Chapter 824: Too Many People Have Forgotten That Child From Back Then

"Master, your subordinate only found out that several clans in the desert, the wasteland, Beijiang, and Loulan have signed contracts with Gu Shuo. Therefore, I suspect the Shuiyuan Clan might have also signed some sort of contract with the Gu family," the guard reported.

A trace of doubt flashed through Xiliu Yuan’s indifferent eyes. Aside from Loulan and a few other places, the other clans didn’t engage in trade at all. If even Xi Yan couldn’t open up trade routes in those areas, why would the Gu family choose such remote clans? Could it be that they wanted to build a second Nanyuan?

"When the representatives of the clans from the desert, the wasteland, and the northwest left, they took a lot of seeds in their carriages. I brought some back." The Hidden Guard placed a cloth-wrapped bundle of seeds from his chest onto the table.

Xiliu Yuan reached out and picked up a tiny seed, examining it closely. He recognized some as fruit and vegetable seeds, but others he couldn’t immediately identify. "Take these seeds back to Xi Yan and have someone plant them."

"Yes," the Hidden Guard accepted the order.

Xiliu Yuan turned to look into the distance, his gaze landing in the direction of the Immortal Sea Building. The seeds obtained from Nanyuan back then were already very strange. Was their choice to cooperate with these desert clans this time simply to help them escape poverty? Could they really have gone to so much trouble without any ulterior motives? But if they did have motives, what could they possibly gain from places like the barren wasteland and desert, where not a single blade of grass grew and the clans were so remote? He couldn’t quite understand it.

In the Imperial Study of the Beili Imperial Palace, the Beili Emperor was discussing the northern drought with several officials.

Mr. Li entered, presenting a letter with both hands. "Emperor, an urgent letter from Mr. Li Mu."

"Bring it up," the Beili Emperor ordered, his voice sounding even more robust than it had ten years ago. Mr. Li handed the letter over.

The Beili Emperor opened it and read the contents. Upon seeing the first page, his face lit up with joy, immensely pleased.

"It seems Mr. Li’s contract with Nanyuan is about to be finalized," Prime Minister Gao guessed the reason as soon as he saw the smile on the Emperor’s face.

"HAHAHA! Exactly. Li Mu is indeed a business prodigy. Nanyuan has completely terminated their contract with Gu Shuo. For the next ten years, they will cooperate with our Beili!" the Beili Emperor laughed loudly.

"Mr. Li is truly capable."

"Cooperating with Beili for Nanyuan’s aquatic products is a wise choice."

Hearing this, the several officials present chimed in with their praises.

The Beili Emperor’s smile lingered as he turned the page. However, upon seeing the contents of the next page, his joyful expression suddenly froze, gradually turning into shock, and finally, sheer disbelief. This sight left the officials trembling with fear. Their smiles vanished instantly, and their expressions grew tense, terrified that they might accidentally bring disaster upon themselves.

"Ye Qianning," the Beili Emperor unconsciously blurted out the name in horror.

Ye Qianning? The officials looked at each other in dismay. Who was Ye Qianning? Over the past ten years, too many people had forgotten that child...

Only Prime Minister Gao, upon hearing that name, showed a level of shock in his eyes that was no less than the Beili Emperor’s. Horrified and confused, he wondered why the Emperor would suddenly mention Ye Qianning’s name. That child had been dead for ten years. Back then, her name had been a taboo within the Imperial Palace.

"Ye Qianning... is still alive?" After finishing the letter, the fingers the Beili Emperor used to hold the paper trembled slightly. His face was gloomy and horrified.

Prime Minister Gao’s heart sank, his eyes widening in shock. "Ye Qianning... is still alive? How is that possible?"

The other three officials present pondered for a moment and finally remembered the name Ye Qianning. She was the daughter Xiang Minghou had brought back ten years ago. She had been very famous in the Capital City at the time, but... she had died a decade ago.