The Hostage Girl - Chapter 69-2
Chapter 69-Part 2
Actually, speaking of it, Feng Liwu felt that Young Master Jiang was most adept at weaving elaborate arguments.
This lengthy persuasion began with criticizing tyrants for punishing subordinates over minor food issues and ended with her expressing concern that his future meals might affect his health.
At first, it seemed reasonable enough, but in the end, it turned into outright flattery—slick and slippery, far from the righteous remonstrations of a truly loyal minister!
Still, with her meddling, the storm brewing in the Crown Prince’s heart dissipated before it could gather into clouds.
However, his expression remained stern as he said solemnly, “I merely asked how it was cooked. When did I ever say I wanted to kill anyone?”
After saying this, he ordered someone to relay his message outside, instructing the cook to be untied, and claimed that it was Concubine Yao’s plea on their behalf that saved them.
The Crown Prince then ordered fresh bowls and chopsticks to be brought in.
After the maidservant served his meal, he ate silently.
Outside the grand tent, the cook had indeed escaped disaster by the skin of his teeth.
As he wiped the cold sweat from his face, he couldn’t help but feel grateful to Concubine Yao.
He thought to himself: her brother is an approachable person, always coming to the kitchen to chat idly with them, the servants.
A few days ago, when his son fell severely ill, it was Young Master Jiang who went out of her way to get the manor’s physician to take a look.
It turns out that his sister is also someone kind-hearted, treating the servants with such benevolence.
When the ship set sail again, Jiang Xiurun stood quietly behind Feng Liwu, who was gazing at the water in silence.
She said nothing, merely standing there like she always did in her capacity as his aide.
The Crown Prince didn’t remain in a daze for long, though.
He removed his light silk cloak and draped it over her shoulders before pointing toward the distant reed marsh.
“This is the spot where a canal branch is to be dug, connecting directly to Han’s river mouth. If the Han agrees, the canal route will be shortened by half, saving both time and effort.”
Because of the need to purchase land, Jiang Xiurun had already memorized the river plans Feng Liwu had drafted.
However, the location he was pointing to now wasn’t where the canal was originally intended to be excavated.
Though it was only a slight deviation, it would make the route slightly more circuitous compared to the original plan.
While she was still trying to make sense of this, Feng Liwu had already gone into the cabin, summoned the cartographer, and instructed him to revise the river plan before preparing to have it delivered to the Han immediately.
The river plan wasn’t a classified state secret; it was eventually meant to be shown to the surrounding states.
Thus, Jiang Xiurun stood by and watched.
On the map, the revised canal route didn’t appear to differ much from the original.
In fact, with the cartographer’s thick brushstrokes, there was hardly any visible distinction.
Jiang Xiurun understood that the Han had already accepted the heavy bribe promised by Feng Liwu, who had also offered to cede many of the canal’s tax checkpoints to Han.
Moreover, the Han wasn’t required to contribute any labor to the canal excavation—truly an effortless means of generating wealth.
The Han ruler was notoriously greedy, a reputation known throughout the states.
Although some of his ministers had strongly opposed the project, they had failed to dissuade him.
The only reason Han hadn’t yet agreed was that the Han emperor wanted to extract even more profit from the deal.
As Jiang Xiurun stared at the map, her brow furrowed slightly, and a sudden realization dawned upon her… It seemed her earlier efforts had been in vain.
Although this region was rich and bountiful, it was no longer a place worth purchasing land in!
