Chapter Six: The Beginning of Everything

After Shen Jifeng was rescued, she remained drowsy and disoriented, her mind drifting back to the day she first took over the silver mine.

On the ninth day of the fifth month, within the West Capital’s Prince Qi’s mansion annex, Housekeeper Wang hurried to the front courtyard. The scene there was much like the rear courtyard—everyone bustling about energetically.

“Manager Zhou,” Wang said with a smile, “could you please tell me the princess’s likes and dislikes regarding her daily life? I’d appreciate your guidance.”

Normally, the Princess of Chaoyang, still unmarried, would have a nanny managing her every need, but this was the West Capital’s separate estate, where she had never stayed even a day. Among the household staff, only Manager Zhou was originally from Prince Qi’s estate in the capital. If Wang didn’t ask him, whom else could she turn to?

“Don’t be nervous, Housekeeper Wang,” Manager Zhou replied kindly. “The princess has always been generous with her servants and has a personal maid, Lady Jinchai, to attend to her. Just follow Lady Jinchai’s instructions. Besides, she’s in the West Capital for urgent matters and won’t stay long.”

At that moment, a footman came running over, head lowered. “Manager Zhou, the paint on the main gate and corridors is worn and needs repainting. The lanterns under the eaves are insufficient and should be replaced.”

“No repainting or buying,” Manager Zhou cut in decisively. “The princess is frugal and detests extravagance. Just keep everything clean and tidy. No need to fuss over anything else.”

Hearing this, Wang concluded that the princess disliked wastefulness.

“No waste means frugality in managing the household. That’s easy—I’m very good at that,” Wang murmured happily as she walked along, her face beaming.

Outside the West Capital, on the official road, Shen Jifeng sat in the carriage, feeling bubbles of joy in her heart with every jolt. She had imagined more than once the image of pure silver flowing from the flames—bright and heavy.

“Princess, are you really this happy?” Lady Jinchai fanned her gently.

“Of course. As long as there’s silver to be made, I’m happy.”

“But producing silver in three months and signing a life-or-death pledge is quite rushed. If something goes wrong—and now the young prince isn’t here—we won’t even have someone to consult. Maybe we should send him a letter?”

“Don’t worry. The emperor only said silver must be produced in three months; there’s no requirement on quantity. Even one piece counts as completing the task,” Shen Jifeng smiled slyly like a cat who had stolen fish. “I secretly tested the West Capital silver mine before. The ore’s silver content is extraordinarily high. It’s just that the previous dynasty’s luck ran out and they discovered the mine too late. If it had been found earlier, no one could say whose family would rule the world today.”

Lady Jinchai breathed a sigh of relief. “I knew you were clever and wouldn’t take such a reckless risk.”

“Of course!” Shen Jifeng grinned with pride. “I love money, but not so much that I’d risk my life for it. Keep your worries to yourself, and don’t bother sending letters to Apoh. He’s busy with the southern inspection tour; it’s better not to distract him.”

As the two chatted idly, the carriage reached the estate’s gate, where Manager Zhou and all the servants awaited.

By now it was past noon, and Housekeeper Wang had prepared lunch. “Princess, this humble servant has prepared some West Capital specialties for you to try. If you have any preferences or dietary restrictions, please instruct the lady by your side, and I will prepare accordingly.”

After a long journey, Shen Jifeng was a bit hungry. Just as she was about to enter the rear yard to eat, someone rode swiftly around the corner at the gate.

Frowning, Shen Jifeng looked at the rider. The Danning law forbade riding horses in the street; offenders faced a hundred lashes at minimum and could be sentenced to death if serious injury occurred. For someone to brazenly flout this in broad daylight indicated the West Capital’s prefect was not very competent.

As the rider approached, Shen Jifeng recognized him as a constable from the West Capital government by his uniform.

“I am a guard of the West Capital silver mine. May I ask if the Princess of Chaoyang is present?”

“That’s me,” Shen Jifeng replied, puzzled. Even if he wished to pay respects to the magistrate, the constable’s urgency seemed excessive. She had just arrived, yet news spread so quickly.

“Greetings, Princess. All the craftsmen at the West Capital silver mine have left, and the convict workers have started rioting. The guards are barely holding on. Please come quickly to handle the situation.”

“What!” Shen Jifeng’s face changed sharply. “Why did the craftsmen leave without reason? Why are the convicts causing trouble?”

The constable wiped sweat from his brow and spoke urgently, “Reporting to the princess, the craftsmen said there has never been a precedent of a woman managing a mine. Mining is dangerous and depends on the mountain god’s blessing to go smoothly. They believe a woman taking over will anger the mountain god, and they don’t want to die needlessly, so they all fled.”

“That’s utter nonsense!” Lady Jinchai snapped like a firecracker. “Why didn’t you constables stop them? You just watched them run away?”

The constable glanced at Lady Jinchai before returning his gaze to Shen Jifeng. “Princess, the craftsmen are different from the convict workers. They are civilians paid monthly wages. Our job is to guard the mine mainly to keep the convicts from causing trouble. The craftsmen have their own supervisors and are not under our jurisdiction.”

Shen Jifeng had already suspected the issue. “The mine supervisors left?”

“Yes. Ever since news spread that the princess took over the silver mine, they all left.”

Shen Jifeng mounted her horse and ordered the constable, “Please lead the way.”

Housekeeper Wang interjected at the right moment, “Princess, you should at least eat before you go.”

“No time. You all eat and don’t waste food.”

Wang watched their departing figures and muttered, “The princess really is different from other noble ladies. They would never utter words like ‘don’t waste.’”

The West Capital silver mine lay over a hundred miles outside the city in the Tianmeng Mountain valley. When Shen Jifeng arrived, the sun had already set. The mine’s perimeter was filled with constables wielding large blades, while inside, nearly a hundred ragged convicts confronted the guards, shouting loudly.

“We want to see the supervisors! Why are our rations being cut?”

“If we don’t get food soon, we’ll destroy this mine!”

Shen Jifeng reined in her horse and shouted, “I am the appointed princess. Who dares to act recklessly here?”

The crowd instantly fell silent. The convicts exchanged glances. They had heard from the craftsmen that the imperial court had sent a princess to take over the mine. They thought it was a joke, but it turned out to be real. A burly man, his face smeared with dirt, stepped forward suspiciously.

“Are you really the princess sent by the court? Or are you deceiving us?”

Shen Jifeng’s guard, Dongyang, raised his whip. “The princess has been officially appointed to manage the silver mine. Will you not surrender?”

A cold sneer came from the crowd. “She’s a fraud, here to deceive us!”