Chapter 865 - 865: Sided with the Wrong Team
Chapter 865: Chapter 865: Sided with the Wrong Team
Liu Sisi didn’t mind these matters, instead casually inquiring of the married woman, “Madam, I see that your shop is in a very good location. However, why hasn’t the shop opposite opened?”
The married woman wasn’t surprised, speaking as if it were an inconsequential matter, “The shop opposite was originally in the jade business and at first, it did quite well. But some days ago, the person who managed the connections for that shop got into trouble and was directly exiled; their assets were confiscated to repay the state, causing the shopkeeper opposite us to lose a significant amount of silver. It’s said that he is now heavily in debt, hounded every day by creditors. Pushed to the brink, the shopkeeper decided to sell the shop so he could settle his debts first.”
“It seems you’re also very well-informed, aren’t you, Madam?”
Liu Sisi said indifferently, followed by a soft laugh.
“It’s not that I’m particularly informed; it’s just that there have been creditors coming these past few days, and yesterday, it was especially chaotic. In the end, it was the Capital Governor who stepped in to calm things down.”
The married woman spoke without any pause, spilling the details as if she were pouring out beans, quickly explaining the whole situation.
…
“There are certainly many people eyeing that shop, and each seems to have more influence than the last. If you really are intent on acquiring that shop, but the support and power at your disposal is lacking, I’m afraid you won’t be able to swallow this fresh piece of meat.”
The other party was smiling brightly, probably viewing everyone as people who had come to scout out the property with an intention to acquire it.
Liu Sisi just smiled and did not deny it, but she shifted her gaze away, “Thank you for your advice, Madam!”
Waiting until the two had once again left in their sedan chair, the servants behind them were holding more cloth.
“Third Aunt, regarding this shop, should we go all out to vie for it?”
As soon as she returned to the manor, before even sitting down, Xiao Feng hurriedly asked. Her face was slightly feverish, clearly unaware of the intricacies involved.
“Vie for it? Why not? I think the location of that shop is quite good; it could be used for any kind of business!”
After all, that was a shop on Imperial Street—securing it would definitely not lead to a loss. “We cannot directly intervene in this matter; we have to find an intermediary. Moreover, it would be best if this person is not one of the court ministers, to avoid the whole affair being disrupted all at once should anything go awry.”
“How about having Di Cheng step in? Many officials in the capital city are acquainted with Di Cheng, and they also know he’s the nephew of Third Uncle. With his involvement, we wouldn’t have to worry about subsequent issues and can avoid deliberate difficulties from those above,” suggested Xiao Feng urgently.
“Cheng’er should better stay out of this directly! How about this, you tell Cheng’er to choose someone he trusts completely to take over this shop. As for further difficulties, they aren’t much of an issue; Ye Lei can step in to resolve them,” Liu Sisi advised with some hesitation, purposefully creating uncertainty and exposing a significant vulnerability in order to lure the opponent into action!
As for the final outcome, it would likely be left to fate!
“Princess, Miss of Gan Family has sent a letter, do you wish to look at it now?” Old Cheng approached swiftly, presenting an envelope.
Liu Sisi frowned slightly—why would Gan Miaoruo send a letter at this time? What could it be about?
“Bring it here. Was the letter brought by someone close to the Miss of Gan Family?”
“A pageboy delivered the letter, but I didn’t take special note of whether he was someone close to the Miss of Gan Family or not,” Old Cheng replied with some hesitation.
Liu Sisi didn’t dwell on these details, nonchalantly opening the letter. Seeing Xiao Feng’s curious eyes, Liu Sisi casually fluttered the envelope in her hand.
“Miss Gan Miaoruo has arranged for us to offer incense together. It’s said that several Madams and misses will also be there; she wants to introduce them to me.”
Recently, Liu Sisi had been deliberately distancing herself from the people of the Gan Family.
In the eyes of the world, the Gan Family was related by marriage to the Yang Family. Although His Majesty had not blamed them for the recent events, Lord Gan, a few days ago, enraged His Majesty in the imperial court! He almost faced immediate censure on the spot.
Fortunately, several loyal and righteous officials persuaded His Majesty to stay his hand, otherwise, who knows what trouble might have ensued.
“Nowadays, the Gan Family is in imminent danger, and you have a long history with them. If His Majesty moves against the Gan Family, he might consider your feelings to some extent. Miss Gan Miaoruo arranging to see you for offering incense at this time probably has quite a lot of hidden implications.”
While the two discussed the matter in detail, Di Yelei entered from outside and seamlessly joined the conversation.
“Father Emperor is going to move against the Gan Family?” Liu Sisi’s brow furrowed instinctively.
“His Majesty has mentioned this matter on two consecutive early morning sessions; it seems very likely to be true.”
After Di Yelei dismissed the attendants nearby, he spoke quietly, “The biggest mistake of the Gan Family was not that initially, Empress Yang issued an edict for the marriage between Miss Gan Miaoruo and Yang Yikun, but that they chose the wrong side.”
Lord Gan had always been a loyal supporter of the Sixth Prince. During the initial palace turmoil, the Sixth Prince was killed by the Thirteenth Prince, Zhao Zhen.
From then on, the downfall of the Gan Family was sealed.
“Are you saying the Gan Family will be exterminated, with the men conscripted and the women exiled? Is there really no other way to save them?” Liu Sisi became more and more restless.
“How His Majesty will decide, how could we know now? However, since Miss Gan has invited you to offer incense, you might as well listen carefully to what she says. If her request is reasonable and decent, then accept it,” Di Yelei advised earnestly.
“I understand that well enough.”
A chill ran down Liu Sisi’s spine! Could this be the end of the Gan Family?
“You seem to have come home earlier today; has something happened at the court again, or has there been some other trouble?”
“Actually, it’s nothing much, it’s just that His Majesty seems a bit irritable lately, always snapping at everyone. Today, he nearly had Prime Minister Gan escorted out of Wu Gate for execution, but fortunately, someone dissuaded him in time. Additionally, His Majesty mentioned your proposal to extend the curfew hours again this morning, but it was suppressed by those elder ministers.”
His Majesty wanted to extend the curfew hours, but faced opposition from numerous ministers.
Everyone at the Golden Luance Hall stuck to their guns, ultimately forcing His Majesty to table the matter, and thus the proposal to open the curfew hours fell through. No doubt, His Majesty had a belly full of anger not yet vented, and then came the urgent news from 800 miles away: Zhao Heng was leading an army of 200,000 soldiers north, eyeing Bianliang City!
This news shifted many court ministers’ focus instantly, and discussions about who should lead the army south followed on the agenda.
Naturally, calls for Di Yelei to lead the troops again started to resurface.
Di Yelei was covered in cold sweat, fully aware that His Majesty deeply loathed factionalism and cronyism, yet these court ministers deliberately proposed for Di Yelei to lead once more, provoking His Majesty… Who exactly was setting him up?