Chapter 385: Frost and Snow

Chapter 385 Frostfall

Emperor Xingyuan, who had always been authoritative and imposing before the officials, looked uncharacteristically stunned.

What did “stay here” mean?

Did he intend to hang around Ayou constantly, win her over, and force his hand? Or was he suggesting marrying into her family?

If it were the former, he would never allow such an opportunity. As for the latter—a dignified prince of Xiling willing to become a household husband?

Emperor Xingyuan found it downright ridiculous. Still, as the absurdity sank in, it crossed his mind: If it truly came to that, as long as Ayou was happy, he might just consider it.

Noticing the prolonged silence, the Minister of Rites coughed meaningfully.

Emperor Xingyuan jolted back to the moment, his gaze at Prince Baori unreadably conflicted. "If Your Highness enjoys staying here, then stay as long as you like."

Prince Baori was frustrated by this vague response.

He was willing to settle here—though such a choice was no big deal in Xiling, by Great Xia’s customs, it would make him a live-in son-in-law. Yet the emperor still wouldn’t budge.

Still, there was no outright rejection, which was already an improvement over yesterday.

With that in mind, Prince Baori thanked him brightly, thinking to himself that since he wasn’t leaving, there would be plenty of opportunities ahead.

After Prince Baori and the other Xiling envoys departed, the hall fell silent.

The officials exchanged sidelong looks, none daring to speak.

Among them, Xie Chengan was the most astonished.

So Prince Baori hadn’t intended to trouble Lady Xin—rather, it was a young man’s crush, simple admiration.

After a moment’s reflection, Xie Chengan silently dismissed that description and settled on a more fitting one: smitten at first sight.

"Get back to business," Emperor Xingyuan said, rubbing his temples to ease his exhaustion, then instructing a eunuch to summon Xin You to the palace.

By the time Xin You arrived, the council was nearly concluded.

The officials all turned their eyes to her, their thoughts converging on one question: Did Xin You know Prince Baori wasn’t leaving?

At that moment, Emperor Xingyuan spoke. "Ministers, you may withdraw."

The officials exchanged baffled glances. Normally, they were required to keep Xin You present during councils, yet now they were being dismissed!

Emperor Xingyuan couldn’t be bothered to spare a glance for the dawdling officials. Once only Xin You remained, he waved her over.

"Ayou, sit down."

Xin You sat.

Emperor Xingyuan studied the graceful and striking young woman before him and suddenly recognized one of Prince Baori’s virtues: Say what you will about him, but his taste was impeccable.

After a moment’s deliberation, Emperor Xingyuan decided to be direct. "Yesterday, Prince Baori came to the palace and asked to marry you."

Xin You froze.

She’d thought Prince Baori had let it go after understanding her stance—after all, it was merely smitten at first sight, nothing serious.

Well, just as she had initially taken a liking to Lord He because of his looks, though that hadn’t stopped her from plotting his death the moment she misunderstood him.

"Why don't you ask about my stance, Ayou?"

Xin You raised her eyes, her tone calm. "Dad wouldn’t agree."

Putting aside any fatherly affection he might have for her, based solely on what she learned from her mother, any ruler would be mad to willingly marry her off to a foreign country.

Xin You was sure of this, which was why when Consort Li had pleaded with her earlier, she dared to speak up for Princess Xuan without worrying about consequences or getting herself involved.

Emperor Xingyuan smiled. "I did refuse. Just now, I summoned Prince Baori to the palace and formally rejected the King of Xiling's marriage proposal. Tomorrow, most of the Xiling envoys will depart, but Prince Baori will stay. From what I gather, his feelings for you remain unchanged."

Normally, a dad discussing such matters with his daughter would be awkward, but Xin You's composure was so natural that Emperor Xingyuan felt none of that discomfort—it was more like discussing official business.

The Emperor made his position clear to warn Xin You against being swayed by Prince Baori into leaving for Xiling. Yet Xin You's focus was elsewhere. "Dad refused the King of Xiling's proposal?"

"Yes. Upon reflection, such a good deal simply doesn’t exist."

If Xiling could take by force, they wouldn’t have waited until now. When it comes to trading, while both sides might claim mutual benefit, in reality, neither gains much advantage. Trading for warhorses might be useful in urgent times, but for now, he had little interest.

Better to let it go.

Yet Xin You said, "That day when Dad asked for suggestions, I thought long and hard and came up with some ideas."

Emperor Xingyuan's eyes brightened. "Speak."

"Xiling's people are fierce, and with Beining as our formidable rival, forcibly acquiring warhorses might not be worth the trouble. I propose trading instead."

The Emperor listened attentively at first, but when Xin You mentioned "trading," he grew disappointed again.

Silk, tea, and fine crafts—these were what Xiling typically sought from us. But as he had thought, an equal exchange was feasible, yet unexciting.

Truth be told, he wanted to come out ahead.

As if reading his mind, Xin You continued, "Ordinary trading isn’t cost-effective. But what if we could trade items that cost us much less than the value Xiling assigns them?"

Emperor Xingyuan paused, then eagerly asked, "What items could offer such an advantage?"

If he had known, he would have traded long ago.

At this moment, the Emperor felt both curious and doubtful.

As a diligent ruler who understood governance and people's needs well, he knew exactly what goods foreign countries valued from their land.

Xin You uttered a single word: "Sugar."

"Sugar?" Emperor Xingyuan's curiosity gave way to disappointment. He shook his head with a smile. "To Xiling, our sugar is indeed a rarity, but the exchange rates are set..."

Again, there wouldn't be much profit in it.

"Does Dad know the current market price of sugar?" Xin You kept her cool even as the Emperor dismissed the idea, her tone measured.

Her manner made it impossible to write her off as just a naive girl.

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at Grand Eunuch Sun Yan.

He knew the approximate price of sugar, but not the precise figures.

Sun Yan, whose exceptional competence had earned him his high position, answered immediately, even though this wasn't his area: "There are several kinds of sugar. White sugar includes Western and domestic types—Western sugar costs more and is hard to get, while domestic sugar is of slightly lower quality, priced around 200 wen per jin. Brown sugar costs about 50 wen per jin. As for malt sugar, it’s far cheaper."

Leaving aside malt sugar's cheap price, even with Xiling's discount of 15 taels per warhorse, just how much sugar would that take?

But if we're trading large amounts of red and white sugar, why not use silk instead?

Even Sun Yan thought Xin You's proposal was questionable.

Xin You lowered her head and pulled out a small porcelain jar from the pouch hanging at her waist.

"Master Sun, please fetch a clean dish."

Sun Yan quickly sent a eunuch to get one.

Soon, the eunuch returned with a porcelain dish.

Xin You opened the jar and poured out powder white as frost.

"What is this?" Emperor Xingyuan stared at the snowy substance on the dish, intrigued.

"It's white sugar."

"That's impossible!" Emperor Xingyuan stared hard at the frosty substance. "White sugar isn't this color."

Even the finest imported white sugar had a slight yellowish hue, nothing as snow-white as this.

Xin You extended the dish. "Your Majesty may taste it."