188: Chapter 0188 Unpleasant

(Chapter 184 has been slightly modified; returning readers may want to take a look, but it does not affect new readers.)

Mu Wanying's eyes shimmered with tears as she stepped forward and hugged Lin Xiao tightly, feeling that all her devotion had been worth it.

"My husband, the Golden Scale Guard and I will forever belong to you alone..."

The woman's voice was choked with emotion but firm.

Lin Xiao held her gently and smiled, saying, "Of course you belong to me, but the Golden Scale Guard is just a bunch of grown men, so I have no use for them."

Mu Wanying broke into a smile through her tears and cast a playful, reproachful glance at him; he was always joking.

Su Wansha wiped the corner of her eyes nearby, feeling both moved and emotional.

To tear up an imperial decree on the spot for a concubine—in all the world, only her own man would do such a thing, right?

Mu Wanying was a female general after all; she quickly composed herself and shyly released the man.

Only then did Su Wansha speak up: "My husband, I have already had Prefect Sun Zhao write the 'Hero Invitation' as you instructed."

"I plan to go see Princess Ningxiang now and use the Xie Family's channels to distribute the invitations to major restaurants and master brewers. Would you like to come with me?"

Lin Xiao then remembered that he had asked Su Wansha to prepare for the "World's Best Wine Party."

As the saying goes, even the finest wine needs to be promoted; to make Xinghua Village an overnight success, marketing had to be done as extensively as possible.

"I won't go. After all, things just became very unpleasant, and my presence would only make it awkward." Lin Xiao waved his hand.

"Unpleasant?"

Su Wansha frowned. "Could it be that Xie Juner angered you by using a fake identity?"

"Of course not. And it wasn't me who was angry, but the Xie Family..."

Lin Xiao then gave a rough summary of how he had sent Chang Youkui to thoroughly investigate corruption, which had implicated the Linyuan Marquis Mansion.

Over the past few days, Chang Youkui had uncovered the bribery records. Some were just officials spouting nonsense, but at least half were true.

According to the laws of the Great Gan, the nobility had a certain degree of immunity, so sentencing would be relatively light.

Yet even so, Marquis Xie Shang was still fined fifty thousand taels of silver to avoid imprisonment.

Fifty thousand taels was a mere drop in the bucket for the wealthiest family in Cang Province, the Xie Family, but the problem was—it was humiliating!

In the three hundred years of the Great Gan, let alone a Founding Marquis, even an ordinary Count or Baron had never been heard of having to pay a fine to admit guilt!

Xie Juner had paid the money on her father's behalf, and Marquis Xie Shang had been staying behind closed doors, refusing to see anyone!

People outside were whispering—with things so tense, what would become of the marriage between the princess and Lin Xiao?

If it were called off because of this, wouldn't that be deceiving the Emperor?

However, both parties involved remained silent.

Xie Juner was exceptionally dedicated to the Northern Trade Alliance's business in Yangquan, clearly wanting to prove her capabilities.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao was busy building roads and bridges, recruiting the Militia, and handling urban construction; he hadn't given the matter a second thought.

"Wansha, just act as if you know nothing. Keep business as business. If she doesn't bring it up, don't ask anything either," Lin Xiao instructed.

"Fining a Founding Marquis is truly unheard of, but... since my husband even tore up an imperial decree, it's not that surprising after all."

Su Wansha couldn't help but laugh and cry; it seemed that Ning Junzhu had been in a bad mood recently.

"Alright then, I'll go check on this 'Sister Ning.' Regardless of anything else, the promotion of Xinghua Village cannot be delayed!"

Su Wansha was also a woman of action; without delay, she turned and left.

She arrived at the Northern Cottage in Yangquan and asked the shopkeeper to notify Xie Juner.

After all, on the surface, she still did not know Xie Juner's true identity.

Half an hour later, a carriage arrived at the entrance of the Northern Cottage.

Xie Juner walked in quickly and greeted her warmly.

"Sister Su, you've finally come! Ever since Lin Xiao entered the city, I've been looking forward to your arrival!"

Xie Juner acted as if she had met a relative; she had been under a lot of pressure recently and had no sisters around to talk to.

"I'm sorry, Sister Ning. With the new opening of the Baiyu Pavilion in Wushan Commandery and the expansion of the Northern Trade Alliance, there was so much to do that I arrived late."

Su Wansha observed her carefully; Xie Juner really did look haggard.

"Sister Su, you've been working hard for Lin Xiao. Since you're here today, you must let me play the host!"

The two women affectionately linked arms, boarded the carriage, and traveled to a restaurant.

After entering the best private room, Su Wansha brought up the matter of hosting the "World's Best Wine Party."

Xie Juner was very surprised. "I have tasted Xinghua Village, and while it is good wine, to call it the 'World's Best' might be a bit of a stretch... Does Lin Xiao truly have such confidence?"

Su Wansha had come prepared; she took out a small wine gourd she had brought with her and opened the stopper.

Soon, a rich, fragrant aroma filled the private room!

Xie Juner took a whiff, and her bright eyes immediately filled with wonder!

"This is 'Xinghua Village'? That's not the wine I drank when I was at the Baiyu Pavilion!"

Su Wansha smiled and said, "It just shares the same name. What do you think of this wine, Sister?"

Xie Juner thought about it seriously. "If this wine were to participate in a tasting competition, it would indeed be hard to lose."

"Therefore, I must trouble you, Sister Ning, to use your connections to send out these Hero Invitations from Prefect Sun Zhao."

"Rest assured, Sister. If the 'Northern Liquor' can take off, the profits will be immeasurable. As allies, we will naturally do our best."

Xie Juner knew deep down that for the powerful and wealthy, wine was far more important than soap.

If this wine were brought to the market, it would likely fetch an astronomical price!

After finishing the business discussion, Xie Juner changed the subject:

"By the way, Lin Xiao has been rectifying the administration recently and had some unpleasantness with the Linyuan Marquis Mansion. You should be aware of this, right, Sister?"

Su Wansha smiled calmly. "The General mentioned a little."

"Then... what do you think, Sister?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Isn't Princess Ningxiang of the Marquis Mansion betrothed to Lin Xiao? It's only a little over a month until the end of the year..."

Xie Juner tested her with her gaze. "Do you think Lin Xiao will still marry the princess as the Emperor intended?"

Su Wansha suppressed a smile and forced a look of helplessness.

"As a woman, I dare not ask about the General's thoughts. Who the General marries is not for me to decide."

Xie Juner felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this; it seemed that even Su Wansha, who was closest to him, did not know Lin Xiao's intentions.

It appeared that although Su Wansha was the disciple of Zhu Ming, she did not have much say.

Just then, the sound of gongs, drums, and cheering came from outside.

Su Wansha looked and saw that some of the commoners of Yangquan were parading a divine statue, walking happily through the main street.

"It's so lively; is there a festival?" Su Wansha asked.

Xie Juner took a look and explained, "It is Goddess Houtu returning to her palace."

"Every spring, the local people invite Goddess Houtu to the Earth Temple outside the city to pray for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest."

"Before the Cold Clothing Festival, they will invite the statue back to the Houtu Palace at Xishan Temple."

"Tomorrow will be even livelier at Xishan Temple; even if heavy snow blocks the mountain, the people will find a way to clear a path."

"Because it is said that the first day the Goddess returns to her palace is the most efficacious, and everyone will rush to offer incense."

"If a husband and wife go up together to pray for blessings, they can grow old together; if children pray, they can be free of illness and disaster."

Xie Juner said with a smile, "Sister Su, why don't you and Lin Xiao go up and pay respects to Goddess Houtu tomorrow?"

"The General and I?" Su Wansha's heart skipped a beat.