Chapter 204: Rough Hands

Even if he had not asked, Shang Shuqing had intended to explain everything clearly. Since he had brought it up himself, there was no longer any need to speak indirectly. She nodded.

“Whether the finances are strained depends on how one looks at it, but there are indeed many urgent places where money is needed. Stabilizing the army and pacifying the people, strengthening the defenses, recruiting troops—money is needed everywhere.”

Niu Youdao teased, “You didn't do what you did back in Canglu County and rob the rich to relieve the poor one more time? Qingshan Commandery is much larger than Canglu County.”

He was referring to the time Shang Chaozong had first established himself in Canglu County and almost completely confiscated the wealth of the county's rich households, rapidly raising a large quantity of money and grain. Shang Shuqing shook her head.

“It wasn't that we never considered it. But that was then and this is now.”

“We succeeded in Canglu County because no one there had been prepared and no one knew my brother would suddenly make a move.”

“Qingshan Commandery during a major war was different. The local wealthy households had plenty of time to flee in advance. They carried away everything they could take, leaving behind only property that could not be moved.”

“The residence Master Dao is living in now is one example.”

“So we did not seize much wealth.”

“As for the common people, my brother has already ordered one round of taxation to meet immediate needs. Without that levy, I fear even producing these ten thousand gold coins right now would have been extremely difficult.”

“My brother has only just taken control of Qingshan Commandery. The people are still uneasy, suspicious, and watching to see what happens.”

“We have only just levied taxes once. If we collect another round again so soon, I fear we will lose the people's hearts entirely.”

“If frightened commoners begin fleeing, or if they coordinate from within with court forces attacking from outside, the consequences could be disastrous.”

Niu Youdao nodded slightly. He could imagine the situation. Tianyu Sect had supported them precisely because it wanted benefits. Now that territory had been taken, asking Tianyu Sect to continue pouring in huge amounts of money was probably impossible.

The sect let you govern a territory on its behalf because it wanted revenue, not because it wanted to keep paying out. If Tianyu Sect knew they were struggling and temporarily refrained from demanding money, that was already generous enough. And they still expected to reach into Tianyu Sect's pocket and pull money out?

If their finances had not yet reached the point of complete collapse and they already had no solution, then what use was there in having Tianyu Sect let them govern a territory?

As for Feng Lingbo, he had gained nothing from Qingshan Commandery and had instead poured in large numbers of troops and enormous quantities of supplies. He was already unhappy. How could Feng Lingbo possibly continue providing major support? This really was something Niu Youdao had overlooked.

He fell silent for a moment, then placed one hand on the gold draft lying on the low table and slowly pushed it back toward Shang Shuqing. The meaning was obvious. He would not accept it. Shang Shuqing looked cautious.

“Does Master Dao think it is too little?”

Niu Youdao nodded.

“If this is meant to be my stipend, then yes, this amount really is a little too small. I wouldn't even know how to divide it among everyone.”

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced toward Yuan Gang and the others. Being told directly to one's face that the offering was too little was difficult to endure. Embarrassment immediately spread across Shang Shuqing's ugly face. Having empty pockets was an unpleasant feeling. Her voice took on a faintly pleading tone.

“Master Dao has shown my brother and me immense kindness. Without Master Dao, we would not have what we have today. We also know this amount is hardly presentable.”

“But the situation here truly is difficult at present.”

“Once Qingshan Commandery recovers some of its vitality, every stipend and resource that should be given to Master Dao will be made up. For now...”

Niu Youdao raised a hand and interrupted her.

“Commandery Princess, you misunderstand.”

“What I mean is that you are underestimating this Niu.”

“I am not short of a little spending money.”

Then he turned and beckoned Yuan Gang over.

“Take out two hundred thousand first and let His Highness use it for emergencies.”

Without a word, Yuan Gang pulled out a stack of gold drafts and counted twenty. Under Shang Shuqing's stunned gaze, he walked over and placed twenty drafts, each worth ten thousand gold coins, in front of her. Then he withdrew again. Shang Shuqing stared blankly at the stack. Then she raised her eyes toward Niu Youdao. Her expression was exceedingly complicated. Niu Youdao gestured toward the money.

“Two hundred thousand gold coins. Commandery Princess, take it and pass it to His Highness for emergency use.”

For Niu Youdao, it was impossible to allow other powers to dominate Shang Chaozong forever. That would be unfavorable to his own safety.

He had spent so much thought and effort helping and supporting Shang Chaozong not merely for the sake of the Shang siblings. It was also for his safety now, in the future, and farther down the road. He needed to provide an answer to those who followed him and risked their lives for him. Sooner or later, he would have to compete with Tianyu Sect for influence over Shang Chaozong. It was simply not yet time to bring that conflict into the open.

Since Tianyu Sect was unwilling to offer financial relief now, Niu Youdao would not stand on ceremony. Shang Shuqing suddenly felt as though she had been slapped and humiliated in public. She had brought ten thousand gold coins to give him. He refused it. Then he turned around and produced two hundred thousand for their emergency use. She had never imagined such an outcome. How was she supposed to preserve her dignity? Her face flushed deep red, making her already ugly features look even more striking.

She rose and bit her lip. Before she could say anything, Niu Youdao seemed to have guessed what she was thinking. He waved a hand.

“Commandery Princess, do not misunderstand.”

“This money is only being lent to His Highness for the time being. It is not a gift.”

“When circumstances improve later, he can repay me.”

Qingshan Commandery was so short of funds that borrowing money elsewhere was difficult. Now someone was willing to lend them money without attaching a single condition. Was pride supposed to feed people? Shang Shuqing did not want to accept it. But faced with reality, she found it impossible to refuse. In the end, she took the money with profound embarrassment. When she returned to the Commandery Governor's Residence in front, someone immediately led her to the prince's study. Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting were waiting there.

The moment she entered, Shang Chaozong saw something wrong in her expression and immediately asked, “Qing'er, how did it go?”

Shang Shuqing took the ten-thousand-gold draft from her sleeve and placed it on the desk. Lan Ruoting and Shang Chaozong looked at one another.

Shang Chaozong cautiously asked, “He thought it was too little and refused it?”

Shang Shuqing then took another stack of gold drafts from her sleeve and set them on the desk. Both men froze. Lan Ruoting picked up the drafts and counted them. His eyes widened.

“Two hundred thousand? Commandery Princess, what happened?”

“Master Dao learned that we were short of ready funds and lent us two hundred thousand gold coins for emergencies...”

Shang Shuqing gave them a general account of what had happened. The study fell silent.

Only after a long while did Shang Chaozong mutter, “Where did he get so much money?”

Lan Ruoting said, “Tianyu Sect previously asked whether we knew anything about him looting the shops of Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain in Star-Plucking City.”

“I suspect this money is related to that.”

“Only, now all three sects have come over to join us. We don't know the details of those grudges, and I have no idea how Master Dao managed it.”

Shang Chaozong fell silent for a moment. Then he suddenly raised his face and let out a long sigh.

“He seems to lack nothing.”

“What can this prince even give him?”

Lan Ruoting and Shang Shuqing fell silent too. They understood exactly how he felt. There was nothing left to reward. Other people only demanded things from their side. Master Dao, by contrast, only seemed to give. From beginning to end, he had scarcely taken any benefit from them at all... Early the next morning, Yuan Gang hung from a horizontal bar with both hands. He had already supported himself by grip strength alone for a long time. He was specifically training the strength of his hands.

Several monks from Nanshan Temple swept the courtyard. Swish, swish. It had always been like this before. Now things had merely returned to normal. Almost every aspect of Niu Youdao's daily life was handled by these monks. Testing his food for poison. Washing and drying his clothes. Maintaining the cleanliness of his living quarters. Every step was managed by the monks of Nanshan Temple. This too had been Yuan Gang's arrangement.

For every part of Niu Youdao's daily routine, Yuan Gang had established detailed procedures and required the monks to follow them strictly. No outsiders were allowed to interfere. The principal reason was Niu Youdao's safety. It denied anyone with malicious intent an easy opportunity to act against him. In the peaceful morning light, Black Peony came through the sound of sweeping brooms. She reached Niu Youdao's door, knocked, and entered after receiving permission. Before long, she pushed open several of the room's windows from inside.

Hanging from the horizontal bar, Yuan Gang turned his head. Through the window, he saw Niu Youdao seated before the dressing table while Black Peony began combing his hair. At that moment, Shang Shuqing arrived as well. She smiled and nodded to the monks in the courtyard when they stopped sweeping to salute her. She also nodded a greeting toward Yuan Gang, still hanging from the bar. Then she saw Black Peony combing Niu Youdao's hair through the open window. Her steps stopped. She stared.

She had come for the same reason as before. In the past, she had always been the one to comb Niu Youdao's hair. Now that he had returned, she had intended to continue as she had before. Before coming, she had hesitated over whether she should. After all, Master Dao now had Black Peony beside him in what Shang Shuqing believed was that kind of relationship. She had struggled with herself for quite some time before finally deciding to come. What she saw now made her lower her head.

A trace of hurt and melancholy crossed her eyes. She suddenly felt that coming had indeed been unnecessary. Worse, it was awkward. She no longer knew whether she should go forward or simply turn around and leave. She had thought she understood her own situation and could face it calmly.

Only after seeing this with her own eyes did she realize the feeling in her heart was still difficult to bear.

“Hah!”

Yuan Gang suddenly exhaled sharply. His body flipped around the horizontal bar in a burst of motion. Niu Youdao, who had been sitting before the dressing table with his eyes closed, opened them and looked outside. Black Peony, carefully arranging his hair, raised her head as well. At the same moment they saw Yuan Gang move, they also saw Shang Shuqing standing silently in the courtyard. Niu Youdao gave Yuan Gang, who had dropped from the bar and was striding away, a look rich with meaning.

Then he tilted his head slightly.

“Invite the Commandery Princess over.”

Black Peony let go, set down the comb, and went outside. Before long, she brought Shang Shuqing in.

“Commandery Princess, did you need something?”

Niu Youdao asked with a smile.

Shang Shuqing answered gently, “I came to see whether Master Dao is comfortable after moving into a new place.”

“Oh.”

Niu Youdao said, “I thought the Commandery Princess had come to comb my hair.”

Shang Shuqing glanced at Black Peony.

“With Elder Sister Peony here to help, there is no need for Qing'er to trouble you with my rough hands.”

Niu Youdao said, “Her? She's the rough-handed one. She's not as good as you.”

Black Peony rolled her eyes and cursed him inwardly. Heartless bastard. I've waited on you for so long, and all I get is ‘rough-handed’? Niu Youdao turned his head toward her.

“Go prepare the water for washing.”

“Yes.”

Black Peony answered and left. Only two people remained in the room. Silence settled. Niu Youdao's hair was still only half combed. He slowly closed his eyes again. Shang Shuqing did not know whether she should leave or stay. Her white teeth lightly scraped her lower lip. Then she quietly walked to the dressing table, picked up the comb, and moved behind Niu Youdao. Carefully, earnestly, she began combing his hair. Niu Youdao did not need to look to know who it was.

Even with his eyes closed and no knowledge beforehand, that comfortable, familiar sensation would have told him it was Shang Shuqing. It felt completely different from Black Peony's hands. Every single strand of hair seemed able to feel the gentleness and meticulous care in her movements. A quiet current of comfort flowed through him. When Black Peony combed his hair, she would invariably yank out several strands with the comb. That never happened with Shang Shuqing. In her hands, having his hair combed felt like an indulgence.

[End of Chapter 204]