novelraw Chapter 588 - 519: Acknowledging Ancestry?
Chapter 588 - 519: Acknowledging Ancestry?
Facts have proven that the Emperor’s suspicion and caution are not groundless worries.
The Kou Family and Prince Cheng’s Mansion together intervened in the Lianghuai Salt Field affairs, and placed the full blame of corruption on Minister Yin.
Of course, Minister Yin was not a virtuous official himself, but while others managed to escape unscathed, only he was left to take the fall. This left Minister Yin feeling extremely unbalanced, so even amidst threats from both Prince Cheng’s Mansion and the Loyal and Righteous Marquis Mansion, Minister Yin confided in the Emperor and revealed the truth before his death.
Anyway, his close relatives had already been implicated and exiled because of him, so he wasn’t concerned about distant kin anymore.
Saying they’d take care of his exiled wife and children, how is that possible?
Minister Yin understood clearly. As soon as he died, those exiled family members would likely join him. Rather than holding onto that slim hope, it would be better to drag them all to hell together.
Since the Emperor knew that Prince Cheng’s Mansion and the Loyal and Righteous Marquis Mansion had divided the court’s piece of the Lianghuai Salt Field cake, how could he remain indifferent?
But Prince Cheng’s mother is the Empress Dowager’s sister, so Prince Cheng is considered the Emperor’s closest brother. The Emperor didn’t wish to be ruthless, of course, only on the surface he didn’t want to.
Whether Prince Cheng dies or not, whether Prince Cheng’s Mansion fails or not, the Emperor doesn’t care too much, as long as the civil servants and imperial censors don’t accuse him of killing his kin.
Prince Cheng must die, but the cause of death must not be related to the Emperor.
As for Loyal and Righteous Marquis Kou Siyu, it was initially a matter of the Emperor’s word, but the problem was the Kou Family had a Death Exemption Token, so they couldn’t be touched for the moment.
Yu Xiaolian felt that Su Jingchen was like the Emperor’s pawn, ready to be moved wherever needed.
Since arriving in Yangzhou, Su Jingchen hadn’t had a moment of peace, teaching the salt workers how to distill and extract fine salt while dealing with the seemingly affable yet antagonistic Huai Salt Headquarters’ Cao Guangqiao.
Ever since Su Jingchen arrived in Yangzhou, Cao Guangqiao’s heart had been constantly on edge.
Failing to ambush Su Jingchen, with Su Jingchen capturing the living bandits, yet remaining patient and not acting, made Cao Guangqiao feel like there’s a sword dangling over his head, ready to fall at any moment and smash onto his skull.
This feeling of not knowing when danger will come was extremely unpleasant.
Cao Guangqiao wished Su Jingchen would just deal with him swiftly, but Su Jingchen refused.
Cao Guangqiao couldn’t figure out Su Jingchen’s tactics anymore.
As the end of the year approached, the first batch of refined salt was purified, and Su Jingchen sent someone to present the purified salt to the Emperor.
In passing, he mentioned Cao Guangqiao’s issues to the Emperor. Given the Emperor hadn’t dealt with Cao Guangqiao for such a long time, it was likely he wanted Su Jingchen and Cao Guangqiao to counterbalance each other.
But Su Jingchen believed that once he demonstrated his prowess to the Emperor and gained his recognition, Cao Guangqiao would become useless.
Sure enough, after the end of the year, the Emperor issued an edict transferring Cao Guangqiao away from Yangzhou.
The Emperor did not punish Cao Guangqiao, which left Su Jingchen feeling unsatisfied.
It seems the Emperor still valued these old ministers who once helped him ascend the throne and didn’t want them to feel disappointed.
But while the old ministers weren’t disheartened, Su Jingchen felt quite affected.
If he chose to bypass the matter, then he might just let Cao Guangqiao succeed.
The Emperor’s intent was clear: not to let Yu Xiaolian enter the capital as a ’hostage,’ and in exchange for Cao Guangqiao’s life.
Su Jingchen sighed inwardly, thinking no wonder Jun Tingye died so inexplicably in the Southern Border in the books.
With Cao Guangqiao transferred, Yangzhou seemed harmonious on the surface.
Yangzhou’s Prefect acquired the cement formula from Su Jingchen and began constructing cement roads.
Su Jingchen divided the tirelessly working salt workers into two groups, taking turns to work.
Yangzhou was full of harmony.
Except for Prince Cheng’s Heir Mansion.
The Princely Heir probed several times, trying to reach into the Lianghuai Salt Field, only to be lightly blocked by Su Jingchen.
On Ma Xiyue’s side, she tried to meet Yu Xiaolian but couldn’t find her.
After much difficulty, with the new year passing, Ma Xiyue thought Yu Xiaolian’s discomfort with the locale should be cleared up, but upon attempting to arrange another meeting, found out Yu Xiaolian had returned to her family in Yu State with her child.
The plan to start with Yu Xiaolian had fallen apart.
The Princely Heir was anxious about the profits he couldn’t touch.
When a person gets anxious, they start thinking of all kinds of ways.
Madam Kou brought Kou Siyu to Yangzhou.
To acknowledge relations!
No matter what, Kou Siyu and Su Jingchen are half-brothers, there’s no reason not to want to recognize the family name. The Kou Family believed that allowing Su Jingchen, the illegitimate child, to acknowledge his lineage was inexcusable.
As long as the Kou Family recognized Su Jingchen, he wouldn’t just be a merchant’s son but the famed grandson of the Loyal and Righteous Marquis.
As expected by Madam Kou, Su Jingchen agreed to acknowledge his lineage.
Agreeing is one thing, but it came with conditions.
"Inherit the title?" Madam Kou held back her anger, "You can forget about inheriting the title; Siyu is my legitimate grandson. The Marquis inheritance can only be his."
If not for Prince Cheng mediating between them, Madam Kou might have hesitated on acknowledging Su Jingchen.
She initially intended to recognize Su Jingchen; her legitimate grandson spent his days idly, doing nothing, seeing the Loyal and Righteous Marquis Mansion’s glory nearing its end. Recognizing the capable grandson seemed like the best plan.
But later, Madam Kou’s plans changed.
Su Jingchen’s capabilities were too strong; if he acknowledged lineage, it would likely overshadow the incapable legitimate grandson!
She wants to borrow Su Jingchen’s abilities but cannot let Su Jingchen surpass Kou Siyu. That was Madam Kou’s thought.
Madam Kou merely wanted to change Su Jingchen’s surname to Kou, enter the family genealogy, but had no intention of giving him anything further, nor could Su Jingchen touch it.
Seeing Su Jingchen not grateful, but rather daringly asking calmly for the Marquis title, Madam Kou was nearly infuriated by him.
Remembering Prince Cheng’s instructions, Madam Kou suppressed her anger.
"Siyu is the direct bloodline of the Kou family, making him inherit the title was agreed upon by the Emperor and many elders. As for you...having grown up elsewhere, now returning to snatch Siyu’s title, it wouldn’t easily win the people’s approval, they wouldn’t agree."
Su Jingchen smiled faintly, "Whether others agree or not is secondary; the main point is, do you, Madam, agree?"
Madam Kou suppressed her anger, "You child, until now refuse to call me grandmother. How do you want me to agree?"
Su Jingchen sneered, "If I can’t inherit the title, what significance does acknowledging my lineage have?"
"You say that, but you’re my son’s flesh, my grandson, carrying the blood of the Kou family, you should acknowledge your lineage, and unite sincerely with the Kou family. Given your scholarly talent, saying such lines, I feel ashamed!" Madam Kou proclaimed loudly.