Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

After getting rid of Taihe Trading Company and Li Rusong, Xiao Lie was also preparing a backup plan.

Since Taihe Trading Company is gone, we'll choose someone else to take its place.

Xiao Lie simply mentioned that he had brought Lin Yu and Gu Ming to the restaurant, and the two of them were overjoyed, as if they had won the lottery.

"Xiao Lie, you're really loyal. Even after you've made your fortune, you haven't forgotten to share some of the profits with us. Don't worry, we'll definitely do our job well and won't hold you back."

"Exactly! How can you neglect the God of Wealth? Don't you even want to do business anymore?"

The three of them raised their glasses in celebration at the restaurant and drank happily.

Lin Yu and Gu Mingheng were happy because they had made a fortune, while Xiao Lie was happy because he had finally put his mind at ease.

No matter what, those two never cheated him.

But he could rest assured that such an important matter was in the hands of the two of them.

Meanwhile, the news also made sure to invite all the nobles and dignitaries of the capital to sit in his residence and sow discord among them.

Most of the top nobles in the capital were old acquaintances, so since Xiao Lie had extended an invitation, how could they refuse?

They thought it was just an ordinary banquet, but after a few rounds of drinks, Xiao Lie got so drunk that he started crying while holding a wine jar.

"Grandpa, you're not in the capital, so you have no idea how hard your grandson's life has been."

When he started crying, others naturally tried to comfort him, and the conversation eventually turned to the political climate in Kyoto over the past few years.

Xiao Lie wept uncontrollably. One person held his hand and called him "Big Brother," while the other put his arm around his shoulder and called him "Brother." He sobbed and cried pitifully, as if he could see their bleak future.

"Brother, I don't know how much longer I can enjoy this life of wealth and luxury."

"Right now, I feel like I'm being roasted over a fire, unable to move forward or backward, and I'm just feeling miserable. If it were someone else who was going through a tough time, I could only sigh at my bad luck. But looking at you all, I can't help but feel a deep sadness and sympathy for you."

"Brother, my dear brother, do you think we can still drink this wine in the future?"

Although Xiao Lie's words were vague, everyone present understood what he meant.

What Xiao Lie said was exactly what worried them the most.

Over the years, the emperor's fear of the Xiao family has grown increasingly stronger, and they have all witnessed this.

The emperor wanted to consolidate power and thoroughly reform the land of Great Xia, but what about them? Would they continue to survive and thrive, or would they be cut down and burned like weeds?

Having learned from the Xiao family's experience, most of them believed it was the former.

But such words cannot be said, nor dare they be said.

Hearing Xiao Lie's words in secret, they felt even more sorrowful and couldn't help but sigh repeatedly.

"Your Highness, do not worry. We all come from the same place, so it's only natural that we should help each other. If Your Highness were to truly... we would probably be..."

"Absolutely, absolutely! How could we not understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'?"

As everyone chimed in with their own thoughts, a sense of mutual appreciation seemed to emerge.

When the news reached the capital, the emperor was furious upon hearing the nonsense uttered by the people at the banquet.

He was not only angry, but also fearful and resentful that these subjects, whom he had regarded as pawns in his hands, dared to jump out of the chessboard and gather together to cricket at him.

Could it be that his actions over the years have been too drastic, chilling the hearts of these powerful and influential families?

It's not terrible to be disheartened; what's terrible is that they first become disheartened and then form an alliance. Behind this, it's likely that they're joining forces to bring him, the emperor, down from his throne.

Just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine.

De Shun, still harboring resentment because of what his informant had said, flicked his whisk and probed.

"Your Majesty, these people are gathering to slander you, making veiled accusations, and defaming Your Majesty's reputation. This is an act of utter treason. Perhaps this old servant should visit each of them and give them a warning."

"No, no, no, this is not possible."

The aristocratic families were already wary of him; if he were to issue another warning, it would be tantamount to openly telling them.

He was well-informed, had planted informants, and was dissatisfied with them.

I fear that if this is done, those nobles who are already uneasy will become even more uneasy.

This is tantamount to subtly pushing people's hearts toward Xiao Lie's side.

The emperor took a deep breath, forced to swallow this momentary humiliation, and spoke.

"Just pretend you didn't hear anything."

De Shun looked up in disbelief, "Your Majesty!"

"I said, pretend you heard nothing about what happened today. But if I hear anyone, even palace servants, gossiping..."

De Shun shuddered and quickly lowered his head. "This servant understands. This servant will definitely discipline the palace servants properly and will never let them talk nonsense and offend His Majesty's ears."

The emperor took a deep breath, his brows and eyes finally relaxing a bit. He leaned back in the wooden chair and closed his eyes in deep thought.

De Shun intended to leave quietly, but suddenly the man spoke, his voice low and enigmatic.

"De Shun, do you also think I'm too heartless?"

De Shun was startled, and the hair on his back and hands almost stood on end at that moment.

He immediately turned around and knelt down on the ground, stammering.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and naturally should not be hindered by others. Your Majesty's words and actions are all for the sake of the Great Xia Dynasty for generations to come. Those parasites do not understand Your Majesty's heart, but this servant sees it clearly."

His Majesty was only asking whether he was too heartless, not whether his actions were right or wrong. It was clear that he had already made up his mind about whether his actions were right or wrong. After realizing this, De Shun quickly agreed without the slightest hesitation.

Sure enough, after he finished speaking, the man's solemn tone softened slightly.

"De Shun, I am a lonely man with few people I can trust, and you are the only one I can confide in."

Most of those who can hear His Majesty's heartfelt words are the dead; now, isn't he the only one left?

But De Shun dared not make any statement. As if he had not heard any coldness in his voice, he bowed and smiled gently.

"This is a blessing that even a servant could not have accumulated in eight lifetimes."

"You, you," the emperor knew perfectly well that this was just flattery, but who wouldn't want to hear something pleasant? He rubbed his temples, suddenly feeling exhausted.

"Since they're under so much pressure, let's give them a break."

Suppressing them might encourage them to have other ideas.

Both the Emperor and Xiao Lie harbored their own ulterior motives, and surprisingly, no further trouble arose between them over the past few days. It was like the calm before the storm.

With Gu Mingheng and Lin Yu joining the purchasing team, the process was completed quickly and efficiently.

Just when Xiao Lie thought everything was settled.

He suddenly received a letter from Princess Yuhua.

Not long after the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, she returned to the mountains to continue her spiritual practice, and Princess Yuhua followed her there as well.

Kiyotani Mountain is hundreds of miles away from Kyoto, yet she was still interested in news from Kyoto.

Xiao Lie couldn't help but feel curious. He opened the letter and glanced at it, but his expression changed slightly, and he suddenly became more serious.

Seeing his expression suddenly change, Sixteen couldn't help but ask.

"Your Highness, what has happened?"