Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

With a clanging and clattering sound, Li Yuan, riding at full speed, finally arrived at Zhenyuan Escort Agency in Jizhou. Before even entering, he could hear a commotion inside. It turned out that the thirty men Li Yuan had arranged to be there had already packed their belongings and were standing in neat rows in the courtyard of the escort agency, quietly waiting for Li Yuan's arrival.

Li Yuan dismounted and strode into the escort agency. After looking around, he pointed out five or six people and instructed them, "You guys, hand over your luggage to the other brothers, then go with Dingding and Dangdang to help Miss Lan purchase the necessary supplies. Remember, be quick, and meet us at the dock immediately after you've finished."

"Yes, Brother Yuan!" the men who had been called out answered in unison, their voices loud and clear. Then, they quickly got to work, some taking the luggage from their companions, while others went to Dingdingdangdang's side, ready to set off together.

The group left Zhenyuan Escort Agency in a grand procession, heading towards the largest market in Jizhou. Along the way, Dingdingdang was filled with curiosity, wondering just how big and bustling this so-called large market really was.

When they actually stepped into the market, Dingdingdangdang's eyes widened in astonishment. The scene before them was astonishing; this was no ordinary market! It was practically a vital trading hub between Jizhou and the capital! On both sides of the wide streets, stalls were densely packed, each piled high with various goods. Sacks of grain were overflowing, and baskets of fresh fruits were stacked high, emitting an enticing aroma.

Dingding clutched the order form tightly in her hand, her gaze intently scanning it up and down, Xiao Lan's instructions echoing in her mind. After careful observation, she finally fixed her gaze on a merchant who appeared to be around forty years old. The merchant's stall was laden with a dazzling array of goods.

Dingding took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and stepped forward, asking softly, "Brother, could you deliver my purchases here?" There was a reason she chose to ask this person; Dingding had noticed that this vendor not only had a large quantity of goods, but also a far greater variety than other vendors. Other stalls typically only had two or three types of fruits or vegetables, but this vendor occupied a full tenth of the entire market! Here, there were fresh and tempting fruits of all kinds, as well as a complete range of vegetables. There were at least five or six types of fruit alone, and the variety of vegetables was even more extensive.

The shopkeeper, seeing that the young girl seemed interested in buying a large quantity of goods, was secretly pleased and quickly replied enthusiastically, "Then we'll have to see how much you plan to buy and where you want it delivered first."

Dingding composed herself, trying to appear calm and collected, and replied, "We need to deliver these goods to the Jizhou Port wharf. Hmm... our initial estimate is about a thousand catties of vegetables and fruits. Oh, by the way, may I ask your surname, sir?" Actually, Dingding felt a little nervous when she mentioned buying so much goods. Fortunately, having been by Xiao Lan's side for some time, she had learned quite a bit about interpersonal skills. Xiao Lan had once taught her that when negotiating business, one must know how to bluff to maximize profits.

Sure enough, upon hearing Dingding's words, the shopkeeper's face instantly lit up with a radiant smile, as beautiful as a flower blooming in spring. He quickly said, "Oh dear, young lady, my surname is Deng. If you don't mind, you can just call me Old Deng! As for delivering goods to the dock, if you buy over a thousand kilograms of goods this time, I'll definitely deliver them to the dock for you free of charge without hesitation!"

Upon hearing this, Dingding and Dangdang exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes revealing undisguised joy. Dingding then smiled and replied politely yet generously, "Thank you very much, Mr. Deng! But before that, we'd like to take a look at your goods first, and we'd also appreciate a fair price. We expect to return in about two weeks to make more purchases."

"Of course, of course! Please come in, ladies." Mr. Deng greeted them with a big smile and said warmly, "Please rest assured, ladies. I, Mr. Deng, have always been honest in business. Today, I will definitely give you the most favorable price."

Dingding and Dangdang exchanged a smile, then carefully pulled a piece of paper from their pockets and handed it to Boss Deng. The paper was filled with a long list of items. It turned out to be the shopping list that Xiao Lan had given them beforehand.

Upon closer inspection, it clearly states: 100 jin of cabbage, 50 jin of green peppers, 50 jin of cucumbers, and 50 jin of tomatoes; a full 80 jin of onions, 80 jin of carrots and white radishes; 50 jin each of scallions, ginger, and garlic; a whopping 200 jin of eggs; 100 jin each of sweet potatoes and yams; 100 jin of okra; and only 50 jin of lotus root.

After purchasing the vegetables, the two went to the fruit stall. Dingding, with her sharp eyes, quickly selected some fruits that were easy to store. First, she chose bright red apples and pink peaches, then she picked up golden kumquats, round pomelos, and bright red dates, among other things. There were seven or eight kinds of fruit in total, and she bought a full fifty pounds of each kind.

After purchasing all the vegetables and fruits, Dingding thought for a moment and then turned to Boss Deng to inquire about the prices of meat at the market. Upon learning that Boss Deng could help them purchase the meat they needed at the most favorable prices, Dingding didn't hesitate to ask him to help her buy fifty cleaned and slaughtered chickens, five whole pigs, and one robust cow. Moreover, each part of these animals had been meticulously cut and packaged.

Finally, after many hardships, Dingding and Dangdang found a merchant who specialized in supplying rice and flour. The merchant's shop was spacious, and the mountains of rice and flour emitted a fragrant aroma.

Dingding and Dangdang entered the store and engaged in a fierce bargaining battle with the shop owner. Both sides went back and forth, neither willing to give in. After several rounds of negotiation, they finally reached a deal at a price acceptable to both parties.

Afterwards, the shop owner personally led his employees to carry 500 jin (250 kg) of high-quality rice to the shop entrance, and carefully weighed and packaged it. The rice grains were plump and translucent, clearly top-grade.

Dingding and Dangdang looked at the piles of white rice with great joy, their hearts filled with a sense of accomplishment. With that, this large-scale procurement task was finally a great success!

Once all the items were loaded, the escorts who had come with the clanging and jingling began to move. Four of them each picked up a bag of meat that was not easily broken, carefully placed it on the back of their horses, and then spurred their horses onward to head to the dock to deliver the message.

The remaining two workers, along with Old Deng and his companions, worked together to load the rest of the goods into the cart. Their movements were skillful and their teamwork seamless; in no time, the cart was packed full. Then, they cracked their whips and slowly drove the cart toward the dock.

Meanwhile, Dingding and Dangdang didn't stop. They strolled around the market, carefully selecting and purchasing some essential seasonings. These seasonings were diverse, including Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, and more—all indispensable ingredients for cooking delicious food.

After finishing their shopping, Dingding and Dangdang mounted their horses, cracked their whips, and galloped towards the dock. The sound of hooves echoed through the streets and alleys, as if playing a joyful melody.

On the other side, Xiao Lan was riding a fine horse, walking side by side with Xiao Mu'an. She explained in detail to Xiao Mu'an the background and consequences of this procurement, including the difficulties encountered and how they were resolved. Xiao Mu'an listened attentively, nodding occasionally to show his understanding.

The two chatted happily along the way, and before they knew it, they had arrived near the pier. They arranged everything after boarding the ship, including where to put their luggage, cabin assignments, and the arrangements for the rest of the trip.

We can see from afar that we're almost at the pier! Along the way, there are shops lining both sides of the road, filled with all kinds of seafood, some of which are still alive and kicking! The air is filled with the unique aroma of seawater and seafood.

Xiao Lan's gaze swept over the bustling shops, and she thought to herself: It seems that Jizhou Port must be not far away. Just then, she heard the sound of horses' hooves approaching from afar. Sure enough, not long after, Yue Jiangchuan rode up to her. He dismounted and smiled, saying, "Miss Xiao, we've arrived." He pointed ahead, and a bustling port scene unfolded before her. Countless ships were moored along the shore, their sails fluttering in the wind; workers were busy loading and unloading goods; and the shouts and bargaining sounds mingled together to create a vibrant symphony.

Xiao Mu'an and Xiao Lan slowly stepped down from the carriage. Looking up, they saw banners fluttering along the shore of Jizhou Port, with rows of Great Xia soldiers in armor, holding long spears, standing in neat formation like an unbreakable Great Wall of Steel. And in front of these majestic soldiers, a huge golden ship was moored.

The ship resembled a golden mountain floating on the sea, shimmering with dazzling light. Xiao Lan couldn't help but gasp in amazement, thinking to herself, "This is probably the largest ship I've ever seen since I came to this world!" She quickly walked to the bow and peered into the distance, but to her astonishment, even standing on tiptoe and craning her neck, she still couldn't see where the stern was. This ship was simply too long and too big!

Upon closer inspection, Xiao Lan discovered that the ship was actually five stories high. Each floor was exquisitely decorated, with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent in gold and jade. From a distance, the entire ship resembled a moving palace, magnificent and imposing.

Because of her memories from her past life, Xiao Lan was already fully aware of the accommodation arrangements for this trip. As she expected, Yue Jiangchuan smiled and said, "Miss Xiao, the boatmen and maids on this ship have been arranged to stay on the lowest deck. The experts you brought to protect you can also rest here. As for Minister Luo and our Imperial Guards, they'll stay on the second deck. The third deck is naturally reserved for you and Young Master Xiao! Your carriage will be driven directly onto the ship and properly placed at the stern. Don't worry, I've instructed my men to guard it day and night. Miss Xiao, is there anything else you'd like to arrange? If not, I'll have someone quickly purchase some dry rations for emergencies. Oh, and I should also ask Miss Lan what her usual preferences are, so the cook can buy them at the market later."

Xiao Lan's lips curled into a knowing smile as she softly said, "Commander Yue, you're too kind. I sent two maids to buy food this morning. They're very clever; they probably brought back enough for all of us to eat for two or three days! Later, Commander Yue, why don't you take a look at the food? If you feel we need to replenish some dry rations, that's fine too. But in my opinion, if we have enough food, there's no need for us to eat those dry rations. After all, everyone has come with me on this mission, and it's been a long and tiring journey. We can't skimp on food! If we happen to run out of food halfway through, we can always go and buy more along the way. It's not a difficult problem, is it?"