It turns out that the first head of the Zhao family set a rule that each head of the family must put one percent of the Zhao family's annual profits into a treasure vault, so that if the Zhao family were to be driven to desperation by a change of dynasty or natural disasters, they could rely on the accumulation of the previous heads of the family in the treasure vault to make a comeback.
The Zhao family has existed for over 500 years since its founding, and has never declined. Only the head of the family knows how much wealth is stored in the treasury.
To open this treasure vault, five jade pendants need to be collected.
Every year during the Zhao family's sacrificial ceremony, the head of the family would take back the five jade pendants and secretly open the treasury to put in gold or jewels of the corresponding value.
The five jade pendants will be selected by successive heads of the family and entrusted to the main branch of the family for safekeeping, so as to promote the unity of the main branch and work together to manage the Zhao family well.
In a sense, the person who can collect all five jade pendants is the head of the Zhao family.
Why would my maternal great-uncle give something so important to someone who doesn't share my surname?
If she or her children and grandchildren run away with the jade pendant, without it, the Zhao family's treasure vault will never be opened.
Su Ruojin didn't mince words and directly asked her question.
Zhao Guangtao gave a wry smile: "Xiao Jin, to be honest, I have my own selfish reasons for doing this. You are my sister's granddaughter. Although you don't have the surname Zhao, you can still be considered a member of the Zhao family. Giving you to her isn't a bad thing."
But more importantly, your medical skills are so superb. Once you have the Zhao family's jade pendant and are indebted to them, you can't possibly stand by and watch them die if they ever face trouble in the future.
Su Ruojin was somewhat surprised by her great-uncle's bluntness.
That makes sense. How could the head of such a large family not be cunning?
From emperors to commoners, everyone in this world is subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death. If a family has a highly skilled physician, it can naturally ensure the health of its members to the greatest extent possible.
As long as you can maintain good health, why worry about not making money?
But how much risk to take in order to get a good doctor depends on the head of the household's judgment.
Zhao Guangtao's gamble involved giving away the Zhao family's heirloom jade pendant, making it a high-stakes gamble.
He did this to use the old lady's connections to tie Su Ruojin to the Zhao family.
Now that he and Zhao Tingyi are both in trouble, Su Ruojin will not stand idly by.
But Zhao Guangtao did not intentionally plan any of this; he simply went with the flow. His kindness towards Su Ruojin was genuine, and Su Ruojin could naturally discern this.
Seeing that Su Ruojin remained silent, Zhao Guangtao felt very guilty. "Little Jin, your great-uncle is sorry..."
If he hadn't given the jade pendant to Xiao Jin, Xiao Jin wouldn't have faced so many crises.
Hearing this, Su Ruojin snapped out of her thoughts. "Grand-uncle, it's alright. We're all family. I was just wondering who did it."
As long as Zhao Guangtao is sincere towards his grandmother and her, Su Ruojin wouldn't mind Zhao Guangtao's little schemes.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Guangtao lowered his head and sighed, "It's a misfortune for our family. I never thought Yi'er would actually come to this."
Zhao Jingyi had just asked Su Ruojin to return the jade pendant yesterday, but Su Ruojin refused. And this happened that very night. What a coincidence!
The Third Prince has recently gained the Emperor's favor, and his ambition has grown ever larger, to the point that he is no longer hiding it at all. Zhao Guangtao can't think of anyone else but him.
Zhao Jingyi?
The Third Prince?
Su Ruojin instantly realized what was going on, and everything became clear.
It seems that I've been targeted by the Third Prince since I arrived in Yunqi.
"Grand-uncle, what is the background of Steward Zhu of Yunquan Manor?" Su Ruojin thought of this question.
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