Shhk-
The Prince of Badong sliced open an early green melon.
Juice spattered from the split, and the flesh collapsed like an avalanche.
The Prince of Badong released the hilt, leaving the blade wedged in the table as a few melon seeds slowly slid down its edge.
"You're all great contributors. Come, take a piece of melon each. Once you've eaten, I'm sorry to trouble you fucking gentlemen, but tell your fucking prince what the fuck, exactly the fuck, is fucking going on?"
The Prince of Badong bared his stark white teeth and smiled at the five men below him.
The four advisers-Kong Changyu, Li Jingxuan, Chen Qiming, and Guo Wenyuan-stood with their heads lowered, while Tao Rui, administrative officer of the provincial policy deliberation bureau (director of the provincial policy research office), sat stiffly upright. All five watched the "melon corpse" quiver on the table, its juices seeping into trails. No one spoke.
The Prince of Badong leaned back languidly, the corners of his mouth raised, but without a trace of amusement in his eyes. His gaze swept across their faces one by one.
"All so modest. No one has anything to say. Fine, fine, fine! Then my Zhang Liang can speak first!"
The Prince of Badong's gaze settled on Li Jingxuan, a mocking note in his voice.
"Zhang Liang? I'm talking to you! Why don't you enlighten us?
"You devised this strategy and laid out this game. Don't be modest!
"Will you need to pile rice into mountains again this time?
"Shall I have someone bring you a sack of rice right now, sir?"
Li Jingxuan swallowed and cupped his hands.
"My prince, I believe the key to the disruption of this plan was Yongning's governor, Zhang-"
The Prince of Badong abruptly leaned forward, like a tiger descending