Business, politics, power—at their core, they're all the same game, aren't they? A simple equation, really. Identify what people want and offer it in exchange for what you need.
Humans are predictable creatures. Strip away the pretense, and their desires fall into neat little boxes: power, wealth, fame, legacy. The specifics may vary, but the hunger? That's universal.
Yet simplicity doesn't mean ease. The challenge is never in recognizing the wants—it's in weaving the threads. Timing, location, alliances. Everything must align, the knot tied with precision, or it all unravels.
Luck, they call it. But luck, I've come to believe, is nothing more than preparation meeting the right moment. Timing and place, dressed in mysticism.
And now, my preparation hinges on one thread—a thin, critical one: Lady HuaYang. She is pivotal. Her position, her ambition, her lack of her own heir. Everything about her makes her both a risk and an opportunity.
But even the finest strategy needs a push. To reach her, I need her brother. The key lies with him.
The soft shuffle of footsteps interrupted my thoughts. Without turning, I already knew who it was.
Zheng Yi. Reliable, steady, precise. His presence was always a comfort—a reminder that even in chaos, some threads could be trusted not to fray.
"Master Lü," he said, bowing lightly. "Do you require anything?"
I didn't look away from the flickering lantern. "There's someone I need to meet," I said, my tone deliberate. "Lady HuaYang's brother."
Zheng Yi's expression, as always, remained unreadable, but I could sense his attentiveness.
"How shall I arrange it?"
"A chance meeting," I instructed. "Quiet, discreet. First, observe him. Learn his habits—who he speaks to, where he goes, how he moves. Then create an opportunity for us to meet naturally. Nothing forced, nothing obvious."
Zheng Yi inclined his head slightly. "Understood. Shall I also gather more on his relationship with Lady HuaYang?"
A faint smile played at my lips. "Yes. That bond may be the key to everything. Know their dynamic. If he is her ally, I need him to be mine."
Zheng Yi bowed deeply. "I will begin immediately."
"Good," I said, my voice calm but resolute. "Every thread must be tied precisely. I trust you know what to do."
He withdrew as silently as he had come, leaving me alone once more.
The room returned to stillness, the faint hiss of the lantern filling the air.
My mind turned back to the delicate web I was weaving. Every move had to be perfect, every piece placed with precision.
There was no margin for error. Not in this game.
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It was within reach now, my goal—to strip away the stench of a lowly merchant and rise into the ranks of nobility, closer to true power, closer to being political.
The day mirrored my ambitions, a blossoming spring morning warming the air with promise. Each step I took, deliberate and measured, brought me nearer to Lady HuaYang's court.
Yet, as I arrived, I wasn't ushered in immediately. Instead, I was told to wait in the garden outside.
A delay. Of course.
I could imagine the scene unfolding inside. Her brother, that thin wolf with an appetite for gold and little else, must be working every angle, spinning every word, trying to persuade his sister to see me.
In our world, men like him are predictable. Those who can be bought with money are the easiest to handle—greedy, yes, but straightforward. It's the ones who can't be swayed by gold that give you a headache, the ones who make business more troublesome than it needs to be.
Still, it was his job to secure this meeting. I had no doubt he was groveling in his usual way, hoping to add this to the list of favors he believed he was owed.
He survives, clings to his position in the Qin administration, purely because of his sister's influence. A man with no real talents, given far more than he deserves.
A parasite. But one I'll tolerate—for now. After all, if he succeeds in bringing me face to face with Lady HuaYang, it will be worth the annoyance.
I waited a bit longer, the moments dragging like a test of patience.
Finally, the signal came—I was allowed inside.
Ah, the moment I've been waiting for. No turning back now. This is it. My full bet, my entire investment, all leading to this. There's no room for hesitation, no chance of failure.
Every step I've taken, every coin I've spent, has been for this.
I've brought so many good things to these brainless people: Yiren, Lady Zhao, and that thin wolf of a brother. They've all benefitted, all gotten exactly what they wanted, while I have done nothing but give, pour, and build.
And yet, here I stand, still waiting for a single reward, a single return on everything I've sacrificed.
This moment—this one right here—cannot be missed. Under no circumstance.
The room was a masterpiece of authority, every detail designed to remind its visitors of the power and presence of its mistress.
Her seat, elevated on a higher platform in the center, commanded attention, flanked by a low, carved table that held nothing superfluous. Behind her, a massive totem of deep crimson dominated the backdrop, its intricate carvings rippling with ancient patterns of strength and grace.
It was imposing, yet elegant—a perfect reflection of Lady HuaYang herself.
And there she was, seated like a queen already, exuding an aura that could silence a room with a glance.
Her face was long, her sharp eyes cutting through the air like blades. It wasn't just her gaze; it was the way she held it, as though she could see every weakness, every fault, before you could utter a word.
Her thin red lips, pressed together in a line that could as easily form a sneer as deliver venomous words, only heightened her commanding presence.
Her robe, a deep, rich burgundy, flowed around her like molten wine, its embroidered patterns subtle yet exquisite. Every thread seemed to carry weight, reinforcing her grace and strength.
There was no softness here, no invitation for familiarity—only the distant, regal bearing of a woman who knew her worth and intended to protect it fiercely.
In the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the brother.
Oh, the thin wolf, folded into himself at the edge of the side table, trying to appear smaller than he already was. His shoulders hunched, his hands clasped nervously as he shot me a look—a desperate signal.
He was trying to tell me he'd done all he could, that the very fact I was here was his victory. And yet, his expression hinted that Lady HuaYang had resisted him at every turn, and her final concession to let me in was born not of interest, but annoyance.
Annoyance, no doubt, at his persistent nagging. Perhaps even annoyance at me.
But no matter. In business, the path to a deal is rarely clean. The goal is not how you get there, but that you do—and that it's done right. Annoyance, resistance, reluctance—all these things fade once the ink dries.
That's what I'm here for.
I stepped forward with deliberate precision, bowing deeply—not in subservience, but as a calculated gesture of respect.
When I straightened, I allowed my eyes to meet Lady HuaYang's piercing gaze directly, unwavering.
Her scrutiny was sharp, probing, but I held firm, knowing that in this moment, confidence was my weapon as much as my words would be.
Maintaining that composure, I inclined my head slightly, a gesture of measured acknowledgment.
"Lady HuaYang," I began, my tone smooth and deliberate. "I appreciate the honor of this meeting. I come with a proposal that, I believe, aligns with both your interests and the future of Qin."
She leaned back slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing as she assessed me.
Her voice cut through the air like a blade. "A merchant with a proposal for me? That alone is bold, Master Lü. Let us hope it is worth my time."
I allowed myself a faint smile, unfazed by her words.
"I assure you, my lady, it is. Allow me to be direct, as I know you prefer. The crown prince's path to the throne is assured, but the future of Qin, the legacy of your house, and your position in history could be secured even further—with the right move."
Her lips tightened, her expression unreadable, but I could sense the calculation behind her gaze.
"And what move is that?"
I didn't flinch.
"Adopt Yiren as your son," I said, my voice precise, measured. "As you know, he is currently a hostage in Zhao. To survive such a role—let alone return—would be seen as a testament to his resilience and sacrifice. His safe return to Qin would not only mark a great act of diplomacy but also solidify his status as a symbol of strength and unity within the crown prince's house. He would be celebrated upon his return."
Her eyebrow arched, her voice sharp and unwavering. "You presume much, Master Lü. Why would I consider adopting a hostage, a discarded prince?"
I stepped closer, maintaining respect but ensuring my words carried weight.
"Because Yiren is more than a hostage. He is an opportunity. The story of his survival and return would resonate across Qin, elevating him in the eyes of the court and the people. Once adopted as your son, his status would naturally align him as the crown prince's rightful heir. And when the crown prince ascends, you would not only become queen but, one day, empress dowager. Yiren's ascension would secure the legacy of your house for generations."
She studied me then, her gaze sharp and unblinking.
I could almost hear the gears turning in her mind, each word of mine dissected, weighed.
"And what do you gain from this, Master Lü?" she asked finally, her tone laced with skepticism. "A merchant does not deal in charity."
I allowed my smile to deepen just slightly, letting honesty take center stage.
"Nor do I hide my ambitions, my lady. If this deal is made, I will serve as Yiren's advisor, ensuring his path to the throne is unshakable. I believe in Qin's destiny—to unite the warring states, to bring peace under one banner. I see a future where Qin does not merely survive but reigns supreme over all under heaven. And I intend to play my part in that vision."
Silence followed, stretching thin between us.
Her expression revealed nothing, but I could feel the weight of her calculations.
When she spoke again, her words were laced with irony. "You speak boldly, Master Lü. Too boldly, perhaps. A merchant dreaming of kings and empires."
I inclined my head slightly, my smile faint but purposeful.
"Boldness, my lady, has brought me here. And it is boldness that Qin will need to shape its future. I offer you the means to secure your place in that future. The choice, of course, is yours."
Her silence lingered, sharp and deliberate.
I knew this tactic well—she wanted me to squirm, to misstep in the void of her response. But I waited, still and composed, letting the silence work for me instead of against me.
If there was one thing I knew, it was how to read the unspoken. And this silence? It wasn't dismissal; it was calculation.
She was interested.
I offered her an exit, the kind that would preserve her pride while allowing her to lean in.
"Perhaps, before any decision, my lady, you might wish to meet Yiren yourself. Let him demonstrate his worth to you."
Her expression didn't soften, but I caught the faintest flicker of interest in her eyes.
"Very well," she said finally, her tone clipped and deliberate. "But know this, Master Lü: bringing a hostage back is no small feat, and such risks are not to be taken lightly. I do not make decisions without careful consideration."
"Nor do I, my lady," I replied, bowing once more. "I will arrange it."
As I stepped back, the faintest smile tugged at my lips.
The fish was on the hook, even if she didn't yet know it.
The deal wasn't sealed, but the game was in motion.
Lady HuaYang, for all her sharpness, would not resist a proposal that promised everything she craved.
And I? I had just begun weaving the next thread of my design—though I hadn't anticipated it would take this long to tighten the net.