His expression was uncertain, and he said: "You are siblings by blood, how can you keep arguing ? It’s laughable. Jianwen, she is your own sister, and in this world, the relationship between you two is the closest. Do you really need to face each other with swords like outsiders, in a life-and-death struggle?" Li Jianwen said: "I dare not, Father." The Duke then said to Li Zhaowen: "Second child, I know you’ve liked swords and spears, military strategies since childhood, but it can’t always be this way. Even in this chaotic world, as a girl, you must maintain the demeanor of a daughter." "In our family, generations of officials, a match must be found that is suitable." "No matter how noble, would a Lord like him immediately rush into battle when you go there?" "You need to do things like assisting your husband and educating your children, and engaging with nobility." "You’ve said enough today, withdraw!" Li Zhaowen looked at her father, pressed her lips, and said: "Yes, Father, I realize my mistake." Li Jianwen couldn’t help but say: "You always realize your mistake, yet never change." Li Zhaowen said: "Elder brother is the same." The Duke felt a headache, Li Zhaowen retorted but then left. The Duke sighed and said: "This child is becoming less and less presentable. But how do you feel about what she said?" Li Jianwen was quiet for a moment and said: "...what sister said has some reasoning, except we need to gather more forces for support, not allowing a single family to dominate." The Duke said: "...that also makes sense." "But where can we find other forces immediately?" Li Jianwen said: "I will go and relieve my father’s worries." The Duke nodded, let him go as well, and finally, alone with his wine cup, remained silent for a long time, returning to the quiet room, saying: "The Emperor’s position..." His gaze dark and profound, staring deeply into that secret room. There lay an imperial robe. It was strange indeed, though the father and two siblings quarreled on that day, by the next day, the Duke was already asking Li Zhaowen about the powers she had acquired. Li Zhaowen truthfully replied, mentioning it was a wandering merchant who seized a city amid the Martial World’s disputes. For original chapters go to NoveIＦire.net "It is named—hmm, Tian Ge’er." Li Zhaowen’s expression was complex. The Old Duke felt relieved in his heart: "So it’s just a wandering merchant." "It’s rumored in the Martial World to have a hundred thousand followers, but upon inquiry, it turns out it was just a group of tribes forced in. Indeed, rumors cannot be trusted. However, Zhaowen, what do they need?" Changsun Wuchou lowered his head aside, silently wishing: "They need money! People! Grain!" "They need everything!" At the same time, he felt approval in his heart, worthy of being the second young mistress. He was merely hoping to bring back some silver from here, never expecting such benefits, that the Duke’s words could probably solve the current urgent crisis. Then he heard Li Zhaowen declare firmly: "Alliance!" "Civil talent exchanges!" Changsun Wuchou almost choked on his own saliva from the surprise and began coughing furiously. Not , second young mistress! How could you get so grandiose right from the start?! Our Lord only wanted a little money and people, and you basically opened the entire treasury?! The audacity of your demands surpasses even the Lord’s poverty level. The Duke remained silent, while Li Zhaowen calmly said: "So-called alliance, both parties take their benefits, for the sake of the world, we should exert great effort, shouldn’t we?" Li Jianwen’s hand almost crushed the Buddha beads. The Duke pondered for a long time, then slowly said: "Alright... so in that case, open the trade routes, allow Aqini City to trade with us, offer many conveniences, inform all the Western Regions’ tribes that this city is our Duke Mansion’s ally." "Also, provide them grain, but they also need to align their interests with us." "If anyone in the city wishes to go to that city, then open the passage permits, allow them to pass the border." "The various details, I leave to you, Zhaowen." Li Zhaowen bowed and said: "Thank you, Father." Li Jianwen felt somewhat restless inside; he was no fool and even considered among the best of his peers, so he understood—opening the alliance would allow that isolated city to fall under the Duke Mansion’s, even Ying Country’s, prestigious influence. It would prevent other cities from daring to attack rashly. Naturally, it would align the interests of that large city with the Duke Mansion. Opening the trade routes would facilitate exchange, and the Duke Mansion and the border’s Heroic City had the backing of the Central Plains, the resource-rich Daying Kingdom, which equated to providing that resource-poor city of the Western Regions with a richly diverse logistical category. Loosening passage permits, allowing civilian exchanges, would lead to a batch of fame-seekers and profit-desirers venturing to the large city of the Western Regions, which would also upset Li Jianwen’s original plan to install his confidants in that city. Li Jianwen’s temper began to rise. Seeing his father leave, and his sister calm, he swept his sleeves and left with a cold snort. Li Zhaowen said: "No need to see you off, brother." After Li Jianwen left and returned to his residence, inexplicably restless and gloomy, he drank sulkily. His third brother came to have fun, and the two drank together. Li Jianwen angrily said: "Second sister’s actions are too excessive, speaking of the world yet stepping into the Western Regions." "And Father too, actually listening to that woman’s words!" His third brother agreed: "Indeed, with you as the eldest brother here, second sister truly lacks discipline and hierarchy. Now she leads this endeavor, those who know think it’s Father and our Duke Mansion allying with the Western Regions." "Those who don’t might think it’s second sister’s alliance with that Tian Ge’er." "The longer it drags on, who will even know that you are the eldest brother?" Li Jianwen scolded: "Don’t speak such words!"