Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
But soon, the two shook their heads. As it stood, only Xu Mu seemed to have a clear understanding of these matters, though it was unlikely since Xu Mu was now like a stray dog, a wanted man.
Even though a long absence could lead people to forget, it was still too blatant. Besides, his only support was Fang Yitong; while the Fang Family could indeed pull off such feats, opposing the Duke Beiqin's mansion would require an even greater backing.
If Xu Mu were to return relying solely on this support, he would naturally have to take some action. However, aside from luck, Xu Mu had no conscience or resources to draw upon.
Mu Junze had initially suspected that the Worthy Prince was behind it all, but now he hesitated. Who else in the capital would be idle enough to stir trouble against the Su Family besides the Worthy Prince?
Most of his enemies were abroad; in the capital, there was only the Worthy Prince. Yet at present, there was no evidence pointing toward him.
The two could move freely, but Su Father, along with the scholar and witnesses, had to temporarily stay at the Capital Garrison Office. Fortunately, Mu Junze and Su Che had already made arrangements, ensuring that Su Father would not suffer any grievances while inside.
Upon returning to the royal residence, they began to analyze the situation from scratch.
"According to our informants, the scholar's backer is someone new in town who usually travels with a hooded cloak. However, he seems quite familiar with the capital. Could it really be that Xu Mu has returned and is acting as Mu Tingxiu's secret strategist?"
Mu Junze did not agree with Su Che's words; he couldn't understand what about Xu Mu had caught Mu Tingxiu's attention. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he turned to look at Su Che, becoming more certain of this thought.
"Perhaps you are right."
Mu Junze's sudden shift left Su Che somewhat bewildered, but he didn't dwell on it. Right now, he just wanted to resolve the Su Family's current predicament. If it truly was Xu Mu behind everything, then it all made sense.
"So what comes next..."
Mu Junze smiled slightly.
"Next, it’s time for the same treatment to be returned to those who inflicted it."
The matter concerning the Imperial Merchant was of great importance, so it was only natural that a significant number of personnel were mobilized. Soon, under the investigation of the Capital Garrison, evidence was found indicating that several scholars had been bribed.
However, they could not uncover the mastermind behind it, but that was not crucial. Upon verification, it was discovered that the problematic accounts of the Su Family were fabricated by the steward in collusion with Xu Mu.
Although Xu Mu had fled, he publicly claimed to have been executed, leaving no witnesses to contradict him.
The case involving the Su Family had reached a temporary conclusion; next up was the election for President, which required evaluating various families based on their financial strength and control over supplies.
But at a critical moment, issues arose with the Su Family's goods and sources. Several businesses that had previously cooperated abruptly halted their supply, preferring to pay penalties rather than continue contracts with the Su Family.
At the same time, these goods began flowing elsewhere and were being sold in batches at low prices in the capital.
Common folk never cared about where their purchases came from; they only cared about getting the best quality for the lowest price. Few would be inclined to buy at high prices simply because a store had a good reputation, and other businesses in the capital also began lowering their prices.
Just as one wave settled, another arose, clearly targeting the Su Family. If they could not resolve these issues, not only would their chances of winning the presidential election be jeopardized, but they might also lose their position as Imperial Merchant.
"Have you found anything?"
The sudden turn of events and swift actions left Su Che feeling anxious as he looked toward Mu Junze.
"The Su Family is already investigating, but they haven't uncovered much. Those who previously cooperated are unwilling to reveal anything; it seems there are some unspoken difficulties."
Mu Junze's expression was grave as he pondered over the details of this incident. Investigations revealed that these merchants had recently met with a mysterious individual, after which many turned against them almost overnight.
"I heard that the other party bought high and sold low; I imagine this situation won't last long. These merchants must have been threatened," Mu Junze remarked.
Su Che had suspected as much; however, even if they couldn't hold out for long, neither could the Su Family afford to wait indefinitely. If time were on their side, perhaps there would still be a chance for a comeback, but currently, the Su Family did not have that luxury.
Though this tactic might harm both sides—wounding a thousand while damaging eight hundred—it was undeniably effective. Su Che anxiously paced back and forth in the room.
Before long, Su Father arrived at the Wang residence. Seeing his father come in, Su Che forced himself to appear calm as he stepped forward to greet him.
"Father, what brings you here?"
Su Father glanced at Su Che and saw the worry etched on his face; in recent days, Su Che had lost weight due to concerns over the Su Family's troubles.
He was supposed to be a support for Su Che, but in the end, he found himself worrying about the matters of the Su Family.
Seeing his father's eyes slightly reddened, Su Che quickly smiled and said, "Father, there's no need to worry. Everything will work out in the end; they can't hold on for much longer."
Su Father shook his head. "You all have worked hard these days. You don't need to worry too much. As for the Imperial Merchant President, I am determined to take him down. I came here to tell you that you should not get involved in this matter."
Mu Junze and Su Che exchanged glances, puzzled. Did Su Father already have a plan?
It turned out that Su Father's herbal business had never ceased, thanks to Dan Yao Hall. Firstly, Qu Qingxuan would never betray the Su Family. Secondly, these people were also unwilling to offend Qu Qingxuan; after all, everyone had their own ailments and disasters. Besides, Su Che had mentioned it before.
At that time, Su Father thought it was somewhat unnecessary, but it didn't hurt to have a backup plan. After all, it's better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. If something were to happen, he could leave some assets for Su Che.
Thus, under the guise of a trusted aide, he secretly established a channel and production line.
"Although the time was short, I invested quite a bit back then. Now it has shown some progress. While it may be difficult to resolve this urgent situation, it can still be useful. Over the years, I've built some connections; otherwise, I wouldn't have achieved the position of the richest person in the capital."
"Rest assured, this kind of trick has been used before; leave it to me. Moreover, Duke Beiqin's mansion shouldn't interfere too much to avoid future criticisms."
Su Che hesitated. On one hand was his own family that raised him; on the other was Mu Junze. Naturally, he wanted to help the Su Family wholeheartedly. However, Mu Junze was different; he had his own future. Not only had he failed to assist Mu Junze thus far, but he also couldn't drag him down further.
Mu Junze glanced at Su Che and noticed his conflicted expression. After a moment's thought, he said, "I will listen to what Father says."
Su Che was taken aback for a moment; his feelings were mixed. He was selfishly hoping that Mu Junze would help the Su Family but didn't want him to be dragged into trouble.
Yet when Mu Junze uttered those words, it truly pained him inside.
After sitting for a while longer, Su Father left. Su Che looked at Mu Junze and opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
He then saw Mu Junze turn and leave in a hurry without saying another word.
Comment 0 Comment Count