Upon hearing this, Jiang Qianiang smiled bitterly: “We naturally have this thought as well, but that piece of land is in an excellent location, and the other party bought it for their purposes, so they’re unwilling to easily give it up. The Jiang family has invested quite a bit in these shops and temporarily cannot come up with more silver to buy the land back, so we can only remain in this stalemate. It’s just that the other party can afford to drag this out, but we cannot.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and took a sip of tea, waiting for Jiang Qianiang to explain her true purpose.

Sure enough, Jiang Qianiang continued: “Actually, we came to find Young Madam today because we have an unreasonable request.”

Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow slightly.

“The family competing with our Jiang family for the land is surnamed Gao,” Jiang Qianiang said, looking at Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “Among the prestigious families in Shunzhou, there doesn’t seem to be anyone surnamed Gao?”

Jiang Qianiang nodded: “Yes, Young Madam. Not to mention you, even we locals in Shunzhou had never heard of this Gao family before. But about a month ago, the Gao family snatched a large grain and oil business from the Han family. My father originally wanted to personally visit the head of the Gao family to negotiate about the land matter, but he couldn’t meet with anyone.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled apologetically: “I’m afraid I can’t help much with matters in your Shunzhou.”

Jiang Qianiang quickly said: “Young Madam, I heard that the Gao family has some relationship with the Lei family, but we sent several letters to the Lei family before, and the head of the Lei family never replied. I heard that recently the head of the Lei family has gone out and is not in Yunyang City, and Madam Lei also doesn’t receive outside guests.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled: “My sister has been feeling unwell lately, so she probably took the two children to stay at the manor.”

Jiang Qianiang looked at Ren Yaoqi and asked tentatively: “Then I wonder if Young Madam could help pass along a message to the Lei family?”

Just at this moment, Pingguo, who had already styled her hair in the married woman’s fashion, hurried in from outside and reported to Ren Yaoqi in a low voice: “Young Madam, Princess Consort had Nanny Xin come to ask if the gift list sent from Jinzhou last month is with you.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded and first had Pingguo withdraw, then smiled and said: “I’ll have someone inquire about what you just mentioned. I still have some matters to handle, so I’ll excuse myself first. Since Miss Jiang has come to Yunyang City, why not stay and play for a few more days? Speaking of which, you do have some connection to this Yunyang City.”

Jiang Qianiang and Madam Jiang exchanged glances. Jiang Qianiang originally wanted to say something more, but after pausing, she swallowed her words and stood up with Madam Jiang, smiling: “I do plan to stay for several more days. There are many places in Yunyang City I haven’t visited yet. Then I thank Young Madam, and I’ll return to wait for your news.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and lifted her teacup. Jiang Qianiang and Madam Jiang took their leave and departed.

After they left, Ren Yaoqi didn’t go to Jiuyang Hall but returned to Zhaoning Hall. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she saw Xiao Jingxi sitting on the soft couch in the east side room, reading a book. Hearing the sound, he looked up and smiled at Ren Yaoqi: “Back so soon?”

Ren Yaoqi walked over and sat beside him. Seeing that he was holding a book about flower cultivation and pruning, she took it and flipped through it, joking: “It’s just fixing up a garden. Are you planning to do it yourself?”

Xiao Jingxi leaned over, embraced Ren Yaoqi’s waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder: “Every plant and tree in Zhaoning Hall was done by my own hands. Didn’t you know?”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was stunned and turned her head in surprise: “So you’re also going to fix the small garden in Zhaoning Hall yourself? You know how to do this?”

The all-capable Second Young Master Xiao said righteously: “I don’t know how yet, but aren’t I learning now?”

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

Xiao Jingxi took the book back from Ren Yaoqi’s hands and asked with a smile: “That Miss Jiang Six just came to find you about the Jiang family’s affairs?”

Ren Yaoqi was already accustomed to her husband’s omniscience: “You know about the Jiang family’s matters?”

Xiao Jingxi thought for a moment and smiled: “I don’t know everything. I only know that you made the Jiang family’s people have no choice but to come find you directly. But your true intent behind the drink isn’t the wine—your real target isn’t the distant Jiang family in Shunzhou, but the Han family, who have marriage ties with the Jiang family, right?”

Ren Yaoqi sighed and glanced sideways at Xiao Jingxi: “And you still say you don’t know everything?”

Xiao Jingxi smiled warmly and tapped Ren Yaoqi’s head lightly with the rolled-up book: “First, the Yun family, then the Jiang family, and those families that have business dealings with the Han family have all suffered collateral damage recently. This scheme is quite extensive. Are you trying to isolate the Han family? The reason I say I don’t know everything is that I don’t understand why, if you want to deal with the Han family, you need to go through all this trouble. Strike the snake at its vital point to kill it with one blow—don’t give the enemy any chance to counterattack. You’re still too soft-hearted.”

Ren Yaoqi brushed away Xiao Jingxi’s hand and tidied her disheveled hair: “I’m not being soft-hearted, I just don’t think it’s necessary. I have no personal grudges with the Han family, so why not leave them a way to live? As for the grievances between the Han family and the Ren family, you know what that’s about. The Ren family owes a debt and should repay it. It’s just that now it’s time for the Han family to stop, and I’m merely reminding them before things escalate to an unmanageable conclusion, which wouldn’t be good for anyone.”

Xiao Jingxi reached out to help Ren Yaoqi arrange her hair and shook his head: “Still soft-hearted.”

Ren Yaoqi was noncommittal about Xiao Jingxi’s assessment. She truly wasn’t at the point of a life-or-death struggle with the Han family. Except for that stubborn Han Dongshan, the rest of the Han family were normal people, and she had no ill feelings toward them.

Moreover, to preserve the Lei family and the Lin family, the existence of the Han family was also indispensable. If the Han family disappeared and could no longer ally with the Yun family, the Yun family would be completely defeated by the Lei family in a few more years. At that time, having the Lei family dominate alone wouldn’t necessarily be a good thing.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. This wouldn’t be good for either the Yanbei Prince’s Manor or the Lei family’s long-term development. Yanbei didn’t need one dominant family; it needed the various families’ power to reach a balance. Only then could Yanbei have long-lasting peace and stability.

Many times, having an evenly matched enemy was the best protection. For those below, this was balance; for those in power, this was checks and balances.

The Yanbei Prince and Princess Consort understood this principle, Xiao Jingxi understood it, and Ren Yaoqi understood it too. Otherwise, relying solely on Noble Consort Yun’s influence, the Yanbei Prince’s Manor wouldn’t have tolerated the Yun family so much. It’s just that this tolerance now had its limits, which is why the Lei family could rise with the momentum and gradually show signs of competing with the Yun family on equal terms.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t want the Lei family to face the same situation as the Yun family in the future, so keeping the Han family could be considered preparing for the future.

“Speaking of which, this Miss Jiang Six is quite clever,” Ren Yaoqi finally sighed.

Xiao Jingxi smiled teasingly: “No matter how clever she is, she still has to follow the path you’ve laid out for her. So are you praising yourself, Madam?”

Ren Yaoqi gave him a white look and retorted: “No, I’m praising you. No matter how I scheme, don’t you always figure it out in the end? So I still can’t compare to you.”

Xiao Jingxi didn’t argue with Ren Yaoqi. Second Young Master Xiao deeply understood one principle—even the cleverest women often couldn’t be reasoned with, so he asked: “Then what will you do next?”

Ren Yaoqi smiled coquettishly: “You guess?”

Xiao Jingxi looked at Ren Yaoqi’s charming appearance and couldn’t help but reach out to pinch her face. Before Ren Yaoqi could react and resist, he spoke to divert her attention: “If it were me, I’d wait for the Han family to come seeking me. After all, the true intent behind the drink isn’t the wine—the Jiang family is just a stepping stone. Since they were so sensible this time, they’ll naturally have their benefits in the future.”

While Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi were being affectionate here, Jiang Qianiang and Madam Jiang also had their conversation after their carriage left the Yanbei Prince’s Manor.

As soon as the carriage turned onto the main street, Jiang Qianiang let out a heavy breath and relaxed.

Madam Jiang asked somewhat surprised: “You were nervous just now? I saw you remained very composed the whole time, so I thought…”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qianiang smiled bitterly and shook her head without speaking, only extending her hand to grasp Madam Jiang’s.

Madam Jiang felt that the hand holding hers was very damp, covered with a layer of sweat, so she couldn’t help but smile and took out a handkerchief to hand to Jiang Qianiang: “Do you think this matter will succeed?”

Jiang Qianiang wiped her hands and smiled: “I had forty percent confidence before coming, but now… at least seventy percent.”

Madam Jiang couldn’t help but say in surprise: “Then it’s as good as done?”

Jiang Qianiang thought for a moment but shook her head: “There’s still thirty percent uncertainty.”

“Where does the uncertainty lie?” Madam Jiang asked.

Jiang Qianiang looked at Madam Jiang and said slowly: “With the Han family.”

Madam Jiang was stunned.

Jiang Qianiang sighed and said with a bitter smile: “Although we came today to ask that Young Madam for help, it was just going through the motions. I think the reason our Jiang family encountered this situation is merely suffered collateral damage. As long as that person achieves her goal, the Jiang family’s problems will naturally be resolved.”

Madam Jiang recalled what Jiang Qianiang had told her earlier, remained silent for a while, then said: “If that person’s target is the Han family, wouldn’t the Han family be in great danger?”

Madam Jiang hadn’t been married into the Han family for long and couldn’t say she had deep feelings for Master Han, but she was now a daughter-in-law of the Han family, regardless, and the Han family’s life and death concerned her fate.

Jiang Qianiang thought for a moment and comforted Madam Jiang: “Not necessarily. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone to such lengths in such a roundabout way. I think as long as the Han family understands their position clearly, they should be fine. Moreover, you came with me to the Yanbei Prince’s Manor today, which shows your stance. Even if something happens to the Han family in the future, you won’t be held accountable.”

Madam Jiang sighed: “I hope so. But how did you know all this?”

Jiang Qianiang paused before sighing: “Actually, after my father failed to meet with the head of the Gao family last time, my mother and I encountered Madam Gao by chance when we went to the temple to burn incense. I went up to chat with her for a few moments, and she said some puzzling things to me. I didn’t understand at the time, but after returning home and thinking about it for a long time, I finally figured it out.”