Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

After the princess returned to the manor, the atmosphere throughout the manor gradually became tense.

Although she remained calm and acted with impeccable manners, Gu Jinyan keenly sensed that every move the princess made carried an unusual meaning.

Since that urgent letter from her family's merchant caravan, the princess often spent time alone in her study and almost never interfered in the affairs of the household.

But Gu Jinyan knew that the princess had not completely retreated from the public eye.

Several trusted servants she secretly arranged frequently entered and exited the main courtyard, clearly gathering information for her.

One afternoon, the sky was overcast, as if an autumn rain could fall at any moment.

The princess summoned several stewards from the household. Although it was a routine report, Gu Jinyan noticed that many of the stewards had a long-standing relationship with Quran.

The princess listened attentively to their report with a smile, nodding occasionally, but said nothing more.

After the meeting, the managers took their leave, their faces showing thoughtful expressions.

After everyone left, the princess leaned back in her chair, looking somewhat weary.

She gently rubbed her temples, as if deep in thought. A moment later, her personal maid quietly approached and whispered, "Your Highness, the investigation is almost complete."

The princess's eyes flickered slightly, and she slowly opened them: "Speak, what's going on?"

The maid leaned closer and whispered, "Those managers have quite close ties with Quran, especially Manager Liu, who is in charge of purchasing. He's been frequently visiting Quran's residence lately, as if he's preparing something for her."

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in the princess's eyes.

She paused for a moment before saying softly, "The Quran is indeed not one to be forgotten."

She wants to use this opportunity to turn things around. Fine, let her have her fun for a few more days. Although her tone was casual, the coldness in it was undeniable.

Then, the princess whispered, "Arrange for a few more people to keep a close eye on Steward Liu and the others."

Report any unusual activity immediately.

The maid bowed and withdrew, while the princess fell into deep thought once more.

She had never underestimated the Quran's methods, but the current situation in the palace was clearly unfavorable to the Quran.

If she weren't incompetent, she would have already brought down Gu Jinyan at the family meeting.

She is still making moves in the shadows, clearly hoping to stir up trouble within the family again.

Meanwhile, Gu Yuande, the head of the royal palace and the patriarch of the Gu family, was not entirely unaware of this.

After the family meeting ended, Gu Yuande appeared unusually calm.

Although he never made a public statement, all matters, large and small, in the government were handled by him, and Gu Jinyan's victory also depended on his support at crucial moments.

The inner quarters of the Prince's mansion are rife with intrigue and treachery. On the surface, all is calm, but in reality, danger lurks beneath the surface, and Gu Yuande is the one in control of it all.

Although Gu Yuande was a prince, he never adhered to formalities and never directly interfered in the power struggles within his family unless the matter was of great importance.

At this moment, he was sitting in the study of the mansion, holding an ancient book in his hand. Although his eyes were on the book, his mind was obviously not on it.

What comes to mind is the expression on Quran's face at the family meeting that day—unwilling, yet restrained.

Although she lost, she never truly admitted defeat.

"Brother, what have you been busy with lately?" A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

Gu Yuande looked up and saw his younger brother, Gu Shichang, standing at the door.

Although Gu Shichang did not hold a prominent position in the family, he was always adept at social maneuvering and was able to move between different factions within the family.

His visit today is clearly motivated by ulterior motives.

"Shichang, come in," Gu Yuande said calmly, his gaze returning to the book.

Gu Shichang walked into the study with a smile, casually found a chair and sat down, and said with a smile: "Brother, there have been many troubles in the family recently, and many people are dazzled by what they see."

I think that you, brother, are always confident and wouldn't bother with these minor troubles.

Gu Yuande put down his book, glanced at his younger brother, and said calmly, "Speak your mind, there's no need to beat around the bush."

Gu Shichang smiled and said, "Brother, you are indeed a man of few words."

To be honest, I recently heard that Quran is secretly planning something and seems unwilling to accept the outcome of the family meeting.

Does your older brother intend to give her another chance?

Gu Yuande snorted coldly, a hint of coldness in his eyes: "The family meeting has already made a decision, does she still want to turn the world upside down?"

If she dares to make another move, don't blame me for showing no mercy.

Upon seeing this, Gu Shichang felt a slight chill. Although he was good at maneuvering, he also knew Gu Yuande's temperament and dared not test him again.

So he changed the subject and said, "However, elder brother, you don't need to worry too much."

I see that the princess has already returned to her residence, and she is managing all the affairs of the household. Even if Quran is unwilling, it will be difficult for him to stir up any more trouble.

Gu Yuande frowned slightly, then nodded.

Although the princess came from a merchant family, she was capable and efficient, and all the affairs of the household were always well-organized.

Now that she has returned to the palace, she can naturally restrain the Quran's petty actions.

However, Gu Yuande knew that there were more complex forces behind the Quran, and if they were not dealt with soon, they might cause even greater trouble in the future.

After Gu Shichang took his leave, Gu Yuande sat alone in his study, remaining motionless for a long time.

The turmoil surrounding the Quran is far from over; the Quran is merely a thorn in the side.

Deeper still, there are hidden struggles among the family elders.

Although the elders of the Gu family usually keep a low profile, their opinions often sway the situation when the family faces major decisions.

Although the outcome of the family meeting was decided, the elders' true thoughts were not fully revealed.

As night fell, Gu Yuande sighed, got up, walked to the window, and looked out at the courtyard of the mansion.

The autumn wind is bleak, and the falling leaves are silent.

He knew that every step from now on was crucial; he had to stabilize the family's situation while preventing outsiders from discovering the Gu family's weaknesses.

However, the Quran remains an unsettling hidden danger.

Meanwhile, the princess was having a private conversation with several trusted stewards in the backyard.

She was not entirely at ease with the situation in the household, especially with those servants who were secretly connected to the Quran.

She whispered, "Keep a close eye on Steward Liu, and find out which outsiders he's been in contact with recently."

Furthermore, any unusual activity within the residence must be reported immediately.

The stewards nodded and withdrew, while the princess sat upright at the table, her gaze cold.

She did not underestimate the power of the Quran; after the family meeting, she guessed that this struggle would not end easily.

As the autumn wind swept through, undercurrents surged both inside and outside the Prince's Mansion.

After the princess returned to the mansion, the situation within the mansion became even more tense.

Gu Jinyan knew he had to take action and could no longer wait for the Quran to intervene.

This is a crucial moment for her to consolidate her position, while Qu Lanci is secretly colluding with outsiders, and the princess is also making plans, creating an undercurrent of turmoil within the palace.

If she doesn't take action soon, she'll likely find herself in a passive position.