Chapter 323: Surrender As Soon As Possible
“Jin Qinw.a.n.g isn’t that easy to exploit. The Pei clan ultimately will end up empty-handed. These things, right now, appear to be very detrimental to us, but rather than leaving in that old thing’s hands, letting us be in a very unfavorable situation, it’s better to directly hand over to Jin Qinw.a.n.g. Based on Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s current att.i.tude, he doesn’t plan on thoroughly reorganizing Jiangnan’s official circle, appearing more like wanting those officials to spit out however much they ate. The officials from our Min clan, even if a little greedy, in the end, still have the Min clan to depend on, so in terms of wealth, not really lacking, also having a limit to their greed. As for the few that have been tainted with human life, or perhaps the heart too dark, embezzling too much, these people are just equivalent to a blight. Considering for the sake of the Min clan’s foundation, it’s better to directly abandon them. However much the clansmen embezzled just return however much. Based on the Min clan’s acc.u.mulated wealth, even if returning several times more, it’s all not a problem. As such, the things that Pei clan old fox has in hand will for the most part be equal to waste paper.”
“What if Jin Qinw.a.n.g still insist on looking into it? Moreover, this kind of thing, are you sure as long as Jin Qinw.a.n.g says he won’t look into, he can just not look into?”
“These at most just involve a portion of people, even if continuing to look into, it still won’t ask for their life, at most just getting dismissed and relieved from their post. It won’t affect the Min clan’s foundation. Moreover, after severing relations with the Pei clan, the Min clan in the future, in the imperial court, won’t have obstructions. As for whether or not Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s words have weight, eldest brother, you really think Jin Qinw.a.n.g is as what the information from the capital say?”
“What do you mean?” Min clan leader’s expression grew a bit more solemn.
“The literal meaning.” That’s right, precisely the literal meaning. There was simply no need to say more. As someone in charge of steering an influential family, they were usually all very good at a.n.a.lyzing and reflecting.
The Min clan leader slightly hung his eyes, quietly contemplating.
Min Yu Han slightly mocked, “That Pei clan old fox wants to use Jin Qinw.a.n.g to let the Pei clan rise again, not only so, even wants to reach the heavens in one step. Unfortunately, Jin Qinw.a.n.g isn’t isolated without help. The Pei clan’s a.s.sistance, to him, perhaps is even less than sc.r.a.ps. Moreover, that old thing’s heart is too big, yet also unwilling to put in effort. This kind of person, as a ruler, who would like? The things the Pei clan can do, the Min clan can do too, and can even do even better and even more of.”
“As a large influential family, taking a side in the battle for the throne isn’t wise.” Influential families were too enormous, dividing into sectors and branches. They have acc.u.mulated wealth, have foundation, so there was completely no need to stake all on one throw and have the entire clan staked on a gamble. The most reliable method was even if taking a side, it’s just a portion of the people. In the end, even if losing, for this family clan, it also won’t damage the roots. After all, generally speaking, the final winner won’t do something as deranged as exterminating the entire clan of those that had a.s.sisted the loser, and if encountering the open-minded, or for the sake of ‘building face’ type of ruler, perhaps they will even be put in an important position. And if one wins, the obtained benefits will belong to the entire clan.
The mockery in Min Yu Han’s heart grew even more. Actually, these people, in essence, were all the same. It was just that this older brother of his wasn’t that underhanded and shameless like that Pei clan old fool. The bottom line that one should have, he still strongly defended. In the past, he never felt that there was anything wrong with this, but now, no matter how one looked, it was just unpleasant. However, as long as it doesn’t conflict with what he’s doing, then naturally it’s all irrelevant. “Wealth and honor are sought in danger. Negligible things, Jin Qinw.a.n.g doesn’t need, so if we’re going to commit, then naturally will have to give our all. The large influential families at present aren’t like the past, able to share the mountains and rivers with the ruler. To want to advance a step further, one naturally can’t be afraid of the slightest thing. The Pei clan, for a very long period of time, has been publicly considered Jiangnan’s number one ill.u.s.trious clan. Even if withdrawing from the imperial court, they all still maintain this. But now, they are destined to fall. The Min clan…………….isn’t necessarily unable to replace them.”
Because he understood, that’s why, Min Yu Han very easily grasped this elder brother’s weakness, and just as expected, he saw his eyes brightly light up.
Min Yu Han wants to do everything he can to help Jin Qinw.a.n.g onto the throne. Borrowing the Min clan’s power was the best option. Although the other party might not need it, but he still wants to do a bit of something……………
“Jin Qinw.a.n.g in the end……….how certain are you?”
“Seventy percent.” Speaking of which, this was still the conservative answer. If up to him, it should just be a hundred percent, because he believed in him, and also because some things don’t allow for failure.
“I need to think it over.” Min clan leader clenched his fist. It can be seen, his mood wasn’t stable.
“Naturally. After all, the matter is of great concern. Elder brother, as the leader of a clan, ought to be solemn.” Min Yu Han expectedly nodded.
The Min clan leader stroked his beard and nodded, “Regarding Pei Xiu Ying, if Yu Han truly has taken a fancy to, in the future, it’s not necessarily impossible to take in.”
“If I really were to take her in, then that would be an insult to Guan Guan.” His original goal was to just give the Pei clan some trouble, and peel Pei Xiu Ying’s reputation. If that old thing is truly able to just from then on give up, and no longer ‘trouble’ Jin Qinw.a.n.g, then of course it’s for the best, but it was obvious, this possibility really wasn’t high. Speaking of which, if not for Pei Xiu Ying self-willingly lowering herself, having certain thoughts on her own, Min Yu Han wouldn’t have done this either. After all, she was just a beautiful young girl. At his age, he wouldn’t really go as far as to make things difficult for her for no reason, can only say ‘to commit sins on one’s own’………….
Just, standing from the perspective of those that believe they can devote everything to the family clan, they probably forever won’t feel they are wrong. “I’ll be going back first.”
“En, go back and rest then.”
Min Yu Han left. He was very clear, this elder brother of his will certainly agree. The t.i.tle of number one influential family, even now, still makes one’s heart move.
Just as expected, the next day, the Min clan clan leader just came looking for Min Yu Han, “This matter is of great importance. Fourth brother, afraid, will even need for you to personally take the trip.” Speaking to here, his expression was somewhat troubled. A few days ago, this fourth brother, after meeting Jin Qinw.a.n.g once, just fainted. This time, to go visit again…….”If fourth brother doesn’t want to go, this older brother will look for someone else.”
“No worries. A few days ago, it was nothing more than suddenly meeting, for a moment, unable to maintain oneself.” In reality, he didn’t dare to look directly at Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s face too much, just fearing that if he sees, he’ll just lose control, and do something rude, making the other party unhappy.
“Fourth brother doesn’t need to make things difficult for oneself.” Although said as such, judging from that expression, he still very much wanted Min Yu Han to take the trip.
Min Yu Han inwardly thought to himself, sure enough, after being the clan leader for so long, everything all becomes this hypocritical. To all be like this when facing one’s own brother, would it kill you to be a bit more candid? As such, Min Yu Han also didn’t say any more, directly taking the things the Min clan leader prepared, and shortly after, just let someone prepare the horse carriage, leaving for Chuanzhou Fu. As for those ladies that returned from the Pei clan, the Min clan naturally won’t treat them unfairly. On the contrary, they will have them taken care of properly. In a certain sense, they were already prepared for their great return[1].
(T/N: I feel like rather than hypocritical, saying pa.s.sive-aggressive is more fitting to the scenario.)
Meanwhile, Shannan Prefecture’s provincial exam has already all-around ended. Because there was Jin Qinw.a.n.g personally holding the lines, naturally there won’t be situations where one grades the exam papers based on one’s personal preference appearing. Regardless whether it’s liking ones with beautiful rhetoric, or ones that were honest and upright, all tossed to one side. All in all, need to have substance, and of course, having pretty good calligraphy was also very important.
The top three weren’t personally picked by Li Hong Yuan, but it was still something he nodded to. In any case, at this time, no one would do something stupid.
Once this matter thoroughly ended, pacifying a bunch of scholars’ heart, Li Hong Yuan seemingly finally recalled the Prefectural Minister of Education that was being detained in his own home.
Li Hong Yuan personally brought the Shannan Prefecture’s Prefectural Minister of Education in for interrogation. And education officials that just had their skin all stretched tight to begin with, at this time, naturally just grew even more nervous, not to mention those who already had problems to begin with. Li Su Yan, this Black Clad Guard Captain, was very skilled in interrogating people. Jin Qinw.a.n.g also wasn’t bad. The process of their interrogation was unknown, but all in all, in less than two hours, the black clad guards once again set out in succession. Aside from Chongzhou Fu, the other fu of Shannan Prefecture all got sent people. Clearly this was a big movement, and that Prefectural Minister of Education also formally got his official cap removed and stripped of his court attire, preparing to be escorted back to the capital.
When Li Hong Yuan returned to the villa, Jing Wan strangely felt that he seemingly carried the smell of blood on him. However, after carefully sniffing, there seemingly wasn’t anything at all.
“What is Wan Wan doing?” Li Hong Yuan lifted his brow in confusion.
“Smelling to see if you have the scent of rouge and powder on you.” Jing Wan shallowly smiled.
“Is that so? Then better carefully smell.” Li Hong Yuan used the back of his fingers to lightly caress her cheek, “Perhaps it got on the body, why don’t Wan Wan help this husband change first?”
Lowering the tone of his voice, leaning close to the ear, the seduction techniques that would play out from time to time, Jing Wan was still a bit unable to resist.
And precisely at this time, Min Yu Han just happened to come looking. In reality, what happened at the Pei clan main residence, Li Hong Yuan also roughly knew already. As for the details, he was unable to find out. The reason was still that line, the ones closely serving by the masters, for the most part, are all house-born servants. To want to have these people turned into spies was difficult. In a certain sense, it was simply just wasting effort, so naturally he was just too lazy to do anything. However, even without his order, the people a.s.signed in Jiangnan won’t completely do nothing. They didn’t need to penetrate too deeply, just the edges and corners was fine.
Jing Wan actually was also a bit interested. This former fiance of the Imperial n.o.ble Consort can also be considered an emotionally rich and candid person, yet also quite ruthless in making a move. The Pei clan and Min clan have been tied together by interest for many years and by many people. Perhaps in recent years, some cracks have appeared, but it was also hidden very deeply. This time, even if not thoroughly tearing the face, the two families also have clearly become hostile.
Li Hong Yuan went to go meet Min Yu Han, bringing Jing Wan along.
This naturally was Min Yu Han’s first time meeting Jing Wan. Of course, it was just a quick glimpse, vaguely recalling in his memories, last year, at Chengde Imperial Residence, Jin Qinw.a.n.g said that even just wanting to marry the girl he liked, he all needed to scheme in every way possible. Presumably, should be referring to this Jin w.a.n.gfei. Seeing Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s att.i.tude, one could just tell that he genuinely had Jin w.a.n.gfei placed in his heart. People such as the Pei clan leader will suspect that Li Hong Yuan was putting on an act, but Min Yu Han won’t, because he once deeply loved before, and very clearly understood these true feelings.
All say Jin Qinw.a.n.g l.u.s.ted after beauties, and as long as it was a beauty, everything else can all be ignored. Sure enough, this couldn’t be more wrong.
People also say Jin w.a.n.gfei was easily jealous, shrewish, and unable to tolerate people, but in his eyes, that’s also because Jin Qinw.a.n.g was happily willing himself. Because he deeply loved, because he adored her like the pearl of his eye, that’s why, he was unwilling to let her feel wronged.
Jing Wan looked over Min Yu Han. Sure enough, a handsome older man. In her eyes, he was also an adequate male G.o.d type, even an infatuated male G.o.d. Although on him, there were still some places to criticize, but compared to Le Cheng Emperor, he was still much better.
[1] Not a hundred percent certain but I do think this is referring to admitting them back into the clan, not in the physical sense, but like in regard to their ancestral records.