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Over many years, the Ming family multiplied and grew in the Jiangnan region. After decades and multiple generations of being carefully operated and bold expansions, it finally became one of the leading large families. They eventually made a connection with the Eldest Princess. After they became royal merchants of the palace treasury, the Ming family’s reach became longer and deeper through the never-ending stream of silver the palace treasury goods brought in. Not only did they have countless industries in Suzhou and Hangzhou, they directly controlled large amounts of ships, caravans, and stores.

Family members also controlled many business that were unremarkable but deeply connected to the Jiangnan people’s lives, such as grain, oil, food, and brothels. So much so, someone once said that as long as Jiangnan people open their door, they will certainly have dealings with the Ming family’s industry.

In such a large family, the factions within it were unusually complicated. However, the group that wielded the highest power were still the six sons of the two wives from the main Ming family. The other, more distant relatives, were only responsible for managing business in the middle to low levels.

When the old Ming matriarch alone held the power of the family, she understood the dangers of division within the family clan. The first arrangement she made was that other than the one branch of the heir, Ming Qingda, the other five Ming descendants would only receive dividends. They would have no power to make any arrangements or suggestions in the enormous Ming family industry and were strictly prohibited from participating in the family business.

This arrangement was, without a doubt, a wise one. Using this strong method ensured that at least the Ming family remained, on the surface, united and cooperated. It did not develop the same problems as other families. The Ming family presented a united front to the outside world.

Although they could not participate in the family business, it was impossible for the other five masters to simply hide their money under their beds and wait for it to birth little money chicks. They would take it to invest outside of the family business and did a lot of business in Jiangnan.

The Ming family used this kind of method to, step by step, stretch their hands further and thinner. In the end, the business of these branches still clung onto the larger family branch. If the Ming family fell, then the businesses of those five masters would also have problems. Thus, they had to use the power in their hands to protect the main branch.

In Fan Xian’s eyes, these businesses that did not belong to the Ming family in name, were still named Ming. So, the Overwatch Council began to treat them all equally and also harassed these businesses.

With this, the five masters could not stand it anymore, thinking, They didn’t receive much good from the family, yet they were also implicated. Business was becoming more and more difficult to do. What was to be done?

...

...

“Open your dog eyes and see. It is the Fourth master in front of you!”

The Fourth master of the Ming family was born of the concubine, so his position in the family was not high to begin with. Thus, he had always liked to walk birds to avoid offending the old matriarch and his eldest brother. Every year, he depended on the dividends to do business. He had opened a fruit and vegetable business and did some of the businesses that the collective had missed. His days passed quite happily.

However, he recently could not be happy no matter what. The trading company came to check every single da, and his business appeared to be crumbling. Although these were not overly important consequences, a negative trend could clearly be seen. The officials that usually bowed and scraped before him rarely wanted to drink tea with him now.

He understood. The officials had been scared by the Overwatch Council.

No matter what, it was not up to these people to promote him. A trace of fierceness flashed across the Fourth master’s face, and he slapped the other man across the face. The southern barbarian that was slapped spun three times on the spot. A red handprint appeared on his face and a trickle of blood leaked out from the side of his mouth.

The Fourth master of the Ming family was the largest fruit seller in Suzhou. It looked unremarkable, but it monopolized 30 percent of the melon and fruit business in Jiangnan. He even single-handedly managed the matters of sending tribute to the Palace. It would not be a problem to call him King of the Melons. Furthermore, he used the Ming family’s reputation to start his own guild and managed the entirety of the Jiangnan fruit market. In all these years, he had never had any powerful figures who dared to come into his territory and pick his fruits to eat.

In the past few days, there was suddenly a merchant from Lingnan who jumped over the Ming family’s agreement with the Xiong family and directly sold fruit in Suzhou without first going through the Fourth master’s hands.

Lingnan’s temperatures were warm, and their fruits beautiful. Once the problem of long-distance shipping was solved, there was great profit to be made. If this merchant knew the rules and had come to visit the Fourth master after arriving in Suzhou, perhaps the Fourth master would have nodded his head and given him a share to work with. However, this merchant either didn’t know the rules or had something else to rely on. He used the fact that he had plentiful goods and cheap prices to forcefully pull down the fruit prices in Suzhou, and even Jiangnan, by 20 percent in 10 days. This merchant’s business had also rapidly expanded.

The Fourth master’s face was full of a sinister smile as he looked at the Lingnan merchant he had smacked to the ground. He chuckled and said, “Does everyone now dare to climb on top of the Ming family? A mere southern barbarian...where did you get such daring?”

He knew that when his family’s business had begun to be pressured by the Overwatch Council, no matter how effective the council really was, news spread and a trend was set. Countless merchant powers that had previously been suppressed by the Ming family began to stir. They all wanted to use this opportunity while the Ming family was hard-pressed to obtain some benefits.

However, the Fourth master could do absolutely nothing to the imperial envoy Fan. He didn’t even have time to be afraid. But, how could he let a southern barbarian interfere on his own territory?

“Use the stick to teach him a lesson.” The Fourth master looked at the Lingnan fruit merchant lying on the ground crying and begging for mercy. A trace of despicableness flashed by the corner of his mouth.

Once his words landed, a terrible cry began to ring out from the yard. The Fourth master’s subordinate used a wooden stick and ruthlessly brought it down on the Lingnan fruit merchant’s body. Each hit sounded with a smack. Who knew how many of the poor merchant’s bones were broken. The terrible cries gradually became lower. His whole body was covered in blood, and he fainted from the beating.

The trusted aide from the account house on the side saw this bloody scene and felt his heart stutter. He moved closer and said, “Fourth master, this person...should belong to the Xiong family.”

“I know,” The Fourth master said sternly. “Xiong Bailing, that old bastard, wanted to use this fruit merchant to test the waters. If I don’t hit back, he’ll think he can actually take advantage of the Ming family.”

The master of accounts gave a pained smile and said, “Fourth master, at this time, you can’t bring more trouble for the family.”

The Fourth master thought of something and his expression darkened. “The old matriarch has already begun to suspect me. If I don’t show some rashness right now, what I can do?”

Countless complicated feelings also welled up in the account master’s heart. He had no idea what to say.

The Fourth master rose from his chair and gazed at the blood-covered Lingnan merchant on the ground. In a dark voice he said, “It’s not that I won’t allow you to do business, but doing business is not bullying others. You cannot bully me.”

The Lingnan merchant had awoken. Hearing these words, he was scared deeply and quickly nodded his head for all he was worth.

“Pay 10,000 liang of silver and bring the price back up. We will compete fairly.” The Fourth master chuckled, which was incomparably sinister. “You don’t bully me, and I will not bully you.”

After he finished bringing the person under control, the Fourth master called for people to drag him out. He gazed at the puddle of blood on the ground and spat. He gritted his teeth and cursed, “I can’t do anything about Fan Xian bullying me, but who the f*ck do the Xiong family think they are?”

Returning to his room, the Fourth master cleaned his hands and rolled up his sleeves. He took down a birdcage from the corridor on the side and began to tease it. Although his mouth was whistling, his eyes were very far away.

The accounts master followed timidly behind him and said in a low voice, “Fourth master, you’re saying...the old matriarch knows of your meeting with Xia Qifei?”

The Fourth master’s body froze. He suddenly cursed in great anger, “It was all your stupid idea! Something about having a foot in each boat. The Seventh master was fortunate to not die and would certainly have good fortune later. He also had the imperial envoy’s support, and the property would eventually be taken by him...you had me go meet with him and take the opportunity to speak first! F*ck! The next day I was called in by the old matriarch and scolded. I almost didn’t make it out alive!”

He was unbelievably angry. After he finally managed to calm the emotions in his chest, he coldly said, “The Overwatch Council has been targeting our family. If I didn’t act savagely today, what would the old matriarch and eldest brother think of me?”

After being cursed at by his master, the accounts master didn’t make a lot of noise. He tearfully said, “But when Master Xia wanted to see you that day, you couldn’t not go. Fourth master...you really don’t want to listen to Master Xia’s words?”

“Seventh brother, seventh brother...” The Fourth master felt very strange when he thought of the younger brother that had suddenly appeared. Concerning the matter of Xia Qifei’s mother being harmed by the old matriarch, he had heard rumors. He and his mother were perfectly clean, so he did not fear the other party like the heir did. Thinking of the words Xia Qifei had brought from the imperial envoy that day, a mysterious light flashed through his eyes and disappeared. He sighed helplessly and said, “I’m afraid of the imperial envoy, but I am more afraid of the old matriarch...besides, right now the Ming family is still our family’s Ming family. If I really listened to you and joined hands with Xia Qifei, with such a terrifying imperial envoy watching at the back, the Ming family will...become the court’s Ming family.”

The Fourth master smiled wretchedly. “No matter how tyrannical the heir is, we have been brothers all these years. In the end, my name is still Ming.”

The accounts master did not keep trying to persuade him.

...

...

The Fourth master had formally rejected Fan Xian’s kindness that had been made through Xia Qifei. The imperial envoy’s reaction was very quickly brought to the large manor the Fourth master had bought in the south part of Suzhou.

The Suzhou government’s bailiffs pushed open the door and entered. Under the close watch of the Ming family thugs, they shakily came to the main hall. They brought out the lawsuit and requested that the Fourth master follow them back to the Suzhou government to stand trial.

“Stand trial?” The Fourth master had never expected there to be a day he could be captured and asked to stand trial. He shouted at the bailiff sternly, “Are you out of your mind? Who reported me? For what?”

The bailiff had no choice. In normal circumstances, he would not dare to offend a genuine Fourth master of the Ming family. He wished he could kneel on the floor and lick the Ming master’s boots. He gave a pained smile and gestured with his eyes at the Fourth master, indicating that there was someone behind him. Then he lowered his voice and implored, “It’s a Lingnan merchant. He reported that the Fourth master forcefully dominated the market, hurt people, and committed violent crimes.”

The Fourth master was startled and furrowed his brows. He had not expected the Lingnan merchant would actually report him. He further did not expect that the Suzhou government would accept this case. For many years the Ming family had held a special position in Jiangnan. The Suzhou government had such a close connection to the Ming family, so how could they accept that Lingnan merchant’s suit? Although the Overwatch Council had been obstructing the Ming family, they could not directly interfere with local government affairs or public affairs. The Overwatch Council could not take the lead on this kind of criminal law case. Previously when they acted violently, they had no need to worry.

This time the Suzhou government actually sent someone.

His gaze passed over the head of the bailiff. He saw an unfamiliar court official standing behind a few other officials. Looking at his official’s robes, his ranking was not very high. It did not look like the apparel of the court system. His eyes narrowed, and soon he guessed the other party’s identity. Apparently, from when the Lingnan merchant entered the yard, all of this had been watched by an Overwatch Council official. No wonder the other party reacted so quickly.

The Fourth master’s eyelid twitched. He knew he had miscalculated one thing. Although the Overwatch Council could not directly question him, they could keep an eye on the government’s actions. If they ignored and did not question him, the Overwatch Council would probably capture government officials to take back and question. With such a strong deterrent, no wonder the Suzhou government dared to capture him today.

He laughed coldly and gazed at that bailiff. “What if I don’t go?”

The bailiff was about to cry from anxiety and implored, “Fourth master should at least give the Zhizhou some face.”

The Ming family servants all began to make a din and surrounded the bailiffs in the middle with wooden sticks in their hands. Their cold gazes stared, intentionally or otherwise, at the Overwatch Council official at the back of the group.

That Overwatch Council official smiled slightly and said, “My good fellow officials, what are you going to do? It seems they’re...preparing to rebel here.”

Beating up an official. Not obeying court orders. What difference was that to rebellion?

Hearing these words, the government officials knew that they had to take him back today. Otherwise, the Zhizhou would not be able to report back to the Overwatch Council. The Lingnan merchant’s wretched report had been witnessed by many in the public court, furthermore, people from Hua Garden also had arrived. They were drinking tea in the tea shop across from the public court. No action would be able to escape the imperial envoy’s eyes.

The official set his heart and gazed at the Fourth master. “Fourth master, please!”

He used is eyes to continuously gesture and make him understand that today was not the same as the past. Sometimes one had to be amenable. As for after he was brought to the Suzhou Government, there were naturally other opportunities to change things around.

The Fourth master slightly lowered his head. After muttering to himself, he forced down the anger in his heart. He knew what the situation was like today and nodded his head.

That official let out a big breath and sighed. “Fourth master is having pity on me.”

The young Overwatch Council official of the Fourth Bureau in the back watched this scene with a cold smile.

The accounts master moved closer to the Fourth master’s side and said worriedly, “Fourth master, what do we do?”

The Fourth master laughed sinisterly and smashed the birdcage in his hand on the ground. The smashed birdcage broke. Bird feathers flew chaotically, and bird blood sprayed everywhere. He smiled icily, “If I must go I will go. All these years, I’ve only ever had tea in the back garden of the Suzhou government building, yet I’ve never had the luck to see the true appearance of Suzhou’s prison. Today, I will go to broaden my horizons.”

He lowered his voice again and said hurriedly, “Immediately send a message back to Ming Garden and have eldest brother bail me out...don’t worry, the old matriarch will trust me more because of this.”

Having finished giving out orders, the Fourth Ming master, for the first time in his life, was taken by officials to the Suzhou government’s prison.

...

...

“Looks like fourth brother has no other intentions.” After the news got back to the Ming Garden, Ming Qingda sent people out to open up channels while he went to the quiet little yard his mother lived in to report the matter. “I’ll go now to bring him back. Although he hurt a Lingnan merchant and the Suzhou government took him in under pressure from the Overwatch Council, the matter was not that big after all. There shouldn’t be any later consequences. Sir Fan junior has no way of using this matter to finish him off.”

The old Ming matriarch sat in her chair deep in thought. Her old, sunken eyes were closed. She seemed to be thinking about some problem. She still had not replied to Ming Qingda’s words.

He felt a little strange. A chill suddenly surged up a moment later.

The old matriarch slowly opened her slightly listless eyes and said, “The Ming family is still being rocked by storms. Fourth first met with Xia Qifei in secret; that is disloyal. Later, he acted rashly and impetuously, making the family worry for him; that his unfilial. Such a disloyal and filial child. What is the point of bailing him out?”

After Ming Qingda was silent, his sorrow returned. The Ming family’s response to Fan Xian’s aggression was to move forward by retreating, playing on sorrowful emotions was why he had knelt in the palace treasury, and had his later illness. Now that the Overwatch Council was pushing aggressively, the Ming family faltered and indeed appeared very pitiable. Yet, the old matriarch intended, it seemed, to slice a deep cut into her own family.

He sucked in a deep breath and said calmly, “Currently, the situation is still within our control. Sir Fan junior can only walk the outer boundaries and can’t truly get hold of something to use against us. At this time, the sacrifice does not need to be so big...after all, he is of Ming blood.”

The old Ming matriarch looked at him coldly and without emotion. “The imperial envoy will push more and more ruthlessly. We will have to eventually sacrifice someone we can give up in exchange for the sympathies of the Jiangnan people and support of the gentry under heaven. Since Fourth has been taken into prison, isn’t this the best opportunity? If the people were to know that the imperial envoy, for the purpose of obtaining silver and wealth, forced a Ming master to death, the court would be shocked. We would obtain many benefits and time...this deal is worth it.”

Ming Qingda’s expression did not change. He thought for a moment then said, “As mother wishes.”

He understood that Fourth brother was, after all, the son of the concubine. In his mother’s eyes, he was dispensable.

The old Ming matriarch gazed at him icily and said, “How is the silver flow in the family? Why are you often going to Zhaoshang money house to transfer money?”

Ming Qingda smiled coldly in his heart. The seal of Taiping money house is always in your hands. If I wanted to truly have the Ming family in my hands, how can I succeed if I don’t think of other paths? He thought like this, but his mouth explained it in a few warm sentences.

The old Ming matriarch nodded. “However, Fourth might not be enough to make all of the hearts of the people under heaven lean toward us...Qingda, you have to be prepared. Perhaps you will be forced to leave the position of the Master of the Ming family so that the people under heaven can see the wretched situation of our Ming family.”

Ming Qingda was startled. He bowed deeply and backed out of the yard.

Outside of the yard, he smiled at his son Ming Lanshi, who had been waiting the whole time. “Did you hear it? I’ve said before...her favorite is your sixth uncle.”