Spring arrives and the land smiles

Qingyan slowly walked out of the Liuli Palace, pondering how to persuade Lan Zhen to abandon the shortcut and take the longer route through Yushan.

After spending a lot of time together, Qingyan had gotten to know Lan Zhen's temperament to some extent. Apart from his flippant remarks, he was also a big fan of wine. After the drinking contest at Huamanlou that day, Qingyan inadvertently learned that this Prince Zhao had taken all the fine wines she had made. It was said that he had even asked for the recipe, but he didn't know it and gave up.

“Zhui’er, let’s go to Xiaoxiang Garden to mix drinks,” Qingyan said, narrowing her eyes. “And while we’re at it, let’s invite His Highness Prince Zhao over.”

When Lan Zhen was led in by Zhui'er, she smelled the aroma of wine before she even saw anyone, and the craving for wine in her stomach immediately surged up.

The garden of Xiaoxiang Garden was filled with the fragrance of irises. Beside the stone table by the flower pond, Qingyan was pouring wine from a blue-and-white porcelain pot into an oddly shaped, exquisite silver vessel, her movements sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes fast. On the stone table were seven porcelain bottles of different colors. Qingyan poured the liquids from the bottles into the silver vessel in measured amounts, then shook them to mix.

The seven-colored bottle contains seven ingredients for cocktails, which Qingyan discovered in this world, and they are far superior to those in her previous life.

Qingyan picked up the silverware and sniffed it. Feeling it wasn't heavy enough, she poured in some milky white liquid, sniffed it again, and then, satisfied, closed the silverware tightly.

Holding the silverware in her hand, Qingyan repeatedly tossed and shook it, trying to make the movements as flashy and strange as she had done in her previous life when she was a bartender. Sure enough, this aroused Lan Zhen's interest.

"What are you doing?" Lan Zhen asked, peering closer like a curious child.

Before he could get close, Qingyan tossed him the silverware in her hand: "Catch."

Lan Zhen caught it with a flick of her wrist and, imitating Qing Yan, shook it back and forth. Not satisfied with that, she even treated it like a juggling act, lifting it with her shoulder, supporting it with her elbow, pushing it with her chest, and raising it with her knee, having a great time.

"Alright, give it back to me." It's not over yet.

Lan Zhen raised his hand, and the silver weapon landed steadily in Qing Yan's palm. Qing Yan was slightly surprised, not expecting Lan Zhen to be so skillful.

...Its accuracy and power in throwing hidden weapons are comparable to those of martial arts practitioners.

Qingyan had seen the guard-type martial arts of Sicheng, and also the battlefield-type martial arts of Ningyuan, who had taught her how to distinguish between them. Therefore, Qingyan felt that Lan Zhenlu's move today resembled a martial arts routine.

"I never imagined that His Highness Prince Zhao possessed such skill." Qingyan unscrewed the silver vessel, and the aroma of wine immediately filled the air, drawing Lan Zhen a few steps closer.

"How did you do that?" Lan Zhen leaned over to the front of the table and picked up a specially made crystal wine glass. The glass contained the milky white and clear wine that Qing Yan had just poured in. "It has the mellowness of Nianhua Zui and the richness of Zhōu Xiang, yet it is not lacking in fruity aroma. Moreover, the aroma is not layered but rather emerges one after another, one aroma over another, neither mixed nor singular, strong yet unified."

"Let me try a bite and see how it tastes." Lan Zhen couldn't wait to taste it.

"Wait," Qingyan stopped him, picking a sapphire blue iris from her side and placing it in the cup.

"Alright, drink up."

Lan Zhen stared blankly at the iris, then suddenly smiled, pinched the iris between her fingers, and drank the wine in her cup.

"Fine wine!!" Lan Zhen squinted, his eyes full of admiration. "The flavor is lingering and pleasant, neither scorching nor overpowering, neither spicy nor pungent, but smooth, sweet, and mellow, with a balanced aroma. How did you manage to blend the 'Flower-Infused Wine' and 'Steamed Fragrance' so perfectly?"

"There is a flower in Yushan called Albizia julibrissin. The juice of this flower mixed with the morning dew can make the best wine, but unfortunately..." Qingyan deliberately slowed down her tone.

"What's a pity?" Lan Zhen asked anxiously.

"It's a pity that these ingredients I have are aged. If I had used fresh ingredients from that day, the taste of this wine would probably be even better." Qingyan said lightly, whetting Lan Zhen's appetite.

"That's easy. We'll enter Nanxia from Yushan. When we arrive, I'll ask Your Highness to showcase your skills so I can also enjoy a delicious meal. What do you say?"

Lan Zhen did offer her a brilliant idea that hit the nail on the head, but something about it sounded a little awkward.

"Us?" Qingyan raised an eyebrow and said deliberately, "If you go back to Nanxia, ​​what will I do?"

"What are you doing? I have no idea what you're planning to do. But if you didn't want to see me off, you wouldn't have called me here today. You want to use me to cover your tracks and go to Yushan. Although I don't know what your intentions are, it's just a small favor. I'm not that petty. But I do ask for a fine wine from the beauty." Lan Zhen still remembered the farce at Hua Man Lou that day.

Since Lan Zhen had seen through it, Qing Yan didn't hold back anymore: "The mimosa flowers are fake, the trip to Yushan is real, a beautiful woman with delicate hands and a fine wine... enough to fill you up, how about it?"

"Deal." Lan Zhen readily agreed. "However, I have one more request."

"Speak." I knew he wasn't so easy to talk to.

“From today onwards, a new pot of wine every day.” Lan Zhen raised his empty wine glass to Qing Yan, “until I return to Nanxia.”

Mixing drinks is all about mood; this ignorant guy is treating it like a wholesale business. He'll never become a master bartender, just a drunkard.

Qingyan gritted her teeth and agreed.

This Lan Zhen, he gives away one point and expects to get three in return. It's a real shame he's not a shrewd businessman.

"Is it alright to set off tomorrow?" Qingyan asked.

"It's up to you." Lan Zhen picked up the remaining wine and left.

There were still quite a few ingredients left on the stone table. Qingyan thought for a moment that Ningyuan had been recuperating for more than thirty days and had not allowed him to drink a drop of alcohol. Ningyuan was also a lover of wine, so today he could satisfy his craving.

They prepared one strong and one mild dish. The strong dish was sent to Yunxuan, and the mild dish was sent to Ningyuan by Zhuier with a message: King Zhao has agreed.

"Sicheng".

"exist."

The man in black suddenly appeared.

"Have Siyou and Siwu prepare to escort Princess Yinghua back to her fiefdom in Yongzhou tomorrow." She is about to set off for Yushan, so Yinghua naturally cannot stay here. Although the Emperor turns a blind eye to the fact that Yinghua was stolen away, he does not dare to be too presumptuous and let her play outside.

"Yes." Si Cheng was a competent bodyguard and didn't say much more.

"By the way, who has better kung fu, Siyou or Siwu?" Qingyan suddenly remembered that she had promised Yinghua to help her deal with Ji Xian.

"Siyou is better."

"How does she compare to Lord Ji Xian?"

Si Cheng frowned, paused for a moment, and then replied, "He will surely die."

...certain death, without a doubt? What kind of answer is that?

Qingyan smiled and said, "Don't worry, you won't die. Ji Xian wouldn't dare. Go ahead."

"Yes."

"Sicheng, you don't need to hide when you're with me anymore. You can be out in the open. Also, go and change into the regular uniform of the Imperial Guards." That way, I won't feel like my private affairs are being spied on.

"Yes."

Very good, you listen to whatever they say.

This morning, Qingyan felt that she needed to hear General Ning's opinion on the matter she had discussed with Ning Yuan and Yun Xuan.

A messenger was sent to announce that Qingyan was led into Jingxiang Palace by an eunuch. At this time, General Ning was discussing military and political affairs with his deputy, General Shenwu Zhao Shenyang.

"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess." The two bowed simultaneously.

"No need for such formalities, gentlemen." Qingyan gently helped the two men to their seats and sat down. "General Zhao, the old general and I have something to discuss. You may leave now."

"This humble general takes his leave." Zhao Shenyang left the study and closed the door.

"What is it, Princess, that requires such caution?"

Zhao Shenyang was the eldest son of General Zhao Chi, a trusted confidant of General Ning, and an absolutely trustworthy person. The princess's request immediately made General Ning focus his attention.

Qingyan didn't mince words, recounting everything that had happened in the past few days, including the craftsmen Qiu Rong had sent, the iron mine in Yushan, and the incredibly sharp arrowhead.

...and also her thoughts.

After listening for a long time, General Ning cautiously asked, "Has the princess already submitted a memorial to the Emperor?"

"The matter of the craftsmen and arrowheads has been entrusted to Lord Fu to write to the Emperor in my name. As for the Yushan Iron Mine..." Qingyan pondered for a moment before saying, "I gave half of it to Prince Zhao."

"What?" General Ning was so shocked that he stood up from his square chair.

"General, please calm down," Qingyan said calmly. "King Zhao promised that if our Great Qi goes to war with the Qiu Rong, he will not interfere."

Hearing this promise, the old general looked at Qingyan and slowly sat down again.

"Does he have any other requests?" The old general was indeed astute.

"If Situ Huan takes advantage of the chaos to act on his own, I promise King Zhao that he will never return."

"Hmph, this Prince Zhao is truly treacherous and cunning." General Ning slammed his hand on the tea table beside him in anger, causing the teacup to overturn and fall to the ground.

The servants heard the sound of porcelain breaking outside the door, but dared not barge in, so they could only knock gently on the door.

"All of you, step back. Do not disturb us without reason." General Ning's voice was authoritative, which frightened everyone into scattering like birds and beasts.

"If we grant King Zhao's request, our Great Qi will have incurred the wrath of the Situ clan of Southern Xia," General Ning said, frowning.

"I only promised King Zhao that if Situ Huan were to invade, I would ensure he never returned, but I didn't say I had to kill him." Although Qingyan didn't spell it out, the old general must have understood.

Situ Huan had long been subordinate to Li Muqing and was eager to seize the throne. The current patriarch of the Situ family was humble and cautious, unwilling to defy the emperor. Not only did he not fight for him, he also reprimanded him several times. Given Situ Huan's arrogant nature, he was already dissatisfied. So... there are many ways to come and never return. Who says there is only one way: death?

"The journey to Yushan is fraught with danger. It would be best for the princess to have Ningyuan accompany her."

"No, General, like father, like son. Ningyuan should go with you." Qingyan continued, "Judging from the matter of the craftsmen, Qiu Rong's submission this time is probably a veiled act of defiance. Therefore, if Qiu Rong's attitude doesn't change, a major battle will be unavoidable. Currently, the main force of the border defense is still the Ning family army. If you and Ningyuan can be stationed in the army, the Ning family army will be even more powerful. In addition, there are the 30,000 elite troops and 30,000 vanguard troops stationed at the Xiguan Mountain border when the bandits were quelled, as well as the Lifeng Battalion that is escorting me this time. In total, there are 170,000 elite troops, which is more than enough to deal with Qiu Rong. General, didn't you want to avenge the humiliation of the Battle of Qingxia Pass ten years ago?"

"I have ordered the Suizhou Bureau of Works to gather all the artisans in Suizhou and the surrounding counties to forge weapons day and night, so that all 100,000 Ning family soldiers will be equipped with newly tempered sabers and arrowheads."

"Is the princess gambling with the Emperor's trust in you?" Upon hearing Qingyan's words, General Ning's expression changed slightly. "Emperors have always been suspicious. Has the princess thought this through?"

Qingyan, who already harbored a glimmer of hope regarding the newly forged weapons, hesitated once again after the old general's words.

She began forging new weapons without the Emperor's permission and recruited craftsmen without going through the Ministry of Works or the Imperial Household Department. If someone were to report this to the Emperor, how much would he believe her? If there were even the slightest doubt, then the charge of treason would soon fall on her head.

Furthermore, a few days ago, Li Zhangwu escorted Hai Tu into Qiu Rong and returned to Suizhou. Li Feng Camp is under his command, and he must already know that the artisans in the camp have been transferred by her. He can find out why with a little inquiry. Then Prince Jin must also know. He will definitely not let go of such a rare opportunity to wipe out the Crown Prince, Ning Family Army and Fu Family in one fell swoop.

Now, all we can do is gamble on the Emperor's trust and the Fu family's influence in the court.

"General, as long as Father Emperor gives me a chance to explain, I am confident." In those days, Father Emperor would call her Jiaojiao from time to time, and the expression he showed was definitely not what an emperor should usually have. Therefore, under the influence of power struggles, Father Emperor treated his daughter differently; that's why she dared to be willful and frame Father Emperor's favorite concubine to this extent.

Even with the urgent dispatch, it would take at least seven or eight days for the Emperor to approve the matter of Qiu Rong's military campaign. Therefore, some things need to be prepared in advance.