Chapter 524 - 524 Coercion

524 Coercion

Translator: Lordbluefire

Jing Zhen observed for a while.

Thank you readers!

The seat at the main table was in the center of the first row. According to his status, he would be given a seat at the second table.

Even Chu Cichen was seated here.

Jing Zhen then lowered his head and hurried over to Chu Cichen’s side.

Chu Cichen’s seat had his back facing the main table.

He nudged Chu Cichen and said fiercely, “Move aside.”

Chu Cichen. “...”

Chu Cichen actually did not care about the Shen Family’s arrangement. Besides, he was trying his best to reduce his presence in the Queen’s eyes.

After all, three years ago, the Loong Corporation had an impulsive fight with the three ancient families. When they lost in the end, Chu Cichen had to meet a few people from the three ancient families.

The Queen had evidently noticed him and glanced at him a few more times, so Chu Cichen deliberately chose this position with his back facing the Queen.

But his father-in-law wanted this seat…

Moreover, his father-in-law’s sneaky behavior had attracted the attention of the main table. Without looking back, he knew that Shen Ruojing was definitely watching them.

Chu Cichen’s phoenix eyes flashed and he stood up helplessly. He then made room for Jing Zhen and sat beside him. From here, he could see the Queen and the rest from the side…

At the main table, although Shen Yuansong felt that Jing Zhen was being very sneaky, he didn’t pursue the matter since Jing Zhen had come. Instead, he looked at the Queen and stood up to say the opening words of the banquet. Finally, he said, “I still have to thank the Queen for coming to my humble abode today to celebrate my granddaughter’s birthday. This toast is for you.”

Shen Yuansong drank, but the Queen didn’t move.

Everyone looked at the Queen, wanting to know what she would do.

Since she was already here, she would definitely embarrass the Shen Family, right? Furthermore, she had long since been dissatisfied with the Shen Family.

As they thought of this, the Queen unexpectedly raised the wine glass in her hand. She suddenly smiled and said, “Actually, our royal family and the four great families are considered to be connected and on the same side. All these years, we have watched the four great families develop and have given you a lot of support. It’s really helpless that things have come to this stage. It isn’t what I want to see either. The reason I came here today is to resolve the misunderstanding we had during this period.”

As soon as she said this, the rest of the people at the table immediately looked at the Queen.

Leader Xu, Leader Rong, and even Bai Wei looked at her awkwardly.

To be honest, the royal family was suppressing them and causing their business to suffer a setback. It would be a lie to say that they were not anxious.

However, they really could not bear to see the Shen Family decline just like that. Chu Cichen was right. If any one of the four great families was disobedient, they would be suppressed. With this, what would happen to the three other families in the future?

They would be reduced to slaves that had to abide by whatever the royal family said.

Everyone could cooperate with the Shen Family and help the Shen Family.

However, this did not mean that everyone wanted to be enemies with the Queen.

Therefore, if they could come to a reconciliation and have the Queen release the economic restraint she was putting them in, it would be a good thing.

The few of them looked at each other and finally looked at Bai Wei.

Other than Old Shen, Bai Wei was the most experienced among them.

Old Master Bai smiled and said, “Your Majesty, our families are under the care of the royal family and have provided a lot of benefits to the royal family over the years. I wonder if Your Majesty plans to adjust the share of the cooperation?”

Old Master Bai’s words were subtle.

The Queen had said that it was all thanks to the support of the royal family that the four families could reach their current level of development.

But that was not really the case.

It was the three ancient families that suppressed the others, not allowing a fourth economic body to emerge. Therefore, after the four great families developed to a certain extent, they could no longer develop further and could only rely on the royal family.

In cooperation with the royal family, the four great families signed a win-win agreement.

They had indeed relied on the royal family to break through the bottleneck and restrictions. However, they did not rely on the royal family to survive. It was just a mutually beneficial cooperation.

At this moment, he thought that the Queen was only saying this because she wanted more benefits.

Unexpectedly, the Queen said, “All these years, I’ve become much more indifferent to benefits. The royal family’s money can last for the next few generations. What’s the use of asking for more benefits from you? I just feel that since we’re in Country A and you’re in China, it’s inconvenient for us to contact each other. Moreover, our relationship is indeed becoming more and more distant. The reason I’ve returned to China this year is to get closer to you guys and maintain our cooperation.’

This time, even Bai Wei was stunned.

He did not understand what the Queen meant. Why did she suddenly start playing the emotional card?

Just as he was feeling puzzled, Leader Xu and Leader Rong immediately said excitedly, “The Queen is right. The two of us are young and have just risen to the position. We’ve long since heard from our fathers about the Queen’s elegance. However, this is the first time we’ve met the Queen... What instructions does the Queen have?”

The Queen looked at them with a smile. “It’s nothing. I just thought that the four great families rely on political marriages to maintain their relationship. In that case, why don’t you have political marriages with us as well?”

Her casual words immediately caused waves in the hearts of the others at the dining table!

What did the Queen say?

Relying on political marriage to maintain their relationship?

Didn’t she still want the Shen Family’s daughter to marry into the royal family?

Just as they thought of this, they saw the Queen look at Leader Xu and Leader Rong. “Our royal family has too few descendants, and this isn’t conducive to the development of the family. I heard that both your families have girls at a marriageable age. Why don’t you send them to the royal family for a political marriage?

Both Leader Xu and Leader Rong were dumbfounded.

After saying that, the Queen looked at Old Master Bai. “We can forget about your daughter’s generation. They’re already old. What about those in your granddaughter’s generation? I heard that you have an unmarried granddaughter. Although my good-for-nothing son is a few years older than your granddaughter, I wonder if he’s worthy of her?”

Old Master Bai. “?”

The place instantly sank into a tense atmosphere.

However, after the Queen finished speaking, she calmly picked up the wine glass and swirled the red wine in it. Her lips curled into a determined smile.

The Shen Family only had one daughter. Therefore, out of care for her, they were unwilling to engage in a political marriage.

But what about the remaining three families?

Sacrificing a daughter could tie them to the royal family. She believed that someone would give in.

As expected, the first to give in was Leader Xu.

Leader Xu smiled bitterly and said, “Queen, I do have a daughter...”

Madam Xu panicked and grabbed Leader Xu’s hand. ‘Husband!”

As a result, Leader Xu couldn’t finish his sentence.

Madam Xu had a son and a daughter.

Her son was naturally Xu Hao. As for her daughter, Madam Xu had brought her here today. She was seated at the second table and was her precious baby.

Hence, Leader Xu didn’t continue his sentence.

However, Leader Rong understood something. He lowered his gaze and said, ‘Queen, I would like to engage in a political marriage with the royal family, but it’s a pity that my daughter is already married and there aren’t any girls suitable for marriage in my family. However, our second branch has two daughters. One of them happens to come today. Rong Rong, come and meet the Queen!’

Rong Rong was also arranged to be seated at the second table. When she heard this, she trembled.

She turned over slowly to see her uncle from the first family beckoning at her. He then said to the Queen, ‘Our second branch’s Rong Rong and Miss Shen are close friends.”

“Rong Rong can be considered to be from the main branch if we take my father’s generation into account. I wonder if the Queen would take a liking to her?”

After the Queen heard this, her lips curled up. She didn’t look at Rong Rong but looked toward Shen Ruojing instead. “Mmm, she doesn’t look bad.”

Shen Ruojing clenched her fists tightly!