Chapter 926: Chapter 205: The Ji Surname (Part 3)

Ji Chengjue shook his head and said:

"He did it on purpose. He’s reminding Father that I’m in good terms with Zheng Fan, and that I’m about to get married. Meanwhile, his previously interrupted marriage with the county princess should be brought back on the schedule."

"I was foolish."

Master Zhang hastily admitted fault. Earlier, he was solely focused on mocking the Crown Prince in front of his master, failing to discern the deep meaning behind the Crown Prince’s actions.

"Is everything arranged?" Ji Chengjue asked.

"It’s arranged, master, but..."

"But what?"

"Master, you’re going to lay out all our cards, isn’t that..."

"Master Zhang."

"I’m here, Your Majesty."

"Since I entered the capital this time, I’ve said that I have no way back. Before, Father could whittle away and suppress the people around me because there wasn’t anyone I couldn’t give up.

Now,

I’m a father."

"Master, the child in the lady’s belly is also His Majesty’s grandchild."

"The Royal Family has no sentiment."

"Yes, Master."

"Let’s just gamble. Let’s bet that the officials of Qian State and the Regent of Chu State are not good characters to deal with. So, this time, let’s use the pretext of the grand wedding to lay it all open to him.

If the old man wants to see it, then let him see."

"By the way, Master, someone from Lord Pingye’s mansion has arrived, named Fanli."

"Fanli? Haha, I’ve always heard that Zheng Fan has a man named Fanli who is skilled in both literature and martial arts and is adept at schemes, with quite a reputation in the streets.

Where is he?"

"In the mansion."

"Alright, let’s go back to the mansion. Since he was sent by Zheng Fan, I must meet him personally."

The streets have long circulated stories of Lord Zheng’s general, Fanli, with many versions.

"Your Highness and Lord Pingye haven’t met for quite a while, have you?"

Last time, Master Zhang was ordered to go to Li Tian City because something happened with Lady Jingnan. That time, Zheng Fan arrived with Tian Wujing a day later, so they did meet.

"I envy him. Forget about the wild people nearby and the Chu people eyeing covetously, his place is really where the sky is high and the emperor is far away, free and unrestrained.

Now, he is free, while I must remain in this capital. Sometimes, when I think about it, I really feel the loss."

"Master, do you want to go to Snow Sea Pass?"

Ji Chengjue shook his head and said: 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Why go to Snow Sea Pass? To engage in some brotherly alliance?

Hahaha.

Then later, will the sky belong to Ji or Zheng?"

...

In the Imperial Study, the Yan Emperor continued holding the memorandum regarding the ticket office.

Wei Zhonghe was beside him grinding ink, pretending not to see.

"The Min Family once discussed establishing a Yan State ticket office with the late emperor, but he refused. I didn’t expect my son to bring it up again.

Wei Zhonghe,

tell me,

is it true that these businessmen always think they’re much smarter than others, thinking everyone around them is a fool?"

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince shouldn’t dare have such thoughts."

"He doesn’t dare? Haha, once he didn’t, but now he’s bolder than anyone."

"Your Majesty, I’ve heard that in certain areas of Qian State, they use something similar, called ’Jiaozi,’ which makes business much more convenient there."

The Yan Emperor shook his head and said, "This thing, I cannot use it, at least not now. I’ve just dismantled the clans, I wouldn’t want decades later for Yan to fall into the hands of a bunch of wealthy merchants."

With that said,

the Yan Emperor leaned slightly back.

Wei Zhonghe paused while grinding the ink and said:

"Your Majesty, reports from below indicate quite a few merchants and former officials have come to the capital recently.

Among them, there are..."

"People from the Min Family?"

The Yan Emperor once ordered Lord Jingnan to destroy the Min Family, and the Sixth Prince’s birth mother, Consort Min, was thrown into the cold palace, later granted white silk to hang herself.

The Min Family, long cast down for rebellion, can’t rehabilitate because it was personally ordered by the Yan Emperor, as emperors cannot err.

"Your Majesty, they are remnants of the Min Family."

The Min Family may have been destroyed, but outsiders may never know just how powerful its wealth truly was.

Because on the surface, the Min Family appeared just like an ordinary clan, but their financial network had woven a terrifying web.

It’s said that back then, the sprawling clans throughout Yan State controlled more than half of the land and population, whereas the Min Family nearly controlled more than half of the circulation.

From Yan and Chu, Yan and Jin, Yan and Qian, even to the distant western regions,

along the lengthy roads,

there were large merchant caravans flying the Min Family banner.

So,

when Consort Min entered the palace,

the Min Family head dared to offer such an extravagant dowry.

"Don’t show wealth," the Min Family head surely knew this creed, yet he remained fearless.

However, he misjudged the Yan Emperor.

Moreover, those clans that had been entrenched in Yan for centuries also misjudged him.

"Your Majesty, these Min Family remnants, unaware of the breadth of Heavenly Grace, I request permission, with the Spy Bureau..."

The Spy Bureau mobilizing to eradicate the Min Family remnants.

The Yan Emperor raised his hand to interrupt Wei Zhonghe’s request,

and said:

"Wei Zhonghe."

"I’m here, Your Majesty."

"Do you know why I ordered only Wujing to destroy the Min Family, but left its remnants alone?"

An economically based family, removing its core is like killing a spider and ignoring the massive web it has already spun.

The web and the connections it established are the real roots.

"I am foolish, please instruct me, Your Majesty."

"Because before, they bore the surname Min."

Saying this,

the Yan Emperor picked up the tea cup,

took a sip of tea,

chewing on some tea grains,

and continued:

"Now, they bear the surname Ji."

——————

The next Chapter contains a climax. I’ll try to write and post it all at once, probably around ten to twenty thousand words, so don’t wait up tonight.

I saw an amusing gripe from a reader who said Little Dragon has wished us goodnight for days on end, yet his schedule has collapsed, hahaha.

Indeed, my schedule has collapsed, sigh.

The next Chapter should be ready by tomorrow morning or noon, so don’t worry, hold on tight to the dragon!