Qi Chengming slept very poorly that night.
When the morning swaying sensation accompanied by the aroma of food drifted through the window, his mind was chaotically cycling through “soap,” “alcohol,” “glass,” “white paper,” “mining,” “salt production”… Various technologies and details swirled around, with his high school chemistry teacher’s stern face opening and closing its mouth before him, leaving him utterly exhausted from sleep.
Slowly, the carriage came to a stop.
Qi Chengming’s dry eyelids fluttered, and he suddenly woke up instead.
“Xiao Dezi, what time is it?” He wearily straightened up and called out loudly.
The curtain was lifted as Xiao Chengzi peeked in, allowing the outside light to spill into the carriage: “Your Highness, we’ve already passed Yichuan.”
He reported dutifully, counting on his fingers:
“Steward Song had the convoy stop for two hours to make purchases. The kitchen staff went to replenish fresh meat and vegetables. Several Jianghu craftsmen were also issued permits and silver according to Your Highness’s instructions. Bi Shu Jiejie mentioned we need to buy more shoe pads and medicinal ointments since many couldn’t endure yesterday’s walking. Xiao Dezi bought everyone fresh breakfast treats. Mao Tongling is organizing his subordinates to take turns resting, while the remaining people are eating in shifts…”
Qi Chengming shielded his eyes with his palm, blocking the glaring light outside as he bent forward to the carriage frame to survey the surroundings.
The faint outline of a town could still be seen in the distance, left behind by the convoy—that should be Yichuan. Now the entire entourage was stationed near the Ten-Mile Pavilion in Yichuan’s outskirts. Along the main road here were tea stalls, resting travelers, other merchant groups, and elegant carriages of official families. Everyone bustled about, stopping near the main road without disturbing each other, creating a lively scene.
Qi Chengming’s convoy was the largest, with carriages adorned with the Five-Claw Dragon Pattern and Imperial Guards stationed every few steps, making them appear unapproachable. Therefore, no one dared to strike up conversations, maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. Only the occasional slurping sounds could be heard from within the convoy.
Qi Chengming noticed everyone was eating nothing extravagant—just a bowl of steaming dough slice soup paired with a fragrant Hubing.
He felt tempted.
Xiao Chengzi had already cleverly picked up the meal tray: “Your Highness, where would you like to eat?”
“No need to hold it for me, go eat yourself.” Qi Chengming looked around and saw Grandmaster Huang was closest to him. The other was still young, so emaciated he appeared almost skeletal, lacking any convincing “grandmaster” aura, currently sitting cross-legged on the ground without decorum, devouring his pancake.
When Qi Chengming approached, the other didn’t even lift an eyelid. Qi Chengming imitated his posture and sat beside him, reaching for his own dough slice soup before grabbing a Hubing to blow on it and take a bite. Mumbling through his food, he made casual conversation:
“Mr. Huang, do you usually know how much these Hubing sell for?”
Admittedly, these rustic commoner foods full of earthly charm were quite delicious. The fermented flatbread contained a bit of salt and clarified butter, baked into a crispy pastry that was thin in the center and thick around the edges—crunchy outside and soft inside.
But Qi Chengming had been on edge since waking up, the curse of running out of silver constantly hovering in his mind, making him anxious to understand the specific prices outside the palace as quickly as possible.
Grandmaster Huang said indifferently, “Hubing costs two coins each, and dough drop soup one coin per bowl.”
Qi Chengming glanced around, quickly doing the math in his head: “…”
Calculating for a convoy of two hundred people, these pancakes were quite affordable—each larger than his palm by two finger-widths and satisfyingly thick. The dough drop soup wasn’t just watery broth either, filled with hearty dough strips. Even if a hundred Imperial Guards ate three pancakes and one bowl of soup each at most, and the other hundred had one pancake and one bowl each… this entire breakfast would only cost about one tael of silver?
Qi Chengming was momentarily stunned.
Noting his reaction, Grandmaster Huang added, “Food is cheap, but lumber will be more expensive. Ordinary Fraxinus mandshurica or Zelkova wood costs five hundred coins for three logs—this is already material affordable for moderately wealthy families. When Your Highness plans to construct your princely estate… what are your considerations?”
What specifications? What type of timber?
Still gauging the situation, Qi Chengming avoided giving a definite answer and instead pressed further: “Roughly how much silver would a normal princely estate construction project require?”
Grandmaster Huang fell into an inexplicable silence, appearing somewhat displeased. After a long pause, he finally drawled, “I haven’t participated in such projects, but based on specifications and materials… at least two hundred thousand taels of silver, with a hundred craftsmen working simultaneously.”
He glanced meaningfully at the convoy behind them.
Qi Chengming choked.
…Two hundred thousand taels? My apologies!!
Forget that he didn’t have two hundred thousand taels—even if he did, wouldn’t that money be better spent elsewhere? Spending it all on constructing a lavish estate would be far too wasteful and extravagant!
Unable to make any promises to Grandmaster Huang, the princely estate architect—since he couldn’t even produce ten thousand taels—Qi Chengming could only feign composure and change the subject:
“I think Fraxinus mandshurica wood is quite good… By the way, my grandfather mentioned you’re from a nearby town, Master Huang?”
Just then, Xiao Chengzi brought over a small table and placed it before Qi Chengming. On it were two small dishes of meat sauce and pickled vegetables sent by Wang Shuo, intended to help His Highness enjoy the hubing with better accompaniments.
Grandmaster Huang, holding a hubing, glanced over and found his gaze lingering on the dishes, clearly tempted: “…”
“Come, join me with an extra pair of chopsticks,” Qi Chengming perceptively invited Grandmaster Huang warmly to share the side dishes.
The young man didn’t stand on ceremony and helped himself freely. With his mouth thus sweetened, Grandmaster Huang’s tone softened considerably:
“I was born in Ruzhou, where I made a living gathering firewood and hunting since childhood. My interest in architecture grew gradually through observation…”
“Isn’t Ruzhou our next destination? If it’s nearby, Master Huang could visit your hometown and see your old neighbors.” Qi Chengming was clearly testing the waters to win over Grandmaster Huang.
This eccentric master was determined to leave after gaining experience in Liuzhou, but Qi Chengming eagerly wanted to add him to his Talent Roster.
Just imagine—Grandmaster Huang, long isolated and unappreciated, returning to his hometown as an honored guest of a royal prince. How would the neighbors view him then?
Nothing tempts a person more than the prospect of returning home in glory.
Since Grandmaster Huang had few attachments at home, could he truly resist such honor and recognition?
“…” Grandmaster Huang indeed fell into hesitant silence, visibly struggling with inner conflict, his expression tinged with resentment.
Qi Chengming’s interest was immediately piqued.
He wasn’t afraid of trouble—what worried him was Grandmaster Huang being as unapproachable as a hedgehog. Now it seemed—they would have to make a stop at Grandmaster Huang’s hometown when passing through Ruzhou!
Master Huang, if you have any grievances, tell me! This prince will see justice done for you!!
“Very well.”
Grandmaster Huang finally agreed heavily, reporting an unfamiliar place name.
Fortunately, Grandmaster Huang’s hometown didn’t require any detour and lay roughly along the route to Liuzhou. Qi Chengming immediately sent Xiao Chengzi to inform Mao Dalingtong, making slight adjustments to their direction.
Their next destination was Yiyang, nearly eighty li from Yichuan!
According to estimates, they would arrive at Grandmaster Huang’s hometown on the morning of the third day.
…
However, on the second night, Qi Chengming, sleeping in the carriage, was suddenly awakened by a silent tap.
It was Xiao Song Zongguan, his dark eyes gleaming sharply in the night as he whispered:
“Your Highness, wake up… something’s happened outside.”
A snow-white glint flashed across Qi Chengming’s eyes—it was the long blade Xiao Song Zongguan held protectively before him.
“…?” Qi Chengming snapped fully awake in an instant.
Author’s Note:
Qi Chengming (expectantly): Master Huang, a man I haven’t obtained yet!
Xiao Song Zongguan: Hmph.
Wang Shuo far away in Jingcheng: Hmph.
A certain minister about to appear: …Hmph!
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