Before long, Bai Qing spent a fortune to build a giant ship, which flew the princess's flag. She then led her appointed officials and 50,000 elite soldiers down to the south of the Yangtze River.
Liu Jinan was also one of the people handpicked by Bai Yan. Firstly, although he had been acting somewhat erratically recently, he was still a capable person. Secondly, they were used to working together and there was no need for further adjustment.
Liu Jin'an and the princess traveled south to Jiangnan, naturally full of ambition. Now, everyone in the court looks down on him, thinking that Liu Jin'an got to where he is today because of the princess's connections.
Let them see, when the great cause is accomplished, he will be the one who will be remembered for all time!
"Ugh!" Lord Liu, who had just made a grand vow, couldn't stand the ship's rocking and vomited until he fainted on the very first day of his journey.
It wasn't until late on the fifth night that Liu Jinan weakly got out of the cabin. He needed to get some fresh air, or he would suffocate.
But as soon as he stepped out of the cabin onto the deck, he saw a man sitting on the edge of the deck, facing the sound of the crashing waves at night. His agile figure and the air of detachment from the world as he held his sword were none other than Lord Meng Huaiyi of the Black Guard.
Meng Huaiyi has been criticized ever since he stood up for himself, while Liu Jinan has recently been criticized as well. He felt that the two of them were in the same boat.
He coughed twice and then went up to Meng Huaiyi to strike up a conversation: "Lord Meng, are you here to relax as well?"
Meng Huaiyi opened his eyes, glanced at him, and quickly closed them again.
aloof...
There are many bandits in Jiangnan, and Meng Huaiyi is a master. Liu Jinan wants to get on good terms with him so that when he encounters danger, he can spare some attention to protect himself while protecting the princess.
"Speaking of which, Lord Meng and I are in the same boat." If the mountain won't come to me, then I'll come to the mountain. So Liu Jin'an started by talking about how he met the princess, how he initially thought she was a man when he first met her, and how he was shocked when he found out she was a woman. He also talked about how he was misunderstood by everyone when he arrived at the Jin family and the hardships he endured.
During this time, Meng Huaiyi opened his eyes and glanced at him, which made Liu Jinan talk even more enthusiastically.
“The princess is truly talented, yet they can’t see it and still have to fabricate such lies?” Liu Jin’an clutched his chest. “After thinking it over, only Brother Meng can understand the feeling of being the only one sober while everyone else is drunk.”
Meng Huaiyi nodded slightly, and Liu Jinan immediately felt that the two of them were much closer.
He then spoke frankly: "However, the princess and I have been through thick and thin together."
Princess Tianfu was a woman of exceptional talent and beauty, and possessed such a brilliant mind. I doubt many men would not be attracted to her.
“I’m not that kind of old-fashioned person. I don’t care if the princess has been married before. If she really takes a liking to me…” Liu Jin’an raised his hands and put his thumbs together: “Wouldn’t that be a match made in heaven?”
Meng Huaiyi's forehead twitched slightly.
Liu Jinan couldn't help but daydream: "This time, the princess disregarded her reputation and personally selected me. Maybe she really is interested in me..."
With a whoosh, the sword was drawn, its clanging sound ringing out continuously.
The sharpened side of the knife was facing Liu Jin'an, who was trembling all over, his legs shaking slightly. He knew that this man had used this knife to behead several people. He stared straight at Meng Huaiyi: "Brother Meng... a knife, a knife has no eyes!"
"You're too noisy," Meng Huaiyi said calmly, sheathed his sword, and turned to leave the deck.
After a long time had passed and a cold wind blew by, Liu Jinan finally let out a breath and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"He really is a demon, his face changes so quickly." He muttered with lingering fear.
...
The princess's ship was about to enter the Jiangnan region, while inside the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince's advisor bowed and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, I have already sent letters to the powerful families and officials in Jiangnan. The princess's mission will surely fail."
Upon hearing his advisor's words, the Crown Prince finally managed a cold smile.
"If she dares to oppose me, I'll see what she's capable of." If the textile factory fails, will Father still favor her?
Tianfu, oh Tianfu, she's just a princess, yet she dares to oppose him, the future master of the Southern Dynasty. She brought this upon herself!
When Bai Yanren arrived in Jiangnan, she had the emperor's decree and brought 50,000 elite troops with her. The officials of various prefectures and counties all treated the princess with the utmost respect, as if she were an honored guest.
Every day, he would have his wife and daughters drink and listen to music with him.
Yes, the formalities were all provided, but no work was done at all. Bai Yan had been in Jiangnan for a month, and spring was almost over, yet not even the foundation of the textile factory had been laid.
When asked, the answer was always that they were busy with official duties, and that there was too much war in Jiangnan, and that they were not enough soldiers to recruit. How could they have time to build a textile factory?
On this day, Bai Yan went to visit Lord Guan, who was in charge of the Jiangnan Textile Bureau, but as soon as she arrived at the door, the gatekeeper said that Lord Guan had accepted an invitation to his father-in-law's birthday banquet and was not there.
Meanwhile, inside the Guan residence, drums and music were playing, and servants were coming and going, carrying trays of wine.
They didn't even try to act.
"Alright." Bai Yan turned her head. "In that case, I won't disturb Lord Guan from celebrating her husband's birthday." The smile on her face turned cold the moment she turned around.
"Princess, they did it on purpose!" Hongping and Danniang followed behind the princess, both gritting their teeth in anger.
Bai Yan knew, of course, that they were doing it on purpose. Did they think that even a powerful dragon couldn't suppress a local snake, and that she couldn't do anything about them?
"Go back to the manor and find Lord Meng. Tell him that I have important matters to discuss with him."
Inside the Guan residence, the officials Bai Yan had been searching for these past few days were all there, each raising their wine cups and drinking until their faces were flushed. "So what if she's a princess? She's just a woman from out of town. If she can find someone to do her work, I'll cut off my head and let her use it as a football!"
"Hahaha, Lord Guan, is this how you treat the princess? She has 50,000 elite troops with her. Aren't you afraid she'll confiscate your property in a fit of rage?" someone joked. "That's the kind of woman who would even tear her own husband apart with five horses!"
Lord Guan scoffed lightly: "She's just using her princess status to intimidate us. Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. Does she really dare to attack us? When the Crown Prince came here before, he couldn't do anything to us, could he?"
"The Crown Prince has given us face, so we should give him face in return."
The group exchanged smiles and, without prior arrangement, raised their glasses again.
Meanwhile, Meng Huaiyi led a thousand men and the princess's palanquin up to Qinglong Mountain, the largest bandit mountain in Jiangnan.
"Princess, the Azure Dragon Mountain stretches for thousands of miles in this area, and I've heard that there are tens of thousands of bandits on the mountain! Even the Crown Prince, who led tens of thousands of elite troops, couldn't defeat them. How can we possibly stand against them?"
Bai Yan chuckled lightly: "Who said I came here to quell bandits?"
She said, "I am clearly here to recruit workers for the fields I manage and the future textile factory."
Liu Jinan: "But this is a den of thieves. It would be too dangerous for someone of your status to go in—"
Before he could finish speaking, the princess shifted her gaze slightly, "If you don't dare to stay where you are, then so be it."
"Lord Meng, would you be willing to escort me there?" Bai Yan asked Meng Huaiyi.
Meng Huaiyi gripped his knife tightly: "This subordinate obeys."
Seeing that they had all gone, Liu Jinan slapped his thigh, gritted his teeth, and had no choice but to follow.
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