Chapter 85: The Name Decides Fate

Sacrifice the small self, accomplish the greater self!

With such a resolute spiritual belief laid out, what else could Liu Liwa say. However, he could also see that this young lady was forced into this last resort out of desperation.

Liu Liwa obediently sat by the table, taking small sips of his drink in silence, occasionally stealing a glance downward, listening as Miss Zhao poured out her worries. Given any other choice, she wouldn’t have cast aside a maiden’s modesty like this, sacrificing herself so, but time waited for no one.

The marriage alliance between the Zhao Family and the Imperial Family started as an offhand jest by the Old Emperor, meant to honor the Zhao Family’s long-standing loyalty to the Imperial Family. But after saying it, the Old Emperor fell ill and never brought it up again. Now, with the New Emperor on the throne and the empire still unstable, as the saying goes, a new emperor brings his own ministers. The new emperor naturally wanted to cultivate his own die-hard followers. The Zhao Family, responsible for supplying provisions to the Imperial Family and the border troops, held a crucial position, so the emperor naturally sought to win them over. Without the close friendship that the Old Emperor and Master Zhao once shared, it was necessary to build new ties, and a marriage alliance was the best method.

Just hearing this, Liu Liwa grasped the key point and was secretly shocked—this Young Emperor was no soft character either!

In this feudal era, land and property were privately owned, controlled by the landlord class. Even the Imperial Family couldn’t just seize them forcibly, or they would lose the people’s support. This gave rise to extremely powerful families—the kind said to be rich enough to rival a nation—who held significant influence over the Imperial Court in certain aspects. Just like the Li Family and the Yuwen Family during the Sui and Tang dynasties, their power was immense.

So, looking at it this way, the Celestial Empire really was better. Everything was decided by the Empire. Gas prices rose when they said so, and if they said no to lowering them, then they didn’t lower—no use in anyone getting anxious if the Emperor wasn’t worried.

Because of this, the Young Emperor remembered the Old Emperor’s jest-like mention of a marriage alliance. Although no formal edict had been issued yet, and it hadn’t been mentioned in any official setting, the intention was already there. Once the Imperial Court stabilized, it would be implemented first.

Master Zhao, being utterly loyal to the Imperial Family, was naturally one hundred percent willing. But he hadn’t considered that in the past, with his lands and businesses, his relationship with the Imperial Family was merely transactional—they bought, he sold—and both sides coexisted harmoniously. Now, however, the Zhao Family had no male heirs. Once his daughter married into the Imperial Family, and after Master Zhao passed away, the family’s ancestral estate, passed down through over ten generations, would naturally be confiscated by the state!

Having a daughter as an Imperial Concubine might bring temporary glory, but losing it meant giving up the family’s foundation for generations to come!

Although Miss Zhao didn’t say it outright, it was clear she had seen through all this: “What I need to do now is show my father that although I, Zhao Jiabi, am just a woman, I can follow in the footsteps of our ancestors, start from nothing, and build a great family enterprise—no less than any man—so that my father can confidently pass the Zhao Family’s legacy to me, generation after generation!”

“Wait a moment, Miss.” Seeing her heroic, forward-looking demeanor, Liu Liwa quickly interrupted. “Didn’t I hear earlier that your family has no male heirs in your generation? How will it be passed down then?”

“Don’t you know there’s a method called ‘marrying in’?” Zhao Jiabi tilted her head, looking at him. “When I take over the family business, I’ll find a live-in son-in-law, have him take the Zhao surname, and any children will naturally be named Zhao, ensuring the Zhao Family continues to branch out and flourish.”

Eh? Liu Liwa’s eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, “Miss, may I ask what the requirements are for marrying in? Any education level needed? Work experience?”

Miss Zhao didn’t understand what “work experience” meant and didn’t care much for his words either. She just waved her hand and said, “That’s all for later. Right now, my main goal is to achieve something impressive to show my father, so he can confidently let me inherit the family business and preserve the Zhao Family’s heritage passed down through generations.”

Liu Liwa looked at her bare, fair thigh, exposed due to her excitement, and gulped. “Miss, are you planning to start from nothing and build an empire just by selling a few women’s dresses? In that case, I suggest you name the clothing line LV…”

“An Luwei? How did you know I wanted to name the Clothing Boutique that?” Miss Zhao exclaimed in surprise. Liu Liwa was so shocked he nearly fainted. Miss Zhao said with a reminiscent look, “An Luwei was my mother’s name. I will use this name so that my mother, her beautiful name, will bless me and bless the Zhao Family to be passed down through generations, flourishing abundantly!”

“Your mother’s name is really lovely,” Liu Liwa remarked with emotion.

“Yes, I think my mother’s name is beautiful too. And the name brought good fortune to her husband. Ever since she married Father, the Zhao Family prospered even more, everything went smoothly. The fortune-teller said that my father’s and mother’s names were excellent, bringing mutual prosperity,” Miss Zhao said proudly.

“Might I ask your esteemed father’s honored name?” Liu Liwa was extremely curious.

“My father’s surname is Zhao, and his given name is Gucci!”

Liu Liwa, nearly spitting blood, enthusiastically recommended: “If you ever have a child, you must name her Chanel. That will guarantee your family’s prosperity and booming business!”

“Chanel, quite a cute name, suitable for a girl,” Miss Zhao nodded seriously, then suddenly remembered something and asked, “By the way, we’ve been talking for so long, and I still don’t know your name?”

Liu Liwa coughed twice and declared loudly: “My name is Hermès!”

“Hermès? You really have unique tastes,” Miss Zhao laughed. “I remember earlier they seemed to call you Liu Xiaoqi?”

Since her whole family seemed like luxury brands, Liu Liwa couldn’t afford to seem less. Besides, for a person to rise high, it appeared that the name really mattered: “My alias here is Liu Xiaoqi. My official name is Versace, my foreign name is Hermès, my pen name is Dior, my childhood name is Armani, and the abbreviation is C.K.!”

Miss Zhao was utterly dazzled: “You certainly have a lot of names.”

“Not just many, but expensive ones!” Liu Liwa grinned widely.

“Alright, no need to list all your names. Now you know my goal and what kind of person I am!” The blush on Miss Zhao’s face faded slightly. She deliberately crossed her legs. Her long skirt was made of fine silk, smooth and flowing, revealing that beautiful leg almost entirely—fair and tender, making one want to reach out and touch it. And Miss Zhao didn’t seem to mind much, almost as if she wanted him to touch it. However, Liu Liwa knew that those who could touch the Emperor’s woman were either the Emperor himself, or Palace Maids and Eunuchs…

Given the current situation, whether he touched it or not didn’t matter. With her current appearance, and them being alone together, all it would take was one word from her, and Wen Jun would have him chopped down first. This woman was indeed not simple—clearly a lady from a prestigious family, yet so decisive and uninhibited in her actions. As people often say, when one is shameless, one is invincible. If a woman became shameless, she could probably take on alien invaders from the five planets.