Chapter 388: Wealthy

Chapter 388: Great Wealth

As the sugar touched his tongue, Prince Baori's eyes widened in shock.

"Is this sugar? It's so sweet!"

The Minister of Revenue, already familiar with the marvel, replied with restrained pride, "Well, sugar *is* naturally sweet."

"I know sugar is sweet, but not this sweet!"

Why was it so sweet?

The minister smiled faintly. "That’s why it’s considered the finest of sugars. Even in *our* great Xiling, many high-ranking officials and nobles have never tasted it. Our Emperor thought it improper to let your envoys leave without a gift."

Prince Baori, too absorbed to respond, took another taste.

The sweetness was unmistakable—his taste buds didn’t deceive him.

Prince Baori, a man who favored meat, liked sweets but wasn’t obsessed. Yet white sugar’s unique texture overwhelmed his senses. It wasn’t just the taste—novelty itself made it seem even better.

"Is this sugar from the Western Ocean?" Prince Baori asked after recovering from his astonishment.

As a top Xiling noble, he knew trade well. The finest sugar currently available didn’t originate in Xiling but was imported from overseas. Western Ocean sugar was precious in Xiling—he’d tasted it before, but never this fine.

The minister straightened proudly. "This sugar is made using *our* secret methods, not from the Western Ocean."

As the treasury minister, his mind buzzed with plans. Before, the West traded sugar for their best goods. Now, they could sell white sugar back to the West and reclaim those treasures.

And Xiling, where even brown sugar was a luxury—how could they refuse this?

The Emperor had suggested exchanging fifteen pounds of white sugar for one Xiling warhorse, but the minister thought it far too generous.

"Is this sugar for sale?" Prince Baori inquired.

Prince Baori wasn’t naive—he saw its worth at once.

"Our nations are brothers," the minister demurred, waving his hands. "Money would cheapen our friendship."

Prince Baori smiled.

If not money, then what? Marriage proposals? Your Xiling Emperor rejected *every one!*

"Ahem, this sugar is Xiling’s own... specialty. Your country could trade your specialties for it."

Xiling’s specialties?

"Warhorses?" Prince Baori offered.

The minister warmed to him at once. "Your warhorses are indeed excellent. Trading for them would be ideal."

If Xiling could offer five thousand warhorses as a dowry, they surely had more to spare.

Sure enough, after a brief pause, Prince Baori asked, "What’s your asking price?"

The Minister of Revenue extended five fingers, then silently added another when he saw Prince Baori's expression change drastically: "Six pounds of white sugar for one horse. What does Your Excellency think?"

He couldn't afford to scare them off outright.

"Tsk—that's too steep." Even though he had prepared himself, Prince Baori still found it hard to accept.

This heavenly-grade sugar was indeed precious, but in the end, it was merely something to satisfy the palate, while warhorses were real assets that turn the tide in battle.

After some haggling, they finally settled on ten pounds of white sugar per warhorse. Calculating based on fifteen taels of silver per horse, one pound of white sugar amounted to one and a half taels.

Both parties reached an agreement and wore matching grins.

"Once we receive a reply from your king, we can get things rolling on our side."

Prince Baori gave the Minister of Revenue a puzzled look. "Didn't Your Excellency just say that making white sugar’s a hassle, and in two months, the maximum output would only be around ten thousand pounds tops?"

"Indeed."

"Then why wait for my elder brother's reply? You can start preparing right away—this sugar will be sold to Xiao Wang."

The Minister of Revenue was stunned.

This kid—no, this sharp young lord was so filthy rich!

"However, the matter of white sugar must still be reported to my elder brother. Xiao Wang will brief the envoy returning tomorrow."

After that, officials from both sides were invited to attend the contract signing.

The Minister of Revenue hurried to the palace with the freshly signed contract.

"Your Majesty, it's done!"

Emperor Xingyuan took the contract and his eyes gleamed. "Ten pounds of white sugar for one warhorse?"

This was way better than he’d hoped!

In truth, as a brand-new luxury, white sugar could easily fetch two taels per pound—or even higher—if sold retail, thanks to scarcity.

But to trade for warhorses, large quantities of white sugar were needed. And as a condiment, thousands of pounds would keep Xiling’s nobles stocked for some time.

"The contract is already signed?" Emperor Xingyuan continued reading.

For such a transaction between two nations, shouldn’t the envoy first report back, along with some white sugar, so that the King of Xiling could taste it and confirm its worth before sending instructions for Prince Baori to handle the rest?

Wasn’t this rushing things?

Spotting the King’s seal at the end, Emperor Xingyuan went quiet.

Noticing the Emperor's confusion, the Minister of Revenue quickly explained, "This first batch of white sugar was purchased personally by Prince Baori. Any subsequent transactions would involve cooperation between our two nations."

Dropping his voice on reflex, he added, "Your Majesty, Prince Baori is rolling in it!"

Cut him a look.

Why was this old man suddenly whispering to remind him of this? Was he suggesting that the Emperor snag this deep-pocketed prince consort?

Did he seem that type?

Of course, if Ayou took a shine to him, he wouldn't object.

Emperor Xingyuan once again summoned the senior ministers and announced the business deal between the Minister of Revenue and Prince Baori.

The ministers were both envious that the Minister of Revenue had easily secured a merit and astonished by Prince Baori’s immense wealth.

Like the Minister of Revenue, the ministers couldn’t help thinking: It wouldn’t be bad if Prince Baori were willing to stay in the capital as a live-in son-in-law for Great Xia—that way, we wouldn't even need to provide white sugar!

"Minister You deserves credit for securing such cooperation," the Emperor remarked.

The Minister of Revenue quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I did little. It is our white sugar that is truly precious, and the people of Xiling know quality when they see it. If anyone deserves credit, it is Lady Xin."

He had come to realize that Lady Xin was a real money-making asset. With her around, his role as Minister of Revenue would surely become much easier.

"Lady Xin has really helped a lot," Emperor Xingyuan said, turning to Xin You. "Lady Xin, what reward would you like?"

The ministers were stunned. The Emperor truly doted on Xin You, even asking her directly what she desired.

Xin You stepped forward. "At present, the sugar workshop hasn't been built yet, and the white sugar to be delivered will take another month or two. I can't take credit yet."

Emperor Xingyuan disagreed. "You have always been prudent. There’s no need to wait until then."

He had long wanted to make amends to Ayou, but she had even refused the title of Imperial Princess of Xiling. This was the perfect opportunity to reward her, and the ministers could raise no objections.

Xin You declined again, but when pressed, she thought for a moment and said, "I have everything I need—food, shelter, the works—and cannot think of any reward I want. Could I ask for something instead?"

"What request?"