"Of course it's my..." Before Yan could finish speaking, Xu Wei looked up and met Emperor Mingxi's cold, piercing gaze.
He quickly shrank back and changed his tune, saying, "I am a merchant from the friendly Nanzhao Kingdom of the Great Yan Dynasty, a merchant from Nanzhao!"
"A merchant from Nanzhao? Not an envoy from Nanzhao? I heard that everyone in Peach Blossom Lane today is an envoy from various countries. How could a mere merchant attend such a banquet?"
Xu Wei, do you think I'm so easily fooled? Tell me, what is the punishment for deceiving the emperor?
“Brother, no, Your Majesty…” Princess Taikang felt sorry for Emperor Mingxi when she saw that he had frightened her husband so much that his face turned ashen, and she wanted to say a few words to defend him.
Meeting Emperor Mingxi's icy gaze, Princess Taikang, like Xu Wei, shrank back and dared not say another word.
Seeing that even his patron, Princess Taikang, had been rebuffed, Xu Wei tried his best to defend himself, saying, "Your Majesty is wise; my friend was truly just a merchant."
He… he traveled north with the Nanzhao delegation and became quite familiar with the people in the delegation along the way, which is why he had the opportunity to discuss cooperation matters with me in a corner of the banquet.”
[He's heading north with the delegation? He thinks the people of Nanzhao are like the Xia family's military commanders, capable of protecting their own merchants! Friendly relations between the military and civilians!]
"Maybe their family has connections?"
Seeing that the time was right, Emperor Mingxi revealed his true intentions, saying, "I'm very curious, tell me what kind of business you discussed with him?"
Emperor Mingxi instantly withdrew the chill from his body, as if the ice and snow had melted away. He leaned back in his chair, pretending to relax, and adopted a casual, conversational posture.
Xu Wei's expression visibly stiffened, and his eyes unconsciously became somewhat unfocused. "This, this is all small business, all output from the estate, not worth anything!"
[Master, he's lying. He definitely knows something about the effects of poppies!]
“Xu Wei, my patience is limited. I only listen to the truth. As you know, the people in the mission are still being held. This question isn’t something that can only be asked of you.”
He then turned to Princess Taikang, "I'm only giving you this opportunity because of Taikang. If you don't want to talk, I won't force you. You may leave now!"
He waved his hand impatiently at the family, like shooing away flies.
Princess Taikang knew from Mingxi's actions that he was definitely angry, so she quickly tugged at her husband's sleeve and whispered, "Say something! If you anger my brother, our whole family will suffer!"
Does he think he's some kind of high-ranking royal princess?
She can act coquettishly and foolishly in front of His Majesty, but that's a game for siblings, not for her!
“Your Majesty, we…we were talking about the imperial rice grown on my estate. My friend wants to buy it in large quantities, and we’ve been discussing the purchase price.”
He then said to Princess Taikang, "I did nothing in Peach Blossom Lane. You can ask your son if you don't believe me."
Xu Mao: What a father! I was doing just fine being invisible, why did you have to call me out?
Princess Taikang hadn't initially noticed the special nature of Peach Blossom Lane, but after his reminder, she instantly realized something was amiss. Seeing her eldest son's embarrassed and guilty expression, and considering the events surrounding the Qi Prince's family…
Her anger flared instantly. If it weren't for the fact that the three leaders were sitting above her, she would have beaten this bastard to death right now.
Seeing that his mother's expression was not right, Xu Mao shrank back and completely distanced himself from his own parents.
Xu Mao: If Mom hits Dad, then she can't hit me!
Emperor Mingxi ignored the family's intrigue and only asked, "Why is he collecting imperial rice? If I remember correctly, the flowers of imperial rice are beautiful, but the seeds don't seem to be of much use, do they?"
"Not very useful? That shows a lack of understanding, doesn't it?"
Emperor Mingxi: Very well! I am ignorant! You are so knowledgeable, then speak up! What do you mean by leaving things unsaid? If you're so capable, then tell me everything!
"Perhaps, maybe we should bring them back to Nanzhao to sell the seeds? Didn't His Majesty say the flowers were beautiful? Perhaps the people of Nanzhao like to grow flowers?"
Xu Wei looked at Emperor Mingxi with hopeful eyes, hoping that he would quickly nod in agreement with his statement.
But Emperor Mingxi shook his head and said, "You're wrong. It seems that the imperial rice was first introduced from the Nanzhao Kingdom two years ago."
They sell their own country's specialty products, then spend money to buy seeds from thousands of miles away for you. Xu Wei, do you think I'm stupid?
Emperor Mingxi, who had been smiling, grew increasingly cold; even a shard of ice could freeze the family of three to death.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I dare not. I... I heard that it is to be used in medicine. Imperial rice is a medicinal ingredient in Nanzhao."
Xu Wei spoke haltingly, his eyes darting around in his slightly drooping eyelids, his brain clearly working at high speed.
Xu Wei: You're so dense, think, think!
"Medicinal herbs, why didn't you say so earlier? I had to force you to tell me. Explain this to me, why is that?"
Emperor Mingxi instantly switched to a relaxed state, as if he hadn't been the one pressing him so hard just moments before.
【Ah! Medicinal herbs!】
"Not entirely wrong."
Emperor Mingxi: You two, that's enough! You're usually so talkative, like you're plotting against your ministers, but you've changed your tune today? You're spitting out words at a time, are you trying to drive someone crazy?
System: You're driving me crazy!
Moonlight: You!
"Your Majesty, I... I'm thinking of monopolizing this business."
Xu Wei swallowed hard and continued, "I'm thinking that as long as the price is right, I'll find someone to plant a large quantity next year, and then buy them all and sell them to my friend."
Ah...he wants to plant a lot more!
Everyone's ears were instantly hurt by the system's loud bang, and only Yue Fuguang dared to openly rub her ears.
"He even wants the middleman to pocket the difference! What a pity, he just doesn't use his business acumen for good!"
"Master, didn't you hear? He wants to plant a lot more next year, a lot more!"
Yue Fuguang felt that the system's excited tone and booming sound were a bit over the top. As a divine artifact, its emotions were too intense, and now it couldn't call "cut."
She could only try to explain, "Little bead, you are at least a three-thousand-year-old young spirit. Just think how majestic, powerful, and colorful the Boundary-Breaking Bead is!"
One should not let a small poppy cause one's moral compass to be disturbed.
Besides, with the two of us around, how would he even have the chance to grow that stuff? Just burn as many seedlings as he grows, okay?
Besides, if all else fails, you can always get rid of the people who caused the problem!
So don't rush, take your time!
The system also knew that it was too deeply influenced by the Xia Kingdom of Water Blue Star and had a very low tolerance for it. It was indeed too excited just now and broke its character!
[Oh, Master, Little Pearl is almost three years old in human years, even younger than you! I'm still a baby!]
For some reason, Xu Wei and his son Xu Mao suddenly felt a chill, especially in their heads, and felt uneasy.
"What price are you discussing? What are the medicinal effects of Imperial Rice? I've never heard the imperial physicians mention this ingredient before."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
