The Fierce Farm Girl Has A Secret Space Chapter 2358: The Meng Family’s Misfortune (Part 2)

"You little brat." Yang Zhenli's face flushed red as he rose to his feet, "Oh, and there's one more rumor, though we haven't witnessed it ourselves, so confirmation is lacking."

"Tell me." Yang Ruxin gave a nod.

"Word from Hangzhou has it that some nobles were chatting about this: the Meng Family's merchant vessels out of Quanzhou got attacked by pirates. Two got seized, and two went straight to the bottom. Out of everyone who sailed this time, just one made it back—a laborer who floated on a plank after dropping into the water, picked up two days later by a fishing boat that passed by, though his legs suffered severe frostbite..."

Yang Ruxin nodded, "Thanks, Uncle Eight. This intel means a lot." Initially, the Meng Family flaunted ties to the Crown Prince, fooling folks nearby into assuming they were tight with him, even believing their wealth was gathered for the Crown Prince himself, which earned them plenty of perks.

Yet how could the Crown Prince let himself be manipulated so effortlessly?

Truth be told, no one enduring life in the Palace is ordinary, especially not the one gripping the Crown Prince spot so tightly underneath the Emperor.

Before, health issues might have kept him from dealing with certain affairs, but now recovered, allowing others to trample him would prove he's unworthy of the Crown Prince title.

Losing all four merchant ships spells doom for the Meng Family this round.

Still, Yang Ruxin had heard this tidbit ages ago, thanks to Du Juan and Du Man pouring effort into building intel networks everywhere. Though not fully fleshed out yet, key updates still flow in swiftly.

Yang Zhenli nodded in agreement, "Fine, I'll take my leave then."

Yang Ruxin stood and saw him out the door, with Uncle Eight's report solidifying the details she'd gathered earlier.

The Meng Family faces total ruin, and soon the Du Family, linked by marriage, will taste disaster next.

The Du Family... Yang Ruxin rubbed her chin while striding across the room several times, then halted, "Chun Hua, fetch Uncle Du for me."

Chun Hua acknowledged from outside, and moments later, Du Chengxiu entered, "Xinxin."

"Have a seat." Yang Ruxin gestured for Du Chengxiu to sit, then poured tea herself and offered it over.

Du Chengxiu accepted it politely with both hands and sipped.

"Heard about the Quanzhou Meng Family trouble?"

Du Chengxiu nodded, "Yeah, I'm aware." All gathered intel from nearby regions funneled first through him, which he sorted before passing to Yang Ruxin.

"What do you make of it?"

"The Meng Family brought this fate on themselves," Du Chengxiu pondered, "I figure without a big shot backing them, recovery will be nearly impossible."

"Exactly," Yang Ruxin agreed with a nod, "Nobody's rushing to prop up the Meng Family now they've crossed the Crown Prince."

Du Chengxiu grinned, "Truthfully, it gladdens my heart."

"So you realize who's next in the crosshairs?"

"The Du Family." Du Chengxiu's fist tightened briefly before loosening again.

Yang Ruxin lifted the teapot once more to top off Du Chengxiu's cup, "Interested in taking back the Du Family?"

Du Chengxiu raised his gaze, "I once dreamed of it, but honestly, our present setup suits us fine, and we hate to shatter it." Reclaiming it would spark fierce rivalry, and they'd all grown weary of that grind.

"What if I told you I'm eyeing the Du Family's businesses?" Yang Ruxin arched a brow faintly.