Xin He glanced over, confirmed that everything was okay, and then smiled, "Nicely done. Avail your reward."
Acquiring the land, especially such a substantial area, was not a simple task, but Xiaoyu managed it within a limited time and budget, which showcased her competence.
"Thank you, madam."
"Did you keep it low-key? Beware not to draw suspicion. Any show-off could be troublesome."
If others knew about her sudden acquisition of such a large piece of land, they could speculate on her motives and plot against her. Xin He believed in keeping a low profile whenever possible; after all, tall trees catch the wind.
"Do not worry, madam. We carried out transactions in several rounds, each time under different identities. The land was not owned by a single entity, so negotiating with various owners minimized suspicion."
As Xiaoyu spoke, she paused slightly, furrowing her eyebrows, "There’s another matter, and I’m unsure whether to mention it."
"Speak," Xin He said nonchalantly.
"Within the land that madam has acquired, a portion is owned by the Sun Family. I went under the alias Xiaoyuan and acted as a foreign merchant’s servant to negotiate the deal. I initially thought it would be difficult, but the Sun Family was remarkably cooperative. They seemed eager to liquidate the land, so I even managed to bargain down the price," Xiaoyu stated.
Xin He raised an eyebrow, "Who from the Sun Family made the deal with you?"
"I’m unsure, madam. I only know it was a steward. I’m not clear who the actual owner is."
Xin He snorted, "Regardless of who is behind this, it seems the Sun Family is preparing for a power struggle. I heard that Grandpa Sun has been unconscious and his days are numbered. The Sun family members are craving power. The sale of land, a primary asset of the Sun Family, shows that someone may be liquidating their assets before the division."
As Xin He spoke, her eyes lit up, and a smile emerged on her lips, "Xiaoyu!"
Xiaoyu quickly responded, "Yes, madam. What do you command?"
"Find out about the other assets of the Sun Family. I suspect they too are being secretly sold off and transferred. If we know correctly, we could pressure them into selling at a lower price. Wouldn’t that be lucrative?" Xin He laughed.
The Sun Family’s internal conflict, their vast fortune, and corrupt internals could not be sustained any longer. Everyone wanted a piece of the pie; everyone wished to liquidate or transfer the assets they controlled into their own name before the family’s division. This inevitably pressured them to sell, facilitating Xin He’s procurement.
"As you command, madam. I’ll see to it immediately!" Xiaoyu swiftly complied and excused herself.
Xiao Bei, who had been standing to the side listening, looked somewhat puzzled. He didn’t understand the nuances of these business operations, nor did he comprehend why the Sun Family was so eager to sell off their property with Grandpa Sun on his deathbed.
Looking at him so confused, Xin He chuckled and tousled his hair, "Focus on your studies, don’t worry about these matters, okay?"
She preferred him to remain innocent and lead a simple life.
She could never be that innocent again after her previous life as an assassin. Her reincarnation was still filled with relentless turmoil and cunning plots. She had to be ruthless and devious.
But such a life was quite tiring.
All her strategic planning was intended to provide Xiao Bei, and even her own children, with a simpler life.
So, she didn’t need Xiao Bei to be successful or understand these matters. She just wanted him to grow up freely.
Xiao Bei blinked and burst into laughter, "Okay!"
Looking up, Xin He saw Xiaochaihu deep in thought, his brow furrowed. She sighed at his maturity — although he looked a bit like Xiao Bei, their personalities were completely different. Xiaochaihu’s past had shaped his profound perspective.
"Alright, finish your writing soon. After lunch, I’ll take you guys out to have some fun. It’s our day off; we should not waste it by staying at home, right?"
"Yay!" Xiao Bei cheered enthusiastically.
Xiaochaihu’s eyes brightened at this, and he smiled too.
——
Yi Ling paced back and forth anxiously in the room.
After waiting for a while, a little maid rushed in, "Aunt Yun, Madam Zhao has been bribed. As for the servant boy, we’ve got his entire family in our grasp. There’s no fear of him spilling the beans."
Yi Ling spoke gravely, "Was Madam Zhao easy to bribe?"
"She knows which way the wind is blowing. Only she knows the inside story, even if she tells, others might not believe her. It’s better for her to stay out of it. Besides, didn’t Aunt Yun promise her benefits?"
Only then did Yi Ling breathe a sigh of relief, "That’s better."
Now that the two most crucial individuals had promised to keep quiet, Sun Yaowen was temporarily safe. The only threat now was the still unconscious Grandpa Sun.
These days, Yi Ling’s heart was in a knot. As soon as Grandpa Sun woke up, it would be the end for Sun Yaowen!
But it would not be easy to harm Grandpa Sun. His room was vigilantly guarded around the clock, his food, and medicine were strictly supervised. Sun Yaowen, a brute, had no foundation in the Sun household; he didn’t have a single mole in Grandpa Sun’s courtyard!
Yi Ling wondered how such a worthless person could have survived until now!
Just as she was growing frustrated, she heard a maid’s voice from outside, "Why is Auntie Ji here?"
Auntie Ji? The old lord’s concubine, Ji Xiulan?
"I will announce her arrival."
Before the maid could make the announcement, Ji Xiulan had already entered.
And she did so with an air of arrogance.
Yi Ling was momentarily taken aback, somewhat surprised at Ji Xiulan’s motive of the visit.
"Are you the leading courtesan from the Flower Tower?" Ji Xiulan lifted her chin arrogantly and deliberately put on an air of superiority.
Yi Ling’s eyes flashed subtly as she replied calmly, "I am the third concubine of the fifth young master. Lady Ji, you can call me Aunt Yun or Yunshi."
Ji Xiulan smirked, "I thought you were some seductress, but you’re just a plain servant. Hailing from humble origins, you dared to seek the status of an honored concubine. Your pitiful end is indeed fitting for your low status. Some people just don’t know their place."
Yi Ling’s face hardened, and she laughed sarcastically, "Coming from a rustic village girl like you, your words hold no merit. We never crossed paths, there’s no need for you to provoke me. We are not on the same level."
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