Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 357 This wealthy family isn't white enough

When the Yan brothers fled the mansion one after the other, Madam Yan heard the news in the backyard.

After the servant finished relaying the news, she vaguely sensed something was wrong. But thinking of how all-powerful the old man was, and how countless people had impeached the Yan family over the decades, yet the emperor had ultimately chosen to turn a blind eye, she wondered if the news might be true.

She has been married into the Yan family for over twenty years, and from the moment she entered the house, she has witnessed the emperor's various favors towards the Yan family. Although there are several cabinet ministers in the cabinet, they are all Yan Song's own people.

Yan Song can no longer be called the emperor's right arm; he is the emperor's limbs and mouthpiece!
Without the old man, who would do the things the emperor needed to do?
What's a few coins deducted from the Crown Prince? Every year, the tribute from the capital is selected and kept by the Yan family, with only the second-best items sent to the palace!

The old man served the emperor with all his heart and soul, so it's only right that he spends a little money!

How could it possibly lead to murder?

Even if the emperor actually issued an order to kill, it was not certain that the person would actually be killed.

Yesterday, he was so angry that he said he wanted to kill someone, but in the end, the old man still managed to change his mind.
If it was possible yesterday, then it certainly will be possible today!

No matter how many times the emperor orders someone to be killed, as long as the Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn't actually chop off Yan Shu's head, he'll never die!

With this thought, Madam Yan felt more at ease.

It wasn't until the servants came crying and told her that the eldest and second young masters had carried her back that she suddenly stood up, asked a few questions in a row, and then her vision went black. The white jade cup with the taotie pattern in her hand fell to the ground, and she slumped into the arms of her maid!
"You really killed him? You really killed him?"

None of the servants dared to provoke bad luck at this moment; they simply pointed tremblingly towards the door.

Yan Shu's body has been removed from the cart and placed in the front yard.

Madam Yan looked at the incomplete object from afar, stepped forward and lifted the cloth, then screamed "Ah!" and fell to the ground!

The servants rushed to help him up.

Lu Ying, the only one still able to remain conscious, immediately gave the order: "Help the old master, madam, and third young master to their rooms to rest! The rest of you stay and await instructions from the eldest young master!"

Afterwards, she pinched her hands hard together inside her sleeves, then looked down and asked Yan Liang, who was sitting on the steps, "Shouldn't we hurry up and send someone to prepare Father's body for burial? It's not appropriate to leave it out in the sun like this."

Yan Liang's voice was hoarse: "Mother had already prepared clothes for Father. The body will be laid to rest in the cleaned shrine first, and then people will be sent to pack it. The stewards will be notified to hang white paper immediately and to arrange the funeral."

"I still need to take care of my grandparents. I don't know if there will be any further developments in the palace. There will be other matters to deal with after my grandfather wakes up. I'll leave this to you."

He propped himself up on his knees and stumbled into the inner room.

The stewards who had received the message all came looking for Lu Ying.

Yan Shu still had parents alive, so his body could not be placed in the ancestral hall for mourning. Therefore, it could only be temporarily placed at his residence. Later, a space in the courtyard next to the ancestral hall was prepared and used as the mourning hall.

The entire household was thus thrown into a flurry of activity.

The bedroom that Madam Yan had meticulously prepared for her husband eventually became a morgue. His brand-new lapis lazuli and emerald-patterned robe became his burial clothes, and the white jade cup with taotie patterns, which had not been broken, was filled with wine offered before his spirit tablet.

The welcoming feast, laden with delicacies, was then placed on the altar as an offering! In less than half a day, white banners were hung on the Yan family's gate, announcing the death of Grand Secretary Yan's precious only son, and the news spread throughout the capital.

After the three hundred lashes were finished, the Yan family father and son left the palace. The emperor was still furious and summoned the heads of various government departments to Shen Bo, ordering him to detail Yan's crime of embezzling the crown prince's annual allowance. He also ordered Lu Jie to return to the Ministry of Revenue to retrieve relevant documents for comparison. Unsurprisingly, a group of officials who had served as Yan's lackeys were also implicated.

Those in key positions acted swiftly to remedy the situation, shifting blame to subordinates for what they could, and immediately seeking allies to counter what they couldn't. Ultimately, the emperor did not punish Yan Song severely, and the situation did not deteriorate to the point of panic.

After replying, Lu Jie was the first to walk out of the palace gate. By then, the sun was setting in the west, and half a day had already passed.

He squinted at the crowd gathered in the distance. Several stray dogs were sniffing around on the ground in front of the crowd. People were pointing and talking about the few remaining bloodstains on the ground, and every word they said was about the extravagance and viciousness of the Yan family over the years.

The fragrance of osmanthus blossoms wafted on the breeze. He flicked his sleeves and strode into the street. Lu Rong followed behind in his carriage, while Yang Bonong, carrying wine, waited for him with a smile on the curb ahead.

Once aboard the carriage, Lu Jie waved his hand and said, "Let's go! We'll see the young Grand Secretary off!"

Yang Bonong smiled at him, took his hand and got into the car, and together they headed towards the Yan residence.

Yang Bonong's father was also an official in the court. More than 20 years ago, he was dismissed from his post when Yan Shu helped Yan Song eliminate his political opponents. He later died on his way back to his hometown.

There are countless people with backgrounds like Yang Bonong's, so the Yan family naturally wouldn't remember him. More than ten years ago, the Yan family approached Lu Jie to arrange a marriage between him and Jiang. Yang Bonong was present at the time, and on that day, he frankly revealed his background to Lu Jie. Later, the marriage was arranged.

He and Lu Jie went from being close friends to becoming comrades-in-arms who would share life and death.

"This door isn't white enough."

The carriage stopped on the road opposite the Yan residence. Lu Jie gazed at the stark white gate, then looked up at the plaque bearing the emperor's calligraphy. Above the white lanterns, the gold-trimmed plaque remained conspicuous. The gate, covered in white paper, was still coated with thick vermilion lacquer.

People came and went on the street, like a revolving lantern.

Lu Jie remembered the feigned kindness of Yan Shu and his wife when they first came to his door to arrange a marriage between him and Jiang Shi. He also remembered their insidious attempts to win him over every time they tried to get him to do something. He remembered Yan Shu's arrogance when he came to threaten him, and his brazen schemes against his daughter right in front of him!
If the Yan family mansion is a large tree with deep roots, then Yan Shu is the central trunk of that tree.

Yan Song's ability to maintain a firm hold on the cabinet and control the emperor's mind was largely due to Yan Shu's contributions.

As Yan Song's only son, he also played a crucial role in carrying on the family tradition.

But now, the thickest branch of this big tree has snapped off.

The imperial guards immediately snapped his neck!

Yesterday, Yan Shu was on the verge of death, but Yan Song still managed to persuade the emperor to change his mind and spare his life. This time, the imperial guards acted so quickly that the emperor only issued an edict before Yan Shu was already on his way to the underworld. Even if the Yan family emptied their entire fortune, it would be of no use.

Yan Shu's crime was punishable by death by a thousand cuts, but nothing is more reassuring than letting him die a clean death.

“It’s time to go back to the manor,” Lu Jie said, turning his gaze away from the crowd that was gradually gathering in front of the Yan manor and pointing. “Next, it’s time to clean up our own mess.”

Yang Bonong nodded, directed Lu Rong to rein in the horse, and the carriage left the bustling street again.