The day after the housewarming banquet, Song Ming sent news. Cheng Beizheng’s elder brother, Cheng Beiming, had arrived in the capital and it was confirmed that he had reached an agreement with Cheng Jinghao.
Cheng Beizheng's methods of seizing power back then had been too gentle, leaving Cheng Beiming an opportunity to counterattack now.
One wanted to reclaim the position of family head, while the other desired a compliant head for a branch family.
With their goals aligned, they naturally found common ground.
After listening to Situ Yan's analysis, Lu Nianfu's brow furrowed into a tight knot. "Third Young Master has been in power for many years. Even if Jiao Jiao marries into the Ning King's mansion, it won't be easy for Cheng Beiming to seize power. Unless..."
"Precisely. Unless Cheng Beizheng meets with an accident. At that time, Situ Jue would undoubtedly be very willing to help Cheng Beiming consolidate the power in his hands."
"Then Third Young Master is in great danger now?"
"I imagine the assassins intending to assassinate him are already on their way. Tsk, this share of the profits is truly hard-earned. It seems I not only have to help him retrieve his sister, but also send people to protect his life."
Lu Nianfu waved her hand, however, "There's no need to send people. The escorts of the Huwei Escort Agency are highly skilled, and Third Young Master is not lacking in capable individuals. However, we do need to think of a way for Jiao Jiao's marriage."
That man, Situ Jue, only saw profit in his eyes.
Just like her back then, for the sake of money, he could marry her with a grand procession and immense fanfare. But once her value diminished, he ruthlessly discarded her, not even granting her a dignified death.
Clearly, Cheng Jiao Jiao was even less important to him than she had been. Of course, a brother having wealth and oneself having wealth were entirely different matters.
Therefore, she absolutely could not let Cheng Jiao Jiao jump into that fiery pit.
But what could she do to stop it? Lu Nianfu racked her brains, while Situ Yan sighed, "Cheng Jiao Jiao doesn't want to enter the Ning King's mansion, but Feng Xinyao is desperately trying to get in. If only those two could switch places."
It would also save that girl from coming to him every other day to ask about progress and when he could get her into the Ning King's mansion.
Lu Nianfu retorted, "How can they switch? Given the Cheng family's practices, Situ Jue must have seen the person. Xinyao's appearance is very different from hers; it's impossible for her to impersonate her. The probability of her sneaking in disguised as a dowry maid is much higher."
Situ Yan chuckled, "Of course, I have no objections. I'm just afraid you won't bear to part with Cheng Jiao Jiao."
"Nonsense, of course I can't bear to. If I really let her marry like this, Third Young Master will likely come looking for me to settle the score when he returns."
"Hmph, he dares. By the way, where is Feng Xinyao?"
Speaking of this, Lu Nianfu felt even more powerless. "Lingyan Pavilion has a new batch of young maids, and they are being trained by experienced elders. She believes that in the future she will need to rely on her looks to serve Situ Jue, so she's gone to learn skills."
Lu Nianfu had introduced an incentive system.
For girls who had aged and lost their looks, there was no need to do strenuous work that would harm their bodies and earn little money. Instead, they could wholeheartedly train younger apprentices, pass down their skills, and then take a cut from their apprentices' income.
This way, they would neither be idle nor left without support in their old age. As for the bought girls, Lu Nianfu was very accommodating, allowing them to redeem themselves once they had accumulated twenty times their original purchase price.
Even though twenty times was a lot, it was already a very generous offer in a brothel.
Because the madams held their indentures, as long as they didn't agree, even if those girls saved a fortune, they would be bound to the madam's control for life. If no one was willing to buy their freedom, they would have no choice but to continue serving clients until they were old and faded.
Now, Lu Nianfu had provided them with another path.
Being sold into servitude was pitiful, but what was even more pitiful was being sold for a lifetime. Rather than pinning their hopes on clients seeking pleasure in the brothel, it was better to strive for themselves.
The masters, by their own example, showed that even if one was redeemed, they would at best be a concubine, or worse, a kept mistress.
Ultimately, the contract was still in someone else's hands.
Concubines were commodities; if the master became angry, they might be sold again. How could that compare to holding one's own contract and being in control of one's own destiny?
It wasn't just that the method worked. When those young girls were first sold, they cried incessantly. Now, they all had a fighting spirit. Lu Nianfu had gone to see them; though fear still lingered in their eyes, they were no longer so resistant to the work that awaited them.
Upon learning of Feng Xinyao's intentions, Situ Yan was stunned for a long moment, then shook his head and sighed, "If Brother Feng knew that his death would lead his daughter to this, I wonder how heartbroken he would be."
He had only one son and one daughter, both darlings of his heart.
However, regarding the revenge for his father's murder, Situ Yan did not feel he had the right to ask her to abandon it.
Lu Nianfu said, "Should I go and call her back then?"
"No need. This is the path she chose herself. Since she hasn't backed down, we naturally have no right to help her retreat. However, tell her to learn fewer of those unsavory tricks and focus on learning management methods from the experienced women inside."
"You intend to train her?"
Situ Yan looked at her strangely, "I want her to shift her focus."
Lu Nianfu: "...Alright, but Xinyao's matter is not urgent. What's urgent is Jiao Jiao. Hurry and help me think of a solution."
"There are naturally ways, but what does Madam intend to offer in exchange?"