When Gong Xiaohua first started preparing to produce penicillin in the palace, the Qin mansion in Kyoto, the Crown Prince personally visited "sick" Qin Chuyuan.
"So you were grounded by Prime Minister Qin? Wouldn't it be because of that Gong family girl again?"
"Speaking of which, your wedding date has passed, right? That Gong family girl had a close brush with death, what a pity."
"Why don't you find another fiancee, what do you think of Linglong?"
"If you don't speak, no one will take you for a mute." Qin Chuyuan clenched his fists tightly, looking at the Crown Prince with cold eyes.
Seeing the gloomy aura emanating from Qin Chuyuan's body, the Crown Prince knew that his joke had gone too far. He coughed embarrassedly and said, "Get someone to send me a message saying that you have a way to solve the grain preparation issue. Tell me, what do you plan to do?"
"This is the memo I wrote, please take a look, Your Highness." Qin Chuyuan handed the memo in his hand to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince took the memo and opened it to read.
"Attracting merchants with salt?"
"Recruit merchants to voluntarily collect and transport grain themselves to the frontier troops, and in return, the court will issue the merchants a certificate allowing them to buy and sell salt. The merchants can then redeem government salt with the certificate, and transport it to designated places for sale."
"Bartering grain?"
"Exchanging silver, cotton cloth and other goods with surrounding prefectures and counties for grain, for fast and local supply to the troops."
"Establishing goodwill granaries...?"
The more the Crown Prince read, the more impressed he became. Qin Chuyuan's ideas, whether for quickly raising grain in the short term, or for long-term stockpiling, could not only solve the long-term supply issues for the marching troops, but also ease the financial pressure on the national treasury.
They were all excellent policies that benefited the country and people.
"I'm going straight to the palace. Don't worry, I will definitely get you out. Haha..."
The Crown Prince walked away, laughing, heading straight for the royal palace.
Inside the royal palace, the Crown Prince handed King Ye the memo written by Qin Chuyuan, regarding the preparations for the marching supplies and solutions for ensuring future provisions for the army.
King Ye read through it one by one, increasingly pleasantly surprised.
"This Qin Junior Commander has quite good ideas, much more flexible than his grandfather."
"I remember Prime Minister Qin said he was sick and I haven't seen him for a good while, how is he now?"
"He has long recovered, only that he has been under house arrest."
"Oh? What for?"
"He heard that Gong family girl was trapped in the epidemic-stricken area and wanted to go alone to save her, so Prime Minister Qin grounded him."
"Didn't see it coming that this young fellow is a romantic one. I remember we granted them permission to marry, and the date is coming soon, right?"
"It has passed. Still uncertain whether that Gong family girl lives or dies."
"What a pity. Minister Li once submitted a memorandum stating that she made outstanding contributions in the Nanlong case, and recommended conferring honors upon her."
The Crown Prince remained silent. He had a deep impression of this Gong family girl. Other than her inferior family background, her talents in both literature and martial arts made her stand out in a crowd, easily catching one's attention.
"Master Huang."
"Your servant is here."
"Summon Qin Junior Commander and Finance Minister for an audience."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Soon, Qin Chuyuan and others were summoned to the court.
"Your servants pay respect to His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Highness."
After dismissing the two ministers, King Ye said to Qin Chuyuan, "Today you have rendered a great merit. How about I appoint you as Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Entertainments?"
Promoted from fourth-rank to deputy second-rank meant a three-rank promotion.
"I'm deeply grateful for Your Majesty's favor, but I'd like to ask for another token of grace."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Your Majesty previously granted me in marriage with the Gong family lady, but as she was trapped in the epidemic area, we have missed the wedding date. I hope Your Majesty will show grace by approving us to hold a make-up wedding."
King Ye and the Crown Prince exchanged glances. Was Qin Chuyuan seeking to marry a dead person?
"That Gong family girl is highly likely to have died from the epidemic. Are you certain you want to redo the wedding? Chuyuan, you'd better think it through. If you encounter another girl you fancy in the future, she won't be your principal wife." said the Crown Prince.
"I have made up my mind, Your Highness, and humbly ask for Your Majesty's decree."
"Fine, as long as you don't regret it. Wait for the notice."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Your servant takes leave."
"I shall take leave too, Father."
King Ye nodded silently, waving his hand as he watched the two young men leave, shaking his head lightly. The young ones have started learning the taste of lovesickness.
The Crown Prince walked with Qin Chuyuan outside the great hall.
"I've always been very curious. I know Miss Gong is outstanding, but given your personality, you aren't the type to easily fall for someone, moreover I heard you didn't interact with her much before, and were even a little cold towards her."
"You investigated me?" Qin Chuyuan halted and stared at the Crown Prince.
"Don't wrongly accuse me, they were all voluntarily told by Lin Zhiyuan. Tell me about it." The Crown Prince urged eagerly.
Qin Chuyuan glanced at him, but still slowly explained, "Behind all the cliched masks are nothing but hypocritical human nature. Only she is the most real one, working the hardest to be her true self."
Hearing Qin Chuyuan's explanation, the Crown Prince also thought of those women in his harem whom he was obliged to marry for political reasons.
Indeed, those women of his, weren't they all wearing masks, and as time went by, who wouldn't yearn to shed their disguises and live freely?
He could understand this affection of Qin Chuyuan's. Then he said to Qin Chuyuan, "You have to invite me for a drink at your wedding."
While far away in Nanlong Prefecture, Gong Xiaohua still didn't know that upon her return to the capital, she would already be Madam Qin.
