Chapter 152

Chapter 152

After the emperor's order to construct the seafaring vessel proved successful, silk carpets and silk were swiftly loaded onto the ship.

Li Ai handed Hai Guanxing two thick letters, one from Meng Tingyi and the other addressed to Meng Die. The couple had once again resumed their mode of communication through letters, albeit with a roundabout journey.

As he passed the letters, Li Ai casually inquired, "This voyage is starting later than last year. Does that mean you'll return later as well?"

Hai Guanxing suppressed his smile, "Second Master, Second Mistress must have already prepared iron and provisions over there. With that taken care of, I might even return earlier this time."

Li Ai's apprehension finally dissipated. "Good."

With Hai Guanxing's departure to sea, the news that Meng Die would not return this autumn was confirmed beyond doubt. No one had guessed correctly, resulting in a sweep for the house. However, with gambling dens scarce these days, such bets were mostly made privately, causing no significant financial losses.

Yet, the emotional toll was immense. If the Great Yi Dynasty had the internet, there would likely be a trending thread titled "Has Second Lady Returned Today?" where people would daily check in and discuss. Without Meng Die, the capital seemed devoid of its usual liveliness; even the fireworks lacked their former splendor. After the new year celebrations, everyone eagerly awaited, counting down the days and stretching their necks in anticipation. Hai Guanxing's return was imminent, and with her came the hope for news of Meng Die. Some believed that after a year away, it was time for Meng Die to come back.

On the sixth day of the second lunar month, the moment Hai Guanxing's grand vessel neared Tianjin harbor, it was immediately surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd. As soon as Hai Guanxing's figure emerged, the spectators began voicing their excitement.

"How is Lady Hai faring overseas?"

"Will County Master Meng be returning this year?"

...

The questions kept coming, forcing Hai Guanxing to pause. "Lady Hai is doing well abroad. She has traveled through several countries and still has more to visit. For now, she won't be returning anytime soon."

Disappointment was evident on the faces of the onlookers. Disregarding their reactions, Hai Guanxing swiftly returned to the capital. After a brief night's rest, he immediately entered the palace to audience with the emperor.

Emperor: "How did the silk carpet sales fare this time?"

Hai Guanxing: "Your Majesty, the silk carpets were sold at thirty taels each, just like the silk. This was the price negotiated beforehand by Second Lady. This time, I simply unloaded the goods there without any hassle."

Thirty taels! This price exceeded the emperor's expectations. "How did Meng Die negotiate? Are there many countries trading in silk carpets?"

Hai Guanxing: "Your Majesty, there are indeed numerous countries trading in silk carpets. They always try to lower the prices. If not for Second Lady bundling the silk carpets and silk with the curtains from her factory, we would never have been able to sell them at such a high price of thirty taels."

Ran Pengfei couldn't help but inquire, "Did County Master Meng mention how much more they could be sold for in the future?"

Hai Guanxing: "Second Lady has already signed agreements with merchants from Yan and Fa countries, committing to supply them each with two hundred thousand silk rugs and one hundred thousand bolts of silk annually, at a price of twenty taels per item."

Ran Pengfei: "Twenty taels?" Currently, the cost of producing and exporting a single silk rug ranges from sixteen to seventeen taels. Selling it for twenty taels would yield a profit of three or four taels per rug. With a combined total of six hundred thousand items, that amounts to an annual profit of two million taels.

This figure only represents the profit of the imperial court; the wages earned by the people are crucial. In just these two years, countless prosperous towns have emerged in the north. The most evident sign is the proliferation of bakery shops belonging to the thirteen trading firms, some even extending into villages, indicating the surplus wealth in the hands of the common folk.

Hai Guanxing nodded. "Indeed, twenty taels. Second Lady signed a contract with them for ten years."

Ten years! All the officials beamed with delight. Meng Die truly was remarkable. A rare expression of pride adorned Meng Tingyi's face.

The emperor smoothed his brows, "You've worked hard. Go rest now."

Hai Guanxing replied, "This humble woman takes her leave."

Exiting the Diligent Governance Palace, a young eunuch bowed respectfully, "Miss Hai, Prince Chang'an requests your presence."

As expected, Hai Guanxing smiled, "Lead the way."

Inside the room, Li Ai paced anxiously. Upon hearing footsteps outside, he hurriedly sat down on a chair, taking a deep breath to compose himself.

Hai Guanxing entered, and Li Ai's composure instantly crumbled as he shot up from his seat. "How is she doing overseas?"

"Haha..." Hai Guanxing was anything but courteous, laughing heartily.

Feeling embarrassed, Li Ai sat back down and pointed to the chair. "Take a seat." It wasn't entirely his fault for being so anxious; Nas was a foreigner who wasn't very familiar with the Great Yi Dynasty's language. Besides, Meng Die wouldn't share certain things with him because of his nationality. Only Hai Guanxing could truly grasp the entirety of Meng Die's situation.

Taking a sip of tea, Hai Guanxing pulled out Meng Die's letter from his chest while recounting her experiences in detail.

Meng Die's voyage at sea hadn't been smooth sailing. Being a landlubber born and raised in the capital city, she began to suffer from seasickness soon after the ship set sail. She wasn't alone, though – Lu Wei and Xing Huang also experienced motion sickness. Even those with exceptional physical fitness like Tu Ying and Jia Ning couldn't escape its clutches, both vomiting profusely on the second day.

Yet, human adaptability knows no bounds. As the inexperienced sailors continued to vomit, they gradually grew accustomed to life at sea. By the time they reached their first port of call, they had fully embraced their maritime existence.

Jia Ning said, "Second Aunt, there's a vast marketplace near this dock. The sailors are asking if they can explore it."

Meng Die pondered for a moment. "We're unfamiliar with the place and don't speak the language. It's best not to wander about. Just replenish our fresh water and provisions. Try to avoid interacting with the locals as much as possible."

"Aye, aye."

Sailing along in a leisurely manner, three months later, Meng Die was finally closing in on Qiu Ji's country, with approximately three or four days left in their journey.

Meng Die said, "Lu Wei, please invite Mr. Zhao and Mr. Qi over."

"Alright."

Both Mr. Zhao and Mr. Qi were appointed by Hai Guanxing for Meng Die's service. Mr. Zhao, aged thirty-five, was proficient in several languages, while Mr. Qi, at twenty-eight, was well-versed in both the old maritime routes of the Hai family and the new ones charted by Hai Guanxing. It was he who had arranged their current sea voyage.

"Second Aunt."

Meng Die gestured to the chairs. "Please have a seat, gentlemen. There's no need to be formal while we're traveling."

Both men took their seats, and Mr. Zhao initiated the conversation, "Does Second Madam have any specific instructions for us?"

Meng Die nodded slightly, "I would like to ask both of you to arrange for two individuals to precede our main ship to Yingguo in search of Qiu Ji. Inform him that I am on my way."

Mr. Zhao replied, "That is not a problem. We will attend to it immediately."

"Thank you both for your trouble."

As Mr. Zhao and Mr. Qi withdrew from Meng Die's presence, they were both somewhat perplexed. Had this been anyone else, they might have assumed she wished for Qiu Ji to make all necessary preparations beforehand, ensuring her a comfortable rest upon her arrival. However, with Second Madam, their time spent traveling together had convinced them that she was not such a person. Thus, they were left wondering about the true purpose behind this request.

On the day the grand vessel docked, it was also winter in the Shadow Kingdom, with fierce cold winds blowing outside.

Meng Die woke up early to begin her grooming routine. "Lu Wei, I'll wear that peach blossom floral dress."

Lu Wei paused. "Hmm?"

Meng Die spoke casually, but the attire was actually of great value. The entire dress was crafted using the kesi weaving technique, while the patterns on the hem were embroidered with golden and silver threads. The narrow-sleeved jacket that paired with the dress was also made with the same kesi technique.

The buttons on the garment were strung with various gemstones, particularly the collar button, which was a large, round pink pearl the size of a thumb.

Dressed in her finest attire, Lu Wei carefully styled Meng Die's hair, adorning it with an exquisite Eight-Tailed Phoenix Hairpin. Lastly, she draped a fox fur cloak around Meng Die's shoulders. In short, Meng Die had adorned herself in opulence.

The usually bustling harbor of Shadow Kingdom was unusually quiet that day, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle. It wasn't due to a lack of people but rather, everyone had found a vantage point to curiously gaze at the magnificent vessel that had docked.

Qiu Ji was once an upper-class merchant in Shadow Kingdom; one couldn't venture abroad as a maritime trader without belonging to that class. However, even among the upper class, there were hierarchies. Qiu Ji ranked in the lower middle tier, at least before his encounter with Meng Die.

Since obtaining those hundred silk rugs from Meng Die and bringing them back to his homeland, Qiu Ji had climbed the social ladder significantly. He was now counted among the top merchants of Shadow Kingdom, and he had even acquired the title of a baron, albeit through purchase, but it still placed him within the nobility.

In Shadow Kingdom and neighboring nations, his name carried great prestige. Meeting him in person had become a challenging feat for many.

Amidst this atmosphere, Qiu Ji rose early today, braving the biting cold to arrive at the dock long before dawn, awaiting someone's arrival.

No one was not curious about who could warrant such respect from Qiu Ji. The dock workers were merely content with spectating, while the shrewd merchants began their inquiries to uncover the details.

They soon learned that the esteemed lady of the Great Yi Dynasty, known for pioneering the weaving of silk carpets, had arrived. In the Shadow Kingdom, there was no merchant who had not heard of Meng Die's illustrious name; Qiu Ji's success had stirred envy in many.

Countless times, merchants had secretly mused – if they had been the ones to ally with Meng Die, would they have become the cream of the trading world? They were convinced they would surpass Qiu Ji's achievements. Many a midnight, they awoke with hearts and livers aching from envy. Now! Meng Die had come, to their Shadow Kingdom, and they too would go to greet her ship, eager to meet this noble lady.

As Qiu Ji waited, one prominent merchant after another arrived at the dock, greeting him and standing shoulder to shoulder with him to welcome the newcomer. Their actions piqued the curiosity of even more onlookers, drawing a throng of people to the docks, eager to unravel the mystery. Thus, the entire harbor was packed with people, leaving barely any space to step.

The moment Meng Die appeared, many people instinctively held their breath.

Meng Die's attire was vastly different from that of the women in their country. They couldn't tell if her clothing style was appealing or not, for everyone had their own unique taste in aesthetics.

However, one thing was undeniable to anyone with eyes: this woman exuded an air of nobility. The shimmering gemstones, the exquisite pearls, and the jewelry adorning her head were all crafted from gold and precious stones.

The sea breeze carried gasps of admiration, also parting the clouds to reveal a sliver of golden sunlight. It cascaded down, enveloping Meng Die in a radiant glow. The gasps grew louder, and a subtle smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Holding Lu Wei's hand, she descended the deck step by step, observing the grand spectacle before her. She was thoroughly pleased with the commotion she had caused, vindicating her decision to send word to Qiu Ji beforehand.

Qiu Ji and Lina hurried forward, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Second Lady."

Meng Die smiled, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. There's no need to be too formal." Despite her words, her demeanor remained regal and lofty.

Qiu Ji responded, "Etiquette must not be neglected, Madam Second, please."

Some of the merchants accompanying Qiu Ji were intimidated by Meng Die's aura and dared not speak, while a couple more attempted to engage her in conversation. However, Meng Die didn't even spare them a glance before stepping into the luxurious carriage that Qiu Ji had prepared beforehand.

Lu Wei quickly followed suit. Once the curtains were drawn, Meng Die gently stretched her neck, relieved to be free from the constraints of her elaborate attire. It was indeed exhausting to be so dressed up.

Lu Wei asked, "Madam Second, why have you chosen to do things this way today?"

Meng Die: "To acquire superior skills, the most direct way is to obtain them from nobles. And to infiltrate the highest echelons of the aristocracy, the quickest path is to be one yourself."

Lu Wei: "Second Aunt was indeed part of that circle."

Meng Die smiled. "That was in the Great Yi Dynasty. Now, we're on the soil of the Shadow Kingdom. To gain their recognition, one must exhibit confidence and possess something that can impress them."

Lu Wei nodded, understanding the implication.