The storm caused by Xin Muyi’s death continued to ferment. In the shadows, those watching Tianshangjing had already received the news before the Xize envoys even crossed the borders of Wei.
"Xin Muyi is dead?!"
Countless people across the three kingdoms cried out in shock and suspicion.
According to the reports sent back by their spies in Wei, this matter was related to someone they had heard of before.
Ye Zhao, the son of Tian Shu.
There was no one who did not know that name.
No one knew why Xin Muyi had committed suicide. They only knew that among the people he saw when he looked back at the city gates for the last time was Ye Zhao. Before he died, he claimed that Tian Shu had returned, and then he took his own life.
This death was as mysterious as it was sudden, leaving people utterly bewildered, unable to fathom the reason behind it.
But the answer surely lay within Tianshangjing...
The winds were rising, and dark undercurrents began to surge beneath the surface.
However, Xin Muyi’s death had little impact on Ye Zhao. At the moment, he was busily engaged in the heat of his "entrepreneurship."
Or, to put it another way, he was busy helping Jiang Ziqi build the marriage fund he needed to wed Li Yunrong.
"Ye Zhao, this is...?"
Jiang Ziqi finished reading the booklet Ye Zhao had handed him. On it was written the strategic plan for the "Fengyun Pavilion."
The others sitting in the circle also took turns reading it. After finishing, they all fell into silent contemplation.
Jiang Ziqi was not cut out to be an official, so Ye Zhao wouldn't force him into that path. Instead, he had devised a role that suited Jiang Ziqi’s temperament while carrying significant influence—becoming a grand master of intelligence.
Ye Zhao spoke plainly. "You should be well aware that you aren't suited for a career in the imperial court. Rather than spending years of energy competing with countless others for a limited number of official positions, it is better to find a different path and spend your time on the right things."
"I have thought about it carefully. You possess a strength that many others lack: outstanding social skills. Furthermore, you are adept at discovery—noticing things that many people overlook. All this information is gathered in your mind."
Ye Zhao looked at him earnestly. "In other words, you know things, even secrets, that many others do not."
"If utilized well, these can become the capital for you to distinguish yourself. You could even reach a height that many cannot match. If you want Minister Li to look upon you with favor, this is your only chance."
Ye Zhao’s final words emphasized the importance of the matter. Jiang Ziqi was stunned for a moment. He lowered his head and looked at the thin booklet in his hand again, as if suddenly feeling its immense weight.
He remained silent for a while before asking, "Are you serious?"
"Of course I am."
"But will this work?" Jiang Ziqi expressed his doubt. "Who would specifically come to buy this kind of information? Besides, although I have many friends, the secrets I know are all trivial. If it were truly some grand, hidden secret, how could I possibly know it?"
Ye Zhao knew that Jiang Ziqi hadn't yet grasped the framework and logic of the plan. He smiled. "The things you know alone are naturally limited. That is why we are establishing the Fengyun Pavilion. Although its influence might be small in the beginning, the further we go, the more you will see its power."
He flipped open the booklet and pointed out a specific point to Jiang Ziqi. "And look, information doesn't necessarily have to be bought with money. Some can be exchanged for information of equal value. In this way, you gain a new secret."
"As information accumulates, the Fengyun Pavilion will eventually become the place that knows the most secrets in the world. Are you still worried about having no business? The Intelligence Network will handle specific information trading, while the Fengyun Column will lean more toward the lives of the general public."
He flipped to the next page. "Look at this as well."
"The more secrets the Fengyun Pavilion holds, the more manpower it will need. To support so many people, we need another long-term and stable source of income—the Fengyun Column."
Then, Ye Zhao began to slowly explain the series of measures to Jiang Ziqi one by one.
This was actually similar to the concept of modern social media platforms. A public wall would be established, divided into several columns. Ordinary citizens could post for free, but only once a day, and they were forbidden from posting anything illegal or harmful.
However, asking for help or pinning a message to the top would require a transaction fee, with the duration set based on the amount paid. If someone provided an effective answer or solution, they would be given a certain monetary reward.
There were also bounty amounts set by people seeking help for their own difficulties—such as finding people, finding lost items, resolving doubts, or engaging in literary exchanges. The Fengyun Pavilion and the respondent would split the bounty according to a certain percentage.
There was even a "Fengyun Top Ten Philanthropists List."
As the name suggested, this would promote good deeds and serve as a source of positive publicity.
On and on he went...
By the time he finished his lengthy explanation, Ye Zhao’s throat was dry. He gulped down some water and continued with the final point regarding the newspaper. He planned to set up several sections for current events, missing persons or items, celebrity updates, essays, and reading materials.
He didn't believe it wouldn't sell!
The first step was to use the newspaper to drive sales and earn enough startup capital for the Fengyun Pavilion. Ye Zhao also told Jiang Ziqi a method to recruit merchants to pay for advertisements in the paper, which was another way to generate revenue.
"I’ve even thought of the name. The one in Tianshangjing will be called the *Fengyun News*. Later, when the paper circulates throughout Wei, the local papers will be named after their respective regions, limited to the scope of a single province."
"What do you all think?"
...
A long silence followed.
Seeing that everyone was staring at him without speaking, Ye Zhao’s expression gradually turned puzzled. "Well?"
Jiang Ziqi snapped out of it, his face still carrying a trace of his earlier daze, but he quickly nodded with dead seriousness. "Good!"
In all fairness, the plan Ye Zhao had considered was comprehensive enough. Although some details had yet to be finalized, it was undeniable that this blueprint possessed great feasibility and allure. Jiang Ziqi wasn't worried about anything else, except— "But Ye Zhao, can I really do this?"
To his question, Ye Zhao countered directly, "Why couldn't you?"
"This..." Jiang Ziqi didn't know what to say for a moment. He thought about it and stammered, "Such a large enterprise... you, you're letting me..."
His voice trailed off before he could finish. After hearing all of Ye Zhao’s ways to make money, Jiang Ziqi could roughly imagine the kind of wealth involved. He felt apprehensive, a bit lost, nervous, and overwhelmed by the favor.
Ye Zhao glanced at him, saw through his mood, and said calmly, "You can."
"Believe in yourself, Jiang Ziqi." Those black eyes seemed to look straight into the depths of one's heart as Ye Zhao said earnestly, "The value of the Fengyun Pavilion is limitless. Furthermore, in Wei, no one will dare to obstruct its development. His Majesty will safeguard you. You don't need to worry about that."
"What?!"
Jiang Ziqi was stunned. How did the Emperor of Wei get involved in this?
Ye Zhao casually glanced at Xie Yusong and Su Jinzhou, then looked at Pei Shi'an. The former two remained silent, their expressions calm, though their eyes betrayed a sense of deep thought and gravity.
Pei Shi'an said, "The establishment of the Fengyun Pavilion is a good thing. It holds no disadvantage for the State of Wei; on the contrary, it is beneficial. His Majesty will naturally be happy to see it emerge."
It had only been too sudden just now. Now that he thought about it, Jiang Ziqi naturally understood the key points.
The emergence of the Fengyun Column would not hinder the people's livelihood; instead, it would strengthen communication among the populace, facilitate the spread of various information, and provide a great deal of help to the lives of ordinary people.
For something beneficial to the people, His Majesty was no tyrant—why wouldn't he be willing to lend a hand?
A look of sudden realization dawned on Jiang Ziqi’s face.
What the others were thinking of, however, were things on a deeper level. Ye Zhao chose this moment to make it clear. "The better you develop the Fengyun Pavilion, the more Minister Li will see your value."
"When the Fengyun Pavilion’s name is known throughout the world, and the Fengyun Intelligence Network spans all four kingdoms, when no secret can escape the eyes and ears of the Pavilion, then even if you are not an official, you will be a match for any high-ranking minister of the court."
Marrying the daughter of a Minister would, naturally, no longer be considered "climbing above his station."
Jiang Ziqi was not stupid, nor did he think Ye Zhao was speaking empty words. After thinking it over, he asked tentatively, "It's easier to enjoy the shade when leaning against a big tree?"
The "big tree" referred to the Emperor of Wei, and in exchange, he would need to frequently provide the Emperor with the necessary intelligence.
Seeing that he understood the deeper meaning, Ye Zhao smiled with satisfaction. "Naturally. Intelligence is priceless. Often, seemingly insignificant information hides a great secret."
With that, the two shared a knowing smile. There was no need for further words. Jiang Ziqi excitedly slapped Ye Zhao on the back. "Come on, let's go to Xianmantang in Quelou for a meal! My treat!"
He didn't know how to express his gratitude; a thousand words were condensed into this one sentence.
Ye Zhao naturally smiled and agreed. He turned to look at the others present and said to Jiang Ziqi with a grin, "Alright, you'd better treat us well later. With Yusong and the others helping you, you've truly struck gold."
Eh?
The others paused. Wait, when did we agree to help???
"At most, just let Jiang Ziqi owe you a favor. After all, you've already seen this plan. It's too late to back out now..." Ye Zhao blinked, his tone light and relaxed.
Beneath the seemingly joking words lay another layer of meaning.
Although the Fengyun Pavilion had not yet been established, its future value was imaginable. By letting Jiang Ziqi owe them a favor now, they would naturally be repaid for their help in the future. Furthermore, only they had seen this establishment plan; if it were leaked later, they would not be able to escape responsibility.
The others understood. In just a few breaths, their thoughts turned several times.
"Between friends, it's just a bit of help. Why be so formal?" Xie Yusong smiled.
Su Jinzhou gave him a faint, sideways glance. Although he detested that nauseating facade, it was true that helping today would not be a loss for him.
"Just tell me what needs to be done," Su Jinzhou said.
Ye Zhao nodded.
Pei Shi'an also stepped in, smiling faintly. "Do you need my help?"
Ye Zhao returned the smile. "No need. Does such a small matter require you to take action?"
Pei Shi'an smiled and did not insist.
If Pei Shi'an were to get involved in this matter, the resulting storm would be too great, and the web of connections would become overly complex.
It wasn't worth it.
Jiang Ziqi had originally been quite overwhelmed by the favor, but hearing this, he felt a sense of relief. If he truly had the dignified Duke of An helping him with his work, he feared his "small temple" wouldn't be able to accommodate such a "great buddha."
"It's noon. It's rare for Jiang Ziqi to treat us, so we must eat our fill," Ye Zhao said to the group as he stood up from the low table and stretched his limbs.
Jiang Ziqi was happy and laughed. "Fine! This young master will be generous for once today, so don't hold back. Let's go, time to eat!"
Having spent a long time together, they had become much more familiar with one another. Only Xie Yusong and Su Jinzhou remained at odds; the rest got along quite well.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
风云楼 | Fengyun Pavilion | The intelligence organization Ye Zhao proposes.
风云栏 | Fengyun Column | A public bulletin/forum section of the Pavilion.
风云报 | Fengyun Newspaper | A periodical for news and advertisements.
风云谍网 | Fengyun Intelligence Network | The covert side of the organization.
李云容 | Li Yunrong | Daughter of Minister Li; Jiang Ziqi's love interest.
鲜满堂 | Xianmantang | A restaurant located in Quelou.
