The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!

Chapter 588: Chapter 539: Investigation_1

“How do you plan to help me?”

Yan Wenkai looked at Xiao Yeyang with anticipation.

Xiao Yeyang glanced at him and threw a stack of papers at him.

Yan Wenkai flipped through them and asked, “What are these?”

Xiao Yeyang countered without answering, “How much do you know about the Su Family?”

Yan Wenkai was somewhat unclear about Xiao Yeyang’s intention.

Xiao Yeyang hadn’t expected to get any useful information from him and continued on his own, “The Su Family is an old aristocratic family that has been in power for several hundred years. Such a family has more influence than you could imagine in their hands.”

“Take the current Su Family patriarch’s line, for instance. What catches everyone’s attention are his three legitimate sons who hold official positions at the Imperial Court. Very few pay attention to his several illegitimate sons.”

“Is it because his illegitimate sons are not outstanding enough?”

“No, it’s because the industries they are involved in can’t be brought out into the open.”

As he spoke, Xiao Yeyang pointed at the papers in Yan Wenkai’s hand, “What you are holding is all the information on the Su Family’s industries that the servants have collected.”

Yan Wenkai looked surprised, “Are you investigating the Su Family?”

Xiao Yeyang shook his head and laughed, “You should have seen the influence of aristocratic families in the localities. How could the Imperial Court ignore that? Not only the Su Family, but copies of information on all local aristocratic families are kept in the Imperial Palace. Now that we are part of the Jinling Guard, we naturally should understand the situation of the local aristocratic families well.”

Yan Wenkai was still a bit confused, “So, what do you mean by giving me these?”

Xiao Yeyang said lazily, “Some aristocratic families have grown too powerful and have become increasingly greedy, no longer satisfied with just earning a bit of silver.” With that, he sneered and looked at Yan Wenkai indolently.

“Why did the Su Family reject you? Besides the fact that your family’s status is not prominent enough, the most important reason is that they don’t see enough value in you.”

“When aristocratic families intermarry, it’s always about putting the exchange of interests first. Just show the appropriate value, and the Su Family won’t be able to refuse you.”

Yan Wenkai stared at Xiao Yeyang for a good while before asking, “How should I demonstrate my value?”

Xiao Yeyang glanced at the papers in his hand, “Take a good look at the Su Family, and come tell me what you discover after you’ve finished reading.” After saying this, he lowered his head and continued to read the secret letters.

Yan Wenkai looked at Xiao Yeyang, took the Su Family’s information, and went to his room where he handled official business.

…

Su Family.

After Madam Li left with Daohua, Madam Su went to Old Madam Su’s courtyard. Since Old Master Su was also there, she informed the two elders about Madam Li’s desire to marry Su Shiyu.

Old Madam Su was a person who knew when to let go and wouldn’t interfere too much in her grandchildren’s marriages. If her son and daughter-in-law came to her for advice, however, she would share her own opinions.

“The Yan Family’s status is indeed a bit lower, but if Wenkai really does not take any concubines, for Shiyu’s happiness, we can take a step back as well.”

Madam Su felt the same way. The Li Family of Yan wasn’t a wicked mother-in-law, and Shiyu, once married, wouldn’t have to deal with concubines. Since Yan Wenkai was decent in all aspects, she was truly moved by the prospect.

“We should still look a bit further,” said Old Master Su suddenly, clearly not quite satisfied with the Yan Family.

Old Madam Su looked at her husband, “What, you don’t think it’s good?”

Old Master Su glanced at his spouse and his third son’s wife, “I know what you’re thinking. I want Shiyu to be comfortable after she gets married too, but you can’t just focus on the backyard. You also have to take the whole Yan Family into account.”

“The Yan Family’s ship is still too feeble and small, its foundations not solid enough to withstand any significant tempest; a single wave could capsize it.”

“Yan Zhigao’s career path has indeed been smooth these years, but apart from his own abilities and luck, a big part of that is due to the Little Prince’s favor.”

“Without the Little Prince, he would still be the Seventh-rank County Magistrate, suppressed to death by Consultant Du, and the credit for promoting high-yield crops wouldn’t be attributed to him entirely. The merits he has made afterwards, more or less, were all influenced by the Little Prince.”

“But the Little Prince will have to return to Beijing eventually, and with the matter of Ma Fei being elevated to a formal wife, the Little Prince’s own prospects are uncertain, let alone the Yan Family.”

“After his term as Magistrate of Ningmen Prefecture ends, whether Yan Zhigao stays in the region or gets transferred to Beijing, his career won’t continue to be smooth. He might even get entangled in the conflict between the two legitimate sons of the Ping Prince Residence.”

“The power struggles of the Imperial Family are always fraught with blood and cruelty, and the Yan Family’s alliance with the Little Prince truly exemplifies the saying, ‘He rises by Xiao and falls by Xiao.’”

After hearing the analysis of Old Master Su, Madam Su’s bit of fancy toward the idea diminished somewhat: “Father is right, it’s my lack of comprehensive consideration.”

Old Master Su waved his hand: “The Yan Family isn’t without its merits. No matter what, Yan Zhigao’s capabilities have been recognized by the Emperor, and that boy Yan Wenxiu is even more astute than his father. It’s hard to say where the Yan Family’s future lies.”

“Next are those two lads, Wenkai and Wentao, who have always followed the Little Prince. If the Little Prince prospers, they naturally won’t fall short. But what if the Little Prince loses out to Ma and her son?”

“The Yan Family… is on the rise, but its prospects are too unstable. You want to marry Shiyu into such a family?”

Upon hearing this, the good impression Madam Su had accumulated for Yan Wenkai for not taking concubines was almost entirely dissipated.

Old Madam Su looked toward Old Master Su: “Weren’t you quite fond of that lad Wenkai? Praising his clever mind and martial skills, saying he’s bound to accomplish something great in the future.”

Old Master Su: “I do like the boy, but when it comes to my granddaughter’s marriage, I must consider all possible negative scenarios.”

Old Madam Su sighed: “I am quite fond of that lad too, always smiling, talking, and joking around, it’s a pity…”

Old Master Su nodded: “It is a pity; I had previously entertained the idea of proposing marriage to that lad, of course not for Shiyu.”

Both Old Madam Su and Madam Su showed curiosity: “Who then?”

Old Master Su: “The eldest illegitimate daughter, she’s about the same age as Wenkai.”

…

Yan Wenkai didn’t sleep the whole night, poring over the entirety of the Su Family’s assets. Apart from the material Xiao Yeyang gave him, he made several trips to the archive, checking all the information related to the Su Family.

As soon as Xiao Yeyang arrived and sat down, he saw Yan Wenkai with his panda eyes coming over and raised an eyebrow: “Finished reading the documents?”

Yan Wenkai nodded and placed the documents Xiao Yeyang had given him on the desk.

Xiao Yeyang smiled: “Tell me, what did you find out?”

Yan Wenkai looked at Xiao Yeyang: “The Su Family does have a lot of assets…”

Xiao Yeyang pointed at the stack of papers on the desk: “I have a lot of matters to deal with, and don’t have time to listen to your ramblings.”

Yan Wenkai cut to the chase: “The Su Family has been illicitly selling imperial kiln porcelain reserved for the court, you knew about this already, didn’t you?”

Xiao Yeyang looked at Yan Wenkai, his expression a mix of amusement and seriousness: “I’ll give you another chance, think carefully about how you should report this.”

Yan Wenkai conceded: “An offshoot of the Su Family supplies imperial kiln porcelain for the Imperial Mausoleum!”

Xiao Yeyang laughed: “Wenkai, as Jinling Guards, we all inevitably learn some secrets of other families, which might involve friends and kin. At such times, you need to be mentally prepared, whether to be loyal to your duty or consider personal relations.”

Yan Wenkai took a deep breath: “What are you planning to do?”

Xiao Yeyang smiled, and upon seeing Yan Wentao enter, he pulled out two pieces of paper from the desk and said with a smile: “Come on, accompany me on a trip to the Su Family.”

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