Zhao frowned. "If that's the case, then spending money to get an invitation from someone else is useless. Without someone to help introduce us to the government, we still can't get in touch with them."

"So Madam should understand my intention now, right? If we had made some progress with the He family a couple of days ago, then with their help, wouldn't we be able to get on the good side?"

“Father, why don’t we get an invitation first, and then negotiate after we get there?” Yan Linglong suggested, her face still a little pale. She coughed twice and pulled her shawl tighter.

Zhao couldn't stand Yan Linglong's pretentious act. It wasn't cold at all. She had just been locked up for a few nights. What could have happened? She hadn't lacked food or drink. Why did she have to act so weak and delicate? She was just like her aunt.

"Linglong, at this critical juncture, they probably don't have the mind to pay attention to us anymore. As soon as Jincheng Commercial Street opened, they were all busy going over there to flatter us."

They have no time to deal with us here.

Even if you get an invitation, it won't be of much use once you're inside.

"Father, don't say such discouraging things for now. If you can get to know some merchants who have connections with the government after you go in, you can open up channels."

Yan Shanxing wasn't very optimistic about the merchants. The merchants were different from the He family. How many merchants were like the He family? If they were all like the He family, then he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to try and get his daughter to join the He family to build a relationship.

Zhao glanced at Yan Linglong lightly and sighed.

“If it were anything else, my family could help out, but it really has nothing to do with Islail’s side.”

How could the government of Islael possibly have any dealings with our Tianqi side?

If this really gets involved, what will the Tianqi royal family think? Our Green City relies on my maternal family for support.

If dealing with the Islail government makes things difficult for my family, and the royal family retaliates, then my family will no longer support our city lord's mansion.

Yan Linglong wasn't oblivious to the veiled warning in those words.

These words clearly showed that Zhao Shi didn't really want to get involved with the Jincheng government. Although the topic of money was used as an incentive, it didn't tempt Zhao Shi to spend money.

Rather than offending her own family, Zhao felt it was better to proceed cautiously. So, while Yan Shanxing was in a state of great anxiety, Zhao remained calm and composed.

"Madam, it's true that we rely on your family, but even if we do, they can't help us."

You know how powerful Islail is now. If he wanted to touch our Apocalypse, it would be as easy as turning his hand. Even the Kingdom of Kro is no match for Islail. Which side do you think we should side with? Naturally, we should be like a weather vane, going with the flow, to ensure our own safety.

Anyone who knows how to assess the situation and see things clearly would do the same.

Now, with Islael, people are just waiting to fawn over him. If you don't flatter and fawn, someone will come up to you and be willing to be his lapdog.

He was just going with the flow; he had no idea that his wife had thought so much and was even considering her family's interests.

Yan Shanxing felt frustrated and angry. She was already married into the Yan family, yet she was still thinking about her own family all the time. When had she ever considered his feelings?

His voice suddenly became somewhat solemn. "Since Madam can't help with this, I'll have to take Linglong and figure something out ourselves."

"Yan Shanxing, I'm warning you, whatever methods you want to use, just don't try anything with my daughter. I'm planning to marry my daughter into one of the thirteen prestigious families, and I will absolutely not marry Xiaoxue into a merchant family."

You'd better give up on this idea as soon as possible.

Zhao refused to back down an inch, her tone somewhat harsh, and she didn't even give Yan Shanxing a kind look in front of Yan Linglong.

Feeling ashamed in front of his daughter and Zhao Shi filled Yan Shanxing with a mix of anger, resentment, and helplessness.

He couldn't hit or scold Zhao Shi, because Zhao Shi represented the face of the Zhao family.

If he were to harm the Zhao family, they would absolutely not let him off the hook.

However, if he didn't touch Zhao, the anger in his heart would remain suppressed for many years, leaving him with nowhere to release it.

Only with Linglong's birth mother, Xiaoyuan, could he regain some of the dignity and face that belonged to a man.

Linglong's birth mother was gentle, kind, and understanding. She always did what he wanted and never acted like Zhao Shi, who was so domineering and never gave him any face. She didn't treat him like a husband at all. He felt more like Zhao Shi's servant.

Unwilling to say more, and finding no common ground, Yan Shanxing left early. Staying there would only bring him further humiliation and allow his daughter to witness more of his embarrassment.

Yan Shanxing left without saying a word.

Seeing her father leave, Yan Linglong didn't dare to stay any longer. Afraid that Zhao would make things difficult for her, she quickly got up to say goodbye, but this time she was much more respectful and polite to Zhao, and didn't dare to be arrogant anymore.

The arrogance she once had has vanished without a trace in front of Zhao. Ever since she saw that Zhao had guards protecting her, she dared not act recklessly or say much. She could only pretend to be a well-behaved girl and be submissive in front of Zhao.

"Mother, Linglong has some things to discuss with Father, so she will take her leave now."

Zhao waved her hand impatiently. Yan Linglong bit her lip, curtsied, and left with her maid Xiao Tan.

She really doesn't dare to pursue Yan Qingxue's idea anymore.

However, her own strength needs to be improved. If she had such a protector and support by her side, she wouldn't be so restrained and submissive in front of her mother.

If I were truly a celestial maiden, would I then become a person of high status, worshipped by the royal family and the thirteen prestigious clans?

It's always been said that the celestial maiden truly appeared, but she's never seen her; she's only heard rumors. If she could see the celestial maiden and witness her true abilities, perhaps…

Even if she couldn't become a celestial maiden, staying by her side would still allow her to get closer to that person, right? This would bring her one step closer to her wish, and she would also have a significant position, no longer subject to the oppression of the Zhao family.

However, becoming a close attendant to the Heavenly Maiden is not an easy task.