Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 413 Want to Sink? Sure.

Yan Song looked at him for a moment, then brushed the hand off his wrist: "How easy is that?"
"Of the major government agencies that the Emperor relies on, we have already lost the Embroidered Uniform Guard. There is no one more suitable than Hu Yucheng for military defense. We have also lost the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. The once impregnable Grand Secretariat has been breached by a Lu Jie."

"None of these areas are completely under our control."

"In addition, after Lu Jie entered the cabinet, most of those who were previously wavering in the court have fallen."

"Now, the only ones still surrounding us are those whose interests are closely intertwined with ours."

"But with our current strength, can we still compete with the Lu and Shen families?"

"Even if we seize power as you say, and that's the end of it, how can we control the situation?"
"His Majesty's health is already failing. Even if we don't make a move, Lu Jie and the others have long been prepared for this moment. Once the Emperor falls and the Crown Prince ascends the throne, where will we find a chance?"

Yan Liang stood up: "What if the Crown Prince can't ascend to the throne?"

Yan Song's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Yan Liang raised his arm and pointed towards the palace: "The Emperor's knife is already at our throats. Since the Crown Prince has already colluded with the Shen and Lu families, he will certainly not tolerate us when he ascends the throne!"

"What's the point of keeping a crown prince like that? If we're going to do it, we should do it cleanly!"

Yan Song stood up: "How dare you! You actually come up with such an idea?"

"What is there to be afraid of?" Yan Liang lowered his hand, his eyes blazing with fury: "Even ants try to survive, why should I, Yan Liang, wait to die?"

"Our Yan family has devoted ourselves to the court, the country, and the emperor. Have we not made any contributions?"

"Were the thousands of loyal ministers and common people who died unjustly killed only by my Yan family?"

"Even if my Yan family occupies a dominant position in the court and can control everything, doesn't the palace know? Has he ever spoken out to stop it? Isn't this what he wants?"
"We are nothing but his executioners!"
"It's his dog!"

"He raised us strong so that we could kill for him!"
"It was Yang Tingfang's idea to condemn him! He wanted to kill him! What did you do, Grandfather? You merely went along with his wishes and took the blame for him!"
"But the people of the world only blame you, and wish they could tear my entire Yan family to pieces!"

"Now that he has reaped all the benefits, he's starting to discard us like a used tool, killing us whenever he wants, punishing us whenever he wants! Has he ever considered any sense of loyalty or consideration?"

His passionate words filled the study, and even the sound of the wind outside the window seemed to have stopped.

Yan Song's throat tightened twice, and he said, "But your father's embezzlement of military funds was not his idea... Even though the Yan family has made contributions, it has also made mistakes. You can't fight city hall. This country ultimately belongs to him. Can we argue with him?"

"The key issue is that he only focuses on the faults of the Yan family and ignores the merits of others!" Yan Liang stepped forward. "You taught your grandson loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness from a young age, and your grandson has never forgotten!"

"If he is unjust, then I will be unjust too!"

"I don't want the world either, but if this emperor is no good, we'll find another one!"
"Is there only one prince in the world, the Crown Prince?"

"That Prince Ning from De'an, Hubei, who is the same age as the Crown Prince, was just one step away from being the heir apparent back then. Does he perhaps not want to ascend the throne and become emperor?!"

Yan Song looked at the impassioned young man in front of him and subconsciously wanted to raise his hand to cover his mouth.

A servant knocked on the door: "Master! A message has arrived from the Dali Temple!"

"What is it!" The grandfather and grandson turned around at the same time.

The servant said in a trembling voice, "The messenger is from Lord Wu's men. He said that early this morning, the censors filed another complaint against the Yan family!"
"They brought up the fact that the master chose a site with royal aura to build his house in his ancestral home. In addition, they heard rumors from somewhere and falsely accused the master of secretly colluding with the Japanese pirates. The Dali Temple did not dare to act on its own, so it sent the petition and a bunch of so-called evidence to the palace!"

The room fell silent.

Yan Song swayed twice and slumped into a chair.

"Didn't the geomancers from back then already handle it? Why did they still find something to use against us? And how did this accusation of collusion with the Japanese come about?!"

He clenched his fists, his tear-filled eyes showing a hint of confusion.

“Grandfather!” Yan Liang looked at him. “This is reality. If we continue to choose to endure, there will be more and more cases like this in the future!”
"The Yan family has been in power for too long, and it's impossible for them to leave no loose ends after all the things they've done."

“They will seize on these weaknesses and wear us down little by little, like cutting flesh with a dull knife!”
"At this point, we have no way out. Even if the emperor gives us a way to live this time, we will eventually become completely abandoned!"

Are you still going to hesitate?

Yan Song raised his eyes, opened his mouth, but did not utter a word.

Yan Liang walked around to his side: "In previous years, when the people from the Prince of Ning's mansion came to the capital to collect their annual tribute, I was the one who received them. I know the chief clerk of the Prince's mansion, and I also met the Prince of Ning when I went south before."

"I have found the most detailed map of the capital region and sent it over. As long as you and I are ready, the Prince Ning's residence will be prepared to arrive in the capital for the funeral within ten days!"

Yan Song asked, "When did you begin planning this? Did you already harbor the intention to support Prince Ning?"

“I didn’t.” He shook his head. “But back then, the Emperor was clearly more lenient towards Prince Ning, yet Li Quan and his group still insisted on supporting Prince Yu as the Crown Prince based on seniority. Prince Ning has reason to hate these people.”

"I only sent someone to the Prince Ning's residence to inquire after my father's death."

Yan Song looked at his eldest grandson, whom he had raised, and suddenly felt a little unfamiliar with him.

Even though he deceived the emperor and abused his power, he had followed the emperor all the way for decades, and had even warmed the heart of a stone. He never thought of betraying the emperor in his entire life. He thought that even if those upright officials dug up the entire Yan family and accused them, they would never be able to link him to the word "treason". He never expected that in the end, it would be his grandson who would be implicated.

"Lu Jie has already joined the cabinet, and he might become the Grand Secretary one day. If one Yang Tingfang can die in the court, another one could die too."

Yan Liang stroked the bookshelf and said slowly, "The Emperor recently issued an edict that once Shen Bo returns, he will be transferred out of the Ministry of War. This is our best opportunity, and also our last chance."

"My grandson has explained all the pros and cons. Power and connections are all in grandfather's hands. It's all up to grandfather to decide."

He turned around: "Grandfather, do you wish to fall into ruin? If so, how dare your grandson disobey you?"
"Naturally, she would also bring her two children to accompany her grandfather to the end."

"Even if the blood of my Yan family floods the entire Caishikou, I will have no regrets as long as my grandson can accompany his grandfather."

Yan Song's throat tightened.

Looking out the window at the grand mansion he had built and expanded single-handedly, and recalling the promise he had made before his ancestors many years ago before going to the capital for the imperial examinations, he trembled for a moment before slowly sitting back down in his chair.