Chapter 74 – Who’s Wearing the Green Hat

Chapter 74 - Who's Wearing the Green Hat

"Not just that."

Zhu Yan spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice filled with pressure.

Bi Luhun's heart sank. He had been quick and cunning enough; there was no way these people could know more... It was absolutely impossible!

"Indeed, not just that!"

Fang Rui, the young marquis who had been missing for so long he was almost forgotten, finally appeared. Riding on a horse, he was dragging someone behind him, their hands tied with ropes. As Fang Rui rode forward, the person had to run on the ground, dodging thorns and branches, looking utterly wretched.

"What was your name again, Bi something-hun? Come take a look. Do you recognize this person?"

There was no way Bi Luhun wouldn't recognize him. This was one of his trusted men, sent out to carry out a special mission. He was supposed to be loyal, cautious, and strong, capable of completing such a difficult and secretive task. And yet, he had been caught!

Bi Luhun didn't even have the energy to be offended by Fang Rui's forgetfulness regarding his name. His mind raced.

Fang Rui wasn't about to be polite: "Old Hun, we've treated you well. We presented our national letter, established mutual markets, and even Prince Jian personally went to the border to host you. Yet, you harbored ill intentions, trying to steal our secrets? You intentionally provoked a bet in the great hall, and yesterday you were jumping around, causing trouble, all to make it easier for your subordinate to steal outside!"

As he spoke, he quickly winked at Wen Ruan's direction—

I'm sorry I left you hanging again. I'm late, but I wanted to rush back through storms and thorns to help you deal with this scoundrel!

Wen Ruan understood. Another adorable yet terrifying kitten that demanded attention and couldn't be left alone, right?

Wait, no. In a place like this, what they encountered should be a big cat? You dare to pet a big cat?

As long as the mission was accomplished well and no one got hurt, being a little late was fine. It was fortunate that Fang Rui was late. If he had returned last night, he might not have found them. If he had barged in recklessly, he might have been beaten up by Zhu Yan. This turn of events was perfect.

Looking at Bi Luhun's expression, his eyes nearly twitching, wasn't that great? If Fang Rui had arrived earlier, it wouldn't have had the same effect.

Meanwhile, Nanxing also returned, carrying two people in her hands, throwing them over like sandbags, thudding in front of Bi Luhun.

"Woof! Woof woof!"

The dog ran over, barked fiercely twice, then came back to Wen Ruan's side, proudly raising its head—I helped find them!

Wen Ruan rubbed the dog's head and praised it for being good.

In such a short time, so many people emerged from the woods. Bi Luhun was sweating profusely. How, how did they even find these people!

"Strange?"

Wen Ruan looked at Bi Luhun and smiled slightly. "Your logic is actually quite easy to guess. Since you led an envoy to Da Li, you naturally wanted to complete this mission well. In the negotiations for the mutual market, you hoped Da Li would offer more benefits. The first transaction was crucial, setting the tone, and you had to suppress the price ruthlessly. You were overpowered by Prince Jian's aura at the border, reducing your team's morale. So, once you reached the capital, you had to step up your efforts, finding a point where you could be bold and unafraid. You started high-profile in the great hall, challenging me to a bet—believing you would surely win."

"But of course, you had more than one goal. Since you were here, you might as well do something else, like probing Da Li's strength? From the atmosphere of the imperial court to the officials' performances, from the development of the people to commercial secrets, from the city to the manor... You already knew who I was and what I had done, didn't you? What do you know now? Soap, fragrance, wine, salt, or perhaps something more important—the cement?"

"How did it go? Were you satisfied?"

"Hmph, lost your way, did you? Lost your way, you bastard!" Fang Rui roughly pulled the person tied behind his horse.

Good thing Ah Ruan was meticulous, guessing it early on, and asked his brave, wise, and invincible friend to handle the matter. Otherwise, they might have been outwitted this round!

Facing such direct exposure, Bi Luhun couldn't save face. His face turned dark red, fearing Wen Ruan would ask more detailed questions. For example, the secrets he had learned from his inquiries. These were matters that had occurred in the past half year, things that even the circles in the capital might not fully know, let alone outsiders.

He glared at Wen Ruan with narrowed eyes, fierce and intimidating: "Was I wrong to do this? You yourselves have vile intentions, exaggerating the quality of various goods, wanting to charge exorbitant prices and sell us inferior products. I just didn't want to be cheated any further, which is why I had to act!"

"And your husband," he angrily pointed at Zhu Yan, "a prince of a great nation, personally went to the border, disguising himself as a mountain bandit to fight us, suppressing our envoy's morale, using force to prevent us from speaking loudly. Don't you think that's shameless?"

Being scolded to his face, Zhu Yan's expression remained unchanged: "So, have you decided? Are you going to war next year?"

A chill ran down Bi Luhun's spine.

Zhu Yan continued: "Years of conflict have left both nations needing rest and recuperation. Mutual markets benefit both sides. As long as one isn't stupid, they wouldn't want to miss out. But after that? We both know this mutual market can't last forever. I didn't expect you to be so anxious, not even wanting to finish the year."

"So, this third objective was to probe our military strength," his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Have you secretly inspected the quality of our weapons and armor? What do you think? Satisfied?"

Bi Luhun's pupils trembled violently.

How did they even guess that, when they had been so discreet!

Zhu Yan didn't say more, leaving room for both sides. But Bi Luhun knew what he had done, such as investigating Emperor Taiyuan's health, whether he had any illnesses, and how long he could hold on; investigating the situation in the harem, the disputes among the concubines, and whether they aligned with the struggle for the throne; when the emperor was weak and the sons were strong, every country would have issues with succession, and Da Li was no exception. He had to see if he could do something...

Zhu Yan probably knew all of this.

But he couldn't continue talking. If he did, he really wouldn't be able to leave.

He gritted his teeth, swallowing his anger, walking up to Wen Ruan and bowing deeply. "It was my arrogance. I provoked you in the great hall and acted rudely afterward. I hereby apologize to the princess consort!"

"Now I'm also in crisis, in a miserable state. Ultimately, it's the result of my own carelessness. With important matters at hand and time pressing, I don't want to waste time pursuing this. Calm down, give me some face, and let's formally enter the details of the mutual market, shall we? I won't play games with you, and you shouldn't try to cheat us too much. Let's quickly wrap up the exchange and return home for the New Year!"

Wen Ruan's hands were tucked into his sleeves, smiling slightly. "Alright."

The dense forest was quiet and serene. Some places were chaotic, some branches ugly, some people were disheveled and in a sorry state, while others watched the spectacle, not minding the commotion. Even the dog exuded a wild and vigorous madness. But only he, from head to toe, was spotlessly clean. Even his cloak was made of white fox fur. His eyebrows and the corners of his eyes were clear and obedient, his smile like a warm breeze, like encountering sunshine...

How could one not be captivated?

Zhu Yan walked over, tightening Wen Ruan's cloak, shielding him from others' view with his own back.

Since both sides had reached an agreement and there were no hindrances, the subsequent process of the mutual market could proceed swiftly.

The officials of Da Li, of course, were busy and happy, giving a thumbs-up, praising their own Princess Consort Jian.

"Amazing... I never realized Princess Consort Jian had such diplomatic skills!"

"It's not just that. The soap, fragrances, wine, salt, and sugar on the commodity list, priced ridiculously high... he was the one who created them! Look over there, the Huo family, the Liang family, and the capital's chamber of commerce are all present, with all sorts of commodity contracts ready!"

"Tsk tsk, impressive. If they're willing to sign more orders on the spot, they can even arrange the delivery to the border smoothly. As long as the Beidi people pay the transportation fees, they can deliver it right to their doorstep!"

As for the salt, the most crucial commodity, they had innovated with it in various ways.

The newly produced salt from the salt fields, the highest grade, had only been seen by a select few. The Beidi people could only dream of it. It was said to be divided into five grades, from one to five, with quality ranging from coarse to fine, color transitioning from dull yellow to pure white, and taste evolving from slightly bitter to purely salty, each grade surpassing the last. This time, the salt provided by Da Li to Beidi was primarily of grades one, two, and three. Not even grade four, let alone grade five, was given. If you wanted the best, a mix of grades three and four would do, but at triple the price. Whether you wanted it or not was up to you. Want something better? Not available.

Production was limited, barely enough for their own use, so how dare you think you could have some!

Salt sold at a high price, just like the new wine from the Liang family. Lady Liang, along with her daughter-in-law and managers, personally negotiated the liquor business. Since the envoys had already tasted the wine during the banquet and recognized its quality, they couldn't claim it was subpar. Since it wasn't subpar, they should pay a premium price, right? Want more quantity? Fine, but it'll cost extra. Don't say that in trade, the more you buy, the lower the price. Could this rare, well-brewed wine be treated the same? Did labor not require costs? Was grain free? As for the technique... Ha! You Beidi people don't have it. In short, do you want it or not? If yes, pay up. If not, perfect. Da Li was approaching the Spring Festival, the peak season for alcohol sales, and they weren't worried about selling it.

The Liang family's business thrived, and Young Master Huo, of course, didn't lag behind. He led the chamber of commerce, dealing not only in his own silk and cosmetics but also in all sorts of goods reflecting the diversity of daily life. Even items that Da Li couldn't sell were turned into orders through creative negotiations...

In the days that followed, the capital city was bustling with activity, almost too much to take in.

Not just the common folk, even Fang Rui was rarely home, spending his days in the markets and teahouses, behaving like a spoiled young master, wandering around, watching the commotion, petting stray cats that appeared out of nowhere, and rushing to help wherever there was trouble, cat in tow.

The Second and Third Princes also urged their subordinates to get busy. Matters of succession and political intrigue were set aside; making money took precedence!

Wen Ruan and Zhu Yan didn't concern themselves with these subsequent matters. They focused on setting the overall direction, ensuring no one caused unnecessary chaos. The rest was left to others, each with their own expertise. They acknowledged that when it came to marketing, they couldn't match someone like Young Master Huo, who was immersed in business year-round.

Now, they had other matters to attend to, such as ——

The 'White Moonlight' who sent the lute.

The past was already discussed. Zhu Yan had no interest in seeing the impersonator, feeling that giving them any attention would be an insult to Wen Ruan. And that overly ornate lute? Just looking at it hurt his eyes; he wanted to throw it away.

Wen Ruan intervened.

What had the object done wrong? Created without knowing its fate, the fault lay not with it but with human intentions. If you didn't want to see it, why not simply give it away or present it to someone else? Why destroy it?

As for the young man, since Zhu Yan didn't want to meet him, he would go alone.

It was worth a try to see if anything could be learned.

Nanxing would come along, of course. Although it was confirmed that the man had no martial arts skills, what if he was a deeply hidden assassin?

Black Dog Dao seemed uneasy, tugging at Wen Ruan's clothes, insisting on coming along. Reluctantly, Wen Ruan agreed to bring both Nanxing and Dao.

Zhu Yan was still worried, glancing at Lan Tian, signaling him to eavesdrop quickly.

Whether he wanted to see the man was one thing, but whether the man might scheme against him was another. What if he said something unspeakably vile?

Lan Tian complied, barely exerting himself, using lightness kung fu to hang upside down outside the room. But something felt off.

The moment the man noticed them, he knelt before Wen Ruan. "Please, Young Master, show mercy!"

Wen Ruan nearly dropped his cup of tea. "Huh?"

"My name is Gong Rongxue. I've known your name and reputation for years. Pure-hearted and benevolent, you personally engage in agriculture, benefiting the people. Gifted with a mind bestowed by heaven, you earn great wealth yet shun fame and profit, dedicating yourself to farming. Wherever you go, whatever you see, you act with kindness toward others, especially fond of helping the poor. Your actions once moved merchants to admiration... My respect for you knows no bounds, but alas, I've never had the chance to meet you. When I heard of your illness, I wished I could have taken your place!"

Gong Rongxue lived up to his name. Though he appeared to have reached adulthood, his aura was uniquely special, as cold and clear as snow, as radiant as the moon. His eyes were clear and bright, exuding a distinct youthful charm. His words were sincere, not feigned. "Perhaps to you, these words sound unbelievable, but these feelings have lingered within me for many years. My admiration for you has spanned several years. I genuinely revere you, willing to serve as a servant, to be at your side, to be your horse, guiding your path and holding your whip, to dedicate the rest of my life to you!"

"Pfft—"

Wen Ruan spat out his tea.

What did he just hear? Was his hearing failing him? Was it an illusion?

Not just him, Nanxing was stunned, and even the dog took a couple of steps back.

Good heavens, what did they just hear!

At this moment, the hunting trip had ended, and the envoys were no longer causing trouble. After a peaceful barbecue dinner, the atmosphere was the most relaxed and comfortable it had been, a rare moment of respite for everyone.

The major issues were resolved, and the finer details would be addressed back in the capital. Everyone knew there was one more matter to settle: the sudden appearance of Zhu Yan's 'dewy love affair White Moonlight' in their midst. Those unaware were being pulled aside for whispered gossip, now all informed.

Who doesn't love gossip? Especially royal romance gossip.

Everyone pretended to be nonchalant, especially in front of Prince Jian and his husband. Little did they know, the moment they turned away, they were clenching their teeth, urging them inwardly to hurry up! Naturally, the moment any action occurred, everyone found out. They maintained a composed facade while urging their subordinates to quickly gather information.

Prince Jian was somewhat lacking, not daring to meet the person himself? Was he feeling guilty? It was up to Prince Consort Jian to carry the weight, her slender shoulders bearing everything!

Pfft—

What did they just hear?

What was happening? Wasn't Gong Rongxue supposed to be Prince Jian's 'dewy love affair White Moonlight'? How could he be infatuated with Wen Ruan, begging to serve as a slave?

The Second and Third Princes couldn't escape the shock either, spitting out their tea in unison.

This was unexpected! It wasn't a kept lover forcing their way into the main household; suddenly, it was Prince Sixth with a green hat on his head!

The one most shocked by this turn of events was Wen Yu.

Another event beyond his comprehension! Wasn't Gong Rongxue supposed to be Zhu Yan's White Moonlight, his savior from years ago! In his previous life, he suffered greatly due to this, enduring countless injustices, with Zhu Yan never supporting him, favoring Gong Rongxue instead!

Why was it different when it involved Wen Ruan?