Chapter 72: The Baby Moves

After working tirelessly day and night, they managed to produce sixty barrels of sugar syrup. While it wasn’t an abundant amount, it was enough to alleviate the immediate crisis.

The syrup was prepared for shipment to the capital for sale.

“Let my deputy commander escort it,” Zhang Meng said. “He’ll bring a few strong laborers and soldiers to guard against potential bandits.”

Zhang Meng’s deputy, Chen Sheng, might have looked like a walking lump of charcoal, but he was quick and cunning—exactly the kind of person suited for the task.

Qin Zhao tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table. “Hmm, take Banli with you as well.”

“Banli?”

Zhang Meng frowned, puzzled. What could that scrawny kid possibly contribute? What Zhang Meng didn’t know was that Banli was one of Qi Qige’s men and was exceptionally skilled for such missions.

“Yes, let him join. The sugar will sell even faster with his help,” Qin Zhao insisted.

“Still relying on my grandfather?” Zhang Meng questioned.

“There’s no getting around it,” Qin Zhao replied with a slight lift of his eyelids. “Your master wouldn’t let this opportunity pass.”

Zhang Meng had to agree. They were already in such dire straits—what was there to lose? After finalizing their plans, the convoy of sugar barrels set off for the capital in grand procession.

---

That evening, in the bedroom, Cao Xi leaned against the bedrest while Qin Zhao crouched beside her, his ear pressed to her growing belly.

Cao Xi ran her fingers through his slightly messy hair. “Aren’t you tired squatting like that?”

“Tired of what? I’m greeting our little one,” Qin Zhao replied with a grin.

Cao Xi chuckled. “How do you know it’s a son?”

“A father just knows. Ow! He kicked me!”

Qin Zhao straightened up in surprise, his eyes wide with excitement. Cao Xi’s belly visibly shifted as a small bump pressed outward. With great care, Qin Zhao reached out to touch it, his heart melting instantly.

“He’s so strong! Does it hurt?” he asked anxiously.

“It doesn’t,” Cao Xi reassured him.

Seeing Qin Zhao’s red-rimmed eyes from overwork, Cao Xi’s heart ached. “You’ve been up before dawn and working late into the night. Can’t you take a moment to rest?”

“This job is exhausting—inhuman, really,” Qin Zhao muttered, sounding aggrieved. “I don’t even have time for you and the baby.”

Kicking off his shoes, Qin Zhao climbed into bed beside her. “What’s this?”

Banli’s Prideful Misunderstanding

When Banli arrived in the capital, he was overjoyed to see his young master again, only to be met with skepticism.

“If you didn’t do anything wrong, why are you back?” Qi Qige asked, puzzled. Could it be that Qin Zhao had sent him for something?

Banli grinned sheepishly. “The great Qin Zhao sent me to escort a shipment of sweet potato sugar to the capital.”

“Sweet potato sugar? To sell in the capital?” Qi Qige fanned himself briskly, his mind whirring with thoughts.

At this, Banli couldn’t contain his pride. Straightening his back, he exclaimed with excitement.

“Yes! The great Qin Zhao bought up all the sweet potatoes from Luzhou, turned them into sugar, and is now using it to bring income to the city. Impressive, right?”

Qi Qige stared at Banli for a long moment, his fan moving rhythmically before it suddenly paused.

“Did Qin Zhao tell you to come to me?”

“No, not at all,” Banli replied, puffing up his chest. “But he said it was very important, so I had to follow through.”

Qi Qige mulled over this before bursting into hearty laughter, leaving Banli bewildered. Qi Qige stepped closer and whacked Banli on the head with his fan.

“You blockhead!”

Banli stared at his young master, utterly confused. Why was he getting hit when he hadn’t done anything wrong?

“What are you looking at? Let’s go,” Qi Qige said, brushing past Banli.

“Where are you going, young master?” Banli hurried after him.

“To see your sweet potato sugar,” Qi Qige replied with a smirk.

That Qin Zhao—too proud to ask for help directly, so he sent Banli to loiter around and drop hints. Truly, the man was as stubborn as they came.

Banli led Qi Qige to the Southwest Marquis Manor, where Qi Qige paused to look at the grand sign above the entrance.

“You stored the sugar here?”

Banli scratched his head with a goofy smile. “The convoy was led by General Zhang’s deputy, and General Zhang instructed us to use the Southwest Marquis Manor as a base in the capital.”

Qi Qige chuckled. “Your great Qin Zhao sure knows how to make use of connections, doesn’t waste a single one.”

“He didn’t ask anyone for help,” Banli declared, patting his chest with pride. “The sugar’s sales channels are all up to us.”

Qi Qige turned and laughed. “You really are a blockhead.”

---

At the Southwest Marquis Manor, Qi Qige was led to the study of the old Marquis. Upon entering, he noticed a burly man with a dark complexion standing before the old Marquis—likely the deputy general Chen Sheng.

“Qi Qige, you’re here. Sit there,” the old Marquis gestured toward an empty chair, indicating for Qi Qige to wait while he continued speaking with Chen Sheng.

“So, did your general say anything else?” the old Marquis asked.

“No, nothing else,” Chen Sheng replied in a booming voice that made Qi Qige want to rub his ears.

“Nothing else? Then stop shouting! You heartless oaf, I’m already at this age, and your general still thinks it’s fine to boss me around,” the old Marquis grumbled.

After finishing his reprimand, the old Marquis turned to Qi Qige.

“What brings you here? You wouldn’t visit without a reason.”

Qi Qige stood and gave a respectful bow. “Master, I heard Qin Zhao brought a shipment of sugar here, and I’d like to inspect the quality and plan for its sale.”

The old Marquis raised an eyebrow. “So Qin Zhao asked for your help too?”

“No, of course not. But with his pride, he wouldn’t admit he needs me. That’s why he sent that little fool Banli to tag along and make sure I’d notice,” Qi Qige replied, pointing toward the door where Banli waited.

The old Marquis followed his gaze and saw Banli standing quietly outside the door, looking every bit the obedient lackey.

“Hmph, that Qin Zhao is clever. Zhang Meng, on the other hand, is too dim to realize when he’s being taken advantage of,” the old Marquis muttered as he rose to adjust his robes.

“Come on, let’s go have a look at this sweet potato sugar of his.”