Duoduo stopped what she was doing and looked at Xiao Yi in disbelief.
"Pay silver? Why?"
Xiao Yi coughed and cleared his throat.
"It is good that you know the importance of understanding both yourself and your enemy."
"However, you must learn to rely on your own strength."
"Where do my information and news come from? Naturally, they are brought back by my subordinates who risk their lives."
"So, do I not need silver to support my subordinates?"
"You only keep one servant boy, Shitou, and you already know how difficult it is."
"Then your father supports so many guards. If I don't need silver, am I supposed to let them live on thin air?"
"Furthermore, since Shitou is your man, if you don't make him work for you and instead let him idle about, that is your own business."
"But, if you want to get information from me, you have to pay silver."
Duoduo stared at Xiao Yi with puffed cheeks. She wanted to retort, but subconsciously, she felt that her father was absolutely right.
Shitou had sold pastries for two days, which not only covered his own expenses but also brought Duoduo a considerable income.
Duoduo had been thinking that once they arrived in the capital, she would have Shitou do something else to make a bit more money.
As for anything else, Duoduo hadn't thought about it at all.
After boarding the ship, she had been having the time of her life playing around.
Shitou had also gotten carried away with having fun.
Duoduo looked at the letter paper on the table and asked, quite unwillingly,
"Then how much silver does Father want?"
A hint of a smile flashed through Xiao Yi's eyes. "Not much, one hundred taels."
"What? That's so expensive!" Duoduo exclaimed in surprise.
Xiao Yi nodded. "This is already a discounted price, seeing as you and I are, ahem... in the same boat."
"If you were to go anywhere else to get this information, it would cost at least three hundred taels!"
Duoduo's mouth fell wide open.
Just a piece of information was actually worth this much?
This was way more profitable than Shitou selling pastries!
Duoduo puffed out her cheeks. "I don't have that much!"
Xiao Yi nodded. "You can use your Shitou as collateral."
Duoduo's eyes went round with shock again.
"I don't want it anymore. Father, your daughter takes her leave!"
Duoduo gave a huffy bow and left.
Watching Duoduo's reaction, a broad smile suddenly broke out on Xiao Yi's face.
Xiao Yi laughed so hard that his whole body shook, and the chess piece in his hand dropped to the floor.
"Your Highness, you had already prepared this information for the Princess. Why did you deliberately say you would charge her silver? And a hundred taels at that?"
Yunxiao, who had been standing to the side like a wooden post, bent down to pick up the chess piece.
Xiao Yi slowly restrained the smile on his face.
"Yunxiao, do you know that if a person becomes too comfortable, they will become lazy."
Yunxiao nodded. "This subordinate knows, but what does that have to do with the Princess?"
Xiao Yi glanced at Yunxiao and placed the letter paper back into the small wooden box.
"Yunxiao, remember this: if you want to follow this Prince, you must learn to use your brain!"
"Alright, you may leave. Keep your mouth shut!"
Seeing Xiao Yi wave his hand, Yunxiao bowed, retreated outside, and closed the door.
Xiao Yi rubbed the chess piece that Yunxiao had picked up from the floor and shook his head.
He had seen very clearly how much fun Duoduo had been having lately.
The things Li Jin taught were, after all, only theoretical knowledge from books.
As for Duoduo, she had learned them, but she had no conscious awareness of how to apply them.
To be prepared for danger in times of peace!
Duoduo lacked this awareness.
Of course, Duoduo was young, so this was excusable.
However, Duoduo's opponent was no ordinary enemy.
Behind Song Shuyu stood Prince Ling.
Prince Ling not only had the Noble Consort supporting him, but also his mother's aristocratic family and a faction of loyal ministers helping him.
As for Xiao Yi, he only had himself and the people who had followed him along the way.
Therefore, it was destined that he and Duoduo would face far more difficulties.
Just as Duoduo had said, they were grasshoppers tied to the same string.
Thus, he needed to teach Duoduo how to handle the impending crises they were about to face.
Only by joining forces and becoming a formidable team could they possibly have a chance to turn the tide.
The best he could do was to teach Duoduo everything he knew.
Duoduo walked out of the cabin, puffing her cheeks in anger.
Her father definitely knew exactly how much silver she had made, which was why he said that on purpose!
She refused to compromise!
Duoduo walked to the stern and watched Li Jiangyu directing the boatmen.
"What's wrong? Why does this little face look like a steamed meat bun?"
Li Jiangyu caught a glimpse of her and burst into laughter.
Duoduo rubbed her cheeks and started laughing as well.
"Li Jiangyu, can I ask you a question?"
Li Jiangyu looked at the direction the ship was heading and nodded. "Sure, what do you want to ask?"
"Did you frequently travel this route in the past?"
Li Jiangyu shook his head. "We run all over the country. I've sailed the route to the capital before, but not often."
"Then how do you know where the hidden reefs and undercurrents are beneath the water?"
Li Jiangyu let out a hearty laugh.
"So that's what you wanted to ask. It's quite simple."
"First of all, since we make our living on the water, we naturally build good relationships with the local boatmen."
"When our ship docks at a pier, we chat up the local boatmen."
"We trade goods with them and exchange information. They tell us what situations to expect on which routes."
"Secondly, you have to rely on your own experience."
"Whether the information others give you is true or false, you have to weigh it using your own experience."
"Look over there. The water in the distance is very turbulent, and there are whirlpools on the surface. That means there must be hidden reefs underneath."
"Finally, after sailing a route once, I memorize which sections of the river have undercurrents and which have hidden reefs."
"This way, after sailing enough times, I know these waters, big and small, like the back of my hand!"
Upon hearing this, Duoduo's eyes lit up.
What Li Jiangyu said boiled down to a few things: first, have people gather information.
Second, weigh the information yourself, and third, summarize your experiences.
Duoduo began to ponder in her heart.
She only had two subordinates under her command: Shitou and Lüdou.
She could have Shitou and Lüdou find a way to ask around and see if they could gather any news about Song Shuyu.
Boatmen traveled everywhere; maybe someone would know something!
Moreover, once they reached the capital, she would definitely cross paths with Song Shuyu.
At that time, she could use her own experience to judge what moves Song Shuyu might make.
As for the information in her father's hands...
Duoduo decided she wouldn't buy it!
She was very short on money, after all!
Just as her father said, she had people at her disposal, so why shouldn't she put them to use first?
She would try relying on her own strength first. If it really didn't work out, then she would go look for her father!
Having figured this out, Duoduo went to find Shitou.
"Shitou, I have a task for you! You must get me the results before we arrive in the capital."
"Yes, Princess, please give your orders!"
Upon hearing this, Shitou instantly perked up.
Duoduo softly whispered to Shitou what she wanted him to do.
Shitou's eyes shone. "Yes! This humble one will definitely complete the task!"
Duoduo's actions could not escape Xiao Yi's eyes.
Yunxiao sneakily glanced at Xiao Yi. "Your Highness, do you need this subordinate to give those people a warning?"
