The Qian Family, in one of the separate courtyards.
Inside the courtyard, birds chirped, and flowers bloomed while various colored carps swam back and forth in the pond, shuttling non-stop among the lotus leaves.
A woman dressed in a red phoenix robe stood in the pavilion of the separate courtyard, quietly watching the carp in the pond.
At that moment, a corpulent man entered the yard and, upon arriving outside the pavilion, immediately bowed and said,
"This humble one greets Princess Junwan!"
Wu Junwan responded indifferently, "Rise."
Qian Dahai promptly got up.
Wu Junwan then said, "President Qian, you should know why I personally left the palace to see you this time, shouldn't you?"
Qian Dahai immediately said, "Presumably Princess Junwan is here because the North Prince wants this commoner to serve as the Minister of the Ministry of Commerce in the North Country."
Wu Junwan didn't turn around; she continued looking at the koi swimming in the pond.
"President Qian, you are very clever. It is because of your cleverness that the Qian Family has been able to develop to this point, and that the Qianhai Commercial Association has become the wealthiest commercial association in Great Wu."
Hearing this, Qian Dahai pretty much guessed why Wu Junwan came to see him personally—it was clearly a warning, but he didn't mind at all.
"Thank you for the compliment, Princess."
Wu Junwan then asked, "In your letter, you only mentioned that the North Prince met you alone and mentioned what benefits he planned to offer you. I am very curious, did the North Prince promise you any benefits?"
Qian Dahai said, "The North Prince told this commoner that the North Country is different from all other dynastic nations; it is a country that emphasizes commerce, where the status of merchants will be greatly elevated. In North Country, everyone is important, there is no hierarchical ranking like scholars, farmers, workers, and merchants."
"As long as this commoner joins North Country, the future will see North Country prosper because of this commoner, and this commoner will have his name remembered in history because of North Country.
Furthermore, the North Prince has promised this commoner that after the Qian Family moves to North Country, some of the North Prince Mansion's industries will be transferred to the Qian Family, making the Qian Family even more prosperous in the future."
Upon hearing this, Wu Junwan chuckled lightly, "This little man is quite interesting, trying to steal people right from under my nose."
The smile on Wu Junwan's face was natural, with no hint of anger.
At this point, Qian Dahai expressed his loyalty, "Princess, the Qian Family is what it is today because of your care; this commoner will definitely not betray you. On the fourth day after the North Prince met with this commoner alone, this commoner immediately returned to Great Wu; this commoner will not leave Great Wu just because of some small profit promised by the North Prince."
Hearing Qian Dahai's words, Wu Junwan said indifferently, "Betrayal? The Qian Family joining the North Country is in my interest; how can that be called betrayal?"
"This…" Qian Dahai feigned a stunned look.
At this moment, Wu Junwan turned her head to glance at Qian Dahai, then said, "From today on, you are a man of the North Country."
Upon hearing this, Qian Dahai immediately knelt down and, with a face full of fear, said, "Princess, this commoner does not wish to go to North Country. The Qian Family has been in Great Wu for over a hundred years; our roots are in Great Wu. How could the Qian Family move to North Country? Did this commoner do something to displease the Princess, so you wish to expel the Qian Family from Great Wu?"
Wu Junwan said, "President Qian, there is no need to be nervous; I do not mean that. The Qian Family will naturally still be the Qian Family of Great Wu. However, I need you to join North Country, to gather more intelligence about North Country for me."
"Would President Qian be unwilling to do so?"
Qian Dahai hurriedly said, "If this is your highness's will, this commoner will naturally obey."
Wu Junwan continued, "President Qian, rest assured, even if the Qian Family moves to North Country, I will not abandon you. If President Qian is worried, you may leave your eldest and second sons in Great Wu to continue managing the entire Qianhai Commercial Association."
Hearing this, Qian Dahai was not at all surprised; he had already guessed this would be the outcome. Although Wu Junwan verbally expressed trust in him, her heart most certainly still feared a complete betrayal by the Qian Family.
However, Qian Dahai didn't care. Leaving his eldest and second sons in Great Wu could actually help Lu Chen obtain more intelligence about the Great Wu Dynasty, which would be a good thing for the North Country and the North Prince.
At this time, Wu Junwan continued, "President Qian, hurry and pack your belongings, and head for North Country at once. If there's anything in the future, I will have someone notify you."
Wu Junwan left without further words and departed from the Qian Family.
"Safe travels, Princess!"
After Wu Junwan left the Qian Family, she said to a soldier beside her, "Go and invite the two sons of the Qian Family to the Snowstorm Tavern."
"Yes, Princess," replied the soldier, immediately mounting his horse and heading for the Qianhai Commercial Association.
Although Wu Junwan planned to keep two hostages from the Qian Family in Great Wu, she still had some worries about the Qian Family. To ensure that Qian Dahai would obediently follow her orders, Wu Junwan intended to directly win over the two brothers of the Qian Family.
Only by making the two brothers of the Qian Family wholeheartedly pledge loyalty to her could she better control the Qian Family. However, what Wu Junwan did not know was that the Qian Family's loyalty to Lu Chen was absolute, even that of the two brothers; thus, all her efforts were doomed to be in vain.
No matter how she tried to win over the two brothers of the Qian Family, she would not be able to secure their true loyalty.