Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Wu Zhan stayed at Duke Xing Mansion for three days, then Qu Changkong personally saw him off from the city, giving him not just a Three Yellow Plum but also many fine gifts for the four brothers accompanying him.

After leaving Nanhua City, the group of five sped towards the Capital City as if fleeing for their lives.

Damn it, this Duke Xing is too frightening; how slickly he changes faces and employs threats and inducements, Wu Zhan is genuinely scared.

One would say he fears death, but that's not quite it. Yet facing Duke Xing is even more terrifying than facing countless enemy chieftains on the battlefield.

What should have been a month-long journey, the group of five returned to the Capital City in less than half a month.

When Yang Zhenshan saw the fatigued faces of Wu Zhan and the others, he couldn't help but ask, "There was no rush for this matter. Why the hurry to come back?"

Wu Zhan opened the bundle he was carrying and placed the Jade Box in front of Yang Zhenshan, "Marquis, save me!"

Yang Zhanshan first glanced at the Three Yellow Plums inside the Jade Box, then at Wu Zhan, "What's all this about?"

With a wry smile on his face, Wu Zhan detailed the entire sequence of events.

"Marquis, can the affair between Miss Wanqing and the Princely Heir really happen?"

After hearing the story, Yang Zhenshan couldn't help but crack a smile, "This Duke Xing is quite amusing!"

"Marquis, if things between the young lady and the Princely Heir don't work out, I fear Duke Xing will take my life!" Wu Zhan felt like crying.

Qu Changkong is like a living King Yan, too horrifying. Even after half a month had passed, Wu Zhan was still deeply shaken.

"First, tell me about Qu Shaogong's situation!" Yang Zhenshan said composedly.

Wu Zhan hesitated slightly, wondering if he should really say a few favorable words about Qu Shaogong.

Yang Zhenshan looked at him with a smile, "Tell the truth!"

Seeing Yang Zhenshan's gaze, Wu Zhan almost jumped up.

This isn't fair!

It's one thing for Qu Changkong to scare me, but now you too, Marquis!

That look in his eyes, damn, is just as daunting as Qu Changkong!

"We just bribed two servants from Duke Xing Mansion. They say Qu Shaogong is fairly decent, without any concubines by his side, but apparently, there are two cousins who grew up with Princess Nanhua who have had designs on Qu Shaogong," he spoke honestly.

Yang Zhenshan nodded in satisfaction. It wasn't hard to tell whether Qu Shaogong was good or bad. The situation in Southern Border Town was unclear, but Wu Zheng had a crystal-clear understanding of Qu Shaogong's conduct in the Capital City over the past half year.

"Such grown-ups, yet so easily frightened! Does Qu Changkong really dare to do anything to you?" Yang Zhenshan looked at Wu Zhan somewhat amused.

Wu Zhan sullenly said, "Marquis, after all, Duke Xing is an Innate Martial Artist!"

Yang Zhenshan smiled, "So what? Isn't Qu Shaogong still in the Capital City?"

Dare Qu Changkong harm Wu Zhan?

Not necessarily!

But for certain, Qu Changkong wouldn't easily make an enemy of Yang Zhenshan.

Qu Shaogong is his biggest concern.

"Alright then, you all go and rest!"

Wu Zhan was still somewhat worried, "What about Miss Wanqing's marriage arrangement?"

"Rest assured, the Empress has already acted as matchmaker, and it's time for them to discuss the marriage." Yang Zhenshan said impatiently.

Wu Zhan let out a long sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good!"

Regaining his composure, he then took leave, "I shall take my leave now!"

"Take this with you. Since it was given to you by Duke Xing, you keep it. This year's Three Yellow Plums I will give to Wu Zheng!" Yang Zhenshan said.

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhan grinned, "Thank you, Marquis!"

Yang Zhenshan then said to the other four, "You guys keep what was given to you too, and later go find Lu Shou to get a jar of Hundred Herbs Brew!"

The four of them all beamed with joy, "Thank you for the Marquis's generosity!"

Among the four, two were former disciples of the Sky Blue Sword Sect, and two were among the first batch of guards trained by the Yang family, so naturally, Yang Zhenshan wouldn't treat them unfairly.

...

In the Imperial City, inside the Imperial Study Room.

Wang Zhongzhi has already returned from Jiangnan. He led a team to investigate the collusion case between silk merchants and pirates, which took over two months, and now it has finally been clarified.

Emperor Yanping sat in front of the desk, looking over the memorial Wang Zhongzhi had presented, while listening to his narration.

"The sixteen silk merchants in Jiangnan, spread across nine prefectures and four states, all have colluded with pirates. The disaster in Yu State was caused by seven silk merchants in Hai State, Songjiang Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, and Hangzhou Prefecture conspiring with the pirate Yan Wushang!"

"For nearly a decade, Jiangnan silk merchants, officials of the Jiangnan Maritime Trade Department, and Yan Wushang have operated a silk trade in the East South Sea Domain, spanning six southern dynasties, with an annual trade volume reaching tens of millions of silvers."

"The silk merchants provide the goods, officials from the Maritime Trade Department help with customs clearances, exempting taxes, while the pirate Yan Wushang takes care of shipping."

"The reason they attacked Yu State this time was to prevent the Imperial Commerce Bureau from completing the silk trade with the Gani Dynasty."

Wang Zhongzhi steadily stated.

After listening, Emperor Yanping asked, "What about the Star Moon Sect? Didn't you say they were involved too?"

Wang Zhongzhi slightly bowed and replied, "Yan Wushang has another identity. He is the Guardian of the Star Moon Sect. Originally, the Jiangnan silk merchants only wanted to disrupt the silk trade between the Imperial Merchant and the Gani Dynasty, but Yan Wushang led nearly ten thousand pirates to attack Yu State City, likely under the instructions of the Star Moon Sect."

After speaking, he handed another document to Emperor Yanping, "Your Majesty, this is intelligence about the Star Moon Sect!"

"According to the Secret Martial Guards' investigation, under the Star Moon Sect, there are the Four Flag Armies, with more than three thousand ships of all sizes, and twenty thousand sailors. Furthermore, the Star Moon Sect controls a large number of pirates in the South Sea Domain, and Yan Wushang's pirates are just one of them."