Chapter 299: Don’t Want to Incriminate the Marquis Mansion
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
If the palace insisted on punishing Qin Zhenzhen, and Su Bin were to become the heir of the Marquis Mansion, standing in defiance of the palace, there was a real risk of provoking the emperor’s wrath, potentially leading to the complete obliteration of the Marquis Mansion. The Old Marquis likely hadn’t contemplated such dire consequences.
Upon Mr. Chen’s gentle prodding, the gravity of the situation began to dawn on the Old Marquis. At his advanced age, the prospect of losing his family’s estate weighed heavily on his mind, a fate he desperately wished to avoid.
“I believe that Young Master must have valid reasons for his actions,” the Old Marquis confessed, acknowledging the weight of the situation.
Mr. Chen, understanding the Old Marquis’s concerns and reluctance to sacrifice the Marquis Mansion for Qin Zhenzhen, chose not to press the matter further. He shared the same apprehension about Su Bin’s future being jeopardized by his involvement with Qin Zhenzhen.
After a moment of contemplation, the Old Marquis reached into his pocket and produced a stack of banknotes, which he handed to Mr. Chen. “Please convey to Su Bin that confronting the palace directly is not a viable option. Instead, he should use this silver to establish connections that can aid Zhenzhen in her escape.”
“For instance, consider approaching the Jiang family; surely, they have a vested interest in ensuring Zhenzhen’s safety.”
Mr. Chu interjected, “Young Master has conveyed that the Marquis has already provided a substantial sum. There’s no need for additional contributions.”
“He also mentioned that he has devised a plan to rescue Madam and requested the Marquis’s patience while awaiting positive news.”
Indeed, Su Bin had previously stated that they no longer required financial assistance from the Marquis Mansion, as the funds at their disposal were sufficient to navigate their predicament. Furthermore, Su Bin expressed his intent to return the money previously provided by the Marquis Mansion at a later date.
Mr. Chen wisely refrained from voicing the remainder of his thoughts, mindful of avoiding any offense that might upset the Old Marquis.
He understood the motivations behind the Old Marquis’s desire for Su Bin to return to the Marquis Mansion. Firstly, it stemmed from a sense of guilt, a yearning to alleviate his conscience by elevating Su Bin and the others to the status of young masters and misses within the Marquis Mansion, ensuring they enjoyed the privileges they rightfully deserved.
Secondly, it was rooted in a genuine appreciation for talent. The Old Marquis believed in Su Bin’s capability to shoulder the responsibility of rejuvenating the Marquis Mansion.
Lastly, Su Bin and the others were willing to come back to the Marquis Mansion as a means to demonstrate that his son’s decision to leave home more than two decades ago had been a regrettable mistake.
The Eighth Imperial Uncle and the Jiang family found themselves incarcerated, serving time behind bars. In the midst of this upheaval, Su Bin and his companions made their way back to the capital.
Despite these circumstances, Su Bin remained resolute in his decision not to meet with the Old Marquis. It fell upon the Old Marquis to make the journey to reach out to Su Bin.
The Old Marquis extended an invitation to Su Bin, urging him to return to the Marquis Mansion. He hoped that by experiencing the opulence and majesty of the mansion firsthand, Su Bin would embrace his role as its master and revel in the sense of superiority it offered.
However, Su Bin declined the offer, explaining, “Zhenzhen is still within the palace walls, which means the danger has not yet been averted. I risked my life to rescue her, and I’m determined not to involve your further.”
Though the Old Marquis couldn’t hide his disappointment, he chose not to press the matter. Instead, he posed a question to Su Bin, “Mr. Chen mentioned that you’ve devised a plan to secure Zhenzhen’s safety. Does it have any connection to the Jiang family and the Eighth Imperial Uncle’s conspiracy? Did you play a role in exposing their plot?”
After careful observation, the Old Marquis detected a secret that Su Bin and Mr. Chen were concealing from him.
The Old Marquis possessed a keen understanding of Mr. Chen’s family history and their former involvement in intelligence operations. This knowledge led him to entertain the suspicion that Mr. Chen had resurrected his previous intelligence network, now collaborating with Su Bin.
In the presence of an intelligence network, it wouldn’t be surprising for information about the Jiang family and the Eighth Imperial Uncle’s conspiracy to come to light.
However, Su Bin steadfastly denied any involvement, stating, “I lack the capability to orchestrate such an exposure. If I had been responsible, I would have likely received recognition from the palace.”
He emphasized that while he had conceived the plan, it was Qin Zhenzhen who ultimately revealed the Jiang family and Eighth Imperial Uncle’s treacherous plot, not him. Su Bin’s words were indeed truthful.
Moreover, the palace had already disseminated the news that the emperor had intervened to save Qin Zhenzhen and her grandmother in the empress’s presence. This endorsement by the emperor carried substantial weight, alleviating Su Bin’s concerns in that regard.
Nevertheless, there remained another source of worry for Su Bin..