Yanji Hot Pot Restaurant.
Yan Wan got up very early today, and Ji Mohan also went to the military camp early in the morning. Since there was nothing to do at Han Wang Mansion, he simply made an appointment with Jing Xi to chat about the situation in Jiangnan.
"Your Highness, you've arrived. Miss Jingxi is already waiting for you in the private room," Uncle Li said respectfully as he stepped forward.
"Yes, thank you, Uncle Li. I'll go up now," Yan Wan said with a smile and a nod.
Yan Wan walked up two flights of stairs, then turned back as if she had remembered something and said, "Oh, right, Uncle Li, could you please reconsider the matter I suggested last time?"
Li Guang said solemnly, "I understand, Master."
Yan Wan knew this decision was difficult, so she didn't pressure him and respected Li Guang's choice. After all, it involved risking his own life and the lives of all his brothers; a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.
Li Guang was also conflicted. His master had now become the Princess Consort of Han. If Han had any thoughts of rebellion, wouldn't recruiting his brothers be like pushing him into a fire pit? But if he didn't do that, would he really have to hide in the deep mountains and forests for the rest of his life?
The world cannot tolerate them!
——
Baiyu Mountain.
"Big brother, fourth brother has been gone for so long, why hasn't he come back yet!"
"That's right, eldest brother. Fourth brother won't abandon us and leave on his own, will he?"
"Yes, eldest brother. Among us, only fourth brother is educated. He will definitely be able to find a job to survive after he goes down the mountain."
"Shut up," a gruff voice snapped.
"Have you forgotten that it was Vice General Li who led us out of here? If it weren't for him, would you bunch of bastards be alive today? If you want to go down the mountain, you can go down, I absolutely won't stop you," roared the man with a full beard at the head of the group.
The people below, who had been making a racket just moments before, fell silent the moment they saw their leader was angry, and a stifling silence filled the air.
"Boss, do you think things would have been different if we hadn't run away?" someone murmured. Although the voice was soft, they were all martial artists, so how could they not hear it? But in the end, no one answered the question.
The man with a full beard looked at his brothers lying on the ground, listless and dejected. He felt helpless and resigned. Those in power are heartless. If it weren't for protecting the last bloodline, they wouldn't have ended up like this.
"Li Guang, oh Li Guang, I hope you can bring life back."
——
Yan Wan pushed open the door and entered, only to see Jing Xi slowly sipping tea from a teacup. "Jing Xi, I'm here." Yan Wan quickly walked over and sat down opposite her at the table.
"Wan'er, you're here! Jiang Bai will be here soon too, and I'll introduce him to you later."
"Okay, Jingxi, how are you doing in Jiangnan? Is your health alright?" Yan Wan asked with concern.
"Wan'er, this trip to Jiangnan was truly an eye-opener for me. Jiangnan is rich in resources and has a dazzling array of goods. It's like another capital city." Jing Xi said, lost in memories, as if she could see the prosperity of Jiangnan.
"What about the merchants in Jiangnan?"
“The merchants in Jiangnan are very xenophobic. They have organized a chamber of commerce called Hengtong Chamber of Commerce. To do business in Jiangnan, you need a pass from Hengtong Chamber of Commerce. But to get a pass, you need to join their chamber of commerce. To join their chamber of commerce, you need to be introduced by the president or four vice presidents.” Jing Xi explained the situation in Jiangnan to Yan Wan in a serious manner.
"It seems that merchants in Jiangnan have already developed an independent and complete business system. They are like a walled city, monopolizing all walks of life in Jiangnan. However, such a market will not last long," Yan Wan analyzed.
“That’s right, Wan’er, you’re very smart. I also realized that, so I negotiated with their chairman, who is Jiang Bai’s father. The price for opening up the entrance to Jiangnan for us to do business is that we have to help them open up markets in other places.” Jing Xi said with a face full of indignation. What an old fox! He is clearly stuck in his ways and can’t escape the comfort zone of Jiangnan, but he expects the two of them, women, to open up markets for their entire chamber of commerce.
"Jingxi, did you agree to their terms? This is practically an unfair contract," Yan Wan said, somewhat angrily.
"Don't worry, Wan'er, I can still see through such an obvious trick. I said we want to open ten grain shops and clothing shops in Jiangnan, and we need the Hengtong Chamber of Commerce to supply us with goods first. Secondly, Yanji Hotpot wants to join the Chamber of Commerce, and we need two of the four vice president positions. The Hengtong Chamber of Commerce wants to help us gain a foothold in Jiangnan."
"Jingxi, you're really amazing. But if we do this, the Hengtong Chamber of Commerce is cutting off its own lifeline. Will they agree to it?" Yan Wan asked with great interest. Tsk, Jiangnan is really interesting. It's a pity I didn't go this time.
"Of course we couldn't agree to that! Old Jiang was so angry he was glaring at us and calling me a robber." Jing Xi couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Old Jiang's expression.
"The four vice presidents of the Hengtong Chamber of Commerce also disagreed. None of them wanted to step down, so they hired assassins to attack me. Fortunately, I listened to your warning and hired bodyguards to protect me after entering Jiangnan. However, I was still outnumbered and they injured me. Later, I fell off a cliff and was picked up by Jiang Bai, who was gathering herbs at the bottom of the cliff." Jing Xi said calmly. It was such a thrilling experience, but her tone was completely flat.
"Jingxi, I'm so sorry. You must be in a lot of pain. I wish I could go with you." Yan Wan's eyes reddened with guilt.
"It's alright, Wan'er, it's all in the past. Let me continue. Didn't Jiang Bai pick me up? I was still unconscious at the time, I didn't know anything, and I didn't even know I was taken back to the Jiang family mansion. And the funniest thing was, when Old Man Jiang heard that his son had picked up a delicate little girl, he happily brought his wife to see me. But you know what? The moment he saw me, his face turned green, hahaha, he kept muttering 'What a misfortune for the family!'" Jing Xi told the story with a happy face, unable to help but burst into laughter. Her vivid and interesting story made Yan Wan laugh involuntarily as well.
"And then what?" Yan Wan became increasingly engrossed in listening and hurriedly pressed for an answer.
"After I recovered from my injuries, I asked Old Man Jiang to gather the four vice presidents together. After I presented the conditions I had just mentioned, in exchange, we would help them open up the markets in the Northwest and the capital, and we would also establish a security escort agency to protect their goods safely to the Northwest for a period of two years. After two years, each of them would have built their own trade routes. If they hadn't, we would start charging service fees and road-opening fees. If they wanted to use the trade routes we opened, they would have to pay us," Jing Xi said, analyzing the pros and cons.
“Yes, Jingxi, I understand. The Northwest will suffer a severe drought in less than three months. The two of us can't do much. Only by attracting merchants from Jiangnan to do business in the Northwest can the Northwest reduce its losses and overcome this crisis.” Yan Wan said sincerely to Jingxi.
"Wan'er, I knew you understood me." Jing Xi hugged Yan Wan excitedly.
Knock knock knock
"Master, a young master surnamed Jiang downstairs wants to see you," the waiter said at the door.
"Let him come up," Jing Xi said first.
"Yes." The waiter left to invite the guests up.
A moment later, Jiang Bai appeared in the private room on the second floor. Looking at the other beautiful young woman next to Jing Xi, he made up his mind, bowed, and...
"This humble subject, Jiang Bai, pays his respects to Princess Han." A clear, gentle voice rang out.
"Hello, Young Master Jiang, no need for formalities. Jing Xi's friend is my friend. Thank you for taking care of Jing Xi in Jiangnan. Yan Wan is very grateful," Yan Wan said while looking Jiang Bai up and down.
This is the third male lead from the original book! He truly is gentle and refined, a picture of elegance and grace.
"Miss Yan, you're too kind. It's all what I should do," Jiang Bai said with a gentle smile.
"Alright, Jiang Bai, sit down quickly." Jing Xi said impatiently, looking at the two of them dawdling and pretending.
They're all old foxes, why are they playing these ghost stories? Besides, they're all in the same boat now, they'll live together or die together, no one can escape it.
Yan Wan and Jiang Bai exchanged a smile, both understanding Jing Xi's meaning. The three of them then sat down around the table.
"Wan'er, you should tell Jiang Bai about that matter." Jing Xi said to Yan Wan. Since they are now allies, and Jiang Bai is coming to the capital on behalf of the Hengtong Chamber of Commerce, and will eventually be among the first to enter the Northwest on behalf of the Jiang family, then the severe drought in the Northwest three months later cannot be concealed.
Jing Xi understood, and so did Yan Wan. Their thoughts coincided.
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