"I'd like to hear your excuses!" Madam Wang could still hear her daughter's moans. If she hadn't needed something from him, she would have left long ago.
How could she tolerate such a scoundrel as Lu Ming?
"Earlier, you asked me what the future held for the Xue family. Now I can tell you, the Xue family will remain, even more prosperous than before. I handed over Changlong Company to Governor Lu, who in turn entrusted it to Zhang Chun. Now, the monthly income is more than double what it used to be. Even if Pan'er does nothing, just the dividends are enough for him to drink and gamble every day. Now, sister, you should understand why I did this, right?" Aunt Xue's current appearance was very wanton, but this was forced upon her.
Who told Lu Ming to have such tastes?
Moreover, being able to practice yoga in her room while wearing only underwear was a subtle, unspoken rule.
It meant she was already Lu Ming's woman; the difference was whether she was in name only or had status but no real power.
Madam Wang was momentarily speechless. The Xue family's decline was inevitable; if it weren't for her younger sister's support all these years, they would probably have been divided up long ago.
"Was it worth it?"
"Worth it." Aunt Xue's expression turned serious. A sacrifice?
"If I hadn't followed Governor Lu, perhaps I would never have known that being a woman could be so joyful. Sister, listen, how happily Yuan Chun is calling out!"
"Bah! I don't have time to concern myself with your trivial matters." Madam Wang muttered under her breath, then suddenly looked up. "Governor Lu sent you, didn't he? What does he want to say?"
A glint flashed across Aunt Xue's pretty face, her eyes sparkling with a mature, deadly allure.
"If you want to save Jia Zheng, you'll have to do it, sister. Whoever's husband he is, that's who should save him. For the sake of Yuan Chun and Tan Chun, Governor Lu has already done more than enough for the Jia family. And this won't cripple them. If you're willing to do what I did, sister, you can help Bao Yi in the future."
"Bah! You've done such despicable things, and you still have the nerve to drag me into it? You may be shameless, but I am!" Madam Wang was furious. If she were so easily manipulated, she wouldn't be Madam Wang.
"Sister, listen to my advice. You're no match for Governor Lu. There's nothing he can't get what he wants. Now, the Three Auxiliary Regions and Xiliang are all his, and even the Empress relies heavily on him. If you anger him, not only will the Jia family be in trouble, but Bao Yu will be in trouble, and even the Wang family will be in trouble!" Aunt Xue earnestly advised, glancing around as if to make sure no one was watching.
"Sister, do you know why the four great families are being treated this way?"
Madam Wang stopped her angry rant, her expression filled with suspicion and uncertainty. "Could it be that those people have taken a liking to a certain woman?"
Hearing this, Aunt Xue revealed a rather disdainful smile. "Beauty? Although Governor Lu is lustful, he won't be obsessed with women. Last night, Yuan Chun and I both served him in bed, and he personally told me that his brother is involved in the power struggle within the imperial court and actually dared to pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince. Although the Right Prince of Fufeng has already been enfeoffed as a prince and banished to the Three Auxiliary Regions, he may still have a chance to ascend the throne again. Given such a complex situation, even he doesn't dare to easily express his opinion, let alone..." "And what about others? This is the Empress's doing, which is why Governor Lu is so reckless. Our only chance of survival is to appease the Governor. The Yuan and Yang families are powerful and influential, deeply entrenched, and naturally have nothing to fear. We are merely weak local gentry; how can we compare to them!"
These words left Madam Wang bewildered, her face still showing a hint of fear. "Are you saying the calamity of the four great families is inevitable?"
"It's the three great families!" Aunt Xue winked slyly. The fact that Xue Pan could take a day off from prison meant he was actually alright.
After a period of imprisonment, some compensation, and good deeds, it would all be over.
Besides, the essence of killing someone is just a servant; the consequences can be minor or major.
The three great families? Indeed, the three great families. The Xue family has already been removed. Now only the three great families remain.
A flicker of anger, shame, and helplessness crossed Madam Wang's pretty face. "I'm already old and gray, why is that governor so fixated on me?"
"Sister, don't worry about these things. If you're willing, I'll be the matchmaker. Heaven, earth, you, and I will know. No one else will know, and no one will gossip. Think of Baoyu, and think of others." Aunt Xue was determined to drag her sister down with her. She had already been defiled, humiliated, and even conquered!
So, naturally, her only thought was to serve Lu Ming well.
She would actively help Lu Ming with whatever he wanted. Now, let alone if he took a fancy to her sister, even if he took a fancy to her niece Wang Xifeng, she would find a way to get her.
"Let me think about it some more." Madam Wang felt physically and mentally exhausted, caught in a huge whirlpool, where a single misstep could lead to total defeat.
She could disregard her own reputation, but she couldn't disregard her son—that was her weakness!
A few days later... The two Shi brothers, Shi Nai and Shi Ding, were imprisoned for allegedly colluding with the Xiongnu.
The Shi family's property was also confiscated, the speed of which was astonishing.
Considering that even the weakest family, the Xue family, hadn't been dealt with yet, the third-ranked Shi family had been wiped out so quietly?
Upon hearing the devastating news, Grandmother Jia fainted instantly. Shi Xiangyun, who lived in the Jia mansion, was taken away by Jia Tanchun, who had returned home for a visit.
If Tanchun hadn't come to take her, Shi Xiangyun would certainly have been sent to the brothel.
If she went with Tanchun, at least she could retain her wealth and status and marry into a good family.
Therefore, Shi Xiangyun was also taken away. If Grandmother Jia hadn't been married for a long time and not considered a member of the Shi family, she would have inevitably been taken away as well.
In the end, Wang Ziteng had no choice but to agree to Xu Shu's suggestion, resigning from his official post.
Therefore, the Wang family only suffered a small financial loss due to their incompetent son, but no other losses.
The Shenjing Camp in Chang'an City was also taken over by Lu Ming. His first action was to disperse the troops and infiltrate various units.
Those who wanted to stay were allowed to stay; those who didn't were given a sum of money to be severed.
It was better to leave some room for maneuver than to fight to the death.
Xu Shu had a good reputation, and Liu Qi had vouched for his future rise, so Wang Ziteng ultimately resigned under pressure.
Now, he only had one path before him: join the army and become an officer.
Fighting on the front lines meant rapid promotion; managing supplies in the rear meant slower promotion, but he could always return once he reached a certain rank.
Besides, both were military positions, which suited him perfectly.