Unlimited Black Cards! A Mysterious and Wealthy Young Lady!

The subordinate quickly added, with a hint of apology in his voice, "The other party is acting very discreetly, seemingly unwilling to reveal their identity."

Su Zhenbang pondered for a moment, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes, then waved his hand: "It's alright. We've just arrived in Kyoto, so we should settle in first. If we rashly inquire, we'll be putting ourselves at a disadvantage."

He looked at his subordinates, his tone resolute.

"Prepare a generous gift, something elegant. Choose a set of Qing Dynasty blue and white lotus teacups, along with two catties of this year's pre-rain Longjing tea. Make sure it matches the style of the owner of Jingyuan."

I will personally visit them first thing tomorrow morning, both as a gesture of neighborly courtesy and to probe their background.

"Yes, sir." The subordinate responded and withdrew, and the study returned to silence. Su Zhenbang picked up his teacup, his eyes thoughtful.

Whose family does this young woman who can live in Jingyuan belong to? Or is it a signal that outside forces are trying to establish themselves in Kyoto?

Similar conversations unfolded in several surrounding residences. The Lu family across the street and the Wen family not far away were both prominent families in Kyoto. Upon learning that Jingyuan had welcomed a new master, they were all filled with curiosity and eagerness to investigate.

Some wanted to take the opportunity to make friends, some wanted to find out about the other party's background, and some were secretly wary, worried that this mysterious neighbor would disrupt the existing social circles in Kyoto.

At this moment, Jiang Wenxi was standing in front of the window on the second floor of the main house. Her figure, dressed in a cheongsam, appeared even more gentle in the glow of the red lanterns, yet she could not hide the clarity in her eyes.

The news of my move into Jingyuan will inevitably attract the attention of the surrounding prominent families—this courtyard itself is the most eye-catching "calling card".

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Wenxi's lips as she lightly tapped the windowsill with her fingertips.

It seems that her trip to Kyoto was destined to be anything but peaceful from the moment she stepped into the Seien Garden.

However, this was exactly the situation she wanted. She could use this opportunity to get acquainted with Kyoto's top families, understand the rules of their circles, and build connections for future expansion of her business in Kyoto and the establishment of new commercial empires.

As for the visits from these prominent families, she gladly accepted them—establishing a foothold in unfamiliar territory and building good interpersonal relationships was of paramount importance.

She turned to look at Jiang Yan behind her, her tone calm but carrying a clear instruction: "Jiang Yan, we will have guests visiting tomorrow, most likely the owners of the surrounding houses. Make arrangements. When receiving them, be tactful, neither impolite nor overly enthusiastic. Just observe how things unfold."

"Yes, Miss." Jiang Yan bowed in response.

These Kyoto families are all deeply rooted in history, and every detail of their first encounter is crucial to Jiang Wenxi's initial impression of Kyoto, so she cannot afford to make any mistakes.

Jiang Wenxi nodded, then turned her gaze back to the window.

As night deepened, the warm glow of red lanterns bathed the entire courtyard, where green tiles, carvings, flowing water, and ancient trees created a tranquil and elegant ancient scene.

She raised her hand and gently touched the jade hairpin in her hair, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.

From this night forward, this quiet garden will be her foundation in Kyoto; and her chapter in Kyoto will officially begin.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, a thin morning mist, like milk, drifted over the alleyways of Kyoto, dyeing the blue tiles and white walls into a hazy ink-wash color, and the air was filled with the crisp scent of old locust trees and soil.

The vermilion gate of Jingyuan was knocked softly, three times, the rhythm steady yet cautious, neither daring to be negligent nor to cause too much disturbance.

Jiang Yan had already taken care of everything as Jiang Wenxi had instructed. Upon hearing this, he quickly stepped forward, lightly grasped the gilded copper ring with his fingertips, and opened the door. A perfectly measured smile graced his face, his demeanor impeccable.

Each of the visitors today is a powerful figure in Kyoto's social circles, while our young lady never needs to deliberately curry favor with anyone.

Three groups of people stood outside the gate, all dressed in fine clothes and with extraordinary bearing. The gift boxes in their hands were elegantly packaged, some tied with brocade ribbons with dark patterns, and others inlaid with sandalwood nameplates. It was clear at a glance that they were exquisite items that had been prepared over a long period of time. However, their expressions concealed the probing and restraint unique to scions of noble families. Their eyes quickly swept across the courtyard the moment the gate opened and closed, trying to catch a clue about the new owner.

Leading the group was Su Zhenbang, whose hair was gray but who was still very energetic. He wore a dark blue Tang suit with subtle patterns, and the pine and crane patterns on the cuffs were exquisitely embroidered, a technique passed down in the Su family. Beside him was his grandson Su Mingyu, who wore a moon-white long robe. His eyebrows and eyes were gentle but his gaze was sharp. He was subtly observing Jiang Yan's clothes and accessories, trying to deduce the strength of the Jiang family from the details.

Lin Zhenhong, the head of the Lin family in Kyoto, and his wife Su Wan stood side by side. Lin Zhenhong's dark gray suit accentuated his tall and straight figure, and the watch on his wrist was a limited edition Patek Philippe. Su Wan's lotus root pink cheongsam was adorned with tiny pearls at the collar, both standard accessories for the wealthy. The two stood intimately together, but their gazes were different. Lin Zhenhong stared at the white marble material of the screen wall, secretly weighing it, while Su Wan noticed the standard waist badges on the servants' waists. They were patterns unique to the early imperial court, which ordinary families could not replicate.

On the far right, Gu Jingchen, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, was refined and handsome. His white jade cufflinks were translucent, and the sandalwood box in his hand remained motionless, with only his fingertips unconsciously stroking the surface of the box. His gaze fell on the two characters "Jingyuan" on the plaque above the gate, and a hint of inquiry flashed in his eyes. He had asked someone to inquire about the ownership of this courtyard, but even his old friend from the Kyoto Cultural Bureau was tight-lipped, only saying that the power behind it was something that could not be shaken by the local Kyoto authorities.

"Distinguished guests, please come in."

Jiang Yan stepped aside to make way, her voice devoid of any flattery, and led the group into the courtyard.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the bluestone path was covered with fine dewdrops, which were slightly damp and cool to the touch. The carved windows of the side rooms reflected the morning light, and the red lanterns under the eaves were still in use. The warm red and cool blue intertwined, adding to the ancient and elegant charm.

The group walked through the courtyard, their footsteps light and quiet, none of them making a sound, yet all glancing around with their peripheral vision: the lotus scroll carvings on the white marble screen wall were exquisite, the craftsmanship of which was beyond the reach of contemporary artisans.

The blue and white porcelain vase in the corridor is a typical style of Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain, with a warm and lustrous glaze, and is definitely not a fake.

The artificial rockery and flowing water in the corner conceal a hidden mechanism; the sound of the flowing water perfectly masks any noise inside the courtyard, creating an elegant yet private space.

These details, seen by the members of the aristocratic family, made them even more alarmed—to be able to manage a century-old courtyard so well and equip it with such rare items, this Miss Jiang's background was far more profound than they had imagined.

The main hall was already furnished. The dark mahogany furniture had a warm patina, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be huanghuali wood from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The celadon tea set on the table was a genuine piece from the Ru kiln of the Song dynasty, with a sky-blue glaze and even crackle. The new Longjing tea in the cup was steaming, and the mellow tea aroma intertwined with the faint scent of agarwood in the air, creating a refreshing and elegant atmosphere.

The two landscape paintings hanging on the wall are genuine works by Wang Yuanqi, one of the "Four Wangs," with clear seals at the beginning of the scrolls and a clear provenance.

In a large vase in the corner, several fresh cinnabar plum blossoms were arranged. Their branches were gnarled and strong, and their fragrance wafted through the air. They had been airlifted from an extremely cold place. It was hard to imagine the amount of manpower and resources required to keep them so fresh in the dead of winter.