The fox borrowing the tiger's might

Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, Li Ziye ran to the west wing to spar with Bai Wangyu.

The result...

Best left unmentioned.

"The Flying Immortal Formula you just used, Brother Li, is the hardest cultivation art in the world to master. I heard you've been practicing it for less than a month. To attain such proficiency in a month, and even exchange three moves with me using this art alone, you truly are a heaven-sent genius," Bai Wangyu said, as earnest as ever.

"..."

Li Ziye sat on the ground, drenched in sweat, feeling rather like crying.

If Bai Wangyu hadn't looked so sincere, he really would have suspected the fellow of mocking him in a roundabout way!

Three moves, and that was with this fellow suppressing his cultivation. Heavens, was he supposed to go on living like this?

"Little brother, it's time to go."

Just then, Li Youwei approached the west wing and reminded him.

Hearing her, Li Ziye immediately stood up. He had nearly forgotten their real business.

After two steps, Li Ziye stopped again and looked back at Little Red Riding Hood, a big bad wolf's smile spreading across his face. "Brother Bai, why don't you come along?"

Bai Wangyu gave a slight nod upon hearing this, without asking where they were going.

The Merchant Alliance, Apricot Garden.

An autumn breeze stirred gently. The leaves of the apricot trees throughout the garden had long since turned golden, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

The representatives of all three parties had arrived in the garden, accompanied by some of their younger family members, who had come to broaden their horizons.

The Zhangsun Family, the Merchant Alliance, and the Yin Family Bank could be called the three wealthiest powers in the capital, and all had formidable backing.

The Zhangsun Family in particular had the current empress of the Great Shang Dynasty behind them. Their power could be said to reach the heavens, and precisely because of this, although their business ventures had begun the latest, they had grown the fastest.

The Merchant Alliance and the Yin Family Bank likewise had support from forces within the imperial court, making them powers none dared underestimate.

Today, all three had gathered to jointly decide how the capital's commercial territory would be divided.

"The Li Family's representatives have arrived."

Just then, the announcement rang out, instantly silencing the lively banquet.

Everyone looked toward the garden entrance.

Under everyone's gaze, three figures strode toward them. The young man in the lead wore cloud brocade, his face like polished jade and his bearing that of a banished immortal. Truly, a man like jade upon the country path, a young master without equal in the world.

"The Li Family's legitimate son!"

The representatives of all three parties looked surprised when they saw the young man in the lead.

The Li Family's legitimate son really was an impressive-looking young man. No wonder he had been able to become that Plum Blossom Immortal Sword's disciple.

Among the three parties' representatives, ripples stirred in the eyes of many younger women when they saw Li Ziye.

Li Ziye swept his gaze over the crowd, feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Now this was more like it. The people he had met before were all old monsters who looked at him as though he were an idiot.

But before Li Ziye could feel proud, the three parties' representatives spotted the white-robed man behind him. Their expressions changed in surprise, and they immediately rose to welcome him.

"Young Master Bai, what brings you here in person?"

The three parties' representatives offered their greetings with ingratiating smiles.

Bai Wangyu was the Confucian School's eldest senior brother, after all. His standing was transcendent, and he was extremely likely to become the Confucian School's leader in the future.

"Bai Wangyu! It's Bai Wangyu!"

The younger women brought along by the three parties also recognized Bai Wangyu now and cried out in delighted excitement, forgetting their composure.

"..."

Li Ziye deeply regretted it. Had he known, he would never have brought this enormous third wheel.

Wasn't this stealing his thunder?

Behind Li Ziye, Bai Wangyu remained unmoved by the representatives' flattery and said calmly, "Brother Li asked me to come, so I came."

At his words, everyone present was startled.

The Li Family's legitimate son had asked him to come?

What did the Confucian School's eldest senior brother mean by that?

At that moment, everyone's gaze toward the Li Family's legitimate son changed.

Seeing this, Li Ziye straightened his back, his heart blossoming with joy. He had known bringing Little Red Riding Hood along was the right choice.

"Young Master Li, please, come in!"

Everyone made way, their attitudes changed and thoughts flashing through their minds.

What did the Confucian School mean by sending Bai Wangyu?

Could the Confucian School also be siding with the Li Family? Hadn't they only summoned the Li Family's legitimate son yesterday to call him to account?

Watching their changing expressions, Li Ziye's lips curved slightly, and he walked toward the banquet.

The three took their seats, Bai Wangyu and Li Youwei sitting on either side of Li Ziye. Their relative standing was clear at a glance.

At this sight, everyone present was even more astonished.

"Young Master Li, shall we continue discussing our cooperation?"

A steward of the Zhangsun Family spoke with an affable manner.

"Certainly!"

Li Ziye answered decisively, then looked at the woman beside him and whispered, "Sister Youwei, how should I negotiate?"

"Ask for the sky, then bargain from the ground."

Li Youwei answered softly, "In short, give the three parties some hope without actually promising them anything. Divide them as much as possible."

"Solid!"

Li Ziye gave her a thumbs-up, then turned toward the representatives of the three parties and smiled. "Let's begin."

"Young Master Li, our Merchant Alliance still hopes to cooperate with the Li Family in the soap and perfume business. As for the profits, we would split them fifty-fifty. The Li Family provides the formulas, and our Merchant Alliance provides the connections. We would help one another for mutual benefit!"

The Merchant Alliance's representative spoke with a sincere expression.

"Ten-ninety!"

Li Ziye picked up a cup of tea and tossed out the figures.

"Pfft!"

Across from him, the representatives of the other two parties spat out their tea and exchanged glances.

The Merchant Alliance's representative's expression turned extremely ugly. "Young Master Li, our Merchant Alliance has come to discuss cooperation in all sincerity. Please take this a little more seriously."

"I am being serious."

Li Ziye took a sip of tea. "Only our Li Family has the formulas for soap and perfume. As for connections, the Merchant Alliance has them, but so do the Zhangsun Family and the Yin Clan. Our Li Family doesn't necessarily have to work with the Merchant Alliance. Everyone here is intelligent. Merchants pursue profit. Whichever party offers our Li Family the highest price is the one we'll work with."

At these words, the Merchant Alliance's representative looked even worse, while thoughts stirred in the eyes of the representatives of the Zhangsun Family and the Yin Family Bank.

How could they fail to hear that Li Ziye was trying to divide the three of them? Still, they had to admit that his words were very tempting.

"Young Master Li, our Yin Clan is very interested in the Li Family's glass business. How about this? The Li Family takes sixty percent, and our Yin Clan takes forty," the Yin Clan's representative said, offering as much sincerity as he could.

"Hmm..."

Li Ziye considered briefly, then looked toward the Zhangsun Family's representative. "And you?"

The Zhangsun Family's representative was a middle-aged man. However, everyone present knew that the true helmswoman of the Zhangsun Family's business was the woman beside him.

Dressed in a long gown, with lovely features and dark hair cascading like a waterfall, she appeared to be around thirty. She possessed both a young girl's beauty and a mature woman's allure, drawing repeated sidelong glances from the men present.

Zhangsun Nanqiao, the Zhangsun Family's third daughter and the current empress's younger sister, had returned to the Zhangsun Family after her husband's death ten years earlier and had never remarried. Her thoughts ran extremely deep; she was a poisonous rose covered in thorns.

"Our Zhangsun Family wants the Li Family's saltpeter ice-making and liquor-brewing techniques. As long as the Li Family is willing to part with them, the terms are negotiable."

Under everyone's gaze, Zhangsun Nanqiao, who had yet to state her position, spoke.

At her words, everyone present exchanged glances. What an enormous appetite.

Rather than discuss cooperation, she wanted to buy the Li Family's techniques outright. This was drawing the firewood from beneath the cauldron. Ruthless indeed.

Even though they had the same idea, none of them dared say it openly.

"Straightforward."

Hearing the woman's words, Li Ziye smiled. "It's not impossible for you to obtain the Li Family's techniques. But what price can the Zhangsun Family pay?"

"What would you like, Young Master Li?"

A radiant smile appeared on Zhangsun Nanqiao's beautiful face. "Whatever you desire, our Zhangsun Family will certainly do its utmost to satisfy you."

"I want..."

Li Ziye stared at the woman before him and slowly said, "You!"

"Pfft!"

This time, not only the three parties' representatives but even Bai Wangyu beside him spat out their tea.

At the banquet, the younger women from every party looked disappointed. They had never expected the Li Family's legitimate son to be such a frivolous-tongued lecher.

Only Li Youwei showed no unusual reaction. Instead, she looked at Zhangsun Nanqiao very seriously, examining her from head to toe to see whether she met the standards for a Li Family daughter-in-law.

Hmm...

She was a little older, but she had kept herself in good shape. Big breasts and a big bottom, too. She would do.

Li Ziye had no idea what wild and ferocious thoughts were going through his elder sister's head. Otherwise, the shock would surely have fried him crisp outside and tender within.

At the banquet, Li Ziye's single remark had made the whole atmosphere rather strange.

"All right!"

Just as everyone shakily raised their tea to steady their nerves, Zhangsun Nanqiao answered with a smile, "As long as the Li Family is willing to part with those techniques, Young Master Li's condition is not beyond discussion!"

"Pfft!"

And so, everyone present spat out their tea once again.

Could they still have a proper discussion or not?

They had somehow turned a business negotiation into an affair of love between a man and a woman.

But after hearing Zhangsun Nanqiao's reply, the smile on Li Ziye's face disappeared instead, and his expression grew serious.

This woman was not easy to deal with.

"All right, jokes aside, let me state the Li Family's position."

Li Ziye swept his gaze over everyone present and said calmly, "The Li Family is indeed looking for a partner, but only one. Whether it's perfume, soap, or glass, we can offer all of those businesses for cooperation. As for the profits, our Li Family wants seventy percent!"

"Seventy percent?"

Everyone present was startled by his words.

That was simply too much.

Even if the Li Family held all the techniques, they could not open their lion's mouth so wide.

"That is all I have to say. Please consider it carefully."

With that, Li Ziye ignored everyone's reactions and rose to leave.

"I'll see you out, Young Master Li."

Zhangsun Nanqiao also stood and came forward to escort him.

At the banquet, everyone's expression darkened when they saw Zhangsun Nanqiao's actions.

Could Zhangsun Nanqiao really be planning to swallow the Li Family's business all by herself?

Before Apricot Garden, Zhangsun Nanqiao and Li Ziye walked side by side. Bai Wangyu, oblivious to the situation, was about to follow when Li Youwei caught hold of him.

"Learn to read the room," Li Youwei chided softly.

Bai Wangyu paused, offered no argument, and followed silently behind.

Up ahead, Zhangsun Nanqiao looked at the young man beside her and said gently, "Young Master Li, I heard that you invented all these unusual things the Li Family sells. Is that true?"

"No."

Li Ziye denied it without hesitation. "Rumors can't be trusted."

Hearing this, Zhangsun Nanqiao was not disappointed. Instead, a radiant smile appeared on her face. "Young Master Li, that condition of yours really is open to discussion."