Chapter 6 : Monopoly

Chapter 6:

Bai Zhi lowered her gaze just enough to seem respectful but not submissive. "Your Majesty, a hunting dog serves its master, while a wolf serves only itself. But a dragon… rules them all."

Silence fell over the hall.

The Emperor's Gamble (Part 2)

A Dangerous Choice

The Emperor's question hung in the air like a blade poised to fall.

Bai Zhi knew better than to answer hastily. The court officials, the generals, and Prince Rui—all waited for her response, their gazes sharp and expectant.

Would she be prey? Or a hunting dog?

She lowered her head slightly, her expression perfectly measured. "Your Majesty, a hunting dog follows orders, but prey is merely waiting to be devoured. Neither suits me."

A murmur spread through the court. Some were amused. Others displeased.

Prince Rui's smirk widened. "Then what, pray tell, do you consider yourself?"

Bai Zhi met the Emperor's eyes, her golden irises glinting. "A falcon."

A sharp silence fell.

She continued smoothly, her voice calm but firm. "A falcon is neither prey nor a mere hunting dog. It soars above, observing, waiting for the right moment to strike. It is loyal only to its own survival."

The Emperor's fingers, which had been tapping the armrest of his throne, stilled. His lips curled slightly. "A falcon, you say?"

Bai Zhi bowed her head respectfully. "Your Majesty, the empire's strength lies not only in steel and soldiers but also in wealth and trade. If given the chance, I can ensure the empire's coffers never run dry."

A ripple of discussion swept through the court. Some officials nodded in approval, while others frowned at her audacity.

The Emperor studied her for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "Then prove it."

Ding!

[New Imperial Mission: The Emperor's Gamble]

Objective: Double the empire's annual tea revenue in one year.

Restrictions: No illegal methods, no war.

Reward: Imperial Recognition, Influence +50, Exclusive Trade Rights.

Bai Zhi kept her expression composed, but inwardly, she smiled.

A challenge, is it?

She had no intention of failing.

After the Court – An Offer from Prince Rui

As Bai Zhi exited the palace halls, the sharp click of boots echoed behind her.

"Miss Bai."

She turned to see Prince Rui approaching, his usual playful smirk in place.

He studied her for a moment before speaking. "That was quite the performance. The court won't forget it soon."

Bai Zhi offered a polite smile. "I only spoke the truth, Your Highness."

Prince Rui chuckled. "So modest. Tell me, if you had to choose between serving the Emperor and serving yourself, which would you choose?"

She tilted her head. "Isn't that the same thing? A strong empire benefits all within it, including me."

His eyes gleamed with interest. "A clever answer." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "The Emperor is watching you, but so am I. If you ever tire of playing by his rules… come find me."

Ding!

[New Side Quest: A Prince's Invitation]

Objective: Uncover Prince Rui's true intentions.

Reward: ???

Bai Zhi's smile remained unchanged. "I will keep that in mind, Your Highness."

As she left the palace, she knew one thing for certain—

The game had only just begun.

---

Next Move: The Expansion War

Back at Moonlit Teahouse, Bai Zhi gathered her most trusted allies.

Yan Jing leaned back, twirling a jade ring between his fingers. "Doubling the empire's tea revenue in a year? Bold."

Xia Qian crossed her arms. "The nobles will fight you on this. They won't want you to control the market alone."

Hei Lao stroked his beard. "And let's not forget—some will see this as a direct threat to their power."

Bai Zhi tapped her fan against the table, her golden eyes gleaming. "Then we'll move before they can."

She unrolled a large map, marking key regions with red ink. "We don't just need more trade. We need a monopoly."

Yan Jing smirked. "Ah. A total takeover."

Bai Zhi's lips curled. "Exactly."

Ding!

[Mission Activated: The Expansion War]

Objective 1: Secure exclusive trade routes across five major provinces.

Objective 2: Forge new alliances with independent tea farmers.

Objective 3: Eliminate any corrupt officials hindering progress.

Reward: Territory Expansion +30, Imperial Market Domination.

The battle for the empire's tea industry had begun.

And Bai Zhi?

She intended to win.

Prince Rui let out a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with amusement. The Imperial Chancellor frowned, but the Emperor? He merely studied her.

Then, he smiled.

"Interesting."

Ding!

[Mission Completed: The Emperor's Gamble]

Royal Favor +15

Political Intrigue Skill Acquired

New Title: The Dragon Merchant

The Emperor leaned forward. "Rise, Bai Zhi. Since you serve the empire through commerce, I shall grant you an official title—Imperial Merchant of the Tea Trade."

Gasps echoed through the hall.

An Imperial Merchant? That was a position reserved for those with both wealth and favor. It meant access to restricted trade routes, protection from noble interference, and most importantly…

Power.

Prince Rui clapped lazily. "Congratulations, Lady Bai. It seems the court will be seeing much more of you."

Bai Zhi accepted the decree with a serene expression, but inside, her mind raced. This was both an opportunity and a trap. The court wanted to pull her into their games.

Fine.

She would play.

As Bai Zhi exited the palace, she found Yan Jing waiting for her in the shadows of the imperial garden. The moonlight cast silver reflections off his mask.

"You move fast," he murmured.

She smirked. "And you expected otherwise?"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to something softer, more personal. "An Imperial Merchant? That title paints a target on your back."

"And yet, it also opens doors," she countered, tilting her chin up at him. "Isn't that what you wanted? An ally with influence."

Yan Jing reached out, his gloved fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "An ally, yes. But I find myself wondering… when will I become something more?"

For once, Bai Zhi hesitated.

She was used to playing the game of power. But romance? That was another battlefield entirely.

She met his gaze, golden eyes meeting his dark ones. "And what are you offering, Yan Jing?"

His smirk was slow, dangerous. "Everything."

A breeze rustled the cherry blossoms around them, petals drifting between them like whispered promises.

Bai Zhi chuckled, stepping back. "We'll see."

Yan Jing watched her retreating figure, his smirk deepening.

"Oh, we will."

Seizing the First Territory

Bai Zhi's first target was Jingnan Province, known for producing some of the finest imperial-grade tea. However, the province's trade was controlled by Duke Liang, a noble with deep ties to the imperial court and a monopoly over the region's exports.

If she wanted to double the empire's tea revenue, she had to start by breaking his grip on the market.

Her strategy? Not direct confrontation—but disruption.

---

The Silent Takeover

Bai Zhi sat across from Elder Luo, the most respected tea master in Jingnan. His family had cultivated tea for generations, but under Duke Liang's control, he barely saw any profit.

She poured him a cup of tea—not from Jingnan, but from a new plantation she had secretly funded in the neighboring province.

Elder Luo took a sip. His eyes widened. "This… this is remarkable. The aroma, the depth—how did you develop this so quickly?"

Bai Zhi smiled. "With the right investments and incentives, growth is only a matter of time."

She leaned forward. "Join me. If you supply my teahouses instead of Duke Liang, I will guarantee twice your current earnings."

Elder Luo hesitated. "Duke Liang will not sit idle. If he discovers this—"

"Then let's ensure he doesn't," Bai Zhi interrupted smoothly. "For now, your tea will be sold under a new name—one that isn't tied to Jingnan. By the time Duke Liang realizes, my market share will already be secured."

Ding!

[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: The Silent Takeover]

Effect: Gain +10% bonus revenue from disguised trade routes.

Elder Luo exhaled deeply. Then, he bowed. "Miss Bai, from this day forward, my tea is yours."

---

The Market Disruption

To weaken Duke Liang's monopoly, Bai Zhi needed to create an illusion of abundance.

Using the Money-Spending System, she secretly flooded the capital with high-quality, lower-priced tea—crafted from the hidden plantations she had invested in. The nobility, always eager for a good deal, began shifting their purchases away from Duke Liang's estates.

At first, the duke dismissed it.

By the time he realized the entire market was shifting, it was too late.

Duke Liang, furious at his sudden losses, demanded an emergency audience with the Emperor.

"The empire's tea industry is being manipulated! Someone is interfering with the noble supply chains!" he declared before the court.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "And yet, revenue is increasing."

Duke Liang stiffened. "Your Majesty, if this continues, the traditional tea houses will collapse!"

The Emperor turned to his Finance Minister. "What do the numbers say?"

The minister adjusted his scroll. "As of this quarter, imperial tax revenue from tea has already increased by 15%. The new market is… highly efficient."

A hush fell over the court.

The Emperor leaned back, a faint smirk on his lips. "Then perhaps the old ways needed changing."

Duke Liang's face paled.

From the sidelines, Bai Zhi hid her amusement behind her fan.

Ding!

[Mission Progress: The Expansion War – 1st Province Secured]

Jingnan Province: Monopoly Achieved

Revenue Increase: +15%

Noble Influence: +10

The first battle had been won.

Four more provinces to go.

Target: Yunzhou Province – The Silk Capital

After securing Jingnan's tea industry, Bai Zhi turned her attention to Yunzhou, the empire's largest producer of high-quality silk. The province's economy was controlled by the Lu Family, an aristocratic clan known for their deep-rooted connections and cutthroat business tactics.

The Lu Family had monopolized both production and trade, inflating prices and restricting supply to maintain their power. Bai Zhi had no intention of playing by their rules.

Her plan? Bypass them entirely.

The Hidden Factories

Rather than competing directly with the Lu Family's silk merchants, Bai Zhi went to the source—the weavers and artisans.

Many of them were under strict contracts, unable to sell to anyone except the Lu Family. However, Bai Zhi found a loophole—the contract only applied to traditional silk weaving, not new techniques.

So, she introduced a new weaving method—one that blended silk with a rare spiritual thread obtained through the Money-Spending System.

Ding!

[New Technology Unlocked: Spirit-Weaved Silk]

Effect: Faster production, higher durability, and luxury-grade texture.

Market Value: +50% compared to traditional silk.

Within weeks, Bai Zhi had a hidden network of weavers producing silk that was superior to anything on the market.

The Prestige Strategy

Instead of selling to merchants, Bai Zhi went straight to the imperial palace.

She sent a single robe—made from Spirit-Weaved Silk—to the Empress Dowager as a gift.

The moment the Empress Dowager wore it, rumors spread like wildfire.

"Where did this fabric come from?"

"It's smoother than anything from the Lu Family's workshops!"

Demand skyrocketed overnight. Noble families, foreign envoys, and even the imperial harem all wanted robes made from the mysterious new silk.

But Bai Zhi didn't sell it publicly.

She created an exclusive membership system—only those who paid a premium entry fee could even place an order.

Ding!

[Exclusive Market Strategy Activated]

Effect: Limited supply increases demand. Prices double.

Bonus: Prestige +20

By the time the Lu Family realized what was happening, their noble clients had already switched loyalty.

The Fall of the Lu Family

The Lu Family Patriarch, Lu Zheng, tried everything to stop Bai Zhi.

He lowered his silk prices—but Bai Zhi's product was still in higher demand.

He threatened weavers—but Bai Zhi had already secured their contracts.

He petitioned the Emperor—but Bai Zhi had imperial favor on her side.

In a final act of desperation, Lu Zheng attempted to sabotage Bai Zhi's trade routes, bribing bandits to burn her warehouses.

Unfortunately for him… Bai Zhi had anticipated his move.

She had already reported his actions to the imperial court, using solid evidence gathered by her intelligence network.

The Emperor's verdict was swift.

"Confiscate the Lu Family's assets. Their monopoly ends today."

Ding!

[Mission Progress: The Expansion War – 2nd Province Secured]

Yunzhou Province: Monopoly Achieved

Revenue Increase: +25%

Noble Influence: +20

Another province fell under Bai Zhi's control.

Three more to go.