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Li Chengqian glanced at the wide-open city gate and said, "I have long heard of the great name of Nanjing City. Seeing it today, it is indeed magnificent and grand."
Haitang Duoduo said, "The city has prepared wine and dishes to welcome Your Highness and wash away the dust of your journey. Please."
"That would be troublesome."
Behind her, Fan Ruoruo jumped down from the carriage and went to Li Chengqian's side.
"Your Highness, is this Nanjing City? It's so magnificent!"
A hint of doting and tenderness appeared in Li Chengqian's eyes as he took Fan Ruoruo's hand. "Let's go get something to eat first, and I'll accompany you to stroll around Nanjing City."
A blush rose to Fan Ruoruo's cheeks, but she remained poised and confident, saying, "Okay."
Haitang Duoduo's gaze inadvertently swept over the two of them, her expression remaining unchanged.
He turned and led the way, guiding the group behind him into Nanjing City.
Yun Zhilan remained silent and followed by them.
The people of Nanjing City saw them.
Although they were curious, they did nothing else.
The situation within Nanjing City is currently unclear.
Especially after the complete reshuffling of officials, many things have changed dramatically.
Before the dust settled, the people of Nanjing City remained very quiet.
Of course, if someone from Northern Qi or Eastern Yi secretly instigated conflict,
That might make today's situation a bit less presentable.
But no one would be crazy enough to provoke a grandmaster's mentality.
Emperor Qing might be pleased with this outcome, but the Northern Qi and the Eastern Yi would not be willing to become pawns.
So, we continued on our way.
Everything remained calm until the banquet ended.
at the same time,
In a private room of Zuixianju, the best restaurant in Nanjing City...
The seven men, of varying heights and builds, wore solemn expressions, creating a rather heavy atmosphere.
Anyone familiar with their identities would be greatly surprised.
Because they were the heads of the seven wealthiest and most powerful families in Nanjing City.
On a daily basis, due to business frictions, they appear to be locked in a life-or-death struggle.
It's quite harmonious that we're all gathered here now.
A middle-aged man with a gloomy expression, aged 89, said in a deep voice: 39.
"Old Master Wang, if you ask me, we don't need to worry about so much. No matter who governs Nanjing City, they will still have to rely on the seven great families, right?"
A thin, middle-aged man standing nearby chimed in:
“Brother Gao Feng is right. Our seven families are closely linked, and our businesses are spread throughout Nanjing City. If we wanted to, Nanjing City could be plunged into chaos in a single day.”
"idiot!"
Old Master Wang shouted sternly, "Do you know who is truly in charge of Nanjing City, even though it appears to be a three-way co-governance?"
"The Crown Prince of Qing Kingdom!"
"Judging from this young man's methods, whether it's the newspapers or the postal service, he's stirred up tremendous waves,"
"And don't forget, this is a Grandmaster!"
“He is in no way inferior to Ku He, the National Preceptor of Northern Qi.”
"Do you really think you can rely on underhanded methods to deal with someone like that?"
"I think these years of comfortable living have filled your brains with mush, making you unable to recognize your own position!"
This scathing rebuke left many people looking rather grim.
However, the Wang family is the largest and most established of the seven major families in Nanjing City.
It is also the head of the seven major families today.
So although these words were unpleasant, no one spoke up to refute them.
Seeing that everyone remained silent,
Old Master Wang also softened his attitude somewhat.
He has gathered people here today to solve problems, not to hurl insults.
He looked at a middle-aged man dressed as a Confucian scholar and said, "Cai Yuanshou, you tell us what you think."
Cai Yuanshou nodded slightly. "Since the old man has spoken, I'll just say a few words."
"First of all, we cannot fight them head-on."
"I have studied this Crown Prince carefully. He is a man of great talent and has been hiding his abilities for many years. Now that he has risen to power, he is using his influence to suppress others. He is extremely domineering!"
"It's impossible to deal with His Highness the Crown Prince using the same methods as before."
"If we anger this crown prince, our seven great families could very well be wiped out!"
A handsome man interrupted Cai Yuanshou.
"This statement is rather sensational. Ku He has been in charge of Northern Qi for many years. Isn't Nanjing City our backyard?"
"So what if he's a Grandmaster?"
"Nanjing City has a population of one million. Does he really think he can kill them all?"
Old Master Wang was furious and said, "Deng Pei, shut up and let Yuan Shou finish speaking!"
Deng Pei gave a soft snort and said nothing more.
Cai Yuanshou said calmly, "Patriarch Deng is right. This Crown Prince may not be able to kill all the million people in Nanjing City, but the lives of the 127 members of the Deng family are just a matter of a word from him."
Deng Pei's face darkened with anger, and he was about to speak.
However, under the watchful eye of Old Master Wang, he ultimately held back.
Of the seven prominent families in Nanjing, the Wang family was the most powerful.
The Deng family can only be described as a newly emerging family in recent years.
To be able to rank among the seven great families,
They rose to power entirely by stepping over the remains of the Zhang family, one of the seven great families in the past.
After the Zhang family fell, although the Deng family gradually absorbed a portion of their wealth,
But most of it was swallowed up by the other six major families present.
Ultimately, the Deng family couldn't afford to offend the Wang family.
Cai Yuanshou's gaze swept over everyone present, and he slowly said, "I have thought about this for a long time. If I want my family to continue, there is only one way—to surrender."
"Take the initiative to hand over 70% of the family's assets to preserve the main family's survival; everything else can be discussed later."
As soon as this word comes out,
Many people's expressions changed drastically instantly.
Chapter 106 The Aristocratic Families of Nanjing? Li Chengqian smiled; a fat sheep had come knocking!
Heard they wanted to surrender?
Deng Pei angrily retorted, "Bullshit! My Deng family has worked hard to accumulate this vast fortune, not to give it away!"
Gao Feng's expression also darkened slightly: "These words are rather shocking. How can we face our ancestors if we give away 70% of our family fortune to others? Can't we cooperate with the Crown Prince of Qing?"
Cai Yuanshou glanced at him indifferently, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
Cooperation? You think you're worthy?
He is the crown prince of a country and a grandmaster of martial arts.
And what are you?
After a heated argument, everyone parted on bad terms.
After everyone else left, as Cai Yuanshou stood up, Old Master Wang called him back.
"Yuan Shou, is there really no other way? How about leaving Nanjing City?"
Cai Yuanshou shook his head and remained silent.
Given that Crown Prince's domineering personality,
Things from Nanjing City
He probably already considers it his for the taking.
If you want to take it away, you're only courting death!
However, making the right choices when faced with enormous wealth is indeed not a simple matter.
After bidding farewell to Old Master Wang, Cai Yuanshou turned and left Zuixianju.
Just as I stepped out of the gate, I heard someone call out to me. 27
"Brother Yuan Shou, would you mind coming here for a chat?"
Cai Yuanshou looked up and saw a carriage waiting not far away.
Inside the carriage was none other than Deng Pei, who had been furious and had a violent expression on his face just moments before.
But now, looking at his calm appearance, there is no trace of the expression he had just shown.
Nanjing City, Xuanwu Street.
"Jingni, look, doesn't this piece of jewelry suit you perfectly?"
Fan Ruoruo held a white jade hairpin and gestured with it on Jingni's hair.
Jingni smiled but didn't say anything.