Shuyin’s hand clenched briefly against Lu Yuze’s chest at that news. Her mother. Still sleeping, still unaware that she’d been rescued, still lost in whatever dreams or nightmares the sleeping spell induced. But alive. Healing. That was what mattered.
"Third," Ting Fei continued, "Ah Ling went to the Lu Group headquarters this morning to handle any urgent matters requiring imdiate attention. He reports that operations are running smoothly and there are no pressing issues requiring Master Lu’s personal intervention at this ti."
"And Shuyin’s office?" Lu Yuze asked, knowing his wife would want to know about the South Group even if she couldn’t ask herself.
"No one at the South Group has raised questions about Mrs. Lu’s absence," Ting Fei reported, a note of dry amusent creeping into his professional tone. "It appears the staff have learned not to question Mrs. Lu’s schedule or whereabouts. However...." his tone shifted, becoming more serious, "....there is so concerning information regarding company politics."
Shuyin pushed herself up slightly, more alert now. "What information?"
Ting Fei’s eyes finally flicked to her, then back to that neutral point on the wall. "Sources indicate that the Lu Group board of directors is planning to convene a eting within the next three to four days. The stated purpose is to discuss executive leadership of the South Group division."
"They’re going to try to replace ," Shuyin said flatly, understanding imdiately.
"Not you specifically," Ting Fei corrected. "The eting is ostensibly about replacing Lu Zeyan as president of the South Group. Given his current... condition...." the delicate pause spoke volus about how the company viewed their brain-damaged forr president, "....the board feels it’s ti to officially remove him from the position and appoint new leadership."
"And they think they can just install soone without consulting ," Shuyin said, that cold edge creeping into her voice.
"It appears that way. Mrs. Lu is listed as Acting President currently, but that was ant to be a temporary arrangent while Lu Zeyan was all right. Now that his recovery seems impossible, the board wants to make permanent decisions."
Lu Yuze could feel the tension coiling through Shuyin’s body, her strategic mind already working through implications and counter-moves. This was a power play, the board trying to use Lu Zeyan’s condition to wrest control away from Shuyin before she could solidify her position.
"Who’s pushing for this eting?" she asked.
"Multiple board mbers, but the primary force appears to be Directors Chen and Wang. Both are old-guard Lu family loyalists who’ve never been comfortable with an outsider...." he ant Shuyin, "....holding executive authority."
"Of course," Shuyin muttered. "Anything else I need to know about that situation?"
"Not at this ti. Ah Ling is monitoring the situation and will provide updates as developnts occur."
"Good. What else?" Lu Yuze asked, knowing Ting Fei well enough to recognize when he had more to report.
"Ah Ying is currently handling various other matters as directed. Security details for the private hospital remain in place. And Miss Yu Shou is awake and apparently has been for so ti. She’s currently in the east wing garden, observing the grounds."
Of course Yu Shou was awake. Ancient guardian spirits probably didn’t need much sleep.
"Is there anything else either of you would like to investigate or handle this morning?" Ting Fei asked, his tone making it clear he was ready to receive whatever orders they had.
Lu Yuze looked down at Shuyin, giving her the opportunity to speak first. This was her family, her company, her revenge unfolding. He would support her decisions, but they were hers to make.
Shuyin was quiet for a long mont, her mind clearly working through multiple tracks simultaneously, Lin Feng in jail, the South Group board eting, her mother still unconscious, the children downstairs making breakfast, Yu Shou standing guard in the garden.
Finally, she spoke. "Tell Ah Ling to gather detailed information about that board eting. I want to know who called it, who’s attending, what the exact agenda is, and what their proposed tiline looks like. If they’re planning to move against , I want to see it coming from miles away."
"Understood."
"As for the calls from the Lu family and Lin family...." her lips curved into sothing that wasn’t quite a smile, "....ignore them. Let them panic. Let them call. We’ll respond when I decide the ti is right, not when they demand it."
"And if they escalate? Co to the mansion directly?"
"Then we deal with it then." Shuyin’s voice carried absolute confidence. "But until they do, we’re not jumping at their summons like well-trained dogs."
"As you say, Mrs. Lu." Ting Fei bowed slightly. "Will there be anything else?"
"That’s all for now," Lu Yuze said. "Thank you, Ting Fei. Keep monitoring the situation and update us if anything changes significantly."
"Of course, Master Lu." Ting Fei withdrew, closing the door behind him with barely a sound, the opposite of the maid’s earlier aggressive interruption.
Silence settled over the room again. But it wasn’t peaceful anymore. Too much information, too many potential conflicts brewing, too many forces moving in the background.
Shuyin let out a long breath and sat up fully, running her hands through her tangled hair. "So. Lin Feng’s in jail demanding my help. Your family’s calling repeatedly wanting you to fix the missing baby situation. The South Group board is planning a coup. My mother’s still unconscious. And sowhere in this mansion, an ancient guardian spirit is wandering the gardens."
She turned to look at Lu Yuze, and despite everything, despite the chaos and complications and brewing conflicts, there was dark amusent in her eyes.
"Just another normal morning in our lives."
Lu Yuze couldn’t help it. He laughed, a short, genuine sound that surprised him. "Normal. Right. That’s one way to describe it."
She smiled then, real and unguarded. "We should probably get up. Face the day. Figure out which fire to put out first."
"Or which fire to stoke," Lu Yuze countered. "Not all of these problems need solving. So of them need to burn a little longer."
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