Chapter 40: Chapter 40 – Silver Bay.

Silver Bay was a very different city to the Capital. There was less traffic on the water, but it was still busy. If the kingdom were reorganised on commercial lines, then the Bay was a better commercial hub than the Capital. The only real advantage to the Capital was that it was closer to the mainland.

That was enough of an advantage for most cultivators though. Another major difference was that Silver Bay City did not have multiple major sects competing for the territory. There was only one major Sect in Silver Bay city and that was the Silver Waters Sect.

The Sect had been established in the Bay and that is why they named it after the place. There had been a long-standing rivalry between the Royal Clan and the Silver Waters Sect.

Xiulan was speculating if that is what the Princess wanted from her. Some kind of help with her rivals. Xiulan’s actions might end up hurting the Sect anyway. If she built her canal, then far less trade would have to go through the Bay and the Businesses that the Sect owned would lose money.

The Opulence had come to a stop in the middle of the Bay. It was early morning and the reason for the Bay’s name was clear. In the morning light the water appeared silver in colour. Some local mineral leeched from the stones and sand accumulating in the water of the Bay and allowing for the colour change.

Xiulan had had the twins wake up the whole boat very quietly except for Meirong. The beautiful setting seemed like the perfect place for a proposal.

Xiulan was standing in front of the doorway that led up from the Cabins and the other occupants of the boat were lined up against the railing.

Soon Xiulan heard the sound of Meirong’s footsteps, and she came out cursing, “I cannot believe they let me sleep in again. I told them to wake me up.”

She came up from below deck and was instantly stunned. A musician started to play a soothing, hopeful tune as soon as she emerged. Xiulan was wearing a beautiful dress of red and white and was beaming at Bai Meirong.

Xiulan took a deep breath and said, “Bai Meirong would you do me, Long Xiulan the honour of marrying me.”

Meirong took a second to register what was happening before she started to cry and choked out, “Yes. Yes, I will marry you Long Xiulan.”

Meirong rushed into Xiulan’s arms buried her head in Xiulan’s chest. Still crying with joy, she pinched Xiulan surreptitiously and questioned, “why didn’t you warn me? I would have worn something nicer. Everybody is watching us, and I only have a simple traveling dress on.

Xiulan grinned at her and responded, “you look beautiful, and I wanted it to be a surprise.”

The musician had changed to a joyful upbeat tune and Xiulan called out to the assembled crowd, “now let us feast! My Fiancé will join us after she has changed into her cloths.”

With a snap Xiulan summoned some Golden Hand members who carried with them a dress Xiulan had special ordered from the Capital. It was deep purple with golden patterns of embroidery.

Bai Meirong fell in love with it instantly and went below decks to put it on. The Opulence was stocked with all of the finest food that the Combine had on offer, so Xiulan had arranged a banquet on the deck. Trestle tables were set up and piled high with fruits and meats. The Opulence had a fine kitchen and Zheng Ling was also a brilliant baker as well as doctor. She had made cakes and other sweet treats.

When Meirong returned, she and Xiulan sat at a high table set up by the helm and watched the feast below.

It did not take long for people to start to pair off and begin dancing. Yen Wen led Zheng Ling in some sort of traditional tribal dance of her people. It did not really fit the harp music, clearly having been created with drums in mind but the two looked like they were having fun.

Wine flowed in abundance and soon everyone on the Opulence was at least slightly intoxicated. The Princess was sitting at the high table with Xiulan and Meirong. It would have been improper to seat a royal anywhere but at the high seat. She had been enjoying the scene very much and was even tapping her foot to the tune of the music.

The water of the Bay began to lose its silver colour and return to blue as morning turned to afternoon.

Suddenly the Princess whipped her head to look out over the water behind them back at the land. “It looks like you will have a few gate-crashes,” she commented, pointing out over the water.

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A pair of cultivators were running across the water. They were using some kind of technique to stay above the water without sinking and little flares of silver Qi splashed up whenever one of their feet hit the ocean.

It did not take them long to reach the ship and they gracefully leapt onto the railing on the port side.

The musicians had stopped playing and the crowd had stopped their merry making. The pair was comprised of a man and a woman. They were clearly related probably brother and sister. They had silver hair, which one of the twins whispered in Xiulan’s ear, meant that they were the children of the Silver Waters Sect’s Patriarch.

Xiulan did not bother to appraise them. This would not likely become an open conflict and besides their worth was probably not a price Xiulan could pay to eliminate at the moment.

Instead, she stood and said, “welcome esteemed guests of the Silver Waters Sect. What can I do for you?”

The man spoke in reply, “oh we were just interested to see who dared to have a party in our Bay without inviting us.”

Xiulan wanted to roll her eyes. It was always about face with these cultivators. She instead smiled and keeping her tone pleasant noted, “on this is not a party. It is only a small celebration for my engagement to my fiancé. We only have the crew from the ship onboard and those who were already traveling with us.”

“Still,” said the man with impatience “the use of our waters for a celebration requires our permission. We can hear your music from the city, and you are disturbing the training of our disciples.”

Before Xiulan could respond Princess Lijuan stood up drawing attention to herself. “Your waters Xu Ya? Since when did the Royal Clan seed this land fully to the control of your Sect?”

Xu Ya narrowed his eyes at the Princess, “greeting’s Princess Lijuan. It is not often that the royal clan graces the west with their presence. I apologies. If this is your boat, then of course we will waive the anchorage tax.”

The Princess snapped back, “it is not my boat, and you have no right to charge an anchorage tax on any Kingdom vessel. Now if there is nothing else you are interrupting the festivities.”

Xu Ya looked to his sister who shook her head and then said with a snarl, “very well Princess we will leave. I hope you enjoy your time so far from home.”

The pair dived over the side and dashed back towards the buildings of the city.

“Well played,” said Xiulan.

Princess Lijuan smiled and responded, “they were not very hard to deal with.”

Xiulan shook her head and said, “I did not mean that. I meant in making an association between me and the Royal Clan. No one will believe I am independent now.”

Princess Lijuan pursed her lips, “is that such a bad thing?”

Xiulan shrugged and said, “not necessarily but I am a merchant, and fewer enemies is good for business.”

The party continued and that night Xiulan spent some time exclusively with Meirong.

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