Chapter 422: Teaming Up With The Empress’s Brother
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Actually, Miss Shen Rong had another love. I was prepared to give up on that marriage and choose to give my blessings.
“But…
“But Minister Shen forced her to death.”
Jia Kun sized up Song Rui’s expression, trying to see through his play-acting.
Unfortunately, he didn’t find any trace of acting on Song Rui’s face.
“I could… actually let this go. After all, it was Miss Shen Rong who did something out of line.
“But Prime Minister Shen chose to bring an illegitimate daughter into the Shen family’s residence before Young Miss Shen Rong’s corpse had even turned cold. He also wants to marry his illegitimate daughter Shen Lian to me as a legal wife.
“How can 1 accept this?” At this point, Song Rui’s face was already filled with furious resentment.
When he saw this, Jia Kun had some ideas.
Just as he was about to speak, Song Rui continued, “It is said that Prime Minister Shen is wholeheartedly nurturing me. He even wants to hand over the Shen family to me.
“But in reality, that’s not the case.”
Jia Kun became increasingly more interested.
“Oh?” he asked Song Rui.
Song Rui cupped his hands at Jia Kun again.
“Prime Minister Shen takes great care of me in front of outsiders.
“But in private, he is extremely strict with me. It didn’t seem like he was training a subordinate, but rather, it seemed like he was training… a dog.” Song Rui’s tone was tinged with some hatred when he said the final few words.
Jia Kun narrowed his eyes.
“Later, 1 found out that he was indeed raising me like a dog.
“It’s to pave the way for his illegitimate son.” Song Rui finally looked at Jia Kun at this point.
Jia Kun’s eyes widened at once.
A moment later, he looked away.
“So you’re looking for me to deal with Shen Hongyu?” he asked Song Rui.
“That’s right!” Song Rui immediately said.
Ignoring Jia Kun’s gaze that was focused on himself, Song Rui continued, “As long as Lord Jia is willing, 1 can work for Your Lordship and the Empress. I can watch over Minister Shen on behalf of Your Lordship and the Empress.”
“And what do you want in return? ” Jia Kun’s lips curled up as he asked with interest.
Song Rui raised his head carefully and looked at Jia Kun.
“Your humble official… your humble official only hopes that when the time is ripe, Your Lordship and the Empress can lend me a helping hand and let me replace Prime Minister Shen.
“Your humble official promises this. When 1 become the next Prime Minister, I will be absolutely loyal to the Empress and Your Lordship, and will never have any thoughts of disloyalty!” Song Rui said enthusiastically.
Jia Kun was stunned momentarily.
“Hahahaha…” Then, he laughed out loud.
After looking at Song Rui for a moment, he said, “Back then, in order to climb up the ranks, Shen Hongyu did not hesitate to seduce my first younger sister.
“In order to gain the trust of my father, he even made a promise that he would never take a concubine and would always be loyal to my first younger sister.
“However, after more than twenty years, although he did not take concubines, illegitimate sons and daughters popped up.
“Moreover, that illegitimate daughter’s age is not much younger than Rong’er.
“The current Shen Hongyu is no longer the same as the one in the past who used to obey the orders of our Jia family.
“Moreover, he is even prepared to stab our Jia family in the back at any time.
“Now, you want to be the second Shen Hongyu, do you?” Jia Kun looked at Song Rui with an inquiring look.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Song Rui lowered his head and replied.
When Jia Kun heard this, he simply shook his head and smiled.
“Is it dare not, or dare not admit it?” he asked.
“I don’t dare,” Song Rui replied.
“I have no intention of being the second Minister Shen. But…” Song Rui suddenly stopped.
Then, he looked up at Jia Kun.
“I want to be a subject of the One on the Dragon Throne.”
Jia Kun’s expression froze abruptly.
He looked at Song Rui with a dangerous look in his eyes.
“If I can become the Prime Minister, I will only be loyal to the Emperor! In this way, there would be no talk of betrayal at all,” Song Rui continued.
Jia Kun narrowed his eyes.
“Lord Song, do you know what you’re saying?” he asked in a deep voice.
“Of course, I know.” Song Rui cupped his hands.
“Your humble official wishes to assist Lord Jia to ascend the throne and support Lord Jia to become a wise ruler.”
Jia Kun’s heart trembled momentarily.
He looked at Song Rui menacingly.
After a long while, he finally withdrew his oppressive gaze.
Then, he asked with a smile, “You dare to utter such treasonous words?”
He naturally had such ambitions. However, his Empress younger sister did not allow it.
This was the first time a court official had made such a request to him so frankly.
Song Rui smiled and relaxed.
“Your Lordship is a man of great talent and strategy, so you can naturally distinguish this humble official’s sincerity. Moreover, Your Lordship can weigh the pros and cons and will be willing to accept my proposal,” he continued.
Jia Kun was startled.
Then, he laughed out loud.
“You sure are confident,” he said with a smile. He felt that this flattery was very satisfying.
The corners of Song Rui’s mouth curled up.
“It’s not that I’m confident. It’s because I believe in Your Lordship,” he said.
Jia Kun smiled in amusement again.
“Sit down,” he said.
He had completely forgotten about Song Rui’s previous offense. Moreover, he was receptive to what Song Rui had just said.
Song Rui’s eyes were filled with excitement.
“Thank you, Lord Jia!” After bowing to Jia Kun, he sat back down.
Following that, the atmosphere between the two of them became much warmer.
Song Rui’s flattery made Jia Kun extremely pleased.
Not long after that, Jia Kun said that he would still marry Jia Qi to Song Rui.
“You mustn’t…” Song Rui turned down his offer.
Jia Kun frowned at once.
“It wasn’t easy for me to get Minister Shen to believe that I have offended Lord Jia,” Song Rui quickly explained. “If Lord Jia still betroths Miss Qi’er to me, Minister Shen will definitely be suspicious.”
When Jia Kun heard this, his brows instantly relaxed.
Following that, he asked Song Rui directly, “Then who do you want to accept?”
Song Rui pondered for a moment before bowing to Jia Kun.
“Please betroth the most neglected young lady in the Jia family to me.”
Jia Kun was stunned for a moment, but he quickly figured out the crux of the matter.
If Song Rui had really offended him, with his personality, he would not disobey the empress’s orders. He would probably shove into Song Rui’s arms the daughter he disliked the most.
After thinking for a while, Jia Kun nodded.
“Alright.”
Thereafter, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.
“When the big matter is completed, 1 will then marry Qi’er to you to be your official wife,” he added.
At that juncture, Song Rui would become the Prime Minister and would be worthy of his Qi’er.
Song Rui hurriedly bowed to Jia Kun.
“Thank you, Lord Jia!” he said with some excitement.
The more Jia Kun looked at Song Rui, the more pleased he felt.
Following that, he said to Song Rui, “Sit down and have a drink with me.”
“As you wish, Your Lordship,” Song Rui smiled and answered.
After a few cups of wine, their “relationship” became even closer.
In the end, Jia Kun almost called Song Rui “good son-in-law.”
Under Song Rui’s probing, Jia Kun also told Song Rui a lot of secrets about Minister Shen.
In short, this trip was worth it for Song Rui.
After a few more days, it was finally time for Song Rui to move to his new residence.
Minister Shen personally came to congratulate him, and more than half of the officials in the court were present.
Qin Xiaoyao was also among them.
Song Rui beamed like a blooming flower in spring and happily received the guests.
However, his gaze would occasionally glance at Qin Xiaoyao..
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