"I never expected that it would be Your Highness who personally ca."
In the tea room, Li Jisheng dismissed all the tea girls. When he saw the court official reveal his true identity, even Li Jisheng could not help but feel uneasy, as if sitting on pins and needles.
"It seems the reputation of Your Highness’ humility and respect for talent is indeed well-deserved."
The man before him seed born with an air of solemnity—standing eight feet tall with arms reaching to his knees, commanding authority without anger, possessing the bearing of a monarch.
Compared to Li Jisheng’s astonishnt, the Prince of Annan rely smiled faintly, composed and unruffled: "There is a tale of three visits to the cottage in ancient tis. Today I’ve made but one visit; how does this amount to humility and respect for talent?"
Li Jisheng gave a bitter laugh: "Liu Xuande invited Pri Minister Zhuge; as for , I am but the insignificant Li Jisheng."
The Prince of Annan smiled without replying.
Li Jisheng lifted the tea bowl slowly, deliberately pacing his action to buy himself ti to think.
Wuyong Building had once been chastened by the palace itself. That ti, an old nanny with hidden influence personally made an appearance, causing Wuyong Building significant losses. It was undoubtedly overkill, akin to slaughtering chickens with a bull’s knife, but without that knife, Wuyong Building would not have been deterred. Since then, Wuyong Building had aligned itself with the Lin Party, expressing to the palace their stance—they were nothing more than opportunistic reeds swaying in the wind.
After the Lin Party’s downfall, Wuyong Building turned toward the palace once more.
And over ti, Wuyong Building gradually nded relations with the palace; the relationship now seed harmonious on the surface.
If it were rely an official from the An Nan Royal Mansion coming today, Li Jisheng might have spent a few monts drinking tea and brushing them off without offending or committing to anything. But with the Prince of Annan here in person, Li Jisheng had to treat the matter with greater care.
After drinking the tea, Li Jisheng lowered his head to see the Prince of Annan slide a note across the table toward him. His eyes slowly widened as he pondered.
He had initially resisted betting on both sides...
But...
The offer was simply too generous.
The note did not contain hollow promises of marquis titles after success, but rather offered exactly what Wuyong Building most needed at this mont—connections with the great families and sects of Jianghu.
These connections were worth far more than thousands of gold bars.
Wuyong Building was currently rooted in the Capital Region, but its foundation was still shallow. Even though it had ties with court officials, it remained ignorant of many matters outside the Great Yu’s central region.
anwhile, the shifting tides within the capital could change in a single night. Even the once-dominant Lin Party now scattered like monkeys from a fallen tree.
Li Jisheng calculated his options for a while.
After so ti, he set down the tea bowl and tucked the note into his sleeve.
"The world’s bustle exists solely for profit."
"More so for Wuyong Building, whose backers are the Chen Family of Western Jin."
"Such a grand gesture only highlights my discourtesy in failing to welco Your Highness with due respect."
Li Jisheng’s words carried a tone of sincerity:
"May I ask what Your Highness currently requires of us?"
Qin Qingluo took her ti, calmly sipping her tea. This apparent gesture of goodwill—a re token rather than an oath of allegiance—was ultimately inconsequential. Whether it was utilized or not made little difference; not using it wouldn’t affect their collaboration moving forward, but using it could allow Wuyong Building to display their sincerity.
She finished the tea and lightly drumd her fingers on the table, seemingly choosing not to comnt for now.
Suddenly, a soft knock ca from outside the door.
Li Jisheng frowned slightly and said, "Co in."
A maid entered quietly and approached, intending to whisper her report. However, catching sight of the Prince of Annan present, Li Jisheng said instead:
"Speak freely."
Their cooperation had only just begun; if the maid hesitated over so small matter, it might unnecessarily sow mistrust. Instead, by speaking openly, it could help both parties lower their guard.
And if it were a major matter, Jinya Pavilion naturally had its own reporting protocols—a maid would not be tasked with delivering critical news.
"Pavilion Master, Chen Qianhu—or rather, Chen Si Cheng—has requested to et with you shortly."
The maid spoke in a normal tone.
She failed to notice—and Li Jisheng failed to notice—that the Prince of Annan, with his eight-foot stature and jade-like complexion, had a fleeting shadow of cold ruthlessness flash through his snake-like eyes.
Li Jisheng turned back. Though he hadn’t directly noticed, as Pavilion Master, he was adept at sensing subtle cues. He imdiately recalled that Chen Yi had once killed individuals connected to this outsider Prince and chuckled nervously:
"Your Highness must know, Jinya Pavilion’s network in the capital is extensive; all sorts of people pass through here, including this rising star, Chen Yi. Does Your Highness know of him?"
His words carried a hint of probing.
"How could I not?" the Prince of Annan countered.
Li Jisheng promptly altered his tone: "I’ve heard a bit myself—it seems Your Highness and he share so prior grievances."
The Prince of Annan remained composed as ever, calmly holding his tea bowl, his fingers rising and falling gently against it. Then, with a smile, he remarked:
"No matter. Between us... it is but minor squabbles."
"Oh?" Li Jisheng appeared slightly intrigued.
"Ultimately, he is rely the palace’s... sword."
The Prince of Annan’s tone was calm and steady:
"Pavilion Master, would you harbor resentnt toward a sword—or toward the hand that wields it?"
Li Jisheng observed this exchange and sighed inwardly—this outsider Prince indeed possessed a magnanimous spirit, like a great sea capable of embracing rivers.
He responded, "Naturally, the hand."
After speaking, Li Jisheng paused briefly and then asked, "Why a sword, and not a blade?"
"Because he is by no ans a submissive and servile individual."
The Prince of Annan lightly swirled the tea, its green ripples murky and deep.
"A person wielded as a blade can harm others, but a person used as a sword inevitably harms oneself."
Contained within his seemingly composed words was an unspoken hint of impending danger.
Li Jisheng kept his gaze calm and steady, refraining from any comnt. After a long silence, he finally spoke:
"If he offends Your Highness, shall I arrange for him to visit another day instead?"
"No need. Pavilion Master’s efforts in running Jinya Pavilion are comndable; one more guest is simply one more guest."
The Prince of Annan seed to dismiss past grudges with a smile.
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