Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

Chapter 108 Hou Xianglan Recognizes Her Relatives

Time flies, and three days have passed in the blink of an eye. After working tirelessly day and night for these past few days, Hou Xianglan has finally managed to roughly sort out the Xiao family's accounts from the past ten years. However, what she found was truly astonishing!

It turns out that Xiao Jinshi had embezzled nearly five million taels of silver over the past ten years! When Xiao Lan presented the compiled accounts to Xiao Zhenwei, the usually calm and composed old man was so angry that he trembled and was furious when he saw the shocking figures. He slammed his fist on the table, and with a crisp crack, the sturdy table corner was broken off!

"That bitch, how dare she be so audacious!" Xiao Zhenwei roared angrily, his eyes flashing with raging fury.

At this moment, Xiao Lan, standing to the side, quickly spoke up to soothe her grandfather's emotions and explained her thoughts to him: "Grandfather, please calm down and don't be hasty. I have carefully examined these accounts and found that many of the estates and shops are where the bulk of the embezzled funds are located. If we can recover these properties one by one, then roughly speaking, the actual loss of the manor over the past ten years is only less than one million taels. In my opinion, we don't need to worry about the silver that has already been embezzled by Xiao Jinshi for now, but rather concentrate on recovering all the shops and estates that she has sold over the years. I have also specifically noted that many of these properties are still profitable. After Mother has successfully given birth, we can discuss and decide together how to handle these recovered properties."

After listening to Xiao Lan's words, Xiao Zhenwei nodded slightly in agreement. He thought to himself that Xiao Chengliang wasn't his biological grandson, and his poor granddaughter had been murdered by Xiao Jin, dying young. Now, only the eldest son and daughter remained in the Xiao family. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.

However, to everyone's delight, Jiang Nihuang was already six months pregnant and would soon give birth to another child for the Xiao family. Xiao Zhenwei was overjoyed at this, considering it the most important matter at hand. After all, ensuring the continuation of the family line was of paramount importance!

Not only that, Xiao Zhenwei had also privately inquired about the fetus's condition with the doctor. When he learned that Jiang Nihuang was most likely carrying a boy, he was overjoyed, his face beaming with happiness. Because of this, Xiao Zhenwei was filled with anticipation and love for Jiang Nihuang and the child in her womb.

Then, Xiao Zhenwei waved his hand grandly and said loudly, "From now on, your mother will be in charge of the Xiao family's affairs. She will make all the decisions, big and small, without needing to consult me. I am getting old and my energy is limited, and I am too lazy to get involved in these trivial matters. Besides, in the future, the Xiao family will ultimately be managed by your father." After saying this, he looked at Xiao Lan with a smile on his face, his eyes full of love and trust.

Although the relationship between Xiao Zhenwei and his son Xiao Daren remains merely ordinary at present, with the passage of time and the development of events, Xiao Zhenwei has gradually gained a clearer understanding of the situation. After careful consideration, he has realized that Xiao Lan is undoubtedly the Phoenix Maiden prophesied by the Imperial Advisor through divination! This woman is destined to become the Empress, a paragon of virtue for the world. Looking at the current situation, Xiao Mu'an belongs to the eldest son's lineage, and even more delightful is that his eldest daughter-in-law will give birth to a grandson next year. Thus, the future of the Xiao family is full of hope, and all the glory and prestige seem to be concentrated on the eldest son's side.

In contrast, the second son, Xiao Dayi, is now imprisoned and serving his sentence. Even if he tries every means to pull strings to get him released early, it will be at least two years before he can be released. However, by then, Xiao Dayi will not only be getting older, but given his frail health, he will likely no longer have the opportunity to have children and continue the family line. Considering this, Xiao Zhenwei has to admit that he will ultimately have to rely on his eldest son, Xiao Daren, for care and support in his later years.

Xiao Lan was not surprised at all when she heard him say this. She smiled slightly and calmly said, "Grandfather, I have something else to discuss with you. I was just thinking, could my mother recognize Lady Hou as her sworn sister? What do you think, Grandfather?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhenwei hesitated for a moment. Seeing his grandfather's expression, Xiao Lan quickly interjected, "Grandfather, think about it. Uncle's matter was something our Xiao family owed to the Hou family's wife. If this gets out, it will be detrimental to our family's reputation. Now, if my mother can acknowledge the Hou family, it will be a win-win situation. Firstly, an alliance with the Hou family means one more friend and one less enemy, which is very beneficial to the family's development; secondly..." At this point, Xiao Lan paused, looking directly at Xiao Zhenwei, and then continued... She stated bluntly, "Even if the Fifth Prince has no intention of vying for the throne, he absolutely cannot be second to anyone. Consort Tong has already been granted the title of Imperial Noble Consort and is about to give birth to a younger sibling for the Fifth Prince. Even if the Tong family has no such intention, and the Fifth Prince himself has no interest in it, in the eyes of some people, they will still become the target of everyone's attacks. We may not covet that supreme position, but we must hold enough bargaining chips to avoid becoming fish on someone else's chopping board. And this Lady Hou is precisely an important pawn that my granddaughter has carefully laid out in Jiangnan."

"What do you mean?" Xiao Zhenwei asked, puzzled.

"In the past, the Hou family suffered repeated setbacks in business competition due to the Ye family's powerful rise, losing many docks and customers. However, upon returning to the capital this time, I will certainly implore Consort Tong to intervene and help the Hou family regain its prestigious status as an imperial merchant. In this way, the Jiangnan region will no longer be dominated by the Ye family alone! At the same time, I have demanded a huge sum of money from the Ye family this time, and they will inevitably be forced to sell some of their assets to fill the funding gap. This is undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for the Hou family to make their move!" Lady Hou has solemnly promised that once she successfully obtains the qualification of Imperial Merchant, she will return to the Hou family and assume the position of clan head. The current clan head is Lady Hou's biological father, and as the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife, Lady Hou holds a prominent position. It's just a pity that because she married into our Xiao family, the clan head had planned to let a child born out of wedlock succeed him. But now that Lady Hou has divorced me and is about to obtain the qualification of Imperial Merchant, coupled with her special status as my mother's sworn sister, even if the rest of the Hou family are dissatisfied, they are probably powerless to do anything about it.”

Xiao Lan calmly and deliberately analyzed the situation for Xiao Zhenwei in detail: "Moreover, with Lady Hou's help, it's like having another inexhaustible source of income for me. And..."

Xiao Lan gazed silently at Xiao Zhenwei before her, pondering to herself. Ever since this old man mentioned the Phoenix Maiden to her last time, many things had gradually become clearer.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Grandfather Xiao Zhenwei is now retired and seemingly living a leisurely life. Xiao Lan knows in her heart that this is merely a facade. In reality, the old man values ​​fame and fortune quite highly. Otherwise, given that Grandmother was frail and sickly, she could have waited until her father came of age before taking on the responsibility of bearing children. If it weren't for his pursuit of fame and fortune, why would he have made Grandmother risk having another child to pursue that so-called Phoenix Maiden?

After much thought, Xiao Lan realized that her grandfather's real purpose in bringing up the matter of the Phoenix Maiden was probably to hope that she could become the Empress of a country! After all, once she ascended to the throne of Empress, not only would the family's glory be continued, but it might also bring more unexpected benefits.

Thinking of this, Xiao Lan couldn't help but sigh softly. Since that was the case, there was no need to hide anything from her grandfather anymore. After all, if she encountered any truly difficult problems in the future, she might ultimately have to rely on her shrewd and calculating grandfather for help.

"My mother has a sworn brother named Lin Dayou. This man is no ordinary person! He is the head of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency in Shaozhou, a figure who is renowned and influential throughout the martial arts world. As for me, I have already made arrangements with this Uncle Lin. He will be opening escort agencies in various states and counties throughout the Great Xia Kingdom. On the surface, these escort agencies seem to be simply helping the Hou family transport goods, but in reality, there are hidden secrets behind them."

It's important to understand that the Great Xia Kingdom is vast, with over six hundred prefectures and counties. Even without counting the odd-job workers, each escort agency would need at least two hundred escorts. In prefectures near the capital, the situation is even more unique; perhaps a single prefecture would require three escort agencies to meet the demand. In this case, the number of escorts alone would be considerable.

Not only that, Uncle Lin also established a school for bodyguards. This wasn't an ordinary school; it specifically took in homeless beggars and carefully taught them martial arts. Over time, these once destitute children became highly skilled bodyguards. By this calculation, the number of bodyguards skilled in martial arts alone could probably reach at least two hundred thousand!

With such a resounding reputation and a large number of people as backing, anyone who wants to mess with me or the Fifth Prince will probably have to carefully consider the consequences they will have to bear! Thinking of this, Xiao Lan couldn't help but smile slightly and slowly recounted all of this.

"When exactly did you come up with this idea? And how did you come up with the idea of ​​opening a branch of the escort agency? Or did someone teach you?" Xiao Zhenwei looked at his granddaughter Xiao Lan, who was not yet seventeen years old, with a face full of surprise, and couldn't help but ponder in his heart.

He knew full well that although his son, Xiao Daren, was ambitious and unruly, such long-term planning and strategy could not possibly have come from him. As for the intelligent daughter of the Jiang family, even if she was quick-witted, she probably couldn't have thought so far ahead. Moreover, Xiao Lan had never set foot in the capital before and should have had no connection with the royal family. And this arranged marriage had only happened within the last two months.

All signs indicate that these brilliant ideas must have only emerged in the last two months. The more Xiao Zhenwei thought about it, the more incredible it seemed. He simply couldn't imagine that his young granddaughter could possess such foresight and extraordinary wisdom.

"No one taught me, so when did this thought arise? Perhaps it should be traced back to the eve of my departure from the capital. At that time, I openly exposed Ye Lanyi's true colors at a grand palace banquet, causing Consort Ye to lose face. Sure enough, her arrogant and domineering eldest son—the Third Prince—blocked my path in the street, attempting to act as a peacemaker and persuade me to settle the matter privately. However, he was a prince, while I was merely a princess who had not yet been formally registered in the royal register. Faced with such a powerful person, let alone giving him two resounding slaps, I lacked even the courage to utter a few words of rebuttal! It was from that moment that an idea began to take root in my heart." "I must possess my own power and have numerous followers, so many that anyone can tell at a glance that I am not someone to be bullied. Unfortunately, in this Great Xia Dynasty, privately raising a private army is a serious crime. I have always been a law-abiding and virtuous person, and naturally dare not easily break the law. Since this path is blocked, the only way I can think of right now is to work hard to make money. To this end, my uncle specially opened many escort agencies for me. But even though everything went smoothly at first, as the number of escort agencies continues to increase, if someone with ulterior motives deliberately stirs things up, I'm afraid His Majesty the Emperor will certainly not sit idly by!" Xiao Lan slowly explained the reasons behind this.

Xiao Zhenwei smiled slightly after hearing this and said softly, "Although there is no major problem at present, if you open more and more escort agencies, when the time is right, those people with ulterior motives will stir up trouble. At that time, you can see whether the emperor will order a ban."

Xiao Lan's face blossomed into a smile, as radiant as spring flowers: "Grandfather, if it were just a security escort agency, perhaps it really could be shut down. But if the people in these agencies lose their jobs and flock to serve enemy countries, do you think the Emperor would dare to shut them down so easily? After all, he wouldn't want to send an army to his enemy for no reason! Besides, didn't you say before that the day Phoenix Maiden falls will be the day the Xia Kingdom perishes? So, I reckon our high and mighty Emperor certainly wouldn't want me to feel even the slightest sadness."