Jiang Qianniang smiled bitterly upon hearing this. "We naturally had the same thought, but that plot of land is in an excellent location. The buyer also has use for it and is unwilling to easily give it up. The Jiang Family has invested a great deal in these shops and cannot spare more silver to buy back the land at the moment, so we are stuck in this stalemate. However, the other party can afford to drag this out, while we cannot."
Ren Yaoqi smiled, took a sip of tea, and waited for Jiang Qianniang to state her purpose.
Sure enough, Jiang Qianniang continued, "Actually, we came to see you today, Young Madam, with an unreasonable request."
Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow slightly.
"The family competing with our Jiang Family for the land is surnamed Gao," Jiang Qianniang said, looking at Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment. "Among the prestigious families in Shunzhou, I don’t recall one surnamed Gao."
Jiang Qianniang nodded. "Yes, Young Madam. Not only you, but even we locals in Shunzhou had never heard of this Gao Family before. However, about a month ago, the Gao Family snatched a large grain and oil business from the Han Family. My father originally intended to personally visit the head of the Gao Family to negotiate the land matter but was unable to meet him."
Ren Yaoqi smiled apologetically. "I’m afraid I won’t be of much help with matters in your Shunzhou."
Jiang Qianniang quickly replied, "Young Madam, I heard that the Gao Family has some connection with the Lei Family. However, we sent several letters to the Lei Family, and the head of the Lei Family never replied. I heard that the head of the Lei Family has been away from Yunyang City recently, and Madam Lei is also not receiving visitors."
Ren Yaoqi smiled. "My sister hasn’t been feeling well lately. She may have taken her two children to stay at the manor."
Jiang Qianniang looked at Ren Yaoqi and tentatively asked, "Then, I wonder if Young Madam could help pass a message to the Lei Family?"
Just then, Pingguo, who had already styled her hair as a married woman, hurried in from outside and whispered to Ren Yaoqi, "Young Madam, the Princess Consort sent Nanny Xin to ask if the gift list sent from Jinzhou last month is with you..."
Ren Yaoqi nodded, first dismissing Pingguo, then said with a smile, "I will have someone inquire about the matter you mentioned earlier. I have some other matters to attend to and must excuse myself now. Since you’ve come to Yunyang City, Miss Jiang, why not stay and enjoy a few more days? After all, you do have some connection to this city."
Jiang Qianniang and Madam Jiang exchanged a glance. Jiang Qianniang initially seemed about to say something more but hesitated and swallowed her words. She stood up together with Madam Jiang and said with a smile, "I do plan to stay a few more days. There are many places in Yunyang City I haven’t visited yet. Thank you, Young Madam. I will await your news."
Ren Yaoqi smiled and raised her teacup slightly. Jiang Qianniang and Madam Jiang took their leave.
After they left, Ren Yaoqi did not go to the Jiuyang Hall but returned to the Zhaoning Hall instead. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she saw Xiao Jingxi sitting on the soft couch in the eastern side room, flipping through a book. Hearing the sound, he looked up and smiled at Ren Yaoqi. "Back so soon?"
Ren Yaoqi walked over and sat down beside him. Seeing that he was holding a book on flower cultivation and pruning, she took it and flipped through it, teasing, "It’s just a garden renovation. Are you planning to do it yourself?"
Xiao Jingxi leaned over, wrapped his arm around Ren Yaoqi’s waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Every plant and tree in the Zhaoning Hall was planted by my own hands. Didn’t you know?"Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was momentarily stunned. She turned her head in surprise and said, "So you're planning to renovate the small garden in Zhaoning Hall yourself? You know how to do that too?"
The ever-capable Second Young Master Xiao replied matter-of-factly, "Not yet, but I'm learning now, aren't I?"
Ren Yaoqi: "..."
Xiao Jingxi took the book back from Ren Yaoqi's hands and asked with a smile, "Did that Miss Jiang the Sixth come to see you just now about the Jiang Family's affairs?"
Ren Yaoqi was no longer surprised by her husband's omniscience. "You know about the Jiang Family's matters?"
Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment and smiled. "Not everything. I only know that you made the Jiang Family come to you of their own accord. But your true intention isn't about the Jiang Family, who are far away in Shunzhou, is it? Your real target is the Han Family, who are related to the Jiang Family by marriage, right?"
Ren Yaoqi sighed and glanced sideways at Xiao Jingxi. "And that doesn't count as knowing everything?"
Xiao Jingxi chuckled, rolled up the book in his hand, and gently tapped Ren Yaoqi on the head. "First the Yun Family, then the Jiang Family, and now all those families doing business with the Han Family have suffered collateral damage recently. This plan of yours is quite extensive—are you trying to isolate the Han Family? I said I don't know everything because I don't understand why you’d go to such trouble if you want to deal with the Han Family. When striking a snake, aim for its vital spot. Deliver a fatal blow and leave no chance for the enemy to counterattack. You’re still too soft-hearted."
Ren Yaoqi brushed Xiao Jingxi's hand away and tidied her disheveled hair. "It’s not that I’m soft-hearted; I just don’t see the need. I have no personal grudge against the Han Family, so why deny them a way out? As for the feud between the Han Family and the Ren Family, you know how it came about. The Ren Family owes a debt, and it should be repaid. But now it’s time for the Han Family to stop. I’m just giving them a warning to avoid an irreparable outcome, which would be bad for everyone."
Xiao Jingxi reached out to help Ren Yaoqi smooth her hair and shook his head. "Still too soft-hearted."
Ren Yaoqi didn’t comment on Xiao Jingxi’s assessment. She truly wasn’t in a life-or-death struggle with the Han Family. Aside from the stubborn Han Dongshan, the rest of the Han Family were reasonable people, and she held no ill will toward them.
Moreover, if she wanted to protect the Lei Family and the Lin Family, the existence of the Han Family was indispensable. Without the alliance between the Han Family and the Yun Family, the Yun Family would inevitably be completely defeated by the Lei Family in a few years. If the Lei Family were to dominate alone, it might not be a good thing.
A tree that stands out in the forest will be toppled by the wind. Such a situation would be detrimental to both the long-term development of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion and the Lei Family. Yanbei doesn’t need a single dominant aristocratic family; it needs a balance of power among the families to ensure long-term stability and peace.
Often, having an evenly matched adversary is the best form of protection. For those below, it’s about balance; for those in power, it’s about checks and balances.
This principle is understood by the Prince of Yanbei and the Princess Consort, by Xiao Jingxi, and by Ren Yaoqi. Otherwise, relying solely on Consort Dowager Yun’s influence, the Yanbei Prince's Mansion wouldn’t have tolerated the Yun Family to this extent. But now, even that tolerance has its limits, which is why the Lei Family has been able to rise and gradually show signs of rivaling the Yun Family.
Ren Yaoqi didn’t want the Lei Family to face the same predicament as the Yun Family in the future, so leaving the Han Family intact was a precautionary measure."Speaking of which, this Sixth Miss of the Jiang Family is quite clever," Ren Yaoqi remarked with a sigh in the end.
Xiao Jingxi teased with a smile, "No matter how clever she is, she still has to follow the path you laid out. So, Madam, are you praising yourself?"
Ren Yaoqi shot him a glare and retorted, "No, I'm praising you. No matter how I scheme, you always manage to see through it in the end. So, I still can't compare to you."
Xiao Jingxi didn’t argue with Ren Yaoqi. Second Young Master Xiao understood deeply that no matter how intelligent a woman might be, there were times when reasoning with her was futile. So he asked instead, "What will you do next?"
Ren Yaoqi pursed her lips into a smile. "Guess?"
Seeing Ren Yaoqi’s charming expression, Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her cheek. Before she could react and protest, he diverted her attention by saying, "If it were me, I’d wait for the Han Family to come knocking. After all, the real intention isn’t about the wine—the Jiang Family is merely a stepping stone. Since they’ve been so sensible this time, they’ll naturally reap benefits in the future."
While Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi were engrossed in their affectionate banter, Jiang Qianniang and Madam Jiang also had a conversation after their carriage left the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion.
As soon as the carriage turned onto the main street, Jiang Qianniang let out a heavy sigh and relaxed.
Madam Jiang said with some surprise, "You were nervous just now? I thought you seemed perfectly calm the whole time..."
Hearing this, Jiang Qianniang shook her head with a bitter smile and didn’t speak. Instead, she reached out and took Madam Jiang’s hand.
Madam Jiang felt that the hand holding hers was damp, covered in a layer of sweat, and couldn’t help but smile. She took out a handkerchief and placed it in Jiang Qianniang’s hand. "Do you think things will work out?"
Jiang Qianniang wiped her hands and smiled. "Before coming, I had about a forty percent chance. Now... at least seventy percent."
Madam Jiang couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, "So it’s settled?"
Jiang Qianniang thought for a moment but shook her head. "There’s still a thirty percent chance of variables."
"Where do the variables lie?" Madam Jiang asked.
Jiang Qianniang glanced at Madam Jiang and said slowly, "With the Han Family."
Madam Jiang was taken aback.
Jiang Qianniang sighed and said with a bitter smile, "Although we came today to ask that young madam for help, it was really just a formality. I think the reason the Jiang Family encountered this situation is simply because they were caught in the crossfire. As long as that person achieves their goal, the Jiang Family’s problems will naturally be resolved."
Madam Jiang recalled what Jiang Qianniang had told her earlier and remained silent for a while before saying, "If that person’s target really is the Han Family, then isn’t the Han Family in great danger?"
Madam Jiang had only recently married into the Han Family and didn’t have deep feelings for Master Han. Still, as the wife of the Han Family, its survival or downfall would inevitably affect her own fate.
Jiang Qianniang thought for a moment and comforted Madam Jiang, "That’s not necessarily the case. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. I think as long as the Han Family understands its position clearly, it should be fine. Besides, you came with me to the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion today, which is a way of stating your stance. Even if something happens to the Han Family in the future, it won’t be blamed on you."
Madam Jiang sighed. "I hope so. But how did you know all this?"Jiang Qianniang paused for a moment before sighing, "Actually, ever since my father failed to meet the head of the Gao family last time, my mother and I happened to run into Mrs. Gao while offering incense at the temple. I went up to chat with her for a bit, and she said some strange things to me. I didn’t understand them at the time, but after thinking about it for a long time after returning home, I finally figured it out."
OpenNovel