After leaving Huang Zhou, the ship sailed on the Fuguang River for several more days.

Xiao Xueya still attacked water pirate strongholds whenever he saw them, but no longer used linked ships or mother-child ships. He began trying the most efficient fighting methods, focusing on training troops rather than consuming ships.

One of his personal attendants disembarked midway. Tie Ci’s people followed and reported back that the man had gone to Huang Zhou, used Xiao Xueya’s seal at the money house there to withdraw all of Xiao Xueya’s silver, bought a large tract of farmland in the south of the city, and gathered people to start some businesses. He was currently recruiting tenant farmers and building estates. The treatment was said to be quite generous, and they were even planning to build a school on the estate.

Upon hearing this, Tie Ci nodded without surprise.

He hadn’t disappointed her, and was quite clever too, knowing that the best way to help was to teach people to fish.

One Xiao Xueya couldn’t help all the poor people in the world, but she only needed him to understand the people’s suffering and reduce wasteful military spending.

Going to Huang Zhou wasn’t solely to educate Xiao Xueya. Previously, censors had impeached the Huang Zhou government for intense internal strife while neglecting people’s livelihood. Yesterday she had seen with her own eyes that while every city had slums, Huang Zhou’s slums were obviously too large in scale.

So while Tie Ci’s ship left Huang Zhou, Gu Xiaoxiao’s ship stopped. Gu Xiaoxiao led a group of Ministry of Revenue officials off the ship and headed straight for the Huang Zhou Provincial Administration Commissioner’s office.

Tie Ci and Xiao Xueya sailed on the river for several days before reaching Xi Zhou.

From far away, they could see a large group of people waiting on the shore to welcome them. Tie Ci, who was enjoying the scenery at the bow, raised an eyebrow.

The news traveled quite fast.

Probably the news of auditing accounts in Huang Zhou had reached Xi Zhou, and the Xi Zhou prefect had guessed something.

Since they were blocked, there was nothing to hide. Tie Ci had someone notify Xiao Xueya to prepare for disembarkation.

Chi Qingbo had sought an audience with her last night, saying it would be best to stop at Xi Zhou because as one of the cities at the junction of Qian Zhou and Yannan, it was the largest distribution center for goods from both regions. Many merchants from both areas sold and exchanged goods here, including various rare flowers and herbs, since both regions were mountainous.

Love Butterflies had previously appeared in Xi Zhou. The first to use them was a local courtesan who was originally plain-looking but somehow became more and more beautiful, causing countless young masters to spend fortunes on her.

But the courtesan was very sickly. After being beautiful for only a few years and unable to receive many clients, she suddenly died while passing by a pigpen during a countryside outing.

Even so, because the courtesan had been so brilliant during those years, many brothel women went crazy seeking this, and every few years, an extraordinarily beautiful courtesan would appear.

So Chi Qingbo suggested they might try searching in Xi Zhou’s brothels and pleasure houses.

Since this was the case, the young masters who had been moldering on the ship all received a notification that made them wildly happy: ordered by imperial decree to visit brothels.

Except for Li Yuncheng who only wanted to read, and Feng Huan who kept staring upward in a daze, everyone cheered.

Not only was it by imperial decree, but also publicly funded. Tie Ci said whoever could win over the most beautiful and hardest-to-please courtesan would get reimbursed.

The young masters had never praised Her Highness so sincerely for being truly wise and mighty.

Xiao Xueya came to Tie Ci’s ship. Tie Ci saw that the large warships over there were being connected with chains.

She asked why they were doing this. Xiao Xueya gave no answer with his usual indifference.

Chi Xue quietly told her that after she and Xiao Xueya went out a few days ago, Murong Yi’s subordinates had gone to compete with Xiao Xueya’s subordinates.

Tie Ci was somewhat surprised, thinking the Liaodong polar bears shouldn’t be good at water activities, right? Although Xiao Xueya’s direct troops had also been transferred from desert to southern seas, Xiao Xueya wouldn’t tolerate any weaknesses in his subordinates. After more than a year of training, they must have become proficient in water. Could the Liaodong polar bears really compete?

Chi Xue said: “They competed in deep-water diving—the Nanyue navy lost; cold-water swimming—the Nanyue navy lost; high diving—the Nanyue navy lost; underwater breath-holding—still the Nanyue navy lost.”

Tie Ci: “…No wonder Xiao Xueya has looked displeased these past few days.” She had also been seeing piles of naked men on the treasure ship’s deck being forced to jump into the water, splashing like bombs.

Chi Xue: “…Has he? Doesn’t General Manager Xiao have the same expression every day? How can Your Highness tell if he’s happy or unhappy?”

But Tie Ci didn’t care about this. Murong Yi was actually being a bully—every person he’d brought to Da Qian was an expert elite. No matter how harshly Xiao Xueya trained his soldiers, they were still ordinary people. But obviously the proud Snow Commander wouldn’t think of it this way.

So this face-slapping came very quickly—calling him a frivolous young man seemed like just yesterday.

She walked to Xiao Xueya’s side: “I advise you not to chain the ships together like this.”

Xiao Xueya said indifferently: “Connecting the ship cabins is like iron chains across the river, helping prevent surprise attacks by ships on the river. After all, we’ve been beating the Sea-Riding Gang badly recently, so we must be prepared for their counterattack at any time. Also, connecting the cabin decks facilitates soldier training.”

Tie Ci suddenly discovered that when Xiao Xueya spoke to her, his explanations were always very detailed. She had seen how he spoke to his own subordinates—basically just cycling through “Yes. No.” four characters.

So although everyone said the Snow Commander was arrogant, he still had a baseline of respecting his sovereign.

She said: “Let me tell you a story.”

She told him about the Battle of Red Cliffs.

After listening, Xiao Xueya remained expressionless: “My ships are mainly large vessels with fire-resistant iron plates. If someone wants to use fire attack, would my crew just sit and let one ship burn completely before it spreads to the next? Has Your Highness calculated how long it takes to burn a large ship completely?”

Tie Ci narrowed her eyes: “I only calculate pros and cons when encountering situations. The benefits of iron chains across the river cannot offset the potential losses from fire attack. Have you calculated the silver needed to build one ship? Have you calculated…”

“Stop.”

Tie Ci fell silent, knowing he was probably thinking again of the mud and sewage in the slums that day.

Xiao Xueya seemed to be enduring something. He closed his eyes and turned to order his deputy to unlock the chains.

But Tie Ci said again: “Wait.”

This time, before Xiao Xueya could speak or act, his deputy stopped first.

Xiao Xueya glanced at him.

The deputy looked at him in surprise.

Wasn’t this you obeying the Crown Princess’s every word?

The deputy, who had followed the commander for over ten years, believed he could discern his true intentions through subtle eye expressions. After all, this man always had the same expression—without developing this skill, one really couldn’t serve as his aide.

Xiao Xueya’s Adam’s apple seemed to bob slightly. He waved his hand, his expression growing even colder.

Tie Ci didn’t notice their silent communication: “I suggest you unlock the chains but make it look like they’re still connected. But you must be able to release them immediately.”

Xiao Xueya was silent for a while: “Does Your Highness still think there will be fire attacks and sneak attacks?”

Tie Ci smiled casually: “As I said before, even if there aren’t any, we lose nothing.”

“Why does Your Highness guard against everything and like to assume malicious intent to the extreme?”

“Life forced me to.” Tie Ci said sincerely, “Because your Xiao family doesn’t behave humanely, causing me to form this habit.”

“…”

Having killed the conversation again, Tie Ci walked away without psychological burden, leaving Xiao Xueya alone to shiver at the bow.

The deputy went to arrange the unlocking matters in silence, knowing that his commander’s mood had now gone from light snow to heavy snow.

Tie Ci walked to the cabin door and greeted Murong Yi: “We’re disembarking first. If you’re bored, come down later and stroll around yourself. Don’t worry about following me—that would be indecent.”

The cabin was silent for a while. Just as Tie Ci was wondering why this usually responsive fellow suddenly wasn’t talking, the small window suddenly opened. Murong Yi’s face was hidden behind a huge fan, his gaze flickering as he said in a muffled voice: “Fine, go ahead. Don’t pay attention to that snow lotus.”

Tie Ci: “…What are you hiding for? I’m far enough away from you.”

Murong Yi: “The sun is too strong, I’m blocking it.”

Tie Ci: “Put down the fan.”

“No, it will tan my delicate skin.”

“I’m counting to three. If you don’t put it down, I’ll accept Xiao Xueya’s invitation to drink with him.”

The last sentence was rather loud.

Not far away, Xiao Xueya walked past indifferently.

In fact, there was no such invitation, but Murong Yi obviously couldn’t let it go and had to reluctantly remove the fan.

Tie Ci burst into laughter.

Behind the fan was the cow dung and fresh flower mask she had sewn, covering most of his face. On top of the mask were large foreign glasses, covering the other half too.

Tie Ci reached out to take the glasses.

Murong Yi dodged quickly.

With a small window between them, it was inconvenient to reach, so Tie Ci kicked the door.

“I’ll take them off, I’ll take them off! Don’t kick!” Murong Yi removed the glasses.

Tie Ci raised an eyebrow, her eyes slowly widening, then burst into loud laughter.

Murong Yi covered a huge volcano-like pimple that had erupted on his forehead, complaining: “I knew I shouldn’t let you see. Unscrupulous woman, I’ve become ugly, I’ll get uglier and uglier…”

“What do you mean ugly? This is a pimple!” Tie Ci laughed, “At your age, you can still get pimples—you should be grateful for your eternal youth.”

“What do you mean ‘at my age’? I’m only nineteen this year.” Murong Yi touched the pimple on his face, “What is this? It’s not the poison making me ugly but something called a pimple?”

Tie Ci nodded with a smile: “Right, adolescence—between fifteen and twenty-five—causes pimples due to hormones in the body. It’s nothing serious and will heal in time.”

Murong Yi looked skeptical, touching his face sorrowfully: “Even if it’s not poison onset, this is still ugly enough. Will more appear?”

Tie Ci reached out to gently touch his big pimple, saying tenderly: “A wife does not despise her husband’s ugliness. I’m leaving now.”

She spoke quickly and left immediately after speaking. Before Murong Yi could react, she had already turned around. But after turning, her expression became distant.

The poison was indeed taking effect—she couldn’t get close to him at all.

Murong Yi, wearing the cow dung mask, gazed at her retreating figure. After a long moment, his eyes curved.

His Cici always liked to suddenly feed him candy, catching him off guard while making his heart bloom with joy.

She really lived up to her name—truly adorable.

…

As soon as the ship docked, a large group of officials bowed at the wharf.

There were no other people at the wharf—all the guards had been dispersed.

Leading them was Xi Zhou Prefect Qi Lingyuan. Tie Ci knew he was from a branch of former Chief Minister Qi’s family and should call Qi Shu “Uncle.” This man looked nothing like her delicate former fiancé—he had a square face, horizontal and vertical, but with rather comical drooping eyebrows. Tie Ci’s first thought upon seeing him was “how awkward.”

According to previous years’ official evaluations, Qi Lingyuan had received top ratings for three consecutive years in office. At year-end when his term expired, he should be considered for transfer back to the capital. With his qualifications, becoming a Ministry Vice-Minister would be no problem—he’d be entering the central government.

He was a talented man—looked awkward but had an elegant bearing. He calmly welcomed the imperial entourage, saying that since Her Highness was passing through Xi Zhou, if the local people didn’t fulfill their duty as hosts, it would be disrespectful to the imperial family and disrespectful to the Crown Prince. Therefore, he had specially prepared a banquet at Sanbai Tower in the city, inviting Her Highness and General Manager Xiao to enter the city for a brief rest to relieve travel fatigue.

Tie Ci naturally smiled and agreed, never questioning why, if he was so respectful, he dared to block the royal progress at the ferry.

Qi Lingyuan had prepared carriages and sedan chairs. Tie Ci entered the sedan chair first, and the procession majestically headed to Sanbai Tower.

The young masters who had followed them off the ship were also supposed to separate—ordered to go whoring—but were also intercepted by Qi Lingyuan’s people, who said they were inviting all the young masters to the banquet together.

Everyone hesitated, but Feng Huan remembered Tie Ci’s instructions. His eyes widened: “Who wants to eat your backwater stinking fish and rotten shrimp! I want to drink flower wine! Either take me to drink flower wine or get lost!”

When his wild energy erupted, he was every inch the dissolute son of the capital. The other side immediately hesitated, thinking of the forces these young men represented behind them, and also thinking they couldn’t have the government take this group to brothels, so they could only smile and let them pass.

The rich young men swaggered away. Tie Ci lowered the sedan curtain and laughed.

So even wastrels had their uses—if these had been refined scholars, they might have been dragged away.

Wherever the carriage and sedan passed, people automatically moved aside, showing that Qi Lingyuan had considerable prestige locally in Xi Zhou.

Sanbai Tower should be the best and most luxurious restaurant in Xi Zhou. The key was its tranquility—three courtyards with winding paths, where every flower and stone showed craftsmanship. Today it was entirely reserved by the parent official.

The banquet was set in the third courtyard. Turning past a long corridor, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a sizable lake. A long stone platform extended like a bridge into the water. In the center of the lake was a spacious pavilion with carved windows on all sides, while around the stone platform, smaller platforms extended like lotus petals, each already set with banquet tables.

Tie Ci was seated at the central table, elevated in the place of honor. Given her status, no one shared her table.

Due to the stone platform’s arrangement, the other seats appeared quite distant from her.

Qi Lingyuan sat horizontally at the lower seat to personally attend her, raising his wine cup to apologize that the Qian Zhou Provincial Administration Commissioner and other officials were rushing to Xi Zhou and had failed to welcome her, asking Her Highness to forgive any impropriety.

Tie Ci smiled: “I’ve been taking medicine recently and don’t drink alcohol—let me substitute tea for wine.”

She had kneeling attendants beside her who had remained silent and motionless since entering, very well-behaved. Hearing their conversation, the left attendant suddenly trembled slightly.

Tie Ci turned her head and saw the girl secretly glancing at her.

Tie Ci paused, wondering if “Kind Heart Chronicles” had spread even to the remote southern regions?

Since she wasn’t drinking alcohol, Qi Lingyuan immediately put down the wine pot and ordered tea instead. The two attendants diligently brought tea, using silver cups.

Chi Xue and Dan Shuang, who had been silently following behind Tie Ci, wanted to step forward to test for poison, but seeing the silver cups, it wasn’t necessary.

The left attendant moved nimbly, rushing to pour tea for Tie Ci first. Her fingernail seemed to accidentally tap the cup wall, making soft tinkling sounds.

Tie Ci chatted and laughed, discussing Xi Zhou’s scenery and customs with Qi Lingyuan, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

She wasn’t in a hurry to drink tea, holding the cup while chatting. When Tie Ci wanted to talk, she was definitely eloquent. Her topics ranged from Xi Zhou’s scenery and customs to population numbers, land acreage, taxes and corvée, weather and seasons, folk customs and sentiments… Her questions made Qi Lingyuan’s back rigid and forehead sweaty. A cup of wine sat forgotten beside him, and Tie Ci’s tea naturally grew cold.

After questioning him thoroughly, Tie Ci finally brought the cup to her lips. Qi Lingyuan also hurriedly raised his cup, but Tie Ci suddenly pulled her cup away and frowned: “It’s cold.” She handed it to the right attendant: “Change it.”

The attendant lowered her head to take it and brought Tie Ci fresh hot tea. Qi Lingyuan raised his cup again, but just then the attendant served dishes. Tie Ci leaned forward to look and exclaimed: “What dish is this?”

A large basin was brought up containing various insects whose shapes and appearances were indescribable—basically no different from things commonly found in latrines.

Qi Lingyuan smiled: “This is the most popular insect cuisine of Qian Zhou and Yannan, featuring seven of the most famous insect dishes in a Seven Insect Banquet: cicada meat filling, fried bamboo worms, fried grasshoppers, sauce-mixed crickets, sour-mixed ant eggs, cold honey bee larvae, sweet light wood worms—all delicacies not to be missed in Qian Zhou. Please try them, Your Highness.”

Behind Tie Ci, Dan Shuang’s face turned even paler, while Chi Xue’s expression remained stable, though she seemed to want water.

After all, when nausea strikes, people’s first reaction is to want water to suppress it.

Tie Ci’s hand had already reached the cup.

Qi Lingyuan sat up straight.

Tie Ci suddenly leaned over to look at the adjacent platform and asked Xiao Xueya: “Does General Manager Xiao like this insect banquet? This is high-protein delicacy—if you don’t like it, give it to me. Don’t waste it!”

Xiao Xueya had been coldly staring at the plate of insects, then coldly staring at the Xi Zhou garrison commander sitting beside him, forcing the big man to shrink into a ball.

Hearing Tie Ci’s comment, he calmly picked up chopsticks, took a piece of the most disgusting-looking fried bamboo worm, and put it in his mouth without changing expression.

From the adjacent area, Tie Ci made a loud sound, clapping vigorously: “General Manager Xiao is truly a famous general! Eating maggots without hesitation! I can’t eat this—give my portion to you too!”