Chapter 325 - 315: Sowing Discord

Chapter 325: Chapter 315: Sowing Discord

After returning to the Sun Mansion, Li Yuniang settled in.

She conducted herself with the utmost discretion. Each day, she either remained in the small courtyard where she was staying or took a stroll in the garden. She never wandered about the mansion aimlessly, much less showed the slightest curiosity about the Sun Family’s internal or external affairs.

She knew very well that the woman in white was surely observing her every move in secret. Any undue interest could arouse suspicion.

However, there was one thing she did with great diligence and natural ease: chatting with Zhuo Yuan and Sun Wanru.

She never initiated any sensitive topics. She would simply keep Zhuo Yuan company with some needlework, listen to Sun Wanru recite poetry, or chat about the latest fashion and seasonal pastries in Liyang City.

Amid the trivial chatter, she always managed to subtly steer the conversation toward the hardships women face, particularly the sorrow and vulnerability of being a concubine.

Whenever the conversation reached this point, she would stop at precisely the right moment.

At first, Zhuo Yuan would deliberately change the subject or offer a few words of comfort. But as it happened more often, especially when Li Yuniang managed to precisely strike at the most hidden of her insecurities, Zhuo Yuan’s attitude began to shift.

Her uncertainty about the future and her doubts about the promises made by the He Family’s young miss slowly began to surface.

Zhuo Yuan’s responses gradually changed from consolation to silence, and then to the occasional sigh of empathy.

Li Yuniang had succeeded.

The task Chen Li had given Li Yuniang from the very beginning wasn’t to gather intelligence, but to...

Sow discord!

Chen Li knew very well.

Since the He Family dared to have designs on his family, they had to have at least one Grandmaster backing them.

Generally, any Grandmaster from an established Martial Dao lineage, rather than a self-taught one, would have likely cultivated a Secret Skill like Heart Inquiry.

With her Cultivation at only the Spirit Realm First Level, any deliberate lies or disguises would be child’s play for a true Grandmaster to see through.

Expecting her to uncover their deepest secrets was nothing short of a fool’s dream.

That being the case, it was better to take the opposite approach.

He had Li Yuniang tell the truth, voluntarily exposing her identity as a plant and putting herself out in the open.

This way, the attention of the He Family’s young miss would naturally focus on what information the mole might gather, how she would transmit it, and what the Chen Family was plotting.

She would be wary of Li Yuniang’s every move, but she would easily overlook the other purpose Li Yuniang’s very presence served.

Li Yuniang was executing this task perfectly.

One day, the atmosphere in the Sun Mansion was markedly different.

At the crack of dawn, the servants were already bustling about, sweeping the courtyards, wiping down doors and windows. Even the stone steps beneath the covered walkways were scrubbed spotless with fresh water.

A rich aroma drifted from the kitchens early on, and one could faintly hear the Steward shouting orders to prepare rare and precious ingredients.

Li Yuniang sat by the window of her small courtyard, quietly watching the figures hurrying to and fro outside. ’I see.’

’The Sun Mansion must be receiving an important guest today.’

She suppressed her curiosity and remained in her room, reading and embroidering, paying no mind to the commotion outside.

It was not until evening, as the sky began to dim.

That Sun Wanru finally hurried over with two maids, carrying a food container.

"Sister Yuniang, I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting."

Sun Wanru smiled apologetically and directed the maids to arrange several exquisite side dishes, soup, and rice on the table. "We have an important guest today, and Aunt is personally attending to them up front. The kitchen has been chaotic, and I was helping out, which is why I’m so late."

"It’s no trouble at all."

Li Yuniang rose to her feet. "Wanru, what are you saying? I’m just an idle guest. It makes no difference to me whether I eat a little earlier or later. Your important guest is what matters; you don’t need to worry about me."

The two of them sat down to eat.

During the meal, Li Yuniang spoke little, eating quietly and only occasionally remarking that a dish was delicious.

Sun Wanru also ate in silence at first, but she looked up several times as if wanting to say something, only to stop. A faint shadow of worry clouded her features.

Li Yuniang took note of this. When she was about finished with her meal, she set down her chopsticks, dabbed her lips with a silk handkerchief, and asked softly, "Wanru, you seem to have something on your mind. Did something... go wrong today?"

Sun Wanru also put down her bowl and chopsticks. After a moment’s hesitation, she lowered her voice. "It’s nothing major, it’s just... I’m a little worried about my aunt."

"Worried about Aunt Yuan?"

Li Yuniang feigned surprise. "Aunt Yuan is so shrewd and capable, and handles everything with such care. What is there to worry about?"

Sun Wanru shook her head, her voice dropping lower still. "I’m not worried she can’t handle things. I’m worried... she has too many ideas of her own."

She glanced toward the door to make sure no one was there before continuing, "As you know, Sister, our elder cousin’s intention is to transfer the family businesses to the Zhou Family. But Aunt seems to have her own plans. She’s secretly sent people to contact several other families. The important guest who came today was from the Su Family."

A look of confusion appeared on Li Yuniang’s face. "Since you’re selling the family assets, isn’t it only natural to shop around and sell to whoever offers the highest price and best terms? Aunt Yuan is just trying to get a better deal. What’s wrong with that?"

"If it were really that simple, it would be wonderful."

Sun Wanru gave a bitter smile. "But my elder cousin won’t let my aunt make the final decision. Besides, if we really sell to the Su Family, our troubles will only grow."

"Why is that?"

Li Yuniang asked in surprise.

Sun Wanru sighed faintly. "In truth, these assets haven’t really belonged to our family for a long time."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of light passed through Li Yuniang’s eyes. She asked no more questions, simply lowering her head and slowly finishing her meal.

She knew very well that this matter could not be rushed.

「About ten days later.」

That morning, Zhuo Yuan uncharacteristically took the initiative to visit Li Yuniang in her room.

"Yuniang, are you settling in all right?"

"Thank you for your care, Aunt Yuan. Everything is wonderful," Li Yuniang answered obediently.

Zhuo Yuan nodded. "You’ve been with us for some time now. The young miss has sent word. She says that since you’ve been here so long, if you don’t bring some information back to the Chen Family, they’ll likely grow suspicious, which would put you in a bad position."

Li Yuniang bowed her head. "I will follow whatever instructions the young miss and Aunt Yuan give me."

Zhuo Yuan said, "The young miss wants you to take a message back. Just say this: the Sun Family has reached an agreement with the Su Family to sell all of their assets in Liyang for seven hundred thousand taels of silver. The transaction will take place in Qingshui County in seven days. Officials from both the Qingshui County Magistrate’s Office and the Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office will be present to notarize and guarantee it."

Li Yuniang nodded. "Yes, I’ll remember. Tomorrow... I will pass the message along."

"Mm."

Zhuo Yuan grunted in acknowledgment and rose as if to leave, but then she paused.

She stepped closer to Li Yuniang and suddenly reached out, lightly brushing her shoulder. Her tone was casual. "Your clothes... how did you get dust right here?"

Li Yuniang froze for a second and looked down.

Zhuo Yuan had already produced a plain silk handkerchief from her sleeve. She wiped at Li Yuniang’s shoulder twice, then smoothly pressed the handkerchief into her hand. "Be more careful. Don’t get it dirty again."

Li Yuniang had sharp eyes. As she took the handkerchief, she stole a quick glance and saw tiny, fly-head-sized characters written in extremely fine ink on the inside.

A jolt went through her heart, but she dared not let any of it show on her face. She simply closed her hand tightly around the handkerchief. "Th-thank you for the reminder, Aunt Yuan."

Zhuo Yuan gave her a deep look but said nothing more. She turned to the female servant who had been following her and ordered, "Arrange for a carriage to take Miss Li from the mansion."

"Yes, Madam."

Before long, a small, rather plain carriage with a blue canopy carried Li Yuniang away, swaying as it departed the Sun Mansion.

...

「Lingxi. The Chen Family Estate.」

It was noon, and the scorching sun baked the bluestone tiles.

Chen Li sat cross-legged, his eyes gently closed. His breathing was so long and shallow it was nearly imperceptible, and the aura around him was so restrained that he seemed to have merged with his surroundings.

Three feet above his head, the air shimmered faintly. A Primordial Spirit, about twenty inches tall and identical to Chen Li in face and form, hovered there silently.

The miniature Primordial Spirit had a solemn, dignified appearance. Its hands were formed in a seal, and every pore on its body seemed to be breathing, greedily absorbing the sparse particles of Primordial Qi from the void.

After the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was absorbed by the Primordial Spirit, it was tempered and refined, transforming into an even purer form of Primordial Qi.

One portion of this energy nourished and strengthened the Primordial Spirit itself, while the other flowed back into the physical body like a trickling stream, filling his meridians and Acupoints.

Ever since ascending to the Spirit Realm Seventh Level, the Guiyuan Pass, and condensing his Primordial Spirit, Chen Li had officially embarked on the path of comprehending the laws of heaven and earth to manifest his own Dharma Aspect.

However, Cultivation in this realm required one to first fill every Acupoint in the body with immense Primordial Qi. Only then could one visualize and inscribe the laws of heaven and earth onto the Primordial Spirit to manifest a Dharma Aspect.

The stronger the Primordial Spirit, the more keenly one could sense the laws of heaven and earth.

Chen Li was now keenly aware of how difficult this was.

Even with his newly formed Primordial Spirit, powerful Divine Thought, and an efficiency in circulating the Innate Qi Gathering Technique that was ten times greater than before, the increase in Primordial Qi was but a drop in the bucket compared to what was needed to fill his three hundred sixty-five Acupoints and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

It would require a vast amount of time and the patient application of a Water Grinding Technique.

After converting a single trace of Primordial Qi, the miniature Primordial Spirit sensed something and opened its eyes.

Outside the study, Linglong had been waiting quietly for some time.

With a thought from Chen Li, the Primordial Spirit transformed into a streak of light and instantly vanished into the brow of his physical body.

He opened his eyes, slowly withdrew his energy, and returned to a normal state.

"Master."

Seeing Chen Li emerge, Linglong immediately stepped forward, her voice low and her words quick. "News has come back from Li Yuniang."

Chen Li nodded. "Come in and tell me."

Linglong entered the study and concisely relayed the message from Li Yuniang.

After listening in silence, Chen Li’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He pondered for a moment before saying, "Go and bring Shouheng, Shouye, and Shuwei to the study."

"Yes, sir."

Linglong took her leave.

A short while later, the brothers Chen Shouheng and Chen Shouye, along with Zhou Shuwei, stepped into the study.

Chen Li motioned for Linglong to explain the situation to them in detail.

Linglong informed the three, "Li Yuniang sent back two messages. The Sun Family has put out a feeler that they’ve reached an agreement with the Su Family. They will sell all their assets in Liyang—including the Textile Workshop, farmland, and shops—for a price of seven hundred thousand taels of silver. The deal is scheduled to take place in Qingshui County in seven days, with Government Offices from both regions acting as guarantors."

She paused before continuing. "However, a secret message from Zhuo Yuan, passed via a handkerchief, says this is a trap. This supposed transaction with the Su Family is just a ruse; they’re only selling a few insignificant shops as a cover. They have no intention of selling the Textile Workshop and their nearly 4,800 acres of prime farmland—in fact, they wouldn’t dare."

"Zhuo Yuan admitted that the purpose of this move is to put pressure on us, forcing us to get involved as quickly as possible."

Linglong then explained, one by one, the reasons for the Sun Family’s current predicament.

The root of the problem was that the Sun Family was already just an empty shell.

Sun Bingyi had acquired nearly 4,800 acres of prime farmland from the Qingshui Liu Family at the high price of forty taels per acre, a purchase that had nearly exhausted the liquid assets of both the Sun and He families.

Afterwards, the He Family spent a fortune to hire Grandmasters. When their funds ran short, they borrowed three thousand taels of gold from an unknown faction to cover the payment.

Although all the hired Grandmasters were killed and the faction never received its payment, they now claimed the Sun Family had to compensate them for their losses, creating a massive debt.

Furthermore, He Zhangqiu had withdrawn forty thousand bolts of silk from the Qingshui County Government’s Treasury, stating that the Sun Family would pay for the goods as a credit toward their County Government Land Tax.

This shipment of silk was ambushed and stolen by the Tuo Long Bang, but the Sun Family was still left responsible for the payment.

The Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office is now demanding payment from the Sun Family at the market price of twenty-five taels per bolt, which amounts to another massive debt of one million taels.

The Sun Family’s assets are now insufficient to cover its debts.

The He Family’s young miss set this trap with the true intention of diverting disaster onto others.

Once the Chen Family takes this hot potato off their hands, they will inevitably draw the wrath and collection efforts of that unknown faction. The He Family can then use them as a borrowed blade to eliminate the Chen Family.

When Linglong finished her account, the study fell silent.

Chen Li’s gaze swept over the three, their faces a mixture of expressions. He broke the silence. "That’s the situation. Shouheng, Shouye, Shuwei... what are your thoughts?"