Chapter 481 - Chapter 481: Bumpy Official Path
Chapter 481: Bumpy Official Path
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The Old Marquis, who had initially been despondent, felt a glimmer of excitement upon hearing of Qin Zhenzhen’s happiness.
Regardless of whether Su Bin chose to return to the Marquis Mansion and honor his ancestors or not, he remained the Old Marquis’ grandson.
Furthermore, Su Bin was about to become a father, which meant that the Old Marquis was soon to become a great-grandfather.
The Old Marquis could barely contain his enthusiasm at the prospect of this new promotion.
If Qin Zhenzhen gave birth to a great-grandson who was willing to address him as such, he would have no regrets in life.
Regrettably, Su Bin had declared that he would never address him as “grandpa” again.
Nevertheless, on the whole, the Old Marquis was overjoyed.
However, his elation was short-lived. Just as he was reveling in his newfound happiness, he learned that Su Bin had been reassigned from the capital to Shanglin Prefecture, a remote, impoverished area, as its governor.
The Old Marquis was taken aback, assuming that Su Bin, being young and inexperienced in the intricacies of bureaucracy, had either offended a certain minister or unintentionally incurred the emperor’s displeasure.
Within the bureaucratic circles, Shanglin Prefecture was notorious for being the poorest, most turbulent, and wretched region in the nation, plagued by rampant banditry. Two of its previous governors had met their demise at the hands of these bandits.
In plain terms, becoming the governor of Shanglin Prefecture was akin to a death sentence, a descent into hell.
Every governor in Shanglin Prefecture diligently sought a transfer from the moment they assumed their post, for if they remained there, their future was bleak.
Should anything untoward happen to Su Bin…
The Old Marquis once again found himself in a somber mood.
Everything that had transpired left him deeply frustrated.
Ever since he had located Su Bin and the others, the Old Marquis had held onto a glimmer of hope that Su Bin would return to the Marquis Mansion and restore its former splendor.
Yet, Su Bin proved to be as obstinate as his father. He seemed more inclined to renounce his status as the heir of the Marquis Mansion than to reconcile with his past actions. The Old Marquis had wished for him to admit his errors and acknowledge his past negligence. Publicly confessing his shortcomings would amount to acknowledging that he had favored a concubine over his wife and contributed to her death-a profoundly shameful act and a violation of the law.
The emperor could seize this opportunity to strip him of his Marquis title and the hereditary system of the Marquis Mansion. The Old Marquis fervently wished that the Marquis Mansion would not cease to exist under his watch, as he would then be unable to face his ancestors in the afterlife.
Currently, Su Bin’s official career appeared tumultuous, and the Old Marquis harbored concerns. Seeking information, he turned to his wife’s family for answers.
“Has Su Bin offended the Crown Prince and the Public House? Is that why he was reassigned to Shanglin Prefecture?”
Su Bin’s demeanor towards the Lin family starkly contrasted with his attitude towards the Old Marquis.
Su Bin found it impossible to forgive the Old Marquis’ self-centeredness, nor could he condone the fact that the Old Marquis had chosen to keep the past events hidden in order to safeguard the Marquis Mansion.
However, Su Bin held no grievances against the Lin family. Additionally, the Lin family’s affiliation with the Third Prince and the General Manor naturally aligned him with their interests.
The Lin family was privy to Su Bin’s true reasons for leaving the capital, while the Old Marquis remained in the dark.
Nonetheless, Su Bin did not disclose the full extent of his situation to the Lin family. He only offered a brief explanation, saying, “That’s correct.”
“Before Su Bin became the Primus, both the Public House and the Crown Prince sought to enlist him on their side, but Su Bin declined.”
When Su Bin was appointed to the Court of Judicial Review, the Public House grew anxious. Concurrently, rumors circulated in the streets, alleging that Su Bin was petty, solely preoccupied with family matters, and disregarding state affairs. The Public House enlisted several ministers to submit memorials to the emperor, who ultimately bought into their accusations and issued an imperial edict.
The rumors suggesting that Su Bin wished to accompany his wife to her hometown may well have been intentionally spread by individuals associated with the Public House.
Upon learning of the Lin family’s account, the Old Marquis was incensed and expressed a desire to reason with the Emperor..