Chapter 238 Forming Alliances
After Mu Xi sat down and was served tea, she was also very excited: "My prince... prince... I've finally met you... hahaha..."
Mu Xi was overjoyed to see an old friend in this unfamiliar place: "What's going on? How did you end up in Jiaxing City?"
Qi Yingyu was much fatter than when they last met, her whole body round and plump, her face glowing red, her round face jiggling with laughter: "Hahaha... Your Highness, ever since I received your letter last time, I have been waiting for you to go to Xiangnan, but I have been waiting and waiting, but I have heard news of the fall of Moyang, the death of Jin Fangjun, and the disappearance of Your Highness. Later, I inquired about Your Highness's whereabouts from many sources and learned that Your Highness had come to Donghai, so I came here as well."
Mu Xi was deeply moved: "You came here specifically to find me?"
After asking the question, I realized that it was unlikely.
Qi Yingyu was, after all, a merchant, and she knew perfectly well what he had done.
Qi Yingyu's smile widened: "Hahaha... Of course, I went to great lengths to be able to see the young master today."
Mu Xi silently reminded herself not to take everything the other person said seriously, then looked around the room and asked, "This... is this your business? Another brothel?"
"Hahaha, yes..." Qi Yingyu's round, chubby face beamed with even more pride. "As soon as I received news of the young master, I thought, since the young master didn't go to the Western Territory, I can come to the East Sea. The Qi family of Xiangnan and the caravans of Jiuyou have always traveled the western route, and as for the East Sea... since the young master has such a connection with Princess Qingyang, I wonder if there might be an opportunity to cooperate, hahaha..."
Oh... a businesswoman is a businesswoman, Qi Yingyu actually had this idea in mind.
The East China Sea and even the Yan Sheng Eastern Region have always been isolated, and the sea routes for trade with the Nine Regions have always been monopolized. Geographically speaking, the distances to the different ports of the Nine Regions via the East and West sea routes are naturally different. If both routes could be opened, it would be extremely convenient.
Mu Xi felt somewhat relieved and asked, "If the goal is to open up the sea route, why open this place as well?"
"Your Highness... you probably don't know, living in that villa, that I wanted to pay my respects to you as soon as I arrived in Donghai, but I was always stopped by Princess Qingyang's guards." Qi Yingyu shook her head and then laughed heartily, "Hahaha... but this gave me an idea, so I simply opened this Qing Pavilion. I was thinking of first catering to your tastes and then slowly getting closer to you, Your Highness. I never expected that Your Highness would come to me on his own today. It really is fate, fate, hahaha..."
Mu Xi didn't understand what her connection was to running this brothel.
Qi Yingyu said without being asked, "Hahaha... Your Highness should have noticed that my Qing Pavilion was opened to 'do as the Romans do'. All the actors here are top-notch performers from Yansheng, whom I have collected. In addition, there is my specially made Qing wine. As a result, it has already gained a small reputation in Jiaxing City in just two months. I believe that it will not be long before Princess Qingyang comes here to visit."
"She'll come here?" Ever since Mu Xi came to Donghai, she knew that Princess Qingyang had more than one villa in Jiaxing City.
Apart from the place where she is currently being held captive, most of the other villas are filled with male concubines.
With so many male lovers already, why would she come to a place like this?
Qi Yingyu laughed confidently: "Hahaha... Your Highness probably doesn't know much about Princess Qingyang, does he? When it comes to 'sleeping with flowers and willows,' Princess Qingyang is always eager to try anything new, regardless of whether it's a man or a woman, hahaha..."
this……
Since arriving in Donghai, Mu Xi has barely left the city. She is completely unfamiliar with the place and its people, unlike Qi Yingyu who is much more "down-to-earth".
Mentioning Princess Qingyang reminded Mu Xi of her current awkward situation, so she changed the subject: "By the way, since you suddenly moved to Donghai, how's business with the Qi family in Xiangnan?"
"Hahaha... Your Highness need not worry about this." Qi Yingyu rubbed her hands together confidently. "Speaking of the Qi family of Xiangnan, I am very grateful to Your Highness for pointing out the right path for me. Hahaha... Now my Moyang Qi family can be considered a branch of the Xiangnan Qi family, officially becoming a collateral branch of the minor clan."
"Oh? That's good." Mu Xi knew that Qi Yingyu had some tricks up her sleeve, but she didn't expect her to be this cunning.
Qi Yingyu beamed, "Hahaha... I must say I'm lucky. In recent years, for some reason, Patriarch Qi Qingyuan has stopped interfering much in the family business, handing it all over to those three young masters. As for the eldest young master, he's simply not up to the task. The third young master does have some ambition, but his methods are too immature, and he's too impatient. I chose to start with the second young master, and with a little trick... I got rid of the third young master for the second young master. Now, although the eldest young master appears to have the upper hand in the Qi family, inside and out, half of the profitable businesses and capable people are in the second young master's hands. Hahaha... I'm not worried now... The second young master is focusing all his efforts on dealing with the eldest young master, and he's counting on me for advice, hahaha..."
Mu Xi admired her; when it came to palace intrigue, Qi Yingyu was indeed a master.
Seeing Qi Yingyu's radiant face, Mu Xi felt a pang of sadness.
After listening to Qi Yingyu's explanation, it seems she really did come looking for her.
Mu Xi was suddenly moved again, but thinking of the reason for their past friendship and her current situation, she suddenly became serious: "Second Aunt... I will remember your kindness. But you have found this place, while I am now just an empty shell. Even if we meet today, I am afraid I will be of no use to you. We became friends because... Now there is no need to dwell on it. As long as you can find the Second Young Master, I can leave a letter to destroy everything you wrote back then and remove the people who were looking after your daughter. Let our fate end here."
These words left Mu Xi feeling utterly disheartened.
Qi Yingyu's smile vanished instantly. She paused for a moment, then realized what was happening. Suddenly, she became nonchalant again: "Oh dear, Your Highness... why are you so disheartened? Your Highness is not just an empty shell. I have always had faith in you."
"You think highly of me? Heh..." Mu Xi chuckled self-deprecatingly, "What else does Boss Qi think highly of about me?"
Mu Xi has been racking her brains trying to figure out what resources she can still use, but she hasn't been able to come up with a solution.
Qi Yingyu's smiling face revealed her small, round eyes crinkling with laughter: "Hahaha, of course there are! Doesn't the young master still have Princess Qingyang?"
"Second Aunt, please don't joke around. I'm not in the mood for jokes right now," Mu Xi said with a wry smile, shaking her head.
Qi Yingyu blinked and then became serious: "I'm not joking. The truth will eventually come out. Since that's the case, why don't you get her to join your alliance, Your Highness, since you and Princess Qingyang are both women?"
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