Chapter 8 Entrustment: The Weight of Trust and the Future
Shortly after the board formally approved the resolutions on the "Global Strategic Synergy" framework and the second phase upgrade plan of the "Nanyang Project," Wang Yi summoned Li Shimin to his study one weekend afternoon.
The study faces south and is bathed in sunlight. The bookshelves covering the entire wall are no longer just decorative hardcover books, but have gradually filled with various books on history, strategy, economics, and technology that Li Shimin has read, and even a few of his handwritten reading notes. The air is filled with the faint scent of ink and coffee, mixed with the subtle fragrance of flowers wafting from the garden outside the window, creating a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere.
Instead of sitting behind her large desk as usual, Wang Yi chose a sofa by the window. She wore a soft, light gray cashmere loungewear set, her long hair loosely tied up with a few stray strands falling around her neck. She looked less sharp and capable than usual, and more gentle and homely. On the low table in front of her were two cups of steaming tea and a thin folder.
Li Shimin sat down opposite her, his gaze sweeping over the folder, but he didn't rush to ask any questions.
"How have you been feeling lately?" Wang Yi picked up his teacup, blew on the floating leaves, and spoke as if it were a casual chat. "Compared to when you first arrived."
Li Shimin also picked up his teacup, took a small sip—it was top-quality Longjing tea, fragrant and sweet. "It's alright," he replied succinctly, his gaze, however, lingering on Wang Yi through the rim of the cup. Her expression seemed relaxed, but deep within her eyes, there appeared to be a barely perceptible hint of seriousness, as if she were making a crucial decision.
"Not bad?" Wang Yi smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "You managed to subdue a group of old foxes who had been entrenched for decades, and you also carried out a brilliant capital hunt while you were at it, and you formulated a global strategy that could change the group's landscape for the next ten years... Is that all there is to it?"
"It's my duty." Li Shimin put down his teacup, his tone calm and even. "In one's position, one should fulfill one's responsibilities."
Wang Yi watched him quietly. This man, from the "ancient man" who initially tried to remain calm in a strange world while his heart was filled with turbulent waves, to the true strategist sitting here now, able to determine the future direction of the group with a few words, had only taken less than two years. His speed of growth, his adaptability, and his ability to manipulate events at will had repeatedly exceeded her expectations, even... making her feel a sense of awe.
She brought him back to provide her daughters with a strong support system, a father figure who could stand by them in crucial moments, especially Qingyun. She had considered many possibilities: perhaps he wouldn't adapt, perhaps he would need a long time to learn, perhaps he would only serve as a symbolic figure. She never imagined he could so swiftly and completely turn the tables, not only establishing himself firmly but also leading the entire group to heights she had never envisioned.
The responsibilities and burdens that originally belonged to her had, without her noticing, quietly shifted onto his shoulders. And he seemed to be doing a better job than she was.
It's a strange feeling. There's relief, a sense of calm, and a touch of... faint loss, as well as a deeper uncertainty.
“Yes, one should fulfill one’s responsibilities in one’s position.” Wang Yi repeated his words, his fingers unconsciously stroking the warm cup. “So, what ‘position’ do you think you are in right now?”
Li Shimin looked up and met her gaze, his deep eyes revealing little emotion: "Your husband, the father of your children, the group's... advisor." He deliberately paused on the word "advisor."
Wang Yi met his gaze without backing down: "Just an advisor?"
The study was quiet for a moment, with only the regular ticking of the antique wall clock.
Li Shimin did not answer immediately. His gaze swept past Wang Yi, landing on the bright sunlight outside the window and the distant city skyline. After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice low and clear: "In what 'position' do you want me to be?"
The question was thrown back at us.
Wang Yi took a deep breath, finally picked up the thin folder on the low table, and pushed it in front of him.
"Open it and take a look."
Li Shimin opened the documents as instructed. Inside were not a complex collection of business documents, but only a few simple draft legal documents. The top one was clearly titled: "Equity Transfer and Entrusted Management Agreement (Draft)." The core content was clear and straightforward: Wang Yi intended to entrust the vast majority of the shares in "Yihua Group" under his name, as well as the corresponding voting rights, to Li Shimin for full management, and that the transfer would be irrevocable after certain conditions were met (mainly after his three daughters reached the age of twenty-five or completed their studies and clarified their career paths). Simultaneously, another document was a draft statement regarding Wang Yi's resignation as chairman of the group and from all administrative positions.
This means that Wang Yi intended to hand over the entire business empire to Li Shimin. This included not only management rights, but also ownership and control over its future.
Li Shimin's gaze lingered on the document for a long time, so long that Wang Yi could almost hear her own heartbeat. She was gambling. Gambling on this man's character, gambling on the complex connection that had grown between them over the years, a connection that went beyond initial calculations, gambling on his increasingly profound sense of responsibility and love as a father for his daughters.
Finally, Li Shimin closed the folder. He didn't look at the specific terms, but instead looked up at Wang Yi, his eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression.
"Why?" he asked, his voice devoid of emotion. "This is the culmination of half your life's work. It is the foundation you have laid for your beauty, grace, and elegance."
“Because it’s in your hands now, it can play a greater role and go further than it did in mine.” Wang Yi answered frankly, with a hint of weariness that was barely perceptible. “I’m tired, Shimin. Not physically tired, but here.” She gently tapped her chest. “I’ve been on edge for too many years, scheming for too many years, carrying everything alone. Now… I want to rest. To read some books, tend to my flowers, spend time with my daughters, and live a more relaxed life.”
She paused, her gaze falling on the folder, her voice lowering: "Besides, I trust you. I trust you won't touch my daughter's company. Qingyun is talented and ambitious; this stage ultimately belongs to the sisters. You... you'll protect it for them, right?"
The last sentence was less a statement and more a cautious inquiry. Even though she wanted to believe, the phrase "the human heart is unpredictable" haunted her like a ghost, constantly residing in the deepest recesses of her heart. The man before her was no ordinary man; he had once been an emperor, possessing supreme power, and had also experienced the betrayal of his closest relatives. Now he had regained power, prestige, and a youthful body. The future was long; who could guarantee he wouldn't… develop other ambitions, other children? Then, how would her daughters face them?
But she still chose to entrust this trust, which was almost equivalent to her life itself, to him. Not only because of his ability and methods, but also because of what she had seen over this time: his unreserved guidance and support for Qingyun, his seemingly strict but actually tolerant protection of Lizhi, and his unique, scholarly appreciation for Shuyao. He was a father, clumsily but firmly fulfilling his responsibilities.
Li Shimin remained silent. He could feel the weight of this entrustment, and he could also hear the barely concealed unease and probing in Wang Yi's words. This trust was not unconditional, but rather a difficult yet courageous decision she made after weighing all the risks and possibilities.
He suddenly recalled a long time ago, in the Liangyi Palace of another time and space, in the final moments of his life, when he held Chengqian and Zhinu's hands and entrusted the vast empire to them. There was relief, hope, the liberation of being relieved of a heavy burden, and also a faint trace of uncertainty about the future. The positions were different, but the state of mind was somewhat similar.
Power, responsibility, trust, inheritance... these themes, spanning millennia, remain weighty.
“I…” he began instinctively, then paused, changing his words, “In my life, I have wronged many people, and been wronged by others. But I have never broken a promise.” His gaze became sharp and firm, as if piercing through time, “Lizhi, Shuyao, Qingyun, are my bloodline. Since you created this foundation for them, I will protect it for them. It will only be their shield, never their shackle, and will never be taken away by anyone, including… anyone else who may appear in the future.”
He didn't directly promise "no more children," as that would be too hypocritical; no one can absolutely guarantee the future. Instead, he made a more practical promise: this estate belongs to him and Wang Yi's three daughters, and he would ensure that. This was both a response to Wang Yi's concerns and a testament to his pride and bottom line as a father and a former emperor.
Wang Yi stared at him, gazing at the unwavering resolve and openness in his eyes. The heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart for so long seemed to finally settle, stirring a bittersweet ripple of relief. She knew that this was perhaps the most weighty promise he could ever give.
“As for management,” Li Shimin picked up the folder, his tone regaining its usual calm, “I can take over. But for now, you will remain the nominal chairman. I can serve as co-chairman or CEO. This will ensure a smooth transition and avoid unnecessary speculation and turmoil from the outside world. These documents,” he pointed to the draft, “the details need to be carefully reviewed by the legal department, especially the part concerning the protection of our daughters’ rights. It must be watertight. Before I officially take over, all clauses must be confirmed by you and our daughters, especially Qingyun.”
Instead of accepting it hastily, he considered it more thoroughly, even proactively offering to protect his daughters' rights and involving Wang Yi in the final confirmation. This calmness and restraint dispelled the last trace of doubt in Wang Yi's heart.
"Okay." She nodded, her voice slightly choked but with a smile. "I'll do whatever you say."
Sunlight streamed through the glass window, bathing the two of them in warmth. The study was filled with the aroma of tea, creating an atmosphere of unprecedented tranquility.
Looking at the woman before him, who had shed all her sharp exterior and revealed her soft and weary side, Li Shimin felt a strange emotion welling up inside him. Their relationship began with a scheme and manipulation that spanned a thousand years, but through their shared battles, their protection of their daughters, and this heavy entrustment, they forged a bond far more complex and stronger than mere self-interest.
Perhaps this is fate. Bringing him from a thousand years ago to this place, giving him new life, new responsibilities, and... such a special "home".
"If you're tired, take a good rest," he finally said, his voice unusually gentle. "I'll take care of things outside."
Wang Yi gave a soft "hmm," tilted her head slightly to one side, looked at the bright spring sunshine outside the window, and a faint glimmer of tears seemed to flash across the corner of her eyes.
The seeds of trust have been sown. The future may still hold storms, but at least for this moment, they are willing to believe that they will be each other's and their children's strongest support.
On this tranquil afternoon, the scepter of the business empire underwent a silent yet significant handover. The era belonging to Li Shimin, having thoroughly purged its internal affairs and drawn up a global blueprint, received this weighty entrustment concerning the future and its legacy, truly becoming complete and solid.
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