Chapter 215

Chapter 215

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 7: Eight Hundred Qin Rivers, Occupying Guanzhong Chapter 215: Cotton Garment Showcase

Two years ago, Princess Yang’an, caught between Liu Bian heading to Ye City to ascend the throne and Qiao Yan returning to Bingzhou, chose the latter after being persuaded by Fu Shou.

At the same time, her husband Fu Wan chose Liu Bian, and she resolutely divorced Fu Wan.

After leaving her eldest son Fu De with Fu Wan, she herself, along with Fu Shou and her second son Fu Ya, came to Bingzhou.

If she were to visit Ye City under the pretext of seeing Fu De, it would indeed make sense.

Liu Hua glanced at her new cotton garment and, looking back at Qiao Yan, understood something.

Bingzhou and Liangzhou also needed their own specialty products to accumulate military funds, and cotton was a typical example.

The uniqueness of cotton was most vividly displayed in its exclusivity.

Although cotton garments lacked the drape and luster of silk, noble families, to showcase their unique status, didn’t necessarily need the best but the rarest.

In this regard, cotton satisfied their needs.

Not to mention, cotton garments were comfortable and warm.

This was enough to make them flock to cotton.

Liu Hua asked, “My lord, do you wish to use me as a benchmark to promote cotton?”

Qiao Yan replied, “What does the princess think?”

Two years ago, when Qiao Yan and Fu Shou discussed how the princess was adapting to Bingzhou, she already knew that this Han princess, while seeking refuge here, didn’t intend to just live off the land.

The Qiao sisters had guessed the rise in women’s purchasing power before fleeing to Bingzhou, and Liu Hua, being in the midst of it, understood this even better.

The clothing and jewelry shop she opened in Jinyang City also sold skincare products made from royal court secret recipes, directly targeting the middle and upper markets in Bingzhou, and was now on track.

What was originally just a move to increase income had unexpectedly succeeded.

Princess Yang’an was not one to settle for mediocrity; she immediately hired many female workers from Taiyuan Commandery and took over two adjacent shops.

The cotton garment she wore was designed by the female workers in her shop, adjusted by her, and then completed.

As the first garment made from cotton, it lived up to its special status, with the silk and brocade embellishments becoming mere accessories to the cotton.

For promotion, this was a perfect reference.

Qiao Yan continued, “I intend to first use cotton to meet the winter needs of the people in Bingzhou, while making cotton garments a high-priced commodity. Naturally, I will provide corresponding compensation for the princess’s journey.”

Liu Hua keenly realized that Qiao Yan didn’t plan to hand over cotton sales to her but only wanted her to serve as a promotional figure.

But she didn’t ask further about Qiao Yan’s intentions, simply nodding and replying, “Then it’s a straightforward transaction. Since my lord has this need, I will fulfill it.”

The underlying炫耀意味 (show-off intent) behind the trip to Ye City, she could guess eight or nine out of ten.

But she was the daughter of Emperor Huan of Han, not Emperor Ling, and had no close relationship with Liu Bian or Liu Xie.

So she didn’t need to harbor any supportive feelings for Liu Bian in this power struggle.

Just like she had no thoughts about Qiao Yan supporting Liu Yu’s rise to power.

After agreeing on this “endorsement fee” with Qiao Yan, Liu Hua immediately prepared for the trip to Ye City.

Fu Ya had entered Leping Academy two years ago, and Fu Shou was also employed under Qiao Yan.

Princess Yang’an saw the progress of both.

So, while she said it was a straightforward transaction, she added much of the money she earned from her shop in Bingzhou to the compensation Qiao Yan provided, ensuring this cotton garment “luxury” showcase would have a震撼 (shocking) effect.

Upon hearing her preparations, Qiao Yan added a few more items.

A fine horse from Dayuan as a carriage puller.

Milk tea made from Western stone honey, plateau milk, and tea.

The nearly completed “Dongguan Hanji” by Cai Yong.

The Qianxiang Calendar completed by Liu Hong and others.

And… a temporary coachman lent to her.

When Ma Chao received Qiao Yan’s order to escort Princess Yang’an to Ye City, he almost thought he misheard.

But from Qiao Yan’s expression, he clearly understood her meaning.

“I was originally thinking of sending you to Liaodong to assist Wen Yuan in battle or to participate in Liang-Bing military defense, to be assigned later when there’s a battle situation.”

Hearing Qiao Yan mention there were still battle opportunities in Liaodong, Ma Chao’s eyes lit up, but then Qiao Yan said, “Unfortunately, Liu Youzhou is still hesitating about ascending the throne. Adding another team at this time might make him unhappy under pressure, so it’s better to take a step back. I want you to go to Ji Province.”

“On the surface, you are the princess’s escort, but in reality, I want you to assist Dezhu in observing the defenses of Wei County in Ji Province. I believe in the strength of you Liangzhou people; judging the soldiers and generals of the north shouldn’t be difficult.”

When Qiao Yan said “not difficult,” Ma Chao felt like he was being warned.

The implied meaning was not to come back with just a “they can’t beat me.”

If he dared to do that, Qiao Yan would dare to throw him to Lü Bu as a messenger upon his return.

Ma Chao naturally didn’t dare to be presumptuous and asked, “Is Registrar Yang also going this time?”

Having him cooperate with Yang Xiu was indeed unexpected for Ma Chao.

But thinking about it, with Princess Yang’an going to Ji Province to visit her eldest son, Yang Xiu could also visit his father in Ji Province, emphasizing a triumphant return and familial care.

After Qiao Yan took Guanzhong, Yang Xiu’s family in Hongnong Commandery was under her control, and Yang Xiu naturally wanted to prove that his father’s choice to follow Liu Bian in establishing a new court in Ye City was a mistake.

This mission, compared to Princess Yang’an’s promotional带货 (sales), was more about showcasing Bingzhou’s talent cultivation results.

Since Yang Xiu arrived in Bingzhou in the first year of Guangxi, he had adapted to Bingzhou’s expansion and system as a registrar and could now be used for special purposes.

For example, using his Hongnong Yang family status to挖墙脚 (poach talent).

But saying挖墙脚 (poaching) might be too harsh; it should be called优秀人才的出使 (excellent talent diplomacy).

As this grand and powerful procession headed towards Ji Province, Qiao Yan watched their背影 (backs) with a微妙 (subtle) smile.

After the Guanzhong battle, with Yuan Shao and his strategists’ level, they would surely think of coming to Bingzhou to investigate.

But how would they handle such a堂堂正正 (open and aboveboard) mission to their territory?

Qiao Yan收回 (retracted) her gaze from the distance and落 (landed) on Lu Yuan beside her, saying, “Cotton sales can’t be handed over to the princess; at most, she can build名气 (fame). The exclusive代理权 (agency rights) in the Central Plains can only belong to the Donghai Mi Clan.”

“Previously, the Mi Clan greatly assisted us in bringing郑公 (Zheng Gong) to Bingzhou. Without the战备物资 (military supplies) they provided, the Liangzhou and Guanzhong battles wouldn’t have ended so smoothly. It’s time to reciprocate and maintain the relationship.”

“Draft a letter for me to send to the Mi Clan, inviting Mi Zizhong to come to Bingzhou. I want to discuss this long-term big deal with him personally.”

Lu Yuan nodded in agreement.

Without Qiao Yan saying more, she knew that cotton and cotton cloth samples, along with the news of Princess Yang’an heading to Ye City, must be included.

Mi Zhu’s greatest advantage was his商业网络 (commercial network). With his help, the后续影响 (subsequent impact) of the princess’s actions could be maximized.

The exclusive代理权 (agency rights) for cotton could also compensate for his previous investment in Qiao Yan, preventing this big商人 (merchant) from转向别处 (turning elsewhere).

Other合作 (cooperation) matters could wait until Mi Zhu arrived.

Additionally, as Tao Qian’s control over Xuzhou strengthened, no one could guarantee that letters sent from Bingzhou to Xuzhou wouldn’t be intercepted by Tao Qian first.

Considering this, Lu Yuan knew that letters to Xuzhou could only discuss simple商务 (business).

Saying that the代理权 (agency rights) were given to Mi Zhu and not Liu Hua wasn’t just about repaying the former’s人情 (favor).

Firstly, Liu Hua’s身份 (identity) as a Han皇室 (royal) was undoubtedly a桎梏 (constraint), making it unsuitable for Qiao Yan to重用 (heavily employ) her.

Secondly, having a明面上 (openly) cooperating商队 (merchant team) was also a掩护 (cover) for another暗处 (hidden) team.

Due to this明暗照应 (open and hidden coordination), on their way back to the州府 (provincial capital), Lu Yuan heard Qiao Yan talk about setting up信鸽养殖点 (pigeon breeding points) in Liangzhou and Guanzhong.

“Since last year, we’ve been testing pigeon驯养 (training) and放飞 (release) in Bingzhou. This year, it has repeatedly proven可行 (feasible). Now that Guanzhong is secured, it’s time to增设 (add)驯养基地 (training bases).”

Lu Yuan replied, “If you want to facilitate消息传达 (message delivery) and consider信鸽的保密性 (pigeon confidentiality), I suggest my lord set up信鸽哨站 (pigeon relay stations) in Maiwu and Jincheng.”

The one-way nature of pigeon test flights already determined that if there were too many relay stations, confusion in对应地点 (corresponding locations) during pigeon往返 (round trips) was likely. It was better to have one per province.

“Jincheng is already my lord’s屯田 (military farming) place to stabilize relations with the Qiang people. Most of Liangzhou’s屯兵 (garrisoned troops) are located here and the Four Commanderies of Hexi. It’s better to use Jincheng Commandery south of Wushaoling as an信息中转 (information relay). Among Guanzhong’s数镇 (several towns), Chang’an is too crowded, while Maiwu, with Dong Zhuo’s high walls, is more suitable for pigeon驯养 (training).”

Qiao Yan agreed with her judgment, replying, “There’s no争议 (dispute) about placing the Guanzhong relay station in Maiwu. Let Zilong manage it for me. As for Liangzhou, whether to place it in Jincheng or Gaoping, you take the pigeon trainers from Bingzhou to确认 (confirm).”

Jincheng’s海拔 (altitude) is higher than Gaoping’s, and it’s hard to guarantee that pigeons can适应 (adapt) there. It’s better to confirm on-site.

Now she needed to消化 (digest) the收获 (gains) from taking Chang’an and wouldn’t对外动兵 (militarily act externally) in the short term.

But it was precisely during this冷静期 (cooling period) with neighbors that these pigeons could complete their落户 (settling) and适应 (adaptation) process in Liangzhou and Guanzhong.

By next year, there would naturally be surprises for others.

After交代 (finishing) the正事 (official business), Qiao Yan couldn’t help but调侃 (tease), “Ruqing, do you think Dezhu can辩论 (debate)过 (win against) Chen Kongzhang this time in Ye City?”

Sending Yang Xiu wasn’t just because of his Hongnong Yang family background and Yang Biao’s son status, nor entirely because he needed an opportunity to observe the Ji Province situation to立功 (earn merit).

But also because, as he grew older, his天赋 (talent) for灵活头脑 (flexible thinking) and绝佳口才 (excellent eloquence) became more apparent.

In that case, not using him in such an environment for对外陈说展示 (external presentation) would be a waste.

But Chen Lin, under Yuan Shao, who was极有本事 (highly skilled) in辞赋檄文 (poetry and prose), was also a出口成章 (eloquent) figure. If they真的打起擂台来 (really had a showdown), Yang Xiu, being younger, might吃亏 (lose out).

Lu Yuan笑道 (laughed), “If my lord is worried, why not let Fengxiao go too?”

Qiao Yan轻咳 (coughed lightly), “…If he went, I doubt Yuan Shao would dare let him speak, and might even risk offending me by detaining him.”

The仇恨 (hatred) Guo Jia拉 (pulled) in Yuan Shao’s camp was too high, given that欠条 (IOU) was signed when he went to Yuan Shao’s军营 (military camp).

Now that the欠条的真相 (truth of the IOU) was revealed, Yuan Shao probably dreamed of the scene when it was signed and could never forget Guo Jia’s face.

If Qiao Yan was first in his仇恨排行 (hatred ranking), Guo Jia could easily be second.

“Isn’t that settled?” Lu Yuan replied, “Since there’s no more suitable人选 (candidate), why not believe Registrar Yang will deliver a让君侯满意的答卷 (satisfactory answer for my lord)?”

This was also true, after all, Zhuge Liang was only eleven or twelve, let alone his non-existent nephew Zhuge Ke.

Looking at the天下 (world), those who could achieve “发藻岐嶷，辩论应机，莫与为对” (eloquent and quick-witted, unmatched in debate) were few, and Qiao Yan couldn’t personally go to Ye City, so it was better to have more信心 (confidence) in Yang Xiu.

In Bingzhou’s竞争环境 (competitive environment), with Yang Xiu’s不服输 (never-give-up)性格 (personality), how could he be willing to see—

Everyone else发光发热 (shining and contributing) in their positions, while he fell behind due to the four years耽误 (delayed) in Hongnong.

But the民众 (people) of Wei County in Ji Province, now in the国都 (capital) Ye City, first saw not Yang Xiu’s表现 (performance) but Princess Liu Hua’s数量不多 (few) yet极具震撼效果 (highly impactful)车驾 (carriage).

Yuan Shao’s部将 (general) Zhang He, following Yuan Shao’s orders,镇守 (guarded) Wei County, protecting the安定 (stability) of this京畿之地 (capital region).





He had just finished patrolling the west side of Ye City today and was inspecting the city guards when he noticed a carriage pulled by four magnificent horses, followed by several cargo vehicles and a cavalry escort, speeding down the usually deserted western official road.

Even from a distance, Zhang He, with his sharp eyes honed from years of military service, could clearly see that the four horses pulling the carriage were of the highest quality, even by Ji Province’s standards, and were not something commonly seen in the Central Plains.

As they approached, Zhang He immediately recognized them as the famous Ferghana horses depicted in ancient paintings, and not just any Ferghana horses, but the purest breed, not the hybrid ones bred with Central Plains horses!

Such horses were extremely rare!

Since the official Silk Road between the Central Plains and the Western Regions was cut off, such famous horses had not been flowing into the Central Plains in large numbers.

And in this procession, there were even more than four of these Ferghana horses.

Among the accompanying cavalry, the young scholar riding on horseback was also mounted on such a magnificent horse.

This person arrived at the city gate of Ye City ahead of the convoy, dismounted, and walked towards Zhang He.

With such a grand display, it wasn’t hard for Zhang He to guess the identity of the visitor.

It was on this very day that the Ji Province soldiers stationed in Cishan County sent a message at full speed to Ye City, reporting that Princess Yang’an had crossed the Fukou Pass from Bingzhou into Ji Province, intending to visit relatives in Ye City.

This was no ordinary visit.

Regardless of whether the Governor of Bingzhou, the Emperor in Ye City, and Yuan Shao, the Governor of Qingzhou, were friends or foes, Princess Yang’an’s status would not change.

As the eldest daughter of Emperor Huan of Han, her political significance was considerable.

The dignity of the princess was a reflection of the Han Dynasty’s honor.

Thus, no one could possibly hinder her visit.

Although Yuan Shao had a gut feeling that Princess Yang’an’s visit was more likely to cause him trouble rather than rekindle any old flames with Fu Wan, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and issue orders for the officials along the way to treat the princess with utmost respect.

In addition to recalling Zhang He, the general guarding Wei County, back to Ye City, he also had the guesthouse in Ye City prepared for her reception.

Now, the princess had indeed arrived!

And she arrived faster than Zhang He had expected.

Sure enough, the next moment, he heard the young man who had dismounted from another magnificent horse say to him, “Bingzhou’s Registrar, Yang Xiu of Hongnong, escorting Princess Yang’an to Ye City. May I trouble the general to lead the way?”

Zhang He’s eyelids twitched.

Yang Xiu of Hongnong, that was Yang Biao’s son!

This was an unexpected guest.

During Dong Zhuo’s rebellion, Yang Biao had been dismissed by Dong Zhuo and given only the title of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.

But with the establishment of the Ye City court, due to Yang Biao’s wife being from the Yuan Clan of Runan and the court’s need to show favor to the Yang Clan of Hongnong, he was reinstated as the Grand Commandant.

There was also a well-known piece of news in Ye City: despite Yang Biao’s high position, he had a particularly rebellious son who, after winning a bet with him earlier, had turned to Bingzhou, standing in opposition to him.

It wasn’t uncommon for noble families to hedge their bets, and it was hard to say whether Yang Biao actually supported his son’s actions, but publicly, he of course spoke of his “rebellious son.”

Zhang He had heard many rumors about Yang Xiu, but this was the first time he had met him in person.

The young man before him, aside from a slight air of youthful arrogance, didn’t seem particularly rebellious. In fact, after exchanging names, he even asked Zhang He a couple of questions about his father, mentioning that he had brought some highland tonics for Yang Biao, though he wasn’t sure if they were suitable.

What Zhang He didn’t notice was that when Yang Xiu mentioned this, his gaze inadvertently swept over the morale of the city guards.

This fleeting observation was quickly withdrawn when Zhang He suggested that part of the escort should remain outside the city.

Yang Xiu replied, “The princess is here only to visit relatives, and I am here only to inquire about my father’s health. This trip does not involve diplomatic relations between the two regions, so we will naturally follow Ye City’s rules. We will bring only a dozen people into the city, enough to deliver the princess’s gifts.”

Zhang He was delighted by Yang Xiu’s considerate behavior.

But he soon realized that reducing the size of the entering convoy didn’t diminish the impact of the princess’s arrival.

Liu Hua kept only two Ferghana horses to pull the carriage, rode one herself, and had Ma Chao ride the other. Escorted by Ma Chao and Yang Xiu, she headed towards the city’s guesthouse.

She had voluntarily reduced the size of her escort, so Zhang He couldn’t possibly stop her from riding into the city herself.

But this action was even more eye-catching than the four-horse carriage!

Princess Yang’an, now in her forties, looked as if she were in her prime, thanks to good maintenance and the medical treatment provided by Hua Tuo after his arrival in Bingzhou. As she rode slowly, she exuded a heroic aura.

The young general following her had a jade-like complexion and a robust build, clearly possessing considerable martial prowess.

But compared to Ma Chao, who had the demeanor of a top general, what caught everyone’s attention was Princess Yang’an’s riding attire.

The fabric of her clothes was neither hemp nor silk, but something none of them had ever seen before.

As she rode through Ye City, the autumn wind made people instinctively pull their collars tighter and put on their cloaks, fearing the cold wind might cause a chill. Yet, everyone saw that Princess Yang’an’s face was rosy, completely unaffected by the autumn wind, clearly because her clothing provided sufficient warmth.

After she settled into the guesthouse, news spread that the garment she wore was called a cotton coat.

In Bingzhou, there were two types of such cotton coats.

One was filled with cotton wadding for warmth, similar to kapok, and was widely distributed to the soldiers guarding Liang and Bing Provinces, who also had the right to purchase them for their families.

The other type, like the one Princess Yang’an wore, was made from spun cotton fibers. So far, only a few dozen of these had been produced in Bingzhou, and only the Governor of Bingzhou, his close associates, and noble families could wear them.

Later, it was heard that Yang Xiu had given his own to Grand Commandant Yang Biao as a filial gesture.

Without Liu Hua and Yang Xiu saying much, Yuan Shao and his subordinates had already recognized the advantages of cotton.

Although they didn’t know why Tian Feng hadn’t yet sent word about cotton to Ji Province, Yuan Shao had already gathered his subordinates.

In his hands was the cotton coat borrowed from Yang Biao.

Another ordinary cotton-padded jacket, borrowed from the guesthouse, was placed on the table before him.

Yuan Shao had personally tried on both garments, and it was this firsthand experience that left him feeling deeply frustrated.

Anyone with a brain could see the superiority of this material.

Compared to the so-called trend-setting notion that only noble families could wear it, its advantages in warmth and insulation were simply too great.

He scanned his subordinates with a serious expression and said, “The fact that Bingzhou can widely use this material for border soldiers and the general populace shows that it’s not difficult to promote. Yang Xiu’s claim that this is a heavenly gift to Bingzhou and cannot be grown elsewhere doesn’t hold water. For now, we can’t reach Tian Feng, so I ask you all to come up with a plan to introduce this to Ji Province.”

Xu You shook his head and sighed, “To be honest, I’ve already visited the Grand Commandant’s residence to inquire. Yang Xiu, with his sharp tongue, said that this year’s batch has already been supplied to those most in need, and next year’s, due to Liu Yu’s situation, must first be sent to Youzhou.”

“He said that since ancient times, the north has been colder than the south, and according to Han Dynasty etiquette, the emperor’s domain must be prioritized. Regardless of the reasoning, Youzhou comes first, not to mention that Liang and Bing Provinces haven’t even been fully supplied yet.”

“If the border guards cannot survive, the Qiang and Hu invasions will cause great chaos. This is a concern for the Han Dynasty’s borders. If Ji Province truly wants this, we can exchange sheepskins for it, which is not a problem.”

By the time Xu You finished speaking, Yuan Shao’s face showed clear signs of anger.

He could tell the difference between plant fibers and animal fur!

Exchanging sheepskins for cotton coats? He might as well use the sheepskins for warmth directly.

Listen to what he’s saying!

But Yang Xiu’s words did hit a nerve.

Youzhou was north of Ji Province. If Youzhou didn’t have it, it couldn’t flow into Ji Province. Unless they had merchants buy it at high prices in Bingzhou.

With the border defense argument, he stood on the moral high ground.

And the fact that the noble cotton garments weren’t mass-produced also aligned with his reasoning.

Xu You continued, “I then asked him, since this plant wasn’t widely known in the Central Plains before, how could he be sure it could only be grown in Bingzhou and not Ji Province? For the sake of the people’s livelihood, what harm would there be in exchanging seeds or plants with us?”

Yuan Shao asked, “What did he say?”

Xu You smiled bitterly, “He asked me, does Ji Province want Bingzhou to gift, lend, or sell the seeds to us?”

Yuan Shao asked in return, “What if it’s a gift, a loan, or a sale?”

Seeing Xu You a bit overwhelmed, Chen Lin, who had also gone to see Yang Xiu, took over, “He said a gift is out of the question; we don’t have that kind of relationship with Ji Province. Ji Province supports a false emperor, and with the central emperor still undecided, if Bingzhou were to gift something, it would compromise the Governor’s stance, risking accusations of playing both sides. As for a loan—”

“My lord, you don’t have that kind of credit with them in Bingzhou.”

At this point, Chen Lin carefully observed Yuan Shao’s expression, and seeing that he wasn’t furious, he continued, “As for a sale… he said the plants they have in Bingzhou are limited, and at most, they can plant another batch next year, which will take several years to grow. By then, these cotton coats could save dozens of lives. If Ji Province wants to buy, they can trade dozens of sheepskins for one seed.”

With southern kapok plants in mind, Xu You and Chen Lin hadn’t considered that cotton was a herbaceous plant. Yang Xiu had keenly picked up on this misconception and proposed a seemingly reasonable but exorbitant price.

But how could Yuan Shao possibly pay such a price for something with unknown yield and uncertain survival!

What made Yuan Shao even more furious was that Chen Lin added, “Yang Xiu also said that if there’s a way to get it without spending money, there is indeed one. If any of his cousins have talent, they might as well follow him to Bingzhou, and maybe next year they can earn a cotton coat for their uncle.”

Yuan Shao almost flipped the table.

That scoundrel Yang Xiu actually remembered he should call him uncle?

His smooth-talking, family-swindling demeanor showed no trace of the Runan Yuan blood in his veins!

As for Yang Xiu’s sophistry in Ji Province, Qiao Yan, having entrusted the matter to him, didn’t worry too much.

She couldn’t return to Guanzhong yet.

Yesterday, the Wei Clan of Hedong sent a letter requesting a meeting, Mi Zhu in the Eastern Sea hadn’t received her letter yet, and Liu Yu in Youzhou still hadn’t agreed to succeed as emperor.

With nothing pressing today, she decided to visit Leping Academy.

It had been three months since the Qiao sisters, whom she had high hopes for and who might take over the intelligence organization, arrived in Leping.

She had originally planned to give them six months to adjust before asking if they were willing to make a choice, but with Jia Xu and Li Ru currently idle, the pigeon post stations expanding to Liangzhou and Guanzhong, and both overt and covert trade routes being established, it wouldn’t hurt to ask earlier.

In the current situation, some things were better put on track sooner rather than later.

However, before meeting the Qiao sisters, she first went to see Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan.

Although she held a high position, she shouldn’t appear arrogant and should show proper respect to the great scholars of the time.

After returning to Guanzhong, she should send Xun Shuang here to recuperate.

If not for the undecided emperor, Xun Shuang, in his frail state, should have left Guanzhong long ago.

As she thought this, she knocked on the door before her.

When she was granted entry and pushed the door open, she saw Cai Yong and Zheng Xuan sitting at a table with Cao Pi and Lu Ji, the two children, sorting through bamboo slips and ancient texts, a scene of harmony.

Except—

If she wasn’t mistaken, there was a trace of ice cream on Lu Ji’s cheek.

And following the line of sight under the table, she saw four bowls faintly hidden, containing what looked like ancient-style ice cream.

Qiao Yan: “…”

Doesn’t this scene look a bit familiar?

If she remembered correctly, when she was just the Marquis of Leping, Cai Yong and the children fighting over mulberry tree catkins looked just like this… right?