Li Mei’s Office, Mu Mansion, Blazing Dawn Sect,
As the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the Mu Mansion, Li Mei sat in her office, poring over account books. The room was dimly lit, with the flickering light from a lone candle dancing on the walls. Li Mei's brow furrowed as she reviewed the finances, the weight of her worries evident in her tense posture.
Mu Mansion's financial situation was dire. They had borrowed heavily from multiple lenders to cover up their siphoning of Jinwei Mansion’s funds. The problem had become increasingly apparent when the second prince started asking questions about the upcoming campaign to bring the Shaolin Sect to their side. The Mu Family was supposed to provide a substantial portion of the funds for this endeavor. However, Li Mei had diverted Jinwei Mansion's funds not only for the campaign but also to procure expensive martial artist medicines and herbs for her children. These medicines were crucial, especially now since Wei is on the verge of reaching Grade 1.
Li Mei had also spent money on severance packages for the fired Jinwei Mansion staff to maintain her good image. Additionally, she had heavily invested in the Tianlong Family’s endeavors near Hin Lake to mine Red Black Steel. Consequently, they were drowning in debt. Despite the grim situation, a smile played on her lips as she looked at a report next to the account book.
The report was from Chen Huan, the head of Jade Grass Commerce. This commerce had been a blessing in disguise for Li Mei. Initially, she had only invested in it to motivate the head of the commerce to find a dress picked by Elara. She never expected this seemingly simple move to yield such significant returns.
Jade Grass Commerce had been incredibly successful while she was away at the Shining Blade Sect last month. Since she hadn’t been able to monitor all the finances there, she was only now discovering the extent of the success. The commerce had opened five stores within a month due to the high demand for their clothing among the commoners. Just the share from these stores brought Li Mei 26 gold taels! This windfall easily cleared her debt of 16 gold taels and provided enough capital to invest in the Tialong Family.
Chen Huan’s report also mentioned plans to expand the stores to the capital. This move was sure to increase revenue exponentially, as the capital boasted a large population. The share Li Mei would receive from this expansion would be more than sufficient to fund her ambitions to become the sect leader.
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Li Mei leaned back in her chair, the candlelight casting a determined gleam in her eyes. She knew the road ahead was fraught with challenges, but with Jade Grass Commerce’s success, she saw a clear path to securing her position as the next sect leader.
Edina’s Room, Jinwei Mansion, Blazing Dawn Sect
Senior Edina stretched her hands as she finished writing the letter for Junior Edina. Unlike usual, this letter was not just a letter but contained at least a novel’s worth of text. She had decided to change her strategies and no longer worry about future changes. The initial confidential information was written in Leonese, while the rest was in plain Han, as Junior Edina wasn’t fluent in Leonese.
Senior Edina then took her cane and walked to the bed, climbing up and sitting as she watched the moon rise through the window. The serene night sky provided a stark contrast to the turmoil of her thoughts. She had included a way to contact the demonic sect in the letters, a bold move driven by her new priorities.
Finding Chaoxiang had become more than a mere consideration. she had avoided this path out of fear of changing the future. But now, with her new resolve, she could afford to seek him out. The demonic sect’s location was known by very few in the central plains, making contact difficult, but Senior Edina knew a way.
The memory of what Chaoxiang had told her that night resurfaced. He had been a neglected child, and now, Senior Edina saw a chance to save him in this life. "This is very strategic," she muttered to herself before chuckling, "No, it's not." She realized that trying to convince herself that this was solely for the plan was foolish. At 32, plus the additional years from her second life, she was too old to be immature. "Well, he will just be a child now, but he can be a perfect husband for Junior Edina," she mused.
Senior Edina sighed, her thoughts a whirl of past regrets and future possibilities. The moonlight illuminated her face, highlighting the determination in her eyes. She knew the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty, but with her knowledge and resolve, she was ready to face it head-on.
On the Road to the Capital from the Shining Blade Sect
Inside a merchant carriage moving up the rocky path, one could see the Tianlong Family crest on the flags fluttering in the breeze. The journey was long and arduous, the wheels of the carriage creaking as they navigated the uneven terrain.
In the main carriage, Gu Tianlong sat opposite his father, Hao Tianlong. The older man’s face was etched with a mix of frustration and disappointment as he looked at his son. “Tsk, you didn’t take any opportunity to familiarize yourself with Young Mistress Edina during the entire time we were at the Shining Blade Sect for the ceremony,” he grumbled.
Gu Tianlong remained silent, his gaze fixed on the landscape passing by outside the window. The rolling hills and dense forests were a blur, a stark contrast to the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his mind. His father’s mumblings continued, a steady stream of frustration and expectation.
Finally, Gu Tianlong turned to his father, his expression troubled. “Do I really have to marry her? She doesn’t seem keen on it, and I feel like Mistress Li Mei is forcing this onto her,” he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty and reluctance.