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County Government Office.

Household Administration.

Steward Sun discussed with Zhou Yi the buying and selling of criminal convicts, openly in front of various clerks and colleagues, evidently, this matter was an open secret in Desolate City.

One usually relies on their environment for sustenance.

The Wild City Yamen survived by selling convicts.

For twelve hundred taels of silver, exiled convicts could fake death at the mines, change their names and surnames, and have their household registration moved to Desolate City. After some years and pulling the right strings, they could be transferred to other prefectures, thereby washing themselves clean and becoming common citizens.

“Master Zhou, don’t find it too expensive; this silver isn’t going into our own pockets,”

Steward Sun indicated upwards: “The grand master is a graduate of the imperial exams from twelve years ago. Do you understand?”

“Turns out he’s a disciple of Chancellor Zhang!”

Zhou Yi showed respect and whispered, “That year during the palace exams, things were anything but peaceful. While everyone’s attention was on the posting of results, Chancellor Zhang took the opportunity to…”

He made a grasping motion with his hand, his eyes sweeping across the officials of the Household Administration, asking, “Do you know why?”

Steward Sun bowed and said, “Please enlighten us, master!”

The various clerks of the Household Administration perked up their ears, noting down these state secrets of the National Dynasty. When recounting them to colleagues over drinks later, it would be the crème de la crème of conversation topics, a delightful indulgence akin to discussing international politics at a barbecue stand.

“That year the Duke of the State won a great victory on the Northern Border, seizing the momentum to invade Great Yong, achieving tremendous acclaim!”

Zhou Yi slowly continued, “The serving Minister of War was a high-ranking military officer who had previously joined forces with the Duke of the State to crush the rebel forces in Jiangnan. With one inside and one outside, no one in the Imperial Court could control them.”

“Chancellor Zhang seized this opportunity to remove him, breaking the National Dynasty’s conventions, and a civilian official took on the role of Minister of War…”

“Hiss!”

Steward Sun no longer doubted that Mr. Zhou must have come from the Divine Capital. He spoke with respect, “Please have a seat, master. I will hurry those lazy workers along!”

“Thank you for your trouble, steward.”

Zhou Yi behaved with decorum and grace, neither condescending nor arrogant, with a manner that was as refreshing as a spring breeze.

It took only a moment for him to engage in a joyful conversation with the Household Administration clerks.

He casually mentioned secrets of the Divine Capital, such as a certain high official retiring back to his hometown, who, to everyone’s surprise, ran up a debt of several thousands of taels of silver at the Spring Breeze Building without paying his bill, resulting in the courtesan whispering into the ear of the Imperial Censor.

Consequently, the official faced over a dozen censures and ended up disgraced, compelled to beg for retirement.

Such rumors were not to be taken as gospel, for who could really know the reasons behind an official’s retirement? But, traditionally, people much prefer such scandalous news.

Steward Sun exclaimed in amazement, “What kind of place is the Spring Breeze Building that it could influence the Imperial Censor to submit a censure?”

“Ordinary people who visit the Divine Capital only know The Bureau of Music as a nice area, but that’s not really the case. The Bureau of Music is for lesser officials. The real Golden Cavern of the Divine Capital is none other than the Spring Breeze Building…”

When Zhou Yi mentioned this, everyone became more energetic.

Initially, he was just casually chatting with the Household Administration clerks, but after he reviewed three or five Oirans, clerks from all the other conference rooms crowded around.

Divine Capital had three significant realms, all of which Zhou Yi knew only too well.

Home, the imperial prison, and the Spring Breeze Building.

Having mingled in the Spring Breeze Building for over twenty years, Zhou Yi had profound exchanges with the dozens of Oirans selected during that period. His critiques were so incisive and knowledgeable that they entered the heart like a piercing lash.

Among a group of men, nothing forges bonds better than discussing sensual pleasures—a truth as old as time!

Zhou Yi sighed and said, “The Oiran selected the year before last, Su Xiao Xiao, was of the finest caliber in nearly a decade. Sadly, before her grooming was complete, she caught the eye of Duke Wei and he spent money to take her into his household as a concubine.”

“A woman from the pleasure quarters managed to enter the Duke’s household?”

“Duke Wei, he’s an extremely powerful figure!”

“Truly, she has good fortune!”

“…”

The crowd burst into a lively discussion. The fates of those Oirans weren’t all that great—those who retired gracefully became concubines to merchants, and most ended up as common prostitutes as they aged and lost their charm.

“`

“You’re mistaken. The one with the worst fate has to be Su Xiaoxiao!”

Zhou Yi’s voice took a turn, piquing everyone’s curiosity as he leisurely sipped his tea, “That lord from the National Dynasty also feared his wife. It wasn’t long after Su Xiaoxiao entered his residence when she unfortunately fell into a well and died.”

“Alas…”

“What a pity, what a pity!”

“The most superior in recent ten years, yet fated not to be seen!”

“Heaven envies the beauty!”

“I always said, how could such a mere prostitute be so fortunate?”

No one reproached the lord’s wife for the murder, even deeming Su Xiaoxiao deserved her end, thinking a prostitute striving to cling to the noble threshold of the National Dynasty’s household was simply seeking her own destruction.

Wei Chang, the lecherous lord of the National Dynasty, on the contrary, because of his fear of his wife, ended up winning people’s favor.

If even the mighty lord feared his wife, and I too fear my wife, doesn’t that make me on par with the lord?

The ways of the world are such, beyond anyone’s power to change.

As the conversation flowed, footsteps approached, and the bailiffs ushered in seven prisoners in convict garb.

The mine was situated over ten miles from Desolate City, and identifying and verifying each individual took no less than four or five hours. As dusk approached, the tasked bailiffs finally brought the men back.

More than a hundred mouths from the Wei family were exiled. After over twenty years, only these seven were left, barely clinging to life.

Zhou Yi’s gaze swept over the prisoners’ faces, turning to the eldest-looking man to ask, “Are you a descendant of Hero Wei?”

“Answering to your grace, I am Wei Jun, the third son of my father, Wei Chang,” he replied.

Wei Jun had been informed by the bailiffs on the way there that the gentleman was an old acquaintance of the Wei family and had come to Desolate City to spend silver to save lives.

After rescuing Li Hong, Zhou Yi changed his appearance to that of someone who had endured the hardships of the imperial prison, looking slightly aged at forty-five.

He deliberately conducted his affairs with this appearance, revealing the favor he owed to Wei Chang from the past while also conveniently explaining the origins of his Inner Strength. Knowing this, others wouldn’t face much trouble and would instead respect Zhou Yi for repaying a debt of gratitude.

Zhou Yi inquired, “Hero Wei was once kind to me, and today I am here to repay that kindness. Think carefully, would you rather return to your old home or stay at the Northern Border?”

“Your grace, we’ve already discussed this on the road, and we will not return to Yuzhou but will stay in the Northern Border to make a living,”

Wei Jun answered, “We’ll wait a few decades before going back to offer incense and sacrifices to our ancestors.”

It had only been just over twenty years since the Wei Chang case, and there were still many enemies of the Wei family in Yuzhou. Even if they changed their names and identities, once recognized and reported, the Imperial Court would still send someone to verify their identity.

“Hmm.”

Zhou Yi gave an affirming grunt and pulled a stack of silver notes from his sleeve, “I must trouble you, Steward Sun. I see that Desolate City has many vacant houses; is it possible to purchase one for the Wei family to reside in?”

“Sir, you jest. For broken and abandoned houses, there’s no need to buy; simply choose any and have it transferred,”

Steward Sun received the silver notes, no less than fifteen or sixteen of them, grinning ear to ear, “If the Wei family wishes to stay in the city, they can be arranged to join the householders and work as servants. Their daily task will be to guard the granary. They’ll certainly not lack food and drink.”

Seeing Zhou Yi look over, Wei Jun quickly responded, “Thank you, your grace, and thank you, Steward Sun!”

The Wei family was endlessly grateful to Zhou Yi. After their family’s destruction, they truly understood the reality of relationships. Back in Yuzhou, the Wei family had a significant reputation, the Flying Rainbow Swordsman had extensive connections, yet when misfortune struck, not one person lent a helping hand.

In the Jianghu, many are fair-weather friends, and only on rare occasions do you find real heroes, who then become widely celebrated in tales and stories. One should not assume everyone is as such.

“Old Sun, the robust class needs people. Why not come to work here? Patrolling the mines is carefree.”

“The armory is also short on hands, guarding the city gate has many perks.”

“None compare to the ease of my ritual room. No need to report for daily attendance, after all, there aren’t even any scholars in the city!”

“…”

The stewards of the three classes and six rooms all made their voices heard, firstly out of respect for Zhou Yi’s extraordinary origins, and secondly out of consideration for the silver in play.

Zhou Yi clasped his hands together and said with a smile,

“Thank you all. I’ll be counting on you to look after the Wei family in the future. Once I’m off to the Divine Capital, I can’t make promises about an Oiran at Spring Breeze Building, but anything else is yours to arrange!”

Laughter erupted all around.