Chapter 633: Drink First

Gu Jiu Ling turned her head to look at Zuo Feichen, who was pulling her sleeve from behind.

Zuo Feichen looked somewhat tense and whispered a reminder: "Don't act impulsively."

Zuo Feichen was truly worried about Gu Jiu Ling; ever since hearing her plan, his heart has been unsettled, always feeling that something will happen.

He himself hadn't known what he was thinking back then; a rush of blood to the head had made him unintentionally agree with Gu Jiu Ling, but now, thinking carefully about the consequences, he feels a tingling numbness on his scalp.

Gu Jiu Ling nodded, turned, and went to meet the door together with the other grain merchants.

The young man who entered the private room now wore an arrogant expression; he slowly sat in the central chair, slightly raised his hand and gestured: "Please, don't stand on ceremony, have a seat."

Gu Jiu Ling quickly sat with the others facing that young man, who raised his hand in a salute and said: "I am Leader Ling, attendant to Prince Rui; I have specially invited you all here today to discuss important matters, sorry for taking your time, please bear with me—I'll first offer a toast, feel free to drink as you like."

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her cup and took a light sip, yet she secretly sneered.

I don't know where the Eight Great Families found this stand‑in; he probably only learned a superficial resemblance.

That person set down his cup, cleared his throat, and said: "The Prince ordered me to come meet you all; you must have guessed it—I want to buy grain through your hands."

As soon as Leader Ling finished speaking, the grain merchants around echoed in agreement.

"The Prince needs our effort; we cannot shirk our duty."

"If the Prince needs a large amount, we can also give some discounts, but times are hard and we must support our families; we hope the Prince will be understanding."

"Yes, yes, in these troubled times of war, it's not easy for us to do this business."

No wonder they're a bunch of profiteers; they all cried poverty, then shifted the talk to serious matters.

The leading middle‑aged man with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks accompanied his smile with: "We've also discussed it—amidst the war, grain is hardest to come by, and we don't know how much the Prince wants or how much silver we can offer."

The false leader chuckled: "Earlier, the Prince heard in Shang Jing that the silver moved out had filled the Emperor's Hall of Nurturing Heart to the brim, so money is no worry—just tell us how much grain you still have."

Old Master Zhang gave Gu Jiu Ling a look; she quickly stepped forward and said: "Leader Sir, the Zhang family has also stockpiled plenty of grain these years; the Prince can see how much he wants, and we grain merchants will naturally transport it over."

At that moment, the false leader turned his gaze to the speaking Gu Jiu Ling and couldn't help but be slightly startled.

In this remote borderland, he had never seen such a handsome young gentleman before; he laughed loudly: "I've heard the Zhang family is also a well‑known major grain merchant of Yanbei Pass—this young gentleman is unfamiliar to me; I wonder if he belongs to the Zhang family..."

Old Master Zhang feared Gu Jiu Ling would spout nonsense and ruin his family's reputation; he hurriedly rose, glanced at Gu Jiu Ling, and smiled at the false leader seated in the place of honor: "Replying to Leader Ling, this is my distant nephew; I was entrusted to bring this child along for training."

The false leader chuckled: "Oh, so you're the Zhang family's young gentleman—my apologies, my apologies."

At this moment, Leader Ling, who had been asking the questions, turned his gaze to Old Master Zhang, his face growing more solemn.

Old Master Zhang is also well known in Yanbei Pass, especially for dealing in bulk commodities; he has always been the top figure.

Now Old Master Zhang is clearly promoting his clan's younger generation, hoping to help him make a profit.

He couldn't help but feel his heart sink a little, secretly sneering, unaware that these people might not be able to complete this deal.

The false leader laughed hehe: "This young gentleman is talented and ambitious, truly talented and ambitious."

Having said that, he slowly rose, glanced around, and clapped his hands.

Immediately, the servants in the restaurant began carrying out dishes, laying them out; before long, the tables in the private room were filled to the brim.

Two large tables of people, packed shoulder to shoulder, the private room was practically overflowing.

Once the crowd had settled, the false leader raised his wine cup: "The Prince said, even if the deal fails, righteousness remains—please raise your cups and drink first; we can talk about other matters later."

Everyone hurriedly lifted their cups; Gu Jiu Ling brought hers to her lips, frowned slightly, and glanced at Zuo Feichen sitting beside her.

At this time, Zuo Feichen was also sitting beside Old Master Zhang and Gu Jiu Ling.

He exchanged a glance with Gu Jiu Ling, then, without changing his expression, lifted his cup and pretended to take a sip.

The liquor flowed along his wrist into his sleeve, after which he set the cup down on the table.

He was merely a minor figure, so doing this naturally attracted no one's attention.

Gu Jiu Ling and Zuo Feichen had long guessed that something had been put into the wine, though it wasn't poison.

After all, these merchants of theirs have some influence in Yanbei Pass; the Eight Great Families, now wildly ambitious in their conquests, seek to control the local finances wherever they capture a place—clearly aiming to dominate the whole world.

At this point, the Eight Great Families should not make too many enemies.

If they really killed these people, it would provoke public anger, making their confrontation with the Imperial Court rather disadvantageous.

Gu Jiu Ling remained expressionless, secretly slipped the pill hidden between her fingers into her mouth, then tipped her head back and gulped down the cup of wine.

A burning sensation surged up from her throat; Gu Jiu Ling covered her lips to keep from coughing.

The false leader raised his cup once more: "It's an honor for me that you all could come today, and it also gives face to my lord the Prince—drink up first, then we'll discuss business; come, come, come, keep drinking."

Having said that, he lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp; the other grain merchants likewise drank down their wine.

At the instant the cup was set down, the so‑called Leader Ling's eyes flickered with a cold, sharp gleam, and the corner of his mouth curled into a hint of mockery.

Not long after, those who had finished drinking suddenly clutched their heads and kept moaning.

"What's going on? Why are our heads so dizzy?"

"Could it be… could there be something wrong with the dishes?"

"This is the finest wine of Yanbei Pass—how could there be a problem? No… no… it is… it's the wine…"

The grain merchants, already slumped sideways, lifted their heads in fear, gazing at the upright "Leader Ling"; their faces shifted slightly—today's drinking party seems to have been sabotaged by someone else.

But the drug's effect wore off too quickly; these people couldn't hold out and all collapsed into a deep sleep.

Gu Jiu Ling also slumped onto the table before her, while Zuo Feichen had already closed his eyes.

Soon after, hurried footsteps sounded outside, running toward Gu Jiu Ling's side. She felt her arms being forcibly pulled up, the force rather strong, and a faint ache lingered.

"Uncle, what should we do with these people?"

"Send them all into the carts, leave this place, head for Ying Prefecture…"

The two words "Ying Prefecture" reached Gu Jiu Ling's ears; she finally curled the corner of her mouth into a smile, then was dragged out.