473 Queen!!!

Three children were currently looking at their own rooms. Therefore, after Chu Cichen closed the door, he turned and sat next to Shen Ruojing, listening to Shen Yuansong talk about the difficulties that the Shen family was facing.

Shen Yuansong sighed. “Jingjing may not know, but Cichen should have heard of it. Some ancient families in the world are controlling the economic lifeline of the entire world. They are best at making money. After several hundred years or even thousands of years of accumulation, their family’s wealth is enough to rival a country’s.”

Chu Cichen nodded. “There are three of these big families in the world. I know that one of them started with a bank. At its peak, their family’s business expanded all over the world. However, they gradually became low-key later on.”

Shen Yuansong nodded. “Ordinary wealthy families, even with assets worth tens of billions, cannot touch their core interests. Therefore, only a few people know about them. They control the global economic trend. When a family’s wealth accumulates to a certain extent, they need their approval to go further. The four great families of the capital chose one of them as a reliance to secure commercial positions and become the four most powerful families in China.

Shen Ruojing immediately asked, “Which one?”

Shen Yuansong said slowly, “The royal family of Country A.”

Shen Ruojing was taken aback. Country A was a constitutional monarchy located on the border of China, and the country’s policies were all subject to the king’s authority. It was a small country on earth that was usually inconspicuous. But unexpectedly, the royal family of Country A was one of the three major families that controlled the global economy?

She hesitated and asked, “What kind of dealings does the Shen family have with them?”

Shen Yuansong sighed. “At the start, when all the four families came into an alliance, the power between the four families was initially balanced. However, over the years, there had to be a ranking. My father was muddle-headed and signed another agreement with the royal family of Country A. They then helped the Shen family become the number one family in the capital.”

Shen Ruojing asked, “What does the Shen family have to pay?”

Shen Yuansong sighed. “Every daughter of the head of the Shen family must be sent to marry into the royal family of Country A.”

Shen Ruojing understood but also seemed to not understand. “What’s the difference from an ordinary business marriage?”

Shen Yuansong glanced at her.

Shen Ruojing looked at Chu Cichen, feeling confused.

At this moment, Chu Cichen’s eyes were full of coldness. He understood the situation the Shen family was facing.

He explained to Shen Ruojing, “It’s not the same. An ordinary business marriage is a union between two families to strengthen their relationship. But the relationship between the Shen family and the royal family of Country A is more like… offering tribute.”

“Offering tribute…”

This ancient term made Shen Ruojing pause for a long time before she finally understood.

In a business marriage, both sides were relatively fair, but offering tribute had a feeling of a master-and-servant relationship.

It was a humiliating deal!

Chu Cichen then turned to Shen Yuansong and said, “I remember you had a sister who was sent to marry a member of the royal family and became a princess… but she lived a miserable life and eventually committed suicide.”

Shen Yuansong nodded. “Country A is a patriarchal society where women have a very low status. My sister was proud, so how could she willingly become a man’s accessory? She lived in extreme oppression and then chose to end her life. Her death made my father regret it, but the situation had been set and couldn’t be changed.”

Shen Ruojing tightened her jaw. With just a few words from her grandfather, she understood the unchosen life of a woman.

As a foreigner, her grandpa’s sister was looked down upon and neglected by her husband. Her upbringing was also different from the people abroad, as everyone was equal in her world…

Also, Shen Ruojing vaguely remembered that commoners in Country A had to bow and pay homage to the royal family…

That Shen family daughter who was sent to be married must have felt so helpless and suffocated!

The only thing she could do was to end her own life and return everything the family had given her!

At this moment, Shen Ruojing finally understood why her grandmother chose to break up with her grandfather, why she was afraid of being found, and why she directly left Shen Qianhui to grow up in Sea City!

Both her grandfather and grandmother would rather let her mother be an ordinary person than let her live such a life.

She tightened her jaw and said in a cold voice, “Grandfather, does our Shen family have to continue this tradition? I would rather dissolve this wealth than allow my daughter to suffer such treatment!”

Shen Yuansong lowered his eyes and said, “In fact, the Shen family has always had business dealings with them. This contract is purely ancillary where we are subordinate to them. I remain unmarried my entire life in order to terminate this contract, but I didn’t expect your mother’s existence…”

Shen Yuansong’s lifelong celibacy at least maintained the happiness of two generations of women. He had originally thought that when he handed over the Shen family to Shen Zhong or Shen Chong, it would no longer be his concern. But now, the legitimate descendant, Shen Qianhui had emerged and she had also given birth to a daughter…

Shen Yuansong continued, “However, you guys don’t have to be too worried. I’ve negotiated with the Queen of Country A. All of the profits from the linked businesses between the Shen Family and them will be offered, and this contract will be canceled.”

The old man stood up straight and spoke, “I am not someone who sells out his granddaughter for glory. Even if the Shen family falls from its position as the top family in the capital, so what of it?!”

Shen Ruojing felt suffocated in her chest. She had always thought that families like the Four Great Families in the capital had no worries about food, clothing, or money, but she had never expected that they would still be at the mercy of others.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Grandfather, the world is developing, isn’t there anyone who can break the dominance of these ancient families? Why should economic development depend on their whims?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuansong spoke up, “The Four Great Families rose to power too early. In those olden days, if we wanted to expand further, we had to rely on the support of those ancient families. Most of the newly rich don’t have enough foundation, so they are not valued in their eyes, but there are cases of a few rare exceptions…”

Shen Ruojing perked up her ears. She was about to listen further when the hurried footsteps of the butler outside interrupted them. Even the butler’s voice carried a hint of fear. “Master, that, that madam has arrived!”

“What?!” Shen Yuansong stood up suddenly, his body trembling. His first reaction was to look at Chu Cichen. “You keep an eye on Ruojing. She can’t leave here without my permission!”

Shen Yuansong then strode out. Just as he reached the door, he saw a dignified figure walking toward him. Although the queen was already elderly, she exuded a strong presence.

At this moment, she had arrived at the door of Shen Ruojing’s room!

Outside, all of the Shen family’s bodyguards were lying on the ground, while a row of well-trained imperial guards in the unique uniform of the royal family controlled the living room of the Shen family.

The queen looked at Shen Yuansong behind the door. “Old Shen, since you didn’t bring your granddaughter to meet me, I’ve no choice but to come and see her in person…”

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