Returning to the Palace, Not Returning to the Palace

Chapter 18: To Return to the Palace, or Not?

Ning Chen thought about it. If he returned to the palace now, he'd probably be in for a beating. Grandson was still fuming, so wouldn't going back be asking for trouble?

Suddenly, Ning Chen remembered something Li'er had told him a couple of days ago. His eyes darted around, then he walked up to Qing Ling and whispered, "Sister Qing Ling, I need to tell you something."

Qing Ling frowned. "Speak."

Ning Chen leaned close to Qing Ling's ear. He inhaled the orchid-like fragrance emanating from her, cleared his mind of all the jumbled thoughts, and then seriously said a few words.

"Is that true?" Qing Ling's expression turned serious as she asked.

"One hundred percent," Ning Chen affirmed with a nod.

"Alright, I'll go back and report first. As for your request, I can't make that decision; it depends on Her Ladyship's wishes."

Given the gravity of the matter, Qing Ling hurried back to the palace. After a couple of steps, she stopped, looked at Ning Chen, and warned, "Stay here. Don't even think about running."

"Absolutely, absolutely," Ning Chen quickly nodded, feigning obedience. But in his heart, he wondered if he should just make a run for it. Waiting for Grandson's decree seemed far too unreliable.

Qing Ling left, and Ning Chen pulled the now-stunned Li'er towards the back hall.

"What kind of person are you, really?" Li'er pulled her hand free from Ning Chen's grasp, stepped back two paces, and asked with red eyes.

"Quiet down," Ning Chen said cautiously, looking left and right.

"Don't take me for a fool. That girl clearly isn't an ordinary person, and you two keep mentioning 'Her Ladyship.' Don't tell me that's just a name." As she spoke, tears streamed down Li'er's face, unstoppable.

Ning Chen was at a loss. He couldn't just watch the little girl cry in the street; that would be too much. Helpless, he could only roughly explain how he had entered and left the palace.

Of course, he concealed the matters concerning the fake eunuch and Mu Chengxue, subtly "embellishing" his palace entry. As for running away, he certainly couldn't mention that. He framed his escape as being ordered to leave the palace, only he messed up and didn't dare to return.

It wasn't that he intentionally hid things, but these matters involved more than just himself. If the truth came out, no one with knowledge of it would come to a good end.

"Then why did she go back by herself just now?" Li'er, engrossed in the story, forgot she was still angry and asked, sobbing.

Ning Chen patted the little girl's head and said softly, "Didn't you tell me two days ago that the Zhenji Kingdom envoy posed a difficult problem to Great Xia? I offered to exchange the answer for the grace of leaving the palace."

By the end, Ning Chen felt a bit down. The feeling of not being in control of one's own destiny was hard to accept, yet that was his reality. He was currently far from being able to control his own future.

"You really solved the Zhenji Kingdom envoy's problem?"

Li'er didn't pick up on the helplessness in Ning Chen's words, but she was very surprised by the answer. In her opinion, the problem posed by the Zhenji Kingdom envoy was simply impossible to solve.

Ning Chen composed himself, smiled faintly, and replied, "There are no perfect people or things in this world. Anything seemingly flawless is a trick waiting to be exposed. The Zhenji Kingdom envoy's problem appears to have no solution, but in reality, it's full of flaws, something anyone can do."

"I can't do it," Li'er pouted, unwilling to admit defeat.

"That's because you're silly," Ning Chen teased with a laugh.

The Zhenji Kingdom envoy arrived in Great Xia, and after nearly half a month of negotiations, stated their purpose: to seek a Great Xia princess for the Zhenji Kingdom's ruler.

This wasn't originally a major issue. There were many imperial clan women of marriageable age, and usually, the Xia Emperor only needed to confer a princess title and marry her off. However, the Zhenji Kingdom envoy demanded that the bride must be a direct princess of the Xia Emperor, which was no longer a minor matter.

The Xia Emperor had many children, but only one princess was truly available for marriage: the Ninth Princess, Xia Xinyu. After the Imperial Noble Consort gave birth to the Ninth Princess, she unfortunately passed away, leaving a young son and daughter orphaned. Grandson, out of compassion, personally raised them, treating them as his own.

Xia Xinyu had just turned sixteen this year. She inherited the Imperial Noble Consort's stunning beauty and had grown into a graceful young woman, truly the most brilliant pearl of Great Xia.

The Zhenji Kingdom envoy's demand enraged the Xia Emperor, but beneath his anger lay a hint of helplessness.

Currently, Great Xia faced severe external threats. The Ancient Mongol Royal Court to the north could launch an attack at any moment, and the Eternal Night Divine Cult to the west was always waiting for an opportunity to once again meddle in the Central Plains. Though Great Xia was strong, it could hardly bear the burden of fighting on three fronts.

What the Xia Emperor found even more intolerable was that while proposing the marriage, the Zhenji Kingdom envoy also suggested ceding the Bairuo Plains, which bordered the two nations, as a dowry for the princess.

Everyone knew that the Bairuo Plains was Great Xia's most important iron ore source. Forty percent of the iron used for Great Xia's soldiers' weapons and armor came from there. Once the Bairuo Plains was ceded, it would mean Great Xia was cutting off its own lifeline.

Naturally, the Xia Emperor would not agree and flatly refused.

Of course, the Zhenji Kingdom envoy wasn't so foolish as to think the Xia Emperor would agree to such an unreasonable demand; his true objective wasn't here.

After some bargaining, both sides conceded a step. The Zhenji Kingdom envoy proposed a wager of twenty thousand Akhal-Teke Horses and presented three challenges concerning courage, wisdom, and luck. If Great Xia lost, it wouldn't need to cede the Bairuo Plains, but it would have to give up three years of usage rights to the Bairuo Plains.

The Zhenji Kingdom envoy's tactic of advancing by retreating was well-timed. It seized upon Great Xia's reluctance to easily start a war and deliberately spread news of the wager throughout the land to pressure Great Xia. As long as they advanced and retreated appropriately, Great Xia would have to compromise.

As expected, the Xia Emperor agreed, adding one condition: if the Zhenji Kingdom lost the wager, the choice of the princess to be married off must be decided by Great Xia.

The Zhenji Kingdom envoy had no objection to this. Their goal was the Bairuo Plains; seeking a princess was merely an excuse to demand it.

The Xia Emperor also had his own considerations. The reason Great Xia was so wary of the Northern Mongol Royal Court was ninety percent due to the Northern Mongol Royal Court's cavalry. Although Great Xia was powerful, it had a fatal weakness.

Great Xia had no horses!

It wasn't that they lacked ordinary horses, but warhorses. The Northern Mongol Royal Court lived a nomadic life, with fierce customs, skilled in riding and archery. Their unique Akhal-Teke Horses were even rarer, with a very high warhorse production rate. Great Xia, however, lagged far behind in this aspect, with only one in ten warhorses suitable for battle, making their numbers extremely tight.

Twenty thousand warhorses were almost half of the Zhenji Kingdom's total stock, which would significantly alleviate Great Xia's warhorse shortage.

What the Xia Emperor didn't expect, however, was that Great Xia would lose in just the first round of the courage challenge.

It wasn't that Great Xia lacked loyal and courageous individuals, but the problem posed by the Zhenji Kingdom envoy was simply something an ordinary person couldn't do.

Retrieving a needle from boiling oil, and the person retrieving it had to be chosen by the other party.

This wasn't a matter of courage, because no one could pick up a hair-thin embroidery needle with a ruined hand.

Great Xia's officials had tried countless times, but it was simply impossible.

Great Xia had no shortage of clever people, and they had tried adding water, alcohol, and even vinegar to the oil, but ultimately failed.

The Zhenji Kingdom envoy had only given Great Xia three days, and tomorrow was the final deadline. So, after receiving Ning Chen's promise, Qing Ling hurriedly returned to the palace.

Inside Weiyang Palace, Grandson hadn't closed his eyes for two days and two nights, dealing with the Zhenji Kingdom's envoy. Seeing Qing Ling return, he wasn't even in the mood to ask about Ning Chen.

This was the first time Qing Ling had seen Grandson since leaving the palace five days ago. Upon seeing Grandson's haggard appearance, she felt a pang of sympathy. Knowing what was troubling Grandson, she stepped forward and subtly relayed Ning Chen's words.

"Bang!"

After hearing what was said, Grandson slammed the table, anger flashing in his eyes. He sternly said, "At a time like this, he's still trying to negotiate terms with me? Go bring him back. If he resists, knock him out and drag him back!"

"Yes."

Qing Ling responded, not daring to delay, and immediately set off towards Lingyan Pavilion.

Meanwhile, at Lingyan Pavilion, Yue Hanyi went directly to the back hall after returning and found Ning Chen, explaining that she was there for the Soap making method.

Ning Chen looked at Li'er beside him, surprised, yet his heart was filled with complicated, inexpressible emotions.

"I won't tell you," Ning Chen refused without hesitation, leaving no room for discussion.

"One-tenth of the profits will belong to you, Young Master," Yue Hanyi promised earnestly.

Ning Chen remained unmoved, silent.

"Two-tenths."

"Three-tenths."

Seeing Ning Chen still unresponsive, Yue Hanyi frowned and said in a deep voice, "Four-tenths. Impossible to go any higher."

Ning Chen let out a cold laugh and said, word for word, "My answer remains the same. I won't tell you!"

Yue Hanyi's eyes narrowed slightly, then she smiled with relief and said softly, "Since Young Master is unwilling, this humble one cannot force you."

Beside them, Li'er was secretly anxious. She couldn't understand why Ning Chen was so stubborn. She secretly tugged at Yue Hanyi's sleeve, her eyes full of pleading.

Yue Hanyi sighed and said, "I know Young Master has quite a few opinions about Hanyi. If this humble one isn't mistaken, Young Master likely believes that Lingyan Pavilion restricts these women's freedom, which is why your attitude towards Hanyi changed so drastically."

"But does Young Master know how many pleasure houses there are in the Imperial City, and how many women are indentured servants? Compared to that, here in Lingyan Pavilion, they at least have the choice of whether or not to sell their bodies."

At this point, Yue Hanyi glanced at Li'er, a flash of tenderness crossing her beautiful face, and continued, "Someone like Li'er, who was sold into a pleasure house from a young age, with no one to rely on—where else could she go if she left Lingyan Pavilion?"

Li'er's eyes were red. She walked up to Ning Chen, tugged at his arm, and apologized timidly, "I'm sorry, I just wanted you to reconcile with Sister Yi, so I gave her the Soap."

"Be good, Li'er, I'm not angry."

Ning Chen raised a hand to ruffle the little girl's hair, then looked up at Yue Hanyi and said, "I can give you the method for making Soap, and it's not the one you learned from Li'er, but the true method. However, I have one condition."

Hearing this, both Yue Hanyi and Li'er were startled. Especially Yue Hanyi, who had much more experience than Li'er and naturally knew the great value of that Soap. Now, it seemed Ning Chen still had something reserved.

"There's no need to be surprised. I only made that piece of Soap to cheer Li'er up. It's fine for fun, but if you want to produce it in large quantities, there will be many unresolved problems."

After speaking, Ning Chen explained the true method of making Soap again, including how to burn stones to produce quicklime, then slaked lime, and then refine it into caustic soda. Finally, Soap is made from caustic soda and lard. After his explanation, Yue Hanyi and Li'er were confused, understanding some parts but not others.

Seeing this, Ning Chen asked for paper and a brush, wrote down the detailed production process, added diagrams where necessary, and then handed it to Yue Hanyi.

After reading for a long time, Yue Hanyi finally understood the general intricacies and couldn't help but exclaim, "Young Master is truly extraordinary!"

"Just a false reputation."

"Young Master is too modest."

"You're welcome."

Though his words were humble, Ning Chen's head was practically in the clouds, as if to say, Praise me, keep praising me!

Yue Hanyi found it amusing. He was still just a young man; after his stubbornness, he became somewhat endearingly foolish.

"Ning Chen, come, return to the palace with me."

Just then, a cool, graceful figure approached. In just a few steps, she was before them, grasped Ning Chen's shoulder, and soared away...

Sogou Novel's fast first release of the latest chapter of "First-Rank Blade-Wielding Eunuch," this chapter is Chapter 18: "Return to the Palace, or Not?", address: // If you feel this chapter is good, please don't forget to recommend it to your friends in QQ groups and Weibo!