Song Xian stood on the city wall. After Prince Lu’s scout gathered the information, he rode back to report. Now, Prince Lu should already know that he is here.
Chang An stepped forward and said, "Prince Lu has gone west."
Song Xian said, "He won’t be coming." Indeed, Prince Lu is just like the Emperor, both think clearly and would give up anything for the throne.
Chang An said, "I am unsure how the battle between Prince Lu and Zhang Chi will turn out, but I’m afraid Prince Lu won’t be so easy to capture."
Over the years, Prince Lu has made many preparations. Even if he loses the line of Jingzhao Prefecture and Qingzhou, he might still be able to hide elsewhere.
Song Xian indeed does not want to be used by the Emperor, but he also does not want Prince Lu to escape.
Song Xian said, "Have the scouts keep an eye on Prince Lu and occasionally remind Zhang Chi." It may not be possible to capture Prince Lu and his remaining forces quickly, but they can’t allow him a chance for a coback.
Speaking of this, Song Xian recalled his previous life.
"If we hadn’t exposed Prince Lu so early, and we dealt with the Emperor and Prince Qi first, what would the situation have been like?"
Upon hearing these words from the young master, Chang An frowned slightly, "The situation might be even more troubleso."
Song Xian said, "If it really cos to that, who knows how long the war would last."
He could envision that in his previous life, the latter half of his life might have always been on the battlefield, with ti only filled with endless conflict and slaughter.
Fortunately, Liangchen brought him back.
Zhang Chi sincerely thanked Song Xian. Had it not been for Song Xian discovering Ji Yuan’s anomaly, Prince Lu might have escaped this ti, and he would really have no explanation to give to the Emperor.
If Song Xian could join him in encircling and suppressing Prince Lu, that would be even better. But unfortunately, the Emperor never trusted Song Xian, and having Song Xian guard the checkpoints was the best arrangent.
Zhang Chi instructed the deputy generals, "Everyone, the war has co this far, if we still can’t capture Prince Lu, there’s no need for us to return to Beijing."
Zhang Chi heard so news that the Emperor has been painstakingly exhausted over Prince Lu’s affairs, and now his health seems not as good as before. There are also idle rumors in the court saying that the Emperor recklessly used dicine for the sake of heirs, which has fundantally hard him, and without an heir, who will succeed the throne?
Prince Lu or Prince Qi?
If this continues, it could lead to restlessness among the people and further instability in the political situation.
...
Chen Family Village.
Xie Liangchen watched her mother sitting on the Jinwu doing needlework, embroidering a small tiger on a red bellyband. The little tiger tilted its head, different from the usual majestic tiger, it had a few more touches of cuteness amidst its grandeur.
"What’s the matter?" Yang Shuyin laughed while looking at her daughter, "Want to give it a try?"
Xie Liangchen quickly shook her head, "I’m just amazed that Mother can embroider so well without staring at it, just like now you’re talking with and your hands don’t stop."
Yang Shuyin said, "I am watching."
Xie Liangchen leaned over and said, "Can you know with just a glance, Mother? Why do I make a ss even when I keep staring?"
Yang Shuyin reached out and tidied Xie Liangchen’s temples, "You are quite fast with the needle too."
"That’s different," Xie Liangchen said, "Acupuncture just needs to find the right acupoint, unlike this, which requires fine stitches."
Yang Shuyin said, "I knew since you were a child that you are not ant for needlework."
This was sothing Xie Liangchen had never heard of. She looked up, "How did Mother see that?"
Yang Shuyin laughed and said, "When you were a child, you would co to watch while I did needlework. I thought you were very interested, so every ti I worked, I would hold you nearby. Who knew when the patterns I embroidered beca more complex, you suddenly cried and refused to watch anymore."
"I initially thought you were throwing a tantrum, then after a couple of days, when I held you again, you even threw the thread basket."
Yang Shuyin thought of the aggrieved look on Liangchen’s face and found it amusing. Indeed, after growing up, she still isn’t good at needlework, but Liangchen already knows enough.
"I heard from your Aunt Zhen," Yang Shuyin said, "You asked her about those things that ca from the sea?"
Yang Shuyin was referring to the Zheng family on the island.
After Xie Liangchen rescued the people on the island, Zheng Zhen and so islanders ca to settle in Zhenzhou. But many of them were accustod to life at sea and still thought of going out to sea one day.
Currently, Daqi has not yet resud mariti trade, but Xie Liangchen thinks it is only a matter of ti. Although they cannot go to sea now, they can use this ti to build larger ships.
Just like the compass in Xu Qian’s hand, having the right tools can make things much more efficient.
Xie Liangchen said, "I discussed with Aunt Zhen that with the ships we have, even if we have a compass, going out to sea is still too dangerous. Encountering a big wave could potentially endanger the lives of the whole ship. Building better ships, although not foolproof, will at least be safer."
Whether for trading or warfare, ships are extrely important. Daqi had abandoned the sea for many years, and the court’s warships are not even as good as those Prince Lu had hidden away.
Building large ships is for future trade with vassal people, and also for preparing for Song Xian’s future. Just in case, when it’s needed, they shouldn’t have not even one ship to use.
Yang Shuyin looked at Xie Liangchen, "Do you really want to go to sea?"
"I do," Xie Liangchen said with a smile, "I want to see what it’s like on the other side of the sea. There are many herbs and spices on the sea that we haven’t seen. Who knows how many strange things there are."
As soon as Xie Liangchen finished speaking, little Zhe on the couch, without anyone knowing when he woke up, kept kicking his little legs.
Yang Shuyin couldn’t help but laugh as she watched little Zhe, "You also want to ride on the big ship?"
Little Zhe naturally couldn’t understand this, but he showed a sweet smile and kicked his legs even more vigorously.
Old Mrs. Song said that little Zhe resembled Song Xian a lot, but when she heard how Song Xian was as a child—quiet and sensible—the child she gave birth to is like a wild monkey.
Even the nursemaid said little Zhe was particularly spirited, always with big eyes looking around and moving with great strength, always needing to wave his arms and legs after eating and drinking enough.
Now still in swaddling clothes, who knows what he’ll beco once he grows a bit more.
After the nursemaid carried little Zhe away, Yang Shuyin advised Xie Liangchen, "You should also take more rest. These days you’re always running here and there, you’re getting thinner."
Northern dicinal materials were gradually being transported to Zhenzhou, attracting many rchants to gather here. In selling processed dicine, everyone was unsure and wouldn’t feel at ease unless Xie Liangchen personally handled it.
Actually, the Official dicine Bureau had set criteria for dicinal materials, so trading only required pricing according to the grade of these materials. However, it was the first year that Zhenzhou was this lively, and many things were being done for the first ti, so everyone was afraid of making mistakes.
Xie Liangchen knew in her heart that Zhenzhou had not been doing business for just a day or two. The prepared dicine was getting better and better, and accounts were being checked daily. Even if there were so minor discrepancies, they wouldn’t be significant mistakes.
If the dicinal materials sold well, then the people of Zhenzhou would have so silver coin in hand, and life would be better. Watching over it a bit was only right.
After sending her mother off, Xie Liangchen was about to head to the West Market.
Leading her horse to the village entrance, Xie Liangchen swiftly mounted the horse. Suddenly, she heard a whistle, and her chestnut horse began to trot forward slowly.
Xie Liangchen felt a flash of surprise in her heart but imdiately showed a joyful expression, having already guessed who had returned.
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