The Demon Lords

Chapter 1014 - 236: Overstuffed (Part 2)

The Qian Emperor also had a greenhouse, which was extremely warm in the winter.

Of course, creating this kind of "paradise" in winter must come at a significant cost.

No one found it strange that the Qian Emperor could enjoy it, and that the Fan Mansion could enjoy the same inevitably led people to think of the phrase "rich enough to rival a nation."

The old woman chuckled and said, "Throughout all these years, I’ve gained some face today, being compared to the official of the Qian State."

Zheng Fan had previously told A Ming that he suspected someone in the mansion wanted to see him, albeit with an attitude of it being neither urgent nor necessary to meet; it should be this old grandmother of the Fan Family.

The old woman pointed around and said:

"It looks heated, but the true force beneath it all is silver; in this world, the only thing that really gives warmth is silver."

"The madam speaks with reason."

"Oh? Is this also Lord Zheng’s view?"

"When money becomes a burden, that’s when it tortures the most."

"Indeed, haha. By the way, when Ruqing called you uncle earlier, how did that feel, Lord Zheng?"

They were all long-time players, so there was no need to bring up the old tales.

Lord Zheng could see the old woman’s extraordinary nature, so he responded with ease.

"It truly seeped to the bones."

The old woman laughed heartily, grabbed a handful of dirt, and playfully tossed it at Zheng Fan, saying with a laugh: "You’re an uncle now; how could you be so shameless with your niece?"

"Don’t say that this uncle role baffles me, even if I were a real uncle, what would that count for? It’s said that in the wealthy noble families, filthy secrets pile up as much as gold and silver."

"It seems Lord Zheng knows only half the story."

"Oh? Do tell more."

"The current Fan Family, it seems grand but it’s kept alive by burning brightly. The Fan Family, as servants of the Qu Clan, should theoretically hand over the major portion of earnings to the Qu Clan. What remains on the books isn’t much.

The current wealth is what the Qu Clan allows to showcase the Fan Family, to draw people in.

If the Fan Family didn’t have private enterprises, it would just be a painted skeleton.

The old woman’s meaning was, it’s the Qu Clan making the Fan Family appear prosperous for appearances;

just like the emperor who needs to attract loyalty from ministers and generals by lavish treatment, the Qu Clan, as noble families, is no different.

But to prevent the Fan Mansion from growing too powerful and eventually rebelling against their masters, the Fan Family is forced to spend extravagantly with the remaining silver after paying the Qu Clan dues.

So it may seem prosperous, but it’s actually a hollow facade.

This should be a long-standing tactic by the Qu Clan to maintain balance, but like all policies, those subservient always find ways around it, and the current Fan Family has indeed risen, its hidden potential beneath is enough to surprise the Qu Clan.

The old woman tossed a small spade into the flowerbed before her,

and said:

"Ultimately, as long as the Chu State stands, my Fan Family will never truly rise. Noble families that linger long in wealth sometimes develop corrupt ailments, but some, though not ill, are beyond cure;

because they start wondering, why must I bow before you, generation after generation, serve as a slave?

Alas, it’s caused from overindulgence."

Zheng Fan nodded after hearing this.

"Lord Zheng feels the same?"

"That’s the nature of people."

"Right, it’s merely human nature. Zhengwen has already shared all with me; whatever Lord Zheng intends to do, the Fan Family will fully support.

To speak from the heart,

even if the current Fan Family is completely forfeited, so long as one or two of the direct descendants survive, ah, even just a branch;

eventually, with Lord Zheng and the Sixth Prince’s protection, it’s no difficulty to rebuild the Fan Family, and by then, at least one can stand upright as a person, correct?"

"You have thought this through thoroughly."

"Thoroughly? Haha, it’s just talk. Zhengwen’s parents are long gone, and here I am, old but still living. To say I’ve lived thoroughly is false, because in reality, I don’t wish to die.

Tools grow tiresome after long use, but people aren’t like that; the longer one lives, usually the more one fears death.

Lord Zheng, don’t blame this old woman for rambling. Honestly, I never expected you would come to the Fan Mansion; with your esteemed status and capabilities, with just a thousand armored soldiers, if something truly happens and you retreat to Mong Mountain or Qi Mountain, who can assuredly control you?

But since you’ve come, it’s necessary for me to meet you, say a few words, no matter if they’re useful or not, we must show some attitude."

"Indeed."

"Does Lord Zheng believe in mystic cultivation?"

Zheng Fan smiled, shook his head, and said:

"Not really."

The old woman nodded and said, "Actually, neither do I truly believe, but ironically, from a young age, I was never one to believe in fate, yet I was labeled as having a mystic cultivation physique, and even my random divinations during mischievous times always seemed to come true.

Back when I was young, I divined for Zhengwen’s grandfather, and the hexagram indicated this man would bring prosperity to his wife."