Chapter 57: Shangguan Yunqing Recruits Followers for Ye Xun, Father and Son Feel Helpless

Seven days later.

Shangjing City.

The Shangguan Estate.

The Front Hall.

Shangguan Hongchang, Shangguan Panshi, and Shangguan Yunqing—three generations of the Shangguan family—sat together in the front hall.

Although Shangguan Hongchang had already reached his sexagenary year, his constitution remained robust. The weathered, furrowed lines of his face could not conceal his gaze, which was as sharp as a drawn blade.

The Shangguan family could be considered a lineage of distinction, with members serving as officials across successive dynasties for five generations.

Shangguan Hongchang had retired only a few years prior, having served as the Vice Minister of War.

His son, Shangguan Panshi, was the crown of the family's current generation, holding the office of the Minister of Revenue.

"Yunqing, is the Saint of Medicine truly as you described, having sworn brotherhood with the Prince of Qin with such ease?" Shangguan Hongchang twirled two walnuts with nearly identical grain in his hands, his expression solemn, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Though retired, he still participated in major family decisions.

"With ease?" Shangguan Yunqing arched a slender brow and frowned, asking, "Grandfather, surely you don't think all of this was mere coincidence?"

"Oh?" Shangguan Hongchang asked, perplexed, "What do you mean?"

Shangguan Yunqing slowly explained, "At first, Yunqing also thought it was a coincidence. But when Yunqing strung together all the events that have transpired recently, I realized it is anything but a coincidence."

"After the Prince of Qin was stripped of his status as Crown Prince, there was the Qujiang literary competition, the sale of soap, his nocturnal visit to the Duke of Zhenguo, the assassination attempt on His Majesty, the brewing of potent liquor, his audience with the Saint of Medicine, and their sworn brotherhood..."

"Along the way, His Highness the Prince of Qin has encountered countless perils, yet he has turned each one into safety and even forged a brotherhood with the Saint of Medicine. Do you still believe all of this is mere coincidence?"

As she spoke, Shangguan Yunqing recalled the poem Ye Xun had composed for her: *A cloud thinks of dresses, a flower of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, where the dew is rich and heavy. If not seen at the peak of Qunyu Mountain, one would meet her under the moon at the Jade Terrace.*

Even now, recalling it left a lingering resonance in her mind.

At this thought, a trace of dazzled admiration flickered in her beautiful eyes.

Shangguan Hongchang nodded slightly, concurring in his heart.

Indeed, though he was reluctant to believe that anyone could achieve sudden enlightenment overnight.

The facts lay right before his eyes, leaving him no room for disbelief.

Shangguan Panshi fell into deep thought and asked, "Yunqing, is the liquor rebrewed by the Prince of Qin truly as fiery and long-lasting in its aftertaste as you claim? Your father always feels you might be exaggerating."

Shangguan Yunqing was a maiden; though she could drink, she did not understand wine.

When a daughter who knew nothing of wine praised it in such wondrous terms, Shangguan Panshi found it rather hard to believe.

Faced with this skepticism, Shangguan Yunqing remained entirely composed. She mused, "Father, Grandfather, Yunqing knows you wouldn't easily believe it. That is why I requested a jar from the Prince of Qin's estate. Whether the wine is good or not, you will know the moment you taste it."

With that, she retrieved a jar of the enhanced Immortal-Retaining Brew from beneath the table.

Shangguan Hongchang looked at her, took a deliberate sniff, and chuckled, "No wonder I smelled a faint fragrance of wine in the hall. So you were hoarding it, you little girl. Hurry, let us taste it."

His eyes lit up with eager anticipation.

Then, Shangguan Yunqing stepped forward and poured a small cup for each of the father and son.

Shangguan Hongchang picked up his wine cup, holding it with the utmost care, as if cradling a peerless treasure.

The liquor was rich, clinging to the rim; the aroma drifted far and wide, and the color was crystal clear...

Shangguan Hongchang hesitated no longer. He downed the wine in a single gulp, savoring the lingering fragrance rolling in his mouth, feeling refreshed and exhilarated.

Fine wine.

Truly fine wine.

He finally understood why Wu Shouzhi had followed Ye Xun down the mountain for a mere jar of wine.

The liquor flowed into a bold heart; to Wu Shouzhi, this was not just wine, but half a lifetime's journey.

Wu Shouzhi was utterly devoted to drink, and this wine could redeem him.

Though Shangguan Hongchang had only crossed paths with Wu Shouzhi once, in that single encounter, he had seen a different side of the man.

Wine does not intoxicate men; men intoxicate themselves.

Perhaps having witnessed too many joys and sorrows, partings and reunions in this world, an apothecary's heart had grown as hard as stone, indifferent to life and death.

He was in desperate need of a cup of wine that could make him thoroughly drunk.

And many people in this world needed a cup of wine that could let them completely lose themselves.

After finishing his cup, Shangguan Panshi felt a jolt in his heart and intended to take back what he had said moments ago.

Now it seemed he had failed to recognize a priceless jade hidden in a crude exterior.

Seeing their expressions, Shangguan Yunqing felt a surge of pride. She mused, "Father, Grandfather, now you know the power of this wine." She then looked at Shangguan Panshi and asked, "Father, do you think this fiery liquor could be selected as tribute wine for the imperial palace?"

Her primary objective today was to have the fiery liquor brewed by Ye Xun sold into the imperial palace.

Yet, she couldn't quite explain why she was helping Ye Xun.

She simply wanted to help him—it was a heartfelt impulse.

Shangguan Panshi smiled. "Yunqing, you understand this wine, yet you do not understand it."

Hearing this, Shangguan Yunqing knitted her slender brows in confusion. "Father, what do you mean?"

Shangguan Panshi replied, "Why would this wine ever need your worry? Nor does it need to rely on your father to be sold into the palace. From now on, this wine will be in short supply; it will never lack a market."

Though he did not know what method Ye Xun had used to elevate the flavor and potency of the Immortal-Retaining Brew to new heights.

Yet Ye Xun undoubtedly possessed extraordinary ingenuity.

This single wine alone was enough to bring the Prince of Qin's estate a daily bounty of a thousand gold pieces.

Shangguan Yunqing asked in surprise, "Really?"

Shangguan Panshi nodded. "Naturally."

Immediately afterward, Shangguan Hongchang looked at Shangguan Panshi with a solemn expression and said, "The current situation in Great Xia has become extremely perilous. Within a month, upheaval is bound to occur. Have you thought of a fallback plan? I have heard that certain people are eyeing your position!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Yunqing hastily chimed in, "Father, although His Highness the Prince of Qin was once frivolous and indulged in earthly pleasures, he has now reformed. Yunqing believes His Highness is far superior to those double-dealing imperial princes."

As these words fell, both Shangguan Hongchang and Shangguan Panshi turned their gazes toward Shangguan Yunqing.

Noticing this, Shangguan Yunqing hurriedly lowered her head.

Normally, she was not like this.

She did not know why today, upon hearing them discuss this matter, she had hastily rushed to defend Ye Xun. How embarrassing.

At that moment, Shangguan Panshi felt a trace of helplessness in his heart.

He had never expected that, after all these twists and turns, Shangguan Yunqing would end up entangled with Ye Xun once again.

And inexplicably, he had been nailed into Ye Xun's faction by the officials in the imperial court.

It wasn't as if other princes hadn't come to win him over, offering countless sums of gold and silver.

As for Ye Xun, he hadn't even shown his face or spoken a single word, yet he had already pulled half of Shangguan Panshi's body into the muddy waters.

And all of this was thanks to his precious daughter.

Originally, when the Emperor of Xia issued the decree betrothing her to Ye Xun as a secondary consort, Shangguan Yunqing had wept bitterly.

Yet now, she was defending him tooth and nail. How things had changed.

Shangguan Panshi looked up at Shangguan Hongchang and countered, "Father, whom do you think your son should support?"

Originally, he was the one who disdained participating in the struggle for the succession the most.

Yet now, with Great Xia lacking both a sovereign and a crown prince, and a new crown prince slated to be established by the end of the year, he had no choice but to enter the fray.

"Heh..." Shangguan Hongchang stood up and casually picked up the jar of wine from Shangguan Yunqing's desk. "Support whoever you wish; this old man won't meddle."

With those words, Shangguan Hongchang walked out of the hall without looking back.

Shangguan Yunqing gazed at Shangguan Panshi with a look of hopeful anticipation.