Jiang Shouzhong smiled wryly: "If it won’t work, what else can we do? We’ll make do."
Xiao Lingqiu parted her crimson lips, as if to say sothing, but stopped herself. In the end, she offered a warning: "From now on, this is the limit. No more going overboard—I have my boundaries."
Jiang Shouzhong nodded with a smile: "Alright."
After the two finished breakfast, the new Clan Leader, Lie Feng, sent soone to invite Xiao Lingqiu for a discussion about matters of governance.
The matter concerned training the army.
Lie Feng had initially planned to entrust the Heshan Tribe’s forces to his own trusted aides, but Xiao Lingqiu suggested that Liao Feihu take charge of the training instead and personally devised a set of training thods.
Liao Feihu, descended from a military family and once a minor general on the border, had a degree of expertise in military drills.
Faced with this, Lie Feng had no choice but to agree.
After the eting concluded, Clan Leader Lie Feng deliberately stopped Xiao Lingqiu.
Having gradually grown accustod to the authority of a clan leader, Lie Feng’s mindset had started to swell with confidence; his gaze toward Xiao Lingqiu, filled with admiration, also beca increasingly transparent.
"Jingjing," he addressed her.
Lie Feng personally poured tea for Xiao Lingqiu, praising her: "To have soone as brilliant and unrivaled as you in our Heshan Tribe is truly an extraordinary blessing.
If Jingjing would be willing to stay here and assist forever, not only Tongqiu—but even the throne of Nanjin Country—would be within my grasp. By then, you and I could rule this world together."
The man subtly conveyed his feelings.
Xiao Lingqiu pretended not to notice, her expression earnest as she cautioned Lie Feng:
"Young Master Liefeng, you must understand that if you are to be the clan leader of the Heshan Tribe for a long ti, you need to learn to shoulder every responsibility within the clan. This is not like before, when you could always hide behind your father. The position of clan leader is no easy seat."
Lie Feng’s face flushed red.
Her words made him feel like a child being reprimanded.
Unwilling to concede, Lie Feng retorted: "The Heshan Tribe will go much further under my leadership than it ever did under my father’s."
Xiao Lingqiu chuckled: "Then tell , how do you plan to distribute the spoils from the Tongqiu conflicts?"
Without hesitation, Lie Feng answered: "I’ve already thought it through and am ready to implent it. Whoever exerted the most effort and incurred the most losses will receive the biggest share."
Xiao Lingqiu’s lips curled into a subtle smile:
"Those who contribute more do not necessarily suffer the greatest losses; those who contribute less do not necessarily take fewer hits. If your trusted aides receive too little, they’ll grow cold toward you. If your father’s old brothers see insufficient benefits, they’ll resent you further.
If the newcors you’ve rallied feel shortchanged, how will they risk their lives for you? Dissatisfaction is inevitable—how will you deal with it? The Heshan Tribe is in a period of unrest right now. Even a tiny issue could lead to the tribe’s downfall; how do you intend to save it?"
Lie Feng was at a loss for words.
Xiao Lingqiu sighed: "To lead a tribe, one must master the art of balance. Young Master Liefeng, I hope to see a capable and mature clan leader in you."
Hearing the woman’s sincere words, Lie Feng was montarily overco with fervor.
In his eyes, her candid remarks suggested a asure of appreciation, perhaps even interest, in him.
Could this be her response to his earlier hint?
Struggling to contain his excitent, Lie Feng mimicked the ceremonial etiquettes of the Central Plains, bowing respectfully: "I ask for your guidance, Jingjing."
Xiao Lingqiu smiled: "Guidance is too grand a term. I simply think that now is the perfect opportunity for Young Master Liefeng to hone yourself and cultivate loyalty within the tribe. After all, to truly lead a clan, earning the trust and support of your people is paramount.
To win their trust, you must be resolutely fair and impartial—not rely favoring your confidants or overly catering to your father’s old subordinates. Only then will you earn the right to lead them."
Lie Feng appeared thoughtful.
He looked at the woman and asked: "What if soone refuses to obey?"
A cold glint flickered in Xiao Lingqiu’s eyes: "You are the clan leader; you must command your authority. If, at tis, you cannot show fairness and indifference, people will never truly respect you."
Lie Feng mulled over her words for a long while before nodding firmly and stating in a resolute tone: "Jingjing, I understand now. Rest assured—I will not disappoint you."
"Do your best. I hope you won’t let down."
With a small smile, Xiao Lingqiu turned to leave, her faint fragrance lingering in the air.
As she exited the hall, a hint of mocking amusent played on her lips.
...
Back in the room, Xiao Lingqiu shared her plan with Jiang Shouzhong.
Jiang Shouzhong, who wasn’t well-versed in such matters, asked curiously: "Wouldn’t dividing the spoils fairly be a good thing?"
Xiao Lingqiu chuckled and shook her delicate head: "It depends on the timing. If your foundation is solid and you command enough prestige, conducting affairs fairly will naturally earn admiration.
But the issue here is that the Heshan Tribe is currently in turmoil. Lie Feng, as a newly appointed clan leader, lacks significant prestige and must first consider how much he can gain for himself.
If he insists on absolute fairness now, he’ll end up offending everyone. Whom to win over, whom to balance, whom to appease... these are not matters resolved by the word ’fairness.’"
Sipping her tea delicately, Xiao Lingqiu continued:
"In the days to co, Lie Feng will undoubtedly provoke many within the tribe. I will subtly fan the flas, driving a wedge between him and the clansn. Concurrently, I’ll secretly guide Yun Zhu on how to act. If everything proceeds as planned, Lie Feng will inevitably be ousted as clan leader.
Though Yun Zhu is straightforward and lacks strategic depth, thus being unfit to lead, she has Liao Feihu by her side. And considering your camaraderie with Liao Feihu, the Heshan Tribe under Yun Zhu’s leadership will be more advantageous for us. It will also ease our control and reform efforts."
Even though Jiang Shouzhong had already witnessed Xiao Lingqiu’s prowess on the battlefield, he still underestimated her intelligence and ability to strategize behind the scenes.
It seed that everyone could beco a piece in her larger chessboard.
In a joking tone, Jiang Shouzhong said: "I’m afraid one day you’ll sell off too."
Xiao Lingqiu rolled her eyes playfully: "You’re not worth enough for to bother."
...
As Xiao Lingqiu had anticipated, over the next few days, conflicts erupted repeatedly between Lie Feng and the Heshan Tribe’s high-ranking mbers.
Particularly, Lie Feng, in an effort to maintain his authority, publicly expelled two senior officials from a council eting and even subjected them to clan punishnt, casting a pall of tension over the Heshan Tribe.
As the grumbles of dissatisfaction grew louder, Lie Feng beca increasingly desperate and began threatening so individuals with the removal of their positions within the clan.
It was at this point that Yun Zhu stepped in to diate.
First, she secured an agreent with most of the high-ranking mbers concerning the distribution of spoils. Then, she personally apologized to the two officials...
Through her efforts, the situation gradually stabilized.
However, upon learning of this, Lie Feng was furious. He viewed his sister’s actions as not only overstepping her boundaries but also shaming their family and undermining his authority as clan leader.
Enraged, Lie Feng had Yun Zhu imprisoned and tore up the agreents she had signed—further stripping three senior mbers of their positions.
In a masterpiece of relentless and senseless actions, combined with the sparks fanned earlier by Xiao Lingqiu through Yun Zhu’s alliances, the other mbers of the clan finally reached their breaking point.
In the end, through the tribe’s oldest form of collective deliberation, they voted to depose Lie Feng as clan leader and installed Yun Zhu in his place.
The entire affair unfolded with an almost surreal swiftness and absurdity.
Lie Feng had no idea how it had even happened before his position as clan leader was inexplicably stripped away.
And the orchestrator of it all, at this very mont...
...
The dim moonlight spilled through, casting mottled shadows like fine silver sand, flowing within the small room.
Xiao Lingqiu’s pearly teeth bit down on her lip, drawing a faint trace of blood.
The man’s strong arms encircled her tightly.
Like holding a delicate fish.
This ti, it was different—for there was no quilt separating them, only the thin barrier of their garnts.
Xiao Lingqiu could feel his warmth distinctly.
She had once thought she would never accept this, but after so many days of growing accustod, when he suggested removing the quilt tonight, she surprisingly didn’t resist.
Not even a hint of objection arose within her.
She wasn’t sure how much ti had passed before Jiang Shouzhong finally cald down.
Carefully lifting his arm, Xiao Lingqiu lowered her head and stood up, murmuring, "I’m going to change."
As she got out of bed, she suddenly turned back and said, "From now on, this is the limit. No more going further—I have my boundaries."
Jiang Shouzhong froze for a mont, then smiled and nodded: "Alright."
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