Martial Arts Crossover: It All Started with Hijacking Li Canghai

In order to continue helping Qin Han, Ruan Xingzhu secretly risked everything in her business in Sichuan, almost breaking ties with the Ruan family, the main family in Jiangnan.

Of course, there was some coercion from Lingjiu Palace involved, but the main reason was that Qin Han promised to help Ruan Xingzhu only if he found her two daughters.

Back then, the so-called head of the Ruan family had a very sharp tongue.

What unfilial daughter? They're using Ruan Xingzhu's past birth of a daughter out of wedlock to make a fuss, calling her a "money-losing" daughter, and even wanting to expel her from the Ruan family genealogy...

Now that Qin Han has become the King of Shu and wields immense power, he's eagerly trying to claim kinship with us?

That's incredibly snobbish.

"Let him in." Qin Han squinted, enjoying the shoulder massage from Lan Jian and the leg massage from Zhu Jian.

Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe, who looked to be around fifty years old, was led in by his personal guards.

Upon entering, he saw Qin Han enjoying the service of a pretty maid in the main seat, and immediately plastered a fawning smile on his face.

"This humble servant, Ruan Zhengde, greets Your Highness, the Prince of Shu!"

Ruan Zhengde jogged up to Qin Han, knelt down without saying a word, and kowtowed deeply.

This is an extremely humble stance.

Qin Han was too lazy to even open his eyes.

He didn't speak, so Ruan Zhengde didn't dare to get up and could only lie on the ground with his head on the ground.

Sweat quickly slid down his forehead.

Ruan Zhengde was also lamenting inwardly, who could have imagined that Qin and Han would succeed?!

The Ruan family was one of the four great families in Shu, but this was not because the Ruan family was particularly powerful, but entirely because her husband's family was the Chai family of Lin'an.

When Ruan Zhengde learned in Jiangnan that his daughter had been divorced, he was so angry that he couldn't eat for three days. In addition, he discovered that Ruan Xingzhu was secretly helping people transport military supplies.

This is strictly prohibited by the imperial court!

It was a business that could cost him his life, and for the sake of the vast Ruan family, Ruan Zhengde could no longer allow Ruan Xingzhu to act recklessly.

In his view, although expelling Ruan Xingzhu was a bit harsh, it was the best solution for the sake of the entire family.

It's just that Ruan Zhengde was blind to talent; a powerful figure emerged from Sichuan who could carve out his own territory.

It would be impossible for Ruan Zhengde not to regret it. There are so many prominent families in Jiangnan, they don't need another one like his Ruan family.

Sichuan comprises four prefectures and fifteen counties. With such a vast territory, if the King of Shu were to support them, wouldn't the Ruan family take off immediately?!

After a long while, when Ruan Zhengde felt his knees were almost numb, Qin Han finally opened his eyes and looked at the person on the ground.

"You are the head of the Ruan family?"

"Yes, yes, yes, that's right." Ruan Zhengde nodded and bowed hurriedly.

"You are Lady Ruan's father, shouldn't I call you maternal grandfather?" Qin Han's tone was unreadable.

Ruan Zhengde's heart skipped a beat. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly said, "I dare not accept such praise. It is a blessing that my Ruan family has accumulated over eight lifetimes to have Xingzhu receive the Prince's favor..."

"Alright," Qin Han interrupted him.

What do you mean Ruan Xingzhu? He took A Zhu as his concubine. You can't just say things like that.

"I have no interest in discussing seniority with you. Speak, what brings you here?"

Ruan Zhengde's smile faltered as he realized that this King of Shu was not so easy to talk to.

Without daring to beat around the bush any longer, he quickly stated his purpose.

It turns out that ever since the Qin and Han dynasties granted land and fiefdoms to kings and took control of Sichuan, the status of the Ruan family's merchant guild, which had helped the Qin and Han dynasties, has also risen accordingly.

Countless forces wanted to curry favor with Qin Han, but couldn't find a way. People like Li Jing, Xiao Feng, and Dong Tianbao wouldn't even give them a second glance. So, these people all turned their attention to the Ruan family.

Ruan Xingzhu and Azhu have been in the Prince's mansion the whole time. Who wouldn't see the trick involved?

In no time, the threshold of the Ruan family's house was almost worn down by the crowds.

Business opportunities and collaborations came in like snowflakes.

Not only did the Ruan family's business in Sichuan expand, but their business in Jiangnan also grew several times over in just a few months.

But what followed was a huge crisis.

As the saying goes, a tall tree catches the wind, and the sudden rise of the Ruan family has touched the interests of too many powerful families in Jiangnan.

No one in Sichuan dared to touch the Ruan family, but that might not be the case in Jiangnan. The Qin and Han dynasties never openly acknowledged the Ruan family's status.

Those people dared not confront the Ruan family openly, but secretly they made constant underhanded moves and tripped them up at every turn, making it difficult for the Ruan family to move forward.

Ruan Zhengde was in a terrible predicament. After much thought, he realized that the only way to break the deadlock was to seek help from Qin Han, the King of Shu.

As long as the Qin and Han dynasties recognized the Ruan family, who would dare to do anything bad to them behind their backs, whether in Sichuan or Jiangnan?

After listening to Ruan Zhengde's tearful account, Qin Han found it all rather amusing.

"You mean you've been making money outside by using my name, and now that you've gotten into trouble, you expect me to clean up your mess?"

Qin Han's voice turned cold. "Everyone says merchants are driven by profit, but this guy really isn't afraid of death."

"No, no, no, Your Highness misunderstands!" Ruan Zhengde was terrified and shook his head repeatedly. "This humble one... this humble one absolutely did not mean that! This humble one is willing to hand over five... eighty percent of the profits! I only... I only wish that Your Highness, for the sake of Xingzhu and Azhu's granddaughter, would protect the Ruan family..."

"Eighty percent? Protection?" Qin Han sneered. "Where were you when Madam Ruan was divorced by the Chai family and suffered endless scorn in the Ruan family? Where were you when she risked the Ruan family's business in Sichuan for my sake?"

"Now that you see I'm in power, you remember she's from your Ruan family? Ruan Zhengde, your scheme is far too shrewd."

Do you think I won't kill you just because you're Lady Ruan's father?!

Qin Han's last words made Ruan Zhengde turn pale with fright!

I realized I had oversimplified things.

Just when they were about to despair, Qin Han suddenly changed the subject.

"However, you are right. A'Zhu is, after all, my woman."

"It might be worth giving the Ruan family a chance."

Ruan Zhengde suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing with hope.

"Let Madam Ruan return to the Ruan family and take control of the family business. From now on, she will have the final say on everything in the Ruan family."

"Would you be willing?"

"This...this..." Ruan Zhengde hesitated, because if Ruan Xingzhu were in power, the Ruan family would practically be Qin Han's money bag, and from then on, they would truly be inseparable.

Seeing Qin Han's indifferent gaze and recalling the fates of some aristocratic families, Ruan Zhengde finally nodded.

"It's entirely up to Your Highness to decide."

……

In the courtyard on the other side, the setting sun cast its glow.

Azhu was accompanying her mother, Ruan Xingzhu, as they pruned flowers in the garden.

"Mother, look at this peony, how beautifully it blooms."

With a charming smile, A Zhu placed a freshly cut pink peony into Ruan Xingzhu's hair bun.

Flowers enhance people's beauty, but people are more beautiful than flowers.

Ruan Xingzhu looked at her reflection in the mirror, a gentle smile on her face.

There was a time when he thought he would never see his daughter again in his life. Unexpectedly, Qin Han not only found his eldest daughter, but his own fate also underwent a dramatic change.

She is now enjoying immense success.

His daughter, A'Zhu, became the bedmate of the Prince of Shu.

She herself rose in status because of her daughter, transforming from a pitiful woman abandoned by her husband's family into someone even the Ruan family of Jiangnan had to look up to.

It felt like a dream.

"It looks beautiful. My daughter Azhu has the best taste, of course." Ruan Xingzhu held her daughter's hand, feeling incredibly happy.

Her current life is something she never dared to dream of before.

Without the Chai family's cold words and the Ruan family's open and covert struggles, he spent his days simply accompanying his daughter to appreciate flowers and enjoy tea, living a comfortable and carefree life.

Ruan Xingzhu is very content and cherishes everything she has now.

"Madam, Miss"

A maid entered, curtsied, and said, "Outside the manor, the head of the Ruan family sent a visiting card... wishing to see you."

Upon hearing the words "Head of the Ruan Family," Ruan Xingzhu's smile faltered slightly.

Azhu's face immediately darkened.