Chapter 659: Bound to the Child-Bearing System and Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 660 Background Rabbit Spirit (32)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Lin Xingzhi's fame spread far and wide; before he even arrived, he had already disintegrated from within a force that had existed in Hejian Prefecture for many years.

Neither side knew whether they feared Lin Xingzhi or feared trouble from the Imperial Court; not only did they have no intention of presenting a unified external front, they even tripped each other up.

System:...

'Isn't this giving others an opportunity to take advantage?' The vested interest group really isn't united.

Shen Yao scoffed, 'Vested interests care only about their own little plot of land; why wouldn't they take the opportunity to eliminate rivals?'

Doing so could even bring them more benefits; they would be only too happy to do it.

Turning to look out the window at the cultural scenery of Hejian Prefecture, larger and more prosperous than Yuanshui Cheng, Shen Yao felt it necessary to popularize with the System the cold-blooded cruelty belonging to upper-class people; sometimes no external action is needed, they can dig their own pits from within.

The System clucked its tongue in amazement, saying that if it really were so, it would save Lin Xingzhi trouble, and he could easily achieve his goal on his own side.

'Naturally, wait and see; someone should come knocking on their own.'

After speaking, Shen Yao closed her eyes, sat steadily in the carriage, and let the procession below move slowly into the city.

The Official Courier Station where they stayed this time was still much larger than the one in Yuanshui Cheng, and there were even Court Officials inside who hadn't had time to leave.

Lin Xingzhi was Prince Jing, the Emperor's maternal uncle by adoption, and moreover a person who could decide their future official careers with a single word.

No matter what they thought in their hearts, on the surface they were all respectful toward Lin Xingzhi.

Shen Yao got out of the carriage, looked up, and once again met a group of Court Officials standing at the doorway of the Official Courier Station to welcome them; among them were not a few middle-aged men with neatly groomed beards, fawning and flattering as they fawned on Lin Xingzhi.

Lin Xingzhi was very impatient with this kind of social activity; unfortunately, being in the situation, he had no choice but to go along.

Smiling at each other, they spoke of matters in Yuanshui Cheng, then mentioned the situation in Hejian Prefecture City; finally, after repeated invitations from the Hejian Prefecture officials, Lin Xingzhi agreed to attend the welcome banquet specially prepared for him, and to stay in Hejian Prefecture for a period of time.

'Hmph, these old foxes, speaking without leaving a handle,' just like those old foxes in the Court.

At bedtime in the evening, Lin Xingzhi couldn't help but complain a few words to Shen Yao.

'Xingzhi has worked hard; they are afraid,' otherwise why put on such a show.

Lin Qinghuai snorted lightly through his nose, 'They are afraid, but their greed is not small,' constantly testing and probing while operating within the bottom line; the elder brother's days are truly not easy.

Fortunately, his health was poor and he was excluded from the line of Heirs early on; otherwise, facing these ministers and officials every day, even an iron body couldn't take it.

Shen Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud with a puff; she suddenly felt Lin Xingzhi was right; don't look at the Emperor's position being above ten thousand people with overwhelming power, but wanting to sit this position steadily and well is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

No wonder so many emperors like to be muddled rulers; even if they were diligent in their youth, when old they would still become muddled and unrestrained, indulging in pleasure and lust, even seeking immortality from Daoren.

Truly, the price of being a wise ruler is too great; rising earlier than chickens, sleeping later than dogs, spending all day scheming with the Front Court and Imperial Harem without rest, and still not seeing the end.

Anyone who lived such days would go mad; otherwise why, since ancient times, have there been so few emperors who achieved anything? It's just that the difficulty is too great to reach.

'Yao Niang'

Lin Xingzhi raised his hand and pulled the beauty before him into his arms, his voice low and gentle.

Shen Yao smiled and embraced him, raising her hand to pat his back.

At this moment, silence speaks louder than sound; let various emotions flow, like smoke and mist, wrapping and entwining them tenderly.

……

Hawkers' cries, shouts, the streets on both sides filled with bustling crowds.

Staying for three days, truly bored, Shen Yao took the three children out from the Official Courier Station to go sightseeing in Hejian Prefecture City.

Sitting by the window on the Third Floor of the Teahouse, she raised her eyes and took in half of Hejian Prefecture in her gaze.

Lin Chengjing's chubby little body was held by a Servant, but his pair of grape eyes rolled around staring out the window.

'Kitty kitty'

'Mousey mousey'

'Foxie foxie'

'...'

Every once in a while, Lin Chengjing would recite his favorite reduplicated word; no matter how Shen Yao spoke to correct him, he just couldn't change it.

Lin Chengyan and Lin Chengjue were completely uninterested in the scenery outside the window; they were running and jumping and playing all over the Third Floor that Shen Yao had generously booked out.

Hee hee ha ha, hitting and playing around

The three children each had their own things to do; although the scene before them seemed chaotic, it still maintained a thread of order and stability, truly order within chaos.

'Madam, a guest downstairs sent pastries and beverages, saying they dare not disturb, presenting them to Madam as an apology.'

A Servant stopped the Shop Assistant carrying a tray up, walked in small steps to Shen Yao's side, and reported.

Hearing this, Shen Yao softly made an 'oh' sound, smiling with a rather playful expression, 'Dare not disturb, yet still send an apology gift; truly interesting.'

After all, do they truly dare not disturb, or are they deliberately disturbing? Her identity in Hejian Prefecture City is no secret; even the spies following around number no fewer than several households.

Who has such courage, daring to come up to her and deliberately put on airs?

She waved her hand to let the Servant leave the things, then go ask the Shop Assistant well who sent the person; 'This Princess Consort can also put in a good word for them.'

Wanting to strike up a conversation with her so much, isn't the purpose the Lin Xingzhi behind her?

The Servant nodded in agreement, turned and left.

'Host, why go to so much trouble? I can help you too.'

These past few days the System has been melon-eating all over Hejian Prefecture, knowing quite a lot about the great families in East City.

Hmm

With its shallow experience, those who can pull off such things must be certain big shots from families who have been spoiled and don't know the immensity of heaven and earth; they offend people yet still happily feel they are in the right.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao praised the system's intelligence; it seemed listening to all that gossip hadn't been in vain—this kind of brainless act wasn't something a normal person would do.

Sure enough, not long after, a servant returned again, leaned close to Shen Yao's ear and whispered a few words before withdrawing.

Shen Yao, waving the handkerchief in her hand, raised an eyebrow and softly recited the name of this young master of the Hu Family.

Tsk tsk tsk.

It seemed the Hu Family was probably in for a headache now—the eldest son, the eldest grandson, the old lady's lifeline.

This young master of the Hu Family was not only the Hu Family's darling, but his birth mother was also the young concubine the Family Head had married into the household, nearly twenty years his junior.

Sigh.

"A hero finds it hard to pass the beauty's gate."

"Fragrant beauty, hero's tomb."

Shen Yao and the system each sighed twice, not truly lamenting anything—this was clearly gloating over the old man's misfortune, mocking him for being lecherous in his old age and lusting after beauty, hahaha, karmic retribution!

It really was karmic retribution!

Hu Dan returned to the Hu Residence with his lackeys, just about to claim credit from his father, when instead he was greeted by his father's heavy stick—beaten as soon as it was said, no one could stop it.

Instantly, the entire Hu Residence echoed with ghostly wails and wolfish howls; the inner chamber women bowed their heads and wiped away tears as they sobbed, reducing the Hu Family Head to a livid face as he cursed his unworthy offspring!

"Master, you are cutting into this concubine's heart! Dan'er did all this for you and the Hu Family—who did you listen to that sowed discord? What exactly did Dan'er do wrong this time?"

Wasn't it just sending pastries and beverages to that Consort of King Jing? Not cheap at all!

Hu Family Head:...

The Hu Family Head looked at that face, still beautiful and radiant despite the tears, its charm and grace intact, and regretted his own foolishness back then beyond measure.

It was all his own fault!

He clearly knew this woman had nothing but a face—short-sighted and brainless besides—so how had he been bewitched into losing his head and throwing caution to the wind!

In the distance, Hu Dan was still bawling with his mouth wide open; after all, he'd been beaten countless times since childhood, and he knew exactly when putting on an act worked best.

Just like now—the old man couldn't bear to see his beloved concubine cry, and he himself only needed to waste some breath to avoid being beaten.

Sure enough, the Hu Family Head waved his hand listlessly, letting the steward support him back to the study.

Pursuing the matter of Hu Dan was already futile; after all, he had already offended Consort of King Jing, and other families had received word of this stupid egg's troublemaking. What he needed to do now was figure out how to clean up the mess and minimize the damage.

"Tsk, having a face really is something—the old man is so angry he didn't even lay a hand on her; we brothers probably won't live to see the day of formal family discipline."

"Is saying that useful? Better think about how much benefit we brothers can scoop up when the Hu Family falls, without getting dragged in."

When the Hu Family Head was young, his romantic debts were numerous; just the legitimate sons born of different wives numbered five, not to mention the concubine-born sons—the whole Hu Family was an endless free-for-all.

When the Hu Family Head was around, he could suppress these problems; but once he lost his capability or left early, the Hu Family was destined to fall apart.

The Hu Family's liveliness was seen by the system, and at night it chattered away to the host.

Shen Yao knew that once this matter broke out, it would definitely stir up no small conflict.

On the surface it was the Hu Family's own internal power struggle and profit-seeking, the Family Head failing to manage the inner chambers, leading to family disaster—but the root here lay in other aspects; the Hu Family's status in Hejian Prefecture was equivalent to the Qi Family's symbolism for Yuanshui Cheng.

Now the Qi Family's downfall had given the great clans of Hejian Prefecture hope; the Hu Family... shouldn't they also retire and yield to the worthy, letting others share in the benefits?

"Host, you mean the other great clans inside are also fanning the flames?"

The system felt that if that were true, the Hu Family would surely suffer terrible misfortune.

Looking at it, apart from the Hu Family Head there were few who could bear burdens and fight; the wealth the Hu Family had accumulated over so many years wouldn't just transform into someone else's, would it?

"The downfall of any great clan is never without the involvement of other great clans."

After all, money moves hearts—the Hu Family is the wealthiest household in Hejian Prefecture; just the annual tax revenue alone could feed and clothe the entire populace of Hejian Prefecture City," Shen Yao tempted the system, her voice ethereal yet each word carved into the heart, "Such a huge sum of wealth, both visible and tangible—wouldn't you be tempted?"

System:... Of course not.

Even the system, a heartless artificial intelligence, couldn't help but want a share—let alone those steeped in the Seven Emotions and Six Desires.

"H-host, you mean how should the Hu Family act to break the deadlock and save themselves?"

The system spoke carefully, mixed with a trace of curiosity.

After all, in its eyes, its own host was omnipotent.

For the Hu Family it was a sky-falling matter, but for the host it was just a small thing—surely there was a way to resolve it?

Shen Yao smiled faintly, speaking lightly, "Cooperate with the Imperial Court," then hand over half the family wealth—not only could it break this current dead end, but it could also let the Hu Family survive long and enduringly in Hejian Prefecture City.

System:... I'm afraid they'd be reluctant.

"Impossible! Think of another way."

Hu Family Study.

Apart from the Hu Family Head himself who proposed the suggestion, everyone else refused in no uncertain terms.

How could they give away their own family's wealth? Not even to the Imperial Court—such a great country, surely it still has the law? Isn't seizing by force just banditry!

Hu Family Head:...

Can't be moved, really can't be moved!

No wonder they say at his age, he's both unwilling to relinquish power and unwilling to close his eyes—first look at what sort of people the family is; if he dies, what will become of the Hu Family? All of them unworthy of the Hu Family's ancestors!

"What other way is there? You can't get the cub without entering the wolf's den."

"Do you truly not understand, or are you pretending not to? Counting on the Zhang Family, Zhou Family, Ning Family, Wang Family? Hmph!"

More naive than this old undead himself—surely the downfall of great clans begins with worthless descendants.

The Hu Family had reached this stage; no matter how capable the Hu Family Head was, he could no longer pull back the Hu Family's downward slide.

"Family Head, it can't be said like that—our Hu Family's status in Hejian Prefecture, how could those small households compare?"

"Right, the Zhang, Zhou, Ning, Wang? Utterly laughable!"

The Hu Family Head was nearly driven to laughable anger by this group of good-for-nothings with no real talent but high opinions of themselves—turns out when one is speechless, one doesn't want to say a word.

He angrily cursed one word: "Get out!"

The Hu Family Head tapped the tabletop, ordering the steward waiting at the doorway to drive this group away.

An eyesore to the extreme!

"My Lord"

The steward was someone who had served the Hu Family Head for decades, and understood the Hu Family Head's mind best.

Understanding this was a manifestation of the Master's agitation, the steward did not speak, only standing in the original place without moving.

After a long while, the Hu Family Head opened his mouth, "Do you know where King Jing has been recently?"

The steward replied, "King Jing is commonly at the Government Office during the daytime, and occasionally also stays at the Yi Zhan to receive officials."

"Prepare a heavy gift; the Hu Family was rude first, we should go apologize," once the Hu Family Head decided something, other people had no right to interfere.

Perhaps because the Hu Family had too many useless members, the Hu Family Head had no choice but to sacrifice a tail to survive.

Half the family assets might cause skin and bone injury, but would not lead to total ruin.

As long as the Green Mountains remain, there is no worry about lacking firewood to burn.

The Hu Family Head brought a heavy gift and personally went to seek an audience with King Jing, placing his posture extremely low.

When Lin Xingzhi received the news, an official from Hejian Prefecture had just left the front not long ago.

Compared to Yuanshui Cheng's problems, Hejian Prefecture's internal Jie Ju Cuo Jie was severe; wanting to pry open a crack was somewhat difficult.

Originally Lin Xingzhi still thought that if it really would not work, he would set up another Bureau with the Prefect here; as the saying goes, a trick need not be new, as long as it is useful.

He did not expect that Yao Niang's words from a few days ago would give him inspiration; it turned out the Hu Family's problem was this big.

Waving his hand to have his Subordinate summon the Hu Family Head inside, Lin Xingzhi's lips held a smile, as if he were a scion of a noble family who entrusted his feelings to mountains, rivers, poetry, and books — utterly mismatched with that King Jing who awed the Court.

The Hu Family Head was already very old in years; his hair and beard were groomed neatly and tidily. Facing Lin Xingzhi, he performed a salute and greeted him in a Bu Ji Bu Man manner.

Lin Xingzhi smiled and invited the Hu Family Head to sit down, knowingly asking about the other party's purpose for coming over.

The Hu Family Head stood up and sighed, his face full of worry and bitterness, "My unworthy son has no semblance; I beg King Jing to forgive the offense."