Little Phoenix Palace, Ningxiang Palace, Imperial Palace, Central City, Central Plains,
The rhythmic sound of horse hooves echoed through the grand courtyard of the Little Phoenix Palace as several ornate carriages, each emblazoned with the imperial crest and the emblem of the Little Phoenix, came to a halt. The lacquered doors of the carriages swung open, revealing Princess Huangshu, who gracefully stepped out, her presence commanding the immediate attention of all who had gathered.
The palace staff, who had lined up in neat rows to welcome her return, immediately bowed deeply. In unison, they greeted her with reverence, "Welcome back, Little Phoenix!" Their voices carried a blend of respect and warmth, echoing through the stone corridors of the palace.
Princess Huangshu, with a serene yet dignified expression, acknowledged their greeting with a slight nod, her gaze sweeping over her loyal servants as she moved forward. Jinhai, her ever-vigilant bodyguard, followed closely behind, his eyes scanning the surroundings with the watchful precision of a seasoned protector. The entourage moved swiftly through the grand halls, the soft rustle of the princess’s robes the only sound accompanying their steps.
Upon reaching the ornate double doors of her private chambers, the princess entered her room without hesitation, her demeanor calm but purposeful. The room, richly decorated with tapestries and elegant furnishings, was her sanctuary within the vast expanse of the imperial palace.
Turning to Jinhai, who stood waiting just inside the doorway, she spoke with quiet authority, "Jinhai, I need you to relay an important order to the staff." Her tone was firm, but there was an underlying urgency in her words. "Arrange for the purchase of forty tons of grain and provisions. These supplies must be sufficient to sustain at least two hundred and ten people for a minimum of three months."
Jinhai, though surprised by the sudden and sizable request, bowed deeply in acknowledgment. He understood that the princess’s commands were always given with reason, even if they were not immediately apparent. Without a word, he left the room to carry out her orders, his mind already calculating the logistics of such a large acquisition.
Once Jinhai left, Princess Huangshu stood in the silence of her chambers, the heavy door closing softly behind him. The quiet of the room enveloped her, a stark contrast to the bustling palace outside. She walked over to her bed and reclined, allowing herself a moment of respite. From beneath her shelves, she retrieved a bundle of letters, each penned in Edina’s familiar hand. To anyone else, these letters might have seemed like the idle chatter of two young women discussing romance novels, but Princess Huangshu knew better. These letters held secrets—intricate plans and strategies.
As she unfolded the latest letter, Princess Huangshu’s eyes scanned the familiar handwriting. The contents detailed Edina’s ambitious plan to sway the Beggar Sect of Haiso Province into joining their faction. The more she read, the more impressed she became, though lingering doubts still clouded her mind. Could such a complex scheme really unfold as Edina predicted?
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According to Edina’s letters, there was a subtle but growing discontent among the lower ranks of the Beggar Sect, particularly those in Haiso Province. This discontent, though currently minor, was expected to swell in the coming months. Edina had used the Eternal Will Sect as a proxy to distribute money among the orphaned, lower-ranking members of the Beggar Sect, enabling them to travel to Dao City. Dao City, known as a haven for beggars, offered significantly more lucrative opportunities than other regions. However, there was a glaring flaw in the system. The Beggar Sect took a larger cut from the earnings of lower-ranking beggars, especially those who were not native to Dao City. In contrast, native beggars enjoyed smaller cuts and greater wealth, creating a stark divide within the sect.
Edina’s plan was cunning: by flooding Dao City with lower-ranking beggars, the supply of beggars would soon exceed the demand, creating an unsustainable situation. As the higher-ups continued to exploit the lower ranks, the disparity between the treatment of native and non-native beggars would become increasingly apparent. Edina anticipated that this would lead to a protest, with the lower ranks uniting against the sect’s leadership.
One of the key tactics Edina believed they would use was the protesters to cut off all travel routes from the northern regions of the Central Plains to the southern regions. This blockade would be relatively easy for the organized lower ranks to enforce and would result in a sharp rise in food prices. The Beggar Sect, unable to import grains and other essentials, would face a crisis. This would, in turn, impact the capital city, forcing the Imperial Court to intervene if they wished to prevent a nationwide problem.
Princess Huangshu understood the brilliance behind Edina’s strategy to send so many lower-ranking beggars to Dao City. The influx would hasten the growing resentment within the sect, as the city became overcrowded with beggars, straining its resources. The lower ranks would soon realize the inequity in their situation, noticing how the higher-ups enjoyed wealth and freedom while they struggled to survive. However, what puzzled Princess Huangshu was how Edina was so confident that the Imperial Court would resort to dividing the sect to resolve the issue. Edina had written that this was merely a prediction, but to stake so much on a prediction seemed risky. Yet, Princess Huangshu decided to trust Edina’s judgment for now.
Edina’s plan continued with a straightforward but bold move: once the food shortage in Dao City became critical, the higher-ups of the Beggar Sect would struggle to procure supplies. The lower ranks, motivated by their grievances, would do everything in their power to prevent any grain from entering the sect. This would be the moment for Princess Huangshu to step in, smuggling food through a discreet route that Edina had outlined. Again, it was an odd and seemingly risky prediction, but Edina had presented it as a foolproof plan.
With the Eternal Will Sect supporting the lower ranks as Edina’s proxy, and Princess Huangshu backing the higher-ups, the conflict would reach a boiling point. At that crucial juncture, Princess Huangshu would propose a truce, offering herself as a mediator for negotiations. The Eternal Will Sect would subtly encourage the lower ranks to accept the terms, which had already been carefully crafted by Edina and Huangshu. Both sides would believe they were being supported by separate allies, when in reality, they were being guided by a single, united force working towards the same goal.
Finally, once the negotiations were successful and the sect was unified under the agreed terms, the Beggar Sect would find itself aligned with Princess Huangshu’s faction. The Eternal Will Sect, having pledged loyalty to the princess, would ensure that the lower ranks followed suit. The higher-ups of the Beggar Sect, recognizing the futility of resisting, would have no choice but to support her as well, lest they risk another division within their ranks.
The plan was undeniably chaotic, with many moving parts and a reliance on predictions that could easily go awry. But the potential payoff was immense—a powerful sect’s allegiance and a significant boost to Princess Huangshu’s influence. Weighing the risks and rewards, Princess Huangshu decided to give Edina the benefit of the doubt. If the plan failed, the losses would be minimal, but if it succeeded, the gains would be monumental. With a deep breath, she resolved to see Edina’s plan through to the end, whatever the outcome might be.