"Cai Xinzhi, Cai Xinzhi. Place a boat order."
Li Daoxuan called Cai Xinzhi once again.
"What kind of boats do you need this time?" Cai Xinzhi asked in surprise. "Why are you suddenly so obsessed with boats lately?"
Li Daoxuan replied casually, "Men's interests come and go in phases."
That statement actually made some sense.
Cai Xinzhi did not pursue the topic. "Alright then. What kind of boats do you want?"
Li Daoxuan said, "I need a large batch of river-sea vessels. For the big ones, make them like the seventy-meter ship we got last time, the Wanli Sunshine. As for the smaller ones, anything from twenty to fifty meters is fine. Various sizes. It would be best to assemble a huge mixed fleet."
Cai Xinzhi laughed and scolded him. "A mixed fleet in your own swimming pool? I swear, Old Li, you are becoming more and more childish. You should learn from me and cultivate some proper hobbies for a middle-aged man. Women, I'm telling you, women are a man's—"
He did not even finish his sentence before a sharp cry of pain came through the phone.
Then a little girl's voice followed. "Uncle, Daddy got hit again."
Li Daoxuan burst out laughing. "What was it this time?"
The little girl replied innocently, "Daddy was talking about women just now, and he was drooling, so Mommy hit him. I don't know why."
Li Daoxuan laughed so hard his stomach hurt. Knowing he had such a fearsome wife at home, how could Cai Xinzhi still dare to run his mouth like that? He was practically begging for a beating.
After hanging up, Li Daoxuan shifted his consciousness back into the box and immediately saw Shi Kefa busy organizing the militia.
Shi Kefa's situation was extremely complicated. He not only needed to recruit land-based militia to counter Zhang Xianzhong's forces, but also water-based militia to suppress the pirates in Huangmei. He had to fight on both land and water, and both fronts required firm control.
Jiang Cheng, who had experience in building naval forces, did his utmost to assist him. The Wanli Sunshine was constantly deployed, chasing pirates day after day.
It was far too busy.
Li Daoxuan knew that immediate reinforcements from the main village were necessary. They needed to transport large quantities of gunpowder, bullets, and military supplies to resupply the Wanli Sunshine. Otherwise, once the ammunition ran dry, the Gao Family Village militia's close-combat capability was not necessarily stronger than that of the imperial troops.
Oh, right. He had not checked on Zhu Piaoling for several days. Where had that fellow gone?
With a thought, he shifted his view to the embroidery on Zhu Piaoling's chest.
The moment the scene switched, Li Daoxuan saw Zhu Piaoling sitting proudly in the main hall of the Pear Garden. He still wore his bamboo hat and black scarf, hiding his face. However, from his posture, his movements, and the smug aura radiating from his entire body, it was obvious that he was in an extremely good mood, thoroughly enjoying himself.
The madam of the Pear Garden was kneeling before him.
The Suzhou Prefect was standing respectfully at the side, looking unusually obedient.
In the center of the hall stood another man, dressed in Daoist robes. He was plump and pale, without a beard, his features delicate and weak. One glance was enough to tell that he was a eunuch.
Zhu Piaoling said sarcastically, "Didn't you say she wasn't for sale? Then why did you invite this 'great hero' back today and claim you are willing to sell?"
The madam's face flushed crimson. "My lord, you… you did not say earlier that you were from the Prince of Qin's residence. Otherwise, how would this humble servant dare utter even a single word of refusal?"
Zhu Piaoling snorted twice. "Say it earlier? Would that have helped? Your esteemed Suzhou Prefect here was not planning to show any respect to the Prince of Qin's residence anyway. Besides, I am not even the Prince of Qin's heir, merely a steward under him. When has the Prefect ever shown respect to someone like me?"
The Suzhou Prefect cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem… well…"
Zhu Piaoling was about to continue his performance when the pale eunuch suddenly spoke, his words heavy with implication. "His Majesty said this matter must be handled discreetly."
Handled discreetly meant one thing. Do not let this cause trouble.
Zhu Piaoling snorted and immediately dropped his act.
The madam finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ordered all the girls of the Pear Garden to be brought out. There were indeed many of them, thirty or forty in total, young and old. The eldest were already thirty years old, while the youngest were not even ten.
Chen Yuanyuan stood among them, her eyes wide as she nervously observed the people before her.
Although she was still young, she had already spent several years in the Pear Garden and had witnessed countless ugly scenes. She had gained some understanding of the vile habits of various high-ranking officials and nobles.
She could tell that her future fate likely rested in the hands of this masked man wearing a bamboo hat. Entering the Prince of Qin's residence sounded frightening, but after careful thought, it was still far better than remaining in the Pear Garden. At the very least, she would only need to serve one master, rather than entertain countless guests of unknown origin.
As she was thinking this, she suddenly noticed that the divine figure embroidered on the masked man's chest seemed to smile at her.
She was startled and hurriedly rubbed her eyes. When she looked again, the embroidery was completely still. It must have been her imagination.
Zhu Piaoling said to the madam, "I am not forcibly taking your girls. Give me a total price for all of them. The Emperor's representative is present today as well, and the princely residence must not violate the rules."
The madam replied with a trembling voice, "Two thousand… two thousand five hundred taels."
Hearing this number, Li Daoxuan could not help sighing inwardly. So expensive. Not long ago, he had purchased eighteen girls from pirates for only four taels of silver each. Yet here, buying thirty or forty women from the Pear Garden cost two thousand five hundred taels.
They were all young women, yet their value differed by an entire world.
And yet, despite their higher price, these girls seemed even more pitiable. Clearly, a high price did not necessarily mean a better life.
Zhu Piaoling said calmly, "The price is acceptable. Pay it."
One of his guards stepped forward, holding a small box filled with gold ingots.
Zhu Piaoling added, "There is more than two thousand five hundred taels' worth of gold inside. Take it."
The madam thanked him repeatedly as she eagerly accepted the box.
Only then did Zhu Piaoling gesture to the group of women. "Ladies, come with me. We are returning to the princely residence."
The women slowly walked toward him, their expressions complicated. They did not know they were about to be saved. In their minds, they were merely jumping from one pit into another, hoping only that the fire in the new pit would burn a little less fiercely.
At that moment, the Suzhou Prefect suddenly spoke. "Steward, I have an unreasonable request."
Zhu Piaoling raised an eyebrow. "How unreasonable?"
The Suzhou Prefect said, "The princely residence surely does not need so many concubines and maids. Could you… leave one behind? Just one. Xue'er… she and I have been fond of each other for many years. To part like this, I truly cannot bear it."
Zhu Piaoling exclaimed, "Oh, a romantic fool."
Li Daoxuan muttered silently, Huh?
Everyone present was stunned by the Prefect's sudden outburst.
The Prefect's gaze was fixed on a courtesan in her early twenties. Tears streamed down his face as he called softly, "Xue'er."
The woman named Xue'er turned to look at him. Her eyes were also filled with tears, her face heavy with sorrow.
"Please do not dwell on your humble servant, Your Excellency. The Emperor himself has issued an imperial order. To defy it would mean confiscation of property and execution. We are fated to be apart in this life. Your Excellency, please forget your humble servant."