Chapter 443 - 368: What a Smooth Meeting
"On my way here,
I had the pleasure of viewing your photograph.
I learned that you control the finances of the entire Great Xia Empire,
and that you are the Great Xia Empire’s renowned Minister of Finance,
even bearing the resounding moniker of the ’God of Wealth.’"
A faint smile played on Chu He’s lips.
His tone seemed calm, yet it held a hidden meaning. "However, I went to Haitong City some time ago
and got to know a rather nice young lady. Her name is Lai Yu Yao.
What this girl has gone through is truly heartbreaking.
From her birth to her upbringing,
she has never had any choice in the matter. Everything was controlled by others.
She’s just a kid, after all. It’s only natural for her to have a bit of a temper now and then.
I heard that on a momentary impulse, she threw a cup of hot water on your sister,
and you actually declared that you would have her crippled.
It seems the rumors about you are true.
You don’t just act like the God of Wealth by controlling the nation’s finances; you’re also exceptionally domineering and aggressive, tolerating no offense whatsoever."
As soon as Chu He spoke, the other three clan leaders present all revealed strange expressions.
In truth, the leaders of the other two families had also heard about this incident. It was just that in their eyes, they were busy with countless important matters every day, handling major issues concerning their families’ survival and the Empire’s fate. This kind of petty squabble was, at most, an after-dinner dessert to enjoy in their spare time—something to soothe their tense nerves and relax their weary minds. They never truly took it to heart.
Murong Xiang stared at Chu He, his expression dark.
He inwardly speculated on Chu He’s motive for suddenly bringing up this old affair.
Regarding Chu He’s collusion with that damned girl from the Lai Family, Murong Xiang had already caught wind of it.
The news had, of course, come from his own sister who had married into the Lai Family.
At first, it was just Lai Yu Yao,
and Murong Xiang truly hadn’t paid her any mind.
She was just a willful little brat.
Now, however, Lai Yu Yao and Chu He were standing on the same side.
The situation was completely different, and he could no longer afford to underestimate it.
Murong Xiang’s gaze shifted slightly.
He cast a sidelong glance at Lai Yu Yao’s father, Lai Jingyuan,
only to see Lai Jingyuan’s hands crossed and resting calmly on the conference table.
His eyes were slightly closed in a posture of serene detachment,
as if he were completely oblivious to his surroundings, a mere outsider to the affair.
Meanwhile, the attendees from the other two great families
also adopted an air of indifference, as if it had nothing to do with them.
They all watched silently from the sidelines, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.
"I’m not sure what Mr. Chu means by that.
I, too, have heard about your dealings with Lai Yu Yao.
Are you planning to use this meeting to pressure me,
or perhaps to avenge Lai Yu Yao?"
Murong Xiang had always been domineering and straightforward.
Since Chu He had laid his cards on the table, he had no desire to be coy or beat around the bush.
He decided to be just as direct,
meeting Chu He’s gaze without fear, a hint of defiance and unwillingness to back down in his eyes.
"That’s part of the idea."
Chu He’s expression was placid, his steps steady.
He walked straight past Murong Xiang
and then calmly took a seat in the empty chair that had been meticulously prepared for him.
On the table before the seat was a nameplate,
clearly engraved with the name "Chu He," which stood out conspicuously under the light.
With this declaration from Chu He,
the expressions on the faces of the representatives from the four great families all shifted subtly at once.
The most minute changes in expression
naturally belonged to the representatives of the Li Clan and the Zhao Family.
After all, the entire matter had no direct connection to their two families.
They were here more as observers, waiting to see what would happen.
Lai Jingyuan, who had been feigning ignorance, now slowly lifted his head.
His gaze, filled with a certain degree of caution and inquiry, was fixed on Chu He.
He seemed to be trying to discern whether Chu He’s words were a genuine display of emotion or if they held a deeper, probing intent.
"Her Majesty, what is the meaning of this?"
Although Murong Xiang was domineering by nature,
he didn’t dare to act too recklessly or presumptuously in front of Chu He.
So, he decided to direct the question to Lu Yinxing, who had remained silent the entire time.
His words carried a faint tone of accusation and dissatisfaction. "You didn’t summon us to this meeting just to set a trap specifically for me, did you?"
"Not at all."
At that moment, a short, portly middle-aged man spoke up with a chuckle, attempting to smooth things over.
His smile seemed friendly and amiable, but it concealed a cunning mind.
His expression was that of a worldly-wise diplomat. "The safety of our entire Great Xia Empire
now rests entirely on Mr. Chu’s shoulders. For someone as busy and important as Mr. Chu
to invite all of us here, he must have some extremely important official business to discuss.
Everyone present,
which one of us hasn’t exhausted themselves working for the prosperity, development, and peace of the Great Xia Empire?"
This middle-aged man was from the Li Clan, and his name was Li Run.
Back when the Ruan Family was still around, among the five great families,
the Li Clan had always maintained a neutral stance,
rarely getting involved in inter-family disputes.
Only at certain critical moments
would they step forward to express support for Her Majesty the Queen. Their style was extremely cautious,
always striving not to offend any faction.
Not only did he serve as the deputy head of the Defense Team headquarters,
but he also held a firm grip on the entire Great Xia Empire’s entertainment and culture industry.
Under the Li Clan’s meticulous management and strong support,
they had cultivated numerous popular celebrities.