goodnovel Chapter 481 - 66: Taking Blessings for Granted
Chapter 481 - 66: Taking Blessings for Granted
May 2, 2018
Walking on the bustling streets of Golden Jade City, Qian Yue frowned slightly, lost in thought, yet a proud smile bloomed on her face.
Perhaps to ordinary people, Zhao Chenlu’s statement "Get out" was naked arrogance, but Qian Yue detected a different nuance.
She merely said "Get out," without saying never come back.
Eighteen years ago, shortly after Zhao Chenlu took over governance in Golden Jade City, it was an era of constant power struggles with traditional forces being repeatedly counterattacked and crushed, a series of climactic dramas played out, with Golden Jade City like a giant vortex sweeping the whole of Xiangzhou into it. Talents from all around the world gathered, trying to illuminate themselves in history, spreading light.
Many fools chose to stand with the old forces, ultimately getting crushed to pieces with ruined reputations, but some opportunists saw Zhao Chenlu’s dominance and planned to cling to her coattails for a free ride.
At that time, a financial magnate from Heaven-Reaching City took a fancy to Zhao Chenlu’s skill, personally coming to Golden Jade City hoping to join forces with her to suppress the rebels and share in the spoils.
And at that time, Zhao Chenlu just said one sentence to that man renowned—or infamous—throughout Xiangzhou: I know you, get out, don’t let me see you again.
Later, feeling insulted, the financial magnate chose to stand against Zhao Chenlu.
A year later, Zhao Chenlu stood over the corpse of that financial magnate and gained a treasure trove.
This piece of history is part of the countless glorious battle chronicles of City Lord Golden Jade, a tale so distant that many have forgotten it due to Zhao Chenlu’s dazzling achievements.
But for Zhao Chenlu’s loyal fans, remembering every word of their idol is basic homework.
"So, to stay by her side, to stay by his side, I still need to prove my worth, mere acquaintance as compatriots is not enough... At least Zhao Chenlu’s expectations for me are different from those for that idiot Shen Qingming."
Qian Yue pondered as she strolled within Golden Jade City.
She was already quite familiar with this city; long ago, when she was younger, she once came to Golden Jade City secretly from her family, to personally experience this wealthy and splendid forefront of Xiangzhou, so different from Cyan Cloud City. Now revisiting old haunts, although the street designs and such have changed, the cultural ideology it upheld remained unchanged, so Qian Yue instinctively came before a teahouse, walked into an elegant upstairs room at the staff’s invitation, and ordered a pot of her favorite floral tea.
While sipping tea, Qian Yue rapidly enriched the blueprint unfolding in her mind.
To prove her worth, she first had to clarify her own value.
Compared to City Lord Golden Jade, what is the value of Qian Yue from Cyan Cloud? In terms of cultivation, even after consuming spirit medicine as a boost, she barely reached the peak of the Cloud Surge Realm—a far cry from Zhao Chenlu’s actual abilities, leagues away in the Sea Overturning Realm, at least a million Shen Qingmings apart. In terms of wealth, though the Qian Family of Cyan Cloud is reputed as the richest, its actual asset control or resource management falls far short of the extensive Cyan Cloud Li Family, let alone the robust branches of the Li Family. Although Qian Yue has succeeded in controlling her father and brother, compared to the power of the City Lord Golden Jade, it’s still negligible.
The only reliance she had was her clever mind.
"If planning to assault the Saint Sect, what preparations are needed? I don’t know much about the Saint Sect’s information, and rashly acting on such a strategic matter would only display my recklessness and frivolity, but aside from this, nothing could possibly concern Zhao Chenlu anymore."
As she mused, a sudden commotion outside the teahouse caught her ear.
Looking out the window, she saw a group of young men and women looking like students, each holding banners, passionately arguing amongst themselves.
"Support Zhao Hongxue? Have you lost your minds? How can such an incompetent politician lead Golden Jade City forward?"
"What do you mean incompetent? Before Zhao Chenlu took over, Zhao Hongxue was the City Lord all along, with no mistakes in her work. At this crucial time when Xiangzhou is leaderless, what’s wrong with Zhao Hongxue becoming City Lord?"
"Your compromise is laughable! Just because we’re leaderless, you think we can appoint anyone as City Lord? Do you think Golden Jade City is like your home, where your mother can readily marry a random honest person?"
"Watch your mouth!"
"Why bother with compromised mongrels like you?"
Then, a group of young and unaware students began to freely sweat and sway their bodies.
The 15-year-old girl upstairs at the teahouse watched disdainfully, feeling her entire view polluted by fools.
But on the other hand, a spark of insight involuntarily flashed in her mind.
Perhaps this could be the breakthrough point...
Qian Yue had been watching the tumult in Golden Jade City for a long time, even before Wang Jiu and others set out from Shen City for Golden Jade City.
Golden Jade City’s chaos had long shown signs. After the storm in South Mountain of Shen City, there was a rumor that City Lord Zhao Chenlu hadn’t seen visitors for a long time, suspected to be seriously injured.
Although many doubted this news at the time, since Zhao Chenlu was always elusive, and sometimes months without sight was normal. But to Qian Yue, things clearly weren’t that simple, as her disappearance was too abrupt, almost as if forced by circumstances; the rumor of serious injury might indeed be true... So from that moment, Qian Yue had a hunch that Golden Jade City would become chaotic, which it indeed did, with a shocking coup unfolding vigorously.
Keeping a close watch on the situation in Golden Jade City from early on, Qian Yue reaped considerable benefits during this political upheaval. The fluctuations in the stock market alone enabled her to sweep away her father’s and uncles’ private savings accounts, forcing them to bow to her thereafter. More importantly, she took this opportunity to connect with the business associations in Golden Jade City, gaining a deeper understanding of its situation.
Zhao Chenlu’s resignation announcement was by no means a joke. Her focus has entirely shifted away from Golden Jade City, as evidenced by her current strategy planning for the Saint Sect. There wasn’t a hint of nostalgia for the city she ruled for twenty years.
It’s certain that after Zhao Chenlu leaves, the Golden Jade City will inevitably get dragged into the abyss by politicians like Zhao Hongxue and Zhao Hongwu, along with outside opportunists. The prosperity of the past twenty years will become nothing more than a fleeting illusion...
But, what if there’s a way to turn the tide?
Zhao Chenlu’s lack of attachment to Golden Jade City doesn’t mean she’s oblivious to what’s happening there, nor does it mean she’s happy to see it fall into the abyss.
As for how to save Golden Jade City, Qian Yue has indeed done some research—she has investments there and thus isn’t eager to see the city revert to the Zhao Hongxue era. An open and vibrant Golden Jade City is more conducive to accumulating wealth. Once the city declines, no one profits, and merely reaping in the financial market is not a sound strategy.
So, Qian Yue has seriously studied the situation in Golden Jade City. At this moment, she extracts information from her mind and, with her fingers gently moving across the tabletop, sketches out a densely connected web of relationships.
Moments later, countless lines converge at a single point.
Qian Yue opens her eyes, somewhat surprised at her conclusion: "Speaking of which, that person’s constitution is simply the perfect key point. Why has no one noticed?"
Thinking about this, Qian Yue stands up, disregarding the half pot of remaining tea, and leaves behind several spirit stones as payment, heading out to find her contacts in Golden Jade City.
After several twists and turns, Qian Yue, though unable to meet the key figure directly, obtained an address.
Amidst the storm, that person did not step forward to stir the situation but quietly sequestered themselves in a courtyard within the city.
Walking to the garden gate, Qian Yue takes a deep breath and recalls the information about that person, then calms herself by channeling her primordial spirit.
Knock, knock, knock.
After three knocks, the black door silently opens.
"Please come in."
The voice is gentle as the wind, providing inexplicable reassurance.
Qian Yue smiles, "Not bad, your mental state seems quite good. Then it’s perfect for you to come out for work."
Walking around the shadow wall and along the stone path behind the door for a bit, Qian Yue sees the owner of the courtyard waiting politely outside the house door.
At first glance, Qian Yue can’t help but stagger half a step, silently exclaiming ’monster’ in her heart, slightly hit by the pool of confidence she normally navigates with.
The person opposite smiles, "I apologize if my unsightly appearance startled you."
Qian Yue retorts bluntly, "It’s not a problem. I’d already seen your portrait, so I was mentally prepared. I just didn’t expect the real deal to be even more... Have you considered changing your pillow while you sleep?"
The suggestion causes the person’s smile to turn wry, "What important matter brings the Cyan Cloud Qian Family’s young lady to visit me?"
Qian Yue wasn’t surprised to be recognized.
The person opposite, though now just an insignificant pawn in the stormy Golden Jade City, was undeniably an elite who received Xiangzhou’s top-tier education and training, with very solid basic skills.
The eldest son of the Golden Jade City Lord was once renowned for his talents. However, his outrageous behavior in Shen City severely tarnished his reputation, and after returning to Golden Jade City, he encountered a political turmoil, thus fading into obscurity.
But Qian Yue didn’t think Zhao Jincheng had completely become a spent force. Just the demeanor he displayed while welcoming her proved that beneath that slate-like surface, vibrant vitality still thrums.
Thus, Qian Yue straightforwardly stated, "I want to invite you to come out of seclusion."
"Me? I’m just an insignificant pawn. In this environment, how can I talk about coming out of seclusion?"
"It’s precisely because of the current environment that you’re suited to step forward and rectify the situation. Having you as the City Lord would be infinitely better than someone like Zhao Hongwu or Zhao Hongxue. You were personally groomed by Zhao Chenlu..."
Before she finished speaking, she was interrupted.
"How can I claim to have been personally groomed by her? I was merely a toy for my elder sister’s amusement."
"Hmm, but even just as a toy, having been personally played with by such a notable figure counts for something. Can people like Zhao Hongxue and Zhao Hongwu even hope to be played with by her? Zhao Jincheng, put away that self-pitying façade of yours. Do you know how many people dream of being played with by her but never get the chance!"