Chapter 106: The Hidden Chess Piece Is Set

The next morning.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, spilling into the room and landing on the bed. Su Yun opened his eyes, feeling refreshed all over.

On both his left and right, four warm, soft bodies lay in disarray. Two maidservants were pillowing their heads on his arms, fast asleep. The other two were curled up at the foot of the bed, clutching a corner of the quilt, their faces still flushed with the afterglow of their exertions. After last night's tossing and turning, all four girls were quite exhausted.

Su Yun gently withdrew his arms and got out of bed. Dressed neatly, he pushed the door open and stepped out. In the courtyard, Shen Ying was already waiting. Seeing Su Yun emerge, her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head. Staying in the room next door, she had heard the commotion from last night clearly.

Su Yun paid no mind and sat down by the stone table.

"What is the situation?"

Shen Ying took a deep breath, regained her composure, and handed over a thin report.

"On the Zhao Family's side, after the Second Madam returned last night, everything remained normal. The Zhao Family head has no suspicions."

"On the Wang Family's side, Wan Niang claimed to be ill and remained behind closed doors. Her father asked a few questions but didn't pry further."

"On the Li Family's side, Lady Liu returned very late last night, claiming she had gone to visit a sister's house to catch up. The Li Family head was already asleep, so they didn't cross paths."

Su Yun nodded.

"Continue to keep watch. Report any abnormalities immediately."

Shen Ying acknowledged, then hesitated for a moment:

"Young Master, can those three… really be trusted?"

Su Yun laughed.

"They don't even know they have been subjected to Enslavement themselves; they will only think they have fallen in love with me. Tell me, how could they not be trusted?"

Shen Ying was stunned.

She suddenly realized how terrifying the master's methods were.

Those women believed they had encountered true love and willingly gave everything.

Little did they know, everything had been orchestrated.

"Then… what should we do next?"

Su Yun thought for a moment.

"Let them rest for a few days first. Being too frequent makes it easy to be exposed."

"In three days, have the Zhao woman draw the layout of her husband's study."

"On Wan Niang's side, have her inquire about the income and expenditure of the Wang Family's main branch."

"As for Lady Liu… tell her to keep whispering in his ear, getting the Li Family head to visit the other concubines more often. He's getting on in years; it's better for him to exert himself less."

Shen Ying noted them down one by one.

Su Yun stood up and stretched.

"The weather is nice today; let's go out for a walk."

The market in Qinghe City was liveliest on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month.

Today happened to be the fifteenth.

Su Yun took Shen Ying and wandered around the market.

The streets were lined with stalls selling all sorts of things. Spiritual Plants, Ore, Talismans, Magical Artifacts, and even some selling Spirit Beast cubs.

Su Yun walked and stopped, occasionally picking up items to examine before putting them down.

He wore a moon-white long robe with a jade belt at his waist, and his hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, making him look like a dashing and elegant Young Master from a noble Family.

Along the way, many women stole glances at him.

Su Yun was accustomed to this.

Walking up to a jewelry stall, he stopped.

The stall owner was a young girl at the second level of the Qi Refinement Stage, with delicate and pretty features.

Seeing Su Yun standing before her stall, her face flushed slightly.

"Yo-Young Master, would you like to buy something?"

Su Yun's gaze swept over the stall and finally landed on a jade hairpin.

The quality of the jade was ordinary, and the carving was mediocre, but it had a unique style.

He picked up the jade hairpin and toyed with it in his hand.

"How much for this?"

The girl said softly:

"T-Twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Su Yun smiled, took out thirty Spirit Stones from his robe, and placed them on the stall.

"I'll take it."

The girl was stunned.

"Young Master, that's too much…"

"The extra is a reward for you." Su Yun tucked the jade hairpin away and turned to leave.

The girl held the thirty Spirit Stones, stunned on the spot.

She watched Su Yun's back as he walked away, her face flushing redder and redder.

Shen Ying followed behind Su Yun and couldn't help but ask:

"Young Master, that hairpin… isn't worth that much."

Su Yun laughed.

"I know."

"Then why…"

Su Yun looked back at the stall.

The girl was still looking this way, her gaze infatuated.

He withdrew his gaze and said indifferently:

"To make a girl remember you, sometimes you only need to spend ten extra Spirit Stones."

Shen Ying was stunned for a moment.

She suddenly understood that the master was…

Casting a net.

The entire Qinghe City might be his net.

It was already afternoon when they returned to the courtyard.

Su Yun had just sat down when a post arrived from the Zhou Family.

Zhou Yuankui invited him to the manor for a chat.

Su Yun raised an eyebrow.

This old fox was finally unable to sit still.

Evening.

The Zhou Manor.

Zhou Yuankui hosted a banquet in the study, with only the two of them.

After three rounds of drinks, Zhou Yuankui set down his wine cup and looked at Su Yun.

"Young Master Su, you've been in Qinghe City for almost a month now, haven't you?"

Su Yun picked up his wine cup and took a sip.

"Exactly twenty-three days."

Zhou Yuankui nodded.

"These twenty-three days, you have been living quite comfortably, Young Master."

Su Yun laughed.

"Senior Zhou is well-informed."

Zhou Yuankui stared at him.

"The Zhao Family, the Wang Family, the Li Family—you have contacted the female kin of all three Families."

"This old man is very curious, what exactly do you want to do, Young Master?"

Su Yun set down his wine cup and looked at him.

"Hasn't Senior always wanted the Zhou Family to become the only noble Family in Qinghe City?"

Zhou Yuankui's pupils constricted slightly.

"What you mean is…"

Su Yun said indifferently:

"Within a month, the Zhao Family, the Wang Family, and the Li Family will descend into chaos on their own."

"When that time comes, Senior only needs to step out and clean up the mess."

Zhou Yuankui was stunned.

"Descend into chaos on their own? How is that possible?"

Su Yun smiled.

"Senior just needs to wait and see."

He offered no further explanation.

Zhou Yuankui stared at him for a long time, then finally lifted his wine cup.

"Very well. This old man will wait and see."

That night, Su Yun stayed at the Zhou Manor until very late.

When he returned, it was already the dead of night.

In the courtyard, all four maidservants were asleep.

Only Shen Ying was still waiting.

Seeing him return, she quickly stood up.

"Young Master, the hot water is ready."

Su Yun nodded and walked into the room.

Steam billowed from the bathtub, and flower petals floated on the surface of the water.

Su Yun removed his robes and sat into the bathtub.

Shen Ying stood to the side, her face flushed red.

Su Yun leaned against the edge of the tub and closed his eyes.

"Come here."

Shen Ying was stunned, then slowly walked over.

Su Yun reached out and pulled her into the bathtub.

Shen Ying let out a cry of surprise, and she was already sitting in his lap.

"Young Master…"

Her voice trembled.

Su Yun looked down at her.

Moonlight spilled in through the window lattice, illuminating her face.

Her delicate face was flushed as if it were about to bleed.

Su Yun laughed.

"What? Are you unwilling?"

Shen Ying shook her head, then nodded, and finally buried her face in his chest.

"Subordinate… this subordinate is willing."

Su Yun said no more.

The water rippled, and the night was still very long.

Three days later.

The Zhao Family's Second Madam sent word.

The layout map of the Zhao Family head's study was drawn.

Su Yun looked at the map and nodded with satisfaction.

The defense of the Zhao Family's study was laxer than he had imagined.

At night, there was only an old servant at the Qi Refinement Stage guarding it.

As for traps or Formations? They were almost non-existent.

A noble Family in such a small place truly lacked any sense of defense.

Su Yun put the map away.

"Tell her she did well."

Shen Ying acknowledged.

Two more days passed.

Wang Wan Niang's news also arrived.

The income and expenditure of the Wang Family's main branch were clearly detailed.

Su Yun looked it over and laughed.

The accounts of this Wang Family main branch showed a severe deficit.

No wonder Wan Niang couldn't get married—her father couldn't provide a decent dowry.

And where did the main branch's deficit come from?

Naturally, it was embezzled from the public funds.

Su Yun set the intelligence report down.

"Tell Wan Niang to keep a closer eye on the conflict between her father and the Clan Chief."

Shen Ying nodded.

On the Li Family's side, Lady Liu's news was the most direct.

She had been whispering in his ear for a few nights, and sure enough, the Li Family head had gone to the other concubines' rooms.

Those concubines had long been dissatisfied with Lady Liu's favor, and now that the Li Family head had come, they each exerted their utmost efforts.

The Li Family head was old; how could he withstand such exertion?

Within a few days, he fell ill.

Lady Liu took the opportunity to take over many of the household duties.

Hearing this news, Su Yun couldn't help but laugh.

This woman was more useful than he had thought.

A few more days passed.

Rumors began to spread throughout Qinghe City.

It seemed the Zhao Family's Second Madam was very close to some young man.

On the Wang Family's side, news of the main branch embezzling public funds somehow reached the ears of the Clan Chief.

On the Li Family's side, the concubines were fighting fiercely over favor, even taking their disputes before the clan elders.

For a time, none of the three Families were peaceful.

Su Yun sat in the courtyard, drinking tea and listening to Shen Ying's report.

"Young Master, all three Families have begun to descend into chaos."

Su Yun nodded.

"It's not enough yet. Tell them to stoke the fires further."

Shen Ying acknowledged.

That night.

The Zhao Family.

The Zhao Family head returned to the Second Madam's room, drunk.

The Second Madam served him until he fell asleep, then watched his sleeping face, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

This man was twenty years her Senior; although he treated her well, the passion had long since faded.

But that person…

She recalled Su Yun's gentle smile and that night in the peach blossom grove.

Her heart rate accelerated.

She stood up gently, walked to the window, and looked at the distant night sky.

"Wait a little longer," she told herself, "Wait a little longer, and I can be with him forever."

What she didn't know was that the reason she thought this way was not because of love.

It was because that golden light had already quietly changed her heart.

The Wang Family.

Wan Niang lay in bed, unable to sleep.

She had heard of the argument between her father and the Clan Chief.

She knew this was all because of the information she had spread.

But she didn't regret it.

Because that person said that as long as she helped, he would be able to take her away from here in the future.

To leave this suffocating Family.

To go to a place where only the two of them existed.

Wan Niang hugged her quilt, a smile on her lips.

She had already begun to yearn for that day.

The Li Family.

Lady Liu sat before the bronze mirror, slowly combing her hair.

In the mirror, that face still possessed a lingering charm.

She thought of that person, thought of the way he looked at her.

In that gaze, there was appreciation, desire, and something indescribable.

Unlike the Li Family head, who looked at her as if she were merely a piece of furniture.

She set down the comb and gently stroked her own face.

Soon.

Very soon, she would truly possess that person.

In the courtyard.

Su Yun reclined on a couch, holding an intelligence report in his hand.

Four maidservants surrounded him, some pounding his legs, some kneading his shoulders, and some feeding him fruit.

Shen Ying stood to the side, continuing her report:

"Young Master, on the Zhao Family's side, the Second Madam says that the Zhao Family head has recently begun to be suspicious. Someone told him some gossip."

Su Yun raised an eyebrow.

"How did she handle it?"

"She said that person was trying to sow discord. She even cried. The Zhao Family head's heart softened, and he ended up having the person who spread the gossip beaten."

Su Yun laughed.

"Smart."

Shen Ying continued:

"On the Wang Family's side, the conflict between the main branch and the Clan Chief has already gone public. The Clan Chief wants to audit the accounts, but the main branch refuses. I hear they are arguing very fiercely."

"On the Li Family's side, the concubines have taken their dispute before the clan elders. The Li Family head is so angry that his illness has worsened."

Su Yun nodded.

"Very good."

He set down the intelligence report and reclined on the couch.

"Wait a few more days. Once they have finished causing enough of a scene, we can close the net."

Shen Ying acknowledged.

Su Yun looked at the maidservants beside him.

"Tonight, all of you, stay."

The four maidservants blushed, and said in unison:

"Yes, Young Master."

Shen Ying silently retreated.

The door closed.

In the room, the candlelight flickered.

It was another night of passion.

Three days later.

The Zhao Family.

The Zhao Family head suddenly died unexpectedly.

The cause of death was Qi Deviation during cultivation.

But rumors in the streets said it was because his concubines were fighting for favor, causing him to be mentally unsettled, which led to Qi Deviation.

The Second Madam cried uncontrollably, saying she wanted to remain chaste for her husband.

But that very night, she quietly slipped out of the Zhao Manor.

She went to that courtyard in the south of the city.

The Wang Family.

The conflict between the main branch and the Clan Chief finally erupted.

In a fit of rage, the Clan Chief wanted to expel the main branch from the Wang Family.

The main branch, unwilling to accept this, exposed the Clan Chief's embezzlement of public funds.

The two sides fought fiercely.

In the end, it alarmed the other noble Families in the city.

The Zhou Family took the opportunity to step forward and "mediate."

The result of the mediation was that the Clan Chief stepped down, and the main branch gained no benefits either.

Both sides suffered losses.

The Li Family.

The Li Family head was bedridden with a serious illness, and the concubines were fighting tooth and nail over the inheritance.

The Li Family head's second wife, Lady Liu, became the target of public criticism.

But she was not anxious.

Because she knew that soon, someone would come to take her away.

In the courtyard in the south of the city.

Su Yun sat in the study, listening to Shen Ying's report.

The Zhao Family head was dead, and the Second Madam had escaped safely.

The Wang Family Clan Chief had stepped down, and the main branch was severely weakened.

The Li Family head was seriously ill, and the Li Family was in total chaos.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

After Shen Ying finished her report, she couldn't help but ask:

"Young Master, did the Zhao Family head… really suffer from Qi Deviation?"

Su Yun glanced at her.

"What do you think?"

Shen Ying fell silent.

She suddenly realized the master was even more terrifying than she had thought.

Su Yun stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the sunlight was perfect.

"Next, let the Zhou Family begin their move."

"The Zhao Family has lost its head, the Wang Family is in an internal struggle, and the Li Family is in internal turmoil. This is the perfect time for the Zhou Family to annex them."

Shen Ying nodded.

"Yes, Young Master."

She turned to leave, but Su Yun suddenly called her back.

"Tonight, have those three women all come over."

Shen Ying was stunned.

"Young Master, they…"

Su Yun smiled.

"It is time for them to meet."

"They will be sisters from now on, so they should get to know each other."

Shen Ying blushed and lowered her head, acknowledging the order.

That night.

In the courtyard in the south of the city, the lights were bright.

The three women appeared here together for the first time.

The Zhao woman, Wan Niang, and Lady Liu.

When they met, they were all a bit awkward.

But when Su Yun appeared, all the awkwardness vanished.

The way they looked at him was the same.

Infatuation.

Reliance.

And deep, deep love.

Su Yun sat in the main seat and beckoned to them.

"Come here."

The three women obediently walked over and sat beside him.

Su Yun put an arm around one of them and reclined on the couch.

"From now on, you are sisters."

"You must get along well."

The three women exchanged glances, then nodded in unison.

"Yes, Master."

The candlelight flickered.

In the room, there was a garden full of spring.

Shen Ying stood outside the door, listening to the sounds within, her face turning redder and redder.

She took a deep breath and turned to leave.

Tonight, the master shouldn't need her.

Under the moonlight, her figure gradually faded into the distance.

Behind her, bursts of laughter came from the room.

It was another sleepless night.