Chapter 37:

The East Sea specializes in selling aquatic products. As the saying goes, there’s the Dragon King in the sea, the River King in the river, and the Well King in the well. The dragon clan is both lofty and down-to-earth, reigning over any body of water. Naturally, the goods from these respective domains all fall under the East Sea’s jurisdiction.

Yan Zhi’s words actually had a flaw, and any normal dealer would have laughed upon hearing them. The problem was, in the aquatic products trade—especially among those handling deals worth hundreds of millions—almost everyone knew that the Yan family had monopolized the East Sea’s fish farms.

No one dared to boast or compete for business in front of Yan Zhi. Did they have a death wish?

Nü Hou, just starting her entrepreneurial journey, didn’t understand this. Armed with book knowledge, she retorted, “But according to the books I’ve read, seafood is a subset of aquatic products.”

Ao Fugui chimed in, “Exactly, exactly.”

Yan Zhi mentally noted Ao Fugui’s interference, deciding to revisit Wang Houxiong’s works later. Focusing on Nü Hou, she asked, “Oh? And which book might that be?”

Nü Hou replied, “*The Path to Prosperity*.”

Yan Zhi sneered, “What a coincidence. I also learned from a book that the East Sea only sells seafood, not aquatic products.”

Nü Hou was puzzled. All the books she’d consulted stated that seafood was part of aquatic products. Eager to learn, she inquired, “May I ask which book that is?”

Yan Zhi answered, “*The Yan Family’s Essential Techniques*.”

Nü Hou said, “I’ve read *The Yan Family’s Essential Techniques*. It doesn’t mention that at all.”

Yan Zhi replied, “I’ll add it now.”

Ao Fugui couldn’t take it anymore. “Teacher, you can’t bully people like this.”

Yan Zhi retorted righteously, “I’m revising my own book. How is that bullying?”

Ao Fugui protested, “Changing the text in public is absolutely bullying!” He then turned to Nü Hou, thumping his chest. “Nü, fellow cultivator, if you want to do business, you can come to me. I’m the Crown Prince of the East Sea. The East Sea is my home, let alone its aquatic products.”

Nü Hou understood the underlying message—she was being mocked. Though Ao Fugui offered help, she followed Ming Gong’s advice and ignored him, instead politely engaging with Yan Zhi. “My apologies. I’ll take the proposal back, revise it, and return to discuss it with the Prime Minister.”

Ao Fugui grew anxious. “Fellow cultivator, your proposal—”

Yan Zhi silenced him with her folding fan. Meeting Nü Hou’s unadorned face, she finally said, “Very well.”

As Nü Hou’s graceful figure disappeared beyond the door, Ao Fugui felt a void in his heart, quickly replaced by resentment. He snatched Yan Zhi’s fan and shouted, “She came to do business, and not only did you refuse, but you repeatedly humiliated her!”

The East Sea’s aquatic products belonged to his dragon clan, not the Yan family.

Yan Zhi had painstakingly educated Ao Fugui for years, watching him grow from a naive child into a simple-minded, brawny youth. Their teacher-student relationship had always been harmonious—Yan Zhi, as a minister, never scolded the Crown Prince, and Ao Fugui, as a disciple, always respected her.

This was the first time Ao Fugui had defied Yan Zhi—for a woman.

Shocked and disbelieving, Yan Zhi struggled to remain calm as she reasoned with him. “If she were truly here for business, someone seasoned in trade would know about the Yan family. Yet she arrives today, demanding to monopolize the East Sea’s fish farms. Clearly, she has ulterior motives. Even if she were genuine, her attitude is a slap to the Yan family’s face, forcing her way into our profits.”

Ao Fugui wasn’t part of the Yan family. Whoever bought from the East Sea, the dragons profited. Selling to Nü Hou could even bring him closer to her. “Teacher, you’ve always said monopolies are unhealthy. Bringing in another player could foster healthy competition.”

For the first time, Yan Zhi tasted the bitter fruit of conflict between aristocratic families and royal authority. She was the East Sea’s Prime Minister, but she was also a member of the Yan family. Letting Nü Hou in would undermine the Yan family’s interests.

Their discussion ended in discord. Ao Fugui stormed off to chase Nü Hou, leaving Yan Zhi despondent. By nightfall, he still hadn’t returned. Unable to sit still, Yan Zhi asked a servant, “When will the Crown Prince return?”

The shrimp soldiers and crab guards exchanged glances before pushing forth a turtle, who stammered, “Prime Minister, His Highness said he won’t be back tonight.”

Yan Zhi laughed bitterly and dismissed them. Outside, the cold moonlight frosted her heart.

Xue Ying had barely fallen asleep when her door was knocked again. Opening it, she found Yan Zhi standing there, holding a jug of wine, her face flushed with intoxication.

Xue Ying didn’t understand her purpose. Was this a moonlit drinking session? “Prime Minister—”

Before she could finish, Yan Zhi hugged her and wailed, “Fellow cultivator, my life is so hard!”

Xue Ying held the drunken Yan Zhi, encountering such a situation for the first time. “Prime Minister, you’re drunk.”

Yan Zhi gulped wine between sobs. “The child has grown up, his wings hardened—he doesn’t listen to me anymore! After all these years raising him, he defies me for a woman!”

“Prime Minister—”

Clutching the wine jug, Yan Zhi switched to singing. “Heartless tears, heartless people, my tears keep me company tonight.”

Normally refined, Yan Zhi’s drunken antics were unbearable. Xue Ying covered her ears expressionlessly as Yan Zhi performed *The Drunken Concubine* in her room.

Her voice… even Wen An next door couldn’t take it. Leaning against the doorway, he asked Xue Ying, “Where’s your usual ruthlessness?”

Xue Ying calmly held cotton balls. “I’m a bit sexist.”

Wen An: So he was less important than an outsider?

Too furious to speak, Wen An fetched a magical tool and placed it on the table. Whatever Yan Zhi sang, it echoed back. Xue Ying was puzzled. “Senior Brother, why did you bring out the Echo Conch?”

Wen An smiled gently. “Isn’t Prime Minister Yan’s heavenly voice worth recording? Let’s savor it later.”

Before he finished, Yan Zhi had already engaged with the Echo Conch. After *The Drunken Concubine*, she imitated a donkey’s bray. Each of her calls was echoed back. Soon, the room was filled with the sound of donkeys, and Yan Zhi rolled on the floor laughing.

Wen An marveled, “Prime Minister Yan is truly talented, applying knowledge creatively.”

The next morning, Yan Zhi woke with a splitting headache. Remembering last night’s events, her face darkened. Dressed, she stepped outside to find Xue Ying and the others gathered, listening to her drunken recordings.

Cen Wuwang commented, “That donkey impression was top-notch.”

Yan Zhi: “…”

Suppressing her shame, she interrupted. “Fellow Daoists, I apologize for last night’s impropriety.”

Xue Ying stood. “It’s fine. Everyone has bad days. But Prime Minister, if I may ask—from what you said, you and the Crown Prince argued?”

A trace of sorrow crossed Yan Zhi’s face. “A minor disagreement.”

Xue Ying disagreed. “We won’t interfere in your affairs, but given the urgency of capturing Nü Hou, if she’s involved, we must act.”

Yan Zhi nodded, recounting yesterday’s events. Xue Ying suddenly asked, “Was she… well-endowed?”

Behind her, Cen Wuwang played with the Echo Conch. “Ah-oh.”

Yan Zhi ignored the familiar yet strange sound. “…Yes.”

“Ah-oh.”

Xue Ying concluded, “It’s very likely Nü Hou.”

“Ah-oh.”

Yan Zhi was baffled. “You’ve never met her. How can you be sure?”

“Ah-oh.”

Xue Ying couldn’t explain, but statistically, a beautiful, well-endowed female cultivator arriving now, with Ao Fugui infatuated—it was highly probable.

Duyi Zhou added, “This demon is agile. Though no match for Xue Ying, her escape skills are unparalleled. If we don’t capture her in one move, it’ll be far harder next time.”

“Ah-oh.”

Yan Zhi lowered her gaze. She wasn’t stupid—Ao Fugui’s infatuation was obvious. If Nü Hou remained free and the demon realm targeted him, the East Sea’s millennia-long plans could collapse.

“I have a plan. Nü Hou posed as a dealer to discuss business. I can invite her to the East Sea under the pretext of inspecting goods. The Dragon Palace lies deep beneath the sea, protected by formations. Once she’s inside, you can ambush her.”

“Ah-oh.”

Duyi Zhou agreed. “Xue Ying can accompany you, carrying the Five-Colored Divine Feathers as bait. A two-pronged approach to ensure her capture.”

“Ah-oh.”

…Could someone please control this elder?

The plan was set. Due to Cen Wuwang’s strength, Yan Zhi couldn’t reclaim the Echo Conch. Before leaving, she hinted, “Your magical tool is rare. May I borrow it for a few days?”

Cen Wuwang generously handed it over—only to produce another from his sleeve. The familiar sound echoed.

“Ah-oh.”

Yan Zhi forced a smile. “You seem to have quite a collection.”

Cen Wuwang was nostalgic. As a child, when his father died, the funeral hall was packed with nobles in lavish robes, weeping before the memorial tablet. The emperor arrived and declared that his father had loved donkey calls, ordering the guests to bray in farewell.

From then on, Cen Wuwang found power meaningless. Now, he simply found the donkey calls amusing.

“I recorded several copies. Want one?”

Yan Zhi: “…”

Seriously, can someone rein in this elder?!