Quick Transmigration: Drama Queen's Daily Life Chapter 1183 - 1172: The Wealthy Merchant

Upon re-entering his personal courtyard, Ye Qiu waved his servants away, and a flood of memories returned.

This reincarnation had transported him to a period of great upheaval. The original host of this body belonged to a prosperous merchant family whose enterprises flourished throughout the entirety of Nanxu Country. Their business dealings spanned a vast array of lucrative sectors, encompassing everything from grain and textiles to horses, medicinal herbs, and even restaurants.

As a family's fortune grows, it inevitably invites envy, especially during such turbulent times. The Ye Family's amassed wealth was more than enough to make countless eyes turn green with desire. Their ancestral home was situated in Jing’an City, falling under the jurisdiction of Prince Donghe, who was among the first to cast a covetous gaze upon their riches.

In the preceding life, this individual first attempted to sway Ye Qiu to his side. When met with refusal, he resorted to assassination. Ultimately, it was Ye Qiu's own sister, Ye Lu, who proposed an alliance with Prince Linsan.

Prince Linsan indeed proved to be a young, promising, and capable vassal king. He courted the Ye Family with genuine sincerity, offering to take Ye Lu as a concubine. Subsequently, the Ye Family became his vital logistical base, shouldering a significant portion of Prince Linsan's financial needs.

Several years passed, and Prince Linsan successfully ascended to the throne. The Ye Family, having rendered substantial contributions, was bestowed the prestigious title of a superior marquis, and Ye Lu was elevated from the status of concubine to that of Imperial Concubine.

However, as the saying goes, once the birds are gone, the good bow is put away. The Ye Family, with their immense wealth and elevated status, naturally began to incite the apprehension of Prince Linjiang.

Consequently, it was hardly surprising that the Ye Family eventually had their assets confiscated under fabricated charges. Yet, paradoxically, after the family's exile, Ye Lu was appointed Empress, and her eldest son was proclaimed Crown Prince—a sequence of events that Ye Qiu found utterly implausible.

What further perplexed Ye Qiu was the distinct impression that Ye Lu did not seem to belong to this world at all. Ever since her marriage to Prince Linjiang, she had not only pioneered the development of gunpowder but also aggressively exploited coal and iron resources, introducing technologies previously unheard of in this era.

Now, granted a second chance at life, the original host's sole desire was to remain independent of any vassal king and ensure the Ye Family's continued safety.

Ye Qiu's eyes snapped open, revealing a sharp and determined gaze. Given the prevailing era of chaos, the court's ineptitude, and the autonomous rule of the vassal kings, why should he not pursue his own path?

The Ye Family possessed ample wealth and considerable influence. In these tumultuous times, money was the ultimate power. As long as he could financially support them, any rebel faction would readily do his bidding.

As for the sister who had exploited Ye Qiu and subsequently betrayed the Ye Family, Ye Qiu resolved to distance himself from her in this lifetime. He would demonstrate to her that relying on others was never as effective as cultivating one's own strength.

And regarding his stepmother, Li Dezhen, she should not presume that her status as an elder afforded her the right to act with impunity; Ye Qiu intended to make it unequivocally clear who held true authority within the household.

"Someone—"

"Your Eldest Young Master commands?"

"Go and summon the Second Young Master and both Uncles."

"Understood."

In less time than it took for a quarter of an hour to pass, the three individuals convened in his courtyard. Ye Qiu's second brother, Ye Cheng, was born to a concubine and, under the stepmother's influence, lived a life of relative simplicity. However, Ye Qiu recognized that this brother, though not one for many words, was remarkably dependable in his actions.

Furthermore, his two uncles were his biological paternal uncles. As they had no sons of their own, having only daughters, they regarded Ye Qiu as if he were their own child. This paternal affection was precisely why Ye Qiu had chosen to involve them in the discussion of pressing matters.

"Uncles, please be seated. Second Brother, you too, please sit. I have convened you here today to deliberate on several critical issues."

Perceiving the gravity of his expression, one uncle furrowed his brow and inquired, "Could this matter pertain to the recent overtures from Prince Donghe? Prince Donghe has always acted with ruthless efficiency. Should we align ourselves with him, I fear the Ye Family would be utterly consumed. Yet, should we refuse, I worry about the peril of complete annihilation."

"I have also heard that your mother recently established contact with Prince Linsan, seemingly forging a connection with him. However, I understand Prince Linsan to be quite young and lacking in substantial power, showing no clear signs of political ascension."

"Even in these times of widespread unrest, one is eventually compelled to take a side. I suspect Prince Linsan is not as simple as he appears; perhaps an alliance could be forged. Qiu'er, what is your perspective on this?"

"It is precisely concerning this matter that I have summoned both Uncles and Second Brother. Our Ye Family's enterprises have grown far too extensive, drawing the attention of all parties. If we wish to merely maintain our current standing, it is already an impossible feat." Ye Qiu articulated his thoughts with profound insight.

"Then, Qiu'er, do you harbor any specific plans? Which faction do you intend to align with?"

"My intention is not to bow down to anyone."

These words not only startled his two uncles but even caused Ye Cheng, who was typically reticent, to display an expression of astonished disbelief.

"You mean to ally with the imperial court? But the Young Emperor is still a child, making it difficult to achieve anything significant. The Empress Dowager is also quite absurd; her dalliances with sycophants have stirred immense chaos across the land, leading to widespread public discontent—an alliance there is unlikely to be suitable."

"Furthermore, King of Xichuan currently holds substantial power, yet he is geographically distant from us. Establishing ties now might prove too late. As for the other minor vassal kings, I fear they would lack the audacity to partner with our Ye Family."

Ye Qiu nodded in agreement: "Indeed, my Uncles grasp the current situation clearly. Second Brother, what are your thoughts?"

Ye Cheng, suddenly called upon, felt a touch of awkwardness. He had always been treated as a peripheral figure in the household, relegated to minor duties like accounting and accustomed to being overlooked.

Nevertheless, he candidly responded to Ye Qiu: "I believe that if we must align with a vassal king, Prince Linsan presents the most viable option. My mother informed me that Prince Linsan intends to wed our third sister as a concubine, a gesture that appears to signify a sincere commitment. However—"

"However, what more?" All three regarded him expectantly.

"While Prince Lin Chuan may exhibit sincerity, we should refrain from exhausting all the Ye Family's resources in supporting him. I am concerned that should his ambitions be realized, he might harbor apprehension towards us. Therefore, we ought to occasionally feign a degree of weakness."

Upon hearing his response, Ye Qiu’s eyes gleamed with admiration. He had not anticipated that his second brother would display such foresight, recognizing early on Prince Lin Chuan’s pledge to their stepmother.

"Indeed, Cheng’er speaks with considerable wisdom."

"You’ve truly matured. When Uncle travels, you should accompany me to broaden your horizons."

Both uncles nodded at Ye Cheng, their gazes filled with evident approval.

Ye Cheng felt a touch of embarrassment at the praise, bashfully looking towards Ye Qiu: "Eldest Brother, what is your opinion?"

"You raised a valid concern. Internal familial divisions exist, let alone among vassal kings harboring ambitions in these tumultuous times. If we choose to align with them, extreme caution is necessary. However, I did not summon you here solely to discuss reliance on a vassal king."

"Then for what purpose? Is there a matter of greater import than this?"

"Have my Uncles ever pondered this: we possess both wealth and influence; if vassal kings and rebels can govern independently, why cannot we raise our own army? Why can’t we actively participate in the ongoing struggle? Why must we remain dependent on others?"

Ye Qiu’s audacious declaration left both his uncles and Ye Cheng in stunned silence, their mouths agape.