Empress Dowager’s party and the Empress’s party had been fighting for many years. Even if they didn’t know everything about each other, they at least knew some.

Since Empress Dowager Gu set the strategy of attacking instead of defending, her party members all went on the move. They tried all they could to dig up the dirt of the Empress’s party.

Even though the Empress’s party had foreseen this before they attacked. Yet because they were worried to leak the information, other than the important ones, everyone else was warned after the tragedy of Qingfeng Ji. Those who were usually cautious or upright were fine. The ones who were bossy and swanking naturally became the targets!

After Duan Jin committed suicide and Qingfeng Ji was closed, a dozen of middle- and high-level officials of the Empress’s party were also taken down. At the moment, both Empresses all took a huge hit. In this intense fight, even the neutral ones felt they couldn’t take it. Besides the ones like Xue Chang who needed to deal with the governmental affairs, and other people all took a sick day if they could. If not, some even resigned as they were afraid to be implicated.

So when Qiu Yelan heard Ruan Ciyi came and said Ling Zui was taken to the Ling Family’s hometown because Earl of Jingchuan and Princess Royal Maode found some small mistake of his, she was not surprised, “Ling Zui has been friend with my brother for many years. If he didn’t have the name of being foppery and Earl of Jingchuan and his wife both stayed neutral, Empress Dowager Gu may have already gone after him. Now it’s good that he left. If he can’t avoid being implicated by Empress Dowager Gu, he will be hurt!”

Ruan Ciyi got married in late November. Even though Qiu Jinglan was not there, with what he planned before and the help of Madame Feng and Madame He, the wedding was still very grand. But it was a shame that there were a lot of royal weddings in the second half of the year. Hers was grand but she was just an official’s daughter. So besides the ones relevant, no one noticed it.

But the charm of her wedding was just transitory, Qiu Yelan cared more about her married life. Speaking of which, it was quite a coincidence that her husband was Li Qianzhi. Li Qianzhi was sent by the Ministry of Rites to chase after Qiu Jinglan when she went back to Laizhou after General Ruan died and Xue Chang asked the government to give him a title.

According to the husband standard that Qiu Jinglan overheard at the Xue Family, this Li Qianzhi was not only good-looking but also had a great personality. He also didn’t have any parents or siblings or children that needed to raise or spend a lot of time with. He was four years older than Ruan Ciyi. One of his sons died and his two daughters all got married. He wanted to find someone to spend the rest of his life with.

So after Ruan Ciyi was married, her life was similar to the life when she was at the Ruan Family. She was quite free. When she received the news that Ling Zui was sent back to his hometown, she came over personally to tell Qiu Yelan. Now hearing what Qiu Yelan said, she smiled and said, “That’s what I thought. I was afraid that when Chunjun knows, he’d be worried about us. I think we should keep this a secret from him!”

Qiu Yelan understood, “I’ll tell Jiang Yashuang when he comes back. I’ll ask him to hide it from brother.”

After talking about business, they normally would chat for a bit. Yet the Jiang Family was busy checking the ledger. Qiu Yelan asked Ruan Ciyi and found out she had nothing else to say, so she apologized and said she needed to go to the third branch to help.

Ruan Ciyi didn’t know about the consequence of Duan Jin’s fall, but she knew the Jiang Family was busy. She didn’t want to keep her from doing something important, so she nodded, “Go. We all live in Jing City. We can see each other whenever you’re free!”

Qiu Yelan insisted on walking Ruan Ciyi out of the gate and watched her ride off. Qiu Yelan didn’t have time to go back to her residence. Luckily she didn’t change her clothes when she apologized and left the third branch to greet Ruan Ciyi. She went back directly to the third branch. When she just walked past an artificial hill, Xian walked out of it. Seeing no one was around, she quietly called Qiu Yelan, “Nineteenth Madame! Please, wait!”

“What’s wrong?” Qiu Yelan stopped surprisedly and asked, “Is it something about sister?”

“Madame wants you to go over for a chat!” Xian saluted at her, “In secret!”

Qiu Yelan thought, “Did Madame He make He Shuijin faint either? What did He Shuijin do to her own aunt that she’s now hurting He Shuijin however she can? But it seems that there’s really something wrong with Madame He.” She then said, “Lead on!”

Xian walked around with her and then entered He Shuijin’s room in secret. Jiang Yaheng was not there. He Shuijin probably found a way to send him off.

“You finally come!” He Shuijin who was leaning on the bed and reading the ledger was happy to see Qiu Yelan. She asked Qiu Yelan to sit down, “Xian, get some tea. Use the one grandfather gave me a couple of days ago!”

Qiu Yelan looked at her and smiled, “No wonder grandfather uses Dr. Lin. Just after a couple of days, you look way better.”

He Shuijin said directly, “I washed the powder off to see you. Otherwise, I’ll pretend that I’m sick!”

“Why?” Qiu Yelan didn’t think that she didn’t even make any small talk and went straight to the topic. After a daze, she understood, “Your health is really what matters!”

“You know me, so I’ll cut the chase!” He Shuijin sighed, “I’m not afraid to work for this family. What’s making me sad is that I risked my life to help, yet someone here wants me dead!” Speaking of this, her tone became cold!

Qiu Yelan really admired that after the miscarriage she could still tolerate it. Even though mostly she was doing it for the He Family, it really showed her shrewdness. But regardless, she was still hurt!

Now hearing her sigh, Qiu Yelan didn’t know how to comfort her. While she was thinking about what to say, He Shuijin already continued, “Let’s not mention all those, now we’re busy. I asked Xian to take you over secretly because I want to make you a deal!”

Qiu Yelan was surprised, “A deal?”

“Yes!” He Shuijin nodded, “I was in bed as I was sick and I got bored. Then I found something interesting and made it a pamphlet.” Speaking of which, she took out a thread-bound book and put it in Qiu Yelan’s hand. She said meaningfully, “I think, you guys, the fourth branch, need it!”

Seeing she didn’t stop her, Qiu Yelan cautiously opened the book. She saw there were accounts written with decent handwriting.

She went over a few pages and felt confused. She closed the book and asked, “Sister, what’s this for?”

“It’s the Dou Family’s account.” He Shuijin smiled and said, “It may not be all accurate. After all, I’m not in charge of their business! I just predicted it according to the information I got. It’s just a part. But it should be enough!”

Qiu Yelan understood what she meant by “enough” was that if this ledger went into someone who was the Dou Family’s enemy, it would be enough.

She thought for a while and asked, “But what does the first branch want to do to the Western Army?” He Shuijin said this ledger was useful for the fourth branch. The fourth branch didn’t have any conflict with the Dou Family. If they were targeting the Dou Family, it could only be because of the first branch. And the only reason why they would fight against each other would be for the army control.

Jiang Tianchi was in the Northern Army. Qiu Yelan believed that her father-in-law who was a young master yet went into the army would never give the first branch any chance to sabotage the Northern Army.

Besides, the first branch took her trick well. Without doubts, the first branch wanted to do something about army control. It was definitely the Western Army!

He Shuijin looked impressed. She clapped her hands and said, “Exactly! I don’t know much but I am sure that since the ledger of Qingfeng Ji is now being checked by the third branch, the first branch is not worried about how many leads we will find. But how to take the Western Army after your brother takes his revenge?”

Qiu Yelan knew what she said was true. The third branch had such a bad relationship with the first branch. They couldn’t even pretend. If the third branch found any lead in the ledger, they would never tell the first branch.

How would the first branch tolerate being cast outside? They didn’t have anyone to replace He Shuijin, so they had to see the third branch taking on such an important role.

So they decided to think about the outcome after Qiu Jinglan successfully took his revenge on them. It was really thinking outside the box.

“So what do you want?” Qiu Yelan understood that since He Shuijin dared to take out this ledger to make her a deal, she wouldn’t be tricking Qiu Yelan. With this ledger, she had enough to take down the first branch’s relation by marriage, the Dou Family. Even if she didn’t, she would keep the first branch busy for a while. So they wouldn’t have time to deal with the Western Army.

But she didn’t take it at once. She put the ledger back to He Shuijin’s hand and asked the price seriously.

“This ledger is nothing for me. So my demand is also quite simple!” He Shuijin smiled and slid over a note, “Help me get this person into Jing City and let my father-in-law meet her!”

Qiu Yelan raised her eyebrows, “This person?”

“A guest wanted to seek a job and gave her to my father-in-law two years ago. He wanted to give her a title then. I actually advised my good aunt and sent her away. Yet with this trouble gone, she’s now my trouble!” He Shuijin stroked her belly and had a bitter smile, “After the matter about those pastries in Mount Dizi, I wanted to get her back. But when she was halfway, I… I was sick afterward and couldn’t take care of this. Now with so many people staring at me, I can’t plan it myself. I have to trust it to you!”

“…” Qiu Yelan thought for a while and said, “Getting her here is fine. But letting the third uncle see her… I can’t guarantee.” She didn’t know Jiang Tianqi. He was the eldest legitimate son of Marquess Qin. Someone would be around to protect him. If they found out, she wouldn’t know how to explain. She couldn’t risk it.

He Shuijin was confident, “Don’t worry about this. I was going to do this myself, so I was prepared. I already told her the usual route my father-in-law takes. When you get her here, just buy or rent a house according to her words. She will get my father-in-law to see her!”

“If so, no problem!” Qiu Yelan didn’t feel any stress plotting against Madame He. Seeing what He Shuijin said was actually not difficult, she smiled and took the ledger in her hand.

“You can give this ledger to Jiang Yashuang for his opinion.” Seeing they made a deal, He Shuijin was also happy. She blinked her eyes, “But don’t tell him about our deal. You just think about something else! We had a deal!”

They had a deal that what Madame He did was only to be known by Qiu Jinglan and Qiu Yelan. No one else should know, especially the ones from the Jiang Family!

Qiu Yelan knew that He Shuijin did this to protect the He Family and also to claim justice from Madame He herself. She smiled, “Relax. Someone like her in our family, honestly, creeps me out, too!”

She gave this ledger to Jiang Yashuang at night and only talked about the Dou Family. Before she could say the reasons, Jiang Yashuang went through it and asked with a faint smile, “Who dare to offend He Shuijin? It’s definitely not the first branch. Tell me, what did you promise her?”