Chapter 317: Scheming
Although the transfer of power was semi-publicly acknowledged, the old master of the Heishui family ultimately did not officially name Yako and her husband as the successors.
Yet this small act of subtlety ended up causing a major incident.
Just as the old master of the Heishui family was about to get up and see the guests off, his body suddenly tilted, and he collapsed to the side.
“Grandpa!”
The scene immediately descended into chaos. No one had expected such a sudden turn of events.
Heishui Yako widened her eyes and instinctively looked suspiciously at her elder brother.
However, he simply stood up, maintaining the demeanor of the Heishui family’s eldest grandson, and apologetically escorted the guests out.
When they got back into the car, Xu Youyou asked worriedly, “Now that something unexpected happened, will it affect our plans?”
Lu Jingyao nodded, “It will have some impact, but probably not too much.”
Xu Youyou was puzzled.
Lu Jingyao explained, “The only person in the Heishui family who truly understood the value of the item was the old master. If he were still in power, your jade token might not have been redeemable. But if someone else takes over, even if it’s not Yako and her husband, paying a slightly higher price should still allow us to obtain it.”
Xu Youyou finally relaxed but couldn’t help asking, “The old master was so powerful, so why would…”
“You mean why would an accident happen?” Lu Jingyao asked.
Xu Youyou nodded.
The way the old master collapsed today clearly seemed suspicious. A word immediately surfaced in her mind: poisoned.
An old master who had dominated the business world all his life — no one expected something like this to happen at his eightieth birthday celebration. Even outsiders could guess that whoever made a move had to be from within the Heishui family.
“Just like it says in Dream of the Red Chamber, big families are rarely destroyed by outsiders — they mess themselves up first,” Lu Jingyao said.
“The old master of the Heishui family might have been reluctant to give up power, or maybe he didn’t trust any of his grandchildren enough. Only now was he willing to name a successor. In the end, it’s because he wasn’t satisfied with the current choices but couldn’t completely give them up. As people age, they cling more to blood ties. It’s no surprise it was delayed until now.”
Hearing this, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but ask, “I heard from Assistant Liu that the old master was a live-in son-in-law. He had management rights over the family business, but actual ownership was in his wife’s hands. His wife favored the eldest grandson. Now that the old master has fallen, won’t the family fortune go directly to the eldest grandson?”
Lu Jingyao shook his head, “Favoritism is one thing, but whether the eldest grandson can actually manage the family business is another. I’m sure the old madam is well aware of his abilities.”
Xu Youyou sighed, “Having too many kids really isn’t a good thing. They just fight like a bunch of chickens.”
Afraid she’d keep worrying about it, Lu Jingyao said directly, “Forget it. I’ll just add some fuel to the fire — it might even help the Heishui family catch the culprit faster.”
That afternoon, the Heishui family hired Tokyo’s most famous private detective — who, naturally, charged a high fee.
As a very well-known detective, he took only one day to find the culprit. After being paid handsomely to stay silent, he kept the Heishui family’s internal affairs secret. Even Lu Jingyao, who had stirred the pot behind the scenes, only received a very vague message.
Xu Youyou was very curious, “Are Tokyo’s detectives really that professional? If they say they’ll keep their mouths shut, they really don’t spill a word?”
Lu Jingyao nodded, “Nobody wants to break such unspoken rules.”
“So you really don’t know who the culprit is?” Xu Youyou asked.
Lu Jingyao shook his head, “The detective didn’t say who the real culprit was, but that’s not important. The one who benefits the most is usually the perpetrator.”
“Who is it?” Xu Youyou asked eagerly.
Lu Jingyao said firmly, “The eldest grandson.”
Xu Youyou’s eyes widened slightly, “As the family’s first grandchild, he should have had a good relationship with his grandparents. How could he be so ruthless?”
Lu Jingyao replied, “When it comes to money, there’s nothing people won’t do. The eldest grandson has always been favored by his grandmother. He’s the one managing the old house affairs, making him the easiest to make a move. If no evidence is found against him, relying on the grandmother’s favor, he could still seize a huge piece of the family fortune.”
Xu Youyou asked, “So now, is Miss Yako and her husband’s position as successors secured?”
Lu Jingyao said, “The old master passed away yesterday despite rescue efforts. Without him to persuade the old madam, the inheritance of the group is unlikely to have further surprises. But the distribution of the Heishui family’s private wealth probably won’t follow the original plan.”
Xu Youyou met Heishui Yako on the final day of her mission. Originally, it should have been the day Yako and her husband took over as heads of the family — but it had now turned into the old master’s funeral.
Even knowing that the family was in chaos, Xu Youyou couldn’t wait. Privately, she pulled out the jade token and demanded that the Heishui family fulfill their promise.
When Heishui Yako saw the jade token, her face darkened immediately. “Miss Xu, the family is busy today. I’m afraid we can’t handle this matter right now…”
Xu Youyou interrupted her helplessly, “I understand how you feel, Miss Heishui, but I must return home with the item today. I ask for your understanding.”
Heishui Yako instinctively wanted to delay the matter, but Xu Youyou and Lu Jingyao’s attitudes were very firm.
“Does Miss Xu really have to be so unreasonable?” Heishui Yako asked coldly.
Xu Youyou replied, “I once heard you tell the story of how the Heishui family honors its promises. I believe my request is reasonable. Why would you think it’s being difficult? Or… does Miss Heishui actually not wish to fulfill the promise?”
Heishui Yako pressed her lips tightly together. She recalled a moment five years ago, shortly after she had given birth to her youngest daughter, when the old master had casually mentioned the family’s traditions.
“I really wonder what kind of precious item would be worthy of our Heishui family’s jade token,” the old master had said.
Heishui Yako couldn’t help but think: if Xu Youyou had presented the token back when her grandfather was alive, how would he have handled it? Would he have honored the promise?
She suddenly wanted to look back — but behind her, there was no longer the figure of the old master.
Her nose tingled. She couldn’t help but wonder — had the old master already decided to pass the succession rights to her five years ago?
Heishui Yako didn’t dare think further. She also understood that if the old master were still alive, this token probably wouldn’t be honored. Otherwise, these two wouldn’t have waited until now to redeem it.
But Lu Jingyao, pressing hard, casually brought up their cooperation project.
The contract was already signed. It was too late to back out.
Heishui Yako couldn’t believe it. She asked, “So you planned to trap the Heishui family from the very beginning?”
