The Frontier Prince: Starting From Scratch - Chapter 45 - Fine Liquor

“Are you serious?” Zhao Heng inquired.

Liang Cheng informed him that Prince Yan had recently taken control of Yan Prefecture and recruited twenty thousand personal guards.

“This was confirmed by one of Prince Yan’s servants,” Liang Cheng replied cautiously.

Zhao Heng felt a mix of surprise and doubt.

This was indeed unexpected.

“It’s true. The ice that’s been selling like hotcakes in Jinling recently comes from Prince Yan’s merchant house.”

“Oh? That’s interesting,” Zhao Heng nodded, continuing his walk, as if the matter was of no concern to him.

Liang Cheng was taken aback.

Did he misjudge the emperor’s thoughts?

Or perhaps the emperor had truly become so engrossed in indulgence that he had lost interest in state affairs?

Watching Zhao Heng’s retreating figure, he murmured, “Ninth prince, it’s not that I didn’t try, but you simply don’t catch the emperor’s eye.”

Shaking his head, he instructed a young eunuch to deliver the letter to Gui Ren Mi, then turned to leave.

As Zhao Heng made his way to the harem, he paused before a rockery.

He whispered to himself, “The Yuan Family in Yan Province, they’re like tigers and wolves! I can’t afford to acknowledge Prince Yan now, or the Yuan Family will see him as a thorn in their side, eager to eliminate him.”

Among the many princes, he truly didn’t pay much attention to this ninth son.

Yet, knowing Zhao Xu had established himself in Yan Prefecture, he felt a subtle sense of satisfaction.

After all, Zhao Xu was a prince, representing the Dasong Dynasty’s imperial family. His presence in Yan Province meant the imperial influence had penetrated deeper into the region.

He understood Liang Cheng’s implication, but he held little hope for Prince Yan to restrain the Yuan Family; they weren’t just any small regional magnates in Yan Prefecture.

The only thing he could do regarding this matter was to maintain his indifference towards Prince Yan, as it was the only way to ensure Prince Yan’s survival.

“Live or die, it depends on your own abilities,” Zhao Heng gazed northward.

To him, Prince Yan was like a willow he had unintentionally planted in Yan Province, now budding with fresh shoots.

If it flourished into a robust tree, it would extend his reach into Yan Province; if it withered, so be it.

…

Yan City.

Since the dismantling of the Huang Family and Du Family, the Prince’s Mansion had been bustling with guests almost daily.

Besides the regional magnates from various counties in Yan Prefecture visiting with gifts, merchants came in droves, eager to purchase the renowned liquor.

During Zhao Xu’s struggles with the magnates, the merchants never ceased their efforts.

They had already spread the Prince’s Mansion’s liquor to every corner of Yan Province.

The pure and delightful liquor from the Prince’s Mansion quickly overshadowed the locally famous brews, dominating the market.

This success attracted even more merchants to the mansion for procurement.

The influence of the Prince’s Mansion’s liquor in Yan Province dispelled any remaining doubts they had.

Some merchants even borrowed silver to buy the liquor, hoping to strike gold.

“That’s it for today, the liquor is all sold out.”

Standing at the entrance, Zhou Yi dispersed the merchants crowding the doorway.

“Oh dear, I’ve waited all day and still didn’t get any, it’s infuriating.”

“Same here, I’m not leaving tonight. I’ll sleep at the Prince’s Mansion entrance if I have to.”

“…”

The merchants’ enthusiasm remained undiminished despite not obtaining any liquor.

In these times, a guaranteed profitable venture was rare, and the Prince’s Mansion’s liquor was certainly one.

Rumor had it that a merchant exchanged a thousand jars of liquor for a thousand horses.

A thousand jars cost about fifteen thousand silver.

A horse could be sold for thirty silver, turning the deal into thirty thousand silver, netting a profit of fifteen thousand silver.

When this news spread, the merchants’ eyes turned red with envy, each plotting to sell the liquor further afield and make a fortune.

“Let’s go, everyone leave,” Zhou Yi said with a furrowed brow, raising his voice again.

Seeing that the merchants were reluctant to leave, he ignored them and closed the main gate of the central courtyard.

Entering the east courtyard through a side gate, he found Prince Yan in the pavilion, busy writing something, with Feng’er and Luan’er standing by and watching.

“Your Highness, we really need to build more stills. The demand from the merchants is overwhelming,” Zhou Yi suggested.

Zhao Xu paused his writing. “Don’t rush. Once we’ve sorted out the yard behind the Prince’s Mansion, we can expand the brewery. There are already fifty stills in there.”

These days, he had naturally noticed the popularity of the liquor.

Consequently, he had purchased a block of houses behind the Prince’s Mansion.

These houses were currently being transformed. In the future, besides the brewery, other products would also be produced there.

Zhou Yi nodded. “Your Highness, I will be leaving with Wang Yanzhong tomorrow. The affairs of the Prince’s Mansion…”

Zhou Yi was only temporarily in charge of the miscellaneous tasks at the mansion. His main task was to travel with Wang Yanzhong to various provinces to recruit people.

Moreover, he was not fond of these trivial matters.

Wang Yanzhong had told him that everything was ready, which had left him too excited to sleep last night.

Zhao Xu frowned. Liu Fu had taken over the government office and was now acting as the chief counselor, busy with his new responsibilities.

Zhou Yi also had his uses.

But with this, the mundane tasks of the Prince’s Mansion were left unattended.

The other servants, either clumsy or dull, were not to his liking.

“This should be easy to solve, Your Highness. Why not delegate the miscellaneous tasks of the mansion to the maids?” Feng’er suggested with a twirl of her eyes, volunteering boldly.

Zhao Xu had a realization. Feng’er’s assertive nature indeed made her well-suited for the job.

Moreover, she was close to him, which made her even more suitable and trustworthy for the most important matters.

“That’s true, how could I forget you?” Zhao Xu looked up at Feng’er. “In that case, you can start your duties now.”

Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders.

He left the scene in an instant.

“Come, Feng’er, let’s get this task done first,” Zhao Xu said, pointing to a piece of paper.

The liquor of the Prince’s Mansion had not yet been named.

It was alright when it was still unknown.

But now, as the hottest topic in Yan Prefecture, lacking a name would be a disgrace.

In this era, regardless of the quality of the product, packaging was crucial.

After all, whether in ancient times or modern days, those with wealth always cared about appearances.

Also, based on the reaction of the merchants.

He decided to price the distilled liquor at fifteen taels per jar, naming it “Far-Reaching Aroma.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Feng’er took the paper, delighted with her new responsibility.

She loved managing affairs and was overjoyed with her new role.

Luan’er felt a bit envious. She wished she could be as openly playful with Prince Yan as Feng’er.

However, her gentle nature made it difficult for her to let loose.

She was watching Feng’er when suddenly she felt a tickle in her ear.

It was Zhao Xu whispering to her.

Luan’er’s face instantly turned red with shyness.

Zhao Xu smiled and said, “Don’t be envious. I treat you and Feng’er equally.”

Since Zhao Xu had awakened, Luan’er had become accustomed to Prince Yan’s teasing.

She and Feng’er had often wondered why Prince Yan had become much more frivolous than he was three years ago.

But it remained a mystery.

Zhao Xu’s smile grew more mischievous.

Having been reborn, he made no effort to conceal his true masculine nature.

A life of power and beauty was truly worth living – why pretend to be Liu Xiahui¹ when in the company of two delicate beauties?

Just as he was about to continue teasing Luan’er, Feng’er suddenly rushed back, her expression one of alarm.

Approaching Zhao Xu, she handed him a letter of introduction. “Your Highness, it’s trouble. The Yuan Family has sent someone.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expression changed simultaneously.

Footnote:

1. Liu Xiahui(柳下惠):A legendary figure from ancient China, famed for his unwavering moral integrity and self-control, particularly in the face of temptation. His name is used metaphorically to describe someone who maintains strict moral conduct, especially regarding sexual propriety, even when presented with opportunities for transgression.