The debt collector returned at dawn with twenty soldiers and a smile that made Shen Rui want to break his teeth."Lord Shen," the man said, striding into the main hall like he owned it. "I trust you spent the night considering our offer."Shen Rui stood at the head of the room, his arms crossed. He had not slept. His eyes were red, his jaw tight. The contract with the dead governor's seal lay on the table beside him, unfolded and facing the door."I spent the night reading," Shen Rui said. "Interesting things, these contracts."The debt collector's smile faltered slightly. "I'm glad you're taking this seriously.""Oh, I am." Shen Rui picked up the contract and held it up. "Tell me, what is your name?"The man's eyes narrowed. "Zhao Qiang. I represent the Merchant Guild of the provincial capital.""Zhao Qiang." Shen Rui repeated the name slowly, as if tasting it. "And how long have you worked for the guild?""Fifteen years.""Fifteen years. Then you must be very familiar with official

The imperial physician was packing his bags when Shen Rui kicked the door open.Doctor He spun around, his face draining of color. His hands were full of papers, and for a moment he just stared at Shen Rui like a rabbit caught in a snare."L-Lord Shen," he stammered. "I was just""Leaving?" Shen Rui stepped into the room. "Without saying goodbye? How rude."The doctor's eyes darted toward the window. Shen Rui followed his gaze and saw the half-open shutters, the packed bag on the bed, the traveling cloak hanging from the chair. The man had been preparing to flee."I have urgent business in the provincial capital," Doctor He said, his voice too high, too fast. "A medical conference. Very important.""Is that so?" Shen Rui moved slowly, deliberately, putting himself between the doctor and the door. "And what about my father? His condition hasn't improved."The doctor's throat bobbed. "I've done everything I can. The illness is beyond my skill. I recommended the family seek treatment fro

"The enemy will reach Blackstone in seven days," Shen Rui said, and the room exploded into chaos before he could finish his next sentence.The war council had gathered in the manor's main hall. Six advisers, three military officers, Guan Hao, and Lady Qiao. They sat around a heavy oak table that had belonged to Shen Rui's grandfather, their faces lit by flickering oil lamps."Seven days?" Advisor Tang, a thin man with nervous eyes, shot to his feet. "That's not enough time to prepare anything! We need to send word to the provincial capital. Request reinforcements immediately!""Reinforcements won't come," Guan Hao said flatly. "The provincial governor has ignored Blackstone's requests for months. He's not going to send troops now.""Then we surrender!" another adviser shouted. "Open the gates before the enemy arrives. If we cooperate, they might spare the civilians.""You think the Northern Kingdom spares civilians?" Guan Hao's voice was ice. "They've been burning villages along the b

"Equal rations?" The merchant's voice cracked with disbelief. "You want us to eat the same swill as beggars?"Shen Rui stood in the center of the market square, surrounded by the wealthiest men in Blackstone. Their faces were red with fury, their silk robes trembling with indignation. Behind them, a crowd of commoners watched in silence."I want everyone to eat," Shen Rui said. "Not just the rich."The merchant, a man named Gao, stepped forward. His belly strained against his belt. His jowls wobbled as he spoke. "This is an outrage! We've paid for our food. We've earned it! You can't just take it and give it to those dirty refugees!""They're people, not vermin.""They're a drain! A burden! They'll eat us out of house and home, and then what? We all starve together?" Gao turned to the other merchants, seeking support. "Tell him! Tell the young lord this is madness!"The other merchants murmured in agreement. But none of them stepped forward. They were waiting to see which way the wind

The dead soldier's eyes were still open, and Shen Rui couldn't stop looking at them.They had carried the body to a cold room beneath the barracks, away from the crowds and the smoke. The fire was out now, but the smell of ash still clung to everything. Guan Hao had posted guards at the door and ordered a complete lockdown of the area."His name was Zhao Ming," Guan Hao said, reading from a small ledger. "At least, that's what his identification papers say. Twenty-two years old. Assigned to the imperial garrison at Wei River. Transferred to the northern frontier six months ago."Shen Rui knelt beside the body, studying the dead man's face. Young. Smooth-skinned. He looked like he should have been studying for exams, not burning grain warehouses."Where is Wei River?" Shen Rui asked."Three hundred li south of here. A small garrison town. Quiet. No military action in years." Guan Hao closed the ledger. "But here's the strange thing. I sent a rider to check the records. There is no Zhao