Chapter 5:Prince Rui

For years, Yan Jing wandered the underbelly of the empire, sharpening his mind and skills. He abandoned his old name, wearing a silver mask as a constant reminder of the past. By the time he resurfaced in the world of trade, he was no longer the naive heir of the Yan family—he was a merchant of shadows, a master of negotiations, and the silent ruler of the underground tea market.

But his ultimate goal remained unchanged.

Revenge.

And now, standing in Bai Zhi's private chamber, watching her sip tea with a calculating gleam in her eyes, he saw something familiar.

Ambition.

A Proposal Beyond Business

Yan Jing twirled the bloodstained letter between his fingers. "You're about to step onto dangerous ground."

Bai Zhi leaned back, meeting his gaze. "I already have. And I don't plan to retreat."

His lips curled slightly. "Good. Then let's talk about a deeper partnership."

She raised an eyebrow. "The tea trade deal isn't enough?"

Yan Jing's voice lowered, smooth as silk. "Not just business. Influence. Power. You want to dominate the tea industry, but that's just the surface. What if I told you there was more?"

Bai Zhi studied him, her golden eyes sharp. "I'm listening."

He leaned forward. "There are three major forces controlling the empire's tea supply: the Imperial Tea Bureau, the Southern Rainforest Guild, and a secret syndicate known only as the Obsidian Veil. Wu Fei was nothing more than a pawn for them. And now that he's gone… they'll be watching you."

Bai Zhi tapped her teacup, thoughtful. "So you're offering me information on them?"

Yan Jing smirked. "Not just information. An alliance. I have connections they don't know about. You have influence they underestimate. Together, we could take the entire empire's tea industry for ourselves."

Bai Zhi chuckled. "You say 'alliance,' but what you really mean is a power balance. If I grow too strong, you'll want leverage."

He inclined his head. "Naturally. And so will you."

Silence stretched between them, tension thrumming beneath the surface.

Finally, Bai Zhi smirked. "Fine. Let's play."

Ding!

[New Hidden Mission Activated: The Silent War]

Objective: Gain control over the empire's underground tea trade without alerting the three major forces.

Reward: Influence +20, Special Skill – Trade Emperor's Insight.

Yan Jing extended his hand. "A partnership, then?"

Bai Zhi's fingers brushed his, firm and unyielding. "For now."

A Storm on the Horizon

As their deal was sealed, Xia Qian burst in once more, her face grim. "Mistress, urgent news—there was an attack on one of our supply caravans."

Bai Zhi's expression darkened. "Casualties?"

Xia Qian's jaw tightened. "Two dead. The rest are missing."

Yan Jing exhaled through his nose. "The Obsidian Veil moves fast."

Bai Zhi's grip on her teacup tightened before she set it down, her voice calm but laced with steel. "Then let's move faster."

She rose to her feet, golden eyes burning with a fire that sent chills through the room.

"If they want a war, we'll give them one."

Yan Jing's Backstory: The Masked Shadow of the Trade

The Birth of a Merchant King

Yan Jing's fingers tightened around the hilt of his dagger as the screams of his family echoed in his ears. Trapped beneath the burning ruins of the Yan estate, he had sworn a single vow—he would not die. He would rise. And he would make them pay.

For three years, he hid in the shadows, learning the underbelly of the empire. He abandoned the name Yan Mingyu and became Yan Jing, a nameless ghost in the tea trade. While others viewed merchants as mere businessmen, he saw them for what they truly were—the veins of power.

He gathered remnants of his fallen family's wealth, made alliances with outcast traders, and established the Black Lotus Trade Union, an underground network controlling smuggling routes, rare commodities, and secret trade deals.

By the time he was twenty, the empire whispered his new title—The Masked Shadow of the Trade.

Yet, beneath the cold mask, his goal remained unchanged:

Find those who orchestrated his family's downfall.

Destroy them, piece by piece.

Reclaim the empire's tea trade and make the Yan name eternal.

But he needed a partner—someone with both influence and ambition.

And that was when he met Bai Zhi.

Bai Zhi's Next Move: The Silent War Begins

Allies and Spies

The bloodstained warning letter still rested on Bai Zhi's desk, but she no longer spared it a glance. Fear? That was for fools.

Instead, she spread out a map of the city, her finger tracing key trade routes and rival businesses. "If they want a war," she murmured, "I'll give them one."

Ding!

[New Mission Activated: The Silent War]

Objective 1: Identify the faction behind the warning.

Objective 2: Infiltrate their ranks and expose their leader.

Objective 3: Destroy their supply chain without them realizing.

Rewards: Influence +20, Strategic Espionage Skill, Black Lotus VIP Access

Bai Zhi's golden eyes gleamed. "Time to hunt."

The Trap is Set

Using Hei Lao's network, Bai Zhi planted false information—whispers that Moonlit Teahouse's suppliers were struggling, that Bai Zhi was desperate for investors.

Within days, a new merchant group appeared, offering her a "deal of a lifetime."

Bai Zhi accepted with a demure smile. They thought she was the prey.

They would soon learn the truth.

The Betrayal That Never Was

At midnight, Xia Qian led a secret operation to track the merchant group.

What they uncovered was chilling—a hidden alliance between corrupt officials and an underground tea cartel, one that had been controlling the trade from the shadows for years.

And at the heart of it all?

A noble surname Bai Zhi recognized all too well.

One of her former enemies.

Bai Zhi smirked as she twirled her teacup. "Ah, fate is truly kind. Now… how shall I ruin them?"

Ding!

[Hidden Mission Activated: Personal Revenge]

Eliminate the enemy noble house.

Seize their assets.

Make them beg for mercy before the empire itself.

Reward: Absolute Monopoly in the Tea Trade.

Yan Jing, seated across from her, chuckled. "You're enjoying this too much."

Bai Zhi raised her cup in a mock toast. "Oh, but isn't tea best when brewed with a hint of danger?"

The war had begun.

The Silent War: Bai Zhi's Rise to Power (Part 2)

The Trap Closes

Bai Zhi's movements were meticulous. She didn't rush, nor did she strike blindly. The enemy thought they had lured her into their game, but in reality, she was the one pulling the strings.

The corrupt officials and underground cartel believed Moonlit Teahouse was struggling—that Bai Zhi was vulnerable.

But on the night of the trade contract signing, as the enemy celebrated what they thought was their victory, Bai Zhi made her move.

At precisely midnight, the Black Lotus Trade Union executed a silent takeover of their supply chains.

By dawn, every key supplier under the cartel's control had already signed new agreements—with Bai Zhi.

Ding!

[Mission Completed: The Silent War]

Influence +20

Strategic Espionage Skill Acquired

Black Lotus VIP Access Granted

She smiled as she read the notification. "And now, it's time for the finishing blow."

---

A Noble House Falls

The noble family that had been working against her was the Xu Clan, a once-powerful aristocratic house with deep roots in both business and politics.

Bai Zhi didn't simply want to defeat them. She wanted them to kneel.

Economic Destruction

With Yan Jing's help, she launched a financial attack.

Every major supplier cut ties with the Xu Clan overnight.

Key business allies suddenly turned their backs, unwilling to risk offending the now-dominant Moonlit Teahouse.

The Xu Clan's trade routes were blocked, their stored goods seized under fabricated legal disputes.

Social Collapse

Using Hei Lao's underground network, Bai Zhi leaked evidence of the Xu Clan's corruption.

Bribery scandals spread like wildfire.

Illegal dealings were exposed to the empire's enforcers.

Their noble status? Stripped. Their name? Dragged through the mud.

By the time the Xu Patriarch realized what had happened, it was too late. His once-great family was in ruins.

Ding!

[Hidden Mission Completed: Personal Revenge]

Enemy Noble House Eliminated

Seized Assets Worth 500,000 Gold

Absolute Monopoly in the Tea Trade Achieved

Bai Zhi sipped her tea, watching the chaos unfold from the safety of her private balcony.

Yan Jing raised a brow. "You truly have no mercy, do you?"

She set her cup down with a soft clink. "Mercy is for those who can afford to lose."

The Xu Clan was gone.

And Bai Zhi?

She was now the undisputed Queen of the Tea Trade.

The Silent War: Bai Zhi's Rise to Power

The Imperial Court Takes Notice

With the Xu Clan eliminated and Moonlit Teahouse reigning supreme, Bai Zhi's influence surged like a tidal wave. But with great power came unwanted attention—and this time, it came from the Imperial Court.

A royal decree arrived at her doorstep, summoning her to an imperial banquet.

Yan Jing read the letter aloud, his expression unreadable. "The Emperor invites you to the Spring Blossom Banquet at the Palace."

Hei Lao, ever cautious, frowned. "This is a test. The court wants to see if you're a threat."

Bai Zhi smirked. "Then we shall give them a performance they'll never forget."

The Banquet of Hidden Blades

The palace was dazzling, filled with noble ladies in silk robes and officials whispering behind jade fans. The banquet was hosted by Prince Rui, the Emperor's younger brother and a known power player.

As Bai Zhi stepped into the hall, all eyes turned to her.

The merchant girl who toppled a noble house.

The beauty who controlled the tea trade.

Prince Rui raised his cup with a sharp smile. "Miss Bai, I've heard much about you. You must be quite capable to achieve so much… or perhaps just lucky?"

She picked up her own cup and toasted him with a flawless smile. "Your Highness, I believe luck favors the well-prepared."

Laughter rippled through the hall, but she sensed the undercurrents of danger. This was not just a banquet—it was a battlefield of words and power.

The Imperial Chancellor spoke next. "But surely, a merchant's influence can only go so far. After all, nobility has its privileges."

Bai Zhi tilted her head slightly. "Privileges are earned, not simply inherited."

A sharp silence fell. The meaning was clear—some nobles were unworthy of their titles.

Prince Rui's eyes gleamed with interest. "Then, Miss Bai, tell us—what do you seek?"

Bai Zhi's smile deepened. "Only to serve the empire with my humble business."

Inwardly, she thought: For now.

Ding!

[Mission Completed: Imperial Court's Attention]

Royal Favor +10

Political Awareness Skill Acquired

Hidden Mission Unlocked: The Emperor's Gamble

The banquet ended with Bai Zhi unscathed, but she knew one thing—

The imperial court was now watching her closely.

The Emperor's Gamble

A day after the banquet, Bai Zhi received another summons—this time from the Emperor himself.

Yan Jing's expression was grim as he read the decree. "The Emperor requests your presence in the Hall of Celestial Harmony."

Hei Lao crossed his arms. "This isn't just a test anymore. The Emperor wants to see if you're an asset or a threat."

Bai Zhi's lips curled. Then I shall let him decide.

A Game of Power

The Hall of Celestial Harmony was vast and golden, with towering pillars and a dragon throne at the center. The Emperor, a man with sharp eyes and an unreadable expression, sat in quiet observation.

Beside him stood Prince Rui, his ever-smiling younger brother. Several ministers and generals lined the hall, their gazes piercing.

"Bai Zhi." The Emperor's voice was calm yet commanding. "You have risen far for a merchant. Tell me, what drives you?"

She knelt gracefully. "Your Majesty, I am but a humble trader. My only wish is to serve the empire through commerce."

Prince Rui chuckled. "And yet, you move like a strategist rather than a simple merchant. The Xu Clan fell, and Moonlit Teahouse stands unchallenged. Coincidence?"

Bai Zhi met his gaze evenly. "Survival, Your Highness. In business, as in war, the weak are devoured."

A low murmur spread through the court. The Emperor tapped his fingers against his throne, then spoke.

"The empire has many wolves, Miss Bai. Would you rather be prey or a hunting dog?"

Bai Zhi's heart pounded. This was it—a choice of loyalty or destruction.

She lowered her head, hiding a smile. "Your Majesty, even a hunting dog must choose its master wisely."

The court stilled. Then, the Emperor laughed.

Ding!

[Mission Completed: The Emperor's Gamble]

Imperial Favor +20

Royal Business Permit Obtained

Hidden Mission Unlocked: The Crown Prince's Trial

As she left the palace, Yan Jing whispered, "You just placed yourself on the imperial chessboard."

Bai Zhi's eyes gleamed. Then I shall play to win.

The Crown Prince's Trial

Bai Zhi barely had time to return to Moonlit Teahouse before another message arrived—this time from the Crown Prince.

Yan Jing frowned as he read it. "The Crown Prince invites you to his estate. No reason given."

Hei Lao smirked. "A test, no doubt. He wants to see what kind of person you are."

Bai Zhi tapped the table. "Then let's give him something to see."

A Dangerous Invitation

The Crown Prince's residence was as grand as the imperial palace itself. Bai Zhi was led through a maze of courtyards before arriving at a quiet pavilion.

Inside, the Crown Prince sat alone, sipping tea. Unlike his ambitious younger brother Prince Rui, he carried an air of restraint.

"Miss Bai." His voice was smooth yet unreadable. "Do you know why I called you here?"

She offered a respectful bow. "Your Highness wishes to test me."

A small smile. "And how will you prove your worth?"

Bai Zhi's lips curved. "By presenting an opportunity Your Highness cannot ignore."

She unrolled a document—a business proposal.

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. "A trade route through the northern border?"

Bai Zhi nodded. "Merchants hesitate to enter the north due to instability. But with royal backing, it could become a center of commerce."

The prince studied her for a long moment. Then, he chuckled.

Ding!

[Mission Completed: The Crown Prince's Trial]

Crown Prince Favor +30

Exclusive Northern Trade Permit Obtained

Hidden Mission Unlocked: The Silent War Begins

As Bai Zhi left, Yan Jing muttered, "You're walking a fine line between power and danger."

Bai Zhi's eyes gleamed. "That's where I thrive."