"Here!" A small hand reached out from behind and touched Qin Mu.
Looking at the pine nuts spread out on the small, fair hand in front of him, Qin Mu did not refuse. He smiled and stretched out his large hand, waiting for the owner of the small hand to put the pine nuts down.
"Where's the delicious food you promised me?" The owner of the little hand pulled back her pine nuts and asked sweetly, tilting her head back.
"I just got back and haven't had time to make it yet! I promise you, I'll make it for you as soon as I have time." Qin Mu didn't expect her to still remember this and bring it up as soon as they met. He had promised, and he couldn't go back on his word to the young girl.
"You're not lying to me?" Xiangli Yanran asked, tilting her head.
"I promise!"
"Then I'll follow you for the next few days, until you're free." With that, Xiangli Yanran sat down cross-legged on the side, looking like she was going to stay.
"Ah! No, aren't you with your family?" Qin Mu asked hurriedly.
"It's alright! I'm at ease with Yanran with the young master." Before Xiangli Yanran could reply, a voice came from the side. Qin Mu looked up and saw a man dressed in plain clothes, smiling at them. This man was dressed in ordinary commoner's clothes, his trousers only reached his knees, and he was barefoot. If they were outside, they would definitely think he was an old farmer.
"Qin Mu greets Senior!"
"Greetings, young master."
"This is my second uncle, Xiangli Zhong," Xiangli Yanran introduced.
"Yanran has caused trouble for the young master."
"No, no, it's all thanks to Miss Xiangli for taking care of me in the secret realm, otherwise I would not have been able to escape unscathed."
"The little girl couldn't stop thinking about the young master as soon as she returned. Seeing him today, she is indeed a handsome young man." Xianglizuka said with a smile, nodding repeatedly.
"What the hell is this?" Qin Mu wondered blankly. He felt that Xiang Lizuka's smile and eyes revealed a strange feeling, as if he was very satisfied with him.
"Satisfied?" Thinking of this, Qin Mu seemed to understand something. His lips twitched involuntarily. He glanced at the little girl eating pine nuts on her flat stomach and couldn't help but think of the saying, "Three years minimum, guaranteed profit..."
Shaking his head to stop his rambling thoughts, Qin Mu cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Senior, just call me Qin Mu. 'Young Master' sounds too harsh."
"Master Xiangli is a master of the Mohist school, and his skills in mechanisms and divination are unparalleled. Many prominent families have commissioned him to build their treasure vaults," Qin Qiong said after greeting his acquaintances.
"You flatter me, Duke Yi. These are just minor matters."
Qin Mu was quite curious about the Mohists. Legend had it they were the earliest scientists, skilled in mechanical arts and divination, with exceptional practical abilities—truly hands-on individuals. Therefore, he was willing to befriend the Mohists, as it would likely be of great help in any future design or project he wanted to undertake. Although he didn't yet have concrete ideas, establishing a friendship was still essential.
"Please, Mr. Xiangli!"
"Duke Yi, please! May I ask how old the young master is this year?"
My son is seventeen years old (by Chinese reckoning)...
The two agreed to sit down and chat, but the faint sounds of their conversation made Qin Mu feel uneasy, especially since they kept glancing in their direction.
"Congratulations, Young Master Qin!" Huang Yuqi had arrived nearby at some point, blinking her big eyes and smiling at them.
"What did Miss Huang say? There have been quite a few troublemakers today, but there's really no good news," Qin Mu said, feigning ignorance.
"Of course, it's to congratulate Young Master Qin on obtaining the secret realm's inheritance! What else did you expect it to be?" Huang Yuqi said with a playful smile.
"Hehe, it is indeed something to be happy about in terms of inheritance, but I don't know if I have the talent or how much I can learn. I'm really afraid of letting down my predecessors' expectations."
"Young Master Qin is too modest. With the guidance of the secret manual, how could you not learn it? With your talent, the Qin family will surely produce another commander in the future."
"It's too early to say, and besides, my ambitions lie elsewhere."
“Being a commander isn’t easy either. If everyone could be a master of military strategy, the orcs would probably have been wiped out long ago.” The two were chatting when Li Chongyi’s annoying voice rang out again.
Seeing his confident expression, Qin Mu was speechless. He was clearly just trying to show off his presence because he saw the two girls there.
Of course, out of respect for Li Xiaogong, Qin Mu didn't scold him, but decided to ignore him, glancing at him before pretending not to see him at all. He continued speaking to Huang Yuqi, "Miss Huang, are you going back to Shu?"
"Yes, I've been away for quite a while, and there are still many things to take care of at home, so I need to go back as soon as possible."
"What a pity, Miss Huang is very knowledgeable. I was just thinking of asking you for some advice."
"Young Master Qin, you flatter me. Let's exchange ideas. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have."
"It's mainly about the formation. I don't understand anything about it, so I have too many questions and don't know where to start. I can't just pretend to know what I don't, like some people do." The two chatted casually and completely ignored Li Chongyi. In addition, Qin Mu made veiled accusations, clearly implying that Li Chongyi pretended to know what he didn't know in the secret realm and that he only managed to break the formation by relying on others.
Li Chongyi had never been treated like this before, and yet no one said anything, leaving him with nowhere to vent his anger. His face twitched with rage, turning bright red, and he said hatefully, "Qin Mu, you've got guts, kid."
"Nonsense, of course I have guts, unlike you who really don't." Being called out, Qin Mu couldn't pretend to be deaf and dumb, so he rolled his eyes and retorted.
"Hmph, no wonder he grew up in the countryside, his mouth is full of swear words."
"So what if you grew up in the countryside? Did you eat your food? What's it to you? You're just being nosy." Qin Mu didn't start cursing, but he didn't say anything nice either.
"Hmph! How utterly vulgar! Is this all? And you call yourself a scholar? Aren't you afraid of insulting the ears of these two young ladies?" Seeing Qin Mu speak like this, Li Chongyi was quite pleased with himself, glancing at Huang Yuqi and Xiangli Yanran as he spoke.
To his disappointment, the two women showed no sign of anger or leaving; instead, they listened with great interest.
"Yes! I'm just an ordinary person, while you're a refined one!" Qin Mu didn't argue with him and simply replied.
Before Li Chongyi could be happy, he heard Qin Mu mutter, "It's a pity that the refined man wasn't faking it; it's the grandson who's faking it."
"Pfft!" Qin Mu's muttering was not loud, but everyone could hear it clearly. Xiangli Yanran burst out laughing, and the pine nuts in her mouth fell on Li Chongyi.
Li Chongyi was furious, but he couldn't vent his anger. Besides, he couldn't possibly argue with Xiangli Yanran, and of course, he was no match for her in a fight.
Li Chongyi's cheeks twitched, and it took him a while to suppress his anger. He turned to Huang Yuqi and said, "I have many questions about formations that I would like to ask Miss Huang for advice. I wonder if Miss Huang has time later?"
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint the young prince, as I will soon be setting off back to Shu," Huang Yuqi replied calmly. She wasn't intentionally refusing; although young, Huang Yuqi was already managing affairs in the Liu family and had many responsibilities. She had been away for so long and was quite worried about them.
"That's such a pity," Li Chongyi said with a regretful expression.
“The Prince is a master of military strategy, why should the young prince seek something far away when he can find something nearby?”
"When Miss Huang comes to Chang'an in the future, I must make sure to show her the hospitality of a good host."
"OK."
Huang Yuqi's voice was like a fragrant orchid in a secluded valley, making people feel very comfortable. However, since she had already refused to this extent, Li Chongyi, although itching to stay, had no reason to stay and could only politely say goodbye before leaving.
"Sister Yuqi, are you really going back?" Xiangli Yanran asked.
"Yes! There's so much going on at home, it's not good to be away for too long," Huang Yuqi said, walking over and patting Xiangli Yanran's head. The two had become inseparable best friends after spending just a few days in the secret realm, and now that they were about to part ways, they both felt a little sad.
Given the current transportation conditions and the sheer number of things to do, it's uncertain when the two will be able to meet again. Especially for Huang Yuqi, who lives on the outskirts of Sichuan and has many commitments, opportunities to leave the province are scarce and difficult.
"You two don't need to be too sad. As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Without separation, there would be no joy of reunion. We are still young, and there will be plenty of opportunities to get together again in the future," Qin Mu comforted them.
"Young Master Qin is right."
"To be honest, I would also like Miss Huang to stay in Chang'an for a while so that I can ask you for advice."
“Young Master Qin is welcome to come to Sichuan. You are studying Confucianism and you want to travel and study, right? Sichuan has a beautiful environment, is peaceful and tranquil, and is very suitable for studying abroad,” Huang Yuqi said with a smile.
"No, no, you shouldn't go to Sichuan when you're young. I'm still young, I won't go, I won't go," Qin Mu shook his head and said.
Of course! He was joking. In another world, he was from Sichuan. He really missed it. However, Sichuan is not as developed as it is now, and the population is not large. Most of the area is still barren mountains and wilderness, not to mention the barbarians and wild beasts in the mountains. Going to study abroad would be asking for trouble.
"Brother Qin Mu, why did you say that young people shouldn't go to Sichuan?" Xiangli Yanran asked, tugging at Qin Mu's sleeve.
"I didn't expect Young Master Qin to know the proverbs of Sichuan," Huang Yuqi said in surprise, before explaining to Xiangli Yanran.
"The saying 'Don't go to Sichuan when you're young' comes from a Sichuan proverb. This is because Sichuan is a picturesque place, with beautiful mountains like Qingcheng Mountain and magnificent mountains like Emei Mountain. Sichuan is often foggy and the air is humid, making everyone's skin relatively soft and supple, especially girls'. Young people who go to Sichuan are said to not want to leave and may lose their ambition. That's why it's said that young people shouldn't go to Sichuan."
There's a saying, "The elderly should not leave Sichuan." Sichuan boasts abundant delicious food, prosperous people, and a leisurely lifestyle, making it an ideal place to live.
"So many delicious foods! Really?" Xiangli Yanran's eyes lit up, and she asked in surprise.
"Hehe! That's just one of the reasons. The old don't leave Sichuan because the roads there are treacherous. If an elderly person leaves, they might not be able to return and could die far from home." Qin Mu couldn't help but laugh as he watched Huang Yuqi talk about so much, but he didn't expect the little girl to only focus on the food.
"Young Master Qin is indeed learned. Although many people outside of Sichuan have heard this saying, very few truly understand its meaning."
"I just heard about it by chance. I will definitely go to Sichuan in the future. I just hope Miss Huang won't find it troublesome."
"Bashu is a wonderful place, with many unique medicinal herbs that can only be found there. Especially Nanzhao, which is guarded by Sister Yuqi, is a major producer of medicinal herbs." Qin Yue's voice rang out again from the side. She had been helping to greet the guests earlier, and now that she had some free time, she came over to keep her new friends company.
"If you need any medicinal herbs in the future, just let us know," Huang Yuqi said generously.
If the medicinal herbs are indeed needed in the future, Qin Mu naturally hopes to have someone supply them on a long-term basis. Although the Qin family will provide them, some special herbs, or those not produced in the north, will have to be sourced elsewhere. It would be great if Huang Yuqi could serve as another supply point.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Please provide a list of medicinal herbs, Miss Huang. Of course, I might be asking for a lot, so please just pay the market price."
“No problem,” Huang Yuqi nodded. For her, finding a market for medicinal herbs was quite good, since many doctors go out to dig for herbs themselves and few people specifically buy from Sichuan, given the distance, unless it is a local specialty.
They reached an agreement on a win-win situation. Qin Yue brought this up to remind Qin Mu, as she knew he needed a lot of medicinal herbs. She was also very happy to see that the two had reached a deal.
"Sister Yuqi, you still haven't told me what good food there is in Sichuan?" Xiangli Yanran asked with slight dissatisfaction.
"You're such a little foodie," Qin Yue said, patting her forehead in exasperation.
"There's so much to eat in Sichuan! Whether it's pastries, other dishes, or even wild vegetables, they can make them all delicious..."
A few people were chatting idly, while a group of adults were discussing serious matters.
"Uncle Bao, are you going back to Chang'an soon?"
"Goguryeo is somewhat restless. By order of His Majesty, we must make a trip to Khitan." Seeing that they were all from the court's side, Qin Qiong did not hide anything.
"Oh! Does Your Majesty mean to appease the Khitan? Or to allow the Khitan to relocate inland?" Qin Yao asked.
"The priority is appeasement. If they could be relocated inland, that would be even better. However, the court doesn't have the resources to launch a major offensive for the time being. Therefore, my visit is merely to express the court's attention to them and to boost their confidence," Qin Qiong explained.
Qin Yao understood his words. Liaodong and Liaoxi were areas where the imperial court's power was weak. Li Shimin had just ascended the throne and did not have strong control over the local areas, so he naturally did not dare to send troops out at will and mainly tried to win over all parties.
"Shubao, you're not going to take your son with you when you go to Khitan, are you?" Qin Yao asked.
"This..." Actually, Qin Qiong was also considering this question. Needless to say, the trip to the Khitan was dangerous, but he was not afraid. However, he was reluctant to part with his son.
"Does the Prince have any good suggestions?" Li Xiaogong asked on his behalf. He had a good relationship with Qin Qiong, so this question was not surprising.
Qin Yao must have had his reasons for asking the question, so Qin Qiong looked at him and waited for his answer.
"What I mean is this: since His Majesty intends to subdue the Khitan, then why don't we help him to do it thoroughly?"
“Your Highness, you don’t mean to send troops, do you? Absolutely not! If anything happens at the Three Passes, we will be held responsible even if we die a hundred times over.” Before Qin Yao could finish speaking, Li Xiaogong shook his head repeatedly.
"Of course not, I'm not sending troops. I know what I'm doing," Qin Yao said, somewhat speechless.
"Hehe, Your Highness, please forgive me. I was too impatient."
“Your Highness is just worried and confused. How could I blame you?”
"How do we resolve this if we don't send troops?" Qin Qiong asked.
"Our Qin family has a certain reputation here. If we and Shubao go together to represent the court, they will definitely trust us more. We can then act according to the circumstances and perhaps force the Khitans to relocate inland."
"Of course, if the Prince and General Luo Cheng go together, then there will be no problem," Qin Yao explained.
"Wonderful!" Upon hearing this, Li Xiaogong immediately clapped his hands in praise.
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