Imperial Capital, Liu Family’s courtyard.
In a reception room filled with Xia Country elents, a dignified and noble old woman sat in the main seat.
Her na was Zhou Enqiao, the matriarch of the Liu Family in the Imperial Capital.
"Madam, the guest has arrived."
A woman in her thirties walked in, hands clasped together.
She wore a rosary around her neck, her hair braided to her waist, dressed in a white shirt and black pants.
Zhou Enqiao, eyes closed and fingering a string of Buddha beads, said coldly:
"Ah Huan, bring the guest in."
Ah Huan turned to leave, and after a while, she brought in a young man in traditional Chinese clothing into the reception room.
Xie Qilin slightly bowed to Zhou Enqiao, smiling:
"Greetings, Madam Zhou."
Zhou Enqiao showed a hint of displeasure on her face:
"Why did Xie Jianguo send a child?
Is he looking down on the Liu Family?"
Xie Qilin was unfazed:
"Surely Madam Zhou has heard of .
I’ve been practicing with the Buddhist Family since I was young, so my father sent to accompany Madam Zhou, a Buddhist Layman, in conversation.
The Buddhist Family speaks of ’fate’, and I feel we are quite fated."
Zhou Enqiao slightly opened her aging eyes:
"Oh? We are fated?"
Xie Qilin clasped his fists, speaking aningfully:
"In the vast Imperial Capital, how many sincerely worship Buddha?
I think it’s just you and ."
Zhou Enqiao looked at Xie Qilin with surprise and smiled:
"Please sit."
Xie Qilin sat down with ease.
As Zhou Enqiao continued to play with her Buddha beads, she asked:
"I wonder, why has the Xie Family co?"
Xie Qilin said nothing, his eyes glancing at Ah Huan standing behind Zhou Enqiao.
Zhou Enqiao said:
"Ah Huan is my confidante."
Xie Qilin turned serious:
"I ca for the future of the Liu Family!"
Zhou Enqiao sneered:
"The Liu and Xie families’ relationship isn’t that good, yet the Xie Family cares quite a bit for the Liu Family."
The Liu Family doesn’t really have good relations with any family.
It’s all Liu Changgen’s fault for handling matters too ruthlessly, too firmly.
Especially with the Xie Family, over the years, those Liu Changgen offended were all vassals of the Xie Family.
Xie Qilin shook his head:
"It’s Liu Changgen who’s not on good terms with the Xie Family, not Madam."
Zhou Enqiao suddenly slapped the table, shouting angrily:
"How dare you! Liu Changgen is my husband and the Patriarch of the Liu Family!
What do you an by this? Are you trying to sow discord within the Liu Family?!"
Zhou Enqiao, indeed one of the won at the peak of the Imperial Capital, was quite intimidating when angry.
Xie Qilin chuckled softly:
"The Xie Family wishes to cooperate with the Liu Family; how could they sow discord within the Liu Family?
Liu Changgen’s life may not last much longer; would Madam refuse cooperation with the Xie Family for a dying man?"
Zhou Enqiao’s face was very displeased.
The words were quite a slap in the face.
How dare this young child speak to her this way?!
But what Xie Qilin said did make sense.
When Liu Changgen passes, the Liu Family will no longer be one of the Four Great Families.
The Zhou Family might even have to move out of the Imperial Capital.
Xie Qilin stroked the oil paper umbrella in his hand, saying:
"So, is Madam willing to listen to what I have to say? Just one sentence."
Zhou Enqiao snorted coldly:
"Say it, then get out!"
Xie Qilin took the teapot to moisten his throat and said solemnly:
"After Liu Changgen passes, the Xie Family will fully support Brother Liu Xian, maintain the Liu family’s business, and restore the Liu family to its forr glory quickly!"
Zhou Enqiao frowned.
The Xie Family wanted to help her son?
Why?
She quickly understood.
Zhou Enqiao said with a half-smile:
"You’re afraid of a marriage alliance between the Liu and Zhang families?"
Recently, she’d been thinking about a marriage alliance with the Zhang Family, wanting her son to divorce that useless woman Wei Na and marry the Zhang Family’s daughter.
Zhou Enqiao wanted the Zhang Family’s help, and lately, she had been working hard to make this happen.
The hostility between the Xie and Zhang families was deep-seated, to the point of breaking heads.
If the Zhang Family really allied through marriage with the Liu Family, gaining the Liu Family’s support would not be good news for the Xie Family.
Xie Qilin showed no embarrassnt at having his intentions revealed, spreading his hands:
"Yes, but I’m not afraid of the Liu Family; I’m afraid of Madam Zhou.
Who doesn’t know of Madam Zhou’s business acun?
The Liu Family has reached its current status all because of Madam Zhou’s strategic planning.
Between the Xie and Zhang Families, a winner must erge eventually. Whoever gains Madam Zhou’s favor will surely have the upper hand.
I don’t want the Zhang Family to gain the support of Madam Zhou, the God of Wealth.
It’s funny how indecisive the Zhang Family is.
Too bad, if I were a girl, I’d have co to the Liu Family long ago."
Flattery always works.
With these words, Xie Qilin elevated Zhou Enqiao greatly.
Zhou Enqiao, a smile hanging on her lips, played with the rosary, lost in thought.
Her ideal partner was still the Zhang Family, only the Zhang family didn’t care much for the marriage alliance.
Sotis Zhou Enqiao couldn’t understand what the Zhang Family was thinking.
The marriage happiness of Zhang Qian, that little girl, compared to family matters, the Zhang Family actually respected her wishes.
This really offended Zhou Enqiao.
The Xie’s attitude was quite sincere, and Zhou Enqiao’s thoughts began to incline toward the Xie Family.
Xie Qilin continued to talk about future business and official layouts.
Zhou Enqiao was shocked.
This kid Xie Qilin was only seventeen, right?
The words of a seventeen-year-old, the promises made, surprisingly moved her!
The Xie Family does have a good son!
Because Xie Qilin’s plans for the future would lead the Liu Family to greater heights.
Xie Qilin carefully observed Zhou Enqiao’s expression, suddenly got up, and walked toward Zhou Enqiao.
Ah Huan, behind Zhou Enqiao, imdiately reached for her back with her calloused hand, leaning slightly forward, her eyes like a wolf staring at Xie Qilin.
Xie Qilin walked up to Zhou Enqiao and suddenly knelt down, saying:
"Qilin never saw his mother since childhood, and upon eting Madam Zhou, it feels like destiny—perhaps this is what Buddha ans by fate!
Qilin would like to recognize Madam Zhou as a godmother and to be filial at her knee in the future!"
This move truly surprised Zhou Enqiao.
Zhou Enqiao squinted her eyes, her sharp triangulated eyes coldly staring at the ’sincere’ Xie Qilin.
After a mont’s thought, she put down the Buddha beads, excitedly helped Xie Qilin up:
"Good child, good child! From now on, you’ll have a companion in my son, Xian."
This acceptance ant the cooperation between the Xie and Liu Families was confird.
At this mont, Ah Huan’s phone rang in her pocket.
Ah Huan took out the phone, glanced at a ssage, walked up to Zhou Enqiao, and whispered a few words in her ear.
Zhou Enqiao was stunned, looked at Ah Huan incredulously:
"You say Liu Changgen’s health is improving?!"
Ah Huan nodded:
"The hospital says it’s a dical miracle; he might be discharged after a month’s observation."
Xie Qilin was dumbfounded.
Wasn’t Liu Changgen about to pass?
How could it...?
The two stood there awkwardly.
Xie Qilin thought for a mont, stepped back a few paces, and said regretfully:
"With Liu Changgen’s return, the Xie Family can’t cooperate with Madam Zhou anymore.
Let’s consider what I said earlier just a joke. Goodbye!"
Zhou Enqiao was quite tempted by the generous terms offered by the Xie Family.
At that ti, the Liu Family could be even better than when Liu Changgen was around.
Most importantly, the future patriarch of one of the Four Great Families, Liu Family, would be her son, not Liu Changgen.
There’s a secret not many people know.
Liu Xian is the child of Zhou Enqiao and her ex-boyfriend; she was pregnant with Liu Xian when she married Liu Changgen, and Liu Xian is not blood-related to Liu Changgen.
In such a family, they rely lived together for convenience, each taking what they needed, with little to no so-called love.
She hurriedly called out:
"Good child, the cooperation can continue."
Xie Qilin’s mouth curved into a smile, using a low tone:
"Liu Changgen won’t cooperate with the Xie Family, nor will the Xie Family with Liu Changgen.
Liu Changgen has offended many in the Imperial Capital; cooperating with him offers no benefit to the Xie Family."
Zhou Enqiao tightly gripped the Buddha beads, her gaze growing cold:
"He will not return."
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