Chapter 138: The Eldest Sister-in-Law Brings Good Fortune; The Witchcraft Calamity

Clank!

In a corner of the imperial temporary palace, inside the independent courtyard and gateways of the Fragrance-傾 Fragrance Hall, a teacup used for rinsing the mouth was fiercely smashed onto the ground by a large hand, sending tea soup and shattered porcelain flying in all directions.

"Useless! You're all completely useless!"

Mao Haifeng, who had just climbed out of his pampered wife's bed early that morning, roared like thunder. Several maids preparing to serve their master in washing up were so frightened that they shrank into balls, kneeling on the ground like quails.

It was only when the lady still resting beneath the bedcovers stretched out a smooth, jade-white arm like a tender lotus root—fairer than frost and snow—and waved it slightly that they felt as if granted a great pardon, scrambling away in a flurry of rolling and crawling.

"Husband, what is the matter? Why are you in such a fierce rage so early in the morning?"

The newlywed lady sat up, leaning against his shoulder. As the thin quilt slipped down, the flawless white skin of her body seemed to illuminate the bedchamber with an added brilliance.

Casually pulling this warm, fragrant jade into his embrace, Mao Haifeng barely managed to force a stiff smile onto his face, suppressing his anger to console her:

"My wife, it is nothing of importance. Your husband can handle it."

Last night, he had dispatched three middle-third-rank Shinto officials and made a great fuss mobilizing the imperial guards, all to create the perfect assassination conditions for the killer.

Who could have expected that a foolproof plan would actually fail?

Having just woken up to receive such bad news, how could he not be furious?

Moreover, not only did the mission fail, but Sun Xiong—the man specially responsible for doing his dirty work—was nearly crippled by the "assassination target," leaving him severely wounded and bedridden, unable to fight anyone for months.

Although he somewhat favored Gao Ren—who, like him, came from an adopted background and was temporarily acting as one of the Twenty-Four Generals as the [Mountain-Bearing General]—it did not stop him from cursing Sun Xiong's incompetence.

"Fortunately, Wang Cheng did not discover those fools' petty actions, and even gave extra rewards to the imperial guards who nearly killed him.

If it doesn't succeed this time, there will be a next time.

Dealing with a naive fool like Wang Cheng, who has never been beaten down by reality and lacks all sense of crisis, I am merely lacking a tiny bit of luck for now.

The only pity is that with this twist of events here, there is no way to pin the blame for murdering the heir apparent on the diplomatic mission, nor use the heir's death to coerce the entire Five-Peak Flag into rising in rebellion and launching a counter-offensive against the Great Zhao."

After the [Xuanwu Gate Plaque] and the [Xiangji Temple Plaque] simultaneously took effect, the first confrontation between the two heirs resulted in a narrow victory for Wang Cheng and a narrow defeat for Mao Haifeng.

Although it was not yet time to definitively decide the outcome, the atmospheric pressure hovering above their heads had already undergone subtle shifts imperceptibly.

Clearly, a certain combined ability—unknown even to the two wielders of the plaques—had been quietly activated.

Seeing that the morning was already advancing, Mao Haifeng got up and dressed under the attendance of his cherished wife.

Catching sight of a pale silver-pink peach blossom birthmark on her white shoulder, his gaze grew feverishly hot once more. Infatuated, he gazed at his beloved wife, reached out, and gave her a firm squeeze, preparing to continue his fondling.

For a ruthless overlord like Mao Haifeng, feminine beauty was only secondary; the crucial point was the grand secret hidden within his newlywed wife.

——The upper-grade destiny: [Official-Star Peach-Blossom Grid]!

"To point at peach blossoms to divine an official position means that the official post brings peach blossoms. When a person encounters a peach-blossom romantic partner, not only do they not decline, but they achieve wealth and power because of it. For example, on a Wu-Wu day and an Yi-Mao hour, the Mao is both the peach blossom of Wu and the official star.

The official-star peach blossom is a lifelong peach blossom that does not change with the fortune of passing years; it remains permanently effective.

Legend has it that men who possess the official star can not only rise rapidly through the officialdom and Shinto cultivation, but also attract the favor of romantic fortunes!

This is the most coveted romantic official path that ordinary people dream of even in their sleep.

Achieving sudden prosperity in the officialdom, accompanied by a multitude of female confidants, passing the imperial examinations, spending one's wedding night in the bridal chamber, rising in official rank and growing wealthy... endless joys of life to be relished, an incomparably pleasant existence that is practically the protagonist's treatment.

Yet, what happens when this destiny is born upon a woman?

It transforms from a 'romantic official path' into the 'standard equipment of the strong'!

While it has little direct impact on the women themselves, it has the power to bring prosperity to their husbands and catalyze fortune.

Regardless of whom she marries, that person is very likely to rise to prominence and become a regional powerhouse.

If she can conceive an offspring, it becomes even more extraordinary, capable of even supplementing her husband's destiny with an official star, elevating the other party's strength and even their official rank!"

How could a man fail to love such a delicate wife adept in both internal and external virtues?

However, before the large hand could continue its mischief, it was firmly pressed down by the beauty, who uttered a reproachful cry:

"Husband! It is already broad daylight."

Mao Haifeng was still unwilling to give up, his face full of ingratiating pampering:

"Cuiqiao, ever since I rescued you from the sea on the battlefield, more than half a year has passed since our marriage, yet your belly has shown no movement.

How can I not be anxious?

Rest assured, husband swears that I will never mind your past. As long as we have a child, I will surely make you the most noble Princess of Pacifying the Sea on these Four Islands of Yingzhou!"

In his burning gaze, his newlywed wife was far from a simple beauty; she was a trump card for achieving his grand enterprise.

The intelligence gathered earlier from Great Zhao was extremely detailed, and the power of the [Official-Star Peach-Blossom Grid] had long been verified through her:

"When she was a famous courtesan of Qinhuai, she first married an elderly and ugly seventh-rank wealthy merchant, causing his family business to flourish in a short period;"

"She then married Luo Wenlong, a [Painter] of an ink-making lineage, helping him successfully secure an official post, becoming the confidant of the Grand Secretary's son and a Hanlin Shufu Editor, elevating his realm by one rank within a short time;"

"She married Xu Hai, a top-third-rank [Heaven-Sent General Pacifying the Sea], for her third marriage, helping him ascend to the position of leader of the raiding faction, capable of contending with the Prince of Pacifying the Sea;"

"Once Xu Hai was destroyed by the Five-Peak Flag, she was secretly taken in by me and married me for the fourth time. Mere three months later, I successfully backstabbed my adoptive father, completing the first step of the power-seizure plan.

Every time she marries, she brings tremendous benefits to her husband. Not only is she an peerless treasure in the bedchamber, but she is also a top-tier wise helpmeet in a man's career."

Now that Wang Cuiqiao was herself a middle-third-rank official, the effect of her destiny was quite formidable.

The lower third rank could boost by one full rank, the middle third rank could boost by half a rank, and even the upper third rank could boost by at least ten percent.

Mao Haifeng now only hoped that she would conceive his child as soon as possible, so that even if he eventually had to upend the table and seize power overtly, he would hold one more trump card.

"Oh, husband, your concubine is truly exhausted. How about tonight when you return?"

Wang Cuiqiao used all sorts of persuasion before Mao Haifeng finally abandoned the idea of broad-daylight debauchery.

"Very well, let it be as my wife says. I will have the kitchen stew a bowl of hen and ginseng soup for you to nourish yourself."

After lingering a little longer, Mao Haifeng turned and left with some reluctance, entirely unaware of the extremely complex gaze of his pampered wife behind him.

Half the bedcovers veiled her face, her pretty countenance depressed and melancholy, grieving and self-pitying:

"How fortunate am I, Wang Cuiqiao, to bear the upper-grade destiny of the [Official-Star Peach-Blossom Grid], yet how unfortunate is this mournful life?

Of four husbands, the first had me sold by the madam and forced into marriage; the third had me captured by Japanese pirates and forced to be his wife;

I secretly reported to that Governor Hu, providing intelligence to help the government soldiers and the allied forces of Prince Jing kill Xu Hai, thinking I could finally escape the sea of bitterness and return to Great Zhao.

Yet I was captured and forcibly married by Mao Haifeng.

Calculated in all, amid countless ephemeral flings and four successive marriages, only with Wenlong was there mutual affection.

When we first met, he did not know I possessed the husband-prospering destiny, nor did I know he possessed vast family wealth; our marital bond was pure indeed.

Now, to survive, I have successively yielded to Xu Hai and Mao Haifeng, and the person I have wronged the most is Wenlong. Yet what face do I have left to return to Great Zhao to see him?"

Daring not voice her grievances aloud, she only wept softly, tearful like pear blossoms in the rain, stirring pity.

As Mao Haifeng stepped out of the bedchamber, he saw the chief steward responsible for monitoring Wang Cheng's movements coming forward to greet him. He asked offhandedly:

"What is that foolish boy up to?"

Seeing that his master was in low spirits, the steward purposely told him a joke to amuse him:

"Big Shipmaster, it is truly laughable.

Not only did he reward the imperial guards last night, but he just sent men over to the estate to borrow money from you.

He claims to have heard that three of our Black-Peak Flag's Twenty-Four Generals were injured and dozens killed last night, and intends to borrow money to reward the Black Peak Flag soldiers.

He even wrote an IOU; the interest rate is actually quite good."

Hearing this, Mao Haifeng finally smiled:

"Wang Cheng truly has made no progress; even buying people's hearts can be done so clumsily.

Making lavish rewards on my turf—how many people will actually be grateful to him? Won't the money he scatters ultimately find its way back into my hands?

Does he think this is children playing house with mud?"

With a wave of his large hand, he commanded:

"Give it to him! Double it and give it to him.

Do not call it a loan; even if he asks for it outright, as his elder brother, I will satisfy him completely. The facade must be maintained to the fullest.

Even if he were to die one day, no one would suspect us. Everything given to him now will eventually return to my hands tenfold or a hundredfold."

The chief steward bowed in assent and hurried off to make arrangements.

Determined to play both ends against the middle, he planned to move a bit more wealth from Mao Haifeng's treasury to present to the heir apparent, while skimming off the interest the young lord was paying him.

Little did he know that while he was greedy for the high interest, Wang Cheng was also greedy for the principal and had never intended to repay the loan at all.

Mao Haifeng himself walked into the secluded quiet room, lit a stick of joss-stick incense, looked at the unfamiliar scholar materializing before him, and asked:

"The Great Zhao diplomatic mission?"

The scholar formed by smoke cupped his hands:

"This official's surname is Jiang, style name Wenyuan, serving as the deputy envoy of the diplomatic mission. The Big Shipmaster may call me Jiang Wenyuan, or Deputy Envoy Jiang.

Contacting you today—could it be that the matter entrusted to you by the noble person has made progress?"

Mao Haifeng expressionlessly recounted the course of last night's operation:

"The assassination failed. You will need to wait a little longer."

Deputy Envoy Jiang frowned, thinking he was making excuses once again, and reiterated the will of the major gentry and purists:

"Big Shipmaster, the diplomatic mission led by the Yan faction must die!

The maritime ban cannot be lifted; no one deserves to carve off a share of the profits from our hands.

We wish to maintain the maritime ban, and you wish to monopolize the Eastern Sea; neither of us wishes to see the so-called General Suppressing the Sea and General Trampling the Sea cause you trouble.

A union between us benefits both."

Mao Haifeng did not care to listen to these grand principles and waved a hand:

"If you can help me eliminate the Heir of the Prince of Pacifying the Sea, this matter will become much easier to handle."

Deputy Envoy Jiang understood inwardly:

"So he wants to bargain?"

As a [Neo-Confucian Scholar] hailing from a prestigious family, he had always looked down upon these low-class maritime merchants and pirates mostly originating from the Eight Outcast Sects of the water brigades.

Especially this high-profile collaborator, the [Black Qilin].

"The fate reading of a bone weight of five taels and nine qian was not wrong at all.

Resourceful and capable, respected by others, yet short-tempered, rigid, and unable to endure the slightest loss in life.

To fully consume all the benefits of the Eastern Sea Kingdom, he uses righteousness to suppress Xu Weilexing and Peng Laosheng, yet dares not use quick and decisive methods to eliminate his target.

Little does he know that momentum must not be exhausted, blessings must not be fully enjoyed, advantages must not be completely seized, cleverness must not be utterly spent; when everything is pushed to the extreme, one's fate is bound to end early.

Such a person can never comprehend the principle of 'one must give in order to receive.' Greedy for everything grand and complete, what major deed can you possibly accomplish?"

Yet no matter how much scorn he felt in his heart, the other party wielded immense influence in Yingzhou, and even if he only laid claim to the word "ruthless," he could still be called a regional overlord.

This matter still had to be done for him.

Turning his eyes as an idea struck him, he laughed loudly:

"That is quite a coincidence! Have you ever heard of the Witchcraft Calamity from the reign of Emperor Wu of Han that made the imperial family the most apprehensive?

The earth-brigade [Carpenter] previously responsible for suppressing that Prince's Heir with the [Mount Tai Thousand-Catty Anchor] was dispatched by my teacher, Grand Secretary Xu, to serve as the vanguard, and has already arrived in Yingzhou ahead of the diplomatic mission.

He happens to have a treasure specifically designed to slay heirs and princes, originating from a certain figure who made every crown prince turn pale at the mere mention.

I will send someone to deliver the item. Once the [Carpenter] sets up the altar and performs the rituals, using that talismanic suppression object to kill the target, you will be able to catch them red-handed and apprehend them on the spot.

Killing two birds with one stone, and solidifying the fact that the diplomatic mission secretly murdered the Prince's Heir!"

Mao Haifeng was quite satisfied with this strategy for the second assassination:

"Not bad. When it comes to plotting and scheming, it really still takes you bookish scholars.

I hope you can accomplish this as quickly as possible!"

Deputy Envoy Jiang cupped his hands:

"Rest assured, we prepared plenty of scapegoats before we even set out."