective amulet acquired at great cost. Any curses or voodoo dolls from enemies behind his back are utterly useless!"

He Chunhua chuckled, "Clearly, he's done too many wicked deeds and has a guilty conscience."

If not for a guilty conscience, why guard to such an extent?

One can be a thief for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against thieves for a thousand days.

"I had originally intended to obtain some of his hair through the two bed-warming maids." Old Master Li, being advanced in years, had cold feet while sleeping in deep winter and found hot water bottles too stifling, so he bought two thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls to warm his bed. "However, these two maids are subjected to a change of clothes and a full inspection as soon as they leave the room, forbidden from taking any of their master's belongings, not even a single strand of hair."

"Having no other choice, I had to bribe the latrine boy," Steward Qian said, spreading his hands. "But the people who do that work are not fixed staff, so finding the right person took some effort."

He then handed over a note: "These are Old Master Li's birth characters. Last year, his thirteenth grandson came to my shop to commission clothes for his first birthday celebration. His mother was beaming with pride then, boasting that the child was born on the same month and day as Old Master Li, just an hour and a half later. I've confirmed this repeatedly."

With this, the calculation shouldn't be difficult.

He Chunhua took it and asked again, "Is there still a rift between the Zhan family and the Li family?"

"Yes, there always has been. In the past few days, the Zhan family wanted to unload their assets and leave Dunyu. The Li family arranged for people to drive the price down, pushing it to the absolute limit, so no one dared to offer a higher bid. The Zhan family was so enraged they nearly spat blood. Before I left, the Zhan and Li families were still endlessly bickering and even came to blows over this."

"How is their behavior any different from that of peasants?" He Chunhua shook his head. "With their descendants serving as officials in the Yuan court, do they feel no shame?"

He personally took out a gold bar and pushed it across the table. "Old Zhu was right about you; you are indeed his most capable subordinate."

Steward Qian smiled, "I dare not accept such praise!"

"However, this matter is confidential..."

"Rest assured, sir, I will keep it sealed," Steward Qian replied, leaving no room for doubt. He swore a solemn oath on his mother and eighteen generations of ancestors, vowing that if the secret were to leak, the Qian family ancestors would suffer eternal damnation.

"Good. In the future, I will rely on you and the Zhu family a great deal," He Chunhua said with a smile. "There's a promising future ahead."

After Steward Qian left, He Chunhua returned to his room and slept for an hour, fully restoring his energy.

These past few days, he had been busy until late at night, sleeping in a separate room from Madam Ying.

Midnight arrived.

Butler Old Mo closed the doors and windows. He Chunhua took out a blue candle, lit it, and placed it on the table.

He had previously moved the table so that it was in the exact center of the room.

In the sealed room, the candle flame naturally stood perfectly straight, almost motionless. He Chunhua took out an orange-yellow paperweight and placed it in Old Mo's hand, then sat down, murmuring incantations.

This paperweight, carved from Shoushan stone into the shape of a kite, was translucent like honey throughout. Its color was far more subdued than jade, and it featured internal radish-thread patterns, resembling tiny blood vessels embedded within the stone.

The kite was entirely clear yellow, but its two eyes were blood-red, adding a touch of eeriness to its overall elegance.

Butler Old Mo stood behind his master, serving as his protector.

As He Chunhua recited faster and faster, the smoke rising from the candle began to gather without dissipating, and it was surprisingly blue.