“Third Brother…” Bai Jintong called out to Bai Qingqi, tears continuously blurring her vision. “Third Brother, you’ve finally returned! Third Brother… you don’t know how much they bullied our family when news came back that Grandfather, Uncle, Father, and all of you had died in battle! Elder Sister… Elder Sister endured so much hardship to support our Bai Family!”
Ever since leaving home, Bai Jintong had never cried even once. She had experienced great storms and waves, nearly losing her life at sea, yet she had gritted her teeth and endured it all.
But for some unknown reason, upon seeing her third brother, she couldn’t maintain her composure. Though seeing Third Brother alive should have been a joyful occasion, she was filled with grievances she wanted to share with him.
It was just that she had grown up now and was no longer the little girl who could freely rush into Third Brother’s embrace. Otherwise, she truly wanted to cry her heart out in Third Brother’s arms.
“It’s Third Brother who returned too late! Third Brother has wronged you all!” Bai Qingqi restrained his emotions, though his breathing still trembled slightly.
Bai Jintong wiped her tears with her sleeve, but her vision continued to blur with mist. She bit her lower lip tightly, showing none of her usual composed and capable demeanor.
The swaying lanterns at the four corners of the carriage cast flickering light inside, making everything appear bright and dim alternately. Bai Qingqi pushed the tea he had poured for Bai Jintong toward her and said in a low voice, “You cannot stay long in this place of Xiliang. Chen Qingsheng has already made arrangements. After we return to the Cui residence shortly, Chen Qingsheng will arrange for you to go first to the farmhouse in the western part of the city. Tomorrow morning, you’ll leave Yunjing with Chen Qingsheng and travel swiftly to Qiushan Pass.”
“What about Third Brother?” Bai Jintong pressed.
“I still have matters to attend to in Xiliang. Additionally, I’ve had Chen Qingsheng carry a letter to General Shen Kunyang. When you reach Qiushan Pass, deliver the letter to General Shen Kunyang and have him act according to the plan!”
“Third Brother…” Bai Jintong pressed her lips together. “I know Third Brother is worried about my safety, but Third Brother… I cannot leave yet. If I were to leave now, there’s no guarantee that the eight great families of Xiliang and the Xiliang Empress wouldn’t take their anger out on the Cui Family Trading Company. The Cui Family Trading Company has reached its current state through the Bai Family’s substantial investment of silver. Now that we’re about to see returns!”
Bai Jintong’s eyes were resolute: “This nation of Xiliang is about to fall into chaos, but the silver we should earn… cannot be less! Third Brother, trust me!”
Bai Qingqi had already heard from Chen Qingsheng about what Bai Jintong had experienced in the few short years since leaving home. He found it hard to imagine that after these brothers were gone, his sister had faced life and death situations multiple times.
Whether it was Elder Sister or the younger sisters, they were all risking their lives to forge a path for the Bai Family.
Bai Qingqi suddenly hated himself—why hadn’t he returned earlier?
After a long moment, Bai Qingqi slowly responded: “Very well, we siblings will work together to take Xiliang for Great Zhou.”
The Xiliang Empress had released Cui Fengnian, who had been imprisoned for a long time, hoping that Cui Fengnian could bring down the grain prices in Yunjing.
However, perhaps because of the sudden doubling of grain prices, when the grain shops slightly lowered their prices, people swarmed like bees to compete for grain purchases.
Cui Fengnian coordinated with the eight great families, unifying market prices, lowering grain prices every day.
Indeed, after three consecutive days of price reductions, even fewer people came to buy grain.
By the fifth day of price reductions, those who had previously bought grain at high prices all regretted their purchases, feeling they had wasted their silver. Their enthusiasm for hoarding grain was not as high as before.
Bai Jintong knew that Li Zhijie had gone to the capital to seek peace, that the Rongdi were about to wage war against Xiliang, and that Great Zhou would certainly intervene. Since they needed to drag the Yan nation into the conflict, they needed to create grain problems in Xiliang quickly.
Bai Jintong was pondering how to suggest to the eight great families that they could secretly send people to collect grain from the common people, when unexpectedly, representatives from the Qi Family—the leader of Xiliang’s eight great families—came calling personally. They claimed to be visiting Cui Fengnian, who had suffered imprisonment, but in reality, they were dissatisfied with the sudden grain price reductions.
Bai Jintong took the opportunity to discuss with the Qi Family representatives the matter of buying back grain from the common people at low prices: “In this way, with grain prices dropping continuously, even falling below previous levels, collecting grain from the people will prevent them from hoarding grain that decreases in value daily. But if the Empress were to learn of this matter, it probably couldn’t be accomplished.”
The Qi Family representative smiled, picked up his teacup, and said leisurely, “In this business, all eight great families are involved. As long as the eight great families don’t want the Empress to know, she won’t know…”
Bai Jintong lowered her eyes and smiled softly in agreement, then added: “However, Gonghang still has some concerns. After all, the Rongdi are now eyeing Xiliang covetously, and the alliance between Xiliang and Great Zhou remains undetermined. If Xiliang truly goes to war, then… accumulating wealth in this manner might lead to Xiliang’s defeat.”
The Qi Family representative used his teacup lid to press down the floating tea leaves, looking at Bai Jintong with a half-smile…
Bai Jintong quickly smiled and cupped her hands: “Brother Qi, please understand. Gonghang is a merchant. If Xiliang falls and there are no longer national boundaries between Xiliang and Great Zhou, or the Rongdi, or Great Yan, my business…”
The Qi Family representative seemed to find Bai Jintong unthreatening—merely a profit-seeking merchant—so he revealed some information: “Rest assured, this time you’ve helped the eight great families greatly. In the future, your business in Xiliang will have no problems!”
“May I ask Brother Qi for guidance?” Bai Jintong rose and bowed deeply, her attitude extremely respectful. “Please resolve my younger brother’s doubts.”
The Qi Family representative chuckled softly, casually placing his teacup on the small table beside him, and spoke: “Have you ever seen when Xiliang’s eight great families were so united? We eight great families of Xiliang are all subjects of Xiliang. Which family would want Xiliang to become another nation? If that were to happen… we eight great families of Xiliang would be far from the center of power! So… set your heart at ease. The eight great families will never allow such a thing to happen.”
After speaking, the Qi Family representative stood and said to Bai Jintong, “Your method is excellent. If this succeeds in the future, you’ll have your share of benefits.”
Bai Jintong quickly smiled and said, “I’ll see Brother Qi out.”
Watching the Qi Family representative depart in his carriage, Bai Jintong turned back toward the residence, her smile fading… She hurried into the main hall, seeing that Bai Qingqi was already seated there. Bai Jintong said, “Third Brother, I’m afraid the heavens are about to change in Xiliang.”
Bai Qingqi nodded.
From the Qi Family representative’s words—”When have Xiliang’s eight great families ever been so united?”—both Bai Qingqi and Bai Jintong understood that the heavens were indeed about to change in Xiliang.
The eight great families were acting this way to pull the Xiliang Empress down from the throne and put someone else in her place.
This was because the Xiliang Empress’s various new edicts had all harmed the interests of the eight great families.