Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Bewitching Words

After listening to Meng Yang’s words, Qi Shu Xian’s first reaction was that she had gone mad.

What Northern Desert disaster?

What prophetic dream?

He had indeed heard before that some women became troubled after losing their babies and formed dark thoughts, but Meng Yang was the first he’d seen who openly declared she’d had prophetic dreams.

Yet, when he met Meng Yang’s gaze, he felt uncertain.

“If you don’t believe me, my lord, then either today or tomorrow, an imperial prince will be born in the palace.”

The reason Meng Yang knew this was because the birth of this prince was truly unfortunate, coinciding precisely with the first hints of the devastating winter…

Later, when the winter disaster reached its peak, the Imperial Court couldn’t provide enough food and warm clothes. Many people unjustly blamed this misfortune on the Sixth Prince.

Meng Yang spoke confidently and firmly.

Qi Shu Xian was skeptical until that very evening, when he learned that indeed an imperial prince had been born to a low-ranking concubine.

Qi Shu Xian returned again to the Endless Courtyard.

“My lord believes me now?” Meng Yang smiled softly, but due to her miscarriage, her face was pale and waxen, giving Qi Shu Xian no sense of beauty.

Moreover, at this moment, his mind was elsewhere.

“Were your words truly prophetic? Will Northern Desert really suffer a severe winter disaster? Did you foresee anything else?”

“I wouldn’t dare deceive you, my lord. Everything I said is true. As for other things… first hear what I plan to do next!”

Meng Yang explained how the Third Prince had ordered her to gather silver ingots and revealed her own plan to profit from the winter disaster in Northern Desert.

“When the winter comes, the need for warm clothing will sharply increase. I’ve already sent someone to check cotton prices. Around the Capital City, cotton costs two hundred wen per jin, but it must be cheaper in places that produce it.”

“If my lord secretly buys up cotton before the disaster becomes known, once news spreads and the price rises, my lord can sell the cotton at a high price and make a huge profit…”

“Silence! Bewitching words!”

“You dare suggest I profit from our nation’s suffering?” Qi Shu Xian stood up furiously, grabbing Meng Yang’s neck.

Hoarding goods, inflating prices, exploiting the people’s misery for profit…

His fingers tightened bit by bit, eyes full of murderous intent. “I once thought you gentle and kind-hearted, never expecting you’d conceive such a cruel and greedy scheme for mere silver!”

As a subject of Sheng Kingdom, receiving the emperor’s favor, he could never do something like this.

Suddenly, Qi Shu Xian remembered when he first met Sheng Zhi Wan, how they had shared their visions of a prosperous age.

“Thirteen Prefectures free from beasts, both public and private granaries full.”

He had promised her that he would do all within his power for that peaceful vision.

Those words still echoed clearly!

Qi Shu Xian tightened his grip.

Meng Yang’s face paled, her hands weakly grasping at his fingers. “My lord… don’t you… want to know…the other thing…I foresaw?”

Qi Shu Xian relaxed his fingers slightly. “Speak!”

Meng Yang gasped for air. “I foresaw… the Third Prince will eventually take the throne!”

“What?” Qi Shu Xian’s voice rose sharply.

Meng Yang’s eyes filled with tears, her hands covering her bruised neck. “Otherwise, why would I cooperate with the Third Prince?”

“I’ve been with you for a long time, my lord. Naturally, I knew you were upright. You’d despise, hate, even wish to kill me once you heard this plan…”

“But I had no other choice…I am just a woman, and my entire world is you. All I want is your well-being.”

Truthfully, when Meng Yang first cooperated with the Third Prince, she hadn’t remembered clearly, as her history knowledge was poor.

Only later, after desperately recalling, did she vaguely remember the next Crown Prince after Emperor Chong Sheng was someone ranked third.

“My lord, consider the Third Prince and the merits of supporting a future emperor. It’s just three hundred thousand silver ingots. Without your early preparations, Northern Desert’s people might not be able to buy cotton even with money…”

Meng Yang’s tears trembled on her lashes and fell.

Seeing her like this, Qi Shu Xian’s heart softened.

In truth, Meng Yang was right. If no one knew the disaster was coming and no one prepared cotton in advance, later, even vast wealth wouldn’t buy lifesaving warmth…

Besides, just three hundred thousand silver ingots wasn’t too much. If he acted discreetly, the harm would be minimal.

At worst, it was simply speculative business!

Thinking thus, Qi Shu Xian’s heart finally softened further. Meng Yang’s tears fell more freely, and she raised her head to look at him gently.

Qi Shu Xian sighed, noticing the bruises on her neck, and drew her into his embrace.

“Fine. I know you mean well. We’ll do as you say, but only this once! Tomorrow, I’ll send trustworthy men to Zhi Prefecture, Yuan Prefecture, and Lin Prefecture to buy cotton.”

“Yes,” Meng Yang replied in his arms. “My lord, remember you must gather enough cotton within half a month, even if prices are slightly higher.”

“…Alright,” Qi Shu Xian agreed.

Meng Yang bit her lip and hesitantly mentioned something else. “Today…did any noble lady catch your eye, my lord?”

Qi Shu Xian paused, looking down into her shy, anxious eyes.

He gently rubbed the top of her head. “Jealous?”

“I…I know I shouldn’t be. But…” Meng Yang shook her head softly, leaning into him. “I should be satisfied. It’s enough just being with you.”

She knew how to win by yielding. Didn’t men love gentle women who treated them as their entire world?

…

Princess Estate.

After sending away the last batch of guests, Sheng Zhi Wan was surprised by how lively her opening banquet had been.

The visitors far exceeded her expectations.

Especially those who had previously visited the Duke’s Estate; nearly all had now come to her instead.

She even learned from Marchioness Shun Yang that the Duke’s Estate had sent out invitations yesterday as well.

Was Duke Estate trying to compete with her? If so, the outcome was too embarrassing for them.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled slightly, hearing that Shopkeeper Lin had requested an audience.

Shopkeeper Lin had just delivered some capable servants yesterday. If he came again, it meant he had important news.

She ordered him led to the front hall first. Indeed, upon arriving, she saw Shopkeeper Lin had another man beside him.

Sheng Zhi Wan dismissed all servants except Ting Lan and told Liu Shang to guard from afar.

The man knelt. “Princess, congratulations on opening your new estate.”

“Rise and speak plainly,” Sheng Zhi Wan instructed.

The man rose, and Ting Lan’s eyes widened in surprise. It was none other than Du Yi Zhi.

Du Yi Zhi had come to report two matters.

First was the cotton purchase.

Following the Princess’s orders, he had already sent the first batch of cotton by waterway to docks in the Northern Desert prefectures.

But now several waterways, especially near Ji Prefecture, were already beginning to freeze. Traveling by water was no longer possible. Thus, the second shipment of cotton had to go by land…