苏伯庸倒下去了，但是随之而来开始的忙碌，并非只是苏家大房。搜：\(¨完¨本¨神¨站¨)免费看精品文学衙门的消息一过来，大家就都已经明白了，有人要对苏家动手。从下午开始，整个苏家在城内的力量都已经忙碌起来。掌柜、管事、帮着出谋划策的各种员工开始往苏家赶过来，二房的、三房的……而大房的事情就更加繁多。
苏檀儿掌管了大房的生意，但在其背后，实际上还是有苏伯庸在坐镇的成分。苏伯庸一倒，对于整个大房的掌控，就已经直接压到苏檀儿背上。老太公那边或许会有意识地分担一些，但这个老人也有更重要的事情要做，他毕竟老了，不可能再出来背起整个苏家。
下午老太公离开之后，苏仲堪苏云方也焦急地离开，苏檀儿也开始召集所有能召集的人进府，这一次连着以往苏伯庸管着的那些掌柜也叫了来。其实就算按照以前的路数按部就班，这些掌柜也能支撑很久，可如果真有人在后面做推手，整个苏家在全国的生意，就会变得很危险，更何况此时闭了城门，消息要传递进出，不知道比以往要慢上多少倍。
听得苏伯庸伤情之后，苏檀儿的母亲晕倒过去，苏檀儿此后苏檀儿陪同在房间里，宁毅交代着婵儿娟儿等人出去处理一些琐碎事情。华灯初上时，他了出了院子一趟，回来的时候，房间里也已经掌起了灯。苏檀儿的母亲也已经醒过来了，接近那房间里，看见里面的人影，听见声音。苏檀儿的母亲与两个姨娘正在里面哭着，口中说着话。苏檀儿坐在那儿一直沉默，宁毅听了几句，大概也就明白过来。
三个女人，此时正一边哭一边在抱怨着苏檀儿，抱怨她的好强，抱怨着……这次有关皇商的事情。
“早就说过了……女孩子家这么好强干什么……”
“这次的事情，谁知道有没有二叔三叔在里面……”
“他们知道檀儿要做皇商了呢……”
“前几天就在议论……”
“也许把他们吓到了……要真做成了，他们就是竹篮打水一场空……”
“我们这些妇道人家也知道这个道理……”
苏伯庸这人对大房各方面的管理还是很不错的，但他的妻子——苏檀儿的母亲为人就有些弱势，主要是因为只给苏伯庸生了个女儿，在这样的家庭里说起话来也没什么底气。到后来帮着苏伯庸娶了两名妾室，可大房仍旧无所出，众人这才觉得可能是苏伯庸的问题，不过到这个时候，各人的地位与风格，基本上也已经确定了。
早年因为苏檀儿是女孩子的缘故，她这个当母亲的也不是非常疼爱，一心想要生个男丁。这大概也奠定了母女两的相处方式与那对父女也是类似，平素并不是非常的亲切，苏檀儿想要接触家中商事的时候她提出过反对，但后来就没怎么说了。到得现在，就算怀念相对正常的母女关系，其实也已经无所适从。
两个姨娘平日里在苏檀儿面前是没有太多发言权的，到得这时，也只敢哭泣着旁敲侧击地暗示一番。
苏檀儿想要拿皇商，家中知道的人不多，能看穿的也没几个，但就算一直隐蔽，也总有要摆在明面上的一天，毕竟那边负责皇商事情的大小也是些官员，江宁织造这些事情，到了快见真格的时候，总归还是要曝光的。关城门的前几天，大概也就是与席君煜谈过之后，苏檀儿就已经正式的与这方面的人物碰了面，把以往打下的关系，要一样样的摆出来了，今年皇商真要拿下，也就是在接下来一两个月之内的时间里。
事情一曝光，旁人就都看在眼里了，特别是对苏家人来说。他们原本想着给苏檀儿使些绊子等着她因女子身份失去角逐家主的机会，谁知道这女人暗中来的这一下这么厉害。皇商的事情，如果真能做漂亮、有利润，以后那就什么事情都没得争了。
城门关闭几天以来，这事情还在众人口耳之间流传、议论，结果就出了苏伯庸的事情。苏檀儿的母亲、姨娘平日里接触的也尽是府中之人，善意恶意的感受也都是针对家中的这些成员，这时候当然便在怀疑苏仲堪与苏云方，他们中的某些人铤而走险，就算把家里给卖了，至少不会让苏檀儿全拿去……少拿些，总比什么都拿不到好……女人家的心思，往往也就在这上面转了。
这时候苏檀儿的母亲哭哭啼啼，两个姨娘也是哭哭啼啼，琐琐碎碎的言辞埋怨、含沙射影……映在窗户上的人影中，苏檀儿则一直坐在那儿低头沉默，没有说话，也不加辩驳。宁毅敲了敲门，打开之后，只见苏檀

苏伯庸倒下去了，但是随之而来开始的忙碌，并非只是苏家大房。搜：\(¨完¨本¨神¨站¨)免费看精品文学衙门的消息一过来，大家就都已经明白了，有人要对苏家动手。从下午开始，整个苏家在城内的力量都已经忙碌起来。掌柜、管事、帮着出谋划策的各种员工开始往苏家赶过来，二房的、三房的……而大房的事情就更加繁多。
苏檀儿掌管了大房的生意，但在其背后，实际上还是有苏伯庸在坐镇的成分。苏伯庸一倒，对于整个大房的掌控，就已经直接压到苏檀儿背上。老太公那边或许会有意识地分担一些，但这个老人也有更重要的事情要做，他毕竟老了，不可能再出来背起整个苏家。
下午老太公离开之后，苏仲堪苏云方也焦急地离开，苏檀儿也开始召集所有能召集的人进府，这一次连着以往苏伯庸管着的那些掌柜也叫了来。其实就算按照以前的路数按部就班，这些掌柜也能支撑很久，可如果真有人在后面做推手，整个苏家在全国的生意，就会变得很危险，更何况此时闭了城门，消息要传递进出，不知道比以往要慢上多少倍。
听得苏伯庸伤情之后，苏檀儿的母亲晕倒过去，苏檀儿此后苏檀儿陪同在房间里，宁毅交代着婵儿娟儿等人出去处理一些琐碎事情。华灯初上时，他了出了院子一趟，回来的时候，房间里也已经掌起了灯。苏檀儿的母亲也已经醒过来了，接近那房间里，看见里面的人影，听见声音。苏檀儿的母亲与两个姨娘正在里面哭着，口中说着话。苏檀儿坐在那儿一直沉默，宁毅听了几句，大概也就明白过来。
三个女人，此时正一边哭一边在抱怨着苏檀儿，抱怨她的好强，抱怨着……这次有关皇商的事情。
“早就说过了……女孩子家这么好强干什么……”
“这次的事情，谁知道有没有二叔三叔在里面……”
“他们知道檀儿要做皇商了呢……”
“前几天就在议论……”
“也许把他们吓到了……要真做成了，他们就是竹篮打水一场空……”
“我们这些妇道人家也知道这个道理……”
苏伯庸这人对大房各方面的管理还是很不错的，但他的妻子——苏檀儿的母亲为人就有些弱势，主要是因为只给苏伯庸生了个女儿，在这样的家庭里说起话来也没什么底气。到后来帮着苏伯庸娶了两名妾室，可大房仍旧无所出，众人这才觉得可能是苏伯庸的问题，不过到这个时候，各人的地位与风格，基本上也已经确定了。
早年因为苏檀儿是女孩子的缘故，她这个当母亲的也不是非常疼爱，一心想要生个男丁。这大概也奠定了母女两的相处方式与那对父女也是类似，平素并不是非常的亲切，苏檀儿想要接触家中商事的时候她提出过反对，但后来就没怎么说了。到得现在，就算怀念相对正常的母女关系，其实也已经无所适从。
两个姨娘平日里在苏檀儿面前是没有太多发言权的，到得这时，也只敢哭泣着旁敲侧击地暗示一番。
苏檀儿想要拿皇商，家中知道的人不多，能看穿的也没几个，但就算一直隐蔽，也总有要摆在明面上的一天，毕竟那边负责皇商事情的大小也是些官员，江宁织造这些事情，到了快见真格的时候，总归还是要曝光的。关城门的前几天，大概也就是与席君煜谈过之后，苏檀儿就已经正式的与这方面的人物碰了面，把以往打下的关系，要一样样的摆出来了，今年皇商真要拿下，也就是在接下来一两个月之内的时间里。
事情一曝光，旁人就都看在眼里了，特别是对苏家人来说。他们原本想着给苏檀儿使些绊子等着她因女子身份失去角逐家主的机会，谁知道这女人暗中来的这一下这么厉害。皇商的事情，如果真能做漂亮、有利润，以后那就什么事情都没得争了。
城门关闭几天以来，这事情还在众人口耳之间流传、议论，结果就出了苏伯庸的事情。苏檀儿的母亲、姨娘平日里接触的也尽是府中之人，善意恶意的感受也都是针对家中的这些成员，这时候当然便在怀疑苏仲堪与苏云方，他们中的某些人铤而走险，就算把家里给卖了，至少不会让苏檀儿全拿去……少拿些，总比什么都拿不到好……女人家的心思，往往也就在这上面转了。
这时候苏檀儿的母亲哭哭啼啼，两个姨娘也是哭哭啼啼，琐琐碎碎的言辞埋怨、含沙射影……映在窗户上的人影中，苏檀儿则一直坐在那儿低头沉默，没有说话，也不加辩驳。宁毅敲了敲门，打开之后，只见苏檀儿仍是身上沾了血渍的那件衣服，在床边小凳子上坐着，双手握拳搁在腿上，目光斜望着地面的某一点，冷漠得没有变化。
宁毅与两位姨娘、床上的岳母打了个招呼，岳母还在哭，并未理他，目光中有些怨气，更多的是伤心。怨苏檀儿的太过好强，对宁毅这个女婿多半也是怨的，另外还有家里人，想着争家产的两个小叔子，二房三房……大户人家这也常见。
“……几个掌柜的都已经到了，所以我过来看看，廖掌柜有些东西给檀儿看……”
招呼打过之后，宁毅说起这些，檀儿点了点头，这才在那边抹了抹眼角，轻声与母亲、两位姨娘道歉、告辞，有些公式化的敷衍。但这时候在意不了了。待出了门，出了院子，苏檀儿与宁毅走在路上，星光透下来，她目光淡漠地望着四周的景色，沉默地走到居住的院子门口时，小婵已经等在了那里，小跑过来。
“姑爷，热水已经准备好了。”她望望旁边的小姐。
苏檀儿皱了皱眉：“廖掌柜……”
“我瞎说的，你已经坐了一天了，如果晚上还要忙，那就先去洗个澡吧。”宁毅说道。
苏檀儿愣了愣，扭头望了宁毅一眼，片刻后，默默地点了点头：“相公，谢谢你……”说完这句，她举步朝院子里走去，随后才见她举手擦了擦眼角，只是步伐当中并没有多少迟疑的。宁毅朝小婵示意一下，让她跟了上去。
星夜高悬，月光由圆转缺，像是被什么东西咬了一口，月光、星光、灯光在苏家大宅里汇集成一片，各种喧闹的人声、脚步声。宁毅站在那儿想想，微微叹了口气，这个晚上，大概要彻夜不眠了……
*********************
半个晚上的时间，隔壁的院子里灯火未息，苏檀儿与大房的掌柜们在连夜开着会，预测可能出现的事情，商量应对的办法，估计背后的敌人，接下来可能寻找的助力。眼下还没有多少的头绪，但该准备的事情，就都要准备起来了。
婵儿娟儿杏儿等三个丫鬟忙忙碌碌的也都有了自己的事情，相对而言，这边的院子就比较冷清。宁毅比较闲，因为在大多数人看来这并非他的事，也不是他有能力参与或者改变的。他拿了半碗花生，在院子中间的凉亭里一边感受着整个大宅传来气氛一边慢慢剥着，思考着这件事可能的原因，将会去往的方向。
当然，能够把握到的线索实在是不多，真要说有什么成果，当然也是不可能的。小婵匆匆忙忙走过廊道时，见着没人，靠过来抱了他一下，放开手后轻抿了嘴唇：“姑爷，你在担心吗？”她小声说着，想来是打算安慰宁毅。宁毅笑起来，拿了几颗花生放到她手里：“我没事的，去忙吧，看着些檀儿。”
小丫鬟点了点头，将几颗花生收进怀里，想了片刻，转身走掉了：“姑爷早些睡啊……”
大概过了一个时辰，娟儿走过屋檐时往这边看了看，随后过来安安静静地坐下了，宁毅正无聊地将花生壳摆在桌上当成与这次事情有关的各种利益方。娟儿应该是看不懂的，她安安静静地坐了一阵子，目光望望盛花生的碗望望宁毅，宁毅瞥她一眼，将碗推过去：“怎么了？”
娟儿笑起来：“刚才经过那边时，小婵从怀里拿出一颗花生来吃，吃了一颗就又去做事了，我去问她，她笑着跟我说姑爷给了她几颗花生，这样就能吃到天亮了……”
“喔，这么厉害……”
“所以我也来吃一颗。”娟儿说着从碗里拿一颗花生剥开吃掉，随后起身离开。离开时又说：“姑爷早些睡吧……”
宁毅看着她离开的背影，摇头笑了笑。这个晚上真要说有多忙也难说，忙的是苏檀儿与许多掌柜，主要是焦虑、商讨，但暂时来说，头绪不多。下面的人多半是引这份情绪带着、等着，若是不忙，多半会被说成不本分。目前来说，真要找突破口，摆在眼前的终究还是衙门里的那位陈二，若是一下子找不到幕后黑手到底是谁，剩下的事情，就都得等到对方再次发飙才会有进一步的发展。
想完能想到的一些事情，宁毅收起花生碗，回房睡觉，大概睡了一个多时辰又起来，这时已经到了黎明前最为黑暗安静的那段时间，但整个苏家大宅的不安与躁动还是能够清晰地感受得到。他端了一杯茶出门，隔壁院子里已经暗下来了，估计来开会的掌柜们也已经离开，婵儿娟儿杏儿应该也已经去稍作休息，苏檀儿的房间里还亮着灯，宁毅走过去时，她手上拿了一支笔，正望着桌上的油灯光芒发呆，一封信写了一半，展开在桌上，这信件应该是要寄出城的。
宁毅走到窗前，将茶杯
放到桌子上，里面的苏檀儿才反应过来，她陡然抬头望了望宁毅，随后目光才变得安静，望着推过来的茶杯失神，随后伸出一只手拿着，低下了头。
“快天亮了。”宁毅说道。
苏檀儿点了点头，但没有做出回答，她在那儿沉默了好久，方才抬起头，微微笑了笑，笑容有些凄然，也有些开朗：“娘……和姨娘她们觉得可能是皇商的事情曝光，才会有人铤而走险，有的掌柜……也这么觉得，二房三房的人，可能也参与了……”
“这世界上不缺白痴。”宁毅点头，“但白痴做不了大事。”
“呵……”苏檀儿笑了笑，“就算有，他们也不可能是主导，何况二房三房知道皇商的事情不过几天，他们没这么果决，不可能这么快就能下决心把家里卖掉，下了决心他们也没这个能力。背后的那些人肯定策划了很久。可就算是这样……也不能说一定跟我没关系。”
苏檀儿行事有主见有毅力，即便已经出了这些事，今晚还是冷静地开始处理一切，积极应对，撑起大局。父亲已经倒下，她就肯定不能倒，这种心性比之一般男子都更加刚强，也才是真正做事的态度。不过此时说起这些，她眼中还是有了泪光，女子抬起头，将些许泪水收回去。
“可不管怎么样，事情决定了，要去做，就肯定会有阻力，什么阻力都可能会有，如果什么都想避免，那就什么事情都做不成，相公……我会把事情做下去的……做完以后，所有的事情都会清楚。”
苏檀儿望着他，露出一个笑容，随后吸了吸鼻子。这番话与其说是对着宁毅在讲，不如说是对她自己在说。宁毅点了点头，转身离开，随后又回过头来。
“茶刚泡的……早些忙完，早些睡。”
“谢谢相公……”
大家算是同一类人，宁毅也大概明白，危机是危机，这一次或许忽如其来的打击太大，但苏檀儿并不需要太多的同情。对于整个苏家来说，这也只是一次应付危机的过程而已。一切该做的事情，能做的事情，她都明明白白清清楚楚，看着她去做也就行了。
不过，随后的几天里，或许因为某些意外情况的出现，整个局面还是急转直下了……
******************
这几天的时间里，宁毅没有出门。
苏家的局面乱糟糟的。宁毅只能看着，当然也是插手不进，这几天里，老太公苏愈、苏仲堪、苏云方常常出门拜访这人那人，但衙门那边，有关陈二却还没有新的进展。大房的一些掌柜频频拜访了织造局的官员，在这样的情况下，还是明摆出了对这次皇商势在必得的气势——苏檀儿所用的，也正是正确的应对方略，为着这些事情，她已经打点了一年多，一旦表现出来，就是令旁人咋舌的气魄了。
苏伯庸的伤情还在生死线上徘徊着，最后会如何还难说，大家都在沉默以待，苏檀儿每天去看一次，做起事情来，雷打不动。
宁毅偶尔会在二楼上看着那些掌柜进进出出，偶尔听写消息的最新进展，更多的时候，看书、写字，心中将这些发展稍稍归纳一下。
情况不知道是在哪天悄悄发生的，苏伯庸倒下的四天后，大概七月二十二这天早上，宁毅注意到了苏檀儿的精神似乎有些变化，她像是感冒了，但这种变态并非仅仅像在身体上，而是精神气上与前几晚跟他说话时有些不同。
这天傍晚过后，又叫了众多掌柜进府商议事情，婵儿娟儿杏儿去忙碌接待之时，苏檀儿在房间里趴着睡着了，几张信纸被风吹了出来，宁毅捡到之后拿进去，他将信纸放到苏檀儿身边的桌上，用镇纸压住，苏檀儿陡然醒了过来，站起来撞在宁毅怀里，随后退出两步，看见是宁毅，虚弱地笑起来：“啊，相公。”
宁毅看了她几眼：“你是不是发烧了？”
“嗯？”苏檀儿愣了愣，伸手摸了摸额头，片刻后才笑起来，摇了摇头，“没有啊，就是这几天有些累，相公也知道的……事情做完后就没事了。”
这话说完，她扭头收拾起桌上的信件来，随后娟儿过来说那些掌柜们到了，苏檀儿抱歉地朝宁毅笑笑，之后说了几句话，随娟儿出去了。
晚上的时候，宁毅站在二楼的窗前看着隔壁院子里的情景，大房的几名家丁、丫鬟守在外面，里面在开会，大家议论着乱七八糟的东西，苏檀儿的精神状况似乎还是好的，也见到她说了些话。如此看了一阵子，宁毅叹了口气，转身下楼，随后往那边院子过去。
尽管开着会，但那边丫鬟中管事的便是婵儿娟儿与杏儿，见宁毅面色凝重，自然不会拦他，只
是杏儿跟了过来：“姑爷怎么了啊？”
“到底出了什么事？你家小姐病几天了？”
“小姐……”杏儿愣了愣，随后几乎要哭出来了，“我们……我们今天也发现了，可是、可是……”
宁毅往房间里走了过去，苏檀儿正背对房门，左手撑在桌子边，低头用右手在桌上点点点点，说着什么事情。看见宁毅进来，掌柜都将目光投过来，宁毅走过去，拍了拍苏檀儿的肩膀，苏檀儿下意识地挥了挥手，宁毅又拍了拍，她才转身回过头来，微微有些疑惑，但还是露出了些许笑容：“相公，你……”
左手一离开桌面，其实她的身体已经摇晃起来了，宁毅将手掌覆在她的额头上，隐隐发烫。苏檀儿低下头，用两只手攀着宁毅的手掌。
“我没事、没事……”
这句话喃喃地说着，她的身体软倒下去，席君煜从旁边过来想要伸手，宁毅已经将苏檀儿的身体抱了起来。
“小姐！”婵儿娟儿杏儿都冲进来了，掌柜们也都瞪大眼睛，站了起来，话语纷乱，不过片刻后，有一个声音淡淡地压在了其中，并不高亢，但所有人都听得清楚。
“你们继续商量，廖掌柜帮忙主持一下。娟儿，去叫孙大夫过来。婵儿跟我来。杏儿，你留在这里照顾下情况。一切照常。”
这话简单说完，宁毅皱着眉头，抱着苏檀儿，转身离开。
夜空深邃晦暗，天边积压着深深的雨云，朝这座城池笼罩了过来，夜风有些凉，不过在宁毅怀中的那具女子身体，滚烫滚烫的，将苏檀儿放到卧室的床上时，女子微张着双唇，脸上一片被体温烧红的颜色，还在无意识地摇着头……
*************
扩展成五千多字，所以晚了点。(未完待续，如欲知后事如何，请登陆，章节更多，支持作者，支持正版阅读！)
支持（完本神站）把本站分享那些需要的小伙伴！找不到书请留言！

Su Boyong had fallen, but the ensuing flurry of activity was not limited to the Su family's main branch. As soon as the news from the yamen (local government office) arrived, everyone understood that someone was making a move against the Su family. From the afternoon onwards, all the Su family's resources within the city were mobilized. Shopkeepers, managers, and various employees offering advice began rushing to the Su residence, from the second and third branches... while the main branch faced even more responsibilities.

Although Su Tan'er had taken charge of the main branch's business, in reality, Su Boyong was still the one overseeing things. With Su Boyong's collapse, the control of the entire main branch directly fell onto Su Tan'er's shoulders. The old patriarch might consciously share some of the burden, but he had more important matters to attend to. After all, he was old and couldn't single-handedly carry the entire Su family.

After the old patriarch left in the afternoon, Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang also departed anxiously. Su Tan'er began summoning everyone she could, including the shopkeepers previously managed by Su Boyong. Even if they followed the old ways step by step, these shopkeepers could sustain things for a long time. However, if someone was pushing things from behind, the Su family's businesses across the country would become very dangerous, especially with the city gates closed, making communication much slower than usual.

Upon hearing about Su Boyong's injury, Su Tan'er's mother fainted. Afterward, Su Tan'er stayed with her in the room, while Ning Yi instructed Chan'er, Juan'er, and others to handle some minor matters. As the lanterns began to light up, he went out to the courtyard for a while. When he returned, the room was already lit. Su Tan'er's mother had woken up, and he approached the room, seeing the figures inside and hearing their voices. Su Tan'er's mother and two concubines were crying and talking. Su Tan'er sat there silently, and after listening for a while, Ning Yi roughly understood what was happening.

The three women were simultaneously weeping and complaining about Su Tan'er, lamenting her strong will and... the matter of the imperial merchant.

"I told you long ago... why be so strong-willed as a girl..."

"Who knows if Second Uncle and Third Uncle are involved in this..."

"They know Tan'er wants to become an imperial merchant..."

"They were discussing it a few days ago..."

"Maybe it scared them... If she succeeds, their efforts will be in vain..."

"Even us women know this..."

Su Boyong managed the main branch quite well, but his wife—Su Tan'er's mother—was rather weak-willed, mainly because she only gave birth to a daughter, leaving her with little say in the family. Later, she helped Su Boyong take two concubines, but the main branch still had no male heir. It was then that everyone realized the problem might be with Su Boyong. However, by this point, everyone's status and style were basically set.

In her early years, because Su Tan'er was a girl, her mother didn't dote on her much, wanting a son. This probably laid the foundation for their relationship, similar to that of the father and daughter—not very close. When Su Tan'er wanted to get involved in the family business, she objected, but later didn't say much. Now, even if she longed for a more normal mother-daughter relationship, she was at a loss for how to achieve it.

The two concubines usually didn't have much say in front of Su Tan'er. Now, they only dared to cry and subtly hint at things.

Not many people in the family knew about Su Tan'er's desire to become an imperial merchant, and even fewer could see through it. But even if she kept it hidden, there would eventually be a day when it had to be revealed. After all, the officials in charge of imperial merchant affairs, such as those at the Jiangning Weaving Bureau, would need to be contacted when things were about to get serious. A few days before the city gates closed, probably after talking with Xi Junyu, Su Tan'er had officially met with these figures, presenting the relationships she had built up over time. If she were to secure the imperial merchant status this year, it would happen within the next month or two.

Once the matter was exposed, everyone saw it, especially the Su family members. They had originally planned to trip Su Tan'er up, waiting for her to lose the chance to compete for the family head position due to her being a woman. Who knew this woman would secretly pull off something so impressive? If the imperial merchant business could be done beautifully and profitably, then there would be nothing left to fight over.

For days since the city gates had been closed, the matter had been circulating and discussed among the people, and then Su Boyong's incident occurred. Su Tan'er's mother and concubines usually only interacted with people within the residence, and their feelings of goodwill or malice were directed at these family members. Naturally, they now suspected Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang, believing that some of them might be taking a risk, even selling out the family, just to prevent Su Tan'er from taking it all... Getting less was better than getting nothing at all... Women's thoughts often revolved around this.

At this moment, Su Tan'er's mother was sobbing, and the two concubines were also crying, with their petty words full of complaints and veiled accusations... Reflected in the shadows on the window, Su Tan'er sat there silently with her head lowered, not speaking or defending herself. Ning Yi knocked on the door and opened it, seeing Su Tan'er still wearing the bloodstained clothes, sitting on a small stool by the bed, with her hands clenched into fists on her lap, her gaze fixed on a spot on the floor, showing no change in her cold indifference.

Ning Yi greeted the two concubines and his mother-in-law on the bed. His mother-in-law was still crying, ignoring him, with resentment in her eyes, but mostly sadness. She resented Su Tan'er for being too strong-willed, and probably also resented Ning Yi, her son-in-law. In addition, there were family members, the two younger uncles who wanted to compete for the family fortune, the second and third branches... This was common in wealthy families.

"...The shopkeepers have already arrived, so I came to see, Shopkeeper Liao has some things for Tan'er to see..."

After the greetings, Ning Yi mentioned these things. Tan'er nodded, then wiped the corners of her eyes and softly apologized to her mother and the two concubines, bidding them farewell with some perfunctory words. But they couldn't care about that right now. After leaving the room and the courtyard, Su Tan'er and Ning Yi walked along the path, starlight shining down. She looked indifferently at the surrounding scenery, and when they silently reached the entrance of her residence, Xiao Chan was already waiting there, running over.

"Master Ning, the hot water is ready." She glanced at her young mistress.

Su Tan'er frowned: "Shopkeeper Liao..."

"I made it up. You've been sitting for a day, and if you're going to be busy tonight, you should take a bath first," Ning Yi said.

Su Tan'er was stunned, turned her head to look at Ning Yi, and after a moment, nodded silently: "Husband, thank you..." After saying this, she started walking towards the courtyard, and then she raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, but there was not much hesitation in her steps. Ning Yi gestured to Xiao Chan, signaling her to follow.

The starry night hung high, the moonlight waning, as if something had bitten off a piece. Moonlight, starlight, and lamplight converged in the Su family mansion, along with the sounds of bustling voices and footsteps. Ning Yi stood there, thought for a moment, and sighed softly. This night, he probably wouldn't get any sleep...

*********************

For half the night, the lights in the adjacent courtyard remained on. Su Tan'er and the main branch's shopkeepers were holding a meeting late into the night, predicting possible events, discussing countermeasures, and assessing the enemies behind the scenes, as well as the support they might seek. At the moment, there weren't many clues, but the things that needed to be prepared had to be prepared.

Chan'er, Juan'er, Xing'er, and the other three maids were busy with their own tasks. Relatively speaking, this courtyard was quieter. Ning Yi was relatively free, because most people didn't see this as his business, nor did they think he had the ability to participate or change anything. He took half a bowl of peanuts, sat in the pavilion in the middle of the courtyard, and slowly peeled them, feeling the atmosphere emanating from the entire mansion, contemplating the possible causes of this incident and the direction it might take.

Of course, there weren't many leads to grasp, and it was impossible to achieve any real results. When Xiao Chan hurriedly walked past the corridor, she saw that no one was around, leaned over and hugged him, then let go and pursed her lips: "Master Ning, are you worried?" She spoke softly, intending to comfort Ning Yi. Ning Yi smiled and put a few peanuts in her hand: "I'm fine. Go get busy and keep an eye on Tan'er."

The little maid nodded, put the peanuts in her pocket, thought for a moment, and turned to leave: "Master Ning, go to bed early..."

About an hour later, Juan'er glanced over here as she walked past the eaves, then came over and sat down quietly. Ning Yi was boredly arranging peanut shells on the table to represent the various parties involved in this incident. Juan'er probably couldn't understand it. She sat quietly for a while, looking at the bowl of peanuts, then at Ning Yi. Ning Yi glanced at her and pushed the bowl over: "What's wrong?"

Juan'er smiled: "When I passed by over there, Xiao Chan took a peanut out of her pocket and ate it. After eating one, she went back to work. I asked her, and she smiled and told me that Master Ning gave her some peanuts, so she could eat them until dawn..."

"Oh, that's amazing..."

"So I'm here to eat one too." Juan'er said, took a peanut from the bowl, peeled it and ate it, then got up to leave. As she left, she added: "Master Ning, go to bed early..."

Ning Yi watched her departing figure, shook his head, and smiled. It was hard to say how busy this night really was. Su Tan'er and many shopkeepers were busy, mainly with anxiety and discussion, but for the time being, there weren't many clues. Most of the people below were being led by this emotion, waiting. If they weren't busy, they would probably be seen as irresponsible. Currently, if they really wanted to find a breakthrough, Chen Er from the yamen was still the one to focus on. If they couldn't find out who the mastermind was right away, then everything would have to wait until the other party acted out again before there could be further developments.

After thinking about the things he could think of, Ning Yi put away the bowl of peanuts, went back to his room to sleep, and got up again after sleeping for a little over an hour. By this time, it was the darkest and quietest period before dawn, but the unease and restlessness of the entire Su family mansion could still be clearly felt. He carried a cup of tea outside. The courtyard next door had already darkened, and the shopkeepers who had come to the meeting had probably left. Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er should have gone to rest briefly as well. The light was still on in Su Tan'er's room. When Ning Yi walked over, she was holding a pen, staring blankly at the light of the oil lamp on the table. Half a letter was written, spread out on the table. This letter should be for sending out of the city.

Ning Yi walked to the window and placed the teacup

on the table. Only then did Su Tan'er react. She suddenly looked up at Ning Yi, then her gaze became calm, staring blankly at the teacup that had been pushed over. She reached out with one hand to take it and lowered her head.

"It's almost dawn," Ning Yi said.

Su Tan'er nodded, but didn't answer. She was silent there for a long time before finally looking up, smiling slightly, a smile that was somewhat desolate and somewhat cheerful: "Mother... and the concubines think that someone took a risk because the imperial merchant matter was exposed. Some shopkeepers