Chapter 195: Lingnan

Yan Ning was not prepared to go to the pleasure boat, only saying, "My husband and I are here to sightsee; you need not trouble yourself."

Xiao Huaijin, however, began to grow wary.

When he had come to Yangzhou previously, back when Yan Yu was still the Crown Prince, he had seen the Prefect of Yangzhou gift Yan Yu quite a few beauties.

Yan Yu had accepted them all with a smile.

This old fellow wouldn't be trying to push people onto Yan Ning too, would he?

Xiao Huaijin then said, "No need, it is enough for His Highness and me to walk around."

Prefect Xia sighed, "The singing girls and dancing girls on the pleasure boat are the best in Yangzhou City; if they knew His Highness was not interested in them, they would surely be very disappointed."

Upon hearing this, Yan Ning thought, there are the best dancing girls and singing girls?

Then we must go!

Yan Ning pulled Xiao Huaijin along, "Let's go, let's hurry, don't let them wait too long."

Xiao Huaijin could only accompany Yan Ning.

Upon entering the pleasure boat, they smelled a faint, elegant fragrance.

Over a dozen women wearing gauze dresses were smiling as they welcomed them.

After Yan Ning boarded the boat, someone steered the pleasure boat to the center of the lake.

As Yan Ning ate, listening to the sound of strings and bamboo, several beautiful dancing girls were dancing there; the one playing the zither was the most beautiful.

Seeing Yan Ning staring at her, Prefect Xia introduced, "This is the most famous musician of the Qinse Hall, Lin Yueniang; if His Highness is interested, why not take her back to the Capital?"

Yan Ning frowned, "How much silver is needed to redeem her?"

Prefect Xia revealed a smile, "His Highness need not worry; leave such matters to this official, I guarantee to handle it properly for His Highness."

Yan Ning set down her chopsticks, her expression turning somewhat serious, "Redeeming Lin Yueniang must cost quite a bit of silver; where did you get the money?"

Cold sweat was about to drip from Prefect Xia's forehead.

He hurriedly said, "Your Highness, this, Your Highness, this official has not been corrupt; it is just that my cousin does business and has some wealth, and he cannot bear to see this official live frugally, so he gives this official some silver every year."

After speaking, Prefect Xia felt it was inappropriate and continued, "Your Highness, please rest assured, this official has not provided any conveniences to my cousin..."

At this, the sound of strings and bamboo had stopped, and the dancing girls were all kneeling on the ground.

After a long while, Yan Ning said, "It had better be so."

She would have to find someone to investigate this Prefect of Yangzhou.

He was simply too wealthy.

But later, Yan Ning had someone investigate him, and it was indeed as he had said: his cousin was a merchant who gave him money, and he only ensured his cousin was not intentionally made things difficult for, without providing any special convenience.

That is a story for another time.

Seeing the people kneeling all over the floor, Yan Ning said, "Rise."

The few musicians did not know whether they should leave or stay to continue playing and singing.

Prefect Xia pondered for a moment and said, "Continue."

Seeing that Yan Ning did not object, Prefect Xia also breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Huaijin, at her side, whispered, "Rest assured, after several purges of the officialdom and the existence of the Integrity-Nurturing Silver, and now with the Train, inspections are even more casual; ordinary people dare not act recklessly."

Yan Ning also whispered back, "Not necessarily; wealth moves the heart, there will always be those who cannot resist temptation."

The two were not whispering particularly quietly, and Prefect Xia at the side was on the verge of tears.

Why did he have to be a busybody? Wouldn't it have been better to act as if they hadn't come?

He had already hosted them, so why did he casually offer beauties?

Prefect Xia regretted it so much his guts turned green.

Yan Ning did not make things difficult for Prefect Xia, only saying that officials should set an example for others, and told him not to be so extravagant and wasteful next time.

These dancing girls usually danced their way into people's arms.

But in the current situation, no one dared to act recklessly.

Only a few dancing girls cast amorous glances at Yan Ning.

Yan Ning had drunk some wine and was a bit tipsy; she pointed at the dancing girl and asked Xiao Huaijin, "Do you think she is beautiful?"

Xiao Huaijin nodded, "Passable."

After a moment of silence, Xiao Huaijin could not help but ask, "Does Your Highness wish to take her back to the palace?"

Yan Ning shook her head, "I'm just looking, I won't do anything."

Xiao Huaijin laughed in spite of himself, "Your Highness, it seems that in the future, I must not only guard against men, but also against women."

Yan Ning smiled and leaned into his arms, whispering, "Haha, no need to worry, none of them are as good-looking as you."

Yan Ning admitted that she herself was a member of the "looks association."

She just liked looking at good-looking people.

Having been in ancient times for so long, she had yet to see anyone better-looking than Xiao Huaijin.

Xiao Huaijin was amused by her words.

Prefect Xia at the side toasted another cup of wine, "Your Highness and the Imperial Consort are truly a devoted couple."

Xiao Huaijin smiled at him.

Yan Ning did not have a high tolerance for alcohol, and after two cups, she was drunk.

Xiao Huaijin declined the offer to go to Prefect Xia's residence; after having the boat dock at the shore, he carried Yan Ning to an inn.

After playing in Yangzhou City for a few days, Yan Ning asked him, "I'm getting tired of looking at Yangzhou; we still have over twenty days of vacation, shall we go to Lingnan to take a look?"

Xiao Huaijin naturally agreed.

That same day, the two took the Steam Train to Lingnan.

Yan Ning bought two VIP tickets, unlike the ordinary sleeper cars, which were divided into upper, middle, and lower berths.

The VIP compartment had two bunks on a single level, with curtains for privacy, offering a high degree of seclusion.

Yan Ning also felt moved; traveling by Steam Train in ancient times was truly novel.

Yan Ning opened the curtain and saw the beautiful scenery outside.

The next afternoon, they arrived in Haicheng.

Seeing that it was still early, Yan Ning bought a boat ticket directly to Shawan County.

Shawan County had a very large port, and while passing by, Yan Ning remarked, "How wonderful it would be if we could develop maritime transport."

Xiao Huaijin said, "We can send people in a couple of years; building the railway just now has cost quite a lot of silver."

Yan Ning thought that was true.

There was no need to rush for the moment.

However, Yan Ning caught sight of the largest and most imposing Ocean-going Ship at a glance.

She wanted to go over and ask about it.

How much this ship cost to build, and what such a large ship was used for.

Xiao Huaijin accompanied her over.

To Yan Ning's surprise, the owner of this ship was actually Wang Er Gou!

That is, Er Gouzi, who had worked for her back when she was in Chaoyang Village.

As soon as Wang Er Gou saw Yan Ning, his eyes lit up.

Wang Er Gou hurried over to Yan Ning, "Your Highness, you have actually come."

Yan Ning exchanged pleasantries with him and then asked, "Is this ship yours? Building such a large ship, what is this for?"

Wang Er Gou nodded, "Your Highness, this ship is mine. It's just that I heard Your Highness say that there are other countries beyond the seas, so I wanted to go and see them."

Yan Ning was somewhat surprised.

"This ship must have cost quite a lot of silver, right?"

Er Gouzi nodded repeatedly, "It did cost quite a lot; it took thirty thousand taels of silver. A larger ship can better withstand the wind and waves."

"Come to think of it, I must thank Your Highness for those rewards you gave me, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to afford such an expensive ship today."

Er Gouzi had a sharp mind; with that many rewards, he was surely a good businessman, and earning tens of thousands of taels of silver would be no problem for him.

Yan Ning said, "If you return from your voyage, come directly to the Capital to receive a reward."

Er Gouzi's eyes lit up, and he said to Yan Ning, "I will definitely return!"

Er Gouzi took Yan Ning to see the ship, and Yan Ning felt it was quite good; after the Sea Ban was lifted, there were commoners willing to sail far away.

It could be considered a contribution to the maritime cause of the Daxia dynasty.