Chapter 112 Never to be seen again?
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress!"
Qin Mo remained bowed, waiting for Wang Yushi, with her phoenix eyes, to tell him to rise.
"...Sit down. Don't be so formal in the future. Without you, I would have died in Baikal-Darai long ago. By seniority, you are my younger brother. We are all family."
Qin Mo stood bowing for about half a cup of tea's time before Wang Yushi's voice finally came through. Her voice was graceful and gentle, like a sister-in-law chatting with her brother-in-law.
"I wonder what Your Majesty wishes to discuss with me?"
"...Regarding your matter, sir, could your alcohol... perhaps be brewed elsewhere?"
Wang Yushi was very uncomfortable with Qin Mo's sudden change in tone. She tried her best to adopt the demeanor befitting an empress, but she appeared so unnatural.
Qin Mo lowered his head in thought. The extraction of high-proof liquor could not be kept secret forever, but he urgently needed the rubbing agent. So he had no choice but to tentatively answer Wang Yuyan.
"Give me three years. After three years, I will present the art of brewing to the royal family. What do you say?"
"That's great, but I'm sorry to have troubled you." Wang Yushi visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
The two fell silent again. Qin Mo poured wine for Wang Yushi, and she poured wine for him. Soon, the two jars of wine were empty.
Qin Mo had Nie Yan helping her drink, so she was slightly tipsy but not drunk, while Wang Yushi only drank half a jar of wine, but her face was flushed.
"Qin Mo, have you ever considered changing your fiefdom?"
"Convert fiefdom? What do you mean?" Qin Mo looked at Wang Yushi's bright eyes, trying to guess her thoughts.
"Your father transferred your fiefdom to a remote high-ranking official position for your mother's sake. Now that your parents are no longer here, why don't you come back to the capital? I promise to find you a good fiefdom. What do you say?"
Looking at Qin Yushi, whose emotions were clearly showing, Qin Mo shook her head and said, "My mother doesn't like the capital, and neither do I. I still need to stay in Dayuan... waiting for my mother to return..."
"Oh! That's good then. May you and your son be reunited soon!" Wang Yushi's eyes calmed down, no longer shining, and her dignified demeanor was fully revealed. She returned to her usual heroic and aloof phoenix eyes.
"If there's nothing else... I'll take my leave!" The wine jar was empty, and she was no longer there, so Qin Mo got up to say goodbye.
"This parting is a long and arduous journey... Take good care of yourself. If you wish to return, just come and find Qingning. I will find you a fiefdom."
Qin Mo remained silent, only offering a slight smile. His back was still straight, and his demeanor was still impeccable, but for some reason, his heart felt empty.
Two days later, Emperor Zhaowu issued an edict appointing Qin Mo, the heir apparent of Prince Heng, as Prince Heng, and bestowed upon him a python robe and a jade tablet. After a series of elaborate ceremonies at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Qin Mo finally became one of the most elite nobles in the Great Xia Dynasty.
In the fifth year of Zhaowu's reign, on the fifteenth day of the ninth month, a grand court assembly was held, and Qin Mo ascended the throne to meet the emperor. All the civil and military officials and nobles came forward to offer their congratulations, and at the same time, promoted their daughters, granddaughters, and nieces. A hereditary prince with territory and henchmen was no longer just someone who was highly sought after; even having one's legitimate daughter as a concubine was not out of the question.
Qin Mo smiled and politely declined all the matchmakers, which disappointed the powerful and influential people of Daxia who were almost at each other's throats. It also made the Daxia aristocratic circle more convinced of the rumor that Qin Lan's son would only be satisfied if he married an elf wife, just like Qin Lan.
At the east gate of the capital, after Qin Mo left the city, he saw the carriage again, but there was only one man on the carriage, and the heroic and aloof figure was nowhere to be seen.
"This was a gift from the Lord, you got a good deal." Qing Ning tossed over a long box, said this, and drove off.
Qin Mo opened the box, inside lay a black longbow; it was heavy in his hand, with simple patterns, and at first glance it looked like a good piece of equipment; but Qin Mo had no interest in trying out the bow, he simply uttered a few words: "...Never again!"
Taiwan has already prototyped a three-masted medium-sized galleon, but the two-masted galleon is still the most maneuverable on the Haihe River, and it is also the most common type of sailing ship in Taiwan at present. Uncle Lin followed the strategy left behind by Qin Mo when he left: make more money and build more ships.
The shipping routes from Daegu to the mainland, Goryeo, and Japan have been thoroughly explored by the Star Officers who idolize the Crown Prince, and maritime trade is already thriving.
Qin Mo returned to Lianshui City quietly at night; Da Yuanjun had already gone home. Qin Mo avoided that heart-wrenching process, fearing that the families of the fallen soldiers would ask him, "Since you've returned, why hasn't my son come back?" This scene was something a famous historical figure had experienced in his previous life, and Qin Mo was afraid he would experience it himself.
When Uncle Lin and Lin Ruoxi saw Qin Mo at his castle, they were very surprised, not only because of Qin Mo's sudden appearance, but also because of the pattern on Qin Mo's robe. It was a four-clawed python robe, indicating that Qin Mo was already a prince.
Despite Qin Mo's objections, Uncle Lin insisted on having everyone come to celebrate. Qin Mo couldn't stop him, so she had no choice but to let him have his way.
The city of Danshui erupted in excitement at midnight. All the troupes rose up, singing and dancing. Qin Mo's succession to the title had been a dark cloud hanging over their hearts, but now it had finally dissipated. If their brothers and uncles who had died in battle knew this in the afterlife, they could rest in peace.
At the banquet, Qin Mo accepted every drink offered, displaying none of the demeanor of a prince, while the half-mad old men showed no respect for hierarchy, greatly displeasing Kaihime, who served him closely. However, she showed no sign of it on her face, diligently pouring wine and serving food to Qin Mo. Before long, this long-legged girl, who stayed constantly by Qin Mo's side, caught everyone's attention.
"That's the prince's personal maid, used to warm the bed..."
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