Chapter 52: Attending the Wedding

Chapter 52: Attending the Wedding

Seeing Qian Lai’s curious expression.

Xiao Ce smiled and asked, “Manager Qian, are you curious about what grand gift This Prince has prepared?”

Qian Lai nodded. Seeing there was no one around and Xiao Ce had referred to himself as “This Prince,”

he changed his way of speaking and said, “Prince, this lowly one is indeed curious. However, if Your Highness wishes to tell me, you will surely tell me. If it’s inconvenient, I will know soon enough anyway.”

Xiao Ce laughed heartily. As expected, it was the Family Head of the Qian Clan who sent this old fellow here, and he was very well-versed in social niceties.

“You are right. The main reason I’m not telling you is because I’m afraid it might scare you.”

Qian Lai forced a smile twice and said, “Then, Prince, you’d better not tell me!”

As they were talking, the carriage soon arrived at the center of Lingxiao City.

There was actually a city within the city here in Lingxiao City.

It was practically a small Imperial Palace.

Xiao Ce leaned against the carriage window to look outside.

This small palace was truly impressive.

“This Bao An really knows how to enjoy himself!”

A flash of severity passed through Xiao Ce’s eyes.

Qian Lai said, “Reporting to the Prince, this Temporary Palace was built for Bao An with funds jointly provided by the Four Great Clans. They say it cost over three million taels of Silver!”

Although Xiao Ce had some mental preparation, he was still somewhat shocked after hearing this.

“So that’s what it is. Everyone says the Four Northern Desert Prefectures are poor, they’ve been completely drained dry by these parasites!”

Qian Lai nodded and said, “Prince, centuries ago, the Four Northern Desert Prefectures were an extremely prosperous land… On one hand, it’s due to the exploitation by the Noble Clans here; on the other hand, it’s because of repeated plundering by the Turks. The most fundamental reason is the persecution of a large number of the original inhabitants.”

Nie Bing had already told Xiao Ce about these things.

Xiao Ce continued with a grim expression, “Exactly. The Four Northern Desert Prefectures are treated like their personal fiefdoms by the Four Great Clans. They are practically the princes of this region, treating the common people as Bondservants, becoming giant leeches sucking them dry. If it weren’t for these scoundrels, how could the Four Northern Desert Prefectures have come to this!”

Qian Lai looked at Xiao Ce with some surprise, “Prince, you even know about that? Their practice of keeping Bondservants and Manor Guards is considered a secret!”

Xiao Ce gave a helpless smile, “They have raised over two hundred thousand Bondservants in total. Although these people are not officially registered, it’s not hard to find out!”

Qian Lai nodded and said, “Indeed. However, Prince, this lowly one must be bold enough to remind you of something.”

Seeing Qian Lai’s serious expression, Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Speak frankly. This Prince is not the kind of person who cannot listen to advice!”

Qian Lai nodded and cupped his hands, “Prince, if you wish to deal with Bao An, that’s manageable. But you must not rush to confront those local Noble Clans. They have deep roots here, especially since those Bondservants have been raised and brainwashed by them since childhood…”

Xiao Ce nodded and said, “I already know that. Don’t worry. This Prince already has a plan.”

Seeing Xiao Ce’s confident look, Qian Lai nodded and said, “Prince, if everything is under control, then this lowly one spoke out of turn.”

Xiao Ce smiled and cupped his hands in return, “It’s fine. If This Prince was unaware, your reminder would have been very useful! This Prince still thanks you.”

Qian Lai wore an expression of being overwhelmed by favor and fear.

“This lowly one does not deserve it.”

As he spoke, the carriage had already approached the gate of the city within the city.

Qian Lai stepped down from the Carriage.

He took out the invitation and handed it to the guard at the door.

The guard looked at it, then glanced at Xiao Ce inside the carriage, and asked him to get down.

Xiao Ce naturally complied.

However, he saw the guards heading towards the carriage behind them carrying the gifts, seemingly wanting to inspect it.

He hadn’t expected they would check again. He instinctively glanced at Da Lei, who gave him a slight nod.

It was a signal for him not to worry.

Meanwhile, Qian Lai had already stepped forward and slipped a bag of silver into the hand of the guard in charge!

“Mister Guard, what we have here is Tianshan Snow Salt and Frost Sugar. They should not be exposed to the air for too long… So, please be quick, honorable guard, to avoid affecting the taste of these snow salt and frost sugar.”

Money makes the world go round, and this holds true in any era.

After accepting the money, the guard in charge still opened every crate.

Seeing the guards open all the crates, Qian Lai’s face turned pale with fright.

Fortunately, they found nothing.

After opening them, inside were indeed the pure white snow salt and frost sugar, so they were allowed to pass.

Soon, Xiao Ce noticed a line of carriages following behind them.

And judging by these carriages, the occupants were all either wealthy or noble.

Once inside the city within the city,

the roads were all paved with blue stone slabs, and the buildings inside were no less grand than the palaces in the Capital.

“This is truly a good place. It wouldn’t be bad as This Prince’s Temporary Palace. It could also save me a lot of trouble,” Xiao Ce murmured to himself while looking around.

Qian Lai wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked, “Prince, where did you hide the grand gift you prepared for Grand General Bao An?”

“I don’t know either.”

As he said this, Xiao Ce looked inquiringly at Da Lei, who sat silently to the side.

Da Lei said to Xiao Ce, “Prince, it’s hidden in that Fine Salt.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re really creative, kid! But what a waste of that Fine Salt.”

After saying this, seeing Qian Lai’s curious expression,

and thinking of how nervous Qian Lai had looked earlier, Xiao Ce decided it was for his own good not to say anything for now.

The Carriage soon arrived outside a palace.

At the palace entrance, carriages were parked neatly outside.

Several attendants dressed in identical red wedding robes came forward to help carry the gifts sent by each family.

As soon as their Carriage stopped, a few attendants in red wedding robes came up to lift the gifts.

“Sirs, according to the Grand General’s rules, for the gifts here, unless there are particularly valuable ones, we will purchase them all uniformly. Then you will receive a gift list. You can hand that list to the Steward to enter the venue.”

“If there are especially valuable items inside, we can help you carry them in, and you can present them personally later.”

Xiao Ce heard this and asked curiously, “Then how much counts as valuable?”

The leading attendant in red wedding robes cupped his hands and said, “Sir, our Steward said that a single gift worth more than fifty thousand taels of Silver can be presented personally.”

Xiao Ce nodded, thinking to himself that this suited his plan perfectly.

However, this Bao An was truly greedy. Only gifts worth over a hundred thousand taels of Silver could be personally presented; otherwise, they were all whisked away into his treasury.

Xiao Ce patted the two crates behind him and said, “This is what the Qian Clan Trading House has prepared. One crate is Tianshan Snow Salt, and the other is Tianshan Snow Frost Sugar. Each crate is fifty catties. At the market price of two thousand taels per catty, one crate is worth a hundred thousand taels. Two crates total two hundred thousand taels. Can we personally present them to General Bao?”

The leading attendant in red wedding robes listened to Xiao Ce, and his eyes lit up.

They were not ordinary attendants; they were attendants from the General’s residence.

They were quite worldly.

“Of course, of course… Sirs, please come this way!”

As he said this, the leading attendant gave a meaningful look to an attendant beside him and said, “Go and report this to Steward Diao.”

The attendant beside him bowed, nodded, and hurriedly walked to one side.

The leading attendant in red wedding robes led Xiao Ce and Qian Lai into the venue.

Inside the venue, just as Manager Qian Lai had said, it was divided into inside the hall and outside the hall.

They, considered unimportant people, were seated at the outermost area outside the hall.

Even the attendant leading the way seemed somewhat embarrassed.

“Sir, your seats are arranged here.”

Xiao Ce looked. Their seats were practically right at the entrance, with a large tree beside them blocking part of his view.

The tables here were double-person long tables. Since it was still the separate dining system in the Great Xiao Kingdom, meaning everyone ate from their own dishes.

Although the seats were too remote,

he didn’t mind.

Because, with his heavy gifts, it was only a matter of time before he was invited inside.

Xiao Ce wore an indifferent expression and sat down in the seat, saying to the men carrying the two crates, “Place my gifts here.”

The attendant in the red wedding robe smiled and nodded repeatedly.

After Xiao Ce sat down, Manager Qian Lai said somewhat awkwardly, “Young Master, it’s because we reported that a manager was coming earlier. That’s why they placed us in this position.”

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, “Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter where we sit… I was actually worried. If I sat too close to Bao An, it would be bad if he recognized me immediately.”

Only then did Manager Qian Lai snap out of it, looking nervous as he said, “Young Master, General Bao knows you?”

Xiao Ce nodded slightly and whispered, “Naturally. This Prince was formerly the Crown Prince. And Bao An previously held a post in the Capital and has seen me many times, so of course he knows me.”

Manager Qian Lai grew even more anxious, “Then if your identity is known to him… wouldn’t that be…”

Before Qian Lai could finish, Xiao Ce smiled and said, “Manager Qian Lai, do you really think I came today just for the feast? My purpose in coming is precisely to let the entire Four Northern Desert Prefectures know that This Prince has arrived!”

After saying this, a flash of severity appeared in Xiao Ce’s eyes.

Looking at Xiao Ce’s expression, Qian Lai couldn’t help but shudder.

…

Nearby, a man who looked like a Steward, busy receiving distinguished guests at the entrance, listened as an attendant in a red wedding robe whispered something to him.

His eyes couldn’t help but light up slightly.

“You said people from the Qian Clan Trading House sent fifty catties of Frost Sugar and Snow Salt? Are you sure?”

The attendant in the red wedding robe nodded and said, “Reporting to Steward Diao, this lowly one went and asked. There are indeed two crates of white substances, but whether they are actually those things, they haven’t seen them. However, even if you gave them hundreds of guts, they wouldn’t dare lie at the General’s wedding banquet.”

Steward Diao listened and nodded, “Good. Have they been seated already?”

The attendant in the red wedding robe nodded, “Yes, they have. Over there.”

The attendant could see Xiao Ce sitting not far from the entrance.

“So young? Is he the new manager of the Qian Clan Trading House?” Steward Diao spotted Xiao Ce at a glance.

Xiao Ce was sitting there with a calm and composed look. One glance and you could tell this person was not ordinary.

The attendant in the red wedding robe shook his head and said, “No, I heard from Manager Qian Lai behind that young man that he is the eldest Young Master of the Qian Clan Trading House.”

Steward Diao nodded upon hearing this. After a moment of thought, he told the people beside him to continue receiving guests.

He hurriedly trotted quickly towards the inside of the hall.