Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Deep in Aunt Zhao's courtyard, the curtains swayed gently, and wisps of incense lingered in the breeze.

A faint smile graced her face, but her eyes were sharp as knives as she listened quietly to the servant beside her report on the recent developments.

The time to counter the Quran has come, but she knows that a direct confrontation is not the best option.

Aunt Zhao was always very perceptive of people's hearts, especially among the servants and stewards in the family, many of whom were her former protégés.

They were willing to serve her, either out of gratitude or fear of her ruthlessness.

Aunt Zhao was meticulous and had long noticed Quran's arrogant and conceited style of doing things.

Although she appears to have a tight rein on everything, the seemingly insignificant people around her are often the most easily overlooked force.

She whispered to her personal maid, "Tell Steward Li to mention Miss Qulan's matter to the servants more often lately. Don't be too explicit; just hint that she's been acting strangely lately."

As for the specifics of how to say it, let him know what to say.

The maid nodded in acceptance and then hurriedly left.

Not long after, Aunt Zhao summoned another capable manager and instructed him, "The managers under you are all people who know how to handle things."

You should give them more reminders these days, especially regarding dealings with foreign businesses. Make sure they spread any rumors they hear; don't let them linger.

Her instructions, though seemingly simple, were extremely lethal.

Those rumors about the Quran don't need embellishment. Aunt Zhao knows that the real weapon lies in having these servants and stewards spread some seemingly insignificant information.

For example, Quran has close ties with foreign businessmen, and sometimes even acts without regard to family rules.

She deliberately avoided making definitive statements, leaving room for the listener's imagination and speculation—that was the most fatal flaw.

Manager Li acted swiftly.

He wandered through various corners of the family compound, subtly mentioning to the servants and men he knew well: "I've heard that Miss Lanci has been getting quite close to those foreign businessmen lately. Sigh, I wonder if she's doing this for the family or for herself..."

The stewards chatted with their servants over tea and after meals: "Hey, Miss Lanci's business has been booming lately. I heard that she went out several times to negotiate with outsiders in private."

"How much of our family's rules can she still uphold?"

This spread, with the gentle swaying of teacups and the light clinking of wine glasses, slowly fermented in the corners of the family.

Many servants and stewards already harbored doubts, and now, upon hearing these ambiguous reports, they began to exaggerate and speculate even more.

As the news spread, the Quran's influence within the family gradually became intriguing, especially among the wavering centrists, where seeds of doubt quietly took root.

A few days later, a minor business manager within the family was having a conversation with an important elder.

Changing the subject seemingly unintentionally, she mentioned, "Recently, there seems to be some unclear things about Miss Lanci... I heard she's getting too close to foreign businessmen, I wonder why."

Upon hearing this, the elder frowned slightly. Although he didn't say much, he silently kept the matter in mind.

In the following days, similar gossip gradually spread throughout the family.

At first, it was just some servants discussing it in hushed tones during their leisure time.

But soon these faint voices began to infiltrate the family's middle and upper echelons, and even reached the ears of several highly respected elders.

Aunt Zhao knew that the truth often didn't need to be said directly.

All she wanted was for these questions to fester and gradually influence the family's decision-makers.

Her strategy has begun to show results, and supporters of the Quran have begun to waver, with some even ceasing to defend her during council meetings.

In this war without gunfire, Aunt Zhao's every step was subtle yet extremely intimidating.

The once unbreakable alliance of the Quran began to crumble quietly in this silent counterattack, while she herself remained completely unaware, still believing that she was in control of the entire situation.

A few days later, Quran began to notice that the atmosphere within the family was somewhat unusual, but she did not immediately realize the source of these undercurrents.

At this moment, she still believed that her elders would continue to support her as always. Little did she know that an unseen counter-espionage plot had already shrouded her every move.

Within just a few days, the reputation of the Quran quietly suffered a setback within the family.

Although these rumors lacked substantial evidence, they quickly spread among family members thanks to Aunt Zhao's meticulous arrangements.

Those centrists, who were already wavering, became even more bewildered and uneasy amid such rumors, and their support for the Quran gradually began to waver.

At the same time, Gu Jinyan maintained his usual low profile and composure, observing the changing situation of the family without making a sound.

At this point, she only needs to wait for the right opportunity, and the Quran will eventually reap what it sows.