The wheels of the four-wheeled carriage crunched over the newly sprouted green grass on the official road, striking the stone crevices and emitting a clattering sound. This, combined with the creaking of the carriage's spring, created a cheerful song.

The road leading out of the Internal Treasury was filled with joyous sights. Small birds flitted quickly through the distant groves by the paddy fields, and the tender green rice shoots displayed their slender, shy figures. The weeds by the paddy fields looked down upon them disdainfully. The road was busy with vehicles, and cargo ships crisscrossed the river, transporting the Internal Treasury's products through various channels to sell to the world, creating a lively scene.

A convoy of carriages, escorted by government soldiers, easily passed the innermost checkpoint. Normally, the cargo trucks on the official road would not dare to compete with this convoy, instinctively stopping. However, someone in the carriage team glanced around, seemingly noticing the heavy traffic due to the large volume of Internal Treasury goods being shipped out today. They ordered their convoy to stop on a patch of grass by the roadside, unexpectedly allowing the cargo trucks to pass first.

In the second-to-last carriage of the convoy rode the pitiful Internal Treasury Transfer Department officials, who had just been stripped of their official hats and robes the day before. These officials were all confidants of the Eldest Princess planted in the Internal Treasury. Although they had anticipated that their days would be difficult after Supervisor Fan's arrival, they had not expected Fan Xian to be so unyielding, showing no face to officials or his mother-in-law. He had arrested them decisively, and on the pretext of… the labor unrest… These officials now knew, of course, that they had fallen into Fan Xian's trap and were filled with anxiety.

However, Fan Xian did not immediately begin the trial. These officials had their own relatives and friends, and they learned in prison last night that Fan Xian was preparing to take them to Suzhou and hand them over to Governor-General Xue Qing of Jiangnan for interrogation. Upon hearing this news, the officials' spirits lifted slightly. As long as they didn't face the torture devices and chili water of the Supervisory Council, how easy would it be to settle this case? Even if the Supervisory Council had the testimonies of the Treasury clerks who had turned against them, as long as they stubbornly denied everything after arriving in Suzhou, Governor-General Xue Qing would have to give the Eldest Princess some face. If they could delay for a while, if the pressure from the capital increased, Fan Xian would be too busy to care about them.

"Why give it to Xue Qing to judge?" Haitang leaned against the carriage window, slightly frowning.

Fan Xian lowered his head and said, "This matter is not suitable for me to handle."

Haitang gently hummed in agreement, saying nothing more. Since the day of the labor unrest, the atmosphere between the two had become somewhat strange. The mutual trust of the past seemed to have diminished slightly, and while they treated each other politely, there was a hint of distance. Haitang thought it over afterward and understood why, knowing that her suggestion of taking a trip that day had indeed been somewhat difficult for Fan Xian. However, seeing Fan Xian always acting so deliberately detached these past few days, she felt it was not appropriate to take the initiative to explain. After all, regardless of how you look at it, Haitang, as the Holy Maiden of Northern Qi, held an extraordinary position, and Fan Xian's pride had also touched her own.

So the two of them were currently maintaining this awkward exchange.

"I want to confirm one more time, has the silver arrived in the account?" Fan Xian asked, frowning.

A faint smile floated on Haitang's face, seemingly mocking Fan Xian's anxiety. She said softly, "I said it in Suzhou last time, why worry so much? Could it be that you don't trust me now?"

Fan Xian suddenly felt the atmosphere in the carriage was a bit oppressive. He whispered a few words to Sisi beside him and then lifted the carriage curtain and got out of the carriage. Sisi tilted her head slightly, curiously looking at Haitang, wondering how this famous girl had offended the young master. She had clearly seen these past few days that although the young master had no romantic intentions towards this Haitang, he had initially acted like longtime close friends, but these past few days had been a bit strange.

Haitang was somewhat baffled by Sisi's gaze and suddenly smiled, "What are you looking at?"

Sisi retorted unhappily, "Are you the only one allowed to look at me, and I'm not allowed to look at you?"

Haitang shook her head with a smile, habitually reaching for her waist… but found nothing. She had been wearing a maid's outfit these days, not her usual floral padded jacket, so she didn't have those two big pockets in front.

She teased Sisi, "I'm looking at you to see what kind of woman Fan Xian likes."

This was the truth. Haitang had never understood why Fan Xian could remain calm and deliberately maintain his distance in front of her friend Si Lili, who was the most beautiful woman in the world. Even after that one night of passion, he had no feelings of attachment to Si Lili. He had been in Jiangnan for dozens of days and hadn't even asked her a single question, like whether Si Lili was doing well recently.

Even the most heartless person wouldn't be so indifferent to a stunning beauty with whom they had shared a night and a carriage ride. So Haitang even began to suspect that Fan Xian might have some hidden ailment, like His Majesty…

But Fan Xian had taken Sisi into his room. Haitang had naturally learned along the way that this head maid, Sisi, was Fan Xian's woman, so she was a bit strange. But after watching her these past few days, she couldn't see anything particularly unusual about Sisi. Her appearance was only dignified and delicate, far less charming and voluptuous than Si Lili.

Hearing Haitang mention "the woman Fan Xian likes," Sisi's face flushed red instantly, and she responded in a voice as small as a mosquito's buzz, "How… how could the young master like me?"

Haitang shook her head with a wry smile, "If he didn't like you, why would he take you into his room? Although Fan Xian is a cold-blooded and ruthless person, I don't believe he would do such a thing."

Sisi suddenly raised her face, revealing a look of pride and confidence, "You're mistaken, the young master is the most sentimental person in the world."

"Sentimental?" Haitang savored these two words, remembering that Sisi seemed to have served Fan Xian since childhood. She frowned, wondering if a young and powerful minister like Fan Xian, who was cold-blooded and enjoyed scheming against others, was really… a sentimental person?

She sighed, and since her clothes didn't have big pockets, she had no choice but to put her hands in her sleeves with some regret. She asked, "Sisi, then why were you staring at me earlier?"

Actually, Sisi felt a bit of resistance towards this Haitang, who was always inseparable from the young master these past few days. After all, the other party wasn't the young mistress, and she was also a person from the opposing Northern Qi. But after interacting with her more, like many people who had interacted with Haitang, Sisi had easily grown to like this gentle, upright, and straightforward girl. Haitang's status was noble, and although her face seemed indifferent, she didn't talk much, but she treated people very sincerely, treating people of all identities equally and with genuine respect and equality - like Sisi, who was still a head maid - and this alone was far beyond most people in the world.

Hearing Haitang ask this, Sisi couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, saying, "Like you thought, I also wanted to see what kind of person the young master likes."

……

……

The carriage fell silent. Haitang opened her big, bright eyes, looking at Sisi like a cute little animal. After a long while, she put her hands in her sleeves and shrugged her shoulders, saying, "Would the Xiongnu not kill people?"

The Western Hu and Northern Barbarians had harmed countless Zhongyuan people for hundreds of years, and their ferocious reputation was known far and wide. Sisi answered resolutely, "Impossible!"

Haitang slowly blinked and said with a smile, "The same principle applies."

———————————————————————

A gentle breeze brushed against Fan Xian's face, telling him that it was spring. He closed his eyes, welcoming the breeze and smelling the scent of life in the wind. He felt very comfortable. The green leaves of the trees across the paddy fields rustled in the wind. Suddenly, his eyelids twitched, and he heard rustling sounds coming from behind.

It wasn't the wind brushing against the treetops, it wasn't sweeping the streets, it wasn't rolling dice, it wasn't a pencil writing, it wasn't silkworms eating mulberry leaves.

It was her walking, a country girl walking.

Fan Xian didn't open his eyes and said slowly, "Why is it impossible?"

"Hmm?" Haitang walked calmly to his side, using a single word to express her question, her calmness resembling that of the blind man to Chen Pingping many years ago.

Fan Xian's lips curled slightly, and he said, "Why do you think it's impossible for me to like you? According to news from the Council, the Empress Dowager of Northern Qi is already worried about your marriage."

Haitang put her hands in her sleeves, standing beside him and looking at the oxen plowing in the paddy fields in front of her. She smiled faintly, knowing that he had heard everything she and Sisi had said in the carriage. She said, "It seems your true qi has recovered nicely."

Fan Xian opened his eyes, staring at a small bird that had landed on the back of an ox, and asked with a smile, "What I'm asking is… why is it impossible for me to like you?"

Haitang turned her head to look at him, and when she realized he was asking the question seriously, she couldn't help but respond helplessly, "You always like to be so flirtatious, but you can't actually gain any advantage."

Fan Xian was silent, thinking of his conversation with Qi Ye yesterday. After his rebirth, there were many things he could only do but not say, but with Haitang… it seemed he could only say but not do? He couldn't help but laugh, saying, "I'm just curious why you're so sure."

Haitang said with a smile, "In Shangjing City, you once said that all men, or rather, male animals, think with their lower bodies… and I think that I don't have the kind of appearance to arouse your thoughts. After all, my identity is different, you have scruples, and you can't gain any benefits, so how could you like me?"

Haitang was the Holy Maiden of Northern Qi, and Fan Xian was a powerful minister of Southern Qing. The two could get along as friends, but if they were really to become a couple, neither the Empress Dowager of Northern Qi nor the Emperor of Southern Qing would allow such a thing to happen. On the contrary, it would bring some harm to their plans. But Fan Xian wasn't thinking about these things. He said mockingly, "Liking someone has nothing to do with benefits. I've noticed that in just half a year, your mentality has changed too much from before."

Fan Xian seemed to have said this to Haitang in Hangzhou as well.

Haitang was silent for a long while before slowly saying, "The Heavenly Way Sect emphasizes the resonance between heaven and man, empathizing with the world and caring for the people. I originally thought that these things would happen naturally, but these past six months, I've been entangled in many plans, which is very different from my sect's core teachings, so I can't help but feel a bit uncomfortable."

Fan Xian nodded slightly, agreeing, "These scheming things are indeed only suitable for people like me to do. You should still go back to being a country girl, that's a promising career." He didn't know what he was thinking about and sighed, saying, "Speaking of which, your disharmony is ultimately my problem. If I hadn't pulled you into the game in Shangjing, perhaps you would still be raising chickens and teasing donkeys in the garden."

He turned to Haitang and said with a smile, "Would you say that I've led you down the demonic path?"

"What is the demonic path?" Haitang responded calmly, "It's just a demon in the heart. If there is desire, there will be loss. Although what I desire seems grand, there will still be loss, that is the so-called way of nature."

Fan Xian asked, "Then you still insist?"

"Of course," Haitang said softly. "Anzhi, you once said a sentence that deeply resonates with me."

"What sentence?"

"In this world, there has never been a good war, bad peace." Haitang said with a smile, "So for this goal, I am willing to help you."

Fan Xian once again fell into silence, staring blankly at the scenery in front of him. He saw that the bird, perhaps not finding any parasites to eat on the mud-covered ox, suddenly flew away with a whoosh.

"Actually, you don't need to be too insecure," Fan Xian turned to look at Haitang and said very seriously, "I've always thought you looked very dignified."

Haitang was speechless, and after a moment, she responded, "May I ask, is this praising me or mocking me?"

Fan Xian laughed and shook his head, saying, "I'm just responding to what you said earlier, the reason why I couldn't possibly like you. I'm just saying that in my opinion, you really look good…"

Haitang finally couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, acting like a little girl, which was extremely rare.

Fan Xian felt an itch between his eyebrows and rubbed it with his finger. He said, "Don't compare yourself to me. Among the women in this world, there aren't many beauties compared to me." He said gloomily, "This isn't my problem, it's my parents' problem."

No matter how calm and composed Haitang was, she was still just a teenager. What girl wouldn't care about her appearance? Unless she was blind… She was so annoyed by Fan Xian's words, which were ostensibly comforting but actually teasing, that she thought to herself that this guy's mouth was indeed annoying. She gritted her teeth and said, "As a high-ranking official, it's best not to make up things."

Fan Xian didn't seem to notice her anger and explained seriously, "I'm not making things up. You said I couldn't possibly like you because you're not pretty enough, and I'm trying to explain to you that in my opinion, you really look good…"

Haitang paused slightly. Fan Xian's next sentence came very quickly, "After all, there's a precedent. Everyone in Kyoto says that my wife's appearance is only delicate, but in my opinion, Wan'er is the most beautiful woman in the world…" He shook his head and sighed, "My aesthetics are probably different from most people in this world."

This sentence finally poisoned Haitang. She groaned, took her hands out of her sleeves, and flounced away. With a wave of her sleeves, grass clippings flew everywhere, and the wind moved for no reason, creating a powerful aura. It seemed that this wave contained the supreme true qi of the Heavenly Way Sect.

Fan Xian reached out to shield his eyes, looking very embarrassed in the midst of the grass clippings, swaying back and forth as if he might fall at any moment. However, in the midst of the flying grass clippings, his incredibly joyful laughter could be heard.

……

……

The wind stopped, and the grass clippings fell. Haitang stood quietly to the side, with a hint of sarcasm on her face, and ridiculed him, "Did you vent the anger of the past two days by humiliating me?"

Fan Xian paused slightly, sighed, and said with a smile, "Duoduo, are you still angry?" This was the first time he had called her Duoduo since the day of the labor unrest.

Haitang was stunned for a moment, then slowly turned around and walked towards the carriage. At this time, the Six Units swordsmen in the carriage had already gotten out to watch over them, and the Tiger Guards, led by Gao Da, were even more vigilantly staring at Haitang. After all, Fan Xian's subordinates didn't know what had happened during that burst of grass clippings and were very afraid that Haitang would suddenly attack.

Fan Xian followed her and said with a smile, "Don't rush to get in the carriage, walk with me." He waved his hand to tell Gao Da and the others to move away, gave a few more instructions, and then walked side by side with Haitang along the woodland next to the official road.

……

……

The two walked side by side, a long distance away from the convoy. The spring forest above their heads let sunlight through, creating all kinds of beautiful spots of light that shone on their clothes.

"I care a lot about the word 'trust'," Fan Xian said calmly. "Perhaps it's because in this life, it's hard for me to find someone I can trust, so I was a bit disappointed that you wanted to leave the manor that day."

Haitang lowered her head slightly, not explaining anything, but said very directly, "Duoduo also cares a lot about this matter. After all, you and I belong to different countries. Without the word 'trust,' it would be really difficult to achieve anything."

Once the words were spoken, it was relatively simple. But at this point, asking whether Haitang actually wanted to sneak into the workshops or whether Fan Xian had misunderstood the girl was already very unnecessary. Now that the trust between the two had been restored to some extent through Fan Xian's sharp tongue, bringing up the old matter would seem extremely foolish.

The two walked forward side by side. Haitang glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, frowning. She still had her hands in her sleeves, which wasn't as comfortable as Fan Xian's hands in his big pockets. Fan Xian explained softly, "I had Sisi add two pockets to the Supervisory Council official uniform."

Haitang smiled slightly and sighed with some regret.

In the woodland next to the official road, rustling sounds rose again. This pair of men and women, who had no romantic intentions but were particularly demanding of each other's trust, walked as naturally and lazily as they had six months ago in the palace of Shangjing, Northern Qi, on the roads by Yuquan River.

In front and behind them was a scene of spring, and the forest leaves above their heads were tender and lovely.

"What are you planning to do about the Ming family?" Haitang asked softly.

Fan Xian's eyebrows rose slightly. "The Internal Treasury opened bidding for sixteen items in total. In previous years, the Cui and Ming families would take fourteen of them. Now that the Cui family has fallen, there are about six positions left. I've already arranged for people to take over. After Siche almost finishes collecting the Cui family's remaining assets in the north by the middle of the year, the north and south sides will connect, and the roads will reopen… As long as your Wei Commander doesn't mess things up, there won't be any problems with the Internal Treasury's trade route to the north. As for how many private goods can be included, it depends on how well I can control the Internal Treasury. Also, I don't know how much of an impact the manpower my father transferred from the Ministry of Revenue will have."

This was his agreement with the young emperor of Northern Qi. Haitang's trip south was naturally to keep an eye on this matter and the large sum of silver.

Haitang was silent for a moment and said, "Even if you can completely control the Internal Treasury in a short period of time, if the amount you send to the north… according to the agreement, has to be more than the private goods the Eldest Princess sent in previous years, how can you guarantee the amount you hand over to the Qing Dynasty's court? I'm worried that it will be difficult for you to explain to the Qing Emperor. Before I came this time, His Majesty also asked me to tell you that if you can't meet the northern demand this year, you can postpone it for two years until you gain a firm foothold. After all, this is a long-term plan."

Fan Xian paused slightly, not expecting the Emperor of Northern Qi to be so considerate of him. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "Let's see how it goes. As long as the Internal Treasury's output this year is significantly higher than in previous years, it will be easy for me to explain to the court."

Haitang glanced at him and asked doubtfully, "Where will this increase come from?"

Fan Xian responded calmly, "First, of course, the output of the Internal Treasury's workshops must increase. After increasing the revenue, the old stewards, Su Wenmao, and those old officials from the Ministry of Revenue that my father sent will naturally tamper with the accounts to smuggle the goods out. You also know that it's me who supervises the Internal Treasury, so it's not too difficult for me to erase the traces. Second, I plan to take a big bite out of the Ming family, digging out the wealth of this large clan and offering it to His Majesty with both hands. His Majesty will be very happy."

Back to the original question Haitang had asked, what he was planning to do about the Ming family. Hearing his tone, it seemed that he wasn't planning to wipe out the Ming family in a short period of time, which was a bit unexpected. She asked, "Can you tolerate the Ming family?"

"I have to tolerate them, at least within this year." Fan Xian laughed mockingly, "The Cui family's foundation was too shallow, and their battle lines were spread too far, so the Supervisory Council could succeed in one battle. But the Ming family is a century-old clan that was famous in Jiangnan even before the Internal Treasury. Their foundation is extremely solid. There are tens of thousands of people in the clan, and countless officials in the court. If I used thunderous methods to deal with them, I'm afraid the Jiangnan Route would be thrown into chaos. The most crucial thing is…"

His face became serious, "The Ming family has eaten a lot of benefits from the Internal Treasury these past few years, but with such a big business, they certainly couldn't take it all for themselves. Of course, there are imperial family members behind this system. The Eldest Princess, the Crown Prince, and the Second Prince all have shares in it. You might not believe it, but even my Fan family has a position in it. And they send heavy gifts to Kyoto every year, and all the ministries and even the Privy Council have a very good impression of the Ming family. And they've always been low-key. You've met that Ming young master, and he's a very steady person in his dealings. He doesn't have too bad of a reputation among the people… It's really difficult to move against them."

Haitang also began to feel that this matter was a bit complicated, but she noticed that although there was a slight worry between Fan Xian's eyebrows, he still didn't lose his confidence. She asked, "What is your trump card?"

"My trump card is the Emperor," Fan Xian said seriously. "The Ming family stole the silver from the Internal Treasury and then gave a portion to the princesses, princes, and ministers. Everyone in the world likes the Ming family. But… His Majesty doesn't like them, because the Ming family is stealing his silver."