Wanting to test the device out was natural. Kazi offered a cordial smile to Prince Yuzin. "Understood," Kazi said, getting up. David tentatively copied him. "Lead the way, Your Highness."

“Shouldn’t we ask for permission, Laoba?” Lady Ann asked.

“Permission has been granted,” Prince Yuzin stated. “Grant dimensional access to Kazi and David: guest.”

[ You have been invited to Princess Liuying’s dimension. Do you accept? ]

[ Yes or no? ]

[ Invitation accepted. Loading…]

[ Authority: Guest ]

Without further ado, the world went. One by one, Prince Yuzin, Kazi, David, Bi Sheng, and Lady Ann disappeared from the office. In a matter of seconds, they were in a whole different region. Twenty-some workers toiled under the sweltering sun, tending to the delicate opium poppy plants. The field stretched out before them, row upon row of lush green foliage interspersed with bursts of vibrant red blooms.

The supervisor of the area quickly approached them, bowing respectfully to Prince Yuzin. "Your Highness, we are honoured to have you here.” He turned and added, “You too, Lady Ann.”

Prince Yuzin nodded, acknowledging the supervisor. "Thank you for your diligence. Let's get started."

The supervisor led them through a pathway in the field, going past the workers busy tending to the opium plants. They reached a designated area where no one was around and the suitcase could be operated without anyone seeing. Kazi gestured to Bi Sheng to operate the device.

“No use in me using it,” Kazi said. “You’ll catch on quick. You’re smart.”

Bi Sheng smiled shyly. “Thank you.” He carried the suitcase with one hand and the connecting cable-scanner with the other. “Ah, I saw it can scan multiple samples and combine them for an average analysis.”

“Up to a thousand. Scan all the stuff all the way there.” Kazi directed a hand between his current position to the end of the field. “It will be a five minute walk.”

Bi Sheng did as he was told and returned ten minutes later. Prince Yuzin waited eagerly. His best engineer was returning and already looking. “Prince, prince,” Bi Sheng called out. “This is…wow, it’s very accurate!”

“Explain.”

“Well, a couple of the opiums were dead and guess what? It was true. The base was structurally unsound.”

“Oh.” The supervisor, who had no idea what this was about, blinked. “I-is that right? I will go and fix it now—”

“Fix what?”

Behind them came a voice. Beside him, Lady Ann froze. A regal tone of a woman tinged with a hint of impatience. Impatience that even caused Prince Yuzin to tense up. Everyone turned to look and were greeted by a flowing robe with wide sleeves in shades of deep blue and emerald green. Over her robe, she wore a long, elegant navy blue cloak accented with gold and silver thread. On her head was a fan shaped headpiece that sat on her head like a flat crown. Flowers of pink and red lay across it.

She did not stand. The door to a carriage was opening her presence up to everyone. The carriage wheels red, the horse reins purple, and the horse itself an extinct Ferghana horse, a distinct sense of distance was created. An authority. An understanding.

This was hers. This was all hers.

“Princess Liuying…” Lady Ann said, lowering her head. “We…did not expect you.”

"Fix what, indeed?" Princess Liuying repeated, eyes going over to Prince Yuzin. "Explain to me what is happening here, younger brother.”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Our Esteemed Princess.” Prince Yuzin bowed his head. “It is not often you come to visit.”

“What the hell, did he seriously not come with permission,” David hushed Kazi's ear.

The princess’ complexion was fair and flawless, reminiscent of porcelain, with a hint of rosy blush on her cheeks. Her double-lidded eyes were deep brown, framed by long, dark lashes that fluttered like the wings of a butterfly. High cheekbones added a sense of royalty, while her lips were small and pink and set downwards in disappointment.

“I receive reports for each and every person that enters my territory,” Princess Liuying said. “What did you think was going to happen? That I would allow even the slightest mistake in my work? That I would allow a mistake?”

“Many apologies.” Prince Yuzin bowed again. “I was presented a business opportunity and thought it would aid you.”

“You should have consulted me, little brother.” The Gulun gongzhu: the State Princess or “Princess of the First Rank". She treated the Finance Minister like he was inferior—because he was. He was mighty but he was still clambering for influence. “Shall I punish you? It will be like our childhood and perhaps you will learn this time.”

“No need.” Prince Yuzin gestured at Kazi. “This man over here had an intriguing proposition. With it, as Finance Minister, I understood that you could cut on many costs.”

“As Finance Minister…” Princess Liuying stared him down. “An acceptable excuse. Yes, perhaps this would be an acceptable excuse.”

At the corner of his eye, he saw scarlet. Kazi had no idea what happened. One instant, Prince Yuzin was standing, mighty and respectful, and the next his shoulder was penetrated by a length of navy blue energy. Thick red blood seeped out. Prince Yuzin stood like a statue, embracing the pain instead of fighting it.

“But encroaching on my territory must be punished. Thank me for my mercy, little brother.”

“I thank you, Our Esteemed Princess.”

The sharp stretch of navy blue connecting to her arm disappeared. Blood splattered from the hole in the Prince's shoulder. Princess Liuying gestured at Kazi and David. “You two. Sit here.”

Rejecting her meant death. This was her territory. Their corpses meant nothing. Kazi went up first, with David following close behind while carrying the suitcase. The door to the carriage closed. An intense pressure came down on their shoulders.

“My younger brother was making you a deal. Explain.”

The princess was not asking, she was ordering them.

“It’s, er…you see this thing?” On David's lap was the suitcase. The princess’ gaze shifted over accordingly. The pressure on Kazi waned. Not good. Suddenly, David’s temple was gleaning with sweat.

‘David can’t handle her—’

“It’s a machine that can analyze opium,” Kazi explained quickly, “as well as a thousand other plants. In an hour, you could find out every single fault in your field.”

“Faults in my field? You claim my workers do not do their work perfectly?”

“Yes,” Kazi said. “The ordinary cannot be perfect.” The full force of the princess fell upon him. Kazi didn’t even blink. She could have pierced his brains out with that magic blade of hers. He drew in seamless breaths. His life teetered toward death. “You asked before what we were fixing. That was what it was.”

“We of the Aisin Gioro do not specialize in agriculture. This is merely a pet project of mine. So, I presume this is a demonstration for something larger. Perhaps…a technological marvel from the modern Earth?”

“That is correct, Your Esteemed Highness. This is merely the taste of something larger. With Prince Yuzin’s support, we plan to open up thirty-four factories that produce the materials for technology of this calibre. I personally plan to invest a hundred million in it.”

The princess’ lip went flat. “A large amount for a new player,” she stated.

“I have done my best to stay at the top of my challenges.”

The smallest pause passed. She was studying him. Understanding him.

“Your kind is a rare sight,” Princes Liuying said, the atmosphere thickening.

“I hope it is not an unwelcome one,” Kazi replied.

“That remains to be seen.” The carriage suddenly stopped. “You may leave now. My younger brother will explain to you my stake in the matter.”

David looked confused. Her stake? To the contrary, Kazi expected as much the moment they were allowed inside her fancy carriage. The Imperial Sect were imperials for a reason. They did not want the cooperating party to be their equals; they had to be inferior. Accordingly, the prince planned to sink three hundred million points. That way, Kazi and David would only have thirty-percent of the profits while the Imperial Sect would own the rest. Kazi was fine with that. Two men couldn’t possibly stand up to the largest noble family in the White Abyss.

But with the State Princess wanting to intrude on the deal, the investment was going to be spliced further and altered in terms of its nature. This was not a matter between the Imperial Sect’s Finance Minister and two businessmen anymore. It became a family feud. A power struggle. Prince Yuzin was loyal to the Imperial Sect. So was the princess—except she also had her own agendas.

Kazi flashed a smile and lowered his head as the door opened on its own. “Thank you for granting us an audience, Esteemed Princess. I pray we meet soon.”

The two got off in the middle of the field. The carriage didn’t waste a second returning to motion. It appeared the princess was heading toward a small house in the corner of the farm. Sighing, Kazi ran a hand through his hair and thought to himself, ‘This is why I hate family politics.’