The Xiao family's misfortune was both expected and unexpected.

After all, the Xiao family was only a respectable family on the surface, but inside it had long been in ruins.

In the eyes of those so-called elders, Xiao Linghan was too young to support the family.

Their family was never united; they were always scheming and plotting, and many of them used Xiao Linghan's name to amass wealth.

This kind of thing has actually happened in many families. It is said that when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven. Why do many families, in order to produce more scholars in the imperial examinations, are willing to pool the resources of the entire clan?

The purpose is to wait until the time when the children they have cultivated enter the imperial court and become officials. At that time, from any perspective, these promising people will help them, and the family will prosper.

The title of Marquis of Yongning in the Xiao family is hereditary, which is even better than that of an ordinary down-on-his-luck scholar.

As long as they go out and say they are relatives of the Xiao family, people who don't know the inside story will treat them with utmost respect; that's the bare minimum.

Most of the time, we introduced them to various ways to make money.

Xiao Linghan's uncle harbored deep hatred for his father even before his father died.

Because he felt that he should be the one to inherit the position of heir apparent.

But because his elder brother was the eldest son, the position ultimately fell to his elder brother's son.

He, as the second uncle, had nothing.

In his heart, it was all Xiao Linghan's father's fault.

If it weren't for a moment of folly, the Yongning Marquis's mansion might have already become a prominent noble family in the capital. How could it be like this now, where everyone knows it's a fallen family, and wealthy daughters don't even bother to come here, let alone offer them any help?

Since the path to rebuilding the Xiao family's fortunes through marriage has disappeared, it's better to find another way out as soon as possible.

In any case, it's still much better than it is now.

Xiao Linghan's second uncle knew the gravity of the situation before doing such a thing.

Even though he was indeed sensible, he couldn't help but change his attitude in the face of a huge sum of money.

He took the worst possible path—selling contraband salt.

He knew that if he brought this matter to Xiao Linghan's side, he felt he was doomed.

A dog that bites doesn't bark.

Xiao Linghan seemed to be someone who didn't care about anything, as if he had lost interest in everything.

However, the gleam in his eyes did not lie.

As his second uncle, he knew that his nephew was not so simple.

But this line of work is indeed extremely profitable. He earned enough money to take several beautiful concubines at home and live a peaceful and comfortable life.

Fortune favors the bold.

In any case, now that we've started, we have no choice but to see it through to the end.

I thought their plan was flawless, and it had been successful for the past few months.

Xiao Linghan's second uncle became more and more smug each day. Little did he know that it was all a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

His every move these days has already been noticed by those who are interested.

Just when he thought he had gone unnoticed for so long, he became bolder and bolder.

Once they're fattened up, they can be slaughtered.

Just as Xiao Linghan's second uncle was envisioning his future happy life, an imperial edict arrived, and he was thrown into the imperial prison.

This time, it's not just Xiao Linghan who will suffer; selling smuggled salt is a serious crime, and this matter affects an entire family.

Xiao Linghan's second uncle has committed such a heinous crime that he must be beheaded. But what should be done with Yongning Marquis Xiao Linghan?