Chapter 3185: Waited for Marquis Xuanping to Return From Court

With a food box in her hand, Ning Shu waited for Marquis Xuanping to return from court.

When he finally came back, his legs were practically giving out.

Even if he’d had some snacks along the way to keep him going, sitting through the morning court assembly was still arduous.

Marquis Xuanping spotted Ning Shu and asked, “What is it?”

His face looked dark and displeased. Clearly, something at court hadn’t gone smoothly, and when he saw Ning Shu, he didn’t bother putting on a pleasant expression.

Ning Shu opened the food box and carefully set the light dishes on the table.

She placed a bowl of porridge in front of him. “Father, please eat first.”

Marquis Xuanping was indeed hungry, so he began eating right away.

He was only in his thirties. However, with his beard and his imposing demeanor, he carried an air of authority.

“It’s nothing—just state affairs. You don’t need to concern yourself with them.”

After a pause, he added, “Have you attended any gatherings of the clan women recently? Heard any rumors?”

“What rumors?” Ning Shu asked.

His eyebrows knit tightly. “Did you have any conflict with people from Prince Xin’s household?”

Ning Shu shook her head. “No.”

She hadn’t had any unpleasant encounters with her future husband’s family. Could it be that Zhuo Cheran was already starting to target the marquis’ household?

“The Hanyang region is suffering from drought again. Nothing can grow there,” Marquis Xuanping said while setting down his chopsticks.

Ning Shu instantly understood. When things like this happened, it usually meant her father was expected to hand out money.

She ladled him another bowl of porridge and said gently, “For the sake of the people, Father, what’s the harm in contributing some silver?”

This was the unspoken agreement between the imperial family and the Su family. After all, who told their household to be wealthy?

To put it bluntly, the marquis’ household was nothing more than a wealthy merchant clan with a hereditary noble title tacked on.

“A little silver is fine,” Marquis Xuanping muttered. It wasn’t the first time they’d been squeezed, anyway. However, what really displeased him was Zhuo Cheran, his future son-in-law.

“This drought is serious. Zhuo Cheran told His Majesty that I should hand over five million taels of silver.”

Ning Shu: …

Was Zhuo Cheran already starting to move against the marquis’ household? Five million taels was an enormous burden. That was nearly half of the empire’s treasury’s annual income.

“Give five million this time, and next time it’ll be ten million. Once they start asking, they’ll never stop.

“You and your mother should pay a visit to Prince Xin’s residence,” Marquis Xuanping said. “I’ll have your mother prepare gifts for the two of you.”

Ning Shu nodded. “So Father, are you going to give the five million?”

“If I hand it over this time, the next ask will only be greater. We can’t afford to give this amount,” said Marquis Xuanping.

His mood was heavy. Every time, they stretched out their hands demanding money, and each time it was more than before. It was just too much bullying.

So this was where the thorn was planted. During this drought, the marquis was unwilling to hand over so much money and stalled. And yet, after it, the imperial court discovered his family’s golden ancestral hall.

That must’ve done it. The emperor must’ve been trembling with fury. The emperor asked the marquis for aid, and he refused, even though he actually had a whole hall made out of gold. Worse yet, he secretly funded the empire’s enemies. What exactly was he plotting?

“Father,” Ning Shu said. “It doesn’t have to be hard silver. Grain will do. Say you can’t give five million silver, but the stores have grains and you’re willing to donate all of them.

“Hanyang is in drought. There will be no harvest this year, and grain prices are skyrocketing. His Majesty will definitely be pleased with this donation.”

Ning Shu herself didn’t agree with giving up five million in silver. If he gave that much away so easily, next time they’d demand even more.

The key was not to hand things over too readily. You had to make the emperor feel as though you’d already sold the family silverware and pawned the pots—like you’d done everything you could. Surely you had to leave me a little capital to keep the household running.

“That’s enough. A girl like you shouldn’t be worrying over these matters,” Marquis Xuanping said while waving his hand. He told Ning Shu to clear away the dishes. He’d lost his appetite.

Ning Shu packed the dishes back into the food box and said, “Father, I really think our ancestral hall is too ostentatious.

“If His Majesty knows about it, he’ll definitely grumble. We have an entire hall of gold, yet you claim you can’t spare five million taels?”

Marquis Xuanping’s expression darkened at her words. “That was built by our ancestors.”

MTL Editor: Ran

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