Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 65: The Twin Cities Open for Business, and the Adorable Baby Gets a Winning Number During His First Birthday Ceremony!

Three days later, Liu Chengming waited in vain at West Lake.

Qian Sihai sent someone to deliver a note with only one sentence: "My employer is unwell, we will talk another day."

"Something's wrong?" Liu Chengming sat in the private room of Wanghu Tower, holding the invitation and sneering, "Is it a physical ailment, or a mental one?"

"Young master, would you like me to...?"

The guard next to him made a "check" gesture.

"No need." Liu Chengming tossed the invitation into the brazier. "Since she's hiding, let's wait and see. I want to see what tricks this 'overseas widow' can pull in Hangzhou."

Before he could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the building.

Liu Chengming walked to the window.

In the direction of Qinghefang, a long queue had formed in front of Jinxiufang. Shop assistants dressed in uniform blue short shirts were loading boxes of goods onto carriages, each box bearing the large characters "Jinxiu" in vermilion lacquer.

"What is that?" Liu Chengming squinted.

The guard leaned forward and glanced over: "Young master, I heard that this is the first batch of goods that Jinxiufang is sending to Suzhou and Yangzhou. Today marks its one-month anniversary, and anyone who buys fifty taels will receive a 'Liuguangjin' handkerchief as a gift. The whole city is going crazy."

"Radiant Brocade?" Liu Chengming frowned. "What's that?"

"It's just..." the guard hesitated for a moment, "It's said to be a new material that appears plain in daylight but shimmers under lamplight. One bolt... costs a thousand taels."

"One thousand taels?!" Liu Chengming's pupils contracted.

He stared at the carts packed with boxes downstairs and suddenly realized that he might have underestimated the woman surnamed Ye.

---

At the same time, at Qihuang Garden.

Ye Huang is not sick at all.

She was holding Bao'er, listening to Mo Shisan report on the preparations for the Suzhou and Yangzhou branches.

"The Suzhou store is located on Guanqian Street. It's a three-story shop that's already been renovated. The manager, surnamed Zhou, was recommended by Qian Sihai. He was originally the manager of a family of Suzhou embroidery masters, but he had offended the local cloth merchants' guild and had been staying at home ever since."

"The Yangzhou store is located on Dongguan Street. It's a two-story building with a backyard, which can be used as a warehouse. The manager is the son of Mr. Shen's former subordinate. His surname is Lu. He's educated, knows accounting, and is also quick-witted."

As Mo Shisan spoke, he unfolded a map.

Three circles were drawn on the top with a vermilion pen: Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Yangzhou, which together form a triangle.

"The three places are accessible by waterway. It takes three days from Hangzhou to Suzhou and five days to Yangzhou via the Grand Canal. Although the land route is slower, it is more reliable."

Ye Huang looked at the map, her finger lightly tapping the center of the three circles: "How's the escort team being assembled?"

"It's all set," Mo Shisan said. "According to your wishes, it will be officially called 'Jinxiu Escort Agency,' specializing in the Jiangnan route, taking on escorts of silk, cloth, and other valuable goods."

"What's the reality?"

"Actually..." Mo Shisan lowered his voice, "The escort team consists of thirty people. The leader is Zhao Tieshan, recommended by Eunuch Li. He was originally a veteran of the Northern Border Army, but retired due to injury. He has solid martial arts skills and is reliable. There are also six of our Listening Wind Tower's undercover agents in the team, who are responsible for passing on intelligence."

Ye Huang nodded in satisfaction: "When will the first batch of goods be shipped?"

"This afternoon," Mo Shisan said, "ten carts departed from Hangzhou to Suzhou and eight to Yangzhou. Each cart has our people accompanying it, and the routes, rest stops, and rendezvous points along the way have all been arranged."

"Alright." Ye Huang picked up Bao'er and walked to the window. "Tell Zhao Tieshan that this escort mission is not about speed, but about stability. He must record everything that happens along the way and report back to me."

"yes!"

After Mo Shisan left, Jinshu brought in tea: "Miss, Bao'er will be one year old tomorrow, you see..."

Ye Huang was taken aback.

Yes, Bao'er is turning one year old.

She looked down at the little one in her arms. The little one had fallen asleep sometime earlier, with long eyelashes drooping and a slightly pouting little mouth, as soft and sweet as a dumpling.

one Year.

From that wrinkled baby in the fire in the cold palace to the little one who can crawl, laugh, and vaguely call "Mother" now.

Time flies.

"Let's keep it simple," Ye Huang said softly. "Just the family, have a meal in the garden, and hold a baby's first birthday celebration."

Jinshu's eyes reddened slightly: "Yes, this servant will go and prepare it right away."

---

The next day, in the back garden of Qihuang Garden.

The autumn sun was warm and gentle, and the osmanthus flowers were in full bloom, filling the garden with sweet fragrance.

In the center of the garden, a scarlet felt carpet was laid out, covered with all sorts of items: writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, abacuses, account books, swords, wooden bows, gold and silver ingots, official seals and tokens... There were even small wooden birds and embroidery needles that Ye Huang had specially asked Mo Shisan to bring over.

Eunuch Li, Jinshu, Qian Sihai, Mo Shisan, and Shen Fu were all present. Even Zhao Tieshan, who had just returned from escorting goods, had changed into clean clothes and stood awkwardly to the side.

"Bao'er, come here." Ye Huang placed Bao'er, who was wearing a red bib and tiger-head shoes, in the center of the blanket. "Go and get whatever you like."

Bao'er sat there, her big, dark eyes curiously looking around.

He first crawled towards the small jade abacus, grabbed it with his chubby little hands, shook it, and the beads clicked and clattered.

"Excellent!" Qian Sihai exclaimed excitedly, "Young Master will surely be a business prodigy in the future!"

Bao'er put down the abacus and climbed over to the little wooden bird beside her. It was carved by Mo Shisan himself, and its wings could still move.

Bao'er picked up the wooden bird and giggled.

Mo Shisan smiled as well: "Young Master is interested in mechanical devices, perhaps in the future..."

Before he could finish speaking, Bao'er suddenly released the wooden bird, twisted her body, and crawled towards Ye Huang.

Everyone was stunned.

There were so many wonderful things on the blanket—gold, silver, treasures, weapons, and other valuables—but Bao'er couldn't hold onto any of them properly. She just crawled towards Ye Huang empty-handed, swaying unsteadily.

Ye Huang squatted down and opened her arms.

Bao'er snuggled into her arms, nuzzling her little head against her neck, and mumbled, "Mommy...hug..."

The garden was completely silent.

Suddenly, Eunuch Li laughed, his laughter filled with satisfaction: "Good, good..."

"Eunuch Li?" Jinshu asked, puzzled.

Eunuch Li stroked his beard, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes: "The young master holds an abacus in one hand, showing his business acumen; he holds a wooden bird in the other, demonstrating his understanding of intricate mechanisms. But in the end, he wants nothing but His Highness."

He looked at Ye Huang and said, word by word, "This shows that in the young master's heart, nothing is more important than his closest relatives and friends. But he also knows the value of those things—this is because he is born knowing how to choose, what is important, and his true nature."

Eunuch Li paused, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Such a temperament, born... to be someone who can control the big picture."

Ye Huang's heart skipped a beat.

She looked down at the baby in her arms. The little one seemed to understand, tilting his head up and giving her a toothless grin.

"Silly baby..." Ye Huang's nose tingled, and she hugged him tightly.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the garden.

Mo Shisan's expression changed, and he turned and left. A moment later, he returned with a letter, his face more solemn than ever before.

"Miss, this was sent urgently from the Northern Border by Prince Xiao."

Ye Huang's heart tightened as she took the letter.

The letter was very short, only three lines:

"The situation in the north has changed drastically. My father is seriously injured. Two hundred thousand iron cavalry have been assembled in the northern desert, and one of the three passes has already been breached."

I must return immediately; my fate is uncertain.

All affairs in Jiangnan are entrusted to you. If I do not return... take care.

The letter was stamped with Xiao Jue's personal seal in the lower right corner, the ink still wet, indicating it was written in haste.

Ye Huang gripped the letter tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Outside the window, the autumn sun still shines warmly.

But she knew—

The snowstorm from the North has already reached us.

---

[Next Chapter Preview: War rages across the Northern Frontier, Xiao Jue's life hangs in the balance! Should Ye Huang intervene? Liu Chengming seizes the opportunity to launch an attack, and Jinxiufang faces its greatest crisis yet!]