Chapter 0234: One Mountain Cannot Accommodate Two Tigers, Unless It’s a Cat and a Tiger

Sheng Shihai looked at Liang Wan Da for a long while before suddenly letting out a low chuckle, his gaze unfathomable. “I had thought you were in league with the Second Prince.”

Liang Wan Da looked up in confusion. “Why would you say that, my lord?”

“Nothing.” Sheng Shihai toyed with his teacup, the jade-green tea swirling perilously close to the rim yet not spilling a single drop. His tone was indifferent as he asked, “Then, Governor Liang, what official position do you desire?”

Liang Wan Da quickly put on an ingratiating smile. “I shall abide by whatever arrangement you see fit.”

“The Crown Prince has recently entrusted me with the management rights of Liaozhou’s Coal Mountain. Why don’t you join the Salt and Iron Commission and become a section chief in the Iron Bureau?” Sheng Shihai set down his teacup. “What about the gunpowder formula?”

Liang Wan Da’s posture stiffened slightly before he responded with an obsequious laugh. “My lord, you jest. How would someone like me know the gunpowder formula? I merely oversee the Gunpowder Factory. With the Second Prince’s confidants in Yi Province, despite my numerous attempts, I couldn’t obtain the formula. I could only offer ready-made gunpowder to show my goodwill!”

“So you’re playing us for fools?” a confidant immediately rebuked. Without delivering the gunpowder formula, he still wanted to become the head of the Iron Bureau and manage the coal mines?

“I wouldn’t dare! My intentions are sincere!” Liang Wan Da hurriedly bowed in a show of humility. “What does it matter if we have the formula or not? As long as you can obtain the gunpowder, isn’t that sufficient?”

“Enough.” Sheng Shihai raised a hand to silence the bickering pair. “Did you bring the gunpowder?”

“Yes, yes!” Liang Wan Da hastily produced a small box from his sleeve. “But my lord, you mustn’t open it! If it accidentally ignites, we’d all be done for!”

“Hah! Our lord’s martial—” The confidant began scornfully, only to be cut off by Sheng Shihai’s cold interjection.

“Bi Han!” Sheng Shihai shot a warning glare at his confidant Bi Han, who flinched and immediately lowered his head. “This subordinate spoke out of turn and deserves punishment.”

“Go and receive your punishment.” Sheng Shihai said indifferently, then accepted the box and placed it on the tea table.

“What was promised to you shall be granted. Tomorrow, I will petition the Prince Regent. I believe he will be willing to grant you this position.” Sheng Shihai lifted his teacup again, this time draining it in one gulp, his gaze growing increasingly meaningful.

Liang Wan Da inwardly scoffed.

The Second Prince would never allow him to join the Salt and Iron Commission. After all, the project in Yi Province wasn’t finished yet—they still needed him to oversee it!

What was a mere section chief in the Salt and Iron Commission worth?

The title “Founder of the Land of Abundance” sounded far more impressive!

…

“Governor Liang, congratulations!”

Eunuch Zhao placed the imperial edict in Liang Wan Da’s hands, beaming. “Not only have you personally supervised the construction of the Fields of Abundance, but now you’re also heading to Liaozhou to establish Jian’an’s premier coal mine. Such achievements can only be rivaled by the founding heroes of our dynasty!”

Liang Wan Da: …

No!!!

As a native southerner, he didn’t want to go to the freezing cold Liaozhou!

He wanted to return home and farm, not dig for coal!

Alas, his lamentations would go unheard by Xie Chengze. Once the imperial edict arrived, Liang Wan Da would have to depart for Liaozhou immediately, take charge of the coal mines there, and begin a battle of wits against the rebel armies and the Cao family faction.

In Cheng Huan Palace, Xie Chengze was writing teaching materials when he suddenly sneezed. Sheng Shihai, who had just entered, kindly offered him a handkerchief. “Your Highness has a delicate constitution. You should wear more layers in daily life. Coincidentally, my residence has a batch of thin velvet fabric that’s perfect for this season. I’ll have it delivered after returning home.”No need,” Xie Chengze declined his kind offer graciously. “Someone has already sent some. The Imperial Wardrobe is currently rushing to make garments with it.”

Sheng Shihai raised an eyebrow. “This thin velvet fabric has only recently become popular in Yangzhou. Its production is extremely limited. Our Sheng family obtained it merely by chance. May I ask how Your Highness acquired it?”

“Xiao Miao sent it,” Xie Chengze sniffled, hugging the small hand warmer Sheng Yiren had delivered as he continued writing teaching materials with his chilly hands gripping the charcoal pencil.

Sheng Shihai nodded in understanding. The Fourth Prince’s maternal uncle Jiang Henan was the wealthiest merchant in Yangzhou. Most likely, while delivering fabrics to his sister Rou Fei, the Fourth Prince had appropriated some for Xie Chengze – after all, the Fourth Prince treated Xie Chengze exceptionally well.

“However, did you come for some particular reason?” Xie Chengze slightly lifted his gaze, looking at him with curiosity.

Over the past couple of days, Sheng Shihai seemed particularly fond of visiting Cheng Huan Palace.

“My residence feels empty and rather dull. Your Highness’s quarters are much more interesting,” Sheng Shihai replied with a light smile, his eyes shifting to the space beside him. “Might Your Highness grant me a seat? I can continue transcribing for you.”

Xie Chengze used charcoal pencils for writing, though the results were inevitably messy. Yesterday, Sheng Shihai had come to the palace to transcribe his drafts into brush calligraphy.

Xie Chengze nodded and patted the spot beside him.

Internally, he was reluctant. However, since Sheng Shihai was sharp and suspicious by nature, Xie Chengze needed to establish strong mental reinforcement – convincing himself they were mutually trusting ruler and subject – to ensure he wouldn’t reveal any deliberate or suspicious movements or expressions in Sheng Shihai’s presence.

Yet sometimes, when falsehoods are maintained too long, they easily become confused with truth.

Xie Chengze tilted his head slightly. Sheng Shihai was bowing his head, diligently transcribing the draft. His characters appeared bold and expansive, yet showed restraint in the hook endings. He would occasionally pause in thought, carefully studying the content on the paper. Sometimes his willow-blade eyebrows would lift slightly as if comprehending something, followed by a smug smile of self-satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Noticing Xie Chengze’s gaze, Sheng Shihai looked up to meet his eyes, his expression softening. “What is it, Your Highness?”

Xie Chengze quickly averted his eyes. “Nothing. I just think your handwriting is quite attractive.”

Sheng Shihai chuckled inexplicably, not dropping the subject but instead countering, “Compared to Lord Shen’s calligraphy?”

Why suddenly mention Shen Yuan… Xie Chengze pondered seriously before shaking his head. “You’re both comparable. Neither matches the beauty of my fountain pen calligraphy.”

This wasn’t empty boasting – the fountain pen handwriting he’d practiced in modern times was absolutely unparalleled.

“Fountain pen calligraphy?” Sheng Shihai encountered this term for the first time. “Your Highness’s chemistry materials mentioned steel components. Is this fountain pen related to steel? A writing instrument made from steel?”

Xie Chengze hadn’t expected Sheng Shihai to read so carefully that he’d even noted the reference to steel. He nodded, then shook his head. “Something like that.”

He said no more.

Sheng Shihai didn’t ask further and quietly practiced calligraphy beside him. Since Xie Chengze needed time to think while writing the teaching materials, Sheng Shihai quickly caught up in copying speed. As he laid out the ink-covered papers to dry, his gaze inadvertently fell upon Xie Chengze’s face.

The young man was intently writing formulas, his brow slightly furrowed. Occasionally raising his hand in thought, faint smudges of charcoal dust dotted his fair skin, like a little white cat with dirtied fur, earnestly pondering how to catch the mouse that had escaped during the day.

Sheng Shihai had never paid much attention to this youth before. His impression of the Second Prince was foolish, noisy, and even irritating—such an incompetent fool who only knew how to rant was ironically the best candidate to become the puppet emperor he intended to control.

His ideal puppet emperor was someone weak, mediocre, and utterly dependent on him—a useless figure.

But later, after deeper interactions with Xie Chengze, his perspective shifted.

A learned yet ambitionless kitten was the perfect choice for a puppet emperor.

Sheng Shihai knew very well that he only employed dirty methods for profit. He excelled in political machinations and understood human nature, but he was utterly clueless about earning clean money or advancing the dynasty through reforms.

He believed an emperor didn’t need to learn such things—plenty of advisors would offer counsel—so he never bothered.

Thus, when he discovered that Xie Chengze, though lacking in strategy, possessed remarkable talent for earning wealth and implementing reforms, he saw it as a gift from heaven.

Xie Chengze was like the white that filled the voids in his dark canvas—someone who could strategize for him, assist in building a prosperous era, and help fill the imperial coffers through methods more likely to be remembered by posterity. He was like a single-edged blade, capable of cleaving through the outdated dynasty and ushering in countless innovations.

How could a weak, incompetent, and dull worm compare to a clever kitten that knew how to act cute and perform tricks?

Especially when this kitten had no ambition.

He even naively believed he was disguising himself well.

The corner of Sheng Shihai’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. If the kitten loved to play, he didn’t mind humoring him—as long as this kitten was willing to ascend the throne according to his wishes.

As for Shen Yuan…

Sooner or later, he would eliminate him. After all, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.