Chapter 68
"That's different." Song Qingyuan picked up another piece of ice skin and skillfully used a small jade rolling pin to roll it into an even thin sheet in a few strokes. "The taste is always different when you make it yourself.
Your Majesty, don't you want to try the snacks you made yourself?"
There was a hint of smile in her voice. The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on her face. Her eyes, which were always cold and calm, were now tinged with warmth.
Shen Yanzhi, for some unknown reason, imitated her, picked up the small rolling pin, and clumsily began to roll the dough. As a result, he didn't control the strength well, and either rolled the dough unevenly or broke it directly.
"Your Highness, you are rolling the dough, not crushing the enemy's position." Song Qingyuan couldn't help laughing out loud.
Shen Yanzhi's cheeks flushed. For the first time in his twenty-plus years, he felt a hint of embarrassment. He glared at Xiao Tao, who was snickering beside him. Xiao Tao immediately lowered her head in fear, pretending to turn the pages of the book seriously, but her shrugging shoulders betrayed her.
"I won't do it anymore." Shen Yanzhi put down the rolling pin in anger.
"No." Song Qingyuan grabbed his wrist and handed him the perfect ice skin he had just rolled out. "Your Highness, try wrapping the filling. This is easy."
Her fingertips accidentally touched his wrist, and the cool, soft touch made Shen Yanzhi's heart jump. He subconsciously looked over and saw her lowering her head, carefully squeezing cream into the ice skin and adding a few diced mangoes. Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes.
He suddenly felt that such a quiet afternoon seemed quite nice.
At this rare warm moment, Lin Feng once again hurried in. His expression was not as relaxed as last time, but rather solemn.
"Your Highness, Master." He first glanced at the colorful things on the table and the flour on the prince's hands. A flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his seriousness. "Something happened."
The atmosphere suddenly became cold again.
"Speak." Shen Yanzhi put down Xue Meiniang in his hand and wiped his hands with a handkerchief.
"The Second Prince... has made his move." Lin Feng said in a deep voice, "However, this time it's not in the court, but in... business."
"Business?" Shen Yanzhi frowned.
"Yes." Lin Feng handed over a secret report, "Our people stationed in the Jiangnan Salt Transport Bureau have sent news that the Second Prince, through the influence of his father-in-law's family, has secretly cut off the official salt supply to the capital from several major salt merchants in Jiangnan.
At the same time, he ordered people to hoard large quantities of private salt, driving up the price. Now, in just three days, the price of salt in the capital has tripled. If this continues, within half a month, a "salt famine" will surely break out in the capital.
"What a cruel method!" Shen Yanzhi's face darkened.
Salt is the lifeblood of the nation and the foundation of people's livelihoods. Manipulating salt prices may seem like a commercial ploy, but in reality it undermines the very foundations of the nation. Once salt prices spiral out of control, panic ensues, and prices soar, inevitably leading to civil unrest.
At that time, the emperor would have to find someone to answer for his responsibility in order to appease the people's grievances. And the person in charge of the security and people's livelihood in the capital was none other than Shen Yanzhi!
The Second Prince was using the safety of the entire city to set a trap for him. If he couldn't suppress the situation, he would be derelict in his duty. If he forcibly imported salt from other places, it would not only fail to quench the thirst, but would also disrupt the national salt administration. No matter what he did, it would be a dead end.
"He's forcing me to go to him and ask for peace." Shen Yanzhi sneered, "As long as I bow my head, he will release the official salt, stabilize the salt price, and gain a good reputation in front of the emperor as someone who considers the overall situation. As for me, I will be wiped out."
Song Qingyuan had been listening quietly, and now he slowly spoke: "Salt is indeed a good chess piece. However, since he wants to use salt to gain control, then we should... remove the firewood from under his feet."
"Oh?" Shen Yanzhi looked at her, "Do you have another idea?"
"It's not really an idea, it's just a thought." Song Qingyuan picked up a freshly wrapped snow meringue and passed it to Shen Yanzhi's mouth, "Your Highness, try this first. If you eat too much sweet food, you'll want to eat something salty. The same goes for salt. If the official salt is no longer available, can't you try some other salt?"
Shen Yanzhi was startled by her sudden action and subconsciously opened his mouth to take a bite. The cool and sweet taste melted in his mouth, diluting the irritability in his heart. He looked at Song Qingyuan's amazingly bright eyes and slowed down his chewing. "Other salt?"
"As far as I know, there's a well salt mine in the southwest of Daliang," Song Qingyuan said slowly. "Although the output isn't as high as sea salt, the quality is excellent. It's just that the distance and mining difficulties mean it's never been taken seriously by the government. The Second Prince can control the sea salt in Jiangnan, so could he extend his hand to Shu, thousands of miles away?"
Shen Yanzhi's eyes suddenly lit up! How could he forget this! He had read records of Shudi well salt in ancient books, but because the salt administration had always been dominated by sea salt, he had forgotten about it.
"However, the road to Shu is difficult, and distant water cannot quench immediate thirst." He raised the key question.
"So, we can't take the official road." A sly glint flashed in Song Qingyuan's eyes. "We can use the waterway. Opening up inland waterway transportation from Shu to the capital will take some time, but it's better than sitting and waiting for death.
Furthermore, once this trade route is opened, it will be like having another lifeline in the hands of the prince. This is not only to resolve the current difficulties, but also for... long-term planning."
She paused, then added, "Furthermore, the Second Prince has hoarded so much illegal salt that he must find a place to store it. There are only a handful of warehouses in and around the capital that can accommodate such a large amount of goods. As long as we find his salt warehouse and set it on fire... Your Highness, do you think that by then, His Royal Highness's face will be darker than the bottom of a pot?"
"Hahahaha!" Shen Yanzhi couldn't help but burst into laughter, and the pent-up anger in his chest was swept away. He looked at Song Qingyuan, and the more he looked, the more he felt that he had really picked up a treasure.
"Great! A good trick to remove the firewood from under the cauldron! A good trick to make a feint to the east and attack in the west!" He grabbed Song Qingyuan's hand, "Qingyuan, you are really my lucky star!"
The sound of "Qingyuan" was incredibly natural. Song Qingyuan's heart trembled, and he tried to pull his hand back, but he held it tighter. His palm was warm and dry, carrying an irresistible force.
"Lin Feng!" Shen Yanzhi looked at his capable subordinate, his eyes gleaming with the brilliance of a mastermind. "Immediately send someone with my warrant to rush to Shu, contact the local authorities, and extract well salt at all costs! Also, send someone to investigate and find all of the Second Prince's salt warehouses in the capital! I will show him what it means to lose both the wife and the army!"
"Yes!" Lin Feng accepted the order, his eyes full of excitement, and turned around and strode away.
The courtyard was quiet again. Shen Yanzhi still held Song Qingyuan's hand, not letting go. He looked at her with a burning gaze: "Qingyuan, are you willing to fight this battle with me?"
Song Qingyuan looked into his deep eyes. There was no longer just admiration and inquiry in them, but something she had never seen before: trust and reliance. She was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly and firmly.
"That is what I wish for, but I dare not ask for it."
A war over "salt" broke out silently.
This time, they were no longer allies separated by a chessboard, but true partners fighting side by side. Their enemies were the vast conspiracy hidden behind the price of salt and the even more treacherous world of the imperial court and the underworld.
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