CHAPTER 344: CHAPTER 344: MUTUAL APPRECIATION

Meng Yao reached some agreements with Doctor Su before leaving with the medicine.

Originally, Doctor Su intended to escort her back, but Meng Yao declined.

There were people tailing her. If she exposed her close relationship with Doctor Su, he would inevitably become their target.

Midway, someone stopped Meng Yao.

It was a sturdy young woman.

Yes, sturdy.

She was about 1.7 meters tall and weighed around 140 to 150 pounds.

Her skin was rough and dark, with sharp and intense eyes.

"County Princess, our leader has prepared a banquet at the tavern ahead, hoping you may honor us by attending for a drink. Our leader is Niu Ruosu."

Meng Yao nodded, "With an invitation from Leader Niu, of course, I must go."

After all, she also wanted a chance to get to know Niu Ruosu better.

"Please follow me, County Princess."

Although it wasn’t exactly mealtime, it was strange that there wasn’t a single person in the tavern.

The young woman explained voluntarily, "This tavern belongs to the Niu family. Our leader specially instructed not to entertain other guests today to host the County Princess."

It seemed like they valued her highly.

In reality, it was to avoid any incidents being witnessed and spread around.

Meng Yao said with a smile, "Your leader is very thoughtful."

Niu Ruosu was lavishly dressed, looking entirely different from the last meeting.

"Thank you, County Princess, for gracing us with your presence."

"With Leader Niu’s warm invitation, not coming would make me seem ungrateful, wouldn’t it? Moreover, I have great admiration for Leader Niu, as she stands shoulder to shoulder with men, and I genuinely wish to acquaint myself with her," Meng Yao said sincerely.

She was always adept at making the right expressions, both with her eyes and her tone.

Listening to her, Niu Ruosu felt that everything the County Princess said came from the bottom of her heart.

"County Princess, you flatter me," Niu Ruosu replied humbly.

"Every word I say is sincere. In these times, it’s not easy for women. Wanting to thrive among men comes with imaginable hardships," said Meng Yao.

Apart from external factors, Niu Ruosu indeed had skills, and Meng Yao truly admired her.

In the Western Qin Country, women held power, and in that environment, whatever women did seemed natural. But Zhou Country wasn’t the same; it was a place where men held power. Despite this, Niu Ruosu navigated smoothly, and the Niu Family continually upheld the customs of the New Qin Country.

It was impossible not to admire her.

"The County Princess is indeed unique," Niu Ruosu personally poured tea for Meng Yao.

Meng Yao smiled and thanked her, already communicating with the system in her mind—

"Is there anything in the tea?"

Although she believed Niu Ruosu wouldn’t easily tamper with it, caution was still necessary.

[No.]

Meng Yao picked up her tea and took a sip.

Niu Ruosu’s smile deepened, and her impression of Meng Yao improved slightly.

"Does the tea suit the County Princess’s taste?" Niu Ruosu asked.

"To be honest with Leader Niu, I do not have any profound understanding of the quality of tea," Meng Yao said openly. "As long as it isn’t hard to swallow, it’s good tea to me."

"The County Princess is not one for trivial details, which indeed aligns well with me," Niu Ruosu also took a sip from her tea cup. "I, like the Commandery Princess, have no particular study of tea, what goes down smoothly is good tea."

Without waiting for Meng Yao to respond, she continued, "The same goes for people; those who are pleasing to the eye and comfortable to interact with, are friends."

After saying that, she gave Meng Yao a meaningful look, "I wonder if the County Princess is willing to be my friend?"

"Naturally, it would be my pleasure," Meng Yao replied. "I just arrived and know very little about Le’an. Having Leader Niu as a friend would surely help me become familiar with Le’an more quickly."

"I wonder which aspects the County Princess wishes to become familiar with?" Niu Ruosu asked.

"My husband came to Le’an with me this time, ostensibly because he couldn’t bear to part from me, but in reality, he has been entrusted with a task from His Majesty," Meng Yao spoke unhurriedly. "Our Majesty is an ambitious person, and it is said that beyond the borders today was also part of our land a hundred years ago."

When speaking with someone smart, there was no need to be overly explicit.

Niu Ruosu almost immediately understood the implication in Meng Yao’s words: His Majesty wished to expand his territory, or rather, reclaim lost lands.

Simply put, His Majesty was interested in the territories beyond the border.

This made Le’an’s geographical position particularly significant.

"The County Princess means that troops will be stationed in Le’an? Will there be warfare?" Niu Ruosu asked, her face serious.

"Stationing troops is certain, but whether there would be warfare—" Meng Yao paced her words, "Our Majesty may be ambitious, but isn’t it better to accomplish goals without fighting?"

"What does the County Princess mean by this?"

"Precisely that," Meng Yao replied.

Niu Ruosu found it hard to decipher entirely, nor did she dare to interpret it loosely. Although the County Princess had disclosed information to her, this was not something she could intervene in.

"Another major purpose of my husband and me coming this time is to manage the tax situation in Le’an," Meng Yao continued on her own, "Before coming, I always thought Le’an was just barren mountains and bad waters. After arriving, I discovered that the previous rumors were inconsistent with reality."

The environment was indeed harsh, but due to the commerce between the interior and the border, the economy was quite prosperous.

As one of the local powers in Le’an.

What didn’t Niu Ruosu understand?

Why were tax revenues poor? Wasn’t it because the silver that should have gone to the Court had fallen into their pockets?

Previously, no one managed it.

Now, someone did.

"The County Princess, I understand your meaning, but have you considered that issues longstanding are often challenging to resolve?" Niu Ruosu said.

Who willingly spits out what they’ve already consumed?

"That’s why I’ve discussed with my husband that since the tax revenues are to support the troops stationed in Le’an, naturally, it’s their job," Meng Yao stated.

She spoke lightly, yet what Niu Ruosu heard was terrifying.

Could the three families be more numerous than the army?

Besides, soldiers aren’t precisely the genteel type, preferring the most direct means—where the strongest fist rules.

"The County Princess isn’t deceiving me, is she?" Niu Ruosu asked after a brief pause.

"About what? Oh, I see, you’re asking if the army is really coming, correct? Is such a thing something to joke about?"

So, they’re really coming!

"Leader Niu, I suddenly remembered some errands I need to run, so I won’t join you for the meal. Thank you for the tea; I’ll take my leave now." After all, probing each other wasn’t something that could be accomplished in one go.

Telling Niu Ruosu first about things others hadn’t heard of would certainly lead her to many inferences.

Of course, the fact that she and Niu Ruosu had a pleasant conversation also needed to be known to others.

How they strategized internally wasn’t her concern.

However, people needed to know that Niu Ruosu greatly admired her and she admired Niu Ruosu.