The diplomatic exchanges between the two countries had a pre-determined itinerary for the delegation in Shangjing, the capital of Northern Qi. Logically, someone of Fan Xian's status would have accompanying personnel during his movements in Shangjing. However, Fan Xian was wary of such arrangements. Despite the ongoing negotiations by resident officials, he sought permission from the Northern Qi imperial court to visit the Ministry of Rites.

The secret agreement stipulated exchanging Yan Bingyun for Xiao En and Si Lili, which already put Qing in a disadvantageous position. Therefore, Fan Xian was eager to find the executor hidden in the shadows. However, the nominal Undersecretary of the Ministry of Rites, the actual Deputy Pacification Envoy of the Northern Qi Embroidered Uniform Guard, was avoiding him!

Seemingly, the other party wanted to stall for a few more days. Enraged, Fan Xian flung his sleeves and exited the Ministry of Rites, ignoring the Qi officials. At the entrance of the Ministry, Lin Jing had also rushed over from the Court of State Ceremonies, shaking his head subtly at Fan Xian.

The four of them re-entered the carriage. Lin Jing spoke first, "Vice Minister Wei Hua has disappeared since leaving the palace, and his whereabouts are unknown."

Fan Xian sighed, "I suspect it's the same elsewhere. The Qi people want to delay for a few days."

"What good would it do to delay?" Wang Qinian frowned. "Anyway, they will eventually hand over the people. I don't believe they can keep stalling."

Fan Xian shook his head, "We need to get Yan Bingyun out as soon as possible."

"How?"

"Go to Wei Hua's house."

"The Changning Marquis residence?" Lin Jing said with difficulty, "That's the Empress Dowager's own brother. It's a major taboo for foreign envoys like us to run there. It's against the rules and might cause a lot of trouble."

Fan Xian smiled, "It would be best if the censors under the Northern Qi Emperor could impeach the Changning Marquis for colluding with foreign powers tomorrow morning. That would be even more wonderful."

After the plan was decided, the carriage left the Ministry of Rites. Naturally, the imperial guards followed, and there were also some spies who appeared to be passersby following from a distance. Wang Qinian sat in the carriage but could smell those people from afar. He said softly to Fan Xian, "Master Tisi, it seems like people from the Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guard) are following us."

"Anyway, we have imperial guards with us. Are you afraid we'll get lost?" Fan Xian said softly, "Ignore them. The most important thing is not to rush to contact the people from the Overwatch Council in Northern Qi these days, so as not to bring unnecessary risks to those spies."

The Northern Qi spies who were watching the delegation's movements according to the court's orders also found it strange. After leaving the Ministry of Rites, why were these envoys from the South interested in going shopping, and shopping at Shangjing's most luxurious and extravagant Xiushui Street? This street sold luxury goods such as glassware, which ordinary people couldn't afford.

One of the spies frowned and said, "Why are these Southerners shopping at Xiushui Street?"

The subordinate beside him replied, "It's rare to go abroad. Of course, they have to buy some good things to take back. These Southerners are very rich now. If they don't buy some glass cups to take back, how will they explain to their families?"

"Idiot!" The leading spy scolded, "All the glass in the world comes from Southern Qing. Why would they need to come to our Shangjing to buy it?"

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There weren't many people on Xiushui Street, but the Qi people walking inside were all pot-bellied, women with heads full of jewelry, and it was clear at a glance that the money in their pockets wasn't much, but the silver notes must be thicker than the books at home. Those shops were built along the street, with a slight distance between each one, not too far, not too close, just right.

Those signboards were even more conspicuous, placed upright outside the shops, painted with black lacquer and gold lettering, but some of the gold lettering had gradually faded. However, those wealthy owners didn't seem to want to replace them. Upon closer inspection of the inscription, it turned out that these signboards were quite old, and the people who wrote the inscriptions were often famous figures from a hundred or even several hundred years ago. The reason for allowing the gold lettering to fade gradually was probably because these merchants wanted to deliberately create an ancient and authentic style, flaunting the atmosphere of a century-old shop.

Only the seven shops in the very center of Xiushui Street were different. The signboards were all horizontal. Although they weren't brand new, they appeared much younger compared to the surrounding ones. Some of these shops sold glassware, some sold things like soap, some sold perfume, some sold cotton cloth, some sold liquor, and the most unusual was one that specialized in selling toys.

Several carriages stopped at the entrance of the street, escorted by imperial guards, a formation that even surpassed that of first-class princes and nobles. But all the merchants on Xiushui Street still maintained their self-respect, and no one came out to greet the guests, only waiting for the four people who got out of the carriages to walk past one by one.

The four of them walked all the way into Xiushui Street, finally stopping in front of the cotton cloth shop. The young man among them, who looked exceptionally handsome, touched his head, seeming a little puzzled as to why cotton cloth could also be considered a luxury item.

After entering the shop, the owner explained to these unfamiliar distinguished guests, "Speaking of planting cotton and weaving cotton cloth, it is said that there was a genius named Wang who did it hundreds of years ago, but later the method was gradually lost, and no one used it anymore. It wasn't until twenty years ago that our old boss of that year was so talented that he regained this method. Please see, this cotton cloth is warmer than silk and cheaper in price. It is also of excellent quality, even compared to Southern Qing's capital, it is not much different."

The handsome young man seemed very interested and said, "Give me a chi (a unit of length, about 1/3 meter) to try."

The shop owner's face darkened, and he heard that the other party had a Southern Qing accent, and scolded, "So you are a fellow villager. I say, official, there is no reason for our Southern Qing people to come to Northern Qi to buy cotton cloth, not to mention that others buy it in bundles, but you are good, you come to try a chi?"

The young man smiled and bowed his fists to apologize, exited the shop, and looked up at the characters on the horizontal signboard, frowning and said, "This writing is really ugly."

The shop owner was furious and scolded, "This was written by our old boss himself. You ignorant fellow, get out of here!"

The young man smiled and led his three subordinates to the next shop. This young man was naturally Fan Xian. The ugly writing he spoke of was naturally the handwriting left by his mother many years ago, and it was not much different from the handwriting on the letter in the box - exactly the same ugly!

After strolling around for a while, Fan Xian understood that these shops were all industries opened in Northern Qi by Southern Qing royal merchants. Of course, many years ago, these should all be Ye Family's industries. Just looking at the things they sold, he knew that his mother must have earned a lot of silver from the hands of the nobles in the world.

Walking on Xiushui Street, walking among the signboards inscribed by his mother, Fan Xian was a little dazed, and he didn't seem willing to walk anymore.

"Master, why are we here instead of going to the Changning Marquis residence?" Lin Jing asked with concern.

Fan Xian was slightly stunned, came to his senses, and said with a smile, "Of course, we are here to buy gifts. How can we come empty-handed?"

Saying these words, he had already lifted the corner of his shirt and stepped into the glass shop with the widest storefront. He saw all kinds of glassware displayed in the shop, looking exceptionally beautiful, with flat large wine goblets, double-eared cups, and transparent jade pots, mainly wine utensils, as well as all kinds of small utensils, including glass insect boxes, various chess sets, and even a crystal clear small oil lamp.

The whole shop was like a crystal palace, dazzling. A faint pride rose in Fan Xian's heart. Although he seemed to be just muddling through his days in this world and hadn't done anything earth-shattering, looking at these things left by his mother, he couldn't help thinking, "Since someone has already done it all, what am I doing?"

The shop owner had already heard these people talking next door, knowing that they were fellow villagers from the South, and said with a smile, "Everyone, it's not that I don't want to do business with you, it's just that it's really a loss if you buy glass in Shangjing."

Fan Xian asked with a smile, "I know, it must be much more expensive to sell in Shangjing than in our Qing country, but I see that the Northern Qi Imperial Palace uses a lot of glass. Don't they think it's expensive?"

The shop owner smiled happily and said, "Who is the silliest customer in the world? Of course, it is the Emperor. It is said that the Northern Qi Imperial Palace's business was the largest business that our old boss made in those years. The amount scared all the other wealthy merchants in the world."

Fan Xian smiled smugly and said, "You are very bold to say this. Are you not afraid that those officials will arrest you in Northern Qi?"

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. As long as our Great Qing Dynasty is still the strongest country in the world, our merchants will not be bullied wherever we go." Although he said so, the shop owner still lowered his voice inarticulately and continued, "That sentence about the silliest customer in the world... I couldn't have said it. I heard from my master that it was also said by the old boss back then."

Fan Xian smiled and suddenly asked, "Is your master Da Ye or Ji Ye?"

The shop owner was stunned, raised his head and looked at Fan Xian, seeming to find it hard to believe that this handsome young man would know so much, and forgot to answer for a moment.

Lin Jing said with a smile, "This is Fan Xian, the chief envoy of this delegation. Even though you are far away in the North, you must know Fan Xian's origin."

Master Fan? That is the chief manager of all the royal merchants in later years! The owner of the glass shop was shocked and quickly lifted the front of his shirt and knelt down to Fan Xian.

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