Chapter 155: Chapter 88: Terrifying Physique, Awaiting Snow’s Return
In the midsummer sunlight, a messenger brought joyful news, once again knocking on the gate of the Li family in Xiongshan County, delivering the news of "Prince Qing."
The entire Li family was stunned.
The young man had entered the capital city last winter, and by this summer, he had been granted a princely title?
As for the reason for the title, there were just two.
First, the young man had pacified the Great Yin with his martial prowess, becoming the foremost in Great Yin.
Second, the court had legitimized the Secret Martial Arts, and when the strongest martial artist of Secret Martial Arts became an Alien Monarch, it symbolized the legalization of Secret Martial Arts from now on.
Of course, this was the official reason.
The many underlying thoughts, interests, and machinations were deeply buried in darkness.
The messenger hurriedly took out letters, handing them separately to Master Li, the first lady, and the young mistress.
He also mentioned that Li Xuan had married the current sovereign’s younger sister—the "Little Princess" Zhao Qingxue, now an extremely important relative of the royalty.
Moreover, Great Yin gave an unprecedented privilege, the first since the founding of the dynasty, allowing Li Xuan to have two official wives, with equal status.
This matter, along with Li Xuan’s previous refusal of the former sovereign’s advances, hadn’t been turned into tales by storytellers, but were topics of interest for people.
The handsome, powerful, strategic, yet love-valuing young prince was always a subject people loved to discuss.
However... as the messenger spoke of this and that, he never mentioned "bringing people to the capital city."
This indicated that Prince Qing had no such intention.
Master Li wanted to ask, but as he opened his mouth, the first lady pulled on his sleeve, prompting him to close it.
Tian Yuan had a clean smile on her face, as if she hadn’t noticed this point from beginning to end.
...
However, after returning to her room, she couldn’t wait to open the letter.
The letter was filled with anecdotes from the capital, just like when Li Xuan was in the Hundred Flowers Mansion, Cyan Wood Province.
But what was different was a line at the end of the letter: "When Xiaoxue gently falls, perhaps I may slowly return."
This line directly explained why Li Xuan wasn’t bringing anyone back to the capital.
Tian Yuan let out a long sigh of relief, then held the letter tightly.
The corners of her lips lifted, her eyes curved like new moons, and a smile blossomed on her face, with two adorable dimples appearing and disappearing.
Outside, cicadas chirped noisily, and the scorching sunlight shone upon the solitary courtyard.
Since becoming that man’s wife, they had often been apart more than together, yet the line "perhaps I may slowly return" smoothed her heart.
She gazed at the blazing sunlight, suddenly hoping for snow to fall sooner.
However, before that, she still had much to do.
The Li family’s business chamber was in full operation now, and because of Li Xuan’s background, almost everyone in Cyan Wood Province would show some face, even those who previously caused trouble in secret would desist in the future.
The Li family’s weapons and armor were mostly for self-use, and besides "buying low and selling high" grains, mountain products, herbs, and daily necessities, embroidery was their high-end product.
In addition to the initial "Golden Bird Embroidery," Tian Yuan also created "Ink Wash Embroidery" based on descriptions in ancient books.
It happened one ordinary afternoon, a sudden inspiration struck Tian Yuan as she thought of her husband.
In her heart, her husband was always so free-spirited, like an immortal in an ink wash painting.
Then she suddenly thought: could embroidery simulate famous paintings?
The first famous painting she chose was "Withered Wood, Bamboo, and Stone, The Elegant Landscape." The painting contained no people, only bamboo groves, weeds, high mountains, and flowing water.
Yet, though devoid of people, it wasn’t without vitality.
This landscape seemed like a recluse’s dwelling, very free-spirited.
Tian Yuan entrusted her longing for her husband into the needlework, busy with the Li family business during the day, and embroidering by candlelight at night.
Then, with her needle, she completed the first piece of "Ink Wash Embroidery."
She showed it to the first lady, who praised it repeatedly, saying this Ink Wash Embroidery was ethereal and unrestrained, quite extraordinary, as if wearing it as clothing would be like donning a painting, making oneself a figure in a painting.
Thus, Tian Yuan recruited skillful and adept women in embroidery from all over, further increasing the production of "Ink Wash Embroidery."
Then she, along with the first and second ladies, selected beautiful "Ink Wash Embroidery" to make them gorgeous clothes.
The two ladies were extremely happy.
But whether it was "Golden Bird Embroidery" or "Ink Wash Embroidery," both could only be sold as high-end products.
The Li family was also not keen on profiting from disasters, so even though grain was "bought low and sold high," it didn’t make much profit after warehouse, transportation, labor, and natural loss costs were covered, almost akin to charity.
Tian Yuan found it rather troubling.
However, just at the end of this spring, she discovered a peculiar plant in Red Flower Mountain.
She flipped through ancient texts and found a name for it in a book describing fragrances—Firefly Fragrance.
The book mentioned that "Firefly Fragrance" could only be found in deep mountains and forests with moderate temperatures and good sunlight.
Possessing a business mind, Tian Yuan continued exploration and discovered many peculiar, vintage fragrances in Red Flower Mountain.
Being a person of action, she immediately built fences around the area, established houses, stationed Li family martial artists, and began to harvest the fragrances.
While Li Xuan was skillfully navigating the capital, Tian Yuan completed the "trial operation of Li family’s fragrances."
The result was that these fragrances became an instant hit, with many local nobles hearing of it and making special trips to purchase Li family fragrances.
And just a month ago, a major merchant from Yunmeng Province ordered ten large boxes of goods.
As for the price, the merchant offered quite a staggering amount.
