novelraw Chapter 589 - 520: Interested in the Death Exemption Token
Chapter 589 - 520: Interested in the Death Exemption Token
Su Jingchen got up and glanced at the old Kou family matriarch, "When I was young, the old matriarch knew of my existence but never considered letting me acknowledge my ancestry. Now seeing me ranked third-grade in the court, you come to play the deep blood connection? Isn’t it a bit late?
If the old matriarch cannot show full sincerity, I think there is no need to continue our conversation."
The old Kou family matriarch tightly gripped the corner of the desk, blood boiling.
"What exactly do you mean by sincerity? You might as well say it all at once!"
Su Jingchen’s expression remained unchanged, as he calmly spoke, "If the matriarch is unwilling to part with the title, perhaps I can do without it, but I am quite interested in that death exemption token of grandfather’s."
Grandfather, without calling her grandmother, but instead acknowledging the deceased loyal and righteous marquis grandfather, enraged the old Kou family matriarch.
Must he wait until she is dead before he calls her grandmother?
Death exemption token?
That was the reliance of the Kou family; only the Kou family in the entire Great Liang possessed it. The old Kou matriarch valued it heavier than the title, and seeing Su Jingchen speak more outrageously, more excessively, she became increasingly furious.
Kou Siyu, forbidden from speaking prior as instructed by the old matriarch, could no longer hold back seeing his grandmother vexed greatly.
"Grandmother, let us leave. Since he is willing to be the son of an unworthy merchant, why bother rescuing him."
The old Kou matriarch pressed Kou Siyu’s hand down. This grandson was unaware of the truth, but she knew it.
Nowadays, the Loyal and Righteous Marquis Mansion was already like a setting sun; if not considering for the Kou family, then it would be too late.
Now they sought nothing but for Su Jingchen, the Salt Transport Envoy of Lianghuai, to loosen his grip, let some fat slip, so they could accumulate savings, allowing future generations to live comfortably.
As for Prince Cheng and the others, Huizhou and Yangzhou were Prince Cheng’s fiefs; any good thing could not escape their notice.
As long as Su Jingchen was willing to unite with them, with the heavens high and the Emperor far away, they would merely need to be somewhat more cautious compared to collaborating with Official Yin.
Official Yin fell from grace, yet they retreated intact; the Emperor did not even suspect them in the slightest, which emboldened Prince Cheng and the Kou family instead of retreating.
"Jingchen, that death exemption token was traded for by your grandfather with his legs, the Kou family’s final reliance. Could you... request something else?" The old Kou matriarch no longer displayed the earlier anger, adopting a different tone instead.
Su Jingchen did not soften his demeanor or relent due to the old Kou matriarch’s change in tone. After all, the Emperor had already decreed for him to inherit the title; he merely needed to let the acknowledgement of ancestry spread, leaving the rest for the Emperor to handle.
"Show them out!" Su Jingchen coldly tossed out these two words and walked away without turning back.
The old Kou matriarch angrily smashed the teacup, "Su Jingchen, you unworthy descendant!
Despite being a top scorer, holding a high position, you know nothing of etiquette and shame, do not unite the family; alone like this, should you encounter trouble, no one will save you in the future!"
"Grandmother, he does not appreciate goodness; why agitate yourself so? Better that he does not return!" Kou Siyu supported the old matriarch as they walked out.
The old Kou matriarch cursed and swore all the way out of the Su family’s mansion, even walking unsteadily, evidently greatly vexed by Su Jingchen.
Kou Siyu had no sense of crisis, although the previous Emperor bestowed three generations of honor upon the Kou family, it had reached the last generation, he saw no difference whether to bear the title of the so-called Loyal and Righteous Marquis or not.
The Loyal and Righteous Marquis was merely an empty title, devoid of actual power, other than receiving some annual endowment, there was nothing else.
Since his grandfather passed, the previous Emperor ceased bestowing upon the Kou family; after the previous Emperor’s death, the new Emperor ascended, let alone bestowing, the Kou family was completely unnoticed.
Kou Siyu felt nothing bad living like this; he had good food, drink, a grand mansion, thousand acres of fertile land, far superior to many others; living this way was wonderful.
But his grandmother was prone to needless worries, and constantly urged him to interact with Prince Cheng. Prince Cheng was merely a carefree prince, how could he possibly reverse fortunes and ascend the throne?
If not concerned with extending the marquis title, their Kou family would be great and peaceful.
Yet, since few years ago, when the Kou family involved itself in Prince Cheng’s affairs and Lianghuai salt field, Kou Siyu knew it would be nearly impossible to disengage.
Official Yin was executed, the Kou family and Prince Cheng Mansion fortuitously escaped; in Kou Siyu’s opinion, his approach was to safeguard oneself, and live stably with the money scraped from Lianghuai salt field in previous years.
But everyone had their own thoughts; Kou Siyu aimed for his personal future, the old matriarch aimed for the Kou family’s future generations.
"So what if that Su Jingchen topped the scoring? So what if within three years he ranked third-grade in office? Can’t he possibly persuade the Emperor to extend the Kou family’s title?" Kou Siyu did not think Su Jingchen had such capabilities.
Back then, his grandfather sacrificed his legs, saving the previous Emperor, hence being exceptionally titled a marquis.
As for Su Jingchen, despite being a top scorer, he did not enter the Hanlin Academy, but was instead sent to the remote Northern Land as a County Magistrate.
That seventh-rank county official mostly consists of Advanced Scholars attaining.
Su Jingchen was evidently looked down upon by the Emperor, thus sent far and away.
As for the current role, Kou Siyu did not believe Su Jingchen was favored by the Emperor.
This Lianghuai salt field was indeed a place of dispute, appointing Su Jingchen was solely to give him hardship.
Kou Siyu inside the carriage, poured out his thoughts and discontent with the old Kou matriarch.
The old matriarch, disappointed at Kou Siyu, glared at him, "Once aboard Prince Cheng Mansion’s ship, it’s not ours to disembark; no use discussing anything else, the pressing need is to devise a way to pull Su Jingchen aboard Prince Cheng Mansion’s ship."
Kou Siyu was unwilling, curling his lips, "What’s so good about Su Jingchen? Isn’t he just a bookworm?"
"He is now the Salt Transport Envoy of Lianghuai, a rightful third-grade; you say what’s good about him?" The old matriarch felt her chest pain acting up.
"Grandmother, isn’t Prince Cheng content even after draining so much money from Official Yin’s hands? He must indeed harbor disloyalty?" Kou Siyu was not entirely foolish; he lowered his voice asking this.
The old matriarch’s gaze was faint and inscrutable, "Prince Cheng has his thoughts, nothing wrong with that."
Back then, the previous Emperor’s favorite son was Prince Cheng; but regrettably, Prince Cheng was then carefree, not interested in the throne, solely wishing to explore famous mountains and rivers, making home anywhere.
Later, the current Emperor, somehow found a maiden from the Witch Clan and presented her to the Emperor, utterly winning the Emperor’s favor, solidifying the precarious position of Crown Prince.
The old matriarch recalling Prince Cheng’s words days ago, increasingly felt the current Emperor wouldn’t reign long.
Hmph, as long as the Emperor clung to that Witch Clan’s Beneficial Gu maiden’s blood and still desired immortality, dying an untimely death was inevitable.
Once the Emperor perished, Prince Cheng’s ascendancy would be deservedly rightful; early planning by Prince Cheng now seemed correct.