They Were Using the Three Children to Threaten Jiang Yunyao
The ladies around him whispered among themselves. Shen Tao looked at General Qin and said, "Then let's continue investigating this matter!"
General Qin looked at Shen Tao and said:
"Imperial Uncle Shen, please investigate this matter thoroughly. It's not just the things in our storeroom that are gone; even the things in our estate and shops are gone."
"You are the magistrate of Xin'an, so I'm entrusting this matter to you."
Shen Tao smiled and said, "General Qin, rest assured, I will definitely investigate the case diligently."
He waved his hand and said, "You all go and look for clues."
The others accepted the order and left, while Shen Tao went home.
He lay back in his deck chair, eating grapes, and said, "This is really interesting; Qin Yuan's face has turned dark."
His advisors laughed heartily beside him, "Qin Yuan has always been arrogant and domineering, bullying the people just because he's a general. Now someone has finally taught him a lesson."
"I wonder who did this; they did it so easily."
Shen Tao looked at them and asked, "Did my sister reply?"
The think tank member rubbed his nose and said, "The Empress's letter has arrived; I'll bring it to you right away."
Shen Tao looked at the Empress's reply and said, "A contract of indenture, quite good. Also, are all the contracts of indenture for our Shen Clan ready?"
The think tank scratched their heads and said, "We're prepared, but are you really planning to find a 6-year-old child to be your backer?"
"I think this matter needs to be considered more carefully. What can a six-year-old child understand?"
"I agree, a 6-year-old child is unreliable!"
Shen Tao looked at them and said, "Are you questioning my judgment of people?"
"We dare not question your judgment of people, but this is simply unbelievable."
If we adopt a 6-year-old as the leader, we'll become a laughing stock in Great Qi!
"If people found out that the Empress of Great Qi had actually signed a contract of servitude, and that our Shen Clan had also signed a contract of servitude, it would be incredibly shameful."
Shen Tao looked at them calmly and said, "Between losing face and losing your head, which would you choose?"
Everyone fell silent. Shen Tao continued:
My sister gave birth to three children, but none of them survived.
The men of our Shen Clan have died one after another. For the sake of the Great Qi, our Shen Clan has sacrificed too much.
How many male descendants are left in our Shen Clan now?
Even if we have male heirs, they are all good-for-nothings. If our Shen Clan doesn't make some changes...
I'm afraid our Shen Clan will end."
But someone said:
"Is Zhou Wanwan that amazing? Why can't I tell? She's just a child."
I heard she's currently being held captive in the Qin Clan's backyard.
Shen Tao looked at the man and said, "Your information network is quite impressive. Are you sure Zhou Wanwan is being held captive in the Qin Clan's backyard?"
"Yes, it's true. I found out from the inquiries, and she was locked in the woodshed."
If she were truly capable, would she still be locked up in the woodshed?
Shen Tao laughed heartily:
"Okay, I told you my decision was absolutely right. Zhou Wanwan is the lucky star of our Shen Clan."
Do you remember last time? Zhou Wanwan went to the Zhao Family, and soon after, the Zhao Family was emptied out.
I never expected it to happen again; it's definitely not a coincidence.
Everyone was filled with terror when they heard a knock on the door.
The Shen Clan family was stunned. "Why would someone be knocking on the door now? Who could it be so late at night?"
Shen Tao opened the door and saw Zhou Wanwan standing outside wearing a cloak.
Shen Tao immediately knelt down and said, "Greetings, Master."
Everyone behind her knelt down. Zhou Wanwan said, "No need for formalities! Have you all prepared your contracts of servitude?"
Shen Tao respectfully handed all the indentures to Zhou Wanwan. Zhou Wanwan glanced at them, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "So, does your Shen Clan want to continue developing in Great Qi, or return to Great Xia?"
Shen Tao looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "I will listen to my master. If my master says to go to Great Xia, then we will go to Great Xia; if my master says to go to Great Qi, then we will go to Great Qi."
Zhou Wanwan smiled and said:
"Then stay in Great Qi! Great Qi is your root after all, there's no need to go to Great Xia."
Moreover, I'm getting to know Great Qi and need your help.
My business needs to take root and flourish in Great Qi. By the way, I'll find you a helper when that happens.
I think Jiang Yunyao is pretty good; she has a good business sense. What do you think?
Shen Tao was stunned for a moment and said:
"The Jiang Family? Qin Yuan's wife? That woman is indeed a shrewd businesswoman."
All the estates and farms in the Qin Clan were earned by her, but she's Qin Yuan's wife, can she really help us?"
Zhou Wanwan smiled and said:
"Sure! She's one of my people, just like you."
By the way, I've already sent someone to help your sister.
Don't worry, she'll be absolutely fine.
Shen Tao nodded and said, "That's good. So what do we need to do?"
Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:
"Help me buy more estates and shops, the more the better."
You can use your family's name, or you can use the Jiang Family's name.
As for money, don't worry about it.
Shen Tao immediately understood. "Then I'll start with Xin'an County! Shops Hotan in Xin'an County are always in high demand, so it will take some effort."
Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "If you need anything, just call out 'Zhou Wanwan' three times, and someone will help you."
Shen Tao nodded and said, "I understand."
Zhou Wanwan left quickly, and the entire Shen Clan fell silent.
The Shen Clan family members wiped the sweat from their brows. "Phew! They're finally gone. Only six years old, but their aura was incredibly strong."
"My goodness! I think he's even scarier than the emperor of the Great Qi, he's terrifying me!"
"I don't know why, I just felt scared and didn't dare to speak."
"Oh, I feel the same way."
Shen Tao looked at them and said:
Now you know how formidable this Little Ancestor is, right?
From now on, we must be extremely respectful. Whether our Shen Clan can rise to prominence depends on her.
A guard from the Shen Clan came in and said, "Young Master, there are several boxes in the yard. I wonder who sent them."
Shen Tao went outside and saw ten large boxes. When he opened them, he found they were all filled with gold bars.
Shen Tao twitched his lips and said:
"They really are rich; they're so generous. This is the money they're giving us to buy estates and shops."
Starting tomorrow, we'll discreetly acquire all sorts of estates and shops.
Shen Tao was the Xin'an County, so acquiring estates and shops would actually be quite easy for him.
Many of the estates and shops were mortgaged to the government, and he transferred them all to the Shen Clan's name.
Zhou Wanwan returned to the Qin Clan and discovered that Jiang Yunyao had been taken away.
The trees nearby said, "She was just taken away; they said the old lady was looking for her."
Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Let's go see what the old lady wants with her."
As soon as Zhou Wanwan arrived in the hall, she heard Old Madam Qin speaking from inside:
"Yunyao! You see, our Qin Clan has nothing left now. Zheng Linglong is no good. Why don't you come back and manage the household?"
The day after tomorrow is Zheng Linglong and Qin Yuan's wedding, and you will be in charge of organizing it.
Our Qin Clan hasn't had a lively celebration in a long time, so this wedding must be a grand and spectacular affair.
Yunyao! I know you're upset, but everyone goes through this, right?
Besides, Qin Yuan is so capable; he's a military commander, and his future is limitless.
If you want to secure your position Madam Qin, you must learn to be patient.
Besides, don't you have three children?
This is using the three children to threaten Jiang Yunyao.
Jiang Yunyao looked at her and said, "We have nothing in our accounts, how are we going to hold the wedding banquet?"
Old Madam Qin took a sip of tea and said:
"Just because there's nothing in the accounts doesn't mean we can't have a wedding banquet! There's always a way!"
You had a way before, right? You definitely have a way now, don't you?
Once this matter is resolved, I will persuade Qin Yuan to let you live a good life.
Alright, you can go back now! You'll have to make do with living in the woodshed for now, but you can move back after they get married."