In the Study Room of the Prince Zhongshun's Residence, the Underfloor Heating System burned warmly.
Prince Zhongshun toyed with a smooth Jade Pendant in his hand, looking at the ledger before him with unconcealed joy on his face.
"Feng Yuan, you truly are this Prince's lucky star."
He closed the ledger and tossed it onto the desk.
"In just half a year, the name 'Cassia Soap' has spread from Jinling to the Capital City."
"The Imperial Consorts in the palace now only recognize your product. Even the Empress Dowager praised this Prince a few times, saying the scent was pleasing."
Feng Yuan stood below, eyes lowered, maintaining a humble posture.
"It is due to the Prince's brilliant planning that we have this success. This Student is merely a catalyst."
"A catalyst?" Prince Zhongshun laughed heartily. "Your one-tenth share has already yielded nearly one hundred thousand taels in half a year. If that is still considered minor, then there are no big businesses in Jinling City."
He stood up, walked in front of Feng Yuan, his eyes holding a hint of scrutiny.
"This Prince is very curious, how many more gold-laying geese do you have hidden in that head of yours?"
Feng Yuan bowed even lower.
"This Student dares not deceive the Prince. The formula for this Soap was merely a clever trick; to gain the Prince's favor is already a fortune for this Student in three lifetimes."
"As for anything else, this Student... truly has nothing more."
Prince Zhongshun stared at him without speaking.
The air in the Study Room seemed to solidify.
After a long moment, Prince Zhongshun patted his shoulder.
"You rascal, you are quite slippery."
"Never mind, this Prince won't force you. Guarding this golden goose is enough for this Prince to feast on for several years."
He changed the subject.
"I heard you also took the Top Scholar of the Circuit Examination in the Provincial Examination?"
"By luck."
"What luck indeed." Prince Zhongshun sat back in his chair. "County Examination, Prefecture Examination, Circuit Examination—winning all three consecutively. Your title of 'Little Triple Crown Winner' is now more famous than this Prince's 'Cassia Soap'."
"What are your plans next?"
Feng Yuan raised his head, his gaze clear.
"This Student plans to focus diligently on studying and prepare for next year's Provincial Examination."
Prince Zhongshun nodded.
"That is good. Only knowing how to make money makes one a mere merchant. Achieving Official Success is the proper path."
"Rest assured, with this Prince here, no one will dare to trip you up in the examination hall."
He picked up his tea, signaling the dismissal.
"Go now, study hard. This Prince awaits drinking your celebration wine."
"This Student takes his leave."
Feng Yuan bowed and exited the Study Room, only straightening up slowly once he reached outside the gate of the Prince's Mansion.
The Winter Sunlight shone upon him, offering no warmth at all.
He got into the carriage returning to his residence and closed his eyes.
Prince Zhongshun's words were both reassurance and a warning.
He could tolerate Feng Yuan being a goose that laid golden eggs, but he would absolutely not tolerate that goose having its own ideas.
"Your Highness..."
Feng Yuan silently repeated the title in his mind, a cold smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Feng Residence.
Han Anmeng sat in the Study Room, holding Feng Yuan's Policy Thesis from the Circuit Examination, remaining silent for a long time.
His hands were trembling slightly.
"You... did you really write this?" He looked up at Feng Yuan opposite him, his expression as complicated as a tangled mess.
"Yes, Teacher."
"'The nation's sharpest weapon must not be borrowed from others. The flaws of the border armies lie with the generals, not the soldiers. To strengthen the Northern Border, first execute the incompetent generals, then execute the corrupt officials!'"
Han Anmeng read the sentences from the paper word by word, his voice dry.
"Such intense killing intent!"
He slapped the Examination papers onto the desk.
"I taught you history so you could understand gains and losses, and know the rise and fall of dynasties. Not so you could turn your essays into indictments and your brushstrokes into blades!"
"What kind of Classics Exegesis and Policy Thesis is this? This is clearly a list of people to be killed!"
Feng Yuan looked at him quietly, offering no defense.
Han Anmeng felt a chill run down his spine under the gaze.
The youth before him was still the same youth he first met—covered in scars, yet with fire in his eyes.
But that fire had now transformed into the karmic fire capable of incinerating everything.
"Teacher," Feng Yuan finally spoke, "If this Student had not written it this way, how could I have caught the Chief Examiner's eye? How could I have achieved the Top Scholar of the Circuit Examination?"
Han Anmeng was stunned into silence.
Indeed, the Imperial Court now required not gentle admonishments, but decisive actions that solved problems.
Feng Yuan's essay struck directly at the current ills, which is why the examiner praised it so highly.
"But you..." Han Anmeng sighed, "With such sharp brilliance exposed, you are likely to suffer greatly once you enter officialdom."
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher." Feng Yuan stood up and refilled his cup with hot tea.
"This Student knows his limits."
Han Anmeng looked at him and suddenly felt that there was little left for him, the Teacher, to impart.
He taught him the art of slaying dragons, but this flood dragon was about to fly beyond his control.
"The Provincial Examination is imminent; take care of yourself."
Han Anmeng stood up and left, dispirited.
In the Study Room, only Feng Yuan remained.
Official Success was merely a stepping stone.
The essay was merely a stone cast to test the depth of the water.
His gaze fell on the other side of the desk.
There lay a thick account book.
It recorded the staggering sums of money generated by the Soap business, transaction after transaction.
This was his true foundation.
He walked into the courtyard; the Ring-pommel Saber left by Zhou Wu was still hanging on the weapon rack.
He took down the saber and swung it casually.
The blade cut through the air with a soft whistle.
The saber was getting faster.
The money was growing larger.
But the names of his enemies were still very much alive in the world.
He dared not imagine that Prince Zhongshun would help him offend the nephew of Wang Ziteng, who held significant military power.
Feng Yuan returned the saber to its sheath and went back to the Study Room.
He took out a piece of paper from a locked box.
Only two characters were written on the paper.
Xue Pan.
He looked at those two characters for a very, very long time.
Jinling City, the Xue Family.
Your day of reckoning is not far off.