Gao Yiye had come to the Daughter Kingdom Textile Factory purely to pass the time.
A casual visit. Sisterly chatter. Maybe a cup of tea, a bit of gossip, and a walk among humming looms to clear her head.
She had not expected to walk straight into imperial-level nonsense before even finishing her first sentence.
When Chun Hong mentioned the Prince of Qin's residence openly looting the Celestial Fertilizer, Gao Yiye felt an odd mixture of amusement and irritation—like discovering that a textbook example had suddenly crawled out of the book and started robbing people in broad daylight.
As the person responsible for ideological education in Gao Family Village, her studies had long ago drifted away from poetry and etiquette and straight into the anatomy of power. Rent-seeking. Feudal privilege. Structural rot.
Everything she had learned was now standing in Xi'an, holding a club.
She shook her head softly.
At that moment, the female sentinel stationed at the northwest watchtower suddenly cupped her hands and shouted at the top of her lungs:
"—Officials from the imperial court have arrived in Chengcheng County!"
The words rippled through the factory like a stone dropped into water.
Female workers rushed toward the gates, sleeves flying, craning their necks toward the northeast road.
Gao Yiye blinked, surprised. She exchanged a glance with Chun Hong, then calmly led her guards toward the entrance as well.
In the distance, a small procession approached.
Only a dozen or so people. Two horses. No banners. No gongs. No ceremonial nonsense.
On the horses sat two men whose backs looked noticeably heavier than when they had last passed through Chengcheng County.
Imperial Censor Wu Shen.
Xi'an Judicial Commissioner Shi Kefa.
Both men wore expressions so bleak that even their official robes seemed to have lost color. Gone was the sharp confidence, the righteous posture. What remained was exhaustion, frustration, and the unmistakable look of men who had just slammed headfirst into reality.
The Dao Xuan Tianzun, embroidered in golden thread on Gao Yiye's chest, chuckled softly.
"They've come asking for help."
Gao Yiye startled. "Ah—Dao Xuan Tianzun, you're here!"
"I've always been here."
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
Right. Always.
The Dao Xuan Tianzun continued lazily, "They'll go see Liang Shixian. You should join the fun. While you're at it, give them another round of ideological education."
Gao Yiye smiled helplessly. "They're very… rigid. That lesson won't be easy."
"If they understand, good. If not, so be it," the Dao Xuan Tianzun replied. "Relics of the old society—those who can be reformed, reform them. Those who can't…"
He paused.
"…replace them."
"Understood."
She didn't hurry. She walked at an unhurried pace, guards following behind, arriving at the county yamen shortly after Wu Shen and Shi Kefa.
Inside the hall, Liang Shixian rushed out to greet them.
All unnecessary formalities—bows, tea, polite compliments—were silently skipped. Everyone present knew there was no mood for theater.
Shi Kefa went straight to the point, voice hoarse.
"Magistrate Liang… the Celestial Fertilizer we purchased from Chengcheng County… has all been seized by people from the Prince of Qin's residence."
Liang Shixian's eyebrows twitched.
Wu Shen sighed deeply, like a man whose lungs had finally given up.
Liang Shixian said carefully, "Sir Shi is the Judicial Commissioner. Sir Wu is an Imperial Censor. You both can submit memorials directly to His Majesty. If two memorials—"
"It's useless," Wu Shen interrupted, rubbing his temples.
"Impeaching minor officials still works. Impeaching the Prince of Qin's residence…" He laughed bitterly. "You know the ending before the ink dries."
Liang Shixian fell silent.
His mind immediately spun up, habit taking over.
Memorial submitted.
Emperor expresses concern.
Prince of Qin symbolically reprimanded.
One unlucky steward dragged out.
Someone gets flogged. Or executed.
Everyone applauds justice.
And then—
The Celestial Fertilizer remains right where it is.
"…Sigh," Liang Shixian said at last. "The Emperor would issue a token rebuke. The Prince's residence would sacrifice a scapegoat. But the fertilizer would never come back."
Wu Shen nodded grimly. "Exactly."
Shi Kefa clenched his fists. "Which means state-run Celestial Fertilizer distribution… is finished."
Liang Shixian frowned. "Why? If some was stolen, couldn't you simply purchase more?"
Wu Shen laughed bitterly. "With what silver?"
Liang Shixian hesitated. "But Sir Wu… everyone says you arrived with a hundred thousand taels…"
Wu Shen snorted. "A hundred thousand taels? I, Wu Shen, would like to see it myself. To pull ten taels out of my pocket, I'd have to pawn my official seal."
Liang Shixian was speechless.
Shi Kefa took a deep breath. "Magistrate Liang, we came today to ask shamelessly… for a consignment of Celestial Fertilizer on credit. Once sold, we'll repay you in silver."
Liang Shixian's eyelid twitched.
Credit.
The deadliest word in commerce.
From ancient workshops to modern factories, nothing killed producers faster than "just take it on credit."
He spread his hands slowly. "About that… these fertilizers are not produced by an official workshop."
Wu Shen frowned. "Then who manages them?"
"That would be—"
A clear female voice cut in smoothly.
"That would be me."
Everyone turned.
Gao Yiye stepped forward.
Liang Shixian's face lit up. "Saintess!"
Shi Kefa's heart skipped.
The Saintess of the Dao Xuan Tianzun Sect…
Only Wu Shen, unfamiliar, examined her carefully.
White robes. Gold and silver embroidery. Calm posture. Guards behind her.
Not a merchant.
Not a common gentrywoman.
Wu Shen cleared his throat. "Madam… the Celestial Fertilizer factory belongs to your household?"
Gao Yiye smiled gently. "You could say that. My husband's surname is Li. He has several enterprises here. The fertilizer factory is one of them."
Wu Shen's eyes brightened.
Excellent.
He straightened his back and spoke solemnly, finally revealing the card he had been holding the entire journey.
"By imperial decree, this official is inspecting Shaanxi and overseeing disaster relief. His Majesty has granted me special authority to raise supplies among the populace."
He paused.
"And to grant privileges in return."
Shi Kefa glanced sideways.
Here it comes.
Wu Shen continued, voice firm. "Those who contribute significantly may receive honorary titles, official caps, or even nominal ranks. Madam—if your Li family is willing to consign fertilizer on credit…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"…this official guarantees your family's smooth entry into officialdom."
Silence fell.
The Dao Xuan Tianzun, embroidered on Gao Yiye's chest, let out a soft, almost amused chuckle.
The final trump card had been played.
Unfortunately—
It was being offered to the wrong god.