Chapter 523: The beginning of unrest at Medicine City (1/2)
Chapter 523: The beginning of unrest at Medicine City
Xie Hongming actually said, “Esteemed wangfei, this one has heard some rumors as well, that the Mu Clan has ties with Northern Li’s imperial clan.”
Long Feiye and Han Yunxi exchanged meaningful glances at that, while a cold smile rose on Wang Zhongyang’s lips. Xie Hongming saw that no one reacted to his news, so he was quick to add, “This one found out about the news a few years ago. The Mu Clan has been lowering prices for medicinal ingredients all across Cloud Realm Continent just because they’ve been able to foster high-yield crops at the snowfield plateaus. They don’t just grow low-end plants there, but multiple high-end ingredients as well, which they sell for cheap. Esteemed wangfei, the Wang and Xie Clans have both guarded the lands passed onto us by our ancestors, so we don’t have much wares in stock. If the price goes any lower, we really won’t be able to make a living!”
Only then did Wang Zhongyang speak up. “Esteemed wangfei, if the prices go any lower, neither the Wang nor Xie Clans will be able to support themselves. In the end, there won’t be any ingredients for sale at all, making the losses greater than the gains.”
Han Yunxi nodded in thought. “The Mu Clan’s allied themselves with Northern Li? Heheh, how unexpected.”
Wang Zhongyang didn’t speak, but Xie Hongming quickly supplemented, “Isn’t that so? This one found it a surprise when I first heard of it as well.”
Actually, Xie Hongming had never heard of such a rumor at all, so Wang Zhongyang’s admission had really given him a fright. But in front of the Qin Wangfei, he could only go all out. Even if he was making things up, he had to make it sound realistic. Otherwise, Qin Wangfei might try to push the prices lower and give him a tragic time back at the Xie Clan. Father had nearly disowned him over the black market drug trade business, so if this deal didn’t go through, he had no need to go back home anymore.
Han Yunxi glanced at the list of prices one more time, hesitating before finally nodding her head. “Very well, this wangfei won’t cause you two any more difficulties. This will be the price we set. This wangfei will place an order every month. Deliver your wares by the first of each month and you’ll be paid accordingly by the end. What do you think?”
Compared to the contract stipulations for the Mu Clan, these were very generous terms. Wang Zhongyang and Xie Hongming both agreed to them. Han Yunxi then drafted another agreement and had all parties sign on the spot. Then she handed over evidence of the black market dealings back to their owners. Both men were thrilled and left after giving her ample thanks.
When the duo returned to their inn, Wang Zhongyang was about to speak when Xie Hongming beat him to it. “Second Old Master, this one has a favor to ask of you!”
“We don’t need to be so formal with each other. Speak, what is it?” Wang Zhongyang asked magnanimously.
Xie Hongming dropped his voice. “Second Old Master, what happened today…I need to go back and give my father a factual account.”
“Everything went smoothly today. Heheh, we’ll both have good news to give our clans,” Wang Zhongyang grinned.
Xie Hongming hesitated, then dropped his voice even further. “Second Old Master, where did you hear about the Mu Clan allying themselves with Northern Li?”
Wang Zhongyang was greatly alarmed, and hastened to refute, “I never said the Mu Clan was allying themselves with Northern Li! I only heard that the Mu Clan was planting plants in the snowfields of the high plateaus. And that was just a rumor at most. Weren’t you the one who said they were in cahoots?”
“I… I…aiya, if I didn’t say that, would esteemed wangfei agree to our terms so easily?” Xie Hongming said helplessly.
“You! Aiya, I thought you actually heard some rumors! Isn’t that just lying? What if esteemed wangfei and His Highness Duke of Qin find out? We’ll be…” Wang Zhongyang suddenly panicked. “We’re in big trouble now!”
“Sigh….” Hong Xingming grew nervous as well. “Second Old Master, let’s just pretend that everything’s true. No matter who asks us about it, we’ll just make sure to match our stories. The Mu Clan did collaborate with Northern Li!”
“This…” Wang Zhongyang hesitated.
Xie Hongming consoled, “This involves our future prospects. Second Old Master, why be soft-hearted towards the Mu Clan? With Mu Linger in my grandfather’s hands, the Mu Clan’s good times won’t last long!”
Wang Zhongyang’s gaze turned vicious before he muttered, “Alright.”
The two of them agreed on their stories. That very day, Wang Zhongyang made an excuse to go searching for ingredients in the nearby wilds instead of returning to Medicine City with Xie Hongming. Once the man left town, Wang Zhongyang secretly made his way back to Pill Fiend Pharmacy. When he arrived, Long Feiye and Han Yunxi were currently drinking tea with the head of the Wang Clan.
Second Old Master Wang was Wang Gong’s younger brother. Within the Wang Clan, he carried hefty responsibilities as well, but he’d lost face in front of Wang Gong because of his recent dealings with the black market.
“Have you settled everything?” Wang Gong asked unhappily.
“I have,” Second Old Master Wang said resentfully. “By using Xie Hongming’s mouth, the head of the Xie Clan and Head Elder Xie will definitely believe the rumors.”
“If this can topple the Mu and Xie Clans, you would have offset your errors with meritorious deeds,” Wang Gong sighed.
Second Old Master Wang dared not say any more, but bowed and withdrew from the hall.
“Your Highness, Mu Linger will reach Medicine City in three more days. According to the Council of Elders’ rules, she’ll be imprisoned in a prison cell within Medicine Forest. Usual conventions dictate that she’ll be examined and then judged by votes before they decide on her punishment. Unfortunately, it’ll be the Medicine City’s once-every-decade Grand Medicine Testing Convention in a few more days, so Head Elder Xie will have his hands full. This old man reckons that Mu Linger’s matters will be delayed until after the convention,” Wang Gong said seriously.
“There’s no harm in that. The longer time passes, the more reason the Mu and Xie Clans will have to fight,” Long Feiye remarked coldly.
Han Yunxi wanted to save Mu Linger, but he simply wanted to use the chance to support the Wang Clan until they were capable of controlling Medicine City themselves. With Medicine City in their hands, much of Cloud Realm Continent’s trade would fall under their control as well.
“Where will the Grand Medicine Testing Convention be held?” Han Yunxi asked.
“Right in the Medicine Forest. Esteemed wangfei doesn’t need to worry, the convention will be inviting many personages from the medical community. It’s mandatory to invite all important medicine merchants as well. The Council of Elders is responsible for sending out all invitations, so it’s likely that Pill Fiend Pharmacy will get one within the next couple of days,” Wang Gong smiled.