novelraw Chapter 578 - 510: Heavy Hearts
Chapter 578 - 510: Heavy Hearts
Jun Yian originally expected a conversation to await him, yet never did Jun Tingye have the intention of discussing privately with him.
Jun Tingye directly imprisoned Jun Yian, handing him over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation.
During the interrogation here, the Emperor dispatched people to uncover the private soldiers, leaving Jun Yian with no choice but to confess candidly.
This process took a full three months.
Throughout these three months, both Jun Tingping and Jun Mobai were profoundly uneasy.
On the day the Emperor executed Jun Yian, Concubine Lu also received a piece of white silk, and the mother and son set off on their path together.
Jun Tingping and Jun Mobai initially intended to prepare the aftermath for Jun Yian and Concubine Lu but, unexpectedly, Jun Tingye directly issued an edict, demoting both their families and Lv Maolin’s family to commoners, exiling them from the Capital.
Demoted to commoners, Jun Mobai smirked self-deprecatingly; he had been played by Su Jingchen. Clearly, this person belonged to him before he became the top scholar, so why was he loyal to the Emperor?
Jun Mobai racked his brain but couldn’t understand. Even if Su Jingchen could plan one step ahead, it shouldn’t account for events years down the line.
If his health hadn’t deteriorated, even having been demoted to a commoner, he certainly would confront Su Jingchen for settling scores. Unfortunately, as a commoner, he lacked expensive medicinal herbs for health conservation, making even normal life challenging now.
If only Jin Shourou were here, she always managed to concoct the most suitable prescriptions for his body.
Jun Mobai was stricken with sorrow.
While some rejoiced, others worried; where Jun Mobai despaired, Su Jingchen and Yu Xiaolian were filled with laughter.
Their child was already three months old, an utterly adorable and beloved infant, causing them daily bursts of laughter.
Yu Xiaolian bore a daughter, whom Su Jingchen named Su Yuntong, with the nickname Tongtong.
Yu Xiaolian never expected that the constant lack of appetite and nausea was due to carrying a baby girl.
From the time little Su Yuntong started laughing, she couldn’t stop, making it impossible for Yu Xiaolian to settle her score with her antics from the womb.
You won’t watch me, but if you do, I’ll smile; I won’t cry, eat until I’m full to sleep, wake to smile again.
Ah, babies are just that easygoing!
Su Jingchen spent three years paving Linzhou’s major roads with cement.
Though the cement roads were completed, the cement factory wasn’t disbanded.
The cement they used was strictly speaking three-mix soil, and not as solidly resistant as modern concrete; continuous production at the factory ensures supplies are readily available for ongoing road repairs.
Su Jingchen recommended Li Wenyuan as the Yangcheng County Magistrate. The Emperor approved but had no plans to summon Su Jingchen back to the Capital.
Currently, Linzhou was thriving, Su Jingchen’s position akin to that of Linzhou’s former king, existing as a local sovereign, contentedly enjoying carefree days there.
In the book, Su Jingchen was always a Capital Official, never stationed elsewhere; leaving the Capital meant acting as an Imperial Envoy to handle affairs for the Emperor. Their life trajectories vastly differed from the book now.
Su Jingchen stayed in Linzhou for three years, and even Yu Xiaolian fell in love with the place, believing a lifetime here wouldn’t be bad.
Su Jinghua attended the Women’s Virtue Academy in Linzhou since age ten, residing there during terms, only returning home during breaks. Nowadays, Yu Xiaolian found joy beyond caring for the child in corresponding with those in Yu State.
On this day, Yu Xiaolian received a stack of letters, eagerly opening them one by one to read.
The first letter was from Yu Changhe.
Yu Changhe received Yu Xiaolian’s letter, learning about her child’s birth, and wanted to visit her with Ms. Sun. However, both Master Sun and Lady Sun passed away, temporarily foiling their plans. The letter stated Yu Changhe would attempt to visit after arranging their affairs.
Yu Xiaolian set the letter aside; Master Sun and Lady Sun were nearly eighty already.
Eighty years old is considered a long life, whether ancient or modern, a celebrated passing.
The second letter was from Su Jingyue, now serving as Jiang Lin’s Deputy General alongside Sun Hu.
Indeed, Jiang Lin was now a capable General himself. After Jun Tingye dealt with Prince Jin and the Prince of Linzhou, he naturally wouldn’t rest assured in leaving southern military powers in Great General Yu Zhenwu’s hands, once friendly to the Prince of Linzhou.
Under subtle persuasion from Fu Yi, Yu Zhenwu voluntarily relinquished command due to years of campaigning and being physically spent.
Being so tactful, Jun Tingye naturally did not push for extermination; after all, Yu Zhenwu committed years defending the southern border with notable contributions. Randomly executing heroes could chill all military generals.
Yu Zhenwu stepped down, leaving the southern border unclaimed. Jiang Lin, having followed Yu Zhenwu for years, became the optimal choice.
Jiang Lin, now a third-rank military general, held a higher position than Su Jingchen.
Su Jingyue and Sun Hu, blending well with Jiang Lin, thrived in the military, happily forgetting home.
"This rascal, I asked him about marriage in the letter but never a word!" Yu Xiaolian reread the letter front to back, confirming that Su Jingyue indeed never addressed marriage, grumbling aloud.
"What does Yu Zhengyang marrying Fu Zihan have to do with him? Truly... does he ever consider himself? Already eighteen, whereas others at eighteen are fathers."
Yu Xiaolian gestured to Fang Cao, "Come, grind the ink!"
If not for the thousand-mile distance, she would dash to lecture Su Jingyue and Sun Hu. Zhao Sanyan is their age, already a mother, yet these two haven’t even picked a marriage partner!
Not rushing to marry, at least get engaged!
Truly worrisome!
Yu Xiaolian sighed while furiously scribbling with her brush.
She hoped the vigorous writing would convey her anger to them, hmph!
...
Jun Tingye shattered a tea cup on the floor, enraged, "Is there no one in all of Great Liang able to ease my troubles?"
"Your Majesty, I recommend someone!" Fu Qionglin spoke up.
"Speak!" Jun Tingye furrowed his brows, agitated beyond measure.
"I recommend Linzhou Magistrate Su Jingchen as the Salt Transport Envoy for the Two Huai region. Su Jingchen is upright, fiercely loyal to Your Majesty. Entrusting him with salt administration couldn’t be more fitting." Fu Qionglin confidently declared.
Jun Tingye’s eyes lit up, agreeing that Su Jingchen was indeed a suitable candidate.
"Why didn’t you say so earlier?" Jun Tingye chided Fu Qionglin.
Lately, salt administration troubled him incessantly; it caused unbearable distress.
Had it not been for secret information, he wouldn’t have known how Yin Jinghang exploited his position as Salt Transport Envoy for such vast corruption.
Over 10 million taels!!!
A fortune rivaling a nation!
What does this imply? Since inheriting the former Emperor’s messy legacy, his diligent "thriftiness" would yield yearly national fiscal revenues merely around 30 million taels.
Jun Tingye reflected on his private treasury, further disheartened—a mere Salt Transport Envoy richer than the Emperor himself, infuriating!
All that money belongs to me!
Having his cheese moved, Jun Tingye raged, thus heavily penalizing any officials involved, through raids and harsh punishments.
Penalties imposed, some executed, others exiled, yet past the fury, Jun Tingye found himself lacking usable officials.
Ever corrupt, only with variations in scale; frustrating!