Travel through troubled times and escape famine with the system

The group took their seats in the council chamber, according to their order of importance.

Mingcui brought a teapot and handed it to Luyou: "Miss, this is spring water from Yuping Mountain that was fetched early this morning."

Yuping Mountain is a small mountain in the northwest corner outside Wudu. When the Yu Dynasty first demarcated the area of ​​Wudu, they originally intended to break rocks on Yuping Mountain, but they discovered that there were several living springs on the mountain that never dried up even in years of severe drought, so they preserved it.

Later, during the reign of Emperor Fengchao, the tea ceremony flourished, and people discovered that the spring water of Yuping Mountain was clear and refreshing, and that brewing tea could bring out the aroma of the tea leaves. Thus, the spring water of Yuping Mountain was regarded as the tea spring.

After the establishment of the Wu Dynasty, Emperor Wu even sent troops to guard it and designated the spring on Yuquan Mountain as a special resource for the imperial city, which could not be accessed by anyone other than princes and ministers.

As for ordinary people, they can fetch water from the downstream stream at the foot of the mountain.

However, after flowing for a long time and becoming mixed with other waters, those spring waters lose their clear and sweet taste and become no different from ordinary water.

It can be said that in Wudu, being able to obtain spring water from Yuping Mountain is a symbol of status.

Mingcui was very clever; she could tell from just a few words that there was tension between Luyou and Su Muying, which is why she deliberately emphasized the origin of the spring water.

"Miss Lu is an expert in the tea ceremony?"

Before arriving, Su Muying had already thoroughly investigated Lu You's identity and background.

There are only two kinds of people who are proficient in the art of tea.

Firstly, they were born into high-ranking officials or noble families who did not engage in production but had plenty of time and energy to spare, so they studied tea ceremony and cultivated an air of refinement.

Secondly, there are some special practitioners who learn the tea ceremony to serve others.

As the daughter of a minor scholar from Heyuan Village, if Lu You were knowledgeable in this field, she would most likely be the latter.

Lu You didn't say anything upon hearing this, but simply reached out and took out a powerful pill and put it into the teapot.

"Miss Su has come to visit with gifts, so I should have offered her some fine tea in return."

"But my grandfather was an honest official, and his household did not have any good tea. No matter what kind of tea was brought to the household, it was always treated with slight neglect."

"Furthermore, I am not an expert in this field, so I thought I would prepare a special potion for Miss Su as a gesture of hospitality."

As she spoke, Lu You slightly raised her hand towards Ming Cui.

Mingcui took the teapot and poured tea for the people present in turn.

"This medicine has no name, but it is my own secret recipe. It has the effects of strengthening the body and refreshing the mind. Please try it, Miss Su."

Looking at the slightly brownish medicine in her hand, Su Muying turned her head to look at Zuo Yunfeng.

But Zuo Yunfeng nodded slightly, then picked up his teacup and drank the medicine.

Seeing Zuo Yunfeng's reaction, Su Muying and Zuo Xuan'er also picked up their teacups, but after just one sip, their expressions changed.

Su Muying was a lady from a respectable family, and even though she felt the medicine tasted wrong, she tried her best to control her expression.

But Zuo Xuan'er's fiery personality made it impossible for her to hold back, and she stood up abruptly.

"Bah bah bah..."

"Hey, Mr. Lu, what are you up to by giving us this awful stuff to drink?"

Before Zuo Xuan'er could finish speaking, a voice came from the doorway.

"This is not the Zuo family residence in Liangzhou. Miss Zuo, you must not speak carelessly here."

The group looked over at the sound and saw Duanmu Rong walking gracefully towards them.

"Although this medicine tastes bad, it has the miraculous effect of bringing the dead back to life and healing flesh and bones. It is a treasure that is priceless."

As they were talking, Duanmu Rong came to Lu You's side, clasped her hands in greeting, and nodded.

"Miss Lu, I have completed the task you entrusted to me and have come to report back to you."

Miss Lu...

Reporting back...

Judging from these few words and Duanmu Rong's audacity in barging into the council hall, Su Muying was certain that Duanmu Rong was not a member of the Guan family, but was required to obey Lu You's orders.

This strange relationship immediately piqued Su Muying's curiosity.

After putting down her teacup, Su Muying carefully examined Duanmu Rong. However, when she saw Duanmu Rong's alluring gaze and stunning figure, her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she became very wary.

"This lady is very beautiful. Is she also from the Guan family?"

Su Muying said with a smile, but her gaze inadvertently drifted to Zuo Yunfeng sitting opposite her.

Sensing Su Muying's gaze, Zuo Yunfeng quickly lowered his eyes, nose, mouth, and mind, picking up his teacup and focusing intently on sipping the medicine...

Duanmu Rong turned to look at Su Muying and clasped her hands in a slight fist salute.

“Greetings, Miss Su. My name is Duanmu Rong. I am a retainer of the Third Prince and am currently serving under Miss Lu as her bodyguard.”

After Duanmu Rong finished speaking, she glanced at Zuo Xuan'er beside her, then turned around and stood behind Lu You.

When it comes to watching a play, you have to be there in person. It's no fun to eavesdrop outside the door.

Lu You hadn't expected Duanmu Rong to pull such a stunt, but those few words just now...

Duanmu Rong subtly mocked Zuo Xuan'er for being blind and unable to recognize a treasure, but this also helped her suppress the two women, so she let it go.

Besides, Duanmu Rong was originally a pawn left in the mansion by the Third Prince to monitor him. Even if she didn't come in, she would definitely be eavesdropping outside the door, so it's better to be open about it.

Su Muying glanced at Duanmu Rong, then picked up her teacup again, took a sip, and swallowed the earthy, bitter taste in her mouth, savoring it carefully.

Just a moment later, Su Muying's eyes lit up.

"nice one!"

Su Muying couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, then picked up the teacup and gently smelled it.

"Although this medicine tastes terrible, it can refresh the mind and restore energy after drinking it. It is truly amazing."

"Although my Su family mainly deals in silk, we also run medical clinics and businesses. If Miss Lu is willing to hand over her prescriptions to my Su family to manage, my Su family is willing to give 40% of the net profit as dividends."

Ok? !

Lu You was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Why is this plot so different from the palace intrigue novels I've read before?

How did we suddenly start talking about collaborating on drug sales?

I'm a powerful businesswoman from another world!

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Su, but this pill is a secret of my sect that is not passed down. Moreover, the raw materials are hard to find and the production process is complicated, so it cannot be mass-produced."

Upon hearing this, Su Muying looked regretful, but then she heard Lu You speak again.

"However, since Miss Su likes them, I can give you three."

"This elixir is remarkably effective in detoxification and repairing external injuries. As long as it's not an injury that kills instantly like decapitation or being cut in the waist, even if a weapon pierces the body, as long as the medicine is taken in time, one can save their life."

As they spoke, Lu You reached out and took out three pills, placing them on the table. Ming Cui then stepped forward to collect them and handed them to Su Muying.

Su Muying wanted to refuse, but this was a life-saving elixir.

After a moment's hesitation, I finally reached out and took it.

"Since it is Miss Lu's kind offer, then Mu Ying will not be so polite as to refuse."

Su Muying accepted the pill, but felt a tightness in her chest.

Her abrupt arrival was already a loss of face, and now even her gifts were outshone by Lu You's life-saving pills.

Even when faced with this elixir, she couldn't bring herself to refuse it.

In this first encounter between the two, she suffered a complete defeat...