"Of course, it's my Great..." Before Xu Wei could finish speaking, he looked up to meet Emperor Mingxi's cold, piercing gaze.
His neck shrank back as he quickly corrected himself, "A merchant from our Great Yan Dynasty's friendly neighbor, the Nanzhao Kingdom! A Nanzhao merchant!"
"A Nanzhao merchant? Not an envoy? I heard that today at Peach Blossom Lane, it was all foreign envoys. How could a mere merchant attend such a banquet? Xu Wei, do you think I’m easily fooled? Tell me, what is the punishment for deceiving the Emperor?"
"Imperial Brother—no, Your Majesty..." Princess Taikang, seeing how pale her husband had turned under the Emperor's intimidation, couldn't help but feel distressed and tried to defend him.
But when she met Emperor Mingxi's icy stare, she shrank back just like Xu Wei, not daring to say another word.
Realizing even his backer, Princess Taikang, had been silenced, Xu Wei desperately argued, "Your Majesty, please understand, my friend truly is just a merchant. He... he traveled north with the Nanzhao envoy delegation. Along the way, he became quite familiar with the envoys, which is why he had the fortune to discuss business matters with me in a corner of the banquet."
[Traveled north with the envoys? Does he think the Nanzhao people are like the Xia family’s military brothers, protecting their own merchants? Such civil-military harmony!]
「Maybe his family has connections?」
Seeing the moment was right, Emperor Mingxi cut to the chase. "I’m curious—what kind of business were you discussing with him?"
In an instant, the Emperor withdrew his chilling aura, as if ice had melted away. He leaned back casually in his chair, adopting a relaxed, conversational tone.
Xu Wei’s expression stiffened noticeably, his eyes flickering nervously. "It’s... it’s just small trade, produce from my estate, nothing of real value!"
[Master, he’s lying! He definitely knows something about the poppy’s effects!]
"Xu Wei, my patience is limited. I only want the truth. You know this—the envoys are still detained, and this question isn’t one only you can answer."
He then turned to Princess Taikang. "I’m giving you this chance out of respect for Taikang. If you don’t want to speak, I won’t force you. You may leave."
He waved dismissively at the family, as if shooing away flies.
Princess Taikang recognized the gesture—Emperor Mingxi was undoubtedly furious. She tugged at Xu Wei’s sleeve and whispered urgently, "Just tell him! If you anger His Majesty, none of us will escape unscathed!"
Did she think she was as privileged as the Grand Princess, who could act coy and playful before the Emperor? That was a game for true siblings—she wasn’t entitled to it!
"Your Majesty, we... we were discussing the poppies grown on my estate. That friend wanted to purchase them in bulk, so we were negotiating the price."
He then added to Princess Taikang, "I didn’t do anything at Peach Blossom Lane—ask our son if you don’t believe me!"
Xu Mao: What a father! I was perfectly content being invisible, and now you drag me into this?
At first, Princess Taikang didn’t recall the significance of Peach Blossom Lane, but his reminder made her realize something was amiss. Seeing her eldest son’s guilty, awkward expression, combined with the recent incident involving the Prince of Qi’s family...
Her temper flared. If not for the three imposing figures seated above, she would’ve beaten this wretched man on the spot.
Xu Mao, noticing his mother’s darkening expression, shrank back, putting as much distance as possible between himself and his parents.
Xu Mao: If Mother hits Father, she won’t hit me!
Emperor Mingxi ignored the family’s silent drama and pressed on. "What does he want the poppies for? If I recall correctly, the flowers are beautiful, but the seeds serve little purpose, no?"
[Little purpose? How ignorant!]
Emperor Mingxi: Fine, fine! I’m ignorant! You’re so knowledgeable—why don’t you explain instead of dropping hints? If you know so much, say it outright!
"Perhaps... perhaps he wants to sell the seeds back in Nanzhao? Your Majesty said the flowers are beautiful—maybe the Nanzhao people enjoy gardening?"
Xu Wei looked at Emperor Mingxi with hopeful eyes, praying he’d agree.
Instead, the Emperor shook his head. "You’re wrong. The poppy was first introduced from Nanzhao two years ago, wasn’t it? Why would they spend money to buy back their own native product? Xu Wei, do you think I’m stupid?"
His initially amused expression grew colder, the frost in his gaze enough to freeze the trio where they stood.
"Y-Your Majesty, I wouldn’t dare! I... I heard it’s used for medicine. In Nanzhao, poppies are an ingredient in remedies."
Xu Wei stammered, his eyes darting beneath lowered lids as his mind raced.
Xu Wei: Think, think! Quick!
"Medicine? Then why didn’t you say so earlier? Why wait until I forced you? Explain that to me."
Emperor Mingxi instantly shifted back to a relaxed demeanor, as if the relentless interrogation had never happened.
[Hah! Medicine!]
「Not entirely wrong.」
Emperor Mingxi: Enough, you two! Usually, you’re as talkative as a minister full of schemes, but today you’re doling out words like coins? Who are you trying to torment?
System: You!
Yue Fuguang: You—!
"Your Majesty, I... I wanted to monopolize the trade."
Xu Wei swallowed hard and continued, "I thought if the price was right, I could arrange for large-scale cultivation next year, then buy up the harvest to sell to my friend."
[He wants mass cultivation!]
The system’s screech nearly deafened everyone. Only Yue Fuguang dared openly rub her ears.
「And he wants to be the middleman skimming profits! Pity such business acumen isn’t used for good!」
「Master, did you hear? He plans mass cultivation—mass cultivation!」
Yue Fuguang thought the system’s dramatic outburst was overacting. As a divine artifact, its emotions were too intense. But she couldn’t call for a retake now, so she smoothed things over.
「Little Pearl, you’re a three-thousand-year-old juvenile spirit—think of the mighty, radiant World-Breaking Pearl! Don’t let something as trivial as poppies shake your dao heart.
Besides, with us here, will he even get the chance to plant that stuff? Burn every seedling he sows (just the flowers, not the fields!), and if necessary, eliminate the problem at its source.
So calm down, alright?」
The system knew its tolerance for this issue was low, heavily influenced by Xia Country from Blue Water Star. It had indeed overreacted, breaking character!
It hastily covered for itself. 【Ah, Master, if Little Pearl were human, I’d barely be three—younger than you! I’m still a baby!】
For some reason, Xu Wei and Xu Mao both felt an inexplicable chill, especially around their heads, as if something ominous loomed.
"What price did you agree on? And what are the poppy’s medicinal effects? I’ve never heard the imperial physicians mention such a remedy."
