Chapter 127

The scorching sun of Youzhou in September continued to bake the earth, river water levels dropped, even cutting off flow and drying up completely.

Everyone finally realized that things were not good again.

Even the king, who knows nothing about farming, knows this year's drought seems worse than last year's; fortunately, Youzhou City had just built wells as part of its infrastructure plan. The wells produced by Wan Jie are deeper, and people constantly haul water to the fields before sunrise and after sunset.

The king inspected the surrounding counties mainly focused on farming, then summoned Zhu Ti, saying, "All the money earned by the caravan, when it returns, shall be exchanged for grain." He then threw himself into training with the North Camp and the Owl Cavalry.

He must prepare for the Northern Hu's southern advance; on the grasslands, eight or nine out of ten tribes facing a drought with no spells to chant will likely set their sights on the Great Jin, and Youzhou will surely be the first to feel the impact.

Zhao Bao felt heartbroken, and whenever he had free time he would hover by the kitchen, urging them to prepare various tasty dishes for the king.

In mid-September a long caravan set out from Youzhou for Chang'an, led by Zhu Ti; the king was still somewhat reassured, but he also pulled some soldiers from the West Great Camp to give to her. It made no sense that other caravans had soldiers escorting them out of Youzhou, yet when it was his turn, he had none.

Thus half of this entourage were capable assistants handpicked by Zhu Ti, and half were soldiers from the You Prince's mansion; they all dressed as civilians outwardly, and were called caravan assistants.

The newly appointed Prince of Guangling was not pleased upon receiving the edict to take up his fief, but fortunately he did not have to depart immediately, only after his wedding next year.

That day, his mood brightened a little as he went horseback riding in Shanglin Park; while resting, a palace attendant reported that someone holding a You Prince's calling card had come to request an audience.

Bai Liheng lay limp on the couch, half-asleep, and after a moment realized it was the You Prince; these days, whenever someone called him the Prince of Guangling he had to react, which felt like an instinctive aversion.

"You Prince? Old Three? He dares to send someone! This palace conferred him a princedom and he sent a cartload of stones, and he still dares to come!"

Palace attendant: "…It is indeed a calling card of His Highness the You Prince, and the leader is a woman."

"A woman?"

"Exactly." Moreover, she was extremely beautiful. The attendant who came to report was surely a close aide of the Second His Highness, and he began to suspect the You Prince's intentions.

The Great Jin had not yet become as extravagant as later feudal dynasties; women were expected not to leave the inner or outer gates of their homes, and when they went out they had to cover their faces with veils. Many women plied their trade openly on the streets of the Great Jin—take, for example, the king's birth mother, Lady Wei, who before entering the palace secretly followed Marquis Wei Ting onto the battlefield.

When Zhu Ti entered, his appearance stunned the several playboys in the room; the Second His Highness was always at ease in Chang'an, constantly surrounded by people.

Those present were all notable young masters of Chang'an: his future brother-in-law, the Fourth Son of the Grand Commandant's household, Li Chang; the grandson of the Grand Marshal's household; the Third Son of the Cavalry General Zheng's household; and, notably, the Second Son of the Dongdu Marquis, Liang Ben. As soon as Zhu Ti entered, everyone who had been lounging sideways or sitting upright rose to their feet.

Zhu Ti performed a respectful salute, saying, "Commoner Zhu Ti pays his respects to Your Highness the Prince of Guangling; may Your Highness enjoy boundless happiness." Having mingled in the You Prince's mansion for so long, he had seen it all.

Bai Liheng called out, Zhu Ti lifted his head, and several gasps sounded in the room, making Bai Liheng glare angrily at them, thinking, "Can't we avoid losing face!"

He glanced at himself, his composure quite calm, while his maternal uncle remained seated below.

"Was it the You Prince who sent you? What business does Your Highness have in seeking an audience?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, I am the chief steward of the Youzhou Shengping Trading Firm, indeed sent by His Highness the You Prince. Your Highness has obtained a treasure; hearing that the Prince of Guangling has been enfeoffed and his wedding is imminent, I have been specially dispatched to present a congratulatory gift before the snows block the roads."

Bai Liheng remained skeptical: "Did Old Three send you just to deliver a gift? First state your true purpose." In Old Three's mouth, the treasure… was quite a lot.

Zhu Ti dropped the pleasantries: "Youzhou is suffering a severe drought this year, likely worse than last year's; Your Highness intends to open a shop in Chang'an to sell Youzhou specialties, exchange them for grain, and bring it back to relieve the emergency, hoping that the Prince of Guangling can lend our lord a hand."

Bai Liheng: …I already knew.

"How does Old Three want Your Highness to help?"

"Just a small matter. I hope Your Highness can help us find a street-facing shop in Dongfang Market that we can purchase with our money."

"Is that really all?" he thought, bewildered by the lack of trust.

"Indeed so. Your Highness said that, upon coming to Chang'an, we ought by rights to greet the Prince of Guangling." In reality, the distant You Prince in the dragon‑crouching, tiger‑hidden Chang'an might not be very useful; to ensure the business runs smoothly, we still need someone to back us up. The king has picked his second older brother for that; once Old Two departs for his fief, this firm should also find its footing.

"No problem, I'll have Jin Fengxian find one for you. By the way, what specialties does Youzhou have to sell?" hearing this, the king felt completely defenseless.

"Coal, honeycomb coal, and some side dishes."

None of those present had ever heard of them.

"What is coal?"

"Honeycomb coal? Honeycomb?"

"What kind of side dish is that?"

Zhu Ti had the attendants lift the gift for Bai Liheng upstairs.

A huge wooden crate, plus a small tray holding a row of small jars with white backgrounds and blue lettering.

As the carriers lifted the items, a clatter of hammering echoed amid the curious gazes of the room, and from inside they pulled out a 1.2‑meter‑tall standing vase; everyone in the room sucked in another breath.

Even the nobles had never seen porcelain of that color.

A standing vase with a white base, gold‑flower intertwined lotus pattern; Bai Yang had purchased it online from the Porcelain Capital.

"Such a large… vase?"

"Is this white porcelain? Do you still make pottery in Youzhou?"

"Impossible—is this still the Youzhou I know?"

The most unbelievable thing was Liang Ben; from the moment Zhu Ti entered, he found it strange that Youzhou could produce such a peerless beauty—was this still the Youzhou he knew?

Shangguan Pass and Youzhou stood together on the front line, enduring wind and sand; it had never been a place of outstanding people and spiritual vitality. The Dongdu Marquis garrisoned Shangguan Pass; only his eldest son went with him, while the rest of the family remained in Chang'an, unable to accustom themselves to frontier life.

Zhu Ti explained to Bai Liheng: "This is a house‑protecting standing vase, symbolizing peace and safety; Your Highness had it fetched from overseas to present to Your Highness as a wedding gift. However, the porcelain must be handled carefully to avoid bumps; after Your Highness admires it, have them re‑wrap it exactly as before. These small jars contain the side dish, a Youzhou specialty that stimulates the appetite when poor and enhances it when strong. This is the freshest batch prepared just before departure; our lord ordered that, upon arriving in Chang'an, it be delivered first to the Prince of Guangling for a taste."

Bai Liheng loved hearing this: "What delicacy is worth his sending all the way from Youzhou? Besides, it also shows Old Three still keeps me, his elder brother, in mind."

This great vase truly hit Bai Liheng's heart—no wonder its original name is 'Vase of Abundant Wealth filling the Hall'.

He, delighted, ordered an attendant to take Zhu Ti directly to find Jin Fengxian; after the person left, he immediately instructed the attendants to set out a meal and sample the You Prince's side dish.

Li Chang could not believe it: "You really ate it? This was sent by the … family."

Baili Heng inexplicably believed the little fatty, "Something so openly delivered couldn't possibly be poisonous? Baili Jing isn't the boss, he's jumpy at every shadow."