Chapter 970 - 809: Settling Accounts with the Xu Family

Inside and outside of Shi’en Hall, everything quieted down as everyone looked at the dragon-patterned red robe inside the hall, holding their breath.

Nowadays, Prince Fu replaced Emperor Ning in the spring sacrifice at the Mountain and River Altar, and was also ordered to supervise the summer taxes and autumn grains in Southern Zhili, just one step away from the position of Crown Prince, needing only the command of the Capital Camp’s military power and the title of Crown Prince.

If one were to speak of a backing, in this vast Jiangnan, there is no more significant backing than Prince Fu.

There were people in the alleys speculating that this time, His Majesty sending Prince Fu on a southern tour was to give the great families of Jiangnan a chance to stand by Prince Fu’s side, and also to let Prince Fu see clearly who was a friend and who was an enemy.

Xu Chongde was not the first to turn to Prince Fu, nor would he be the last.

At this moment, Xu Chongyi knelt on the ground, his mind racing.

He naturally knew that Marquis Wu Xiang died for Prince Fu, and that Zhang Xia was the widow of Marquis Wu Xiang. But in this world where people die and their lights go out, who would remember the sentiments of the deceased? Did Prince Fu come to the Xu family for their family business, or to form an alliance with the Zhang family?

Xu Chongyi couldn’t fathom it for the moment.

Just as he pondered, Prince Fu laughed with his hands behind his back and teased: "Xu Chongyi, you keep saying that other people’s official positions are granted by your Jinling Xu family... but I ask you, how did your son’s official title come about?"

Sweat broke out on Xu Chongyi’s forehead: "Reporting to Prince Fu, my son was a scholar in the 22nd year of Jianing, then studied for several years at the Imperial Academy, receiving top grades every year. Only after the Jiangning County Magistrate returned home for mourning in the 27th year of Jianing did my son fill this vacancy."

Prince Fu laughed: "Don’t be afraid, just joking with you."

Xu Chongyi let out a breath of relief, trembling as he stood up.

But just as he got halfway up, Prince Fu suddenly asked: "What about your other son, how did he get his official position?"

Xu Chongyi knelt back down: "My son was appointed as a third-ranking scholar personally by His Majesty in the 14th year of Jianing."

Prince Fu laughed heartily: "So he was a scholar, then having an official position makes sense. This old master, your younger son is a scholar, and Xu Chongde’s son is also a scholar. They’re both scholars, so don’t make up stories about others."

Xu Chongyi said hastily: "Your subject dared not."

"Stand up and speak," Prince Fu waved to Xu Chuanyin: "It’s my first time seeing a clan selection, may I take a look?"

Xu Chuanyin quickly offered the document rolls with both hands.

Prince Fu flipped through the documents one by one: "Xu Shu, Xu Shu, Xu Shu, Xu Shu, Xu Shu... Ah, Xu Jianzheng already has five votes."

He feigned confusion: "I have never witnessed a clan selection before; I wonder if Xu Jianzheng was selected as Clan Leader through it?"

Xu Chuanyin declared decisively: "Naturally! In a selection, the minority submits to the majority, among nine clan leaders, the one with five votes becomes the Clan Leader!"

"So that’s how it is," Prince Fu realized suddenly, then curiously asked: "And who are you?"

Xu Chuanyin smiled obsequiously: "I am Xu Chuanyin, who just led four elders from our Huqiu Xu family to vote for Xu Shu, Xu Jianzheng. I had told Xu Chongyi, the grandson, early on that the ancestral order must be maintained, but he just wouldn’t listen!"

Xu Chongyi erupted in anger: "You!"

Prince Fu turned his head to look: "What is it?"

Xu Chongyi immediately dropped all pretense of anger: "Nothing... I previously mentioned that the ancestral order should not be abandoned, it was Xu Chuanyin who misunderstood earlier."

Prince Fu clapped his hands in praise: "Rumor has it that the Xu family power struggle caused quite a stir, and even involved fighting at the doorsteps of Shi’en Hall, but I see it’s all nonsense, everything here is harmonious."

His gaze swept over the outside of the hall, where the Xu family members with bruises on their faces hastily lowered their heads.

Outside the hall, Qi Zhaoning poked her second sister Qi Zhaoyun with her elbow: "Sister, look, how majestic brother-in-law is, just like a hero in stories, yet still polite to you. How does that line in White Boat Record go again, with flowers and swords, drunk and cold, half a triumphant youth in spring wind, half with the courage of a General who sweeps across thousands of troops..."

Qi Zhaoyun interrupted: "But don’t forget that final judgment in White Boat Record, ’Taiping was settled by the General, but the General must not see Taiping. All the gains and losses through the ages are left to idle talk by fishermen and woodcutters, with a cup of murky wine.’

Qi Zhaoning retorted cutely: "Sister, why ruin the mood? Brother-in-law is about to ascend..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qi Zhaoyun had already covered her mouth, glanced back at Zhou Kuang, Qi Zhenzhu, and others nearby, and then reprimanded in a low voice: "Still babbling without restraint? This is how our Qi family fell!"

Qi Zhaoning’s expression darkened, muttering softly: "Alright, I got it. The Qi family was so illustrious in the past, but now during the cabinet minister selection, nobody even thinks the Qi family can compete, and the streets are full of idle gossip... Once you marry such a good match, who would dare bully our Qi family."

Qi Zhaoyun sighed: "Zhaoning, what counts as a good match?"

Qi Zhaoning thought for a moment and replied confidently: "Naturally, it means being well-matched in social status, mutual respect between husband and wife."

Qi Zhaoyun countered: "What about mutual affection?"

Qi Zhaoning replied as a matter of course: "After marriage, love naturally grows over time."

Standing outside Shi’en Hall, amid hundreds, Qi Zhaoyun appeared lonely: "After brother-in-law parted ways with my elder sister, he went to Guyuan, and my elder sister wept daily at home. Did they ever develop love over time?"

Qi Zhaoning defended: "Originally, they could have been a respectful couple, but our Qi family men were always unfriendly to brother-in-law, making his heart heavy and unresolved, forcing him to leave far away."

Qi Zhaoyun finally sighed: "That’s just half of it, high-born families are like shackles, Qi family women are doomed never to find true love."

...

...

At this moment in Shi’en Hall, several Xu family elders were waiting for Prince Fu to be finished, but Prince Fu showed no intention of leaving, full of interest.

Prince Fu put down the documents and looked at Zhang Xia curiously, asking: "May I ask dear sister-in-law, after the clan leader is selected, what happens next?"

The Xu Family’s expressions changed; this was clearly no misunderstanding, he understood perfectly well, aiming to settle all the Xu Family’s matters today.

Xu Chongyi cupped his hands and said, "Report to Your Highness, the newly appointed clan leader, there are many duties that still require careful deliberation..."

Prince Fu calmly replied, "I wasn’t asking you."

Xu Chongyi’s voice abruptly stopped.

Prince Fu smiled and looked at Zhang Xia: "Sister-in-law, you are well-read and knowledgeable, why don’t you speak."

Zhang Xia stood behind Mrs. Zhang, cupped his hands, and said, "Report to Your Highness, regarding the newly appointed clan leader, it naturally involves handing over the ancestral hall’s sacrificial items, bells, drums, ceremonial vessels, storeroom keys, public house keys, ancient clan rules, and original clan genealogy books—everything must be inventoried and registered."

Prince Fu responded with an "oh": "What are these used for?"

Zhang Xia fluently replied, "Clan rules and genealogy books are the power to revise genealogy, set rules, and judge right and wrong. Those who defy clan rules can be removed from the clan registry, their descendants unable to participate in the Imperial Examination, eventually falling into a degraded status."

Prince Fu uttered another "oh": "Who currently possesses these?"

Zhang Xia responded, "Meng Shan Gong."

Prince Fu glanced around: "Which one is Meng Shan Gong?"

Meng Shan Gong shakily stood up: "I am."

Prince Fu smiled: "Then let’s proceed with the handover without delay."

Meng Shan Gong hesitated for a moment, eventually gesturing towards the hall’s outside. Six juniors carried in three large boxes: "Rules, genealogies, and keys are all inside; the ceremonial vessels are bulky and are stored at the ancestral home in Songjiang. I will send someone to retrieve them tomorrow."

Prince Fu sternly spoke: "How can tomorrow suffice? This is a major clan matter and must be expedited. I see these young ones have sturdy legs; they should go now, and you should accompany them to ensure they don’t accidentally damage anything."

Meng Shan Gong sighed and cupped his hands: "Understood, I will go along with them now."

Only eight clan elders remained in the hall.

Then, Prince Fu asked again: "Sister-in-law, what else needs to be done for the clan leader’s handover?"

Zhang Xia again cupped his hands and replied: "Report to Your Highness, the second task involves clearing the land assets. Sacrificial fields, public lands, forests, shop fronts, dock deeds, clan school fields, fish-scale records must all be handed over. The clan leader will check the accounts, reconciling each ledger item without deficits, concealment, or unresolved debts."

Prince Fu responded with a long "oh": "Who currently possesses these?"

Zhang Xia answered: "Every family has them."

Prince Fu smiled at the group: "Then let’s hurry, once I’m done here, I want to visit Chaotian Palace; I’ve heard Daoist Master Zhang Li has written quite a few new stories, I’m curious if he’ll let me see them."

Xu Chongyi and others’ expressions shifted uncertainly, exchanging glances. Now, with the clan leader elected and pressed by Prince Fu to this extent, refusing is no longer an option.

Ultimately, Xu Chongyi sighed, waved his sleeve, and shortly thereafter, the Jinling Xu Family brought over ledgers and land deeds, totaling over twenty boxes.

Zhang Xia asked, "Is the deed for Zhen Garden among them?"

Xu Chongyi replied stiffly: "Yes."

Zhang Xia further questioned: "What about Songjiang Port?"

Xu Chongyi calmly replied: "Songjiang Port is my private asset, not clan property."

Xu Chuanyin’s expression changed: "When did Songjiang Port become your private property? Wasn’t that land clan property?"

Xu Chongyi confidently said: "Three years ago, I completed an agreement with the clan, spending ten thousand taels of silver to purchase it."

Xu Chuanyin immediately retorted: "How could that land be sold for a mere ten thousand taels? You surely took advantage of the Official’s illness, conspiring with Xu Chuanxi and Xu Mengshan to defraud the clan of its assets. No wonder Xu Mengshan sides with you; you were colluding all along!"

Xu Chongyi took a deep breath: "The official deed has been stamped by the government, witnessed by village chiefs, sub-heads, and mediators; the Official also placed his handprint, making your accusations baseless slander."

Xu Chuanyin laughed coldly three times: "Very well, I shall head to Dinghai Port shortly and inform my foster father; even with Songjiang Port in your hands, it’s nothing but a worthless piece of paper!"

Xu Chongyi was taken aback.

Everyone, including Zhang Xia, was stunned; Xiao Man was puzzled: "You also acknowledge a foster father?"

Prince Fu was also confused: "What did I miss? What foster father and son situation is this?"

Xu Chuanyin coughed lightly twice: "No, no, it’s the leader of the Anti-Japanese Army, they all call him foster father. I don’t know what name he goes by, so I called him that casually... Also, the clan assets in my hands will remain under my management."

Prince Fu turned to him with a seemingly amused expression: "Oh, are you planning to embezzle the clan assets?"

Xu Chuanyin hurriedly replied: "No, no, the... the leader of the Anti-Japanese Army agreed; today, once Xu Shu becomes the clan leader, I will continue managing the shop fronts and Dinghai Port, submitting monthly accounts, handing over fifty percent of the silver to the clan monthly. If you doubt me, you can send someone to inquire."

Zhang Xia thought for a moment: "Then it shall remain with you. Retrieve it first, audit the accounts, then you can continue managing."

"Alright." Xu Chuanyin breathed a sigh of relief and lifted his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Originally, he worried that the promise from the leader of the Anti-Japanese Army would be invalid here. Now it seems that leader is truly decisive.

At this point, Prince Fu was puzzled: "Sister-in-law, who is really in charge of the Anti-Japanese Army? How come I haven’t heard of such a figure in the Zhang family before?"