The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 535: Sell Me the Recipe

Prince Liang Mansion.

East Arrival Courtyard.

Inspired by the purple aura from the east.

This is Huangfu Yuxuan’s courtyard.

Although this isn’t the main courtyard, it’s much more guarded than the main one.

At this moment, Huangfu Yuxuan stands with his hands behind his back in the hall, a chilling coldness between his handsome brows. A few days ago, he was drunkenly brought back by Cui Huai and Hong Jie, and this incident felt like a blunder to him.

Intended to further investigate Xia Wenjin, but ended up too intoxicated to remember anything?

He usually handles alcohol well, with few able to outdrink him, yet he collapsed after only three jin. And Xia Wanqing, who is a gallant hero of the Jianghu, hearty by nature and known for drinking big bowls, usually drinks much more, yet wasn’t even close.

In contrast, Miss Xia, a young lady, drank as much as him, yet didn’t pass out.

Instinctively, he sensed something was amiss. Since something was wrong, he couldn’t ignore it.

After a short time, Hong Jie entered and said, "Young Master, the person is brought."

Huangfu Yuxuan replied indifferently, "Please let them in!" Despite using the word ’please’, his tone held no warmth whatsoever.

The person who walked in from outside was none other than Yan Zui Xuan’s boss, Yan Huanlin.

Wearing a stone blue silk robe, Yan Huanlin lacked Huangfu Yuxuan’s dominating aura but carried a merchant’s amiable diplomacy. He bowed and greeted, "Yan Huanlin greets Second Young Master!"

His every move seemed less like a profit-seeking businessman, more like a scholar well-versed in poetry and books.

Huangfu Yuxuan turned his head, the long eyes held an oppressive gaze, as though intending to see straight through someone.

Yan Huanlin stood there, allowing himself to be watched, spine straight, expression unperturbed.

Huangfu Yuxuan retracted the imposing gaze, saying, "Please have a seat, Boss Yan!"

Yan Huanlin bowed in thanks and sat in the guest seat, as a servant served tea, Yan Huanlin spoke, "I wonder what Second Young Master calls me for? Is there anything I may be of service for?"

Huangfu Yuxuan looked at him, "Boss Yan, do you remember the incident from the day before yesterday?"

"Oh, I remember!" Yan Huanlin said, "It is my honor that Second Young Master and Miss Xia patronized my inn business!"

"You know Miss Xia?" Huangfu Yuxuan immediately seized upon the point, as Xia Wanqing was also present at that time, yet Yan Huanlin didn’t mention him.

Yan Huanlin smiled slightly, "Yes, I’ve crossed paths with Miss Xia a few times!"

"Where did you meet?"

Yan Huanlin said, "I hail from Yunzhou and have an inn there as well. Half a year ago, someone caused trouble at my family’s inn, and Miss Xia stood up and spoke righteously; that’s how I met her."

"Is her martial prowess high?"

"I don’t know about that, she didn’t resort to fighting. Those people were simply causing a scene without justification, and Miss Xia, speaking earnestly, made them feel ashamed and they left sulkily!"

Huangfu Yuxuan’s lips curled into a slight smile; he could almost envision the scene.

Xia Wenjin would actually stick up for others, step in when seeing injustice?

But he quickly became at ease. After all, she grew up in the Jianghu, raised in Haotian Village. Besides, feeling her martial skills were remarkable, such acts weren’t surprising.

Unfortunately, her temperament was free-spirited; for him to have her willingly marry him would require some more planning.

He stifled the smile by his lips, saying, "So are you very familiar with her?"

Yan Huanlin replied, "Not so much familiarity. I’m just a businessman, and Miss Xia was a guest at my inn and helped to solve a problem. Coming to the Capital City where one is unfamiliar, seeing an acquaintance from Yunzhou was indeed delightful!"

"So the wine you sold to Miss Xia that day, what kind was it?" Huangfu Yuxuan felt something unsettling about that wine.

Yan Huanlin chuckled, revealing confidence, "That wine is exclusive to our Yan Zui Xuan called Apricot Blossom Drunk Spring Rain. Yan Zui Xuan encountered some troubles previously; thankfully, its uniqueness helped us avert danger, allowing Yan Zui Xuan to overcome hard times. Brewing this wine isn’t easy; it requires specific timing, location, and temperature, and even strict water requirements, so the output is limited. Capital City’s Yan Zui Xuan just received a tiny batch. Initially, it wasn’t for sale, but Miss Xia was the first familiar face from Yunzhou to arrive at the Capital City, so we made an exception to sell her a few casks!"

Huangfu Yuxuan continued to observe the subtle shifts in Yan Huanlin’s expression without missing a nuance.

I’ve known people’s hearts since childhood, able to discern truth from falsehood in speech, but from Yan Huanlin’s face, only saw a fitting smile and genuine sincerity in his eyes.

After my suspicions arose that day, I investigated the relationship between Xia Wenjin and Yan Zui Xuan. So far, Xia Wenjin and Yan Zui Xuan’s boss were truly just casual acquaintances.

Indeed, I already know about Yan Zui Xuan; an old brand from Yunzhou. The Yan Family Master evidently harbors greater ambitions, having recently taken over, implemented a series of reforms, and improved Yan Zui Xuan’s business in Yunzhou while beginning to expand branches, reaching into the Capital City.

For business expansion, developing in the Capital City is indeed the best choice; every ambitious merchant would choose this, nothing suspicious there.

The only suspicious thing now is that wine.

Every inn has its own specialties and treasured items. Previously, Yunzhou’s Yan Zui Xuan didn’t have Apricot Blossom Drunk Spring Rain, which gained swift fame in the past year and became Yan Zui Xuan’s trump card.

Huangfu Yuxuan couldn’t help but press his temples. That wine truly was exquisite, comparable to the finest Imperial Wine he’d ever tasted. Those Imperial Wines, back when Father Wang was the Crown Prince, received more frequent palace rewards; now they are rare.

He asked, "Is the recipe for Apricot Blossom Drunk Spring Rain inherited?"

Yan Huanlin shook his head, "No, it’s a recipe I acquired through fortunate chance. Truthfully, Yan Zui Xuan’s situation was worrying; at first, I didn’t think the recipe could revive Yan Zui Xuan, but the results truly were achieved, making the Silver spent on it worthwhile!"

"You mean you bought this recipe?"

"Yes!"

Huangfu Yuxuan squinted slightly, "I want this recipe, would you be willing to sell?" He also has an inn, wanting such a recipe to make his inn stand out.

More importantly, having such fine wine would be more effective for befriending fellow wine enthusiasts.

Yan Huanlin widened his eyes in surprise, then said, "I beg Second Young Master to spare us, this wine is the fundamental groundwork for Yan Zui Xuan’s livelihood, without this recipe, Yan Zui Xuan wouldn’t exist in the world!"

Yet in his heart, he thought, damn truly shameless, uttering such words? An exclusive recipe like this, vital for survival, common knowledge indeed, surely this man knows? Yet still makes such a shameless request.