Chapter 348: Chapter 203: He and Li Join Hands

At the entrance of the Li Courtyard.

"Patriarch He, the Lord Steward will see you."

A guard at the Li Courtyard’s main gate emerged and addressed He Shujun.

He Shujun nodded. "My thanks."

He had been waiting outside for half an hour before being granted an audience, and he couldn’t help but feel somewhat apprehensive.

Although he had advanced to the Sixth Grade, and Li Mingxin was also Sixth Grade, he wouldn’t dare make a move against Li Mingxin even if he had ten times the courage.

It wasn’t Li Mingxin’s strength he feared, but his status.

A member of the Royal Family, even an external Steward from the Foreign Affairs Institute, was still someone that a minor figure like him could not afford to offend.

When he arrived at the main hall, He Shujun saw Li Mingxin sitting on the host’s seat, his eyes closed in contemplation.

"He Shujun of the He Family, one of the Lower Three Grades under the Li Family’s rule, greets you, Lord Steward," He Shujun said, immediately clasping his hands and bowing.

Li Mingxin opened his eyes and looked at He Shujun, his expression calm as he spoke:

"I am aware of your purpose for coming here. Now that you have become a Sixth Grade Martial Artist, the He Family naturally qualifies as a Middle Third Grade Family. I will report this to the Foreign Affairs Institute for registration. Are you aware of the associated rules?"

He was aware of the affairs within the city. He cared little that the He Family had absorbed the Lu Family.

The move against the Lu Family began before He Shujun’s promotion, and his breakthrough occurred during the takeover. This did not violate the Li Family’s rules, so there was nothing more to be said about it.

He was quite satisfied that He Shujun had obediently followed the rules afterward, refraining from making any unauthorized moves against the other powers.

He Shujun cupped his hands. "I have only heard fragments. I know that a Middle Third Grade Family must not take the initiative to attack a Lower Third Grade Influence. As for the other, more detailed rules, I am unaware. Please, Lord Steward, enlighten me."

A slight smile touched Li Mingxin’s lips. He was pleased with He Shujun’s tactful attitude and gave a small nod.

"The rules for Middle Third Grade Families are not numerous. In general terms: first, you are not permitted to initiate attacks on Lower Three Grade Families, though you may retaliate if challenged. Second, you may pay a price to have me, as the Li Family’s representative, mediate your disputes. There are few other rules. Beyond that, I will give you two choices.

First, you can relocate to the Commandery City. I will write a letter to inform our people there, and they will ensure you have a place.

Second, you can remain in Jade Peak County. However, in addition to the existing rules, your annual tribute must increase fivefold."

At this, Li Mingxin looked at He Shujun and added with a faint smile, "If you go to the Commandery City, the tribute required will not be nearly as high, and you will face fewer restrictions." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I choose the second," He Shujun said.

He didn’t hesitate. ’Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big sea. Go to the Commandery City with my current foundation and strength? It’d be like serving myself up on a platter. Any fool would know which to choose.’

’As for the fivefold tribute increase, that’s not an issue. The total would only come to sixty thousand units of grain, sixty thousand silver taels, and six thousand portions of Medicinal Materials! The Lu Family’s territory already belongs to the He Family. Once I take control of the territories in West City, I won’t just have my own family’s resources, but also those that supported the tribute quotas of the Lu Family, the Cheng Family, and the Celestial Break Gang. Counting our original territories, our total resource base will be 3.8 times what it was. The fivefold tribute Li Mingxin is demanding is just a bit more than that. We can absolutely afford it.’

"Alright. You may go back, then." Li Mingxin was about to rise, seeing that He Shujun had agreed. But He Shujun spoke up. "There is one more matter that requires the Lord Steward’s attention."

Li Mingxin looked at him, his brow furrowed. "What is it?"

"When the He Family was taking over the Lu Family, the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang from West City seized our spoils. This was a clear provocation against my family. However, knowing the Lord Steward’s rules, I did not intervene. I allowed them to take what they wanted and did not retaliate.

Currently, all of the Lu Family’s resources are at the Celestial Break Gang’s headquarters in West City. I wish to retaliate against the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang to reclaim what rightfully belongs to the He Family. Afterward, my family will naturally present an offering as penance for disrupting the peace of the County Town."

’This last part was an unwritten rule. As long as there was just cause, the Li Family Steward would generally not interfere or make things difficult when a Middle Third Grade Family retaliated against one of the Lower Three Grades. But this was a matter of social grace, not a written regulation.’

Li Mingxin gave He Shujun a long, meaningful look, then smiled. "As long as your evidence is conclusive, I will not intervene. As for the penance... I have heard that the He Family possesses a certain Treasure. After this is all over, I’ll have to ask Patriarch He to lend it to me for a viewing."

With that, he departed, saying nothing more to He Shujun.

He left He Shujun standing there, his expression a mixture of confusion and growing gravity.

’The He Family’s Treasure?’

His mind reeling with questions, he left the Li Courtyard.

On the path from the main hall to the rear courtyard, the Steward, Li Tonghua, asked, "My lord, He Shujun has ties to a Poison Physician. Why didn’t you just arrest him? The Clan Affairs Department has a bounty out."

He had received an anonymous letter that very morning about He Shujun’s breakthrough to the Sixth Grade, detailing how he had used a Poison Physician’s methods to do so. It was the same method that had killed Lu Yan.

The bounty our family offers for information on Poison Physicians is extremely high.

But Li Mingxin had said nothing after learning of it. He hadn’t brought it up with He Shujun, acting as if he were completely unaware.

Li Mingxin glanced at the man beside him and continued walking. "Keep this to yourself. As for the Poison Physician, I have my own arrangements."

Li Tonghua could only nod in acknowledgment, but then he asked, "He Shujun is going to cause trouble for the Cheng Family, but that boy from the Chengs is no pushover. If he ends up getting killed instead, won’t that affect your plans?"

At this, Li Mingxin stopped walking, his brow creased in thought. After a moment, he said, "Go to the He Family and check on things."

Li Tonghua immediately understood. "Yes, my lord."

With that, he turned and departed.

Upon returning home, He Shujun immediately had his steward dispatch men to take complete control of North City. At the same time, he ordered his people to spread the news that the He Family had become a Middle Third Grade Family.