Golden Beginning

Prince of Qin's Manor

"Is everything arranged?" Princess Jade Hayes turned to look at Alexander Hayes as he entered, and asked.

"Everything is ready," Alexander Hayes replied, sitting down and taking a sip of tea. "All our friends and family have been moved into the army and will travel with the troops to our new fief."

"Is Charlie doing alright?" Jade asked anxiously. "He left days ahead of us—I wonder how he's doing now."

Alexander Hayes smiled, "Don't worry, my dear. Charlie is just fine. Belle and Mrs. Penny are taking care of him with the nanny, and all the children are doing well. With the four of them together, it's quite lively. Once we set off, we'll catch up with their boat in a day or two."

"That's a relief," Jade said, always thinking of her son.

A few days before the Grand Imperial Assembly, Jade and Alexander had already secretly relocated everyone from the Prince of Qin's Manor. Charles Hayes and the others had been put on a boat, leaving the capital behind and heading downstream toward their new fief in Qin.

With Belle and Mrs. Penny caring for them, plus over a hundred elite soldiers from the Divine Fire Battalion, their whereabouts were kept secret and security was watertight.

"Whew..." Jade stood up and looked around, gazing at the Prince of Qin's Manor where she'd lived for years. She couldn't help feeling a bit reluctant: "After all, I've lived here so long and even had Charlie here. It's a little hard to say goodbye."

Alexander Hayes pulled Jade into his arms with a smile. "When we reach our fief, I'll build you a palace—bigger and grander than the Prince of Qin's Manor. Our stunning Queen Lily of Qin deserves nothing less than a magnificent palace."

Lily Evans chuckled as well, then remembered her businesses, her voice tinged with regret: "It's such a shame about my ventures in the capital. They were doing so well. Although the shops are still there, all the managers and supervisors have been replaced by our own people. It just won't have the same heart as when my old team ran things."

All the trusted staff from Eight Treasures Bistro and Evans Spice Shop have been moved to the new fief in Qin.

Uncle Arthur's Evans Hot Pot Restaurant also had to be left to subordinates. To prevent assassination or revenge, Lily Evans's entire maternal family migrated with them to the new territory in Qin.

Still, everyone was pretty happy. Doing business in the capital meant living under the Emperor's nose, on someone else's turf.

But once in Qin, they’d become relatives of Queen Lily of Qin—official members of the royal family!

The truth was, everyone was so happy, only Lily Evans felt a bit sentimental. The rest were genuinely looking forward to their new life in Qin!

After all, a business can be opened anywhere! And with royal backing, who would dare mess with them?

Both Lily Evans and Alexander Hayes were well aware of the situation. Lily laughed, "Right now they're thrilled, dreaming of being royal relatives and running booming businesses. But just wait until they see the territory—they better not cry! The lands we requested are all barren and poor, either covered with crude oil or black stones, or just a tiny fishing village with a rundown port. It's nowhere near as prosperous as the capital."

Alexander Hayes burst out laughing: "Crude oil, black stones, fishing villages, and ports—aren't those exactly what you wanted? You said yourself, those resources are priceless! It's just those bookworm scholars who can't see their worth."

Lily Evans laughed too. The territories she chose were full of resources: petroleum, coal mines, rare earths, natural gas, and a long coastline with ports.

If this were a resource-building game, it would be the ultimate golden start.

Just as Lily Evans and Alexander Hayes were chatting, Lily suddenly caught sight of a shadow lurking suspiciously in the bushes nearby...