Meng Jiuning loosened her grip.
She lifted her sleeve to wipe her hands, her gentle smile vanished, and her shoulders slumped.
"Happy."
Murong Xue raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?"
"I say, chatting with intelligent people is very enjoyable." Meng Jiuning rolled up her wet sleeves, revealing a section of her fair wrist. "It's tiring to speak with a smile, it's tiring to serve tea, and it's even more tiring to act like a princess of Dali."
Su Yao's hand, which was moving the abacus, stopped in mid-air, and she looked up at her.
Meng Jiuning looked at Shen Ling'er and said directly, "I did indeed put the Heart-Seeking Gu in the tea. The powder fell into the tea mist, and after inhaling it, people would lower their guard, answer any questions, and then forget what happened."
Shen Ling'er closed the medicine jar and asked, "What do you want to ask?"
"Who can speak for me in the Prince's mansion? Who is willing to help me fight for Dali's interests?" Meng Jiuning raised her hand and rubbed her temples. "I just arrived in Yi Prefecture and I've already signed a twenty-year tariff agreement, three copper mines, and a contract for stationing troops and repairing the pass. I don't even have a single trustworthy person around me. If I don't figure things out first, am I supposed to wait for someone to sell me out and then count the money?"
Murong Xue crossed her arms and looked at her. "You're quick to admit it."
"You've already charged me six hundred coins for the tea, why should I pretend to be high and mighty?" Meng Jiuning pointed at Su Yao. "This lady can even include the tung oil used for floor maintenance in her calculations. If I say a few more polite words, she can even calculate the cost of the air I breathe in the Prince's Mansion and the charcoal I use today."
After saying that, Meng Jiuning immediately reached into her sleeve, pulled out a stack of folded papers, and slapped them directly on the table.
Let's get down to business.
She unfolded the pages one by one, with the names of the cities along the southern route of Dali written at the top, and densely listed next to them the Ancient Tea Horse Road, Salt Road, passes, ferries, and the comings and goings of caravans.
"On the southern Ancient Tea Horse Road, from Jingtai City to Mojie City, approximately 1,766 caravans passed through each year. Tea bricks accounted for 60%, while salt, iron, and medicinal herbs accounted for 40%. There were twelve checkpoints along the way, but only five of them were able to collect sufficient customs duties."
Su Yao reached out and pressed down on the corner of the paper, her eyes fixed on the numbers. "What do you mean by this to give to Great Yan?"
" Yi Prefecture caravans will have priority passage. Your people will be stationed at the southern checkpoints, and the collected customs duties will be divided according to the contract." Meng Jiuning raised her chin. " The Dali royal family will take 40%, Yi Prefecture will take 40%, and the remaining 20% will be used for repairing checkpoints and maintaining troops along the route."
Su Yao didn't respond immediately, but tapped her fingertips lightly on the table.
Meng Jiuning casually turned to the second page. "If you think forty percent is too little, the Prince's Mansion can take fifty percent."
"You're so generous, what do you want?" Su Yao asked.
"I think it's worth it to give this money to the royal palace, which is good at fighting wars, building roads, and even forcing people to work in latrines."
Murong Xue snorted, "Your way of praising people is quite strange."
"I haven't praised you yet." Meng Jiuning turned to her, "I heard that you can break three wooden stakes with one whip in the training ground, and when you're close, you specialize in hitting your opponent's wrists, ribs, and knees. Your moves aren't fancy; your strength lies in speed."
Murong Xue raised her chin slightly. "Where did you hear that from?"
"I've heard that the Northern Territory Princess is renowned." Meng Jiuning replied calmly.
Murong Xue pressed her fingers against the soft whip at her waist, and finally lifted her eyelids.
Meng Jiuning then looked at Lin Qingdai: "I've also heard of Sister Lin's sword. It's only meant to kill when drawn. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask her about it."
If a Tubo assassin approaches from behind, should I block with my arms or protect my throat first?
Lin Qingdai folded the deerskin neatly and said coldly, "Neither way is good; we should keep everyone away."
"That's... yes, but what if?"
"Then quickly turn to the side, move your heels outward, and strike." Lin Qingdai picked up a chopstick from the table and gestured in the air.
Meng Jiuning immediately picked up another chopstick and tried it out, just like she had done.
"Thank you for your explanation, Sister Lin."
She bowed, turned around, took out a piece of paper, and handed it to Liu Ruyan.
This one is for you.
Liu Ruyan didn't even look at it, and asked, "What is it?"
"The twelve marquises of Dali, the four princes, the six border generals, and the locations of their mistresses, concubines, and private treasuries," Meng Jiuning said, resting her chin on her hand. "Among them, three hid gold and silver in the cellars of their mistresses' families; two smuggled military rations out in the form of tea bricks; and one marquis liked to have people sing in his study before discussing military affairs."
Liu Ruyan took the paper, glanced at it, and her expression finally changed.
"The princess is quite amazing."
Meng Jiuning leaned back in her chair. "I can give you the list, provided you don't treat me like a decorative vase who only serves tea. I know a lot, but I don't have any soldiers, while His Highness Prince Yi does, so..."
"Got it, you're here to suck up to someone." Su Yao pressed the southern map under the abacus. "Remember, sucking up is fine, but don't touch me inappropriately."
Meng Jiuning nodded, "I've come seeking benefits, soldiers, a way to survive, and also to be allowed to take Dali."
Xie Wanqing pushed the peeled pumpkin seeds in front of her. "Then why did you use witchcraft?"
"Because of fear."
Meng Jiuning answered quickly, grabbing a pumpkin seed and cracking open the shell with her fingernail, "I said the wrong thing in the Dali court, and I was the one who died, but it also implicated my brother and mother. Now that I'm in Yi Prefecture, I can't even tell who among you is truly helping me."
She put the melon seeds in her mouth and chewed them slowly.
I dare not gamble.
The warm room quieted down, and the crackling sound of charcoal cracking in the brazier fell beside the table legs.
At that very moment.
Footsteps sounded outside the door.
Uncle Fu reported through the door, "Your Highness, the ladies are all in the warm chamber."
The door was pushed open, Gu Moran walked in, wearing a fox fur coat.
His gaze swept across the table, landing on the scattered contracts, maps, and the stack of imperial family members' names, before finally settling on the fine beads of sweat on Meng Jiuning's forehead.
Upon seeing Gu Moran arrive, Meng Jiuning's eyes lit up. She leaned forward, adopting a posture of feigned innocence despite being wronged.
The short blade in Lin Qingdai's hand tapped lightly against the edge of the table.
A ding sound.
Xie Wanqing placed the plate of pumpkin seeds next to Gu Moran, which conveniently blocked Meng Jiuning's view.
"Your Highness, we were having a pleasant conversation," she said gently.
Gu Moran glanced at everyone, then at Meng Jiuning: "Then you all continue your conversation. I'm just passing by."
Meng Jiuning opened her mouth.
"Your Highness, you..."
"The ladies are in charge of matters in the backyard." Gu Moran turned to leave, "You all continue, don't stop just because I came in."
Meng Jiuning was stunned.
My biggest mistake today was trying to bypass these women and go directly to Gu Moran.
This royal residence is actually run by a woman?
The wind outside seeped in through the crack in the door, causing the map of Dali on the table to flip over, revealing another piece of paper underneath.
The paper only had three place names written on it.
Mojie City, Jingtai City, Moon Spring.
Liu Ruyan pressed her fingers against the corner of the paper, preventing it from being blown away by the wind.