Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

At dawn, Quran summoned her trusted handmaid, Suyun.

Su Yun had followed the Quran since childhood, remaining loyal to him, and had a number of informants both inside and outside the Quranic family.

Quran handed over several key points from the dossier to Suyun and instructed her: "Go and investigate the background of this southern merchant."

Especially his recent dealings with several officials in the court—do not alert anyone else.” Su Yun accepted the order and left.

Within three days, Su Yun brought the news.

This southern merchant was named Tao Dinghai. His family had been running a silk business in the south for decades and, on the surface, had been cooperating with the Gu family for many years, maintaining a harmonious relationship.

In recent years, however, he has secretly become very close to the Vice Minister of Revenue and the Vice Minister of Works, and has even given them several substantial bribes in private.

They hoped to use this to lower the price of silk supplied by the Gu family in the south, so as to profit from it.

After receiving this intelligence, Quran already had a plan in mind.

Having these secrets alone was not enough to subdue Tao Dinghai, after all, he had powerful figures in the court backing him up.

Therefore, Quran decided to remain silent for the time being, and instead took the opposite approach by making the collaboration public.

A few days later, the Gu family officially began negotiations for cooperation with the Southern Silk Merchants.

Quran attended in person, her demeanor dignified, her words elegant, and everything seemed normal.

When Tao Dinghai saw the Quran, his eyes showed a hint of caution, but even more so, confidence.

He was well aware of his relationship with powerful figures in the court and was certain that the Gu family would not dare to refuse him easily.

At the start of the negotiations, both sides were very polite. Qu Lanci smiled gently and did not show much opposition to the conditions proposed by Tao Dinghai.

Instead, he took the initiative to make concessions on the terms, as if to suggest that the Gu family intended to cooperate with him further.

Seeing this, Tao Dinghai became even more convinced that the Gu family was powerless to resist and could only submit to his control.

However, just as the negotiations were nearing their end, the Quran suddenly mentioned a few details about the price of silk in a casual manner: "I have heard that the court has recently adjusted the tariffs on silk."

Especially in the southern regions. Did the pottery merchants know about this?

Tao Dinghai's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

He knew the Quran had a hidden meaning, but he could not easily admit to his private dealings with court officials.

So he could only force a smile and say, "Miss Gu is quite right. However, I am just a commoner and have not delved into the affairs of the court."

Quran smiled faintly, but a sharp glint was hidden in his eyes.

Tao Dinghai began to waver. In the ensuing negotiations, Quran suddenly slowed down and was no longer in a hurry to reach an agreement.

Instead, it repeatedly emphasized the Gu family's status and influence in the court, especially their close relationship with several important officials.

Her words were impeccable, yet every sentence pointed to Tao Dinghai's weaknesses.

After several rounds of negotiations, Tao Dinghai finally realized that the Gu family was not as easy to deal with as he had imagined.

If he continues to apply pressure, he is very likely to anger the Gu family, which could lead to his trade routes being completely blocked.

He dared not take any more risks and ultimately made significant concessions on the contract, not only raising the price of silk but also promising to maintain a long-term cooperative relationship with the Gu family for the coming year.

After the negotiations ended, Quran sat quietly at his desk, a hint of smugness in his eyes.

On a clear autumn morning, the courtyard of the Gu family was shrouded in mist, quiet and desolate.

Quran, dressed in an elegant blue satin robe, walked lightly along the stone path, her expression calm and serene.

She went straight to the old lady's residence.

A few days ago, she learned from her trusted family members that the Minister of Revenue and the Gu family had some disagreements on certain matters.

Especially in the recent large-scale transactions in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, there was a vague feeling that the other party seemed to have the intention of suppressing the Gu family.

She already had a plan in mind, so she decided to take advantage of the "autumn appreciation" opportunity to get close to the wife of the Minister of Revenue.

When she pushed open the door, the old lady was already sitting in the room, with hot tea that had been prepared beforehand steaming on the table.

Quran walked up to the old lady and bowed slightly.

The old lady looked up at her, her eyes filled with a mixture of inquiry and trust: "Lanci, this banquet for the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue must be meticulous and thorough."

Quran had long understood the old lady's profound meaning.

She nodded and smiled, "Grandmother, don't worry, I'm ready."

The banquet was held in a pavilion in the backyard of the Gu family's house, surrounded by tall ancient trees, which not only avoided the chill of autumn but also gave people a sense of leisure and elegance.

When the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue arrived, the women of the Gu family were already waiting in the pavilion.

Quran sat beside the old lady, his smile both polite and approachable.

One cup of warm tea after another was served by the maids, the aroma of which wafted through the air, accompanied by the rustling of bamboo leaves in the courtyard.

Instead of getting straight to the point, the Quranist began by discussing currently popular embroidery styles and then reminisced about a few interesting anecdotes from banquets in the capital.

The wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue was immediately impressed by her elegant speech and clear eyes.

The conversation gradually shifted from embroidery to the circle of noble ladies in the capital. The Minister's wife chuckled and said, "Miss Lanci is indeed exceptionally intelligent. I've heard that you handle the affairs of the household quite well. No wonder the Gu family's reputation is growing day by day."

Seeing that the time was right, Quran smiled with a deeper meaning and gently said, "Madam, you flatter me. Household affairs are nothing more than trivial matters."

It was the cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce that truly involved the family's future.

"My grandmother has been quite concerned about our recent cooperation with the Southern Silk Merchants, but she hasn't dared to overlook any details, especially the opinions of several high-ranking officials in the court."

Although the Minister's wife did not respond immediately, a look of understanding flashed in her eyes.

She exchanged a meaningful glance with the Quran, then chuckled softly, “The silk business in the South is indeed complicated; a slight misstep can lead to heavy losses.”

However, if one could gain the support of high-ranking officials in the court, the result would naturally be twice as effective.

Quran smiled slightly, his voice flowing smoothly like water: "That's exactly right."

Lanci has recently heard her grandmother mention that Vice Minister Zhao of the Ministry of Revenue is quite interested in the silk trade. If she could get his guidance, it would surely bring a glimmer of hope for the Gu family.

Seeing that Quran's words were intended to win her over, Madam Zhao no longer concealed anything and nodded gently: "Sir has indeed been paying attention to the silk market in the south recently."

If the Gu family is truly willing to cooperate, perhaps there will be more opportunities.

Although these words were spoken lightly, the Quran already understood their meaning.

She bowed slightly and thanked him gently: "Lanci will certainly live up to your kindness, Madam. I will consult with you more often in the future and help the Gu family make further progress in this cooperation."

After a few cups of tea and a gentle autumn breeze, the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue couldn't help but develop a greater fondness for the Quran.

She not only speaks eloquently but is also quick-witted and unconventional.

After the banquet ended, the wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue had already taken a liking to the family, and sure enough, she spoke highly of the Gu family to the Vice Minister of Revenue after returning home.