Director Xu consulted with the leaders of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, who planned to send a "dream team" of top artifact appraisal experts to the UK, with Director Xu leading the team to testify for Shen Liyan. Finally, a weight was lifted off Liyan's shoulders. But a week before the trial, bad news arrived.　　"Director Xu and his team were denied visas by the UK," Martha informed Liyan.　　For Liyan, the fact that Director Xu couldn't testify was a devastating blow. This indicated that the British and Chinese governments were engaged in a covert struggle. The Chinese government had lodged a stern protest with the British Embassy over the visa denial, but this couldn't solve the immediate problem. Martha reminded Liyan to inform the Chinese Embassy in the UK about the visa denial, as she couldn't afford to suffer in silence at this critical juncture.　　Shortly afterward, dozens of British business representatives and multinational company executives planning to visit China received visa denial notices from the Chinese Embassy in the UK.　　The business representatives complained about the Chinese Embassy blocking their visas and demanded a reasonable explanation from the ambassador. Soon, rumors spread that the Chinese side was retaliating against the British Embassy's visa denial for Director Xu. After their protests at the Chinese Embassy failed, the British businessmen took their complaints to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.　　— "We can't give up the Chinese market; it's the largest market in the world."　　— "If I can't go to China, my business will be taken over by competitors."　　— "The future of our company