Chapter 127 First, move bricks.

"Why don't you tell me about your current situation? After all, you can't find anyone else to talk to."

I'll try to think of a solution for you. If I don't help you, who will?

"We're from the same hometown, after all, and I'm not entirely stupid, so you won't find it too tiring to discuss things with me," Shen Huaichen suggested.

Shangguan Jin glanced outside.

She prefers to sleep alone and doesn't like being waited on, especially when she's sleeping.

She sent all the little girls away.

Dongmai also went out with Aunt Xin, and there shouldn't be any problem with her speaking.

Well... let's talk about it!

Shen Huaichen is right, who else can she talk to?

In any case, Shen Huaichen at least has a quick mind.

If they weren't smart, they wouldn't have been able to bring back so many pearls and gems...

"Then let me tell you about it! After all, this is your Duke's mansion!"

As Shangguan Jin spoke, she earnestly explained the current situation of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion to Shen Huaichen.

Shen Huaichen listened and nodded in agreement.

The more Shen Huaichen listened, the more sympathetic he felt for Shangguan Jin.

The Duke of Dingguo's mansion seemed quite lively, enjoying the favor of Emperor Xiao Jing and having a prince as a nephew...

Actually, it's all just a display of flowers and brocade, a blazing fire and boiling oil...

It's true that as long as Emperor Xiao Jing is gone, the Duke of Dingguo's mansion will definitely be dealt with.

As Shen Huaichen thought about it, his gaze toward Shangguan Jin became even more sympathetic.

It really wasn't easy.

How strong must a heart be to keep this little girl, with her small frame, moving forward like a broken-down carriage from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!

Oh, and we also need to take the Shangguan family's carriage with us on the way.

Shangguan Jin had it even harder than I did.

Although he also had a tough time in the north, he had the advantage of being highly mobile. If anything seemed amiss, he could immediately pack his bags and run away.

Where is Shangguan Jin?

Even knowing the emperor would come to confiscate their property and arrest them tomorrow, with hundreds of people in the family, where could they possibly run...?

Sigh, it really wasn't easy!

"Please don't look at me like I'm a loser," Shangguan Jin suddenly said.

Shen Huaichen...

What nonsense are you talking about? It's clearly heartache... well, it should be sympathy, okay?

"Your eyesight is poor. I was clearly deep in thought, thinking about what you just said."

"See if I can help you come up with a solution," Shen Huaichen explained in a low voice.

Shangguan Jin fell silent.

I've said everything I needed to say. Let's see what advice this guy can give me!

Shen Huaichen's mind started working.

As Shangguan Jin just said, the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, along with the Shangguan family and the Seventh Prince, currently seems to have almost zero chance of winning.

but......

“But you have a major advantage that those two don’t have,” Shen Huaichen suddenly said.

"Tell me, what are the advantages?" Shangguan Jin also became interested.

"time!

Emperor Xiao Jing is in his prime. Barring any major unforeseen events, he should be able to reign for at least another ten or eight years!

At that time, the Seventh Prince was only in his early twenties, the prime of his life.

But what about the Crown Prince and the King of Qin?

By then, he would have long been past thirty.

Being the crown prince for too long is not a good thing.

The emperor, on the other hand, disliked looking at the older crown prince.

The older the crown prince gets, the sooner the old emperor will pass away.

Every emperor wanted to live a long life and live forever.

"So this is the opportunity," Shen Huaichen analyzed.

Shangguan Jin nodded. That's right, it's similar to what she and Shen Qingyue analyzed before.

"Continue!" Shangguan Jin gestured for them to continue.

Shen Huaichen cleared his throat.

"In that case, this unfavorable situation will be easier to win."

Since we're in a losing situation and there's still time, we should just play it safe and develop our resources.

At this point, the best course of action is to keep a low profile, make a fortune quietly, and conceal your true intentions.

The main strategy is to sow discord and reap the benefits.

As you just said, we've already loosened one of the bricks on King Qin's side. Once the time is right, we can move the brick that is Earl Ping'an away.

Oh, by the way, you just said you invested in a teahouse?

What's the situation with that teahouse? Is it reliable?

Shen Huaichen's sudden leap in thought startled Shangguan Jin for a moment.

"You say spring isn't late? That's run by a brother and sister from the martial arts world, and they rented a shop from our mansion."

I didn't pay any money; I got free shares.

Shen Huaichen...

"What's the name of that teahouse?" Shen Huaichen asked, picking at his ear.

Spring is not too late! What? You have a problem with that? Can't you reminisce about the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan?

"Besides, isn't this name good? Why are you so surprised?" Shangguan Jin was quite surprised by Shen Huaichen's expression.

Why are you so easily startled? You have no composure at all. How can you be a strategist for the Northern Hu Prince like this?

You can't exactly say that when that prince from the Northern Hu is discussing things with you, you act like this too.

What did you say? Say it again? Or, huh? The wind was too strong just now, I didn't hear you clearly...

Shen Huaichen gave Shangguan Jin a deep look, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Speak your mind."

"Don't give me that nonsense about our teahouse infringing on someone's trademark or anything like that," Shangguan Jin joked.

Shen Huaichen took a deep breath.

“I opened a restaurant in Saha City, Beihu.”

"Oh? So what? Isn't this the same feeling as having a piece of land in the countryside?" Shangguan Jin said dismissively.

“That restaurant… is called Zhen Jiangnan!” Shen Huaichen said calmly.

Now it's Shangguan Jin's turn...

"Why...why did you name this restaurant like that? Naming it 'True Jiangnan' in that dusty, northern region..."

"You..." Shangguan Jin really didn't know what to say.

“Can’t I reminisce about the beautiful scenery of Jiangnan?” Shen Huaichen retorted.

Shangguan Jin pursed her lips and remained silent.

After a moment of silence, Shen Huaichen broke the silence.

"You... have had a tough time."

If you really have no way out by then, take your whole family and come to the North to find me.

Anyway, I'm sure I can get you all settled in.

Shangguan Jin hummed in agreement and then spoke.

"You... have had it pretty tough too. You finally managed to save up some jewelry, and now you have to send it back to support your family."

This must have been saved up for a long time.

"It's okay. If you can't make it in the North, you can come back to me."

Shen Huaichen felt a warmth in his heart, but his words were a bit cheeky.

"It's okay, it feels good to spend other people's money on my own wife and kids."

Come to think of it, this should have been paid for by the Northern Hu King.

Miss Shangguan, keep moving bricks, one brick today, one brick tomorrow, and make sure to break down those two's courtyard wall as soon as possible.

Then make the foundation a little more solid than that of your nephew.

"Where there's a will, there's a way; Miss Shangguan will surely achieve her goal."

Shangguan Jin...

These words are really awkward; she shouldn't have given this guy a friendly look.