Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

Chapter 429 The Substitute Bride Becomes a Reality (30)

"You..." Qin Wujiu began to speak, but found his voice to be terribly hoarse.

The man opened his eyes, his peach blossom eyes carrying a hint of languor and amusement, as if he found the scene before him quite amusing: "Military Advisor Qin, good morning. Last night... you were quite enthusiastic."

He spoke vaguely, deliberately trying to tease the strategist whose face was ashen.

Shen Qianlan grew up in the water towns of Jiangnan. Even though he traveled all over the country doing business, he was not used to the climate of the frontier and was woken up by the cold several times in the middle of the night.

There was really no other way, so they moved from the low couch to the main couch.

Qin Wujiu's face instantly turned ashen as fragmented memories of his drunkenness returned. He only remembered that he seemed to be pulling the other person along, drinking and talking non-stop, but he couldn't recall the specifics of what they were saying.

Just as he was about to lash out, a voice outside the tent announced, "Strategist, the Prince and Young Master Su request your presence at the drill ground, saying they have important matters to discuss."

He hurriedly straightened his clothes, glared fiercely at the stranger, and whispered, "If word gets out..."

The man lazily propped himself up, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, and smiled calmly: "Don't worry, although I, Shen Qianlan, am not a gentleman, I would never use such a thing to blackmail you. However, strategist, please don't be so 'enthusiastic' with your guests next time."

The wind was biting cold on the drill ground.

Qi Jinyu ordered several large wooden boxes to be brought over, and opened them in front of all the soldiers. Inside, neatly folded knitted sweaters and trousers were found.

“The frontier is bitterly cold. Although these clothes are not as sturdy as armor, they can protect the soldiers’ body temperature.” Su Zi picked up a sweater to show it off. “The joints are specially thickened, and the collar and cuffs are windproof. It uses a special double-layer knitting method, and its warmth is comparable to cotton wadding, but it is much lighter than cotton clothes.”

Qi Jinyu casually beckoned a few soldiers to try on the clothes.

A moment later, the soldiers reported back with delight: "Your Highness, it's so warm! And it's so easy to move around in!"

Qi Jinyu nodded in satisfaction and was about to speak when she saw a figure walking towards her from a distance.

"Cousin, your wool workshop is doing a great job."

Su Ziyu turned around upon hearing the voice, a delighted smile immediately spreading across his face: "Cousin! You've come!"

Standing behind Qi Jinyu, Qin Wujiu curled his lips, his mood quite complicated. He hadn't expected that wool could actually be made into warm clothing, and its effect was no less than that of cotton.

Even so, he still disliked Su Ziyu.

Seeing Shen Qianlan slowly walking over, he became even more convinced of this idea. Sure enough, he and Su Ziyu were incompatible, and even his family members were so annoying.

Shen Qianlan bowed to Qi Jinyu and said with a smile, "Your Highness, my name is Shen Qianlan, and I am Ziyu's cousin. A few days ago, I received a letter from Ziyu saying that there was a shortage of food on the frontier, so I organized a caravan and brought 5,000 shi of grain to express my gratitude."

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Qin Wujiu and added, "By the way, see what kind of person could make my usually strong-willed cousin write home for help."

Su Ziyu smiled helplessly and gently touched Shen Qianlan's arm, signaling him not to say anything more.

Qin Wujiu stood aside, his expression shifting unpredictably. Looking at Shen Qianlan's ambiguous smile, he felt that this winter would probably be even more unbearable than he had imagined.

"Young Master Shen is so generous; on behalf of the soldiers on the frontier, I thank you." Qi Jinyu's voice pulled Qin Wujiu back from his thoughts.

Shen Qianlan cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Highness is too kind. Although the Shen family are merchants, we also understand the greater good of the country."

He changed the subject, his gaze seemingly sweeping over Qin Wujiu, "I just wonder what Military Advisor Qin thinks is the best way to dispose of this batch of grain?"

Suddenly called out, Qin Wujiu's expression hardened, and he said coldly, "The grain and fodder must be counted and recorded upon entering the warehouse, and distributed according to need. Does Young Master Shen think that the soldiers on the frontier don't even understand this basic rule?"

"How dare I?" Shen Qianlan's lips curled up slightly. "I've only heard that the strategist is strict in managing the army, and I'd like to learn a thing or two from him."

Su Ziyu keenly sensed the undercurrent between the two and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Cousin, grain is precious on the frontier, it would be best to bring it to the military camp as soon as possible. Why don't we ask the Prince to send people to transport it back to the army, and you can assist him from the side, how about that?"

Qi Jinyu nodded, her gaze lingering between Qin Wujiu and Shen Qianlan for a moment, and said calmly, "Young Master Shen must be tired from his journey. Wujiu, take him to settle the provisions."

Qin Wujiu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he forced out two words through clenched teeth: "Yes, sir."

After instructing his subordinates to assemble the troops, Qin Wujiu turned around and prepared to return to his tent to change his clothes. The prince had summoned him in such a hurry that morning that he hadn't had time to change and still smelled of alcohol.

Qin Wujiu walked briskly, eager to get rid of this troublesome person immediately. Shen Qianlan, however, followed behind at a leisurely pace, admiring the scenery of the frontier military camp.

"Strategist, are you walking so fast because you're afraid of being alone with me?" Shen Qianlan suddenly asked.

Qin Wujiu suddenly stopped and turned around, his eyes sharp: "Shen Qianlan, I don't care what you're up to, this is a military camp, not a place you can play around in."

Shen Qianlan raised an eyebrow and stepped forward to close the distance between them: "What does the strategist think I'm playing at?" He lowered his voice, "Or is the strategist worried about what happened last night?"

"Nothing happened last night," Qin Wujiu said through gritted teeth.

Although he had never experienced that kind of thing, he knew that if something had really happened between the two of them last night, there would have been no signs on his body. This morning, it was clear that this person was just making things up to scare him.

The thought that he had almost believed this person's nonsense filled him with resentment.

"Is that so?" Shen Qianlan chuckled. "Then why is the strategist so nervous?"

Qin Wujiu didn't want to be led by the nose, so he just glared at him coldly and continued leading the man to the empty tent. "Considering you delivered grain to the frontier, I'll let bygones be bygones this morning. But if there's any more..."

Before he could finish his harsh words, Shen Qianlan chuckled, "It seems the strategist has quite a good impression of me, and actually hopes for a next time?"

Hearing him twist his words like that, Qin Wujiu's fist hardened in his sleeve. "Although I am a strategist, I am also somewhat skilled in martial arts. If Young Master Shen continues to speak recklessly, don't blame me for being impolite."

"What a coincidence. Although I am just a merchant, I have learned some self-defense skills over the years as I travel around the country. If there is an opportunity, I can exchange a few moves with the strategist."

Shen Qianlan smiled innocently, but her eyes were full of provocation.

Just as the two were facing off, a soldier rushed over: "Strategist, His Highness requests that you come to the main tent immediately for a meeting!"

Qin Wujiu felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He glared at Shen Qianlan fiercely, then turned and strode away.

Inside the main tent, Qi Jinyu was studying a map with several generals.

Upon seeing Qin Wujiu enter, he straightened up and said, "A scout reports that a small group of Xiongnu troops are active on the border and seem to be very interested in our wool workshops."

Su Ziyu frowned: "They must have heard that we make winter clothes out of wool and want to sabotage us."

“Not only that,” Qi Jinyu pointed to a valley on the map, “this is the only route we can take to transport wool. If they occupy it, the workshop will have no wool to use.”

Qin Wujiu calmly analyzed: "Your Highness, why not turn the tables on them? Since they are interested in the workshop, let's set up an ambush and annihilate them in one fell swoop."

“That suits me perfectly.” Qi Jinyu nodded. “Wujiu, you are in full charge of this matter.”