Poison Genius Consort

the other half of Sky Domain Black Market.
Now Zhangsun Zelin was exposing Ouyang Ningnuo so he could drag the man down with him.
Han Yunxi listened to it all and only sighed internally. In this world, who could be more crafty than these merchants?

The Duke of Qin, maybe?

When she thought of that, she hid her laughter behind her sleeves.

“Your Highness, Ouyang Ningnuo has stakes in half of Sky Domain Black Market and plenty of properties in the Three-Way Black Market.1 With Ouyang Ningnuo’s power, it would be nothing to transport a shipment of gunpowder.”

“Your Highness, His Majesty might be confused, but you aren’t, are you? This is a great chance to implicate Cloud Realm Continent’s Trade Consortium! If Your Highness is willing to investigate Ouyang Ninguo, this one shall help you wholeheartedly!”

Long Feiye simply looked coldly at Zhangsun Zelin without saying a word.
Zhangsun Zelin had started out full of confidence, but Long Feiye’s silent, icy stare gradually sapped away his resolve until his guilty conscience kicked in.
There were people who couldn’t move others even after saying a mouthful of rubbish, while there were others who could awe those with a single look.
Long Feiye belonged to the latter category.
When Zhangsun Zelin finally shut up, Long Feiye spoke at last.

“Zhangsun Zelin, don’t you worry.
As long as the gunpowder wasn’t yours, the emperor will definitely return your innocence! As for Ouyang Ningnuo—even if the emperor spares him, the true owner of the gunpowder never will!”

Long Feiye didn’t put everything in plain terms, but Zhangsun Zelin was suddenly enlightened.
Without any proof, Emperor Tianhui could do nothing but seal his properties and limit his business in Tianning.
But Chu Tianyin would silence any witnesses with death! So much for being shrewd.
He was so busy worrying about running away that he’d forgotten that important fact! Finally, Zhangsun Zelin realized his life was in danger and panicked!

“Your Highness!” he cried in fear.

“Someone come, escort the guest out!” Long Feiye said icily.

Zhangsun Zelin hesitated, then said, “Your Highness, as long as Your Highness can protect this one’s life and send this one safely to Northern Li, this one is willing to give detailed proof of the black market’s dealings with Medicine City!”

“But this wangfei is more interested in the origins of the gunpowder! How much do you know?” Han Yunxi asked with amusement.

“Since Qin Wangfei is curious, you should offer her more tidbits than just Ouyang Ningnuo, shouldn’t you?” Long Feiye continued.

Zhangsun Zelin suddenly realized that Qin Wangfei was far harder to deal with than the Duke of Qin! She’s definitely someone who asks for a foot after getting an inch! Short of admitting he was the one who bought the gunpowder, he had no choice now but to sell out Chu Tianyin as well.

“To reply esteemed wangfei, from what this one understands, the gunpowder this time came from Western Zhou’s military forces, specifically the Chu Clan.
It was their eldest young master Chu Tianyin who snuck in the gunpowder via wine jugs.
There was supposed to be another shipment coming in next year, but it looks like it won’t make it now,” Zhangsun Zelin answered.

“Chu Tianyin? Just how many of the Chu Clan’s men are concealed in the capital?” Han Yunxi asked.

“This one understands that there’s a sizable number.
But as for specifics, this one doesn’t know,” Zhangsun Zelin replied.

Han Yunxi couldn’t help but recall Su Xiaoyu’s seven-hued signal flares again.
It looks like the Chu Clan had long planted agents in Tianning’s capital city.

“Your Highness, esteemed wangfei, this one met with Chu Tianyin just last month.
This one estimates he should be right in Tianning, perhaps even within the capital city itself!” Zhangsun Zelin hadn’t dared to speak up before, but Chu Tianyin was even now trying to track him down to silence him.
Long Feiye and Han Yunxi were only expecting news of the dealings between Medicine City and the black market, so the extra intel about Chu Tianyin caught them unawares.
They both grew guarded as a result.

“Hand over your proof of the deals and your lordship will arrange for your departure tonight,” Long Feiye finally deigned to speak.

Thrilled, Zhangsun Zelin hastened to take out his evidence.
Something that important was naturally never stored in the black markets themselves.
His proof turned out to be a thick volume of accounts detailing all the times, people, and quantity of items delivered to the black markets from Medicine City.
There were records of prices paid and payments divided, each page neat and detailed.
Some of them even had personal stamps.
Han Yunxi flipped through the book happily. With proof like this, we don’t have to worry about Medicine City not cooperating.

After obtaining the evidence, Long Feiye finally stamped Zhangsun Zelin’s silver drafts and arranged for bodyguards to send him away.
As for the half of silver he’d gotten from the man, Long Feiye said it could be considered a black market donation to the Han Clan medical clinics instead.

“Your Highness, how about we go to Medicine City tomorrow?” Han Yunxi asked in excitement.

“What are we going to do there?” Long Feiye asked

“Negotiations! We’ll have them supply us goods, specifically low-tier precious medicinal ingredients.
And they’ll have to do it forever!” Han Yunxi said earnestly.

Long Feiye brushed aside her bangs and smiled.
“If we’re going to do any negotiations, it should be them coming to see us.
Carriage rides are tiring, so why would you go visit them?”

This foolish woman, why does she like running about so much? With the counter in your hands, all you need to do is send the three main clans of Medicine City a single letter.
Are you worried that they won’t hurry over then?

Just like that, Long Feiye brought Han Yunxi back home.
Before that, Long Feiye had someone send news to Long Tianmo that Chu Tianyin might be in the capital.
The crown prince could take his time fighting against Chu Tianyin while they waited for the Medicine City representatives to arrive!

Long Feiye, on the other hand, had to deal with a certain other guest currently residing at his estate.
Things had been delayed for ages, but it was about time to rip off his mask…

Three-Way Black Market – first mentioned in Chapter 368, it’s located between Tianning, Western Zhou, and Northern Li and the largest of its kind in both Tianning Country and the entire Cloud Realm Continent.
Many large cases that affect the economic situation of Cloud Realm Continent can be traced back to the Three-Way Black Marke