Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

"Your Highness, you're finally back! We've missed you terribly. If you hadn't returned, we would have gone to your residence to visit you."

As soon as Xiao Lie sat down in the main hall of the procurement office, he saw Xiao Chunzi fawning over him, giving him a fawning smile.

He found it amusing, kicked Xiaochunzi's shin, and sent him flying to the side.

"Stop with the empty platitudes. You've all been happy these past few days with nobody caring about you, haven't you?"

Without anyone watching, how much profit one makes depends entirely on one's ability.

Xiao Lie knew without a doubt that while he was away, these palace servants, those old rascals, had been scheming and lining their own pockets. His return as deputy envoy would be like putting a tight rein on them; how could he possibly be welcomed?

There might be some people secretly hoping he dies of illness, ideally leaving the position completely vacant like the previous ambassador, with no one to care about them.

Under the young man's knowing, half-smiling gaze, Xiaochunzi felt a bead of sweat on his forehead. He chuckled awkwardly, feeling quite embarrassed.

"Your Excellency, I... I truly do not know how to answer your question."

Xiao Lie chuckled and didn't make things difficult for him anymore.

"Go down and tell them that I pretended not to see their cheating while I was away, but if they continue like this when I return, they don't need to stay in this purchasing office any longer."

Xiaochunzi's expression hardened, and she nodded repeatedly.

"By the way, about springtime..."

When this matter was mentioned, Xiaochunzi immediately took out her usual carrying pole, which clearly showed the spring season procedures and required items.

In fact, the spring sacrifice should have been planned long ago, but Xiao Lie was still not well, so it was put on hold here.

Xiao Chunzi leaned closer and whispered, "My lord, Eunuch Deshun knew you were coming back today, so he sent someone to the procurement office to inform you that he would recommend a special official in charge of this matter. He said that if you have any questions, you can ask him for advice."

Indeed, the Spring Festival is the Ministry of Rites' domain, and their procurement office is merely a logistics department, specifically tasked with assisting.

Xiao Lie closed his eyes and hummed in agreement.

"What else do you know? What is this official's name, age, and where does he live? Do you know these things?"

Xiao Chunzi glanced left and right, then leaned down and whispered a few words in Xiao Lie's ear. After he finished speaking, a glint of light flashed in the young man's eyes.

"Is that really true?"

"Absolutely true, I wouldn't dare lie."

That's strange.

Xiao Lie muttered something subconsciously, but Xiao Chunzi didn't hear him clearly, so he couldn't help but ask a question in return.

"Your Highness, what were you just saying?"

Xiao Lie was taken aback, then suddenly came to his senses and put on that lazy look again.

He yawned as he lay in the pear-shaped armchair.

"Yes, I understand. You may leave now."

Xiao Lie spent two hours summarizing the events of the Spring Festival.

The old emperor was right. The Spring Festival has been held for so many years and has its own rules and procedures. Even though he was not there, the items that needed to be purchased were still put into storage one by one. Apart from a few items that Xiao Lie decided on, the other regular items were not missed.

Xiao Lie nodded in satisfaction.

These people in the procurement department, though greedy, still managed to get things done on the surface.

He went to the warehouse again but couldn't find anything wrong. He couldn't help but ask Xiaochunzi for advice.

"Are these people so conscientious that even if they're greedy, they still remember to pick out the best items to display?"

Xiao Chunzi couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Your Highness, no matter how much you love money, who would dare to delay such an important event as the Spring Festival? If anything goes wrong, it's a matter of losing your head. Someone like me is all alone and has no strong backing, so I have to be careful."

"Besides, during the time you were away, Consort Shu and Eunuch Deshun both came to give you a warning once or twice. With them giving their orders, who would dare to make a move?"

The words spoken are secondary; the most important thing is attitude. The fact that Consort Shu and Eunuch Deshun have personally come to reprimand them shows they take this matter very seriously. They might even come to conduct a spot check. What if some substandard items are included and it gets discovered…

The thought of this possibility sent a chill down Xiaochunzi's spine.

Xiao Lie smiled even more with satisfaction. He patted Xiao Chunzi's shoulder amicably and sighed.

"I am very pleased that you have such insights."

……

"My lord, other things are not difficult to find. For example, Korean paper and Lu silk are rare, but as long as we spend more money and ask those merchants to keep an eye out, we can always acquire them all. What is more troublesome right now are ritual objects and sacrificial vessels."

Ritual vessels and sacrificial vessels were important sacrificial implements, ranging from various jade objects used to pay homage to the four directions of heaven and earth, to wine vessels used by officials to drink, and bronze vessels used to hold grains and other cereals.

These items were subject to strict regulations, and ordinary workshops dared not produce them and had no experience in doing so; they required special orders from the imperial court.

The master of ceremonies sighed softly.

"Unfortunately, during last year's spring festival, a landslide occurred, burying and damaging many of the gatherings. Therefore, we ordered a new batch of dishes this year."

Xiao Lie frowned slightly. "Shouldn't these things be the responsibility of the various workshops and imperial workshops?"

The imperial court then had a group of artisans who specialized in various handicrafts.

There were specialized blacksmiths who forged weapons and armor, specialized spinners who wove cloth, and specialized pottery and glassmakers...

These artisans possess superb skills, passed down through generations, and should be the most outstanding artisans in the Great Xia Dynasty.

"Since the court has so many craftsmen, finding one or two to make these sacrificial and ritual vessels shouldn't be difficult, right? Why is Lord Li making things so difficult?"

Indeed, the person De Shun introduced to him was a minor official in the Ministry of Rites named Li Rusong. It was said that he was as upright and honest as a pine tree, and as frugal as a pine tree, a rare person in the court with ideals and ambitions.

The fact that the emperor would actually assign such a capable person to his side made Xiao Lie wonder if the emperor had lost his mind and suddenly changed his ways.

Li Rusong nodded. "That's right. There were indeed a few craftsmen in the workshop who were in charge of this matter, but unfortunately, they are all gone now."

"What does 'not here' mean?"

Li Rusong cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his face solemn. "He has either passed away or returned to his hometown."

Ritual and sacrificial vessels are inherently easy to store for a long time. Moreover, these things have great symbolic significance, so palace staff would take great care of them and store them carefully. In this way, a new batch of vessels could last for more than ten or even several decades.

The demand is low, and there has been a long period of unemployment, so there are few craftsmen who specialize in this task.

As the older generation of craftsmen left or scattered, an absurd situation arose.

That is, among all the workshops in the capital, not a single craftsman with relevant production experience could be found.

Xiao Lie didn't believe it and suspected that Li Rusong was lying to him.

Li Rusong sighed softly, "If the young master does not believe it, he may visit each workshop himself."