Chapter 28
Time flies like an arrow.
Half a year has passed quietly since the "Kunpeng" set sail. After experiencing the bleakness of autumn and the harshness of winter, the capital city has welcomed the revival of spring. Under the covert protection of her "ally" Tang Pu, Cui Yunshu's business empire has steadily expanded, raking in profits daily. However, half of her heart remains tied to the vast, boundless blue sea.
She didn't know where her "Noah's Ark," which carried all her hopes, was drifting at that moment, or whether it was safe and sound.
Just as the flowers were beginning to bloom and spring was in full bloom in the capital, a piece of news that could shake the entire Qin Dynasty arrived in the capital from the distant shores of the East Sea at an urgent speed of eight hundred li—like the first clap of thunder in spring.
The Kunpeng is back!
[Tongzhou Wharf, Beijing]
Tongzhou Wharf, as the northern terminus of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, has always been the busiest and most bustling place in the capital. Cargo ships and merchant ships from the north and south converge here, their masts like a forest and their sails blocking out the sun.
Today, however, this clamor has been replaced by an unprecedented, almost fanatical commotion.
Tens of thousands of people spontaneously flocked from all over the capital, completely crowding the docks. They craned their necks, eagerly anticipating the arrival, their faces filled with curiosity, excitement, and disbelief.
Because what they are about to welcome today is not an ordinary cargo ship, but a legendary "divine vessel of the sea"—the Kunpeng!
"They're here! They're here!"
Someone shouted from the crowd, and instantly everyone's eyes turned to the end of the canal.
A colossal vessel, escorted by several government patrol boats, slowly and with an unparalleled regal bearing, entered the harbor.
When its massive and graceful hull was fully revealed to the crowd, the entire dock fell into a deathly silence, followed by a deafening roar of amazement and cheers!
"My God! Is this...is this a ship? This is practically a moving mountain!"
"It's huge! It's bigger than all the Fujian ships and sand ships we've ever seen combined!"
"Is this the treasure ship built by Princess Ice and Snow? No wonder it can sail thousands of miles; it's truly a miracle!"
Standing atop the highest watchtower of the dock, Cui Yunshu stood shoulder to shoulder with her mother, Madam Song, her father, Cui Wen, and Tang Pu, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news. Looking down at the dense crowd below, and at the "Kunpeng," a ship that had weathered six months of storms yet remained as majestic as ever, she was overwhelmed with emotion, and her eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.
It's back.
Her hope has returned safely.
As the "Kunpeng" docked smoothly, its massive planks resting on the pier, the captain, accompanied by a group of dark-skinned but exceptionally bright-eyed crew members, strode down. Though their clothes smelled of the sea breeze and their faces bore the marks of exhaustion, each of them stood ramrod straight, their confidence and pride in conquering the raging waves palpable.
"Your subordinate has not failed in your mission!" The captain walked up to Cui Yunshu, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a loud, clear voice.
"It's good that you're back safe and sound." Cui Yunshu stepped forward and helped him up, her voice trembling slightly.
Then, the moment that truly drove everyone crazy arrived.
One after another, heavy wooden crates, exuding an exotic atmosphere, were carried out of the ship's hold by the crew.
When the first box was opened, the dazzling golden light almost hurt everyone's eyes! The box was full of natural gold nuggets of various sizes and shapes!
"Gold! It's a mountain of gold!" The crowd erupted in cheers.
And this is just the beginning.
The second box contained dazzling gemstones of various colors—red, blue, and green—each larger than a pigeon egg, shimmering with captivating brilliance in the sunlight.
The third box contained extremely rare ambergris, sandalwood, and agarwood... The rich and unique fragrance instantly filled the entire dock, making people feel refreshed and relaxed.
One box after another...
Priceless spices, gems, gold, rare woods... these treasures, which only exist in legends and come from overseas secret realms, were piled up on the dock without any concealment, bringing an unprecedented and most direct visual impact to everyone present[1].
"They've struck it rich! The Cui family has really struck it rich this time!"
"It's more than just making a fortune! This... this is practically bringing back a mountain of gold!"
Father Cui Wen trembled with excitement as he looked at the mountain of wealth before him, his old face flushed red. Mother Song held her daughter's hand tightly, her eyes filled with proud tears.
Tang Pu stood to the side, watching this breathtaking scene unfold before him, his heart surging with emotion. In his eyes, this was more than just wealth. It was provisions, military pay, the most solid material foundation to support their "great undertaking"! Looking at the calm young woman beside him, his admiration and respect reached their peak.
However, for Cui Yunshu, these gold and silver jewels were not the greatest gain from this voyage.
What she truly valued were the last few items the captain presented.
The first item was a thick, brand-new, waterproofed nautical chart. On it, a new, safe sea route to an unknown continent in the East was clearly marked in vermilion ink, along with dozens of islands along the way where one could stop for supplies.
The second item was several large bags of seemingly inconspicuous, oddly shaped plant seeds.
“Princess,” the captain said excitedly, pointing to a bag of yellowish-brown, pitted tubers, “we discovered this on a continent called ‘America.’ The locals call it ‘potato.’ It can be steamed, boiled, roasted, or eaten, and it tastes excellent. Most importantly… its yield is simply unbelievable! One acre can produce several thousand kilograms, enough to feed a dozen people!”
He then pointed to another bag of golden, granular seeds: "This is called 'corn.' It's also a high-yield crop, and it's drought-resistant and can grow in any barren land!"
Potatoes! Corn!
Cui Yunshu's heart started pounding wildly!
This is the "gold" she truly desires! It's an auspicious omen, powerful enough to change this era and save countless people from hunger!
[Cui Residence, Qing Shu Courtyard]
The news of the "Kunpeng" returning fully loaded swept through the capital like a Category 12 hurricane, shaking the entire court and the public within a single day.
Cui Yunshu, the fourteen-year-old "Ice and Snow Princess," transformed overnight from a business prodigy and the "richest woman in Qin" into a legendary figure almost like a myth.
She was not blinded by the immense wealth and prestige. She calmly invested most of the profits brought back by the fleet into the construction of a larger fleet and commercial expansion, thus beginning a new round of reproduction.
At the same time, she made a decision that would bring the Cui family's prestige to its peak—she personally delivered a large portion of those invaluable high-yield crop seeds, along with detailed planting methods, to the Eastern Palace and presented them to Crown Prince Tang Jingcheng.
“Your Highness,” she said to the Crown Prince, neither humble nor arrogant, “such auspicious omens are a blessing from Heaven upon our Great Qin. Yun Shu dares not keep them to herself and presents them to Your Highness. If the Eastern Palace can take the lead in planting and promoting them on the royal farms in the suburbs of the capital, once successful, it will surely be a great merit that benefits all people and lasts for generations. At that time, all the people in the world will be grateful for Your Highness’s benevolence.”
Looking at the unassuming seeds before him and listening to Cui Yunshu's insightful words, the Crown Prince was filled with admiration for his future sister-in-law. He knew that Cui Yunshu's actions had not only brought good fortune but also placed a tremendous credit in his hands.
He solemnly accepted the seeds and promised that he would personally oversee the matter and live up to her efforts.
Through this battle, the Cui family not only gained immense wealth, but also unparalleled political prestige by presenting auspicious omens. The alliance between the Cui family and the Crown Prince thus became even more unbreakable.
Everything seemed to be moving in the best possible direction.
However, the string of "vigilance" in Cui Yunshu's heart never relaxed. Because she knew that the moon wanes after it is full, and water overflows when it is full.
When a subject's prestige and wealth reach a point where even the monarch cannot ignore them, what often follows is not favor, but... fear.
[Imperial Palace, Zichen Hall]
Inside the Zichen Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.
The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, toying with a South China Sea pearl the size of a pigeon's egg that he had brought back from the "Kunpeng" ship, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.
Standing before him were Cui Wen, the Grand Secretary, and Tang Xiao, the Prince of An (Tang Pu's father).
"Minister Cui, Minister Tang," the emperor's voice sounded gentle, yet carried a subtle, unyielding pressure, "I have heard that your daughter (Cui Yunshu) and your son (Tang Pu) have recently... grown very close."
Cui Wen and Tang Xiao were both startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, our children only have some business dealings with each other because of the 'Cloud Pavilion,' and there is nothing else."
"Business?" The emperor smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I've heard that's no small business. The Cui family's fleet is now far beyond the reach of even my private treasury."
He put down the pearl, tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, and continued, "I also heard that Minister Tang's Xuanjia Guards were mobilized for this fleet? My young prince is quite concerned about the Cui family's business."
Cold sweat slowly trickled down Cui Wen and Tang Xiao's foreheads.
They knew that every word the emperor spoke was not casual conversation. He was giving them a warning, testing them, and even more so... a challenge!
A courtier possessed wealth that rivaled that of a nation.
Another minister held the power of the most elite troops in the capital region.
Now, these two forces seem to be converging.
Even more terrifying is that they also possess a private fleet that appeared out of nowhere, with unknown combat capabilities, and capable of roaming the world at any time!
This is something that no emperor could tolerate!
"Your Majesty, please see the truth!" Cui Wen was so frightened that he immediately knelt down, his voice trembling. "My daughter is young and ignorant, and her actions are rash. If she has done anything wrong, it is all my fault for not teaching her properly! I beg Your Majesty to punish her!"
"Why do you say such things, Minister Cui? Your daughter is the 'Ice and Snow Princess' of our Great Qin. She is a meritorious official who has expanded the territory of our Great Qin and brought good fortune. What crime has she committed?" The emperor smiled and helped him up, his tone as gentle as if he were comforting a wronged minister.
But the more he acted this way, the more Cui Wen's heart sank to the bottom.
The emperor's wrath is not frightening. What is frightening is the emperor's unfathomable "favor," which is full of suspicion and scheming.
When Cui Wen emerged from the Zichen Palace, his back was already soaked with cold sweat. He exchanged a glance with Tang Xiao, the Prince of An, whose expression was equally grave, and both saw a deep worry and fear in each other's eyes.
That night, Cui Wen returned to his residence, locked himself in his study, and did not come out all night.
The next day, he summoned Cui Yunshu and Madam Song to his study and recounted their conversation in the palace the previous day, word for word.
“…Mother was right back then,” Cui Wen’s voice was filled with unprecedented weariness and regret. He looked at his daughter with complicated eyes, “Our Cui family…I’m afraid we have reached the dangerous edge of being too powerful and overshadowing the emperor.”
He keenly sensed that the warm sunlight of imperial favor was quietly dissipating. In its place came a lingering, cold shadow from the pinnacle of imperial power.
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