"Will those men's names really go into the Qingzhou gazetteer?"

On the way back, Tantai Qingyue asked.

Ning Chen smiled. "Of course they will... Mine will be at the head of the list, that's all.

On such and such a day of such and such a month of such and such a year, Qingzhou suffered a great disaster. The Prince Who Holds the Realm spared himself no hardship and crossed ten thousand li to bring relief. The people were starving and freezing, an evil cult was working its mischief, and there was trouble outside and trouble within. The Prince Who Holds the Realm laid his plans, struck Gaoan City far off and destroyed the Heavenly God Sect near at hand, and did everything in his power to bring the people of Qingzhou through...

Those merchants get a line. But the world only remembers who was first. Who cares who came second and third?"

Tantai Qingyue said, "If you want your name left in the histories, why not simply hand the supplies out to the people for nothing? That would win you a better name."

Ning Chen glanced at her and smiled. "You can't let people get into the habit of getting something for nothing. What comes too easily is never valued.

This prince stooped to feast the merchants of Qingzhou and beg them to give for the people, and what he got for it was an attack by cultists and blood all over the Good Fortune Tower... The people need to know that the hemp cloth and cotton they're getting cost this prince his life to bring them."

Tantai Qingyue's brows drew together. "You are frightening. Every step of it calculated."

Ning Chen made a sound in his throat. "This prince really did march on Gaoan City, didn't he? It really was for the people's good, wasn't it? After all that work, is it so much to want a little credit?"

Tantai Qingyue gave a cold snort. "You are not afraid they will simply refuse to give?"

Ning Chen shrugged. "Once they were through the door of the Good Fortune…