Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 148 Cargo
"After all, people like us simply cannot understand how there are people in this world who don't take power seriously."

"Is it because you people are born with a superior status? But I remember you came from a poor family. Shouldn't a poor person who suddenly becomes rich be arrogant and conceited? But you are exactly the same as before. I'm really wondering, are you a born saint?"

"Prince Binyang" muttered to himself, but the real prince lying there naturally couldn't respond. His brows were furrowed, as if he were trapped in a nightmare from which he couldn't wake. And indeed, that was the case. Because of a special poison in his body, even though he could clearly hear all the sounds around him, he still couldn't give any response.

He had been living like this for three whole years.

The imposter, 'Prince Binyang,' reached out and smoothed the real prince's sweat-dampened hair. His attitude was truly strange; facing the real prince, this imposter showed no anger, nervousness, or fear, but rather a sense of mutual respect. Perhaps it was because in the past three years, he could only speak his true feelings without reservation when he was with the real prince, knowing that the Prince Binyang lying in bed could not respond to the outside world, making him the best confidant.

These days are really great!
The 'Prince of Binyang' almost sighed with satisfaction. However, after a brief moment of relaxation, he roused himself again. This fake prince was not just a figurehead. All affairs in the entire Yancheng had to be handled by him, and at this moment, he had something extremely important to do.

She clapped her hands lightly, and a well-trained maid walked in silently.

"Have the people in the side courtyard been settled?"

"Yes. They were just requesting an audience with the Prince. Does the Prince wish to see them?"

"Let them come."

"Yes."

Jiu Que originally wanted to take action immediately, but stopped when she heard this conversation. She wanted to see who this fake prince wanted to see next.

A moment later, a considerable commotion arose outside. Jiu Que keenly noticed a few words spoken in a foreign language, and his brows furrowed immediately. These words sounded strangely familiar…

Senior Cui pointed north with his index finger, and Jiu Que immediately understood—they were the Northern Barbarians? This fake prince not only colluded with the princes in the court but also had connections with the Northern Barbarians? Jiu Que suddenly remembered that the Northern Barbarians didn't produce much salt and had to buy it at high prices every year. A large part of the reason they invaded the borders of Da Jing was precisely because they lacked salt. Without salt, people have no strength. In addition, the weather in the Northern Barbarians was harsh, with long winters; without enough salt, it was difficult to survive the long winters. Therefore, Da Jing had always strictly controlled the supply of salt to the Northern Barbarians. But how did the Northern Barbarians, who were still fighting against Da Jing, appear in Salt City? How many years had they been colluding?

This was no simple power struggle among princes; a slight misstep could escalate into treason. Jiu Que patiently waited. Sure enough, the commotion outside quickly subsided, and several tall men dressed in grand Jing attire strode in. Perhaps still harboring resentment from the earlier incident, several of them were breathing heavily through their nostrils, as if afraid others wouldn't know their displeasure.

The northern barbarian who was in the lead was rather refined in his speech and manners. If it weren't for his exotic face and slightly blue eyes, he would have been no different from the people of Dajing.

However, he did not control the few somewhat rude clansmen behind him. He simply looked around the house with his blue eyes, and then his gaze fell on the screen, and a subtle smile gradually appeared on his face.

The 'King of Binyang' showed no fear whatsoever. He slowly tapped the table with his index finger, the tapping sound attracting the attention of the northern barbarians.

"You've come all this way not to be angry with me, have you?" "...Of course not. Your Highness, we've come to continue our trade. The salt you produce here is the best and purest in the entire Great Jing, even the whole world. Our people who have tasted it can't forget it. I wonder how much refined salt you can allocate to us this year? Our king is also looking forward to it."

The Prince of Binyang was completely unfazed by these words, which were a mix of gentle persuasion and firmness. He even spoke without any expression.

"The number of transactions is fixed every year, why do you need to come again? If your identity as northern barbarians is discovered, you may not be able to leave alive."

“Your Highness, as you know, we are currently at war with both sides. No merchants in Dajing are willing to sell us salt, so we have no choice but to come to you in a huff. If it weren’t for the urgency of the situation, we wouldn’t dare to venture in alone. After all, the emperor of Dajing has a very strong opinion against us.”

"You came without prior notice or permission. Is this how you ask for help?"

"..."

The blue-eyed northern barbarian at the head of the group narrowed his eyes, slowly straightened up, his expression remaining humble, and even his tone unchanged. But what he said sounded strange no matter how you looked at it.

"Your Highness, are you not going to help us? If that's the case, I'll be heartbroken, and so will the two hundred thousand cavalry behind me, because without salt to boost their strength and satisfy their horses. Our previous friendly cooperation will likely have to change. Is Your Highness really going to do this? Can you make that decision?"

If the first half of the statement was merely a probe, then the second half revealed the true intentions. Clearly, the northern barbarians opposite had been suspicious of the 'King of Binyang' for quite some time.

The Prince of Binyang, having been tested, was not angry. He pondered for a moment and then spoke with some dissatisfaction.

"The amount of salt produced this year will not change. The output of the salt lake and salt wells is only so much. After supplying the capital and the counties throughout the country, almost all the rest will be given to you. Those salt workers are not wooden. Even if they work ten hours a day to dig and refine salt, they can only produce this much salt."

Before the northern barbarian opposite him, whose expression had changed drastically, could speak, the 'King of Binyang' made a seemingly unintentional remark.

"However, there can be more other goods this year."

The leader of the northern barbarians did not change his expression at this moment. He obviously knew before he came that the 'King of Binyang' would not agree to his request to increase the amount of salt, so he was not surprised. He just spoke in a flippant tone.

"Oh, other goods? Could Your Highness be referring to those young women?"

Jiu Que narrowed his eyes slightly. So, Wuyou Cave's business had extended to Yancheng? Then where in the world haven't these audacious people been?
Their innocent girls from Dajing were sold to a foreign land by their own people, and to the northern barbarians, with whom they had a long-standing feud?!
What we're witnessing is truly an unprecedented and unparalleled farce! Utterly absurd!
(End of this chapter)