Chapter 436: Chapter 420: Wartime Preparations
Han Ziqi’s gaze briefly flickered with a trace of hostility. The hand resting on his knee clenched into a fist as he curved his lips into a smirk and pointed at Xiaoqi. "Third Miss, your younger brother’s temper is something else—too quick to offend others. You ought to teach him better."
Xiaoqi spread his hands fearlessly. "I’m just telling the truth—did it sting your fragile ego? If I were a maiden, I’d definitely choose Xie Xun over you. Your story paints it backward: the maiden choosing Xie Xun, you flying into a jealous rage, taking up arms, and the maiden dying as a sword in Xie Xun’s defense. Now that would make for a far more convincing tale, wouldn’t it?"
Han Ziqi felt a swell of murderous intent but forced himself to suppress it. Fengyu, sensing his displeasure, gently chided, "Xiaoqi, don’t be rude."
Xiaoqi scoffed coldly but fell silent after that.
Fengyu remarked, "This matter... is quite intriguing."
"Does Third Miss not trust me?"
"It’s not that. When we are young and full of vigor, who hasn’t done a thing or two with reckless extravagance? It certainly fits the Prince’s character. Still... to think the Prince indeed had such lavish days," Fengyu laughed lightly. It was impossible to tell whether she believed him or not. She then asked, "What does the Princely Heir think of Liuzhou?"
"Its beauties are like paintings, truly unforgettable."
Fengyu smiled enigmatically. "I hear Liuzhou has many lovely women. If the Princely Heir finds the time, perhaps you could visit again—you might even find yourself meeting someone that captures your heart."
"At this moment, none can rival the beauty of Third Miss Yanyang in my eyes!"
"Such a silver tongue!" Xiaoqi couldn’t help but retort again. Han Ziqi, now calm and composed, did not stoop to Xiaoqi’s level, leaving Fengyu torn between laughing and crying.
The negotiations lasted for over an hour. After three rounds of wine, Han Ziqi, slightly tipsy, blurted, "Years ago, when Third Miss danced gracefully on the pavilion, the memory etched itself deeply into my mind. Might I ask if Third Miss would grace us with another dance?"
"..." Fengyu thought to herself, So, you were captivated by Xie Xun back then—not me!
As Xiaoqi was about to lose his temper, Fengyu chuckled lightly. "Seal the deal, and we can talk."
"Very well, then I shall await eagerly!"
Xiaoqi grumbled inwardly—this lecher is utterly insufferable. Since when could my sister even dance?
As night fell silent, heavy snowstorm raged, leaving the front of the West Wind Restaurant blanketed in a thick layer of snow. Draped in a heavy cloak, Fengyu stepped outside, only to find Xie Xun unexpectedly waiting for her. He stood in dark winter attire, holding a bone-handled umbrella under the snow.
Surprised and delighted, Fengyu hurried over. The moment Xie Xun spotted her, he walked to her side, using the umbrella to shield her from the blizzard. Xiaoqi, initially planning to hold up his umbrella, put it away upon seeing Xie Xun.
Xie Xun’s gaze casually landed on Han Ziqi as well.
"Ah, Little Marquis—oh no, my mistake—Prince. It’s been a while!" Han Ziqi greeted smoothly, as if the two hadn’t nearly fought each other to the death years ago.
Now standing in his opponent’s domain, Han Ziqi had no choice but to bow his head. His demeanor today was far tamer than in the past.
Xie Xun regarded him coldly and offered a curt nod as acknowledgment. His words, however, were biting. "Has your King father not stripped you of your princely title yet?"
"My father may have many sons, but none as favored as me," Han Ziqi replied mischievously, unfazed. "He can’t bear to let me go."
"Your father’s lust clouding his judgment does seem to be no mere rumor," Xie Xun retorted, his eyes sweeping over Han Ziqi. Objectively speaking, Han Ziqi’s looks were striking—undeniably a fine-featured gentleman. Being a native of Sannan, he wasn’t tall, but his handsome face was easy on the eyes, embodying the essence of a gentlemanly youth.
Xie Xun’s critical eye noted, Not a shred of Aunt Mudan’s grace or beauty—and compared to Second Brother, he’s the clouds versus the mud on the ground. They couldn’t be less alike.
Satisfaction welled within him!
"Come, let’s go home!"
With that, Xie Xun led Fengyu away. Han Ziqi stood in front of the restaurant, staring at their retreating silhouettes. His gaze darkened ever so slightly. Years of separation—and to think things would come to this.
Once the two returned to the Marquis Mansion, they sought out Xie Jue.
"Twenty thousand sets of military supplies are available across twelve states," Xie Jue said calmly. "None of them will go to Sannan. Neither Xie Xun nor I will entertain this deal, not even for mountains of gold or silver."
When it came to money, the twelve states lacked none these days. Fengyu’s mining ventures in West State had been quite prosperous. What they lacked more than anything now was grain—but in a few years’ time, they’d scarcely want for anything.
"Over the years, Sannan has purchased enough iron ore from the twelve states to fully outfit their military needs. They have no use for this much war materiel. They must be trying to gauge Ningzhou’s stance. Their actions indicate an intent for war," Xie Jue explained nonchalantly. "Two years ago, during the Beiman peace talks, Sannan pressured us greatly. Now, everything is likely in place; only the east wind remains. Sannan’s ambitions aren’t small—they aim to seize all land south of the Bei River, dividing it with us and slowly encroaching. This is merely a test to see if Ningzhou’s Iron Cavalry would aid the court in the event of conflict."
"Sannan claims to love peace, dwelling in isolation. Why would they provoke war? Their population pales in comparison to Yanyang’s. Has King Han lost his mind?"
"Back then, had the Beiman negotiations succeeded, and Yuwen Jing not massacred our Marquis Mansion, Father likely would have discussed recapturing Sannan with the Grand Marshal. The plan was to pacify the north before reclaiming Sannan. It’s Yanyang’s lost territory, and Father always intended to bring it back. Sannan has been independent for years, rejecting tribute and seeking full detachment from Yanyang—it is understandable," Xie Jue remarked matter-of-factly. "But there does seem to be something odd about all this."
Xie Xun was equally apprehensive. "If they want war, why not simply declare it? Why try to test our stance? Our forces are already on guard against Beiman. Should the south erupt in chaos, our troops would only fortify Ningzhou to prevent a Beiman rebellion. What’s the reason for probing us?"
"Second Brother, could they know your identity and be trying to win you over to turn against the court?" Fengyu speculated.
Fengyu thought back. A few days ago, hadn’t Second Brother taken Ying Qi to meet with the Sannan emissaries? Could his identity have been exposed then? Not that Fengyu intended to pry into Xie Jue’s movements—her extensive network of trading outposts across the city functioned as natural spy hubs. Unless Xie Jue left the city entirely, she would always know his whereabouts.
Xie Xun’s heart skipped a beat. "Second Brother, you’ve met with the Sannan emissaries?"
"And what if I have? What’s so shocking about that?" Xie Jue replied impassively. His meeting with the emissaries had been unrelated to Han Ziqi’s current dealings.
Xie Xun couldn’t bear the idea of Xie Jue having contact with the Sannan emissaries! What were these Sannan people even trying to do—seeking out his Second Brother one moment, then Fengyu the next? Where did that leave *him*? He was the prince of Ningzhou’s Iron Cavalry, after all!
"If Han Ziqi knew my identity, he’d never align with me," Xie Jue said flatly. "Keeping me alive would only threaten his and his father’s authority."
Fengyu interjected, "If Han Ziqi came to probe us with the hope of collaboration, it’s understandable. We lack grain, while they lack soldiers. It could be mutually beneficial. If we sold them twenty thousand sets of military supplies, it would signal that Ningzhou’s Iron Cavalry won’t intervene in a conflict between Sannan and the court. If we refuse, Sannan would understand our stance. So, what should I do?"
"That’s simple. Tell Han Ziqi we will sell!" Xie Jue instructed.
"What?" Fengyu’s heart raced.
"No way!" Xie Xun immediately vetoed the suggestion. "Second Brother, why sell?"
Xie Jue replied coolly, "Business negotiations don’t carry the weight of royal decrees. A decree commands immediate execution across the realm. A transaction, however, involves payment and delivery, and preparation takes time. Whether the deal succeeds... well, that’s not up to us now, is it?"
"Are you planning to pull the rug out from under them?"
"Ayu, do we even need that little bit of money?" Xie Jue asked.
Fengyu shook her head. "No, we don’t."
"In that case, indulge them. Spread word far and wide that Han Ziqi has asked to purchase twenty thousand sets of military supplies from the twelve states," Xie Jue said, his smile laden with meaning. "I want to see how the Grand Marshal responds."