Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Are the Liu Family Members Really That Loyal to Nanyue? Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Are the Liu Family Members Really That Loyal to Nanyue? The chubby man with a broad face chuckled.

“I heard it from those scholars too!”

In the descriptions exchanged among the three, Qi Yue further understood their identities.

The bearded man and the others were indeed escorts, but they specifically escorted goods for the Liu Family.

Plainly speaking, they were essentially people of the Liu Family.

The chubby man’s aunt was even the personal maid of Old Madam Liu, having served by her side for many years.

In the Liu Family, she held some sway and knew many big and small matters.

It turned out that the Liu Family was not only exceptionally talented in business but also highly educated.

While all professions were inferior to scholarship, business was the most despised by scholars.

Yet, the Liu Family excelled in both to the utmost.

The Liu Family’s business was not only widespread but its members also dominated Nanyue’s literary world, greatly revered by scholars.

Among them, the most distinguished was Shen Zikuang, the current Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Revenue.

He had entered the Nanyue Imperial Court as the top scorer in his examinations ten years ago, rising swiftly through the ranks, and at merely 25 years old, he was in charge of the Imperial Court’s finances.

Although the Nanyue Imperial Court appointed him as Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Revenue for ulterior motives, one could not deny that Shen Zikuang himself was capable and the Liu Family was financially powerful!

More than a hundred years ago, it was largely due to the substantial support from the Liu ancestors that Nanyue Kingdom could quickly establish itself. One could say that without the Liu Family, there would have been no Nanyue Kingdom at that time.

But most emperors had the flaw of discarding the dove after the hunt, and the first Emperor of Nanyue was no exception.

In the first generation, except for an infant born abroad, the Nanyue royal family nearly exterminated the entire Liu Family.

Under normal circumstances, a family suppressed by royal power like this would hardly have any chance to rise again.

Yet, after an initial period of looting and confiscation, the Liu Family somehow still continued its lineage.

Like an indestructible cockroach, starting from the remaining infant, they continuously bred descendants, incessantly thriving, mastering both business and scholarship to the nth degree, re-entering the ranks of prominent family clans, and restoring their ancestors’ glory.

Only now, the Liu Family was much more low-key in their conduct.

According to the chubby man, the Liu Family did not like extravagance, preferring simplicity and thrift.

A large family with hundreds of people had surprisingly fewer than a hundred servants and menials.

Such a situation was utterly impossible among the wealthy clans of various nations.

In addition, the Liu Family often donated money and goods to impoverished people. One could say that wherever there was a need in Nanyue Kingdom, the Liu Family was there.

Hearing this, Qi Yue’s curiosity intensified, and she wanted to set off for Nanyue immediately.

Rumors had it that Emperor Han Linghe was cunning and mysterious, and his ambitions had become increasingly difficult to conceal over the years.

If it weren’t for the fact that half of the ministers in the Nanyue Imperial Court opposed the resurgence of war, Han Linghe would have lost patience and strived to unify the four nations long ago.

The rise of Zhao Xiyan now provided him with an excellent opportunity.

For the sake of their future, she must explore the situation no matter what.

If the Liu Family liked doing business, she would use her ready-made medicine to break the ice.

She did not believe that a family oppressed by the royal power of Nanyue for centuries would be content being harvested generation after generation!

After finishing about the Liu Family, the topic soon shifted to the Four-Nation Alliance.

Through Qi Yue’s deft questioning, she also gleaned some general information.

The news was highly confidential, known by very few.

The chubby man had only heard about it by chance.

Before departing from Nanyue, he and the bearded man and a few others were wandering the streets, mistaken as draft dodgers because of their strong build and were apprehended.

They were almost sent to the military.

In the end, it was only through his aunt’s pleading to the Liu Family that they were saved.

Later, his aunt let something slip during a family conversation, accidentally mentioning the words “Four-Nation Alliance.”

Although it was just four words, given their experience in the Martial World and broad knowledge, combined with the current turbulent situation and the Liu Family’s standing in the Imperial Court, they could roughly guess a thing or two.

Several people, bolstered by alcohol, said quite a bit.

But to Qi Yue, her thoughts were even more comprehensive.

With Zhao Xiyan’s current capabilities, he absolutely could provoke a coalition of four nations against him.

Therefore, Qi Yue basically found this information credible.

With one glance, Zhao Chong went out to give orders.

–When they arrived, the Black Feather Guard had not received this message.

Although Zhao Xiyan had already taken precautions, the message must be sent out immediately.

After some conversation, Qi Yue also revealed quite a few informational points about the medicinal business.

The plump-faced men had already completely trusted Qi Yue, even thinking she had deep connections with Shen Zikuang of Dongjiang and was eager to secure this big business deal for the Liu Family.

“Miss is unaware, but these medicines are currently priceless in Nanyue. I heard from my aunt that the Liu Family has been wanting to get into this business for a while now, but it’s hard to approach the great steward Shen…”

Qi Yue said simply,
“As long as you three are confident about the Liu Family entering the medicinal business, I can arrange for Shen Zikuang to personally visit Nanyue.”

Upon hearing this, the bearded men’s eyes widened instantly, and they quickly nodded in agreement.

“Of course, we’re confident! Definitely confident!”

The one in charge of Qi’s pharmaceutical business, great steward Shen Zikuang!

Is he someone just anyone can meet?

This lady actually said she could arrange for Shen Zikuang to personally visit Nanyue!

Who exactly is she?

Could it be….

If she really is that person close to Zhao Xiyan, does this count as treason?

Fear instantly surfaced in the eyes of the three men, and they unanimously turned to look at Qi Yue.

Qi Yue, having lived two lives, had long become very astute.

Seeing their expressions at that moment, what could she not understand? She couldn’t help but curl her lips slightly.

“Brothers, please don’t overthink it! The wife of the great steward is my elder sister, and the great steward has long wanted to expand the medicinal business into Nanyue. All I need to do is write a letter back home, explaining the Liu Family’s situation, and he will definitely be interested.”

Upon hearing this, the bearded men immediately relaxed.

“I see, that’s great then!”

Qi Yue lowered her eyes, a glint of sharpness passing through them, but upon raising her head, she instantly resumed a candid demeanor.

The expressions of the three men just now reminded her that she could not appear in Nanyue under her original identity, but if she wanted deeper engagement with the Liu Family, she needed a high-ranking, exclusively medicinal business-focused individual to communicate with the Liu Family.

This person had to be Shen Zikuang.

It seemed that she needed to send a letter to Shen Zikuang.

However, were the Liu Family members truly that loyal to Nanyue?

Thinking of this, Qi Yue smiled slightly.

“Brothers, if the great steward really does go to Nanyue, would you Liu Family really dare to engage in this business?”

The bearded man slapped his chest confidently!

“The lady can be assured, although we three are just minor characters, we are very aware of our family head’s intentions…”

The plump-faced man eagerly took over the conversation.

“…I can testify to this; I’ve heard my aunt say more than once that she wanted to go to Beiyuan to see if they could engage in the medicinal business, even saying it was a great cause beneficial to the state and the people! If it were not for the current chaos under the heavens making it inconvenient to travel, perhaps we would have found the great steward by now….”

“Oh,” Qi Yue lazily raised her eyebrows, “Doesn’t the Liu Family fear being seen by the Nanyue royal family as committing treason? Qi’s pharmaceutical industry is indeed Miss Qi’s estate.”

The faces of the bearded men tensed for a moment but quickly relaxed again.

The thin-faced man, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

“I did hear about this issue being discussed privately by the shopkeepers.”