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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 125: Stirring the Water Before Acting
"You must be quite certain, so you should already have a suspect in mind, right?" Wei Yuan asked.
Clearly, Wei Yuan thought this question was very logical, but Yuan Ziyi replied, "No."
"Are you joking?"
Regarding this question, Yuan Ziyi seemed to hesitate for a moment before saying to Wei Yuan, "This idea is just my personal opinion; sometimes a person's intelligence can lead to misunderstandings. Not everything has to be filled with conspiracy theories."
Wei Yuan did not refute her; he simply waited for her to continue: "Specifically, it's because the timing of the other party's actions was too coincidental that I made such an association. However, if we really want to identify a suspect, it can only be said that anyone with conflicting interests with our group or individuals could be a potential suspect."
"Everyone?"
Clearly, Wei Yuan struggled to adapt to her way of thinking. It seemed as if he had already identified the mastermind behind the scenes but then quickly expanded his focus to include everyone. This shift in thinking was too rapid.
Yuan Ziyi sighed slightly and said, "As the saying goes, business is like warfare. Companies that rely on our group for survival naturally wish for us not to encounter any problems because if a new decision-maker comes in, it might not benefit them. However, companies that compete with us and have conflicting interests would certainly wish for my downfall."
This statement might be somewhat sad, but Wei Yuan knew the reality was even more brutal: "As long as there is chaos within your ranks, they lose a formidable rival and might even take advantage of the situation to profit."
Yuan Ziyi affirmed Wei Yuan's conclusion: "That's pretty much it."
At this moment, Wei Yuan still harbored ulterior motives. What he hoped most was to use this opportunity to persuade Yuan Ziyi to decisively deal with Shen Qingyi. This way, he would have a chance to make Shen Qingyi pay back blood debts when Xu Feng lost his support.
So he analyzed, "But judging by the actions of those three guys last night, their main goal doesn't seem to be your life, right?"
Wei Yuan believed that even if he didn't say it, Yuan Ziyi must have been somewhat aware of the issue. The Black-Clad Man clearly had a gun in hand but didn't dare to shoot at her. After Yuan Ziyi managed to escape, they should have immediately pursued her, yet the three of them seemed indifferent to that.
It was evident that their mission behind the scenes was to stir up trouble, using the assassination attempt on Yuan Ziyi to incite conflict among various factions, and then reap the benefits. Whoever hoped for the Purple Robe Pavilion's two divisions to fight each other would be the most suspicious, and he himself was one of them, hoping that Yuan Ziyi would successfully eliminate Shen Qingyi and thereby cut off Xu Feng's protection.
"Why not just treat this as an assassination case? Your internal disciples must have already been provoked; why not take this opportunity to deal with Shen Qingyi?"
Wei Yuan casually suggested this, but it had to be said that he appeared somewhat selfish in this regard, showing no concern for the pressure that Yuan Ziyi would endure if they proceeded this way. It seemed that hatred could truly blind a person.
Of course, Yuan Ziyi was not so easily swayed by him. She frowned slightly and looked at Wei Yuan with disappointment, saying, "I know you're eager for revenge, but could you please not underestimate the intelligence of others? At this critical moment, they wouldn't dare to do such a thing; on the contrary, they are more afraid of someone causing them trouble."
"So even if I were to follow your suggestion, it wouldn't stir internal conflict; instead, it might alert others. I've already told you to be patient and wait a little longer."
Although Yuan Ziyi's tone was relatively polite and she had given Wei Yuan enough face, if it were someone else standing in front of her saying these things, that person would likely have already been dragged away.
Seeing her clarity of thought, Wei Yuan naturally wouldn't bring up these matters again. Yuan Ziyi was very intelligent, but intelligent people often have a weakness: they tend to be overly proud and belong to that type who needs to be coaxed rather than pushed.
She only acted according to her own ideas and rarely allowed anyone else's opinions to change her mind. However, it must be acknowledged that after the Purple Robe Marquis entrusted all decision-making power of the group to Yuan Ziyi, most of her decisions turned out to be correct.
"Alright, I can endure a little longer without any problem, but are you confident?"
Wei Yuan had held this question in his heart for a long time because he currently lacked the strength to shake such a large organization like the Purple Robe Pavilion. Moreover, Xu Feng happened to be within their protective net. Therefore, he needed to rely on Yuan Ziyi's influence to achieve his goals.
It was clear from Wei Yuan's words that he could wait patiently, but if something went wrong later on, did Yuan Ziyi have any backup plans?
This was where the two couldn't reach a consensus. Yuan Ziyi was the type who liked to keep everything in her head; she was unwilling to share her plans with anyone and only demanded cooperation from others. In contrast, Wei Yuan was someone who disliked constantly having to cooperate with others.
The personalities of both individuals are inherently strong, which is why neither is willing to yield on this issue. Wei Yuan is not unable to wait, but he cannot wait foolishly; he needs to know what method Yuan Ziyi plans to use to address this matter.
Originally, according to Yuan Ziyi's character, she would disdain explaining herself. However, for some reason, women often have moments of confusion. She clearly understands that Wei Yuan is desperately trying to rescue her, viewing her merely as a support and a partner. Yet, the image of Wei Yuan appearing exceptionally tall and imposing at that moment has remained indelibly in her heart.
Yuan Ziyi explained, "You should be well aware that if one goes too far in Huaxia and angers the government, no matter how capable you are, it only takes a word for them to eliminate you. No individual can stand against the machinery of the state."
Wei Yuan nodded in agreement. Shen Qingyi observed that Yuan Ziyi had completely modernized everything and divided the power of the Purple Robe Pavilion. The disciples under Yuan Ziyi were living prosperous lives, while those under Shen Qingyi's leadership were declining day by day.
As a leader, one needs not only sufficient authority and means but also to ensure that subordinates live well. In this era, loyalty is irrelevant; loyalty is merely a matter of having insufficient leverage for betrayal.
It is not hard to imagine that if Shen Qingyi does not find a better way, it is only a matter of time before his subordinates betray him. Thus, he needs to take risks.
Yuan Ziyi remarked, "Just like you said, Xu Feng may be Shen Qingyi's son-in-law, but Shen Qingyi's daughter has already passed away under unclear circumstances. There must be barriers between them. This is where we can take advantage; once their issues come to light, Xu Feng will understand how to use your father as a scapegoat. Do you think Shen Qingyi wouldn't understand?"
Listening to Yuan Ziyi's eloquence, Wei Yuan finally realized the woman's formidable nature. In conflicts between people, much depends on whether you can grasp the weaknesses of your opponent. Clearly, Yuan Ziyi's analysis was spot on in this regard.
"Adding Poppy Powder to drugs and profiting from this addictive stimulant is a significant issue, and the methods are not sophisticated," Yuan Ziyi concluded regarding such behavior.
She continued, "Hundreds of years ago, the Purple Robe Pavilion had many such scoundrels. However, back then, information was relatively restricted; thus, the impact of such actions was minimal. But in this age of open information, Shen Qingyi's approach is simply foolish."
It was evident that Yuan Ziyi looked down upon Shen Qingyi and his associates. In fact, as she pointed out, in today's society with television, newspapers, online portals, and various forums, many things can no longer be concealed. This is where Shen Qingyi falls short compared to her.
Although Wei Yuan had never met Shen Qingyi, as someone who could split the Purple Robe Pavilion and share half of its territory with Yuan Ziyi and her father, his abilities were naturally not weak. However, his thinking did not keep pace with this era; Yuan Ziyi's idea was simple: utilize the media.
The larger Shen Qingyi's scale becomes and the more money they earn, the further they fall into Yuan Ziyi's plan. Mass media is a weapon of war in the new era.
One need only look at how many clowns have risen to fame through the internet while many genuinely entrepreneurial companies have been smeared by competitors using media tactics. One can see how understanding the power of media can plunge a company into crisis within moments; even in stock markets with staggering trading volumes, mere rumors can trigger significant fluctuations.
To win without fighting is the best strategy; Yuan Ziyi no longer resembles those predecessors of the Purple Robe Pavilion who only understood brute force.
Shen Qingyi and Xu Feng, along with their subordinates, could not possibly overlook this issue. However, when blinded by profit, people become irrational. Shen Qingyi needs money; the current Purple Robe Pavilion requires funds for maintenance; thus they must take risks.
However, while they are plotting against others, there are also those who are plotting against them, such as Yuan Ziyi and Wei Yuan.
When Wei Yuan heard that Yuan Ziyi was here, if he still didn't understand her meaning, then he would truly be an idiot. Having received special treatment from Yuan Ziyi, Wei Yuan felt relieved: "Then let's just watch and let them go crazy one last time."
One should not fear a god-like opponent but rather a pig-like teammate.
Clearly, neither of them were foolish people, so some things didn't need to be spelled out. Wei Yuan could imagine that Yuan Ziyi must have a team responsible for gathering information. If this woman were an opponent, she could really give many men a headache.
"As far as I know, Xu Feng's current plan is directly related to your cousin Xie Ge's pharmaceutical processing factory and your girlfriend's family, the Blue Ocean Group. Have you thought about how to deal with it?"
When Yuan Ziyi said this, she had already managed to control her emotions sufficiently. She spoke with a calm expression, showing none of the previous acidity; this woman's ability to change her demeanor was impressive.
However, Wei Yuan had to admit that she was meticulous. The Blue Ocean Group would definitely be involved because Lan Xue's family operated a chain of pharmacies and could be the largest in Jinghai City. If Xu Feng and his group wanted to sell their drugs, they naturally had to go through the Blue Ocean Group's counters.
In this regard, the current head of the Blue Ocean Group was Lan Bo. Even if Wei Yuan really became the son-in-law of the Lan Family, he probably wouldn't have any say in it, nor did he have the inclination to deal with such trivial matters.
However, he was curious that Yuan Ziyi even thought of his cousin's processing factory. Wei Yuan couldn't help but smile and said, "I've already asked my uncle to take samples for testing first to avoid being dragged down by those bastards later."
"Then what do you think Lan Bo will do?" Yuan Ziyi suddenly asked.
Wei Yuan thought for a moment and replied, "He definitely hasn't realized it yet, but if something happens, he would probably do the same—try to distance himself from it and then take down all of the other party's products."
Yuan Ziyi suddenly twitched her lips slightly and revealed a captivating smile: "If it's Lan Bo's approach, I believe it's similar to yours. Do you want to know how we would handle it if the Blue Old Man or our group encountered such a situation?"
Wei Yuan felt it was strange; usually, people would handle such matters by distancing themselves from the suspects quickly. Wouldn't they instead approach them?
He quieted down and listened to Yuan Ziyi say, "In fact, the public is the easiest to deceive. The psychology of the masses will not believe that there is a company that is completely clean. Based on this principle, no matter how much you explain or try to distance yourself from the situation, it will only make people more suspicious of you."
"What would you do if it were you?" Wei Yuan suddenly asked, following her line of thought.
He wanted to see what insights this woman, whose thinking was even stranger than his, would have. He heard her say, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. The more you try to appear spotless and clean, the more excuses people will have to throw dirt on you."
"Exactly, that's good," Wei Yuan agreed.
"So I always remember one thing: when faced with a situation, stir the water first."
"Stir the water first?" Wei Yuan repeated her words, his eyes lighting up as he said, "So we not only shouldn't be afraid of trouble but should also take the initiative to create it? At the right moment, we should strike back at Xu Feng?"
After hearing his words, Yuan Ziyi felt somewhat gratified and said, "Your comprehension ability is quite strong. However, your approach is merely for self-preservation. As the injured party, don't you think you should also extract some benefits from this situation?"
"Extract benefits?" This surprised Wei Yuan.
In many people's subconscious minds, encountering such situations only leads to misfortune; being able to get through it smoothly would be considered lucky. How could one still extract benefits?
Yuan Ziyi explained, "In Chinese history, throughout the ages of chaos emerge heroes. Why can ordinary commoners achieve heroic status? It is because they understand how to assess the situation. The saying 'wealth and honor are sought in danger' embodies this principle."
After saying this, Yuan Ziyi did not elaborate further but looked at Wei Yuan, waiting for his reaction. She was like a teacher providing enlightenment; however, all the answers to the questions still had to be solved by Wei Yuan himself.
Even though Wei Yuan possessed Ability, he was essentially just a twenty-year-old student. Many times he certainly could not compare to someone like Yuan Ziyi who had been in the business world for a long time. However, his mind was still quite sharp. Reflecting on Yuan Ziyi's words and organizing them in his mind led him to find an answer: "Utilize the media."
"What's wrong?" Yuan Ziyi smiled at him, as if she were a kindergarten teacher encouraging a friend to continue answering questions.
Wei Yuan confidently replied, "Clear water has no fish, but murky water can catch fish. No criminal accomplice would voluntarily report their partner without being wanted, so by actively shooting at Xu Feng from behind, we are actually standing on the side of justice."
"Good, keep going," Yuan Ziyi raised an eyebrow.
Encouraged, Wei Yuan continued, "It's like playing cards; if there are five identical cards on the table, one of the players must be cheating. At that moment, the one who plays first has the advantage."
"We not only can't let the opponent take action first, but we also need to take the initiative to smear them while standing on the side of justice. We should use this opportunity to leverage media power to hype up our reputation."
Yuan Ziyi nodded in agreement with Wei Yuan's words and then said to him, "You've slept enough; get up and eat something."
With Yuan Ziyi treating him so gently, Wei Yuan certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity: "I'll listen to you."
Wei Yuan jumped out of bed and looked around. Although he found his shirt, the sleeves had already been cut open by the Black-Clad Man's knife. He reluctantly prepared to put it on; it would at least serve as a cover. He could change when he got home later.
However, Yuan Ziyi stopped him and went outside to instruct a servant. Soon after, Wei Yuan saw a maid bring over a new shirt. He knew it was prepared at her request and didn't refuse her kindness. He decisively took it, unwrapped it from its packaging and tags, and then put it on.
"When do you plan to take action?" Wei Yuan asked while getting dressed.
He was referring to the matter between Shen Qingyi and Xu Feng. Hearing his question, Yuan Ziyi walked over and adjusted his collar, saying, "You have a little over a month until your college entrance exam, right? Just go back and be a good student. Once you're done with your exams, consider this a gift for you."
From her words, Wei Yuan gathered that the time frame was about two months away. However, hearing Yuan Ziyi speak to him as if he were her son made Wei Yuan feel a bit frustrated.
When you were in danger, who rescued you like a hero? Why are you treating me like a boy now?
So Wei Yuan still doesn't understand a woman's heart. Such a proud woman has never treated a man who is not her relative in such a manner. It is clear that Yuan Ziyi's attitude towards him has already changed.
Even those elders from the Purple Robe Pavilion who have followed her for a long time probably do not receive such treatment. Wei Yuan is indeed taking advantage of the situation while pretending to be innocent.
Moreover, regarding Yuan Ziyi's tone, which sounds like she is scolding a child, Wei Yuan chose to respond playfully. He touched his chest and curiously looked at Yuan Ziyi, asking, "How come I was unconscious for four days, yet my body is still so clean? Who helped wash me?"
After asking this question, he suddenly noticed a detail that made his heart feel as excited as Columbus discovering the New World; he realized that Yuan Ziyi was actually blushing.
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