Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

The night was as dark as ink. Hongyin, dressed in a short blue cloth shirt and carrying a basket, walked calmly into a bustling teahouse in the capital.

She was disguised as a passing vendor, sitting quietly in a corner with her basket on the table, her gaze wandering but her ears constantly listening to the sounds around her.

Several men in the teahouse were engrossed in conversation, their voices low but unable to conceal their smugness.

One of them nudged his companion with his elbow and laughed, "Have you heard? It's all over town saying that the Gu family is all bark and no bite. If we add fuel to the fire, who in the court will care about their existence?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the others chuckled in agreement.

Red and silver fingers tapped lightly on the table, unintentionally shaking the cup in their hands.

She didn't rush to get closer; instead, she patiently observed the people's actions.

It is worth noting that these people are not ordinary tea drinkers; their words and actions carry a hint of arrogance, clearly indicating that they are not ordinary people.

A few days later, Hongyin finally discovered that these people would gather in a secluded courtyard in the south of the city every few days.

The courtyard gate was dilapidated, but it was clearly well maintained. It was always bustling with visitors, as if some unusual guests frequently came to visit.

At night, Hongyin hid behind an old locust tree, gazing at the small courtyard from afar.

In the darkness of night, a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a third-rank official entered the courtyard. He looked wary and scanned his surroundings before slowly stepping inside.

Hongyin's heart tightened as she secretly recognized that this was none other than Lord Wei, a powerful figure in the court who had clashed with the Gu family many times.

Hongyin dared not make any rash moves. Seeing him enter the courtyard, she quietly retreated.

She hurried back to the Gu family home and reported the situation in detail.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinyan remained expressionless, but his eyes flickered slightly as he said softly, "It really is him. This man is cunning and scheming; if we rashly accuse him, we will surely alert him."

She pondered for a moment, then whispered to Hongyin, "Let's observe the situation. You should remain cautious and not act rashly."

Immediately, she wrote a secret letter and sent it to the Jingzhao Yin's residence, informing him of the whereabouts of the people in the teahouse and the location of the courtyard.

A few days later, the Prefect of Jingzhao unexpectedly received an invitation to a banquet hosted by the Gu family.

On the day of the banquet, the Gu family mansion was brightly decorated, and dignitaries and nobles came in an endless stream.

After the Prefect of the Capital arrived, Gu Jinyan personally stepped forward to express his gratitude: "Thanks to your swift and decisive actions, the rumors in the capital have been quelled. It is truly a blessing for the Gu family."

After speaking, she nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over everyone at the table, but lingering specifically on Lord Wei.

During the banquet, the Prefect of the Capital raised his wine cup and said with a pointed remark, "The capital should be peaceful and tranquil, but recently some people with ulterior motives have been spreading rumors and attempting to disrupt the peace of the capital. Such behavior should be investigated and punished severely."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone echoed his words, glancing at Lord Wei with knowing eyes.

Lord Wei remained composed, but his hand holding the cup paused slightly before he said with a smile, "The Prefect of the Capital is right. The stability of the capital is a blessing for the people. If there are any treacherous individuals, they should indeed be severely punished."

He downed the drink in one gulp, his eyes indifferent, as if it were none of his business.

Although no one at the table spoke openly, Lord Wei's reaction had already aroused speculation from all sides.

After the banquet, Gu Jinyan stood in front of the corridor, gazing at the night sky, his heart calm and undisturbed.

Lord Wei must be fully aware of this, but he is unable to retaliate due to his status, while the Prefect of the Capital will take this opportunity to secretly make arrangements in the capital.

Gu Yuande walked to Gu Jinyan's side and said softly, "Jinyan, you handled this situation well. You reassured the people and did not offend the powerful directly. You knew how to proceed and retreat appropriately."

Gu Jinyan smiled and replied, "Father, although this matter has come to a temporary end, that person will not give up. If there are any further changes, I am willing to step forward again to protect the family."

Gu Yuande nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes: "Good, I am very pleased to have you in the Gu family."

As night deepened, Gu Jinyan stood on the corridor of the mansion, gazing at the distant starlight, his heart filled with clarity.

The rumors in the capital gradually subsided, and Lord Wei refrained from making any rash moves.

Gu Jinyan knew that now was not the right time to expose his plan, so he remained still and waited for the right moment to launch a counterattack.

After the storm of rumors, Gu Jinyan should have breathed a sigh of relief, but he became tense again because of his father Gu Yuande's summons.

The patriarch's words were tactful, but they hinted at her future responsibilities within the clan and his hope that she would accumulate support in advance to pave the way for inheriting the family business.

This made her feel a little pressured, after all, the power struggles in the Gu family have always been fierce, and each elder and sibling has their own calculations.

Although he was wary, he also knew that this was a crucial step in understanding the power structure of this family.

The next day, the atmosphere in the family council hall was cold and solemn. The surrounding lights were bright, but they could not hide the faint smell of gunpowder in the air.

After Gu Jinyan quietly took his seat, he looked around and noticed that although the clansmen in the hall maintained a superficial harmony, their words were subtle and their eyes held hidden wit.

Her uncle, Gu Shichang, sat at the head of the table, holding a teacup, his expression amiable, yet occasionally casting a threatening glance; her cousin, Gu Shiquan, beside him, had a slightly gloomy expression, his eyes filled with displeasure.

Meanwhile, his cousin Gu Shiwen kept his head down and occasionally cast a subservient glance at Gu Shichang.

The head of the family, Gu Yuande, coughed lightly and announced the start of the meeting.

Gu Jinyan felt an invisible pressure coming from her father's side, as if this meeting was just the beginning and she would be dragged into a deeper power vortex within the family.

"Who should be responsible for the accounts of the Quran?" Gu Yuande asked, and as soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.

Qulanci and Gu Shichang were very close friends. Now that there were loopholes in the accounts, his father was obviously trying to use this opportunity to test the attitudes of all parties.

After a moment's thought, Gu Shichang glanced at everyone and said gently, "The minor oversights in the accounts are nothing to worry about. Since it's my niece Lanci who's in charge, I'll give her some reminders while she's working."

The words seemed tolerant, but they conveyed an undeniable sense of power.

"Heh—" Cousin Gu Shiquan snorted coldly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

He glanced at Gu Shichang and said with some dissatisfaction, "How can the heavy responsibility of the family be taken so lightly?"

Even small oversights, when accumulated, can eventually become major problems. If our elders don't take this seriously, how can we, the younger generation, be convinced of its validity?

His tone was aggressive, clearly indicating that he had a strong dislike for Gu Shichang's tolerant attitude.

Seeing the two arguing fiercely, Gu Jinyan had a sudden thought and secretly speculated that his cousin might have harbored resentment for a long time.

She glanced at her father's expression and found that he maintained a calm and composed demeanor, remaining silent as if he were pleased to witness the interpersonal probing among the clansmen.

The atmosphere in the council chamber grew increasingly tense, with no one willing to back down. Gu Jinyan decided to tentatively interject with a comment.

She said slowly, "Since the Quran is in charge of the accounts, perhaps she can explain it herself so that everyone can have a clear understanding."

Her words immediately drew everyone's attention to the Quran.