Chapter 410: After modification: Chapter 395 Confiscation of Property
The next generation of the Yuwen Family only consists of Abao, born to Lin Yushu, and a little Commandery Princess, born to Prince Duan and Feng Wan. With only these two juniors, they are deeply cherished.
Lin Yushu’s brow furrowed slightly, "After the hundred days mourning period for the late emperor ended, the Empress Dowager intended to select noble ladies to enter the palace to expand the royal lineage. The emperor strongly opposed it, forcing the Empress Dowager to abandon the idea. However, after the one-year mourning period, the Empress Dowager may raise the issue again, aiming to bring noble ladies into the palace. If they give birth to royal heirs, the nobility would no longer be as united as before. But I observe that the emperor’s mind... is completely on... Xiangguo Temple, and he seldom visits the inner palace. There are only a few concubines in the palace, none of whom are blessed with good fortune. He still wishes to bring Cousin into the palace."
Yuwen Jing is not a lustful emperor. National mourning typically lasts twenty-seven days, while most new emperors observe a hundred days. Some even observe a full year. If mourning were to last three years, court officials would press the emperor to expand the royal lineage. Apart from the Empress, Yuwen Jing’s inner palace only has three concubines, all of whom are former attendants from the crown prince’s mansion.
After marrying the Crown Princess Consort, Yuwen Jing did not visit anyone else’s quarters. Following Lin Yushu’s birth of Abao, he became even more distant, not stepping foot into the inner palace once for over a year and a half. The Empress Dowager could not persuade him, so the pressure fell on the Empress to encourage Yuwen Jing to share his favor equally and contribute more to extending the royal lineage.
But Yuwen Jing’s mind remains entirely fixated on Feng Shu. He desired to bring Feng Shu into the palace last year but was dissuaded by Lin Yushu, and now, having exercised restraint until after the New Year, his patience is nearing its limit.
"Do you still wish to rekindle your marital connection with him?" Lin Helin asked.
Lin Yushu shook her head, "I wish only for Abao to grow up safely; I have no other desires."
Lin Helin sorrowfully patted the back of her hand, "We are the ones who let you down."
"Brother, the marriages of children from noble families are never decided by themselves. From the moment I was born, my fate to enter the palace was sealed. The clan spent over a decade raising me, providing me with fine clothes, food, and education. This is my duty," Lin Yushu said. "No one has wronged me. Entering the palace is fine. With Abao, this life is enough."
Lin Helin knew his sister was trying to console him, which only made him feel worse. Yuwen Jing is more inscrutable and calculating than the late emperor, his mind deeper. Now, his focus remains entirely on Feng Shu, disregarding human decency. The ministers have made multiple remonstrations, all of which were dismissed. Once the one-year mourning period ends, who would be able to stop him?
"Brother, can you send Cousin to Ningzhou?"
"She won’t leave," Lin Helin replied. "The guards at Xiangguo Temple are lax, and Cousin has never attempted to leave. The Feng Family’s fate depends entirely on her will. She won’t leave, and moreover... she will enter the palace."
Feng Shu has no choice!
Yuwen Jing has already gripped her by the throat. No one could secretly move the entire Feng Family to Ningzhou unnoticed.
Feng Wan remains Princess Duan, the relationships within are tangled and complex. Yuwen Jing now holds complete control over troop authority in the Capital City. If another catastrophe like the Marquis Mansion’s massacre occurs, who could stop him?
"She can’t enter the palace!" Lin Yushu hurriedly said, "At least... not now!"
Lin Yushu has been carefully calculating time for Feng Shu, also obstructing Yuwen Jing from visiting Xiangguo Temple. At the very least... the child must be born before further considerations.
"You must stop meddling in Cousin’s affairs. If he wants to go mad, let him go mad!" Lin Helin said indifferently. "Lin Cheng is dead. Just wait; once he can’t obtain the Su Family’s wealth in Jiangnan, he’ll target the capital."
As Lin Helin predicted, Yuwen Jing indeed fabricated an excuse to confiscate the Su Family’s Trading House and the Feng Family Trading House, alleging that Fengyu aided the Xie family remnants in arming troops across twelve provinces, guilty by association, and sentencing the entire clan to extermination. The trading houses were seized, along with properties belonging to the Feng Family. They were found to hold 100,000 taels of gold and 3 million taels of silver, all absorbed into the royal treasury.
Yuwen Jing sent people to take over all Su and Feng Family industries, dismissing all managers. The Capital City’s commerce underwent major upheavals. Many merchants, fearing reprisal, no longer dared associate with the Su or Feng Families, wary of offending the court.
Apart from Wangjiang Restaurant, Linlang Pavilion, and Mudan Pavilion, all industries of the Su and Feng Families were confiscated, including ancestral properties of the Feng Family. Lin Helin had anticipated this outcome. In the Capital City, Yuwen Jing could act unscrupulously—he was the emperor and wielded troop authority. The major camps around the Capital, originally staffed by noble factions, had been restructured under Lin Cheng’s orders over the past six months and now obeyed the emperor.
He had reasons to target the Feng and Su Families, and no one could refute them. Indeed, Fengyu had assisted Xie Xun in preparing provisions and reclaiming wasteland for farming across twelve provinces, even accompanying Xie Xun in disaster relief efforts in Yangzhou, winning the hearts of the people.
Even Marquis An Yuan, who had close ties with the Feng Family, had no grounds to object.
The elderly Old Mrs. Feng had long anticipated this, so she endured the outcome. Feng Changlin’s official position was downgraded by one rank and reassigned to an idle duty. This matter implicated the entire Feng Family. Feng Changlin’s eldest son, Feng Wenrong, who was originally slated for an official assignment after the New Year in the Capital, was instead held back in Liling. Fortunately, he avoided punishment. Being away from the Capital proved safer.
Lady Feng held deep grudge against the second branch of the Feng Family, especially after the Feng Family’s confiscation, cursing Su Yuejiao as selfish and self-serving. If she hadn’t sent Fengyu away, the Feng Family wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Feng Changlin wouldn’t have been demoted, and her son could have returned to reunite with his family in the Capital. Su Yuejiao offered no rebuttal and silently endured the scolding, but Feng Changqing couldn’t contain himself. He didn’t wish to quarrel with women, choosing instead to propose dividing the family properties. Feng Changlin, however, shared a deep bond with his brothers and refused to turn against them during this critical moment. The Feng Family’s situation was precarious. Fortunately, Feng Wan, as Princess Duan, still held enough influence to shield the entire family. If the family were to split, who would manage Feng Changqing and Su Yuejiao?
With living parents, division of family properties is strictly prohibited according to Feng Family tradition.
Lady Feng had long dreamed of her son and grandchildren returning for a reunion. Now, her hopes were shattered, leaving her teary-eyed daily. The Feng Family was riddled with anxiety, dismissing servants—no one knew how long this calamity would persist.
Despite being confiscated, the Feng Family didn’t struggle for livelihood. Manager Zhou of Wangjiang Restaurant and Manager Wen of Mudan Building secretly provided grain and money, ensuring their days were bearable.
However, Su Yuejiao worried about the imminent childbirth of Feng Shu, was equally distressed about Fengyu in the provinces, and grieved over Mr. Su’s recent death. With Jiangnan’s entire wealth obliterated, Su Yuejiao fell gravely ill, overwhelmed with despair.
"Yuwen Jing coveted the Su Family’s wealth. Even if Ayu hadn’t left, he would still have confiscated the properties. This has nothing to do with Ayu. Mrs. Zhang is bitter, but just listen and let it pass; don’t take it to heart," Old Mrs. Feng comforted. Given Yuwen Jing’s animosity towards Ayu, if she had remained in the Capital City, she’d either have been killed by Yuwen Jing or used as leverage against Xie Xun, ultimately meeting a tragic fate.