I didn't flinch at the accusation. The air in the pavilion was warm from the lanterns, but the wood under my forearms was cool and smooth. Denying it would be an insult to her intelligence, and confirming it would give her leverage. I chose the middle ground.
"The Outer Harbour was unstable," I said, looking directly into her dark eyes. My voice was calm in my own ears, but the silk cushion under me was firm, and I could feel the cold of the stone floor seeping up through the pavilion wood into my knees. "Wei was bleeding the vendors dry. Han and Lin were fighting over scraps. Zhao was a liability. The Four Dragons were operating on an outdated model of brute force and intimidation. I simply introduced a more efficient system."
The tea between us was still steaming. Thin white threads rose from both cups and vanished into the dark above the table. The smell was earthy and bitter, with a faint sweetness underneath it. It mixed with the dry sandalwood in the air.
