"Shush," Liu Tián Qǔ said to the butler with her index finger held against her lips, motioning for him to be quiet. "We are not in the comforts of our home. We will speak more of it there, but yes, you heard me correctly." Liu Tián Qǔ said in a solemn voice.
That she spoke to a smuggler was a lie. But of course, she couldn't tell him that she found out from her predecessors' memories of her past life. There really was a smuggling operation going on, and any day now, the smugglers will be caught. Causing the Imperial Army and the Wang Royal Army to descend on the mountain. And the news of melded ore being found in The Tolling lands to rip through the whole Northern Lands continent.
A dazed-looking Butler Zhou collapsed back into his seat. Leaning forward, Butler Zhou said in a low, hurried voice. "I think it would benefit you more if you report it yourself. I don't think you should wait for them to be caught. Report it to the Wangs doing so would open up a better line of negotiation."
Liu Tián Qǔ shook her head, speaking in a very low voice she said, "I don't want the Chen's to know that I bought the mountain knowing what was in the mountain."
"All you have to do is go take a look at the mountain. Later on, say you went to see what you spent two thousand gold coins on and explain away the situation. Remember, Butler Huang was with you when you purchased it. As far as the Wangs are concerned, they believe you bought the mountain to offset the low price of the garden residence. Also, to stop Elder Chen from currying favor with Wang Royal Manor through the sale of the garden residence." Butler Zhou reasoned.
"Allow me to think this through," Liu Tián Qǔ said. "While I think I need you to do something for me."
"Please speak," Butler said.
Taking out a money purse, Liu Tián Qǔ passed it to Butler Zhou. "This is the equivalent of 300 gold coins in gold certificates. Go and get your wife and daughter and send them safely to my Liu Residence first. They shouldn't remain in the slums for one moment more. Then go clean up and buy several changes of good clothes for both yourself and your family. You and your family will be over my household and representing me, so your clothes must be of the best quality." Liu Tián Qǔ told Butler Zhou sternly.
"Then I want you to go to the Lu compound, bring out all the rest of the money I left there, clothes, and the things my mother left behind for me. It's a lot of stuff, so make sure you buy a carriage and some horses. The entrance is completely hidden, so you do not need to worry while carrying away everything. Do not hire anyone. Either you or I must do this. The fewer people who know, the better." Liu Tián Qǔ warned the Butler.
Before continuing on to say, "I have a feeling that the Wangs have someone following me, so, for the time being, I cannot go anywhere near the Lu family compound. Finally, tell your wife to go to the slave market first and see if she can find people suitable to work in my residence. Inform her that all the servants for my courtyard must be younger than your daughter. Your daughter will be over my courtyard. She has to be sure only to get people that will listen to your daughter."
With eyes that look wet, Butler Zhou bow deeply. "Thank you, young master. I will immediately go follow out each of your instructions."
"Oh, there is also one more thing. Please also convey to your wife that I need a few people who are capable of tending to a vineyard, apiculture, and orchards. I will also need her to purchase plenty of apiculture and pruning supplies." Liu Tián Qǔ said with a slight smile before explaining the vineyard, beehives, and small grove she found in her residence.
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"Young master that is the late Big Madam Chen Vineyard!" Butler Zhou exclaimed.
In surprise, Liu Tián Qǔ asked, "You know of it?"
"Everyone once knew of it!" Butler Zhou said in excitement. "Elder Chen's late mother once cultivated that vineyard, the grapes she grew were extremely sweet grapes. Even the late Emperor would only eat the grapes of Big Madam Chen's Vineyard. Those grapes were imported from northern Nadeline. Nadeline is famous for growing the sweetest grapes in the continent of the Northern Lands. They also brew a special wine using the grapes. No other country can make grape wine as good as Nadeline." Butler Zhou ended with a deep sigh of nostalgia.
"You've tasted their wine before? How was it?" Liu Tián Qǔ asked in curiosity.
"It was the best wine I've ever tasted in my life. I was gifted a bottle by the Liu family a long time ago. Never have I tasted a wine like it. The Chen family and many others have tried to make this wine made of grapes. However, none of the wine they made even came close to the wine of Nadeline. After Big Madam Chen died and the Chen Family became embroiled in a feud. The vineyard was neglected. It was said that by the time the Chen Family finally began to focus their attention on the vineyard. It had already come to ruin." Butler Zhou sighed, but this time over the short-sightedness of the Chen Family.
With furrowed eyebrows from frowning, Liu Tián Qǔ said, "I saw the vineyard, from what I could see it was grossly overgrown in weeds and whatnot. However, the condition of the vines that I saw was in excellent condition. The quality of the soil and the growing conditions surrounding the vineyard were in great condition? What ruin? It's not in ruin just grossly neglected. However, I am confident I can bring it back."
The Butler's eye popped wide open, "If you can bring back Big Madam Chen's vineyard, then you can make a large sum of money selling the grapes. Big Madam Chen used to charge an excessive amount of money for her grapes. Especially since those were the only grapes, the late Emperor would eat."
"Sell them? What sell them? Humph. I have other plans for them." Liu Tián Qǔ said with a sly smile."
"Well then, if that's the case, it's best you keep the revival of the vineyard quiet lest you have all of the nobility knocking on your door for the grapes."
Liu Tián Qǔ laughed mysteriously before coming back to the situation at hand, "I will remain here. I have much I need to think through before I make my next step. As for now, you may go." Liu Tián Qǔ said after telling Butler Zhou how to find the hidden moon gate and the key to the moon gate. She also directed him to bring the key back with him.
Butler Zhou hesitated before finally voicing his thoughts to Liu Tián Qǔ. "Young master, there is something I wish to say before I leave."
"Go ahead and speak."
With a slight hesitation, Butler Zhou said, "Since you wish to live on your own and not under the shadow of the Liu. There is something you need to take into consideration, especially since you change your name to Liu. Do you remember my reaction to you when you first found me in the slums?"
"Yes," Liu Tián Qǔ said with a slight look of curiosity. "I also wanted to ask you about that."
"You do not bear a strong resemblance to the Liu family. However, other than the Liu family, no one else would ever bother to come looking for me. The Liu family sent me to guard your mother. If I am found to be your Butler, I'm afraid connections to who you really are would easily be found by those who have the means to do so," The honest and worried Butler said.
With a look of nonchalance on her face and in her voice, she said. "Come one, come all. Honestly, I could careless Butler Zhou. However, that is one of the reasons I am in a hurry to get my garden residence set up and secured. So I would have the ability to cut down whoever comes after me with nefarious intentions. We have a little time yet, and once I get everything set up and secured. Their window of opportunity would have closed." Butler Zhou felt a deep shock inside as he saw a ruthless that have no place on the face of a young child appear on Liu Tián Qǔ's face.
"Thank you for telling me, Butler Zhou. I will also have to give some thought to my approach for this matter to be on the safe side. It's better to be safe than sorry. However, I doubt if your presence will make things difficult for me at the moment. By the time the line is drawn, it will be too late for anyone to do anything. You may go now." Liu Tián Qǔ said, dismissing him.
Butler Zhou bowed again and left the room, sending in the waiter.
Butler Zhou left Liu Tián Qǔ muttering the words he said earlier with an unfathomable look in her eyes and a smile that wasn't quite a smile on her face, "... open up a line of negotiations..."