Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 87 Phoenix Wings at Sea! Sewing Secrets Lure Spy, Liu Chengming's Poisonous Scheme Locks Up Children

The end of the first year.

The ice and snow are beginning to melt.

After being shocked by the "Business Monthly Report," the Jiangnan business community was stunned by Jinxiufang's new moves.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon looked up.

The 30th branch of Jinxiufang opened in Jiangningfu.

From then on, all the major towns along the main canal, from Hangzhou to Jiangning, had that "Phoenix" signboard.

"How many people do we have now?" Ye Huang stood on the third floor of Qihuang Garden, looking at the huge map on the wall.

Thirty red dots are connected in one line.

Qian Sihai held the account book, his voice tinged with suppressed excitement:

"The owner owns thirty shops, five hundred and twenty-three craftsmen, two hundred and eighty embroiderers, and a total of over one thousand nine hundred employees."

Nearly two thousand people.

It supports nearly two thousand families.

This number silenced Ye Huang for a moment.

"Were all wages paid on time?"

"It's paid out! All payments are settled within the same month, never late." Qian Sihai flipped through the account books. "Last month's wages alone amounted to 18,000 taels."

"What about the profit?"

"Total profit last month...87,000 taels."

Eighty-seven thousand.

Ye Huang nodded.

This figure is commensurate with her investment.

"Master, there's one more thing." Qian Sihai took out a blueprint from his pocket. "The blueprint for that 'hand-cranked sewing machine' you gave me last time... Master Lu and the others have finished making it."

Ye Huang's eyes lit up.

"Let's go take a look."

---

Backyard workshop.

A peculiar machine was placed in the center.

It has an iron frame as its skeleton, belt drive, and the most eye-catching feature is the hand crank.

Master Lu was so excited that his beard trembled.

"Boss! It's done! It's really done!"

He demonstrated it himself.

Press the fabric under the needle plate.

Crank the handle.

"Click-clack-click-clack—"

The needle flew up and down!

The stitches are even and fine!

What would normally take a skilled embroiderer half a day to sew the hem of a skirt was completed in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"Speed..." Master Lu's voice trembled, "It's twelve times faster than hand-sewn!"

Twelve times.

The entire room fell silent.

All the craftsmen stared at the machine with fanatical eyes.

"Can it be mass-produced?" Ye Huang asked.

"Yes!" Master Lu said decisively. "The parts are all standard components, so assembly isn't difficult. It's just that needle... it needs to be custom-made."

"I'll take care of the needles." Ye Huang looked at Qian Sihai. "Build a needle factory. Poach people with high salaries, and keep the formula a secret."

"yes!"

"And one more thing," Ye Huang added, "This machine will not be sold for the time being. It will only be used in our own workshop. All craftsmen who come into contact with it will sign a contract with no restrictions on employment, will receive triple wages, and will not be allowed to leave the workshop for three years."

She was all too aware of the consequences of technology leaks.

In this era without patent law.

Secrecy is life itself.

Three days later.

study.

Qian Sihai unfolded a nautical chart.

"Master, look."

His finger traced a line from Hangzhou Bay, pointing towards a group of islands deep in the East China Sea.

"The East China Sea Thousand Islands Alliance comprises over three hundred islands, rich in pearls, coral, hawksbill turtles, and spices. And... rubber, tin ore, and rare timber from Southeast Asia."

Ye Huang looked at the sea chart.

"Go on."

"The imperial court's maritime ban is sometimes strict and sometimes relaxed, but there are always ways to get around it." Qian Sihai lowered his voice. "Our Jinxiufang now has the capability to build its own fleet and sail by sea. The profits... are more than ten times those of the land route."

ten times.

Ye Huang raised her eyes.

"What about the risks?"

"Pirates, storms, and... government inspections," Qian Sihai said honestly. "But as long as you handle things properly and hang up the flags of the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion or the Prince of Jing's Mansion, ordinary people won't dare to touch you."

Ye Huang remained silent.

Maritime trade.

This was a field she was familiar with in her previous life.

High risk.

High returns.

Moreover... it can open a door to a wider world.

"How much silver do you need?"

"Initially, we will purchase three ships, recruit sailors, procure goods, and bribe officials... at least 50,000 taels."

Fifty thousand taels.

For Jinxiufang at present, this is not a major blow.

"The ship must be the best," Ye Huang decided. "The sailors must be skilled. As for the cargo... the first batch will consist of silk, porcelain, and tea."

"yes!"

Qian Sihai was so excited that his face turned red.

"The ship's name...you can suggest it, sir?"

Ye Huang looked out the window.

The sun is rising.

A myriad of rays of light shone forth.

"Let's call it..." she whispered, "Phoenix Wing."

Phoenix Wings.

It will eventually cover the four seas.

The news couldn't be kept secret.

Especially when three brand-new ocean-going ships docked at the Hangzhou wharf, their prows carved with phoenixes spreading their wings.

The whole city was in an uproar.

"Jinxiufang is setting sail!"

"The ship's name is 'Phoenix Wing'! What grandeur!"

"I heard that buying the boat alone cost 20,000 taels..."

There was a lot of discussion in the teahouse.

A table in the corner.

Two unassuming businessmen lowered their heads and drank tea.

"Go back and report to the young master," one of them whispered. "The sewing machines at Jinxiu Workshop are incredibly efficient. And those three ships... they're probably going to open overseas trade routes."

"Can that machine...get the blueprints?"

"It's difficult. The workshop is heavily guarded; everyone who goes in signs a contract that's binding on them."

The two exchanged a glance.

Put down the money for the tea.

They left quietly.

---

Wanghu Tower.

Liu Chengming listened to the report.

His face was gloomy.

"A sewing machine...twelve times more efficient?" he sneered. "No wonder she dared to open thirty stores."

"Young master, there are more ships." The confidant said cautiously, "Three 'Phoenix Wings' will set sail in five days, their destination being the Ryukyu Islands."

Ryukyu.

That is the gateway to the East China Sea Thousand Islands Alliance.

"She's planning to start her own business at sea," Liu Chengming said, walking to the window and looking towards the dock.

The white sails of the three large ships have been raised.

It rustled in the spring breeze.

Like three battle flags.

"We can't let her go to sea." Liu Chengming turned around, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "Have the pirates been arranged?"

"It's all arranged." The confidant nodded. "The remnants of the 'Black Dragon Gang' have taken three thousand taels from us. They agreed to take action off the coast of Zhoushan, plunder all the cargo and ships, and... leave no one alive."

"Very good." Liu Chengming's lips curled up. "And that sewing machine... since we can't get the blueprints, just destroy it."

"Young master means..."

"Set it on fire." Liu Chengming said casually, "Jinxiufang has three large workshops in Hangzhou. Burning down one will be enough to make her feel the pinch for half a year."

The confidant hesitated: "But the workshop is full of craftsmen, what if someone gets burned to death..."

"Then burn people alive," Liu Chengming said coldly. "The more people die, the more trouble she'll be in."

"……yes."

After the trusted confidant withdrew.

Liu Chengming stood alone by the window.

He held a black Gu talisman in his hand.

This is a keepsake from the witch doctor of Xiling.

Seven more days.

Ten boys and girls were gathered together.

Gu worms can be refined.

"Night Phoenix..." he whispered, "The bigger your business grows, the more valuable your son becomes."

He laughed.

His smile was distorted.

"When the time comes, I'll make you kneel down and beg me to give up everything you have to save your son's life."

Ye Huang received an urgent report from Mo Shisan.

"Girl, two things."

"explain."

"First, Liu Chengming hired remnants of the 'Black Dragon Gang' to rob our ship off the coast of Zhoushan. The number of people... is about fifty."

Ye Huang raised her eyes.

"And the second one?"

"He plans to set fire to the workshop." Mo Shisan's voice was cold. "The time is set for five days from now, the night the Phoenix Wing sets sail."

Luring the tiger away from the mountain.

Ye Huang smiled.

"Clumsy."

"Girl, what should we do?"

"Let's play along." Ye Huang stood up and walked to the map. "Tell Qian Sihai that the Phoenix Wing will set sail as scheduled. But... bring more 'gifts' on board."

"Gift?"

"Gunpowder, oil drums, and... our newly made 'bewitching smoke'." Night Phoenix pointed to the sea chart. "Let the Black Dragon Gang members board the ship. Then... send them to feed the fish."

Mo Shisan's eyes lit up.

"Over at the workshop?"

"Double the manpower. Have Eunuch Li personally oversee the operation." Ye Huang paused, "Also, have Bao'er's cats, dogs, and birds patrol day and night."

"yes!"

After Mo Shisan stepped down...

Ye Huang walked into the courtyard.

Bao'er was squatting by the pond feeding the fish.

"Mommy!" The little one saw her and ran over. "Yu Yu said it's going to rain tonight."

"Fish can talk?" Ye Huang laughed and picked him up.

"Yes, it will." Bao'er nodded seriously. "Yu Yu also said... there are bad people in the water."

Ye Huang's eyes narrowed.

"What bad guy?"

"It's black, like a big bug," Bao'er gestured with her little hands, "waiting for a boat in the water very, very far away."

Black Dragon Gang.

Ye Huang hugged her son tightly.

"Bao'er is really amazing."

Bao'er nuzzled against her smugly.

"Mother, will bad people hit the boat?"

"Yes," Ye Huang said softly, "but Mother will make sure they... can never fight again."

Night falls.

Sure enough, it started to rain.

Drizzling.

It's like funeral music for someone's passing.

late at night.

A carrier pigeon flew through the rain and landed on the windowsill of Qihuang Garden.

Inside the bamboo tube tied to his leg was a short message.

"The willow has moved, a double attack on land and sea. Ship hijacking and fire attack, be careful. Also, the Gu master from Xiling has entered Jiangnan, targeting children."

There was no signature.

But Ye Huang knew who it was.

Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo.

This prince, who had been lying low for many years, finally began to show his claws.

"The Gu Master of Xiling..." Ye Huang held the letter in her hand, her eyes cold.

Target children.

Bao'er.

She walked to the bedside.

Looking at her sleeping son.

Her little face was serene.

Completely unprepared.

"Baby," she whispered, "Mother won't let anyone... hurt you."

outside the window.

The rain is getting heavier.

The rumble of thunder was faint.

A storm.

It's getting close.