This is Su Luo's first step in opening up the Northern Liang market, and she doesn't really trust Ye Beihan.

She could get the Shen family to come to her to buy cotton, but she couldn't give this raw material to Beiliang, because who knew what Beiliang would use it for.

"Vice Minister of Agriculture, such a huge expense, have you even considered the costs?"

"Your Highness, this is Wanxiu Pavilion's estimate. Please take a look."

Xie Wanwan handed the accounts she and Su Luo had calculated to Ye Beihan. Su Luo had compared all the details of this bill.

Processing in Nanning and then transporting it to Beiliang does not earn as much as processing in Beiliang, but scarcity drives up the price.

For Beiliang, cotton was something that only the upper class could afford in the past, so no matter how you look at it, Wanxiu Pavilion wouldn't lose money.

"In the end, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture still doesn't trust me."

Su Luo and Xie Wanwan invited him to sit down, saying, "Trust takes time to build, what do you say, Regent?"

Right now, it's Ye Beihan who needs her cotton-padded coat, not Su Luo begging him.

Even if they can't cooperate now, the market in Beiliang will belong to her in the future. She's just getting ahead of the game now.

Ye Beihan couldn't refute Su Luo's words. He remembered everything he had done to Su Luo last time, and the fact that Su Luo was willing to cooperate with him was already a sign that she didn't hold a grudge.

"Vice Minister of Agriculture, I apologize for what happened during our first meeting. I wish us a pleasant cooperation in the future."

Su Luo didn't know that this was the first time Ye Beihan had ever sincerely apologized to someone in his entire life.

“If the Regent agrees to my proposal, then we can begin discussing the next steps.”

This year, she planted cotton in ten villages, totaling more than 2,630 mu (approximately 1020 hectares).

Nangong Chiyu's five estates are more than twice the size of the ones His Majesty bestowed upon her.

In addition, there is a village in Beichuan City where the cotton, as well as that in Changping Village, has not yet been harvested.

"Vice Minister of Agriculture, please begin!"

After Su Luo and Xie Wanwan discussed it with him, Ye Beihan finally agreed to Su Luo's conditions: the cotton-padded clothes would only be sold in Beiliang.

"Your Highness, today's conversation was very pleasant. It's noon, so I'd like to invite you to lunch at Fu Man Lou."

Ye Beihan glanced at Nangong Chiyu and readily agreed, "Alright! Vice Minister of Agriculture, Miss Xie, please..."

Just as the group was about to leave, Shuang Shuo came in nervously to report: "Master, someone from the palace has come with an imperial decree, summoning Princess Qian Ning to the palace."

Ye Beihan turned to look at Su Luo: "Vice Minister of Agriculture, it seems we won't be able to have this meal."

"A marriage alliance between the two countries is a significant event; Regent, please attend to your duties."

"Farewell!"

Seeing Ye Beihan and Shuang Shuo's hurried departure, Nangong Chiyu had a bad feeling.

"Luo Luo, do you really think Ye Beihan will cooperate with you properly? He's not exactly a man of his word."

Su Luo took his arm and looked up, saying, "I don't completely trust him either. Look how unwilling he was when he first surrendered to our dynasty."

The last time they came and made so many moves, it was all to destroy the foundation of Nanning. In the end, they found that they couldn't do it, so they sent the princess here again.

"If this time we can settle down and agree to a marriage alliance, and the two countries cease hostilities, I'm also taking a gamble on cooperating with him to open up the Northern Liang market. Doing business always involves risk."

Nangong Chiyu also checked and found that the people Ye Beihan brought this time were all registered, and there were no assassins in the shadows, showing more sincerity than last time.

"Luo Luo, Ye Beihan is the number one poison master in Beiliang. You have to be careful when doing business with him in the future. He is not a good person."

Su Luo nodded; she knew that Ye Beihan could use poison.

"Don't worry, he might poison me, but I know how to detoxify him. I don't think he'd be so foolish as to poison me; it wouldn't do him or Beiliang any good."

Su Luo has so many weapons in her space, unless Ye Beihan also doesn't want to live.

"Aren't you going to the military camp? Hurry up, Wanwan and I are busy."

Nangong Chiyu looked at her reluctantly: "Okay! It's almost noon, remember to go eat."

"Um!"

After Nangong Chiyu left, Su Luo and Xie Wanwan began to discuss what they really needed to do.

"Your Highness, this is waterproof fabric made by Shen Yuan's family. Following your suggestion, it was soaked in sterilized latex solution, then dried and pounded to become this waterproof fabric."

Su Luo took the cloth over and poured a cup of water on it. Sure enough, it didn't leak, but this was just the beginning.

"Wait two hours. If the cloth still doesn't leak water, tell Shen Yuan that we should produce according to this standard from now on."

Xie Wanwan brought over all the sample products: "Your Highness, these are sanitary napkins of different lengths and widths that we made according to your drawings."

It wasn't until the product was made that Xie Wanwan realized how apt Su Luo's request for them to make and sell underwear was.

These two products are a perfect match. She takes the cotton fabric made in the weaving workshop, cuts it, and tries it on herself first.

Although it may seem a little embarrassing, these underwear are definitely one of the best little items for women.

"The design is correct, but the cotton surface is not smooth enough. Press it twice more and make it with cotton paper."

The cotton paper absorbs quickly, is softer, and feels great against the skin. With the waterproof fabric on the back, you'll never need a menstrual pad again.

"Okay! I'll go and make the improvements right away."

At noon, Qiuyue came to find Su Luo: "Your Highness, the Imperial Advisor has sent someone to tell you to come to the palace."

"Did the Imperial Advisor say what it was about?"

The Imperial Advisor usually doesn't seek her out unless there's a specific reason.

"No, he just wants you to come to the palace. He has something for you."

"Okay, I understand."

After tidying up with Xie Wanwan for a while, the two went to eat first, and she changed her clothes before entering the palace.

When Su Luo arrived at the palace, the banquet between the emperor and the envoy from Beiliang had just ended, and they still needed to discuss the marriage alliance between the two countries.

The Northern Liang princess has been here for a month now; it's time for a result.

Su Luo waited outside, along with the Second Prince, Nangong Jingyao.

"Greetings, Second Prince!"

"Vice Minister of Agriculture, you may dispense with the formalities. It's not a day for court, so why is the Vice Minister of Agriculture in the palace? Does Father want to speak with you about agriculture?"

"No, I'm here to see the Imperial Advisor."

It was perfectly normal for Su Luo to be in charge of agriculture and sericulture and to consult the Imperial Advisor about things like favorable weather. At the time, Nangong Jingyao didn't think much of it.

"Oh! Then the Deputy Minister of Agriculture will have to wait a while longer."

After waiting for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ye Beihan and Ye Qianning came out of the banquet, followed by a eunuch.

"Your Majesty summons the Deputy Minister of Agriculture to an audience!"

Su Luo and Ye Beihan passed each other by. In the palace, the two did not talk much, but simply nodded to each other.

As for Nangong Jingyao, he rushed over to comfort Ye Qianning as soon as she came out.

"Princess Qianning, what did Father Emperor say? Has the marriage arrangement been finalized?"

For the past two weeks, he had been corresponding with Ye Qianning, enjoying flowers and traveling together. He could clearly feel that Ye Qianning treated him differently.

Now, the only reason to marry Ye Qianning is to wait for her final decision. Her father said he respects Bei Liang and is letting Ye Qianning make her own choice.