Chapter 496: Affection

Chapter 496: Chapter 496: Affection

Shen Hao had already been aware of the romantic progress between the Xu Family Sisters and Bai Changqing. Under the arrangements of Zhu Shou, the "director," the trio’s emotional development followed a subtle progression, every leap forward spurred by reasonable events. Although the outcome seemed rare, those who knew all the "ins and outs" did not find it abrupt; on the contrary, it felt like a natural consequence of fate.

Now that the three were getting married, it was expected—not just by them but by all the participants of the Black Water Plan, who had long been awaiting this result.

However, the lavish festivities were indeed unexpected.

"With the situation in the south so tense and the Ministry of War just cleaned out by us, at a juncture like this, Bai Changqing would throw an extravagant celebration? What’s he thinking? This man is rather interesting."

By conventional standards, when tensions run high, everyone in the Imperial City especially should be extra cautious. This was somewhat unexpected.

Wang Jian, however, had an explanation. He said, "Actually, Bai Changqing mentioned this before. He said he would never allow the Xu Family Sisters to be slighted."

"Oh? He even made such promises? Tell me more," Shen Hao asked, quite interested. He wasn’t directly responsible for executing the Black Water Plan, so he didn’t know many of the details.

"Apparently, the Bai Family objected strenuously to Bai Changqing marrying the Xu Family Sisters as his principal wives. Some relatives even knelt and pleaded, insisting that if he must marry them, they could only be consorts—never principal wives. But Bai Changqing was undeterred. He claimed what he couldn’t let go of most in his first half of life was his wife. After her death, he thought his heart had died with her, yet the Xu Family Sisters awakened him again. He said he absolutely couldn’t betray their sincerity, so he insisted on marrying both as principal wives.

This caused quite a commotion in the Bai Family. Even the vagrants we posted outside heard the gossip from the household servants."

Shen Hao nodded in understanding. Bai Changqing was stubbornly refusing to disappoint the beauties’ affection. However, his family’s views were utterly different from his own.

This was easy to understand. According to the rules for Jing Old Dynasty Nobles, the family patriarch rules the external business, and the main wife manages the internal affairs. Although the patriarch holds direct authority over all matters, the internal affairs are generally handled by the main wife. Internal affairs include everything from financial matters to major family decisions and can easily shift the standing of household members.

There was also the issue of inheritance rights.

Bai Changqing was a cultivator, his cultivation at Gathering Spirit Realm First Layer, only seventy-six years old, and could easily live another fifty years. His sons, if they couldn’t cultivate, likely wouldn’t outlive him. But inheritance was still a concern. Once the Xu Family Sisters took the position of principal wives, both being young, they could accompany Bai Changqing till his death. Afterward, their offspring could inherit the Bai Family, utterly overturning the original line of succession.

"Heh, Bai Changqing might be sentimental, but he’s not exactly righteous. A typical case of seeking his own comfort without regard for others. The Bai Family was never built by him alone. If he insists on going his own way, it’ll turn into a mess," Shen Hao said, sympathizing with Bai Changqing’s headache. Such a big family wouldn’t be easy to appease.

"You’re right, sir. During today’s wedding ceremony, nearly forty percent of Bai’s direct relatives didn’t show up. Bai Changqing looked absolutely livid."

"Two principal wives, of equal standing?"

"Yes. Both Xu Zhiyuan and Xu Zhidi have equal status, side by side, both principal wives. The Empress’s decree designated them both as Third Grade."

Shen Hao stood and poured Wang Jian a cup of tea himself, smiling. "Congratulations. From today on, you have two people of real standing under you. The Black Water Plan finally has results you can present to others."

"It is all thanks to your wise leadership, sir, plus the help of our colleagues. I was just doing the legwork," Wang Jian said modestly as he got up to take the tea, not claiming credit for himself.

"Still know how to be humble—that’s good. One must never get too complacent; otherwise, you lose your drive. But I’m not wrong in saying you deserve the lead credit. And there are quite a few others who rendered service for the Black Water Plan.

So, draw up a list for me. I’ll consider how to best give out rewards. Do your best not to miss anyone, understood?"

"Understood, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Giving out rewards wouldn’t be an issue. Whether in silver coins or elixirs, the Black Banner Battalion’s resources could cover it. The elixirs wouldn’t be of high grade, mainly Small Nourishing Pills, but more silver coins could be dispensed. There was also conversion, following rules Wang Jian had been drafting earlier—this time, they could be applied directly.

From Shen Hao’s perspective, those at the base level of the Black Water Plan shouldn’t suffer losses; even if they couldn’t be given honors, they must be compensated materially. If anything could be passed on to their descendants, it would be. He’d never do the sort of thing where "you want the horse to run but won’t let it graze."

"However, sir, some rather unfavorable news has returned from the Imperial City this time."

"Unfavorable news? From the Ministry of War?" Shen Hao sat back down, not taking Wang Jian’s words very seriously. In his view, aside from the saber-rattling down south, what else could happen in the Imperial City? Most likely, just the usual factional struggles, things that still felt distant to him.

"It’s not from the Ministry of War, but the matter of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Qin Wenhe’s family."

"Qin Wenhe?" Shen Hao mused for a while before reacting. "You mean the Qin Family? What’s happened now?"

There was bad blood between the Qin Family and Shen Hao, so he put away his earlier relaxed attitude and prepared to listen more carefully.

"Sir, here’s what happened. These past few days, the Imperial City has been abuzz with rumors about the Qin Family. They say Miss Qin, Qin Xiangyu, was arrested without reason while vacationing in Fengri City, detained for several days before being released, and that several Black Shirt servants of hers died."

That was basically accurate, but the cause and process were deliberately blurred. Shen Hao, being a professional in such matters, could tell right away that the gossip was being spread in an orchestrated manner—and, noticeably, not by a professional; the techniques were crude. The aim was clearly to cast Miss Qin as a "victim," and once public opinion was cemented, any explanations would be many times more troublesome. They could even be dismissed as mere excuses.

"Anything else?"

"There’s also talk that Qin Xiangyu is engaged to the Fifth Prince and will soon become his consort in the Fifth Prince’s Mansion."

"The Fifth Prince? Prince Shou? Are you certain about this?"

"I had someone look into it; indeed, the Qin Family does have an engagement to the Fifth Prince, and it is Qin Xiangyu."

Shen Hao frowned at that, silent.

Wang Jian continued from the side, "Sir, someone is clearly laying the groundwork here. According to ’Four Divisions’ analysis, once these rumors about the Qin Family reach critical mass in the Imperial City, the next move will follow. Most likely, they’ll seize on this matter for a big show, and the target is you."