The room fell quiet for a few breaths.
Wu Yanluo looked at Yi Yang's impassive face, and the silver bell on her ankle swayed gently.
She turned to glance at Wu Ge.
Wu Ge rested his hand on his curved saber. He said nothing, only nodded slightly.
Wu Yanluo withdrew her gaze and straightened. The lively curiosity on her face faded, replaced by a gravity that did not quite suit her age as she said:
"Since you've asked, Lord Yi, I'll lay everything out."
She paused, choosing her words before continuing:
"You're right, Lord Yi."
"This matter really isn't that simple."
"There are traitors within our Shaman Kingdom who want to stir up trouble and sabotage this border trade with Great Yu."
Yi Yang kept his hand still around his teacup, listening to her explanation while turning it over in his mind.
Wu Yanluo continued, "Before we came to Qing Province, the Shaman Kingdom's Royal Court held a court deliberation on border trade. It was approved, and our delegation was sent here to negotiate. Those harboring disloyal intentions couldn't block it during the deliberation. After all, the tide was moving that way. The Shaman Kingdom lacks grain, iron, and medicinal herbs. Without trading with Great Yu for those things, the border tribes won't survive the next winter."
"But approval doesn't mean everyone accepts it."
Her fingers unconsciously fiddled with the silver bell on her ankle, and her voice dropped a little.
"After arriving in Qing Province, we negotiated terms with the Trade and Commerce Office. We took quite a few losses, but the agreement has been signed. At this point, those people inside the Shaman Kingdom have no way to overturn it through normal means."
Yi Yang set down his teacup and finished her thought. "So they intend to use