TGCFNM -Chapter 303 Hong Shiyuan

The boat had been sailing for three days. To be safe, they hadn’t stopped along the way, except for Uncle Wu, who went ashore occasionally with a few men to restock supplies.

By the third day, when the boat finally slowed to a halt, a group of people was already waiting at the dock.

Uncle Wu went down first to exchange a few pleasantries, then gestured for Chu Ling and the others to disembark.

“Young Master, Lord Chu.” The newcomers bowed slightly.

Uncle Wu looked at Chu Ling and introduced them: “This is Hong Shiyuan of the Tiansheng Grand Bank. You can just call him Uncle Hong.”

“Uncle Hong.” Chu Ling nodded politely.

Hong Shiyuan smiled and nodded back, glancing at Uncle Wu in silent understanding.

Wan Sanjin stepped forward as well. “Uncle Hong, Uncle Wu must have sent you a message in advance, right? Make sure you give us a higher price.”

Hong Shiyuan: “……”

Really, you’re a Wan, maybe you should think about what you’re saying!

Uncle Wu cleared his throat lightly. “Don’t discuss business out here. Let’s first head to the inn and rest. We’ll have lunch together, and after that, we can go to the bank to appraise everything.”

Hong Shiyuan nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry, everything is ready. Follow me.”

Uncle Wu smiled and pulled Fuxiang’s father along for introductions, and the three of them walked side by side in front. The younger companions followed, unloading all their belongings from the boat.

When they arrived at the Fulai Inn, hot water had already been arranged in the rooms.

For safety reasons, Fuxiang’s father and the others didn’t plan to go out, so only Uncle Wu, Chu Ling, and the others went with Hong Shiyuan, while the rest had a simple meal inside the inn.

At a private room in the restaurant arranged by Hong Shiyuan, he waved for the attendants to leave and then said to the group, “The entire second floor is empty. You can speak freely here.”

Uncle Wu took a note from his sleeve and handed it over. “A letter from the Eldest Young Master to the Young Master.”

Hong Shiyuan glanced at it and said directly, “No major issues. The Eldest Young Master has released quite a few men here. You can mobilize up to thirty percent of the forces without any problems.”

Uncle Wu nodded. “We won’t need thirty percent. I also have Cao Tong and Yan Sheng; the main thing is just to ensure they get through safely.”

Hong Shiyuan stood and burned the note, then added with a trace of sarcasm, “Back then, the slaughter of the Yuanzhou army was a grave mistake. In the capital, anyone who even mentioned it would die. Yet in Yuanzhou City, someone still dared to profit from it—truly reckless.”

Uncle Wu asked gravely, “What about that mighty general?”

Hong Shiyuan sat down. “He’s a hot-blooded young man, eager to make a name for himself. Most importantly, he intends to support the Lian family.”

“Support the Lian family?” Uncle Wu frowned.

Hong Shiyuan nodded. “Originally, the Gao family was set up as a target, drawing everyone’s attention. But the Young Lord Xiao had a skilled ally, and the Gao family was crushed. That careless palace maid also caused the little prince to die, and the Noble Consort Gao hanged herself.”

“A skilled ally?” Wan Sanjin paused mid-bite and looked at Chu Ling. “Lord, are you the one?”

Chu Ling was surprised. “I’ve become a skilled ally?”

Uncle Wu hesitated, looking at their earnest faces, sensing something was wrong. “You’d better tell me exactly what happened.”

Chu Ling shrugged nonchalantly. “Probably just that the Gao family and I… weren’t compatible.”

Uncle Wu fixed them with a threatening gaze, then gradually pieced together the truth from their words.

After hearing this, Uncle Hong praised, “Well judged. Those few sons of the Gao family were unworthy of being human. The old master of the Gao family, relying on Noble Consort Gao, acted as he pleased. They truly deserved to be executed.”

Uncle Wu nodded as well; indeed, the case against the Gao family had been handled properly.

Uncle Hong then looked at Chu Ling: “Your handling of this matter was also fine. Entrusting it to the Prince was the better approach—it avoids entanglement. But the Prince Xiao is clever. After such a suppression, the former Consort Shu immediately rose to Noble Consort Shu, and Prince Xiao now shines brilliantly. Even that exalted person holds him in high regard.”

Ghost Scholar understood and lightly patted Chu Ling on the shoulder: “At present, Prince Xiao is probably the emperor’s most favored rising star. Though he is of the grandson generation, he pleases the emperor even more than the sons.”

Chu Ling looked at Uncle Hong and said, “There’s mutual use at play here. I wanted to punish the Gao family; he wanted to suppress them. But in the end, he is the one who benefits.”

Uncle Hong nodded. “If things continue like this, his chances are very high.”

“No, they’re not,” Chu Ling replied decisively. “As long as he doesn’t give up trying to win over the noble families, that person above will never truly trust him.”

Moreover, this old emperor might not actually be as feeble and incompetent as he seems. Otherwise, his adult sons would have long overthrown him.

Uncle Hong lowered his gaze, considering. “That’s possible. But as things stand now, the tide seems to be turning in his favor.”

Chu Ling smiled. “If the tide’s all toward him, isn’t that dangerous?”

“Danger is also opportunity. Let’s see if he has the ability,” Uncle Hong said.

Recalling the few times she had met Xiao Lengjue, combined with the heavy emphasis in the books, Chu Ling answered thoughtfully: “He has a very good chance and strong abilities, but I still don’t think it will be him.”

In this life, Xiao Lengjue no longer has Chu Yue to assist him. Although Chu Rou warned him in advance about what would happen, it doesn’t help much. He can no longer claim half of Wan Xing’s estate or access to Tianxia Zhi to monitor the world.

So, in effect, the wings he had in his previous life are gone this time.

Little Tiger may have wings and can compete a bit against the big tigers, but now, he cannot defeat them.

Uncle Hong looked at Chu Ling deeply: “It’s a pity you are only willing to be a county magistrate.”

Wan Sanjin immediately interjected: “Not just willing—you can only be.”

Chu Ling: “…That’s not entirely wrong.”

Uncle Hong shook his head with a wry smile. “Alright, back to the topic. Speaking of the Lian family, many people do not recognize the title of ‘Mighty General’ now, because he has no military achievements and was suddenly elevated. So the Lian family is under scrutiny and cannot make a single misstep.”

Chu Ling frowned: How dare they act recklessly?

Wan Sanjin curiously asked, “What did this Lian Wu do before? I’ve never heard of him.”

Uncle Hong explained: “The Lian family was implicated by the Mighty General’s household, so only Lian Wu remained in the Imperial Guards. Everyone thought the Lian family would decline, but unexpectedly, after the Gao family fell, that person remembered the Lian family… Now, Lian Wu’s father, Lian Sheng, is in the Ministry of War, and Lian Wu received the title of Mighty General to train the Yuanzhou army. Lian Wu’s younger brother, Lian Ci, also became a deputy general.”

Chu Ling was a bit surprised—so there’s a connection to the Mighty General’s household?

Cui Xi, teasing Wangcai, tugged on Chu Ling’s sleeve upon hearing this: “General Lian Sheng is the deputy of the old general.”

Chu Ling understood. No wonder the Lian family was implicated. However, the old general cleared his name with his death, indirectly protecting the Lian family from misfortune.

Uncle Hong finished speaking and looked at Chu Ling: “So if news of the ritual reaches the capital, whether the Lian family will suffer punishment is uncertain. Supporting them further would be troublesome, but the matter has been noted in the records. The old guard may be spared for now, but the new guard will surely serve as a warning.”

Chu Ling understood.

The old emperor may show leniency, since the target is newly established.

But the new emperor will definitely punish to warn others and secure the throne.