"Working with the Ye Family might earn me a little less, but I could sleep soundly."
"Soundly?"
Li Yunrui chuckled, leaned forward, and glanced at Zhou Cheng.
She slowly picked up the teacup and brought it to her crimson lips. One sip was enough to make her frown.
"Pfft."
She spat the tea back into the cup and tossed it onto the table in disgust.
She looked at Zhou Cheng, all patience gone from her eyes.
"Chengcheng, I don't care whether you sleep, soundly or otherwise. I only want you to use Ye Wan to help me establish contact with the Western Hu."
She stood up and looked down at Zhou Cheng.
"I'm not asking for your opinion. I'm telling you what to do."
She walked around the low table and came to his side.
"Don't think that His Majesty's generous rewards mean you've been given a chance to stand on equal footing with Chengqian and Chengze."
She bent slightly and stared into his eyes.
"You are far beneath Chengqian and Chengze. What you know and see is merely the tip of the iceberg of their influence."
She straightened and pointed toward the door.
"Quite a few people visited your residence today, but what sort of people were they? A bunch of useless fools! Outsiders! Failures! Of those around you, only the Ye Family merits a glance."
She withdrew her hand and smoothed her sleeves.
"Just do as you're told and establish that connection with Ye Wan for me. When the time comes, I'll give you twenty percent of the smuggling profits. Twenty percent might not sound like much, but it'll be more than enough to cover this princely residence's expenses."
She glanced at the teacup on the table, her tone dripping with disdain.
"Once you have money, the first