Chapter 188 It's Too Late

When Jiang Yu learned that Yuan Yutang was a distant relative of the Duke of Wei's family, she understood why he had acted that way. She told Xia He, "Tell Madam about this."

"Yes." Xia He responded and went to Lu Yifang's courtyard. After meeting Lu Yifang, she told her what had happened.

After hearing this, Lu Yifang said, "I understand. We'll have someone send some New Year's gifts to the Yuan family during the Spring Festival."

Relatives with such complicated connections usually don't keep in touch much during the Lunar New Year. Sending New Year's gifts to the Yuan family is a way of thanking Yuan Yutang for standing by Jiang Yu's side today, and also a way of indicating that they will have more frequent contact in the future.

That's how relationships are maintained.

......

Xie family

Xie Yun stood with his hands behind his back by the study window, looking at the gloomy sky outside, listening to Xie Zizhang's report:

"Shortly after Dong Shuang and Ge Da were arrested by the Ministry of Justice, Jiang Yu rushed into the Ministry of Justice to demand their release. Guo Huai couldn't stop him, and later when Prince An arrived with an eunuch, it was even more impossible to stop him."

"Where is Qiu Wenjing?" Xie Yun asked, turning around.

Xie Zizhang: "He hid, citing family matters as an excuse."

"Hmph, old fox." Xie Yun snorted heavily. "Jiang Yu went to see the Emperor?"

Xie Zizhang clenched his fist. "Yes, Jiang Yu went to see the Emperor, and the case... has been handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

These words made Xie Yun's gaze turn dangerous, and Xie Zizhang clenched his fists tightly before saying, "When Jiang Yu received the news, she was probably with Prince An."

Xie Yun narrowed his eyes, walked to a chair to the side, sat down, and said, "Have you finished up?"

Xie Zizhang: "The person is already dead."

Xie Yun breathed a sigh of relief, and after a while said, "I didn't expect Jiang Yu to arrive at the Ministry of Justice so quickly. She's just a maid; shouldn't she have thought of a countermeasure first?"

According to his original plan, he intended to arrest Dong Shuang and Ge Da and bring them to the Ministry of Justice for severe interrogation. He believed that under such torture, no information would be left unexamined. However, he hadn't expected Yu to arrive at the Ministry of Justice so quickly, thwarting all their plans.

“Even so, I don’t believe the Emperor doesn’t suspect Jiang Yu at all,” Xie Yun said.

“His Majesty is suspicious, he will definitely be suspicious,” Xie Zizhang said. “If we send someone to impeach Jiang Yu tomorrow, His Majesty will be even more suspicious.”

Xie Yun nodded, "You should quickly contact someone to impeach Jiang Yu."

"yes."

"No."

Just as Xie Zizhang was about to leave, Xie Ning'an walked in. He bowed to Xie Yun and said, "Grandfather, if you were Jiang Yu, what would you do in this situation?"

Xie Yun frowned and pondered for a while, then looked solemn. He had thought of something but didn't want to say it. Xie Ning'an spoke for him: "If I were Jiang Yu, I would definitely put everything aside and investigate this matter to clear my name."

Xie Yun's facial muscles tensed, making his entire face appear even more sinister.

"And what we did was truly flawless?" Xie Ning'an said, "Grandfather, don't forget, Lan Mudan is still in Jiang Yu's hands."

“Lan Mudan won’t confess,” Xie Zizhang said. “If Lan Mudan had confessed, Jiang Yu wouldn’t have only started investigating the tax matters now.”

Xie Ning'an's face showed disappointment. "Father, nothing is absolute. Besides, even if Lan Mudan doesn't confess, two people on the ship have suddenly died. The Emperor isn't stupid; wouldn't he guess that someone framed Jiang Yu?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Xie Zizhang looked at Xie Ning'an and said, "We're not at our wits' end yet, but we're close. How about... we kill Jiang Yu?"

“I’ve already said that Jiang Yu cannot be killed,” Xie Ning’an said. “Would the old Duke of Chu let it go if Jiang Yu were killed? He would fight to the death to make the Emperor investigate the matter thoroughly. Don’t forget, the old Duke of Chu has done favors for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.”

After saying these words, Xie Ning'an's eyes reddened. Sometimes he felt deep hatred, hating himself for being born into such a Xie family, a family he wanted to change but couldn't.

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Xie Zizhang was angered by his words, glaring at Xie Ning'an with some fury. Didn't they know what he was saying? But now they were almost at a dead end; what else could they do besides kill Jiang Yu?

Xie Ning looked at Xie Yun and said, "Grandfather, confess our cooperation with them to the Emperor, hand over the bank, reclaim all our power, and let us recuperate."

"Do you know what you're saying?" Xie Zizhang roared at Xie Ning'an. He never expected his son, whom he had always favored, to have such thoughts. Without the money shop and without influence in the court, would the Xie family still be the Xie family?

Xie Yun looked intently at Xie Ning'an for a long time before finally saying, "It's too late."

Xie Ning'an took two steps back in despair, meaning they now had no way out.

“If that’s the case,” Xie Ning’an said to Xie Yun, “we can’t kill Jiang Yu. If Jiang Yu dies in our hands, then we will truly have no way out.”

Xie Yun fell silent again, and after a while he said, "Yes, Jiang Yu cannot die now. Jiang Jinglan has finally found an heir, and if Jiang Yu dies now, Jiang Jinglan will definitely fight to the death."

"Then what should we do?" Xie Zizhang asked.

Xie Yun remained silent. Xie Ning'an clenched her fist, then looked at Xie Yun and said, "Grandfather, I believe it's never too late to turn back. Besides, we have enough leverage."

Xie Yun remained silent, and Xie Ning'an continued, "Our Xie family's banks are spread all over the country. If we want to use the banks to do something, it will definitely give the Emperor a headache."

We can use this as leverage to negotiate with the Emperor, revealing what that person had done. We could even join forces with the Emperor to bring that person down. I think the Emperor will then show us leniency.

"And then what?" Xie Yun looked at Xie Ning'an and said, "Even if the Emperor gives us a break, as long as Da Gan doesn't fall and as long as the Qin family still rules the country, our Xie family will never have a chance to rise again."

The room was quiet. After a while, Xie Ning'an said, "Nothing is absolute, Grandfather. Let's deal with the immediate crisis first."

“It’s all because of Jiang Yu,” Xie Zizhang said. “If it weren’t for Jiang Yu, we wouldn’t be in this crisis. If we can’t kill Jiang Yu, what other approach can we take? Jiang Chengye or that Jiang Yunkang.”

Xie Ning'an frowned. He didn't want to use such methods to deal with Jiang Yu. He opened his mouth to say something, but Xie Yun's voice rang out, "You guys go back first, let me think about it."

Xie Zizhang stood up and walked out, while Xie Ning'an remained seated. He looked at Xie Yun and said, "Grandfather..."

Xie Yun raised his hand to interrupt him, "Ning'an, things have come to this point, we can no longer consider whether the methods are honorable or not. As long as it can resolve the current crisis, nothing is too much."

Xie Ning'an wanted to refute, saying that with Jiang Yu's intelligence, she would definitely be on guard against them, so how could it be so easy to make a move?

It would be better to stop and seek a way out later.