Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "What are the conditions?"
"The condition is that during his lifetime, Grand Secretary Liu cannot have any of his own biological children!"
Upon hearing this, even though she had some suspicions, Jiang Nuan's expression still changed.
Without his own flesh and blood, wouldn't Liu An have to serve the Liu family like a slave for the rest of his life?
What a brilliant plan!
"Isn't she afraid of ruining her reputation?"
“As long as the Liu family doesn’t divorce her, it doesn’t matter if her reputation is ruined. Besides, she already holds the title of the legal mother.”
“That’s true,” Jiang Nuan realized, “The whole clan has to put up with her, so there’s really nothing to be afraid of.”
The Liu family is truly pathetic.
No, it's not that the Liu family was incompetent, because Liu An was only a son of a concubine.
The legitimate son is the foundation, while the illegitimate son can only become an assistant to the legitimate son, merely a tool.
As long as it brings benefits to the Liu family, his own wishes are not important.
"Later, since Grand Secretary Liu had no children, he simply adopted a nephew according to the clan's requirements."
“Liu An has already become a high-ranking official in the court,” Jiang Nuan said, somewhat puzzled. “Aren’t the Liu family afraid of retaliation? Aren’t they worried about the Liu family’s reputation?”
"No need. To rise smoothly in officialdom, one cannot have any flaws in character. Even if Grand Secretary Liu is unwilling, there's nothing he can do. In any case, they are his parents according to the law and propriety, but..."
The steward continued, "Thirteen years ago, both elders passed away. In order to secure his support for Liu Yi, the clan tore up the old contract."
"But you didn't have a child, right?"
“Madam, thirteen years ago, Grand Secretary Liu was already forty years old, and his health was severely weakened due to years of overwork. Even a god couldn’t have given birth to him.”
"So," Jiang Nuan said, her face darkening, "he's pinning his hopes on me?"
"Madam, you are a banished immortal."
As a fellow man, the steward could completely understand Liu An's feelings.
He worked hard all his life, but in his old age, he had no one to carry on his bloodline. Even before he died, a group of people were already thinking about how much of the benefits they could gain. He didn't even know how many of the people kneeling and worshipping at his grave were truly sincere.
Just thinking about it makes me feel desolate.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Nuan was speechless. "A banished immortal can control who has children?"
And she's such an old person.
"Lord Liu was also a pitiful man," Steward Cao couldn't help but sigh. "He was an illegitimate son. He was only registered under his stepmother's name after he was promoted to a third-rank official. He relied on his concubine for survival when he was young. His stepmother disliked him because he suppressed his own son and made things difficult for his concubine many times. The old lady passed away before her son became the top scholar in the imperial examination."
Later, when Grand Secretary Liu married, it was his stepmother's niece, who wasn't exactly a caring person either. As he rose to a higher position, he became increasingly fearful!
"He is very tactful and adept at maneuvering. He rarely makes enemies and is conscientious and responsible in his work."
"He looks cunning, but he's actually very honest. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been bullied like this by the Liu family."
"So, His Majesty is feeling sorry for me?" Jiang Nuan asked with a half-smile.
Upon hearing this, Steward Cao awkwardly touched his nose, "What did Madam say? This old servant doesn't understand."
"Alright, stop pretending," Jiang Nuan pouted. "You go down first, I'll think about it carefully."
"Yes, this old servant takes his leave."
After saying that, the butler left as quickly as he could, afraid that Jiang Nuan might accidentally come after him.
"You run really fast, but I'm not going to eat people!"
Since she dares to keep people under her nose, she's not afraid of them being spies.
Shaking her head, Jiang Nuan turned and left, a thought forming in her mind.
The next day, Liu An felt uneasy.
He felt extremely uncomfortable being stared at by Jiang Nuan.
"Madam, is there anything you need from this old man?"
"No," Jiang Nuan said, still in a daze, "What's wrong?"
Liu An shook his head, forcing a smile, "It's alright, as long as Madam is happy."
"Um!"
After a long silence, Jiang Nuan suddenly spoke up, "You want a child?"
These words startled Liu An.
He touched his face, gave a wry smile, and asked, "Is it that obvious?"
He thought he had hidden his thoughts very well.
"Boy or girl?"
She couldn't quite understand these people's obsession with bloodlines. It was the old family home, it was her own mother, it was Ji Xuan, and now there was Liu An.
With today's medical conditions, having a child in your fifties might mean you die before the child grows up, so why be so persistent?
"Having one child is already a blessing from heaven, how could I dare to ask for anything else?"
He didn't care about incense offerings; he simply disliked the surname Liu.
But I want a blood relative, so the two of us can rely on each other.
He has shallow family ties and a shallow relationship with his wife. Of all the people in the world, there is not one who can make him feel passionate.
In the past, I was too busy to take on apprentices. Now that I have the time, I am in a high position and can no longer tell whether people are becoming my disciples because of me or because of my position as Grand Secretary.
Although there was no difference, he still felt uncomfortable.
Perhaps, as Chief Assistant An said, it's just too pretentious.
"oh!"
Jiang Nuan nodded gently and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Liu An, who had initially been filled with hope, gave a bitter smile and turned away dejectedly.
As expected, I had to force myself to do it.
That's true, at such an advanced age, even if the Goddess of Mercy were to force a child into her, she probably couldn't.
"Mother, does Uncle Liu want a child? A grandson?"
"No, he wants a son!"
Upon hearing this, Huang Xiaosi tightly covered his mouth to stop himself from shouting, "How is this possible!"
His own grandparents aren't even as old as him, yet he still wants a son? That's just too much...
“It’s not impossible,” Huang Yi said leisurely. “There was a man in the previous dynasty who had a son at the age of seventy, which was a legendary tale and was even recorded in unofficial histories.”
"Are you sure his wife doesn't have other men?"
"this……"
Huang Yi was speechless.
He was too naive; he hadn't even considered this possibility.
"Having a child requires sowing seeds; if there are no seeds, the child will definitely belong to someone else, then..."
"Shut up," Jiang Nuan's face darkened instantly upon hearing this. "Don't you remember 'don't speak improperly'? Who taught you to spout such nonsense? Do you want to get a beating?"
That brat really needs to be taught a lesson.
Realizing he had let something slip, Huang Xiaosi instinctively took a step back, looking at his mother in horror, "Mom, I was wrong, please don't hit me."
He was wrong because he overheard too many rumors in the past, and the aftereffects haven't gone away yet.
"Go back and write a hundred large characters. If you do it again, I'll beat your ass to a pulp."
"Yes, son will go back now," he said, but after taking two steps, he couldn't help but turn back and ask, "Mother, does Uncle Liu not have a son?"
"It's just that I don't have a biological son."
"Okay, I understand!"
After Huang Xiaosi finished speaking, he waved his hand and ran away quickly.
"You brat!"
Shaking her head in disgust, Jiang Nuan turned and left. She needed to find a way to help Liu An improve his health.
Do your best and leave the rest to fate!
Even if he can't have a son, it would be good if he could improve his health and prolong his life.
To have climbed to the position of Grand Secretary, one must be no ordinary person, and one's character must be impeccable. Every day one lives, one more day one can contribute to the Great Zhou.
In any case, it's not a losing proposition!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com