The twilight sky over Jingzhou glowed a soft gold as hanging lanterns were lit one by one across the courtyard of the main Wei residence. That evening, the grand hall—long unused for formal banquets—was opened once again. Inside, servants bustled to arrange exquisite dishes, and the scent of jasmine tea drifted gently through the air.
Wei Jian sat at the head seat, his face composed. At his left was Su Wanrong, adorned in a deep purple robe patterned with orchids. Her smile was formal—calculated and cold.
The elders of various branches of the family had gathered. Each came with their own agenda, but tonight, their attention focused on a single matter: the return of Wei Lianhua, daughter of a concubine, once regarded as the family’s most talented merchant before vanishing three years ago.
Wei Jian stood, raising his wine cup.
“Brothers and sisters, tonight we gather to welcome the return of this family’s second daughter. Though she suffered misfortune, she has now recovered. Wei Lianhua—my daughter.”
At that moment, the doors of the hall swung open.
Lin Xi stepped inside, calm and composed. She wore a soft white robe embroidered with plum blossoms—simple, yet elegant. Her hair was neatly coiled, and a pair of green jade earrings framed her cool but striking face.
A hush fell over the hall. Though many had heard whispers of Lianhua’s return, her presence struck with far more force than rumor ever could.
At the right side of the hall, a young, broad-shouldered man fell silent mid-conversation. Wei Junlin, eldest son of Wei Jian and Su Wanrong, stared at Lin Xi—not with longing, but with guarded suspicion.
For the past three years, he had led most of the family’s trade operations—securing deals with the eastern ports, overseeing shipments to the north, expanding the Wei name. He had stood as the rightful heir.
And now, the one once hailed as the family’s rising star—his half-sister, Lianhua—had returned.
But the truth was far from what it seemed. Compared to the achievements of the real Lianhua, Junlin’s contributions had yielded dwindling results and declining profits.
Lin Xi bowed politely.
“My respects to Father, Madam, and the esteemed elders.”
Wei Jian smiled warmly.
“Come. Sit by my side. Tonight, you are the guest of honor.”
Su Wanrong glanced at her daughter, Wei Min, whose face had stiffened. Junlin merely offered a curt nod, masking his thoughts behind a faint smile.
Conversation resumed, but the tone shifted—lighter talk replaced by cautious diplomacy. Some elders tested Lin Xi with business questions, probing whether her mind and memory were truly intact.
“Do you still recall the spice trade route to Wuzhou?” one elder asked.
“Wuzhou?” Lin Xi replied with a faint smile. “Via the southern Meng River route, passing a small village called Shuimen. But during the rainy season, that route is prone to landslides. I used to advise shipments be made before the third month.”
The elders exchanged glances, nodding subtly.
Meanwhile, Junlin remained silent, carefully watching the room’s reaction to his half-sister’s return.
Wei Jian broke the silence.
“Our family business is in danger. In the past three years, profits have dropped by nearly half. The Hangzhou warehouse is leaking revenue, our South Sea network has collapsed, and our liquid capital is thinning.”
His eyes swept over the room, then deepened his voice.
“If this continues, in three more years... the name ‘Wei’ will be nothing more than a footnote in history.”
He took a long breath and declared,
“As head of the Wei family, I ask for your approval—for Lianhua to once again oversee our business affairs and manage our ledgers as she once did.”
Junlin stood abruptly.
“Father! For the past three years, I have managed the ledgers, reviewed trade routes, attended every merchant council. You were the one who asked me to take over after Lianhua... after she disappeared!”
He turned toward Lin Xi, disbelief in his eyes.
“And now—you wish to hand everything back to her? As if nothing happened?!”
Wei Jian’s voice boomed.
“Enough, Junlin!”
The room fell silent. His cane struck the floor with a heavy thud.
“I entrusted you because you are my son. But in these three years, what have you proven? You filled meetings with hollow speeches, made impulsive decisions, and trusted men who sold our name for personal gain.”
Junlin stood frozen, his face flushed.
Wei Jian turned to the elders.
“This is not about inheritance. It is about survival.”
He patted Lin Xi’s shoulder.
“Lianhua holds the complete records of our trade operations. She was the one who opened our network to the northern territories, while Junlin was still studying theory behind a desk.”
The First Elder cleared his throat.
“But Lord Wei, we cannot ignore the past. The disgrace Miss Lianhua brought hasn’t... fully faded from the minds of our trading partners. Some even refuse to speak her name.”
The Third Elder added cautiously,
“If she takes the ledgers again and something goes wrong... we may have no way out.”
Lin Xi replied softly, yet firmly.
“Precisely because of that disgrace... I understand failure. And having fallen once, I now know the value of standing again.”
Wei Jian nodded.
“That is why I choose her.”
He looked each elder in the eye.
“This child has what Junlin lacks—clarity and instinct. Three years ago, I was blinded by pride. Today, I choose with clarity.”
Junlin clenched his jaw.
“So I mean nothing to you, Father?”
Wei Jian answered coldly.
“A child who denies truth is still immature. If you want to be seen as an heir, prove it—not with complaints, but with results.”
A heavy tension filled the hall. The elders exchanged looks, hesitant—but none dared openly oppose Wei Jian.
At last, the Second Elder spoke softly.
“If this is your decision, Lord Wei... we will observe. But full responsibility lies with you.”
Lin Xi bowed.
“Thank you for your trust. I will not fail... again.”
The banquet continued, but the air had changed. Lin Xi had made it clear—she had not returned simply as family, but as a legitimate rival. And amid the smiles and wine, the quiet seeds of rivalry were being sown between the Wei siblings.
When the gathering ended and guests began to take their leave, the hall gradually emptied. Only the clinking of porcelain remained as servants cleared the tables. Lin Xi had just stepped out into the corridor when a calm, heavy voice stopped her.
“You really remember everything, don’t you?”
Lin Xi turned slowly. There stood Junlin, his eyes sharp—like a man facing a worthy opponent.
“What do you mean?” Lin Xi replied with a light smile, not stepping away.
Junlin stepped closer, staring at her unblinking.
“You vanished for three years, and now return as if nothing happened. Father places his hopes on you, and the elders welcome you. But they forget who kept this family’s name alive while you were... resting.”
Lin Xi restrained herself from reacting. She knew—Junlin was testing her.
“I haven’t forgotten. In fact, I thank you, Brother Junlin. Without you, this family might’ve lost much more.”
Her soft words only deepened the tension in Junlin’s face.
“You came back to take over, didn’t you?”
Lin Xi met his ambitious gaze.
“I came back because Father called me home. As for the rest... let’s see where the current takes us.”
Silence fell. The night wind rustled softly, swaying the lanterns on the stone walls.
Junlin offered a cold smile.
“Currents shift, Lianhua. And sometimes, it’s not the weak who drown—but the overconfident.”
Lin Xi returned the smile.
“Then I hope you didn’t grow tired of swimming these past three years.”
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Junlin standing in silence, his eyes sharp as ever.
Beneath polite smiles and civil exchanges, the true battle between half-siblings had begun.
And Lin Xi knew—this was only the beginning of a far greater war.