Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

"You've come to Nanhua City for what business? I don't recall having any grievances with Marquis Jing'an!" Qu Changkong asked.

Wu Zhan felt uneasy, the matter had blown up.

If he didn't tell the truth, they definitely wouldn't be able to leave Nanhua City today, but telling the truth seemed to potentially harm Miss Wanqing's reputation.

He didn't know that the Empress had already arranged a marriage between Qu Shaogong and Yang Qingwan, nor did he know that Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi had already agreed to this marriage.

Just as Wu Zhan was hesitant about how to start speaking, an old man dressed as a servant suddenly entered from outside.

"Lord Duke, a letter from the Princely Heir has arrived from the Capital City!" The old servant said, brimming with joy.

Qu Changkong's spirit lifted, he quickly took the letter and began to read it, neglecting Wu Zhan.

After he finished reading the letter, he was first stunned, then looked at Wu Zhan somewhat bewildered.

"Ha ha ha~~"

Then he burst into laughter, approached Wu Zhan, and heartily patted Wu Zhan's shoulder, "No wonder you came to inquire about Shaogong's matters; it turns out it's for this reason!"

"How is it, is your Marquis satisfied with Shaogong?"

Wu Zhan was stunned, then he breathed a sigh of relief, "It seems that the Lord Duke is already aware!"

Qu Changkong smiled broadly, "Yes, Shaogong is pleased with your Miss; soon he will request His Majesty and the Empress to act as mediators to propose marriage to Marquis Jing'an! It's about time for the proposal, isn't it!"

It is a long distance from the Capital City to Southern Border Town, and sending letters is extremely inconvenient; even using relay stations, it takes nearly a month to deliver a letter to the Southern Border Town.

Wu Zhan was slightly surprised, "Before I left the Capital, the Princely Heir was merely acquainted with our Miss, but it was the Princess Nanhua who was quite close to our Miss!"

Before he left the Capital, the relationship between Qu Shaogong and Yang Qingwan was just starting to develop; it seems that substantial progress has been made now.

However, for the sake of Yang Wanqing's reputation, Wu Zhan would not reveal any private relations between the two.

Qu Changkong enthusiastically grasped Wu Zhan, and instructed the old servant, "Go prepare some food and drinks, I want to have a good drink with Brother Wu!"

"Yes!" The old servant responded and hurriedly went to prepare the food and drinks.

"What are you standing around for, serve Brother Wu some tea!"

Qu Changkong's attitude changed very quickly; before, he was scrutinizing Wu Zhan with a serious face, but now he was calling him brother as if Wu Zhan was indeed his own brother.

Wu Zhan was somewhat dumbfounded, not understanding why Qu Changkong had such a big change in attitude.

Even if the two families were to be related by marriage, that shouldn't make Qu Changkong so enthusiastic towards him.

After all, he was not Yang Zhenshan, he was just a manager of the Yang family.

Once the tea was served, Qu Changkong chuckled, "Brother Wu, does Marquis Jing'an have any other commands?"

"None, none!" Wu Zhan hurriedly shook his head.

"Then what is the Marquis's attitude towards the children's marriage?" Qu Changkong asked with a beaming smile.

"Uh, I am not sure about that!" Wu Zhan didn't know how to face such an enthusiastic Duke.

The Lord Duke's enthusiasm made him very uncomfortable.

Qu Changkong stroked his beard and thought, "Cough cough, Brother Wu, when you return, could you speak well of Shaogong in front of Marquis Jing'an?"

"Ah!"

Wu Zhan was astonished as he looked at Qu Changkong.

Qu Changkong looked at Wu Zhan with eagerness, his smiling eyes squeezed into creases by his laughter.

Wu Zhan naturally didn't know what Qu Changkong was thinking; in fact, for the Duke Xing Mansion, marrying into the Yang family was absolutely a good match.

On the surface, the Duke Xing Mansion seemed extremely prestigious, and Qu Changkong was an Innate Martial Artist, but in reality, the Duke Xing Mansion was located in the distant Southern Border Town, far from the core of the court, without allies in the Capital City, nor marital ties for support.

The Duke Xing Mansion permanently stationed at the Southern Border, deeply rooted in the Southern Border Town, saying it's a small court in the Southern Border Town was not an exaggeration.

The problem lay here; once the court harbored suspicions against the Duke Xing Mansion, they would be beyond redemption.

The distance was too far, making it easy to become estranged and disloyal.

Without marital ties or allies for support, if something happened in the Capital, the Duke Xing Mansion, even if wronged, would have nowhere to appeal.

When Qu Changkong's two sons were discussing marriage alliances, he had wished to find marital relations within Capital City, but unfortunately, the nobles there were not keen to form ties with the Duke Xing Mansion.

The reason is simple: it's too distant, hard to take care of.

The powerful elites of Capital City could support the Duke Xing Mansion, but for those elites, the Mansion, being far in the Southern Border, held no benefits for them and might even drag them into its affairs.

Thus, before the New Year, the Duke Xing Mansion took Qu Shaogong and Qu Shaoshang to Capital City, even brazenly asking Emperor Yanping to help speak on their behalf in matchmaking.

This was both to show Emperor Yanping that the Duke Xing Mansion harbored no second intentions, and also to find a marital alliance in Capital City to offer some support.

He was not familiar with Yang Zhenshan, but he knew that Marquis Jing'an was a rising star in Capital City, highly regarded by Emperor Yanping, after all, Yang Zhenshan was the master to both the Crown Prince and Prince Dai.

Initially, he did not have such intentions, but now that the thought has emerged, he naturally harbored such intentions too.

Forming a marriage alliance with the Yang family would be all beneficial and no harm to the Duke Xing Mansion; he was eager for it.

"Brother Wu, please wait a moment, I have a grand gift I'd like to give you!"

Qu Changkong suddenly said, then hurriedly ran out, and after a short while, he returned with a Jade Box.

"Cough cough, Brother Wu, please do speak some good words for Shaogong!"

He stuffed the Jade Box into Wu Zhan's embrace.

Wu Zhan looked at the Jade Box in his arms, his heart pounding intensely.

Three Yellow Plums!

Damn, it's actually Three Yellow Plums!

He had of course seen Three Yellow Plums before; when Yang Zhenshan gave Three Yellow Plums to Ding Qiu, he specifically had him and Wu Zheng stand beside them, and Yang Zhenshan even promised that this year and next year's Three Yellow Plums would be for them both.

One Three Yellow Plum was enough to advance him to the Half-step Innate Realm; of course, he wanted it.

But he felt somewhat strange.

Qu Changkong was trying to bribe him!

He had previously been bribing the servants of the Duke Xing Mansion, and now Qu Changkong was actually trying to bribe him.

Alright, he was tempted, but not that excited, seeing as Yang Zhenshan had already promised him Three Yellow Plums, and by the time he returned to Capital City, it would almost be time for the maturation of the Three Yellow Plums.

"Lord Duke, I cannot accept this gift!" Wu Zhan quickly refused.

"Brother Wu, you are really not giving me face!" Qu Changkong sternly said.

"No, no, I truly cannot accept such a generous gift from you, Lord Duke!" Wu Zhan stood up and bowed deeply.

Qu Changkong looked at him, smiled slightly, "Take it, what? Do you think my face isn't worth anything?"

Although he was smiling, his eyes were filled with coldness.

Wu Zhan's heart skipped, and cold sweat burst forth on his forehead.

An intense murderous aura seemed to envelop his heart, as if just saying one word of refusal would mean his life would be in jeopardy.

Utterly terrifying, it made Wu Zhan feel boundless fear.

Coercion and bribery, coercion and bribery!

Damn it, he couldn't refuse the Three Yellow Plums!

It was suffering!

Wu Zhan sheepishly smiled, "Then I will accept it, lest I be disrespectful!"

Seeing this, Qu Changkong's face instantly changed, "That's right. Brother Wu, rest assured, if this matter succeeds, I will send you another grand gift!"

Wu Zhan felt incredibly bitter inside.

Whether this matter would succeed or not, was it for him to decide?

If it succeeded, then all was well, but if it didn't, he was afraid that Qu Changkong would bear a grudge against him.

At this moment, he wished he could fly back to Capital City and cling to Yang Zhenshan crying for help.

Regrettably, he couldn't fly back, and could only stay, full of grievances, talking with Qu Changkong.