Chapter 527: 614 Princess Huixian requests an audience

"Husband, after all, they are foreign envoys. As the saying goes, it’s better to have one more friend and one less enemy. The guest list for yesterday’s wedding included the name of the Wan Kingdom’s Princess. Wouldn’t such actions be a bit discourteous?"

Wu Xin’Er had styled her hair in a married woman’s bun and firmly embraced her role as the mistress of Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion. She wanted to have a voice in the back courtyard, so first she needed to grasp control of the family’s finances. Thus, she acquired the mansion’s ledger from Luo Zhen and learned about the mansion’s lands and businesses from Chun Lan. Naturally, she was well aware of the guest list from yesterday.

In a short amount of time, she memorized all the names on the list.

As the lady of the mansion, Wu Xin’Er also sincerely stood from Chen Mo’s perspective to think about issues and consider his position.

Although the Wan Kingdom is small, its population exceeds millions, which is no small power.

"Xin’Er, you’re not aware. After the decline of the Great Song, former sycophants have drifted away, clearly distancing themselves, with some even encroaching on the Great Song’s territory. Although the Wan Kingdom has not severed ties with the Great Song completely, it hasn’t paid tribute for several years. Plus, their attitude in asking me to meet the princess clearly aims for equality."

"Despite seeking favor, they maintain such high airs. I naturally must grind down their stance a bit," Chen Mo explained his intentions to Wu Xin’Er.

Chen Mo lay on a rocking chair, his large hands brushing against Wu Xin’Er’s elegant back as she sat beside him. She wore a long, ink-black dress, exuding grace and composure.

This was the aura belonging to children of great families. Despite Zhao Jiangning’s higher social status than Wu Xin’Er, her manner of conduct was far inferior.

"It was my miscalculation," Wu Xin’Er blushed slightly.

"No matter." Chen Mo glanced at Lianyi, who was massaging his legs, and casually asked, "Lianyi, does the tonic soup you mentioned really work?"

Lianyi looked up and replied, "This is a secret formula for augmenting yang and nourishing the kidneys, using hundred-year-old ginseng, ten-year oyster essence, and wolfberries..."

After speaking, Lianyi’s eyes flickered as she softly said, "Should I brew a bowl for you, Master?"

"No need, I don’t require it," Chen Mo cleared his throat, saying, "I was just asking casually."

Lianyi said no more, but with a slightly flushed face, withdrew and walked toward the kitchen.

Soon, Lianyi returned, carrying a food box, and walked over steadily.

"Master, you must be hungry. I’ve stewed some meat soup for you. Drink it while it’s hot," Lianyi carefully placed it beside Chen Mo.

Chen Mo stirred the soup with the spoon—this was no ordinary meat soup but filled with nourishing herbs and ingredients. He sipped a spoonful without revealing anything, and said, "Thoughtful of you."

...

After finishing the "meat soup," Chen Mo took a trip to the Armory.

Inside the armory, many Treasures, Heavy Armor, and Weapons had been confiscated...

Currently, the Imperial Guard numbers less than three hundred thousand, of which only about thirty thousand wear Heavy Armor, and Treasures are solely possessed by his Fire Qilin Army.

However, in the face of insufficient personnel, Chen Mo planned to arm an elite troop.

The number for this elite troop was set at fifty thousand, to be integrated into the Fire Qilin Army.

All members would be equipped with Treasures—both their Battle Armor and Weapons must be Treasures.

Chen Mo and Gao Zheng entered the armory, where siege weapons, Battle Armor, and Weaponry piled high, with several furnaces billowing smoke, and the clang of ironwork almost drowning out human voices.

Many of these devices were damaged, including some Treasures, requiring remelting and redesign. Completed ones would then be sorted and distributed to the army.

Yellow Tier and Profound Tier Treasures are easier to make if the materials are available, but above the Profound Tier, only an Artifact Refining Master can craft them, leading to scarcity and limited circulation.

These remelted ones were for crafting these two levels of Treasures for Chen Mo.

"Will the materials in the armory be enough to arm fifty thousand elite troops?" Chen Mo asked the armory’s head.

The head, surnamed Xing, had been obsequiously following and nodding back from the moment Chen Mo arrived. Hearing Chen Mo’s question, he immediately replied, "Reporting to Prince Zhen Nan, if it’s for forging Heavy Armor, it’s more than sufficient to arm fifty thousand, but for equipping everyone with Treasures, the materials are insufficient."

"How many can be produced?" Chen Mo asked.

"If crafting Profound Tier Basic Level, about twenty thousand sets; but if crafting Yellow Tier Advanced, no less than forty thousand," the surnamed Xing leader gritted his teeth, answered.

"Only twenty thousand..." Chen Mo slightly frowned. After circling the furnace several times, he said, "Let’s do this: craft ten thousand sets of Profound Tier Basic Treasures, and for the rest, make them Yellow Tier Advanced."

"Understood."

...

Leaving the armory, Chen Mo said to Gao Zheng, "I’ll be entering the palace shortly. You should draft a recruitment notice, print several hundred copies, and once the decree comes down, distribute them all," said Chen Mo.

Gao Zheng nodded, faintly excitedly inquired, "Sir, who are we fighting this time?"

"Fighting you," Chen Mo rolled his eyes.

Gao Zheng was startled but upon realizing Chen Mo was joking, chuckled sheepishly.

"No battles in the short term; the soldiers are exhausted. Recruiting is preparation, better safe than sorry," Chen Mo said.

"Oh," Gao Zheng nodded, though still somewhat confused.

...

Three days passed in a flash.

During these three days, the Wan Kingdom envoy never sought him out again.

Chen Mo had initially thought he had left them hanging long enough and would properly discuss when they sought him again.

But they never came.

"Are they going to wait it out with me?" Chen Mo laughed, unbothered by the delay.

No contact was also fine; he began tidying up, preparing for the trip down to Jiangnan.

He first refined the Heaven-Burning Furnace, which, though damaged, was still a Magical Artifact, its power far surpassing Celestial Tier Treasures.

Just then, they came.

And they brought the Princess of the Wan Kingdom with them.

...

Inside the living room, Princess Huixian twisted her hands together, visibly anxious, clearly bearing heavy thoughts.

The Han clan’s hopes in the Wan Kingdom rested solely on her shoulders.

She couldn’t forget her ailing father’s tearful grip on her hand before her departure, with endless admonitions.

With the Imperial Family declining and plagued by years of Ning clan oppressions, the court was in turmoil, and soon, there would be a regime change.

Recalling what Li Yuwen said to her, Princess Huixian pondered for days before setting foot in Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion.

While she was lost in thought, a young matron approached, saying:

"Princess, please follow me. The Master is in the study."

Princess Huixian nodded, following along. When Li Yuwen tried to follow behind, Chun Lan stopped him, saying, "My Master only meets with the Princess."

"Lord Li, wait here for me. I shall return soon, no need to worry," Princess Huixian took a deep breath and said.

However, from her tightly clenched fingers under her sleeves, it was clear she was still quite nervous.