Meng Jiuning's mouth, which could silence even the most seasoned ministers in court, was completely stuck.
She felt as if she were not sitting in the warm chambers of the Prince's mansion, but had fallen into a huge, intricate trap.
She served tea to build rapport and demonstrate her value.
But in the other party's eyes, her actions were a commercial activity that required paying for venue, labor, and materials, and also incurring a commission.
The cost of a cup, which was six copper coins, was somehow calculated to be several taels of silver.
This wasn't just a show of force; it was using logic she couldn't comprehend to quantify and price all her gestures of goodwill, turning them into a cold, hard debt.
Before she could recover from the absurdity of the accounts, Liu Ruyan, who had been leaning against the chaise longue, slowly fiddling with her newly dyed nail polish, suddenly spoke.
The voice was languid.
"Speaking of which, the tea in Dali is quite good, but I wonder how it compares to the three boxes of tribute tea from the previous dynasty that Marquis Mu of Mojie City on the southern route secretly kept?"
Meng Jiuning's heart skipped a beat.
Marquis Mu commands 30% of the troops on the southern front of Dali. He is extremely greedy and secretly flirts with the Tubo, making him the most troublesome member of the royal family for her father.
His secret hoarding of tribute tea from the previous dynasty was known to only a handful of people in the entire Dali royal family. How did this woman, far away in Yi Prefecture, find out?
Liu Ruyan seemed oblivious to her shocked expression and continued talking to herself.
"I heard that Marquis Mu took a new concubine last year named ' A Yue,' who loves to brew tea with spring water. Because of this, Marquis Mu even sent people to occupy the Moon Spring outside the city."
"Don't let Marquis Duan of Jingtai City find out about this. That lord prides himself on his refined taste and can't stand seeing such vulgar people ruining good things."
Marquis Duan of Jingtai City, who commands another 30% of the troops, has always been at odds with Marquis Mu.
Liu Ruyan's few casual words not only revealed the conflict between the two powerful marquises in Dali, but also showed them their private treasuries, hobbies, and even the names of their newly acquired concubines.
Meng Jiuning had prepared a whole host of elaborate and convoluted rhetoric to win people over, including talk of geographical advantages and the benefits of cooperation. But in the face of this incredibly precise intelligence, it all seemed pale and laughable.
She then realized that the Prince Yi's Residence's understanding of Dali far exceeded her imagination.
Her pitiful informational advantage was utterly insignificant in the face of the other side.
At this moment, Xie Wanqing, who had been sitting quietly, gently pushed a plate of freshly fried, still steaming pumpkin seeds in front of Meng Jiuning.
Her voice was as soft as water, and her movements were extremely gentle.
" Miss Meng, please try this. The prince loves it, so the ladies in the back courtyard have all learned to cook it too."
Meng Jiuning was flattered and picked up a piece, but before she could peel it, Xie Wanqing's next words came through.
"The backyard of the Prince's mansion is crowded and full of people, but everyone shares a common understanding."
Xie Wanqing's gaze fell on Meng Jiuning's hands, which were unsure of where to place due to nervousness.
"In the backyard of the Prince's mansion, everyone must work together towards the same goal."
"Your ability to look at the map of the south for the Prince is your skill; your ability to manage the mess in Dali for the Prince is your value."
"If you're just trying to get close to people and take advantage of them with your words and a few packets of tea, then I advise you to go back to your guest room in the outer courtyard as soon as possible, so as not to annoy everyone."
As soon as she finished speaking, in the shadows of the corner, Lin Qingdai, who had been silent all along, slowly and methodically used a piece of deerskin to wipe the short blade that she never parted with.
The blade was short, yet exceptionally sharp, gleaming coldly in the candlelight.
The cold light seemed to linger, whether intentionally or unintentionally, on Meng Jiuning's fair and slender neck.
Meng Jiuning felt as if her throat was being choked by the flash of the blade, and she couldn't utter a single word.
At that very moment.
"Bang!"
Murong Xue slammed her hand on the table, stood up abruptly, and cracked her wrists, making a series of crisp "crack" sounds.
She walked around the table, stood in front of Meng Jiuning, and looked down at her.
"You've been rambling on for so long, I'm tired of listening."
She grinned, revealing two pearly white canine teeth.
" Miss Meng, I just want to ask you one question: do you know kung fu or not? And can you take a beating?"
"How about we go to the training ground now and 'spar' with each other?"
Meng Jiuning sat on the rosewood chair covered with thick cushions, but felt as if countless needles were pricking her from beneath her.
She shook her head repeatedly, unsure how to answer.
My back was completely soaked with cold sweat, clinging tightly to my thin dress, both cold and sticky.
She prided herself on her intelligence and shrewdness, claiming she could outmaneuver those cunning old foxes in the Dali court, men who had lived most of their lives and whose minds were more complex than a beehive.
But here, in this small, warm room, facing six women who acted completely unpredictably, everything she was so proud of was shattered.
The attempt to use witchcraft was exposed on the spot.
Offering favors comes with a price tag.
Their intelligence advantage was ruthlessly crushed.
A warning spoken gently can be sharper than a knife.
Finally, there is this undisguised threat of force.
This series of punches, delivered with fluidity and perfect coordination, completely stunned her.
What's most terrifying about Prince Yi's Residence might not be the sharp firearms and elite soldiers in the camp outside the city.
Instead, it was the ladies in this warm chamber, casually munching on melon seeds while relentlessly rubbing her against the ground.
Each of them is capable of standing on their own.
Shen Ling'er's medical and poison skills are unfathomable.
Su Yao's scheming allows her to turn favors into business deals.
Liu Ruyan's intelligence network has likely infiltrated even under the bedchamber of the Dali royal palace.
Xie Wanqing appeared gentle, but her true nature was immediately apparent.
Lin Qingdai's knife, though taciturn, was always hovering over her head.
And then there's Murong Xue right in front of me, ready to fight at the slightest provocation.
How could these women be the ordinary jealous women vying for favors in the inner quarters of a household?
This is essentially a core team of top talents from various fields, the team behind Prince Yi!
And yet, he actually dared to dream of using the methods of women in the inner quarters to divide and win them over.
ridiculous.
That's absolutely ridiculous.
The string of pride and scheming in Meng Jiuning's heart finally snapped with a "bang".
I went to the hospital today, I'll be resting tomorrow. Happy Qixi Festival everyone!
[Thanks to: outrageous likes, Xuanxuan's milk tea, Renwei's flowers x2, Xiangshui's flowers x2 + likes, succe's capsules, Kunkun's update reminder x3, and everyone else for their love and support!]