The ancient war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a wealthy family

"Come in." I tried to keep my voice calm.

Zhan Yu pushed the door open and walked in, a look of worry on his face. "Qingqing, I heard you called servant Luo over. What happened?"

I forced a smile and said, "Nothing, just asking him about some projects in the west city." I deliberately avoided the important issues so as not to make him worry.

Zhan Yu walked over to me and gently held my hand. "Qingqing, don't work too hard. I can help you with the Chengxi project."

I shook my head, "No, I want to handle it myself."

Zhan Yu looked at me, his eyes full of concern, and finally nodded, "Okay, tell me if you need anything."

After he left, I immediately asked Luo Yongren to leave and then began to carefully study the information about the West City Project.

There are mountains of information, but most of it is irrelevant. The key parts are vague and unclear, as if someone has deliberately concealed some key information.

I rubbed my brows, feeling irritated. This feeling of being kept in the dark made me very uncomfortable.

I decided to ask the Han family members about the situation. The Han family has some status in the Zhan family, so maybe they know something.

However, the attitudes of the Han family members made me even more confused.

They were either vague and evasive, or looked confused, as if they knew nothing about the West City Project.

After leaving Han's house, I felt like I was groping in the dark, bumping into walls everywhere. This feeling of helplessness made me a little anxious.

After returning to the Zhan family, I locked myself in the study and looked through the information about the West City Project over and over again, but I still couldn't find any breakthrough.

Just when I was about to give up, Zhan Yu walked in.

He held a document in his hand with a mysterious smile on his face, "Qingqing, perhaps you need to take a look at this."

I took the file, opened it, and was shocked by its contents... This... was actually...

The document that Zhan Yu handed me turned out to be the original plan for the West City Project!

It clearly records every detail of the project, including the flow of funds, personnel arrangements, and the expected returns of the project.

Compared with the information I see now, it is a world of difference.

This... is actually the original project plan!

My heart was pounding as I flipped through the pages quickly. Many things that were previously unclear to me now became clear.

"I asked the old priest Xu to find this document. He has been in charge of the family archives for many years and knows everything." There was a hint of smile in Zhan Yu's voice, and he seemed to enjoy my surprised expression.

I held the document tightly, feeling like I had grabbed a lifeline. "Zhan Yu, thank you!" I raised my head and looked at him sincerely.

"Silly boy, don't thank me." Zhan Yu rubbed my hair, his eyes full of pampering.

With this document, I immediately understood the scheme of the Han family members.

They deliberately withheld key information in an attempt to cause me to make an incorrect judgment and then shift the blame onto me.

What a cruel thought!

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Now was not the time to be happy. I had to find a way to deal with it as soon as possible.

"Qingqing, don't worry, I have already made arrangements. The elders of the Qin family will personally look into this matter." Zhan Yu seemed to see my worry and comforted me softly.

Elder Qin is highly respected in the family and is fair and just. With him on the scene, the Han family's conspiracy will surely fail.

I nodded, feeling a little relieved.

In the next few days, I readjusted the work plan according to the original project plan and marginalized the personnel sent in by the Han family members.

They were furious, but helpless.

I could even feel their resentful gazes from behind me, the kind that seemed to want to eat me alive.

However, I ignored their provocation and focused on my own work. I knew that the best way to fight back against them was to complete the project.

One night, I was working overtime in my study when I heard a rapid knock on the door...

"Madam, someone from the Han family wants to see you..." Maid Luo's voice trembled slightly.

"Let them in." I put down the documents in my hand, my tone calm, but my heart was already in turmoil. The Han family's arrival at this time definitely had bad intentions.

Han Li, the representative of the Han family, walked in with a fake smile on his face. "Miss Bai, are you still busy so late? You must be working hard."

"Just tell me what's going on, Mr. Han." I didn't want to play along with him.

"Haha, Miss Bai is quite forthright." Han Li said with a forced smile, but a sinister look lingered in his eyes. "I heard you've made some adjustments to the project recently?"

"Yes, I optimized it according to the original project plan." I looked straight into his eyes without fear.

Han Li's expression changed slightly. "Original plan? Miss Bai, what do you mean by that? Isn't the information we gave you the most complete?"

"Mr. Han, let's be frank. Do you think I can't see through your little tricks?" I sneered and threw the document in front of him. "Look, this is what you call 'complete information'!"

Han Li's face turned pale in an instant. He picked up the document tremblingly and flipped through it quickly, with beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

He never expected that I would find the original solution!

"This... this is impossible!" Han Li muttered to himself, his eyes full of horror.

"Nothing is impossible." I said in a cold tone, "Mr. Han, I advise you not to play any more tricks, otherwise, you will bear the consequences."

Han Li left in disgrace, his back looking particularly lonely. Seeing his miserable appearance, I felt a surge of joy in my heart.

The next day, the elders of the Qin family convened a family meeting to discuss the West City Project.

At the meeting, Elder Qin spoke highly of my work during this period and praised my ability and courage in public.

"Miss Bai turned the project around in such a short time. It's truly admirable." Elder Qin's voice was loud and powerful, echoing in the conference room.

I felt the admiring gazes of my family members around me, and my heart was filled with pride. I knew that I had finally earned their recognition.

However, just as I was immersed in joy, I accidentally discovered that there was a subtle glint of something strange in Elder Qin's eyes... He seemed to have something to say, but he didn't say it out loud.

This makes me feel vaguely uneasy.

Is there something else I don't know?

At the celebration banquet, everyone drank and toasted, and everyone's face was filled with joy.

The West City Project was successfully completed, and the Zhan family once again proved its strength.

Zhan Yu held my hand, and the warm touch conveyed his joy and pride.

"Aning, you've worked hard." His low voice carried a hint of heartache.

I smiled back, but I didn't feel relieved.

Elder Qin's strange look kept lingering in my mind, like a thorn that pricked me and caused me a dull pain.

After declining a few toasts, I used the excuse of going to the bathroom to sober myself up.

Looking in the mirror, I repeatedly thought about everything that had happened during this period.

The false information provided by the Han family, Elder Qin's seemingly fair support, and some seemingly coincidental flaws in the project... These fragmented pieces of information kept piecing together in my mind, gradually forming a disturbing picture.

Back in the banquet hall, I carefully observed Elder Qin's every move.

He was chatting and laughing with several family elders, and his every move was full of confidence, as if everything was under control.

My heart sank suddenly and a bad premonition came over me.

At this time, maid Luo came over with wine and accidentally bumped into me.

"I'm sorry, Madam." He apologized hurriedly, his eyes flickering and he seemed a little nervous.

I steadied myself and said calmly, "It's okay." However, the moment he turned and left, I noticed a corner of fabric exposed from his sleeves. That pattern... I've seen it in Han Li's study!

My breath hitched, and a horrible thought crossed my mind.

Could it be that... Elder Qin is colluding with the Han family, the West City Project is just a cover, and the real target is... the Zhan family?

I forced myself to remain calm, returned to Zhan Yu, and whispered in his ear, "I have something to tell you, it's very important." His smile faded slightly, and he noticed something was wrong with me.

"what happened?"

I took a deep breath and said, "There's a problem with this project..." Before I could finish my words, the door to the banquet hall was suddenly pushed open, and a panting tribesman ran in, his face pale and his voice trembling, "Oh no, Master... Master..."