Dugu Lan let out a long, irritated breath. "How dare these people treat the Prince of Martial Accomplishment's Household as though it were nothing? Never mind the Lihai Military Governor's Office-they're outsiders of another tradition, after all, so we can't count on them. But even those merchants from the Shan Kingdom offered pleasant words while merely going through the motions. That's intolerable. Aren't they afraid of being called to account by the prince's household?"
Xiao Qiang continued looking at her hands. Since marrying into the Prince of Martial Accomplishment's Household, she had grown ever colder and more aloof, as though she took nothing to heart. Her lineage had reaped the benefits; she was nothing more than a tool.
Thus, she was indifferent to this failure too. When their ship had been attacked, she had also been the first to give up, as though the things being stolen were not hers. In this respect, the two sisters were very different.
"You're overthinking things, Sister. Shanmen Quanzhen has thirteen Infant Transformation Ancestors. The Prince of Martial Accomplishment isn't the only household among them. Besides, with opposing factions and the Three Offices hampering one another, even if the Prince's Manor wanted to do something, it might not get its way.
"As far as I know, the Prince of Martial Accomplishment's Household firmly supports the Fusion Faction. That alone means the Minister of Works and Minister of Justice Prefectures can't do it any favors. What's this about calling people to account? This is the household's private business. What right does it have to blame anyone else?"
Dugu Lan was left spluttering. "Are we supposed to fill this hole ourselves, then?"
Xiao Qiang sneered. "Could we? Our families could just about scrape enough together if they searched high and low, but what do you think