Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Gu Jinyan remained silent for a moment, his heart churning with turmoil.

The dream weaver's words were not without reason, but this power was too mysterious and unpredictable, and if one was not careful, it might bring endless disasters.

However, she had no other choice.

"Since that's the case, then I'll face it head-on."

Gu Jinyan finally made up his mind, raised his head and looked directly into the eyes of the dream weaver, "No matter what fate brings, I will find a way to unravel all of this."

The dream weaver nodded slightly, then its body gradually dissipated, as if it had never existed.

The surrounding light gradually dimmed, and the stone path slowly disappeared beneath her feet.

Gu Jinyan suddenly opened his eyes and found himself still standing in front of the stone tablet in the bamboo forest. The jade pendant in his hand gradually lost its light and returned to its usual calm.

In early autumn, the morning mist lingered in the courtyard of the Gu family mansion, and a cool breeze wafted through the air.

A few fallen leaves drifted down in the wind, landing softly on the moss beside the stone path.

Sunlight filters through the bamboo shadows in the courtyard, casting a soft yet solemn and serene glow on the bluestone slabs.

Deep within the inner courtyard, the old lady sat on a carved mahogany chair, her eyes slightly closed, her expression serene, as if she were savoring the fine Longjing tea in her hand.

Although her hair was already gray, she still possessed a dignified bearing and exuded an aura of authority that could not be ignored.

Beside her, a maid gently carried a tea tray and placed the teacups lightly on the table, afraid of disturbing the old lady's quiet contemplation.

At this moment, Quran, dressed in a light purple brocade robe, slowly walked into the courtyard.

Her steps were light and her demeanor elegant, as if she blended into the cool autumn atmosphere.

She paused slightly, stood a few steps away from the old lady, bowed slightly, and said in a soft but respectful voice, "Grandmother, you summoned me here, what are your instructions?"

The old lady did not answer immediately. She gently raised her hand, placed the teacup on the table, and slowly opened her eyes. Her sharp gaze seemed to pierce through the surface of the Quran and strike at the depths of her heart.

She paused for a moment before speaking, "Lanci, your health has improved considerably. It's time for you to share the burdens of the family."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was steady and calm.

Qulan's heart stirred, realizing that this was a signal that the old lady was formally asking her to begin getting involved in family affairs.

She nodded slightly and replied softly, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. I will not slack off."

The old lady nodded slightly, then took out a scroll made of silk from beside the table and gently handed it to the Quran.

Quran stepped forward, took the dossier, held it with both hands, and looked at it.

The old lady's voice rang out again: "This is a collaboration between the Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Silk Merchants. It seems ordinary, but in fact it involves the interests of several high-ranking officials in the court."

You must clearly understand the implications and handle this matter with utmost care; the slightest misstep will damage your family's reputation in the court.

As they spoke, a breeze stirred in the courtyard, bringing a slightly cool autumn wind that swirled a few yellow leaves around the feet of the Quran.

Qulan lowered her eyes, her heart calm and undisturbed. She knew that her grandmother's actions were both a test and a way to pave the way for her.

She took a deep breath, her gaze calm: "Grandmother, rest assured, Lan Ci will do her best and live up to your expectations."

The old lady gazed at the Quran silently for a moment, as if assessing her resolve.

After a long while, she nodded slightly, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes, yet mixed with an undeniable depth: "Go, handle it properly. If you can win more support for the family, your path will be easier."

Quran bowed again, gave a soft reply, and then slowly withdrew.

Quran returned to his dwelling, where the interior was simply and elegantly furnished, and the autumn wind gently caressed the window, while the flowers and plants in the courtyard swayed in the breeze.

She gently placed the file the old lady handed her on the desk, paused for a moment, then sat down and began to carefully peruse it.

The files were wrapped in fine silk, with delicate patterns on the edges, clearly indicating that they had been carefully polished and sealed.

The Quranic text is gently opened, fingers tracing the smooth pages, the gaze sweeping over every detail of the text, word by word.

Although the paper is thin, the text is clear and powerful, presenting details of a collaboration with a southern silk merchant.

She didn't notice anything unusual at first. The terms mentioned in the file seemed reasonable: the Gu family would cooperate with a highly prestigious merchant in the south to promote the transportation and sale of silk, thereby expanding the Gu family's business empire.

However, as her gaze continued downwards, her brows gradually furrowed slightly.

Several cryptic annotations reveal some previously unknown information.

The silk merchant from the south outwardly cooperated with the Gu family, but behind the scenes, he was in close contact with several important officials in the court, attempting to monopolize the Gu family's silk supply through low prices.

This was not just a simple business transaction, but a carefully planned exchange of interests.

A slight ripple stirred within Quran, but his face remained calm.

The interests involved in this deal are far more complex than they appear on the surface. If the Gu family were to agree rashly, they could very well fall into someone else's trap and even lose control of the silk business.

Quran sat quietly for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping the edge of the dossier, deep in thought about how to respond.

Her first thought was to regain the initiative from this southern businessman.

We cannot directly refuse this cooperation, otherwise it will arouse the resentment of those high-ranking officials in the central government.

However, if the weaknesses of businessmen can be cleverly exploited, the situation might be reversed.

Quran immediately decided to investigate the merchant's background and find out the real connection between him and several high-ranking officials in the court.