"Impossible! This is impossible!"
He had painstakingly devised a "poisonous plan," which he originally thought would leave the enemy wishing for death.
As it turned out, they were prepared and weren't affected at all.
What kind of frustration and resentment is it when your predictions are predicted by others?
Cui Boyong's face flushed red, and he shouted angrily, "Hmph, stock up on food in advance? And you say you won't have to worry about food and drink for three to five months? You're kidding me!"
boast!
He must be bragging!
Even if Xie was a woman with some cleverness, the reality was what it was—
Where did she get so much food?
"Yes! I also think Xie is just being stubborn. She's been scared for a long time, but she's putting on a brave face for the sake of her reputation!"
As expected of Cui Boyong's wife, Madam Zheng's thoughts were remarkably aligned with his.
"Even if we assume that the Xie family did prepare some grain, what about the wine and Five-Stone Powder?"
Madam Zheng's eyes gleamed with malice. "These are not ordinary grains; they can't be bought with money alone."
Although these words were somewhat harsh and showed a disdain for the Yue Prince's Mansion, they were also the truth.
In order to curb the waste of grain by the powerful and wealthy, the imperial court issued a ban on alcohol.
Brewing and selling alcohol are prohibited.
Only a local tyrant like Cui Boyong would dare to tinker with these wines and spirits on his own, taking advantage of the fact that "the emperor is far away and the sky is high."
There's also Five-Stone Powder, which isn't something ordinary people can obtain.
The Prince of Yue's Mansion, ha, sounds noble, but it's actually quite low-class.
Madam Zheng looked down on it from the bottom of her heart. Even with Xie Ze and Cui Shi's reminders and instigations, she would at most have some doubts, but she would not really believe it.
“What you say is true, madam.”
Cui Boyong and Madam Zheng shared similar ideas.
Moreover, wine and Wushi San (a type of Chinese herbal medicine) are the things that can truly achieve the purpose of "testing".
"Someone, pass down the order that the imperial court's 'prohibition on alcohol' be strictly enforced throughout Yuezhou."
Cui Boyong shouted, "And the Five-Stone Powder is also prohibited from being sold privately."
He wanted to see clearly whether Helian Jue was truly despondent or just putting on an act!
...
"Your Highness, Governor Cui has issued an order that no one is allowed to provide the Prince's residence with wine or Five-Stone Powder in any form."
Zhao Jinxiu certainly lived up to her identity as a "double agent".
Upon returning from the governor's mansion, she excitedly ran to Xie Yuan and recounted in detail the schemes of Cui Boyong and his wife.
As she spoke, she glanced at Xie Yuan's face, "Your Highness, what should we do? Without wine and medicine, His Highness—" will go mad.
Zhao Jinxiu has not completely given up on Helian Jue.
In the past few months, Zhao Jinxiu would still occasionally go to the main courtyard to visit Helian Jue.
Unfortunately, her Prince Yue went increasingly insane.
He was disheveled, acted erratically, and did nothing but drink and take drugs.
He was also extremely violent, and would often smash people with wine jars and glasses.
Several times, Zhao Jinxiu tried to show Helian Jue her gentleness, thoughtfulness, and beauty, but as soon as she took two steps closer to him, something came flying at her.
Zhao Jinxiu hurriedly dodged, thus avoiding being hit.
Even so, the shards of porcelain nearly injured her foot.
Zhao Jinxiu was terrified, her face drained of color. The beautiful illusion she had of Helian Jue, "like a banished immortal," shattered with each of his repeated outbursts of madness.
Zhao Jinxiu could almost hear the sound of her own heart breaking—
Oh dear, if His Highness the King of Yue hadn't gone mad, he would still be a noble and handsome young master.
Being his woman, even if it's just a lowly concubine, is better than being an ordinary person or a nouveau riche bumpkin.
However, the King of Yue was truly "useless".
Zhao Jinxiu was unwilling to face this fact, but she had no choice but to!
"The Cui family is outrageous! They've gone too far!"
Xie Yuan slammed his fist on the table, feigning anger, and cursed, "It's one thing to forbid grain merchants from selling grain to the Prince's Mansion, but now you want to cut off wine and Five-Stone Powder?"
"They...they want the prince dead!"
Xie Yuan performed with all his might, but in his heart he sighed: Alas, as long as Helian Jue doesn't return, this show can't stop.
Not only her, but also the one who was impersonating Helian Jue in the courtyard was probably also eagerly anticipating Helian Jue's return.
"That's outrageous! They've really gone too far!"
Xie Yuan muttered to himself, but didn't let it interfere with his performance.
Not content with slamming the table, she jumped up and paced around the room anxiously.
"No! We can't let them succeed! The supplies to the Prince must not be cut off."
Xie Yuan seemed to have a sudden inspiration and stopped abruptly. "I've got it! The governor's mansion is not allowed to sell wine to the prince's mansion, so we can brew our own!"
"Yes! Brew it ourselves! We have no shortage of grain or craftsmen."
Xie Yuan kept rambling on and on.
Zhao Jinxiu's eyes flickered as she secretly pondered: Should she tell Madam Zheng about this?
She had a premonition that the rivalry between the Prince of Yue's residence and the Prefect's residence had reached a fever pitch.
The two sides are engaged in various open and covert struggles, and it seems they are on the verge of a complete breakdown in relations.
Caught between the Prince of Yue's mansion and the governor's mansion, Zhao Jinxiu skillfully played both sides, betraying them both.
There are no problems now, but Zhao Jinxiu knows very well that one day she will have to choose between these two forces.
She made the right choice; her previous "betrayal" was simply a matter of enduring humiliation.
If she makes the wrong choice, then she'll be a shameful opportunist, and will probably lose her life along with the losing side!
Zhao Jinxiu's mind became conflicted.
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