Li Mai saw them off at the gate and watched them ride away before returning with Xu Changhuan to the courtyard to discuss matters.
An Nanyang and Xu Changle accompanied Zhuzhu as she played with the white wolf in the yard.
Yun Chang sat in the pavilion, silently watching Zhu Zhu playing with the white wolf.
He discovered that Zhuzhu was genuinely unafraid of the wolf cub; on the contrary, the wolf trembled with fear every time it saw Zhuzhu!
Does this child have any special abilities?
As Yun Chang observed, she made her own guesses.
Inside the room, Xu Changhuan and Li Mai sat facing each other.
"Huanhuan, feel free to speak your mind." Li Mai now understands the girl's personality and quite likes her responsible and straightforward nature, so she asked.
“Since I took over as the chief of Tianxiang Village, I have been thinking about how to lead my people to a better life, so that they no longer have to worry about not having enough to eat every day, and no longer have to hide in the mountains, where everything is inconvenient.”
"However, no matter what you do, you need money. Our Xu family only has the skill of making incense, and we don't know any other way to make money. But the imperial court doesn't allow us to sell incense in the name of the Xu family anymore."
“But if we don’t use the Xu family name, no one will buy our incense. Over the years, we’ve only been able to make a living by selling the incense from my cousin’s shop. But that’s not enough for me to expand the Xu family.”
Li Mai nodded. "So, you mean you want me to help you think of a way to make money?"
Xu Changhuan nodded quickly, "Yes, I feel you are very good at business. Could you help me think of a way? Li Mai, I have liked you ever since I met you. In the future, whenever you can use me and my influence, I will do my best."
Li Mai chuckled, "What would I need you to do for me? Looks like you do have some power after all?"
Xu Changhuan nodded, "I have a grandmaster who was a martial arts master. He was my father's master, and he taught me half of my kung fu. Before he passed away, he gave me his power and made me the master of the Seven Star Tower."
“But I’m a bandit chief, and I don’t know what they can do for me. Right now, they can only help me gather information. If you can help me out, my forces can also do things for you,” Xu Changhuan said.
Li Mai smiled and glanced at her. "You really are a very honest person, and adorably naive. Don't say things like that to others in the future, lest you cause trouble. You should go back first today. I'll come find you after I'm done with this busy period. If you want to make money and have influence, it's very simple. Just find out what's going on with your cousin first."
"Of all the things that need to be done at home, the most important things come first," Li Mai said with a smile.
Upon hearing her words, Xu Changhuan was immediately delighted and replied, "Okay, then I'll wait for you at Tianxiang Village."
Li Mai nodded in agreement.
As they left, An Nanyang and Xu Changle also bid farewell to Li Mai and prepared to depart.
Li Mai nodded and told them to be careful on the road.
When the white wolf saw its master beckoning it to get into the carriage, it was overjoyed. With a leap, it got into the carriage and quickly went inside.
Qilin glanced lazily at the carriage, shaking his head inwardly. "Sigh, the wolf clan has really declined. Look at their pathetic state, still riding in a carriage?"
It can't even outrun a horse, yet it has the nerve to ride in a carriage. It's laughable.
Yun Chang followed Li Mai out, leaned against the door frame, and watched Li Mai say goodbye to the Xu sisters with an inscrutable gaze.
Xiaomai and the chieftain had just met for the first time, and Xiaomai was initially wary of her. She never expected that they would get along so well now!
Women's friendships are truly strange. Two women who seem like best friends can turn around and betray each other, wishing the other dead. Conversely, two women who once disliked each other can suddenly become sisters. Women are truly hard to understand.
Thinking about it, he secretly shook his head.
Xu Changhuan was the last to board the carriage. Before she entered the carriage, she looked at Li Mai and said, "Xiaomai, I'll wait for you at Tianxiang Village."
Li Mai nodded and replied with a "okay".
Yun Chang immediately stood up straight. Was Xiaomai going out too? What was she going to Tianxiang Village for? Could it be that she wanted to get involved in the Xu family's affairs?
Thinking this, Yun Chang slowly narrowed her eyes as she looked at the carriage.
If my younger sister wants to interfere in the Xu family's affairs, then I naturally can't ignore it; I can't let my sister suffer a loss.
Thinking of this, he returned to his courtyard and summoned Xuanwu, "Xuanwu, go back to the capital to investigate a few things for me. Go in person."
He gave Xuanwu a few instructions, telling him to ride back to the capital on horseback to investigate the matter.
Xuanwu was worried about his safety. "Master, after we leave, wherever you go, you must take your bodyguards with you."
“Okay, don’t worry, I’ll stay with my sister. She can protect me,” Yun Chang said.
He's slowly starting to realize how formidable Li Mai is.
Xuanwu had nothing more to say and rode away quickly.
When Li Mai returned after seeing the Xu sisters off, she saw Yun Chang and Zhu Zhu playing a finger game.
Li Mai came over and sat down at the table, looking at Yun Chang.
Yun Chang met her gaze and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"Big brother, where did you send Xuanwu?" Li Mai asked.
"Go back to the capital and help me investigate a few things," Yun Chang said with a smile.
"Is it related to the Xu family?" Li Mai asked again.
Yun Chang smiled helplessly and glared at her, "Can't even my eldest brother keep a secret from you?"
Li Mai shook her head. "I naturally wouldn't dare to pry into my brother's secrets, but based on what I know about the Xu family, I think there's something wrong with it. And these past few days, my brother has been glancing at Huanhuan intentionally or unintentionally. I was wondering if you know some of the truth about what happened to the Xu family back then, which is why you keep looking at Huanhuan?"
Yun Chang gave her a thumbs up, "My sister is smart. The Xu family's affairs are indeed not as you think."
Then, he told Li Mai about some things he had learned during his years in the capital.
After listening, Li Mai also told Yun Chang about the Xu family's situation and some of her suspicions. Of course, she didn't mention the Xu family's incense manual.
They only said it might be a fragrance recipe.
After the siblings discussed the matter, they suddenly understood what was going on with the Xu family and the whole story became clear.
Li Mai couldn't believe it. "Good heavens, this is really something! The people in the middle are incredibly audacious. They've completely deceived their superiors and subordinates, accomplishing their own tasks while simultaneously handling the problems below."
"I suspect that there is more than one person involved; it is likely that there are many people and forces involved. These forces have a grudge against the Xu family or are competitors, and they want to take this opportunity to destroy the Xu family. I just didn't expect that the Emperor would only kill the three leaders of the Xu family, and spare the clansmen and their descendants."
"If the emperor had been any more ruthless back then, the entire Xu family would be wiped out by now!" Zhao Huanhuan sighed.
Yun Chang nodded and hummed in agreement with Li Mai's deduction. Now he asked Xuan Wu to investigate who the officials involved in the case were.
Perhaps we can find some clues from these people.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
