"What do you mean?"
A trace of pity flashed across Li Chang'an's expression.
"Family Head Zhao, do you truly believe my Li family's Hall of Heavenly Principle business is so easy to run?
Then why haven't all the great families and clans in the Duravia Trade Prefecture and the Eternal Sun Prefecture been able to expand their businesses?
Is it because they don't want to? I'm guessing you must think, if our Li family can do it, why can't you?"
"Ridiculous!" Ding Yuanxiao scoffed.
"The Zhao Clan has numerous experts and a profound foundation.
They've already made all the arrangements in every prefecture and Region.
How could it be impossible for them to open the Zhao Clan's shops?
You're just trying to make excuses for your Li family's disgraceful actions!"
His words had barely faded when Ding Yuanxiao's expression turned ugly.
He saw the clan heads of the various families and clans staring at him, their anger blazing.
Sun Haotian said sarcastically, "Brother Ding, how interesting. So you knew all along that the Zhao Clan was making arrangements in every prefecture and Region.
No wonder you were so supportive today."
"Brother Sun..." Ding Yuanxiao was speechless for a moment, inwardly cursing himself for his big mouth.
Sun Haotian just let out a cold snort.
After the situation in the Duravia Trade Prefecture had been reversed, he had agreed with Ding Yuanxiao that they would advance and retreat together.
Now that the Zhao Clan had arrived, it seemed the Ding family had grown closer to the Zhao Clan.
Today, Ding Yuanxiao had likely gotten some benefit from the Zhao Clan but had conveniently forgotten the Sun family.
And now, the Ding family was even starting to collude with the Zhao Clan to lure the Sun family into their trap.
How could things possibly go well in the future?
Many of the family heads also looked warily toward Ding Yuanxiao, whispering incessantly among themselves.
"Enough." Zhao Qingguang gave a soft shout, causing everyone present to fall silent.
He stared intently at Li Chang'an. "Family Head Ding has a point. Looking across the lands of our two prefectures, besides our Zhao Clan and your Li family, who else could simultaneously rob the treasuries of every family?
My Zhao Clan people naturally have our own confidence in doing business. It seems you are just deliberately trying to find an excuse for yourself."
At this moment, Ding Yuanxiao again spoke in a cold voice:
"That's right! During the banquet just now, I was staring at Li Chang'an the whole time. This fellow didn't say a single word—he must have been sending a message!"
"That's right, it must be the Li family!"
"The Li family people have never played clean; this is exactly the kind of thing they would do.
He must have seen long ago that the Zhao Clan was going to establish a business association.
This is meant to be a warning to us!"
"Give our materials back!"
"..."
Li Chang'an calmly watched these fellows accusing him. He didn't say a word, his eyes just scanning the surroundings.
Zishu Wandong, who was off to the side, glanced at Li Xinghuo.
She then saw that Li Xinghuo was holding a jade slip and carving names onto it, one by one.
She couldn't help but ask in confusion:
"You still have the presence of mind to be taking notes at a time like this?
These people don't care whether it was the Li family who stole it or not.
They just want to rely on the Zhao Clan to get back what they lost."
"I'm keeping accounts."
Li Xinghuo's expression was grim. "Senior Zishu Lanchong, don't worry. Everything is under control."
At this moment, Zishu Wandong was finally exasperated. "Wandong, Wandong, Wandong!"
Li Xinghuo frowned as he looked at the agitated Zishu Wandong and silently retreated a few steps.
These women, he thought, were truly not as gentle, virtuous, and demure as the dozen or so concubines his Adoptive Father had found for him.
Amidst the voices of condemnation, Li Chang'an's keen perception had already discovered a guard at the banquet.
This guard would occasionally glance at the chaotic crowd, and on his face, there seemed to be a faint, barely perceptible smile at all times.
A sharp light flashed in Li Chang'an's eyes. He smiled and said, "Weren't you all wondering what I was just fiddling with? Fine, then I will let you all have a look."
"What?!!"
As Li Chang'an finished speaking, the expressions of the crowd changed.
They saw Li Chang'an toss out a jade slip. One look, and it was clear this jade slip was a supreme-grade spirit artifact.
On its surface was engraved a long string of numbers, and they were constantly changing!
[Hall of Heavenly Principle - Jianfeng Commandery Branch - Shop No. 3: Sold one Rank 8 Spirit Medicine, "Yang-Boosting Powder," received two hundred Spirit Stones. Profit share: Zishu family, ten percent; Prince Hu's Mansion, ten percent.]
[Hall of Heavenly Principle - Taining Prefecture Branch - Main Shop: Mid-grade Spirit Artifact... Zishu family, ten percent; Imperial Preceptor's Mansion, ten percent...]
[Profit share...]
"This is... the Hall of Heavenly Principle's profit distribution!"
"The Zishu family... The Imperial Family! And the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion, the Grand Tutor's Mansion, Old General Dongfang Lianwu...
This..."
"Even Prince Yu of Duskwild Prefecture is in on this business!"
Li Chang'an had only displayed the Hall of Heavenly Principle's business account book for a few finger-snaps, but everyone at the banquet was staring with eyes as wide as bronze bells.
This was followed by dead silence.
This was no longer just a matter of business.
The names of the participants in this account book were all, without exception, figures of high position and great authority; even the Human Emperor was recorded within.
This also demonstrated just how vast the Li family's power was, and how formidably strong their backers were!
"How is this possible?" Zhao Qingguang staggered, his face pale.
His Zhao Clan had long known the Li Clan's backing was extraordinary, but only when it was all laid bare before his eyes did Zhao Qingguang finally realize just how much he had underestimated what the Li family was truly backed by!
Li Chang'an let out a scoff.
These people, naturally, did not understand just how complicated it truly was for the family to be able to open the Hall of Heavenly Principle shops all over the Azure Dynasty.
And all of this relied completely on the efforts of many generations, especially Li Yaoqing, who had served as an Imperial Physician in the Imperial Palace back in the day and had made an enormous contribution to this.
Those concubines of the Human Emperor—most of them had some sordid, unsightly secrets that Li Yaoqing held in her hands. And they came from the various great aristocratic clans of the Azure Dynasty.
It was also because of their families that the Li family's Hall of Heavenly Principle was able to survive.
Otherwise, even the names of the Imperial Preceptor and the Grand Tutor would have been useless.
In addition to this, there are also the Heavenly Light Grotto, the Sacred Sword Pavilion, the Dongfang family, military powers, and various other factions providing support.
Even so, the Hall of Heavenly Principle still has all kinds of troubles that require Li Chang'an to handle.
What's more, no one knows that in this age of calamity, it is also because the Hall of Heavenly Principle exists that the matter of disaster relief for the common people is handled by them, which is why the Human Emperor supports this matter so much.
As far as the Human Emperor, the Imperial Preceptor, and the Grand Tutor are concerned, those doormen outside the Hall of Heavenly Principle saying "Welcome" are playing a role for the Azure Dynasty's internal stability that cannot be underestimated!
Otherwise, they truly wouldn't care about such petty profits.
"Do you think our Li family would care about your Zhao Clan's business?"
Li Chang'an silently retrieved the account book. His tone was calm.
"Even if your Zhao Clan truly succeeds in its business, and my Li family is no match for you, forcing the Hall of Heavenly Principle to close...
Just guess: who do you think will be anxious? My Li family, or someone else?"