Chapter 435: Chapter 419 Beauty
Han Ziqi’s mother was the King Han’s most favored woman. She was made the second queen, and the King deposed the previous Princely Heir to name Han Ziqi as the successor. King Han, notorious for his indulgence, had over a dozen sons. Han Ziqi had elder brothers and younger ones below him, leading to fierce competition for the throne within the Royal Family. Even so, in Sannan, he was a rightful Princely Heir. Other than the King and members of the royal lineage, hardly anyone dared to meddle in his affairs.
Han Ziqi smiled lightly and said, "Third Miss, are the people around you all this unruly? When the master speaks, how can a servant interject out of turn?"
Xiaoqi sneered but did not take such mockery to heart. Fengyu responded, "My younger brother is overly protective of his elder sister. If there was any offense, I hope the Princely Heir will excuse it."
Fengyu glanced back at Xiaoqi, signaling him to endure for now. Xiaoqi chuckled softly, truly unconcerned, but found Han Ziqi excessively presumptuous, his gaze particularly irksome.
Han Ziqi raised his eyebrows slightly as he observed their silent exchange. "When did Third Miss acquire a younger brother?"
"That’s not important. The Princely Heir has already apologized, and we’ve had some wine. We’re here to talk business, not to make friends. Let’s get to the point. Why does Sannan want to trade for iron ore with us in the Twelve Prefectures? To my knowledge, for the past two years, you’ve been sourcing iron from the court."
Han Ziqi rested one hand lightly on the table and tapped it. "Sannan is not rich in mineral resources. In recent years, your Yanyang has divided territories by river, cutting off trade routes. Ships from Lanzhou Port have long been unable to reach Sannan, nor can we buy iron ore from the Twelve Prefectures. We had no choice but to cooperate with the court. But as you know, while the Jiangnan garrison faces off against my troops, they are unwilling to sell us iron ore for military use, only supplying us with civilian iron tools. Our military needs and weapons require a large amount of ore. I know the Twelve Prefectures are rich in minerals, and you forge a significant number of weapons and armor for the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. If you could directly supply Sannan with such military essentials, we’re willing to pay handsomely—whether in gold, silver, or grain. We have ample of both. After all, this is mutually beneficial and complementary."
Sannan was wealthy and abundant in grain. They lacked weapons but were never heard to suffer from famine. Their agriculture had developed better than Yanyang’s. In the past, Yanyang even sent people to learn farming techniques from Sannan, only to be politely refused.
"Sannan is tucked away, living in peace and comfort. Why does it need to amass so much military equipment and armor? Two years ago, when Beiman came to negotiate peace, Sannan even reinforced its border troops. Is King Han preparing to send troops against Yanyang?"
"Third Miss speaks unfairly. It’s your general in Jiangnan who watches us like a tiger eyes its prey. We merely seek to protect ourselves. We Sannan people love peace and have never taken the initiative to wage war. Over many years, we’ve regularly paid tribute to Yanyang without ever initiating an invasion," Han Ziqi said with a placid smile. Compared to a few years ago in the Capital City, he had indeed matured in temperament.
"How many weapons and suits of armor does the Princely Heir want?"
"Enough to equip 200,000 soldiers. Of course, if Third Miss can provide, the price is negotiable," Han Ziqi said with a wealthy patron’s demeanor. If Fengyu were merely a merchant, she could practically name her price, given how scarce such items were.
"That quantity... is truly massive!"
"It’s better to be prepared. You know how it feels to have your very lifeline in someone else’s hands. It’s always unpleasant. We’re merely increasing reserves—more is better."
Han Ziqi inwardly contemplated how Yanyang had been so at ease about Sannan all these years. After all, their monopoly over core mineral resources ensured Sannan’s lack of iron ore, deeming them incapable of equipping a proper army. But after years of commerce and trade, times were no longer the same.
"Our Twelve Prefectures cannot possibly supply so many weapons and suits of armor," Fengyu said nonchalantly. "Besides, strict checkpoints guard Lanzhou Port. Even if we could supply that quantity, how would you bypass inspections? Our merchant ships can’t possibly deliver such a bulk safely to Sannan."
"That’s not something for Third Miss to worry about. We have our methods. As long as Third Miss can prepare the goods, it doesn’t have to be 200,000—150,000 or even 100,000. We’re open to discussion."
Fengyu had grasped Han Ziqi’s main request. "When do you need it?"
"As soon as possible!"
Fengyu raised a brow. "This matter is serious. I can’t decide on my own. I must discuss it with the Prince before getting back to you."
"Business matters require consulting with the Prince?" Han Ziqi said provocatively. "I thought Third Miss had full authority."
"Princely Heir, the trade of iron ore is no ordinary business matter. It concerns warfare between two nations. This is a serious issue. Mishandling it might earn some profits but invite a wolf into the house. I would then become Yanyang’s sinner."
"Don’t say that. Perhaps Third Miss is destined to be the Xie brothers’ benefactor."
"Do elaborate!"
At this moment, the shopkeeper knocked on the door outside, delivering a table of fine wine and delicacies. Fengyu and Han Ziqi fell into temporary silence, waiting for the shopkeeper and his staff to set the food and wine down before quietly exiting.
Han Ziqi poured a cup of wine, held it between two fingers, and slid it in front of Fengyu. "Sannan sincerely wishes for self-preservation. But if one day my father were truly ambitious enough to wage war on Yanyang, that would be a court matter and have nothing to do with the Twelve Prefectures. We’re self-aware after all. How could Sannan’s forces compare to the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry? Your true enemy is the Yanyang Court—and ours is, too. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
He lifted his wine cup and gently clinked it against Fengyu’s, his eyebrows soft, his smile languid. Fengyu raised an eyebrow and returned his smile. "What an amusing statement from the Princely Heir. I will be sure to relay it to the Prince."
"Go ahead, no problem at all!" Han Ziqi replied, straightforward and unbothered. "I’ll be waiting at the West Wind Inn for good news."
"Very well!" Fengyu raised her wine cup. "A toast to the Princely Heir."
"Cheers to Third Miss’ magnanimity!"
They clinked their cups and drank to the last drop.
With business concluded, Fengyu changed the subject to personal matters. "I heard you have enmity with the Prince. You were willing to expose your identity just to kill him. What sort of grudge is it?"
"Hahaha..." Han Ziqi let out a hearty laugh. "Didn’t Xie Xun tell you?"
"I never asked," Fengyu replied, elegantly continuing her meal with composed movements.
Han Ziqi gazed at the serene and graceful Third Miss sitting across from him. Her slight downward glance, framed by her snowy-white cloak, made her dark hair and fair skin stand out, with her red lips and white teeth forming a stunning contrast. She was a rare beauty. He vividly remembered the first time they met on the pavilion; her dance that night had haunted his dreams, her movements as lithe as a dragon’s, captivating him completely. She was truly a vision of stillness like a quiet maiden and motion like a fleeing rabbit—a sight that left him longing.
The more Han Ziqi looked at her, the more he felt that a beauty like this was wasted in public. She should have been locked away in a secluded courtyard for private indulgence. Licking the wine on his lips, he chuckled softly. "Because of a woman!"
Fengyu was taken aback. She sipped her wine to steady herself and smiled faintly. "I’m intrigued."
Leaning back in his chair with utter laziness, Han Ziqi began, "Sannan is not as vast as Yanyang. In my youth, I loved beauties and adventure. I secretly ran off to Yanyang to play. It so happened that Huaman Building in Liuzhou was hosting an Oiran competition. Naturally, as a lover of beauty, I couldn’t miss it. That was where I met Xie Xun. The Oiran at the time was celebrated far and wide, breathtakingly enchanting, her figure serpentine, her voice like an oriole’s song. Any man would have been smitten. I spent a fortune to be with her for one night. Who would’ve thought Xie Xun also fancied her and vied with me? I was young, impetuous, and wealthy, and refused to lose. I won her over with money. But Xie Xun, unwilling to concede, resorted to force. A fight broke out, and the beauty shielded me from a sword and died. From then on, our enmity was set."
Fengyu appeared thoughtful. Liuzhou... This incident should have occurred before Xie Xun’s leg injury. At that time, he should have been on the battlefield. Why would he go to Liuzhou? After all, Liuzhou wasn’t far from Ningzhou.
A beauty... She recalled her first encounter with Xie Xun, his icy demeanor and the unapproachable air he carried. This tale left her dubious, yet Han Ziqi’s tone didn’t seem deceitful—there was a trace of sorrow in his eyes, suggesting he had been quite taken by the beauty who had died.
A beauty... Just how beautiful?
Xiaoqi scoffed cynically. "Liar. What beauty would be blind enough to choose you over him? If she died, it serves her right."