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

Xiao Lie pressed his temples, feeling somewhat irritated.

"Didn't those old people pass down any secret techniques or manuals?"

"Of course there are, but reading a book a hundred times can't compare to hands-on practice. Besides, these ritual and sacrificial vessels are all crafted with exquisite skill and have extremely high requirements. Letting inexperienced people suddenly take charge of such difficult things is probably..."

Before Li Rusong could finish speaking, Xiao Lie scratched his head in frustration.

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll go think of a way."

He dismissed the man, suspecting that the emperor was deliberately using this matter to frame him. He then ordered Sixteen to investigate the matter and see if the situation was as Li Rusong had described.

Sure enough, that very evening, Sixteen returned in a hurry, carrying a slip of paper.

"Your Highness, I have investigated thoroughly. Of the twenty-three people who made the last batch of sacrificial vessels, seven are dead, seven have returned to their hometowns, and the rest are still alive and well, taking on apprentices and passing on their skills in various workshops."

Sixteen stepped forward again and whispered.

"Furthermore, my subordinates have discovered that those people seem to have already begun manufacturing a new batch of sacrificial and ritual objects."

After saying this, Sixteen shut his mouth, but his eyes were bright and clear, conveying the unfinished meaning.

Xiao Lie remained silent, surprised that he hadn't made a decision.

Since the emperor wanted to use this incident to punish him, why did he have someone make another prop? Did he arrange for someone to mend the fence after the sheep were lost?

Xiao Lie vaguely felt that the play was not finished.

The following day, he was frowning and groaning incessantly in the procurement office.

Seeing his reaction, Li Rusong quietly walked to his side and hesitated before speaking.

"Your Highness need not be so troubled. I have a method that may relieve your urgent problem, but I'm afraid it will involve some discovery."

"Oh? Tell me about it?"

Li Rusong immediately leaned down and whispered a few words in his ear.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lie immediately showed a look of doubt.

"Is this really feasible?"

Li Rusong sighed deeply, "This is the only way we can do it. After all, there are bound to be risks associated with outside merchants. I am only offering a suggestion. If Your Highness is unwilling, then it is as if I never said anything."

Xiao Lie's eyes darkened, but the corners of his eyes turned up slightly as he forced a kind smile and said.

"How could I possibly be in such a hurry? Lord Li is so kind as to offer his advice and come up with a solution for me. How could I possibly let him down? Even if there are risks, I will give it a try."

Li Rusong's method was simple: find another expert. The commerce of Daxia was thriving, not to mention the artisans in various trades. He contacted major merchants and sought out their most capable artisans, hoping to salvage the situation.

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Li Rusong's face. He stammered, seemingly finding it difficult to speak.

"But even if we could find someone like that, those trading companies probably wouldn't agree."

Why?

Li Rusong sighed softly, "It's nothing more than meager profits."

After all the trouble and repeated trial runs, it was only to order a very limited batch of equipment with limited profit and a lot of trouble. In the eyes of those big merchants, this was really not a good deal.

A glint of cunning flashed in Xiao Lie's eyes. "Then what should we do?"

Li Rusong hesitated, then sighed again.

"Let's see if we can find the person. If we can, we can offer them more benefits, and this problem might be solved."

Xiao Lie understood immediately; so this person had been laying the groundwork for so long just for this.

He smiled slightly, but there was little joy in his eyes; instead, they were slightly cold.

"However, I am not familiar with these things, so I can only rely on you, sir, to help me and make connections."

Hearing that it was done so easily, Li Rusong couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief and smiled.

"Of course, Your Highness, rest assured, I will do my best."

As expected, the matter was hastily completed under Li Rusong's signature, but it was a lucky success. However, the merchant on the other side was very dissatisfied and urged him to purchase other items, such as silk.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lie sneered.

Signing such a large order, let alone using inferior materials, just delaying the process would be enough to cause him serious trouble.

After much deliberation, he came up with an idea: he wanted the finest sacrificial and ritual vessels, but selling them was out of the question.

Xiao Lie discussed with the young owner of the merchant house about having them deliver a portion of the goods first, so that he could inspect the quality.

The other party readily agreed, but after receiving the goods, he deliberately delayed for three to five days before inviting the young master to come and inspect them together.

When the wooden crates were pried open, batches of silk were revealed, smooth and lovely. But it was precisely because of this that the traces of insect damage on them were all the more captivating.

Xiao Lie secretly curled the corners of his lips, but the young master and Li Rusong opposite him turned pale in disbelief.

"This...how is this possible?"

Xiao Lie deliberately put on a stern face and reprimanded him sharply.

"What do you mean by that? Do you think that all of this is my doing, and that I am deliberately framing you?"

The two stammered and couldn't give a coherent explanation, leaving only Li Rusong sweating profusely as he frantically tried to find a solution.

"Your Highness, there must be a reason for this. Perhaps it was due to improper storage. Why don't we have the merchant send another batch of goods over? That way, we can ensure that Your Highness's business is not delayed."

"Hmph, Manager Li, you have quite the big mouth. Such a big matter, and you just brush it off with a few words. It makes everyone else seem aggressive, and you the only good person."

Li Rusong's face grew paler and paler, and he dared not say anything more, only managing a wry smile and a stammering explanation.

"This humble official...this humble official did not mean that."

"Whether that's what I mean or not, I have my own thoughts on it."

"If I hadn't been delayed by some business and only came to inspect the goods ten days later, wouldn't I have had to suffer in silence over this insect infestation? It's one thing if this sample box has a problem, but what if the regular goods that are delivered also have the same problem, with no obvious symptoms on the surface, only to break out late on the day of the spring festival, affecting the spring wine process and incurring blame from above? Li Rusong, will you take full responsibility for this?"

"this……"

Upon hearing this, Li Rusong dared not argue further, but he already had a premonition that this matter would not end well. Sure enough, he heard the young man opposite him say coldly.

"And you, your trading company, with the insect infestation still unresolved, why did you deliberately sell me such things? What is your purpose? Are you perhaps acting under someone's orders, intentionally trying to frame me?"

This method is indeed insidious and vicious.

First, some small insect eggs are mixed into the fabric. After the insects hatch, they cannot find food and will instinctively gnaw on the fabric in front of them, turning even the best cloth into substandard goods. Moreover, this method has a delay effect. The goods are fine when they go into storage, but by the time they leave, they are completely different. This makes it impossible for the person in charge to explain, and they have no choice but to accept the loss.

Xiao Lie sneered, "You've really thought of everything. What a coincidence that there are insect eggs, and they're insects that can even eat fabric! Do you dare say that your Taihe Trading Company didn't arrange this on purpose?"