Chapter 1156: This is tricky (Part 2) [Requesting monthly votes]

Jimo Qiu lifted the curtain of the camp.

The person inside the tent instinctively turned their head to look.

Their eyes met.

Ji Moqiu silently lowered the curtain, took a breath, and then opened it again.

The scene before him remained unchanged, proving it wasn't a hallucination. Just as Ji Moqiu was contemplating leaving for a while to give his elderly younger brother some privacy, Gong Xichou asked in confusion, "Big brother, why don't you come in?"

Looking down, I saw the food box that Ji Moqiu was carrying.

Gong Xichou approached as usual.

What did the cafeteria make today?

The reconstruction of the old capital of Gao Kingdom is still in full swing, and there are still several small-scale resistance areas outside. The camp is not well-managed, and food supplies are limited. If you arrive late, you will only find leftovers. The only advantage is that the dishes are different every day.

The taste is also quite good.

Ji Moqiu put down the food boxes and arranged them neatly in stacks.

He had eaten in the cafeteria; this portion is for Gong Xichou.

What happened to your face?

Gong Xichou's face was covered with a layer of snow-white putty, revealing only his eyes and mouth. When he turned to look at himself, Ji Moqiu almost didn't recognize him; the shock was too great. Gong Xichou used a wooden spoon to add rice to the bowl, pressing each spoonful firmly.

Ji Moqiu asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

Or is it that the older brother wants to learn how to dress up? Alas, dressing up isn't like this; he's just pretending to be a ghost.

"This is pearl powder sent by Xu Wenshi."

"Pearl powder?"

"They say it's some kind of 'pure girl powder' or 'macho man powder,' that it can keep your skin looking young and cover up blemishes," Gong Xichou explained while eating. "Many women in the conservation association like it. He got a few boxes through connections that aren't even on the market yet, and he wanted me to try it out. It smelled pretty good, so I accepted it..."

My older brother is older than me.

Ji Moqiu was deeply impressed by Xu Wenshi.

The young man had always regarded his younger brother as a role model.

"What kind of powder?"

Gong Xichou took out the pearl powder that was not yet used up.

The powder is fine and delicate, and you can smell a faint peach blossom fragrance when you get close.

The pearl powder box also features an elegant engraving.

Upon closer inspection, it reads the two characters 【悦容】.

Gong Xichou continued, "When Alai got married before, I saw that she had several of these things on her dressing table."

If it works well, we can ask Xu Wenshi for a few more boxes to give to Alai; she seems to really like these things. Ji Moqiu turned the items over and over to look at them: "I did see similar ones in Fengluo before; the boxes all had patterns and words on them."

As he spoke, he took a small bottle out of his pocket.

It's not pearl powder, but a perfume balm.

Just by looking at the name, you can tell it's produced in a small workshop.

The perfume balm featured portraits of elegant ladies, accompanied by poems, and a tiny string of characters at the bottom proclaiming it was endorsed by a certain lady and praised by all who used it. Ji Moqiu remembered that the shop sold all sorts of perfume balms and cosmetics, with different portraits on the same product.

The content in tiny print is largely the same.

Different scents and colors are represented by different people.

Ji Moqiu only picked out the perfume balm she liked. The men and women who came to the shop were different; they seemed to be there to collect the whole set and even asked about the "limited edition".

Ji Moqiu was curious and asked the lady serving customers in the shop what a limited edition was. The lady smiled and said something about a spokesperson, a blind box series, etc., basically it was a limited supply.

Would a limited edition be better?

The queen gently waved a fan painted with images of maidens dancing with swords.

She smiled and said, "It will be even more expensive."

Pay attention to the price in Jimo Qiu.

He discovered that the so-called limited editions were indeed half the price of the regular versions he had, and yet those limited editions were snapped up by a group of people as soon as they were released. Some came in person, while others sent their household stewards or maids, paying generously and without hesitation, as if afraid of missing out. Ji Moqiu secretly observed the limited editions and noticed that the portraits and lettering on them were indeed different.

Those without human figures have different background patterns of flowers, plants, mountains, and water, with the words "same style as so-and-so" at the bottom. The perfume that Ji Moqiu likes is said to be "the same style as Qin Jun's." He used it at a court meeting one day, and when the king smelled it, he specifically asked what kind of fragrance it was.

Who is Qin Jun?

[Qin Shaoshi, Qin Li, Qin Gongsu!]

He loved this balm that blends orchid and bamboo.

[Isn't that an official appointed by the imperial court?]

There are countless people in the world with the surname Qin.

Even if the imperial court or the Qin ruler wanted to investigate, it wouldn't be easy, since the inscription didn't bear the three characters "Qin Gong Su." Even if it did, wouldn't it be easy to find someone with the same name in Kang State? This area falls into a gray area, and the government turns a blind eye. With everyone diligently paying high taxes each year, why would important figures care?

Every time a new style is launched, it is sent to Qin Jun.

Of course, this is only the surface reason.

The real reason is that the owner of [Yuerong] is a colleague of Qin Jun.

Ji Moqiu flipped through the pearl powder box in his hand, then glanced at his elderly younger brother. He figured it wouldn't be long before a "pure girl powder" or "macho man powder" labeled "Gong Xijun's Pick" or "Gong Xiqiu Conservation Association Special Supply" would be available for sale, and there might even be a limited edition with Gong Xiqiu's portrait. Seeing that Ji Moqiu wasn't moving his hand, Gong Xiqiu assumed he also wanted to use pearl powder for skincare.

"Brother, I'll give you two boxes."

Ji Moqiu put the box down: "No need."

It's hard to explain in a few words: "With your abilities, you don't need any maintenance."

Gong Xiqiu's appearance has remained stable at around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He has abundant blood and energy, and his skin is delicate. He needs to take care of himself.

"We must always keep up with the preferences of young people."

Whether you look old or not is secondary; your mental state is more important.

Ji Moqiu neither confirmed nor denied this, but reminded his younger brother: "If Xu Wenshi comes back and says something like he needs your help or wants to draw a portrait for you, remember to ask him for money."

Gong Xichou, who was engrossed in his meal, quietly raised his eyes.

Why?

"Limited edition".

Money isn't important; what matters is that it's a limited edition.

Ji Moqiu suspected that Xu Wenshi was trying to trick his brother into helping him make money, so he figured it wouldn't hurt to warn him first. Gong Xichou said he would remember it.

However, Xu Wenshi was nowhere to be seen for several days in a row.

However, Xu Wenshi's personal guards delivered gifts to Gong Xichou on time.

"One cannot accept something for nothing. Having taken so many things from someone for free, Gongxi Chou had to inquire about the situation of this little admirer: "I haven't seen your general these past few days. Is he tied up with important matters and unable to come?"

The guard said, "My general has received the king's order."

Upon hearing this, Gong Xiqiu asked no further questions.

Even colleagues should not arbitrarily disclose their respective tasks.

Xu Quan appeared the next day.

Gongxi Chou, in the posture of a martial totem, coiled up atop the highest point of the city tower, basking in the sun. He had been busy working all morning and now needed a nap to recover. He sensed Xu Wenshi's approaching aura from outside the city, alertly raising his snake head, glancing in that direction before coiling back up. The former capital of Gao Kingdom had several city gates, but this location was the most remote, surrounded by houses mostly inhabited by poor commoners. Fortunately, the fire in the capital was relatively far from here; otherwise, if the fire had started, few of the people here would have escaped.

The reconstruction here was also the last to begin.

There were only their own people, and very few ordinary people.

Gongxi Chou initially didn't want to pay any attention, but soon noticed Xu Wenshi and his group acting suspiciously. As they drew closer, an indescribable stench of decay grew stronger. Gongxi Chou narrowed his snake-like eyes, and Xu Quan also noticed his presence, waving to the caravan behind him, signaling them to enter the city quietly: "General Gongxi, what brings you here?"

Xu Quan was forced back by an invisible force before he could even get close.

The force meant no harm, so Xu Quan followed its direction and looked back, puzzled as to why Gong Xi Chou was suddenly rejecting him. Gong Xi Chou: "Did you go dig up graves?"

Xu Quan's eyes suddenly darted around, feeling guilty.

Gong Xichou was no outsider, and he guessed it too, so he no longer hid it: "The major families in the capital of Gao Kingdom were basically wiped out in the fire. In the future, there will be no descendants to offer sacrifices, and their ancestral graves will just take up space."

Taking advantage of the chaos, they secretly dug it all up to supplement military supplies.

Previously, when urging the Ministry of Revenue to pay the army, Minister Xun kept saying that fighting was costly, and Xu Quan also knew the seriousness of the problem. Other colleagues set their sights on the ancestral tombs of aristocratic families. There was a custom of elaborate burials in the Gao Kingdom, and aristocratic families would have many burial goods after their ancestors were buried.

It's a waste to bury dead people since they don't know how to use them.

Xu Quan has been busy with this matter lately.

Whether the family had no descendants or still had living members, they all visited the graves. Because of the competitive spirit surrounding lavish burials, the trip was incredibly fruitful; the income from digging up graves was equivalent to the food and looting of an army of tens of thousands for three to five months. This was thanks to the great fire in the capital and the bloody battle at the royal tombs, which severely weakened the powerful families of Gao, leaving them barely able to survive. Otherwise, the opposition from other powerful families would have been a significant obstacle.

The remnants of the aristocratic family realized that their ancestral graves were long gone.

Xu Quan's return was quite timely.

The soldiers transporting the burial goods walked towards several bloodied figures being dragged away. As they drew closer, one could hear the curses uttered by the figures. The curses were nothing more than accusations that Shen Tang had desecrated ancestral graves, disposed of human remains, disturbed ancestors, and committed countless heinous crimes against heaven and earth.

Xu Quan listened for a moment, then turned his face away.

As they passed each other, his lips twitched twice.

[They're being ungrateful.]

The bloodied man being dragged away suddenly looked up, staring at Xu Wenshi in disbelief, then at the supply wagons covered in coarse cloth behind Xu Wenshi's warhorse. He seemed to realize something, his eyes widening in fury. He struggled to move forward, but couldn't break free. Xu Quan only heard even more shrill curses and insults behind him, and sneered.

In times of chaos that last for thousands of years, isn't it normal for people to dig up ancestral graves to supply the army?

They were quite civilized; at least they didn't litter their ancestors' remains or destroy evidence. Instead, they washed the bodies clean, wrapped them in white cloth, and placed them back in their original spot along with the memorial tablets. Alas, it's rare to see such polite and civilized tomb raiders in such chaotic times.

Xu Quan successfully completed his task.

While drinking water, I asked the guard a couple more questions.

The guard said, "These people come here to cause trouble every day, and they are always chased away. It must be said that the lord is merciful. Why keep such troublesome people around? Are we just going to let them ruin the reputation?"

Xu Quan issued a warning in a low voice.

"How could you possibly fathom the Lord's intentions?"

The guard hurriedly knelt down and admitted his mistake.

Xu Quan said, "Only by being careful with your words and actions can you live a long life."

The bodyguard, drenched in cold sweat, agreed.

Xu Quan wasn't too harsh; he gave a warning and then softened his tone, asking if the guards had any letters from home. Previously, due to the tension of the war, communication was difficult, and letters had to be sent to the rear areas where the guards would respond. Now that the war was completely over, communications had been restored.

The guard replied, "Yes."

All the letters from home have been kept.

"Also, has the artist for [Yuerong] arrived yet?"

The Gongxi Chou Conservation Association has grown to over 30,000 members, a significant portion of whom are children and relatives of court officials with substantial purchasing power. Growing increasingly dissatisfied with simply pursuing the same hairstyles and accessories as their idols, they proposed at a major meeting that customized idol-themed products be offered as an internal benefit for association members.

As the president, Xu Quan has an unshirkable responsibility to do so!

However, before the plan could be implemented, they had no choice but to go to the battlefield to fight.

It was shelved for more than a year.

Gongxi Chou is right here! Don't miss this opportunity!

Xu Quan quickly contacted [Yuerong] through Lin Feng's connections. Lin Feng responded that [Yuerong] was very interested and hoped to produce two designs: one exclusively for the conservation association, and the other to be included in their limited-edition collection. Profits would be shared, and could be used as membership fees for future member activities. Oh, and I forgot to mention, the association's vice president is King Shen Tang.

_(:з」∠)_

The king wants five percent of the net profit.

Everything was going smoothly, and Xu Quan was in high spirits.

This good mood lasted until I saw the letter from home.

Looking at the latest letter from home, sealed with wax, Xu Quan's expression shifted from confusion, blankness, horror, and embarrassment to sudden fury!

"Brother, elder brother..."

Xu Quan was so angry that his fingers trembled.

He was merely emulating his idol by focusing on martial arts and had no interest in settling down. Yet his elder brother was so heartless as to want him to marry his idol! Xu Wenzhu, have you forgotten what gender your cousin is? Or is the clan's situation so dire that they're resorting to marrying him to Gongxi Chou in exchange for peace?

My older brother...

Could it be that we have committed a grave error?

In an instant, Xu Quan's face turned deathly pale, almost bloodless.

However, this is not the most critical issue.

The worst part was that Uncle Zhao, upon hearing the news of his return, came over beaming to inquire about the income from digging up graves. Zhao Feng had been in high spirits lately; as a military officer listed at the top of the register, he walked with a swagger. He patted Xu Quan's shoulder with his large palm-leaf fan: "What are you thinking about, Wen Shi?"

The slap caused the letter to slip from his hand and fall to the ground.

Xu Quan was still lost in thought when Zhao Feng bent down and picked up the letter from home.

I accidentally saw all the key content.

His pupils contracted sharply, and Zhao Feng's expression turned horrified, as if he had seen a ghost.

Xu Quan realized what was happening and quickly explained, "Uncle Zhao—"

Zhao Feng asked incredulously, "Xu Wenzhu, has he gone mad?"

Look up at Xu Quan.

The young man, nearing thirty, had tears welling up in his eyes.

"Uncle Zhao, save your nephew!" No, he had to find someone to restrain his cousin; he couldn't let him go on a rampage. Even the most serious matters could be discussed calmly; there was no need to push him out!

Zhao Feng took a deep breath.

"The only thing we can do now is to seek help from our lord."

Shen Tang was not in the main tent at the moment, but with Xun Zhen.

Crackle, crackle.

The jade abacus beads jingled melodiously as Xun Zhen's slender fingers manipulated them, and his face beamed with an uncontrollable smile. He calculated one book, and Shen Tang read another. Neither the emperor nor his minister had ever seen the national treasury so abundant in their lives; the second batch of ancestral property from the Qiu clan of Jimo had just arrived. This batch was all gleaming gold, and it would not disappear.

"It would be enough to take down the Northern Desert and the Gao Kingdom as well."

Xun Zhen's eyes were eager.

"If things develop well, the next target will be the southwest. I'll wait for Shao Mei to send back good news. My avatar 'Wu You' in the Qi Kingdom of the southwest, with the help of Ke Wu, has secured a small job, which, if handled properly, can be surprisingly effective."

The Cui family held considerable influence in the Qi state.

The appointments in those places did not require the king's personal approval, but rather recommendation, making Cui Hui's role in the process crucial.

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