C86. Emperor Jianyuan Died.

C86. Emperor Jianyuan Died.

Upon seeing the sugarcane, Yuan Li's mood lifted, and he directly took the sugarcane, leaving the rest of the merchants to be handled by Guo Mao.

He instructed Guo Mao to delay the departure of these merchants for a while, taking advantage of this time to produce sugar.

Making white sugar was more profitable than making soap, and the profits were more sustainable.

While soap was a novelty and luxury, when there was no soap, there were alternatives like soap nuts and bath beans. But sugar was a vital trade commodity, always more expensive than salt, and only the wealthy and nobility could afford to consume it.

Families with money to buy sugar would surely be willing to spend on this sweet treat. Particularly in the south, where many wealthy merchants resided.

Yuan Li recalled that in places like Suzhou and Yangzhou, the preference for sweetness in dishes stemmed from the wealthy families using sugar to flaunt their wealth, gradually shaping the local taste preferences.

With the avenue to make money right in front of him, Yuan Li couldn't pass it up.

He had the sugarcane brought to the prepared workshop, took out the recipe that the system had given him, and started to cook white sugar.

To make white sugar, the first step was to make cane sugar.

The most challenging part of making cane sugar was extracting the juice by pressing the sugarcane stems, simmering the juice into syrup over low heat, pouring the syrup into molds to cool, forming the cane sugar. Making cane sugar wasn't difficult, as the system had not divulged the process steps, and Yuan Li already knew how to do it.

The difficulty lay in turning the red-hued cane sugar into white sugar with clear crystal grains.

After spending two days in the white sugar workshop, Yuan Li was permeated with a sweet scent.

When meeting his boyfriend later that evening, Chu Hechao could taste the sweetness on his neck with just a kiss.

"No shower?" Chu He Chao tasted it again, "It's really sweet."

Yuan Li sweated on his neck, and Chu Hechao playfully teased, "What's all this sweetness for?"

Yuan Li was taken aback, "What sweetness?"

Chu Hechao chuckled, "This sweetness is real, those mosquito bites, two swollen welts as big as this, really hurt my heart when I see them."

Yuan Li: "…"

Chu Hechao bent down to treat the "mosquito bites", scratching one side to relieve the itching, then moving to the other side with audible tongue clicks. Yuan Li blushed in embarrassment at the provocative scene.

As he blushed, Yuan Li also worried inwardly.

If the man's desires were so strong, and they really indulged in "fleshly" activities, where would it lead?

A quick glance at Chu He Chao's trousers made him apprehensive, feeling it wouldn't work.

Yuan Li worried a lot. Just using his hand had felt heavy, and after the last kiss, his throat had ached for a whole day. Not exaggerating, Yuan Li felt a bit intimidated, as it was all too intense.

If things really got serious, he might end up with a river of blood.

Thinking of this, Yuan Li lost interest in taking things further with him.

After both of them had exhausted themselves and stopped playing, Yuan Li went to take a bath with his clothes, while Chu He Chao quietly crept in and watched as his wife bathed. He couldn't help but turn away when the scene became too enticing.

"Le Jun," he watched the wooden door, his full forehead, high nose bridge, and thin lips outlining a sharp profile, patiently asked, "When are you willing to sleep with me?"

Yuan Li's mouthful of water spilled out, pretending not to hear, but Chu He Chao asked again.

"...," Yuan Li hesitated, "Brother, do you know how to sleep with a man?"

Chu He Chao's expression turned cold, but his words were crude, "Use your backside."

Yuan Li responded directly, "But if I'm not prepared, I'll definitely get hurt."

He paused, then added, "I reckon it'll be very painful, and there will be blood."

Chu He Chao frowned, the thought of Yuan Li getting hurt immediately dispelling any thoughts in that direction. He stood silently, watching his wife enter the room.

After Yuan Li finished bathing and dressed, the two of them walked towards the room, one in front and one behind, with a noticeable distance between them, indicating they hadn't come together the whole way.

Chu Hechao watched Yuan Li's back ahead, feeling his heart more at peace than ever before.

Yuan Li could feel the gaze on his back, wearing a faint smile, leisurely returning to the room.

One walking, the other following, though not side by side, it felt as though they were walking together.

The following day, a messenger arriving from the capital brought news of the death of Emperor Jianyuan.

On the twenty-ninth day of the third month in the fiftieth year of Jianyuan, Emperor Jianyuan passed away on his sickbed. He passed the throne to his second son, Qin Wen, who ascended to the throne as Emperor Zhouyan, at the age of just twelve.

Upon hearing this news, Yuan Li and Chu Hechao were initially shocked and flustered. Once the messenger delivered the news, he did not linger, immediately rushing off to convey the news of the Emperor's passing to the Wumang tribe.

Yuan Li calmly made preparations for the mourning rituals for the Emperor. To his surprise, due to the distance of the northern border, it took two months for the news to reach them, leaving only one month of the three-month mourning period for Emperor Jianyuan.

Half a month later, more and more news reached Youzhou.

Few emperors were foolish, and Emperor Jianyuan was no exception. His elevation of eunuchs was to suppress the powerful families, and his suppression of political factions revealed his insight into the threat posed by the aristocratic families under the wavering imperial power of Northern Zhou.

However, Emperor Jianyuan, ambitious but lacking corresponding abilities, realized the critical juncture facing Northern Zhou before his death. He entrusted three close confidants to assist Emperor Zhouyan as key ministers.

Three ministers were accused of various crimes by the Empress Dowager Li within a month, and two of them were executed, causing fear and tension in Luoyang. The last minister, feeling scared, voluntarily resigned and left the court with his family.

After the death of Emperor Jianyuan, Empress's brother, Li Li, quickly revealed his true intentions. He took control of the garrison in Luoyang, enlisted General Yan Wei and his hundred thousand troops to station in Luoyang, turning Emperor Zhouyan into a puppet emperor.

Empress's brother Li Li didn't bother hiding his treacherous nature anymore, targeting the eunuchs, particularly those in the Monitoring Bureau. Eunuchs fled or were killed, and anyone who had challenged Li Li's authority died under his sword.

In the capital, some ministers expressed dissatisfaction, but Li Li beheaded them in front of Emperor Zhouyan, causing the young emperor to faint in fear.

Upon hearing this, the people cursed Li Li as a traitor and usurper!

This was blatantly the act of an unscrupulous traitor!

Upon hearing this news, two subordinates of Yuan Li, Liu Jixin and Guo Mao, felt a spark of hope in their hearts.

It's great, it's simply too great.

If there's no one to get rid of this villain, how can their lord be seen as the hero who eliminates evil?

But they knew it wasn't their time to act yet.

They needed to wait a few more years, endure a few more years. When Li Li's infamy and tyranny reached their peak and others could no longer bear it, that would be the time for them to show their prowess.

For now, the Emperor's uncles, Qin Pei of Yuzhou and Qin Meng of Jingzhou, remained silent, so there was no rush.

*

In Rucai County, Yuzhou, in the Governor's Residence.

Qin Pei, in his forties, was discussing with his advisors how to respond to the situation in Luoyang.

Tears welled up in Qin Pei's eyes, "What can the Emperor do now? He's only twelve, about to face such a huge upheaval. That old thief Li Li is plotting to take over the Northern Zhou!"

His advisors wiped their tears in solidarity.

After weeping bitterly, Qin Pei's anger surged, as he grabbed a large knife from the table and headed towards the door, "As a member of the Qin family, I cannot let that villain succeed. I will personally go and chop off his head!"

His advisors immediately stopped him, "My lord, you cannot!"

"With tens of thousands of soldiers under Li Li's command in and around Luoyang, and the Emperor in his hands, we must consider our actions carefully. You must not act impulsively."

After much persuasion, Qin Pei dropped the knife and knelt down, tears streaming down his face again, "Must I, as the Emperor's uncle, just watch helplessly as our Northern Zhou Emperor is bullied like this?"

His advisors knelt down with him.

In the silence, someone spoke up, "Of course not."

A young man named Xiang Hongyun, known for his intelligence and cunning, knelt and approached Qin Pei, offering a solution.

Xiang Hongyun remained composed as he analyzed the current situation, discussing the pros and cons before suggesting, "You should send a letter to Lord Qin Meng in Jingzhou and discuss how to deal with the villain. At the same time, issue a proclamation to denounce Li Li, so that everyone knows of his treacherous actions. Let people know of your despair and concern for the Emperor, rallying the forces of the realm to confront him."

Qin Pei was persuaded by Xiang Hongyun's words. He sighed heavily, stood up from the ground, and said, "I will follow your advice and send a letter to Lord Qin Meng first."

As Xiang Hongyun observed Qin Pei's dejected posture and white hair, he withdrew his gaze. Exiting the Governor's Residence, he gazed at the overcast sky, sighed, and muttered to himself, "This lord is not my true master."

Qin Pei clearly lacked the courage to confront Li Li but had to show some resolve before his advisors. Xiang Hongyun keenly noted the flicker of relief on Qin Pei's face after his words.

While it was the right decision not to immediately confront Li Li, Qin Pei's visible anger and fear showed his limited willingness to act against the enemy. Xiang Hongyun was disappointed in Qin Pei's lack of resolve and courage, feeling utterly frustrated.

Xiang Hongyun had already made up his mind to leave.

But to whom should he turn if he were to leave?

After pondering for some time, he thought of seeking refuge with Wu Shanshi in Yizhou, Liu Quan in Andou, Lü He in Yizhou, and Yuan Li, the Governor of Youzhou, who had recently gained fame and was continuously praised by the esteemed scholar Zhang Liangdong.