As soon as Xiao Yan spoke, Liang Guangyi’s face twitched.
He must be mad!
“Overseer Xiao, we’re not the Lu family. Our clans’ book collections could never be given to Rongsheng Academy. As for eight hundred thousand gold, even the Great Wei treasury, let alone neighboring states, couldn’t produce such a sum!”
“I came to negotiate in good faith, but your demands are outrageous, showing no intent to compromise…”
“I never intended to negotiate with you.”
Xiao Yan’s words turned Liang Guangyi’s face ashen. With one hand resting on the table behind him, his sleeve draped casually, his expression utterly indifferent.
“If not for fear of Tangning’s disapproval, and my debts to Grand Tutor Rong and Lord Cao, do you think I’d deign to meet you? Eight hundred thousand gold, how could that possibly repay the thousand lives of the He family?”
Liang Guangyi, rendered speechless by Xiao Yan’s retort, took a deep breath to suppress his frustration. “But eight hundred thousand is too much. The other clans won’t agree. I can offer thirty thousand on their behalf…”
“Do you think I’m bargaining with you?”
Xiao Yan cut him off, his tone unyielding. “When you clans fed on the He family’s corpses, did you think it would be so easy to walk away now?”
“Eight hundred thousand gold is a steep price, but I’ve looked into your clans’ wealth. Though it’ll hurt, you can manage it together. In exchange for settling past grievances and securing your clans’ safety, ensuring I won’t pursue the He family’s affairs further, do you dare say it’s not worth it?”
“If the other clans refuse, I won’t force them. But whatever the prince does next will have nothing to do with me.”
“You!”
Liang Guangyi glared furiously.
Xiao Yan met his gaze without flinching.
The charcoal fire in the brazier burned fiercely, boiling the water in the pot until it churned. Bubbles burst upon hitting the cold air, and steam hissed sharply as it splashed onto the scorching brazier, as if mocking Liang Guangyi’s bluster.
Liang Guangyi’s eyes darkened, his expression shifting.
Eight hundred thousand gold was indeed a fortune. Even split among the clans, each would need to contribute over a hundred thousand, bleeding them dry. But as Xiao Yan said, this was a line that didn’t entirely crush them. If it meant extricating themselves from this mess and ensuring the He family’s past was left alone, it might be worth it.
Moreover, Liang Guangyi could see Xiao Yan wasn’t bluffing. He was determined to get the eight hundred thousand gold.
If they paid, Xiao Yan would let bygones be bygones and rein in the prince’s recklessness. If they didn’t, this man would not relent.
Seeing Liang Guangyi hesitate, clearly torn, Cao Dejiang glanced at Xiao Yan and pulled Liang Guangyi aside, whispering, “Grand Preceptor Liang, some things are worth more than money. The He family lost far more than eight hundred thousand gold.”
Lowering his voice further, he murmured, “Besides, Cui Lin, who offended Xiao Yan, is still in prison, and the Cui family must be terrified.”
“For the sake of old ties, if you mediate for the Cui family, helping settle Cui Lin’s plot with the Xuqin clan to frame Xiao Yan, and convince the prince to drop the capital charge of causing chaos with the deposed empress’s death, the Cui family will be deeply grateful and surely reward you generously.”
Liang Guangyi’s heart stirred.
Among the clans, the Cui family was in the most peril. The others had old grudges with Xiao Yan, but Cui Lin’s palace scheme had nearly killed him. If Xiao Yan pursued it, the Cui family would bear the brunt, likely facing total ruin. If Liang Guangyi mediated, allowing the Cui family to buy their safety with wealth, they’d be willing.
The Cui family was among the wealthiest, and the bride of their eldest son came from an immensely rich family.
If the Cui family paid twenty thousand gold, no, thirty thousand, to save Cui Lin’s life, the remaining fifty thousand could be split among the other clans…
Swayed by Cao Dejiang, Liang Guangyi’s eyes flickered. Taking a half-step back, he said to Xiao Yan, “If I agree to your demands and gather the eight hundred thousand gold, will you truly let go of past grievances?”
Xiao Yan replied coldly, “Naturally. Once the He family’s name is cleared, as long as you don’t provoke me or cause trouble, the He family’s matters are settled.”
“And the other…”
“Grand Preceptor Liang, eight hundred thousand gold isn’t a cure-all. My patience has limits.”
Liang Guangyi’s pupils shrank at Xiao Yan’s words. He wanted to say more but ultimately held his tongue. He said gravely, “Fine. Eight hundred thousand gold. Within half a month, I’ll ensure the clans deliver it. I’ll also petition for you to inherit the title. But…”
“And your clans’ book collections.”
As Liang Guangyi opened his mouth to object, Xiao Yan said lazily, “I plan to propose to Tangning, but my means are modest. As a daughter of the Rong family, with the backing of the wealthiest Gu family, ordinary gold and silver gifts would be too vulgar. I’m sure Grand Preceptor Liang understands.”
Liang Guangyi: “…”
Understand?
Understand my foot!
Liang Guangyi’s chest burned with suppressed rage, wishing he could curse Xiao Yan’s shamelessness.
Disdaining gold and silver as vulgar, yet demanding a fortune that would bleed the clans dry!
Taking a vicious bite out of them with eight hundred thousand gold, then acting lofty and untarnished. If Cao Dejiang weren’t holding him back, Liang Guangyi would’ve hurled the scalding teapot at Xiao Yan’s face to wash some sense into this shameless scoundrel!
“Grand Preceptor Liang, calm down, calm down…” Cao Dejiang whispered. “It’s just some books. Don’t let small intolerance ruin the bigger plan.”
“Just some books? Easy for you to say when it’s not your precious collection being taken!”
“I haven’t offended Overseer Xiao.”
“You…”
Liang Guangyi choked with anger.
Seeing Liang Guangyi’s furious glare, Cao Dejiang coughed and turned to Xiao Yan. “Overseer Xiao, since Grand Preceptor Liang has yielded, the book collection demand is too much. These are the foundation of the clans’ standing. Taking half would never be agreed to. Why not meet him halfway?”
Seeing Liang Guangyi’s face turn green with rage, on the verge of flipping, Xiao Yan said, “I can take a step back, but my betrothal gift to Tangning must not be lacking.”
“Either the seven major clans each contribute half their book collections to Rongsheng Academy, or I’ll take only ten percent of the originals, but you must allow academy students to enter and copy all your collections…”
“Impossible!” Liang Guangyi refused outright. “The clans’ estates are sacred. How could we allow outsiders to come and go freely? Letting them copy our collections is no different from giving them to you!”
“Then half the collections.”
“Dream on!”
Xiao Yan’s expression turned icy. “This won’t do, that won’t do. What, Grand Preceptor Liang, do you not wish to celebrate my marriage to Tangning?”
“You!”
Liang Guangyi felt Xiao Yan was being utterly unreasonable. What did his marriage to Song Tangning have to do with them? Why should they empty their coffers to offer congratulations?
He couldn’t help glaring. “Xiao Yan, I’ve yielded time and again, but don’t push me too far!”
Xiao Yan tapped his cheek with a finger. “I’m bullying you. What can you do about it?”============
You can read ahead to chapterr 770 (100+ extra chapters) here
Comments
Post a Comment