The Heir

Сhaptеr 223: Тhе Sеtuр and Reversаl

Whеther Wang Dеcai trulу hаd his sights sеt оn thе Тian familу was not something outsiders nееded tо worrу аbоut. In аny саsе, Zhеn Niаng had аlready givеn thе neсessary wаrning. Even if Тian Ronghuа hаdn’t tаkеn it sеriоuslу at the timе, hоw cоuld thе Тian fаmily аffоrd to ignorе it nоw?

For Zhеn Niang, this was merеly a piесе of gоssip. What truly shаrреned hеr fосus wаs thе аneсdоte rеcоrded in the сlan gеnеаlogу уеаrs ago. It was аlmost certain that thе branch imprisоned for сolluding with thе Тatаrs was none other than the Li family’s Eighth Branch, to which she now belonged.

Back then, since Wang Decai had been exiled to Qiongzhou and no longer posed a threat to her family, Zhen Niang hadn’t felt any urgency. But now, with Wang Decai controlling Tian ink and, as Luo Wenqian had said, harboring deep hatred for the Li family, she had to be even more cautious.

Coincidentally, their return to Huizhou this time was for a grand clan celebration organized by Seventh Grandmother, honoring the Li family’s achievement of earning the title “World’s Finest Ink.” Her eldest aunt and uncle-in-law were also coming to join the festivities. Not long ago, her uncle-in-law Yao Qianshan had written in a letter that there had been some progress in uncovering the truth behind the incident where her father’s merchant convoy was attacked and looted by Tatars. Now, several months later, there should be further developments.

She would take the opportunity to ask her uncle-in-law for details, so as to guard against Wang Decai’s schemes.

Thus, the night passed without incident.

The next day, the Li family set off for Huizhou, with Luo Wenqian seeing them off at the dock.

Luo Wenqian would remain in Nanjing for a few more days to oversee the reorganization of Sifang Bank. Of course, he couldn’t neglect matters in Huizhou either, as he was unwilling to let slip the chance to reclaim Luo ink. As a result, he would be shuttling between the two places during this period. Fortunately, traveling on horseback was much faster than Zhen Niang’s journey by boat.

Therefore, he did not accompany Li Zhenniang and the others.

“Huh, isn’t that Steward Fang from the Tian family? When did the Tian family get involved with the Japanese envoy delegation? And why are members of the Qin family with them too?” Just as they were about to board the ship, Zhen Niang noticed the Japanese fleet preparing to set sail on the other side. Clearly, the Japanese envoy delegation had completed its mission and was returning home.

This in itself wasn’t surprising. What puzzled Zhen Niang was seeing Steward Fang, the Tian ink manager in Nanjing, directing his men to load crates of ink onto the ship. Beside him was Qin Si Shao, who was chatting animatedly with the head of the Japanese envoy delegation, accompanied by a few of his own men.

“It’s not that strange,” Luo Wenqian remarked, narrowing his eyes. “Currently, only a few hold the right to conduct overseas trade. In Nanjing, aside from Yi Hou Sheng Firm, there’s only Boss Wang’s Huiyuan Firm and Master Xi’s Xi Merchant Firm. These three have their own established circles, which the Tian and Qin families can’t penetrate. Now that Qin Si Shao’s cooperation with us is no longer possible, if they want to engage in overseas trade, they have no choice but to rely on the Japanese fleet and use their kanhe for passage.”

Kanhe was a type of tribute pass issued by the Ming Dynasty’s Maritime Trade Office to foreign envoys.

Hearing Luo Wenqian’s explanation, Zhen Niang understood. In essence, the Tian and Qin families had attached their merchant fleets to the Japanese trade delegation’s kanhe, thereby gaining the right to conduct overseas trade.This Chunzhi is truly not to be underestimated. Just after taking over the Tian family, she managed to obtain maritime rights in this manner, and now she's getting involved with the Qin family. From now on, the Tian family members will find it far from easy to reclaim their family property.

At this moment, Li Jingfu spotted Qin Si Shao and greeted him with great enthusiasm. Although Li Jingfu had heard some whispers about Qin Si Shao secretly scheming against Sifang Bank, he didn’t let it affect his demeanor.

For one, the debt of saving his life outweighed all else. For another, there had been some longstanding grievances between the Wang and Li families. Back then, due to the feud between Han Yigui and Wang Sifang, the Li family and Sifang Bank were actually at odds to some extent.

Thus, even though this collaboration didn’t work out, it didn’t significantly impact the relationship between Li Jingfu and the Qin family.

Qin Si Shao, upon seeing Li Jingfu, also clasped his hands in greeting.

However, Zhen Niang’s mind was racing as she watched the Tian family, the Qin family, and her own father standing together.

Suddenly, she recalled the anecdote in the clan records about the Eighth Branch colluding with the Tatars. There had been some points Zhen Niang hadn’t fully understood before.

Although Wang Decai was cunning, he had never been to the north, and he was merely a minor figure. How could he have known about her father’s collusion with the Tatars? Such accusations required evidence; they couldn’t be made without proof.

According to the anecdote, the witness who testified against her father for colluding with the Tatars was none other than the person who had partnered with him to establish the trading firm.

And events in this lifetime had proven that if Li Mo hadn’t risen to prominence, her father would have partnered with the Qin family to open the trading firm. After all, as recorded in the clan records, her father had wanted to earn money to reclaim the Li Family Ink Workshop from Wang Decai back then.

Looking back at that anecdote, it was almost certain that the one who testified against her father for colluding with the Tatars was likely a member of the Qin family.

With this, the whole picture became clear.

Thinking of this, Zhen Niang couldn’t help but grit her teeth. It was clearly the Qin family who had colluded with the Tatars, yet in the end, her father was accused. Wasn’t this a case of the thief crying "stop thief"?

Moreover, Zhen Niang decided that after returning home, she would need to discuss the Qin family matter thoroughly with her father.

"Brother Luo, how is your investigation into the Qin family’s collusion with the Tatars going?" Zhen Niang quietly pulled Luo Wenqian aside and asked softly.

"Originally, I truly couldn’t find any solid evidence. After all, if it was just one or two contacts, the Qin family could easily deny everything. However, this time, by using their own channels to help the two officials from the Weaving Bureau escape, the Qin family has thoroughly angered the court. After all, having court officials flee to Tatar territory is a blatant slap in the face to the imperial court. The court has now issued warrants for these two officials. Marshal Qi has already sent people to keep an eye on them, and word has it that they are currently in the hands of Ba Han Na Ji. Meanwhile, Bahanaji is currently feuding with his grandfather, old Anda, and is retreating toward the Ming’s Hu Fort. Marshal Qi’s plan is to directly eliminate Bahanaji’s forces, capture these two officials, and at the same time retaliate against Anda’s border incursions—killing two birds with one stone. Once these two officials are apprehended, the Qin family’s collusion with the Tatars will likely be impossible to cover up." Luo Wenqian narrowed his eyes as he spoke. In his view, the Qin family had dug their own grave this time.

Listening to Luo Wenqian’s words, Zhen Niang’s mind began to wander.

Bahanaji? This man was a key figure in opening mutual trade in the north.As for the matter Luo Wenqian mentioned about Bahanaji causing trouble with Anda, there is indeed historical record of it.

Bahanaji was Anda's grandson. At that time, Anda took a fancy to Zhong Jin, the fiancée of a neighboring Ordos chieftain, and forcibly took her for himself. This Zhong Jin was the famous Third Lady in history. After having his fiancée taken, the Ordos chieftain was furious and raised troops to attack Anda's tribe. The conflict went back and forth, never settling into peace. In the end, Anda compromised and betrothed his grandson Bahanaji's fiancée to the Ordos chieftain instead. This enraged Bahanaji, who then raised an army. However, he was no match for Anda and was ultimately defeated, fleeing to the Ming Dynasty's Hu Fortress, where he surrendered to the Ming.

In the end, both Anda and the Ming side used Bahanaji as a figure to begin peace negotiations. The final outcome was that the Ming opened border markets, while Anda handed over Zhao Quan and others—who had guided him during the Shizhou incident—to the Ming court.

"What's wrong?" Seeing Zhen Niang lost in thought, Luo Wenqian gently squeezed her hand and asked with a light laugh.

"Is Bahanaji's falling out with Anda due to his fiancée being taken?" Zhen Niang asked.

"Hah, you know about this too?" Luo Wenqian was greatly surprised.

"You told me," Zhen Niang said, raising her head slightly with a light smile.

"When did I say that?" Luo Wenqian was utterly confused.

"If you don't remember, forget it," Zhen Niang said with a calm expression.

Luo Wenqian rubbed his nose; he truly had no recollection.

At this point, Zhen Niang felt somewhat relieved about the Qin family's affairs, as she now had a clearer understanding of the situation.

What she hadn't expected, however, was that because the Qin family tried to swindle Sifang Bank by secretly helping the two from the Weaving Bureau escape, Marshal Qi's people were now keeping an eye on Bahanaji. She wondered whether this would ultimately affect the course of history.

Never mind—such matters were just her idle thoughts. The wheels of history had their own trajectory.

Just then, the boatman called for everyone to board the boat. Zhen Niang beckoned her father to board and waved goodbye to those who had come to see them off.

The journey was smooth, and after eight or nine days of sailing, they entered the Huizhou region.

"One more day and we'll reach Huizhou. Your Seventh Grandmother might already be waiting at the dock with others," Chou Po said, standing at the bow of the boat and gazing into the distance. This time, she was returning to Huizhou with Zhen Niang. In her own words, she intended to live out her remaining days in Huizhou.

"Mhm," Zhen Niang nodded, guessing that Seventh Grandmother might indeed be waiting at the dock with members of the Li clan to welcome the plaque inscribed with "World's Finest Ink," bestowed by the emperor himself. This was an honor for Li Mo.

Just then, when the boat docked midway, two people boarded—dressed as couriers from a relay station.

The two couriers sat down and began chatting. Before long, news spread on the boat that Third Young Master Xu from the Xu family's second branch had drowned.

Zhen Niang was shocked upon hearing this and approached the two couriers to inquire, "Sir, is it true that Third Young Master Xu drowned?"

"Of course it's true. We just came from Songjiang," the speaking courier replied with a dark expression, clearly displeased by Zhen Niang's doubt.

Zhen Niang offered a few polite words before asking for more details. She eventually learned that Third Young Master Xu had drowned after getting drunk."That Third Young Master Xu, who had always been exceedingly proud and successful, now suddenly finds his family embroiled in such a major incident. Those who used to call him brother and treat him as a close friend have all distanced themselves from him. How could he bear such a drastic change in fortune? So he drank a bit too much, and unexpectedly, while passing by the pond, he fell into the water. He didn’t have anyone with him at the time. It was only later when the servants went searching that they found his shoes left on the pond’s embankment. Eventually, everyone managed to pull him out, but he had long since stopped breathing," another constable said.

Upon hearing this news, Zhen Niang’s first thought was that Hai Rui was in trouble—his official career wouldn’t last much longer.

Xu Jie was no ordinary man. Although historically, Hai Rui had sentenced Xu’s eldest and second sons to military exile, considering the current circumstances, Zhen Niang was certain that the verdict was just words on paper—whether it would actually be carried out was far from certain. And now, with the death of Third Young Master Xu added to the mix...

Although Xu Jie had retired from office, his influence in the court remained extraordinary. And while Gao Gong had returned to the court, he now faced the rising star Zhang Juzheng. At this critical moment of consolidating his power, he couldn’t afford to offend Xu Jie’s faction too severely.

Moreover, Hai Rui’s temperament had made him deeply unpopular in the court. Thus, the death of Third Young Master Xu might very well become the turning point for the Xu family’s reversal of fortune and Hai Rui’s downfall.