Spring arrives and the land smiles

Qingyan and her group arrived at the mining area, where the raw material for forging new weapons—Su Iron—was being produced in full swing. The three briefly inspected the old mine and headed straight for the new mining area.

The new mining area is located in the latter half of the Yushan rich ore section. The mountain road here is not steep and it is an easy mining section. Further in, the mountain road is rugged and it is difficult to mine.

The two men leading Qingyan and her companions were two veteran craftsmen from the Yushan Iron Mine. They were not only exceptionally skilled in iron smelting and casting, but also highly experienced miners in the area. At this moment, the two were introducing the mining area to Qingyan.

"Master Liang, are you saying there might be gold deposits here?" Qingyan asked, pointing to an exposed mine in the distance.

"Your Highness, after extensive investigation, there is no doubt that there is a gold mine here," Master Liang said with certainty.

The three of them stopped and examined the scene carefully.

This mine is different from others; the iron ore here is golden in color and is also known as pyrite. Qingyan searched her remaining geographical knowledge and remembered that gold ore has both sulfur affinity and iron affinity, so there is a higher possibility of gold ore in volcanic rocks. According to the two craftsmen, Yushan is an extinct volcano, so although the possibility of gold ore being associated with pyrite is low, Qingyan has hit the jackpot.

However, gold is naturally scarce in the Earth's crust, and gold mines with exploitable value need to be enriched thousands or even tens of thousands of times more. Well, according to the two craftsmen's research, it's like winning the lottery twice in a row.

Qingyan listened to Master Liang's explanation and nodded repeatedly, and another question in her mind seemed to be answered.

This place is very close to Sichuan, separated only by a mountain, so close that Sichuan has harbored unrealistic ambitions.

On the way back to the inn, Qingyan called Ningyuan and Yunxuan into the carriage. Qingyan sat cross-legged on a soft cushion covered with bamboo mats and told the two her thoughts on the reinforcement of troops in Sichuan. After thinking about it, they unanimously agreed with Qingyan's guess.

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t we take some action?” Qingyan raised an eyebrow.

“Yan’er, the discovery of a gold mine is a major event. Once it is confirmed, I will submit a memorial to the Emperor in your name,” Yunxuan said.

“I will also secretly report to the Emperor, explaining the speculation about the reinforcement of troops in Sichuan,” Ning Yuan also said.

Qingyan nodded.

The Yushan Mountains form the border between the Great Qi and Sichuan. The mineral-rich northeast side borders the Great Qi, while the mineral-poor southwest side borders Sichuan. Although Sichuan has the fertile Chuandu Plain, it suffers from a lack of precious metal mines. Most of its metal products must be purchased from the Great Qi and Southern Xia through trade. Gold is strictly controlled by all countries, and even smuggling is a serious crime. Except for official mining, all other mining is prohibited.

With such a rich gold mine discovered on the border between the two countries, Sichuan and Chongqing will probably be willing to risk everything to get a share.

However, directly sending troops to plunder would be tantamount to provoking war. In today's world, where the power of the Great Qi far surpasses that of Sichuan, it would be unwise. The emperor of Sichuan, who is content with his corner of the country, is not a brainless ruler.

What's the point of sending more troops if we don't seize the opportunity?

Qingyan was at a loss for words.

The carriage swayed and rocked, and despite the soft cushions, Qingyan still felt a little dizzy, so she subconsciously snuggled into Ningyuan's arms.

However, this was an awkward three-person arrangement. Qingyan's right side was Yunxuan, while Ningyuan was directly opposite her. Therefore, if Qingyan wanted to get into Ningyuan's arms, she would have to go over Yunxuan.

When she felt dizzy, Qingyan's mind went blank. She instinctively crawled toward Ningyuan, but as she passed Yunxuan, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms.

Qingyan subconsciously struggled for a moment, then stopped, feeling it was inappropriate. Finally, she reached out and pulled Ning Yuan, and in a very strange posture, she leaned her waist against Yunxuan and rested her head on Ning Yuan, falling into a deep sleep.

The two looked at each other, then smiled at each other after a while.

Back at the inn, Qingyan was still fast asleep. Ningyuan didn't wake her, but carried her off the carriage. However, she woke up before they even reached the bedroom.

Qingyan rubbed her sleepy eyes before she could see that it was Ning Yuan who was carrying her. She simply wrapped her arms around Ning Yuan's neck and pressed herself tightly against his chest, letting him carry her into the bedroom.

"Get down." Ning Yuan looked at his beautiful wife in his arms, her face as lovely as a peach blossom, and his heart fluttered.

"I won't get down," Qingyan said coquettishly, hugging him even tighter.

"You've really spoiled her rotten. Give her to me." Yunxuan reached out and took Qingyan from him.

Before Qingyan could react, her embrace had changed.

"What?" Qingyan stared at Yunxuan.

"I'll find someone else to pamper you." Yunxuan smiled and placed her on the chaise lounge.

Qingyan's face flushed red instantly.

It's only been a couple of days since that day, and Yunxuan is getting more and more outrageous. He seizes every opportunity to fawn over his girlfriend and show off his affection, without even worrying about hurting his back.

Qingyan stepped down from the chaise lounge, and Zhuier brought out chilled plum juice for everyone to cool off. Qingyan took a sip; the sweet and sour taste was very refreshing.

"Ningyuan, who is the current commander of the border garrison at Yushan?" Qingyan asked.

“He is the elder brother of Chu Shen, the Grand Protector of Huaihua and General of the Vanguard Battalion’s Imperial Guards,” Ning Yuan replied.

"Chu Huai?" Qingyan pondered for a moment, knowing what Ning Yuan meant by telling her this.

Yunxuan reached out and smoothed Qingyan's furrowed brows, a gesture he was becoming increasingly adept at: "Why do you frown when you hear the name Chu Huai?"

“He is one of the Prince of Jin’s men,” Ning Yuan answered before Qing Yan could reply.

"It's not certain yet," Qingyan corrected. "Last winter, during the disaster relief efforts in the south, Chu Huai accompanied me. If he was working for the Prince of Jin, why didn't he cause me any trouble along the way, but instead fulfilled his duties diligently?"

"But before going to the south for disaster relief, Chu Huai, together with Li Chengyi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, impeached you for bewitching the palace at the behest of the Prince of Jin. How do you explain that?" Ning Yuan asked, puzzled.

Bewitching the palace!

Yunxuan chuckled softly and looked at Qingyan, who immediately felt embarrassed. During her honeymoon, Ningqi spent a full fifteen days at Yunxuan's Bolanzhai, where she and Ningyuan enjoyed music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and discussing historical anecdotes, which unexpectedly led to chaos within the palace.

The person who started this even mocked her. Qingyan glared at Yunxuan and said, "Troublemaker."

Yunxuan wasn't annoyed, and when he spoke, he was serious: "Perhaps it was... forced. I'll go and check to find out."

"Princess, Lord Fang requests an audience," Zhuier reported.

At this moment, Fang Wenxiao, the administrative officer in charge of the Yushan mining area, was waiting anxiously outside the door.

Everyone had just returned from the mining area when Fang Wenxiao arrived. Could something have happened?

"Let him in," Qingyan agreed.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Princess." As soon as he entered, Fang Wenxiao kowtowed to the ground.

"What's wrong?" Why are you so frightened?

"See..."

Fang Wenxiao was about to pay homage to the other two deities beside the Princess when Qingyan stopped him, saying, "Speak, what is it?"

After Qingyan's stern words, Fang Wenxiao, looking pale and trembling violently, said in a shaky voice, "Reporting to the princess, the mine... the mine has collapsed."

"What?" Qingyan was shocked and stood up immediately.

Ning Yuan and Yun Xuan were also greatly surprised.

"Explain yourself clearly," Ning Yuan said, calming down first.

Fang Wenxiao suppressed his trembling voice and explained the matter in detail.

The collapse occurred in an old mine shaft next to the gold mine. The miners wanted to carve a shortcut through the old mine shaft to enter the gold mine for exploration. They had already taken appropriate safety measures and driven wooden stakes around the mine shaft, but for some reason, it suddenly collapsed. The collapse blocked the shortcut from the old mine shaft to the gold mine.

"Let's go take a look first." Qingyan and the other two immediately set off.

The collapsed mining area was in complete chaos, with various sounds of digging, groans, and shouts rising and falling. When Li Renhe, the ordnance supervisor of the mining area, saw Qingyan and the other two arrive, he quickly went to pay his respects.

"How many were killed or injured?" Qingyan asked before Li Renhe could even offer a polite greeting.

Li Renhe was a decisive and efficient person, and quickly replied: "Your Highness, three are dead, ten are injured, and seventeen people are still buried in the mine. We are doing our best to rescue them."

"Take me to see the injured," Qingyan instructed Li Renhe, who respectfully stepped forward and led the way from the side.

To minimize further harm to the injured, they were gathered in a nearby safe area, where the doctors were already treating the wounded in an orderly manner. It seemed that Li Renhe, despite his young age, remained calm in the face of danger and handled such emergencies with great composure. Qingyan silently gave him credit in her heart.

"How badly is he injured?" Qingyan asked, stopping beside a doctor who was bandaging a wounded man.

The doctor, seeing that Qingyan was elegant and had an extraordinary bearing, and that the person carefully following her was none other than Lord Li, the Minister of the Armory, did not know her identity but dared not be negligent: "Fortunately, she was rescued in time and her leg can be saved."

Qingyan looked at the other injured people and, seeing that they were all likely to survive, breathed a sigh of relief.

But Li Renhe, who was beside her, dared not relax.

"Is there any hope for the seventeen miners buried in the mine?" Qingyan asked.

“According to those who were rescued, they are likely still alive, but…” Li Renhe paused for a moment before continuing, “If they have been trapped for too long, the chances of survival are very small.”

"Then what are we waiting for?" Qingyan said sternly.

"I have already sent people to handle it, and there will be news soon," Li Renhe quickly reported, fearing that he might anger the princess.

Hearing this, Qingyan's expression softened slightly.

"The families of the three miners who died must be properly comforted and not treated perfunctorily."

"Yes." Li Renhe accepted the order without saying anything more.

Meanwhile, Yunxuan, in the name of the eldest princess, was comforting the miners' families, hoping to minimize the negative impact.

If this incident is not handled properly, it will inevitably arouse public anger and be exploited by those with ulterior motives. The Prince of Jin's faction will naturally not let go of any opportunity to strike at the Princess. Even though the Fu family holds great power in the court, they cannot resist the public resentment.

The mining area manager and the ordnance supervisor may seem like minor officials of the seventh rank, but they are extremely important in the current situation. If Fang Wenxiao and Li Renhe are dismissed because of this incident, Prince Jin will definitely intervene and bring his people in. Then Prince Jin will make a big fuss about the forging of new weapons and the agreement with Lan Zhen to donate new weapons, and the consequences will be unimaginable.

These matters can be reported to His Majesty the Emperor privately, and by explaining the pros and cons, one can naturally persuade him. However, if they are discussed openly in court, it would be a slap in the face, and Qingyan's position as Crown Prince would certainly be precarious, perhaps even leading to his utter ruin. A Crown Prince who has stepped down usually only faces death.

Qingyan couldn't help but admire Yunxuan's foresight, which explained why she could never beat him in Go. When playing Go, Qingyan usually only considered three moves ahead, while Yunxuan considered eighteen moves ahead.

When things were almost settled, Li Renhe led everyone to the Ordnance Supervision Office in Yushan.

The supervisor's office was well-organized by Li Renhe, and Qingyan went straight to the head seat and sat down.

"How much impact will the mine collapse have on the forging of Su Iron?" Qingyan asked directly.

In addition to equipping the Ning family army with new weapons, there is also Lan Zhen's 10,000 sabers. If something happens at Yushan, it will be a major incident.

“Your Highness, it is still under control,” Li Renhe replied. “The collapsed area is an old mine. We had planned to stop work in half a month after the discovery of the gold mine so that the gold mine could be mined. The collapse only brought forward the stop time and did not cause too much damage.”

Hearing Li Renhe say this, Qingyan felt relieved.

Li Renhe then quickly reported on the casting progress of Su Iron in recent months.

"Lord Li, I see that there are many craftsmen in Yushan. I wonder how many of them can forge weapons?" Qingyan remembered that many smelting craftsmen were sent from Suizhou, but he didn't know how many of them were capable of forging weapons.

"Does the princess intend to forge weapons directly in Yushan?" Li Renhe's mind worked quickly.

"Hmm." The ten thousand weapons promised to Lan Zhen couldn't be transported out of Suizhou; that would cause too much of a commotion.

"I will send someone to do it immediately," Li Renhe replied.

Li Renhe presented several more files to Qingyan for review. Qingyan found the records and descriptions on them to be very clear and appreciated Li Renhe's methods.