Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 677: Chapter 332: Empress Xie’s Trump Card_2

"That is secondary. When you are in charge of the imperial examination, if you discover any talented individuals, you can recruit them for your own use," Empress Xie said with a smile on her face. "You are the legitimate prince, and your status is more prestigious than Prince Dai’s. By then, many would be at your disposal."

Prince Jing realized, and with his face full of joy, he said, "Mother is right."

"The Jiangnan region is blessed with outstanding people, and has always produced talents. If you can win over some useful talents, it will greatly benefit you."

"Mother is right. Once I get to Jinling, I will pay close attention."

"There is one more thing." Empress Xie furrowed her brow, her expression heavy. "Jinling is the domain of your uncle and the Crown Prince. I fear your journey to Jinling may not be smooth."

"Mother, do you mean the people in Jinling won’t listen to me?" Prince Jing was aware that there were Xie Family members in Jinling. His grandmother was from Jinling.

Empress Xie nodded slightly, "Exactly, most people in Jinling heed your uncle and the Crown Prince. If your uncle doesn’t support you, I’m afraid when you arrive, the people in Jinling may not only refuse to help you but might also hinder you."

Prince Jing said indignantly, "Uncle is indeed too biased!"

"I have long since lost hope in your uncle. Now that His Majesty has assigned you to preside over the imperial examination in Jinling, I cannot let your uncle obstruct you," said Empress Xie, instructing Jiang Chuan to fetch something.

After a moment, Jiang Chuan returned with a brocade box, holding it with both hands to present to Prince Jing.

Prince Jing took the brocade box, opened it, and saw a jade token inside, engraved with the character "Song." He picked it up and examined it carefully, finding it to be a piece of top-quality mutton-fat jade, but it had no other special features.

"Mother, what is this jade token?"

"This was left to me by your grandmother, and your uncle and the others don’t know about it."

Upon hearing this, Prince Jing immediately realized that this mutton-fat jade token was not simple.

Empress Xie spoke with deep significance, "The ’Song’ character on it refers to the Jinling Song family."

"The Song family?" Prince Jing, having no knowledge of Jinling’s situation, was unaware of the Song family’s status.

"Do not underestimate the Song family," said Empress Xie. "The Song family is one of the largest salt merchants in Jinling, having been in the salt trade for generations."

Generational salt merchants?!

Prince Jing stared wide-eyed, with a face full of shock, "The Song family in Jinling..."

"Although the Song family is not a prominent family in Jinling, their status is exceptional," Empress Xie thought of how Duke Zhen did not know she had the Song family token and was filled with pride. "As far as I know, your uncle does not know of your grandmother’s connection to the Song family. Although the Xie family cooperates with the Song family, the Song family’s cooperation with the Xie family has been only partial."

"Mother, does Grandfather have any connection with the Song family as well, and does he not know?"

"No, only I am aware of this," Empress Xie, recalling her mother’s dying instructions, felt her eyes brim with tears. "Your grandmother only told me. She gave me this jade token before she passed, foreseeing that one day your uncle wouldn’t help me, and now her foresight has become reality." Empress Xie’s heart was filled with anger, resentment, and bitterness at her elder brother’s refusal to help her. "Your grandmother told me that as long as I had this jade token, the Song family would spare no effort to support me."

Looking down at the jade token in his hand, Prince Jing exclaimed in surprise, "This jade token is this valuable!"

"With this jade token, go to the Song family, and they will acknowledge you as their master, after which they will spare no effort to assist you."

"Mother, will the Song family really be willing to support me just because of this jade token?" Prince Jing could hardly believe it.

"Your grandmother said so, it is genuine."

"Mother, what is the relationship between Grandmother and the Song family?" Prince Jing asked full of curiosity, "Why do both Grandfather and Uncle not know?"

"The exact relationship, your grandmother did not tell me," Empress Xie speculated that her mother probably had a profound connection with the Song family, otherwise, the Song family would not have given this jade token. "The Song family is the trump card your grandmother left for me, relying on the Song family’s status in Jinling, they will certainly be able to help you host this county examination successfully."

Prince Jing clenched the jade token in his hand, his face full of joy, and said, "With this jade token, I suddenly feel confident."

"I am not very familiar with the specific situation over in Jinling either." Although Empress Xie, as an Empress, had high status, before marriage, she was just a legitimate young lady in Duke Zhen Country Mansion, not the legitimate son, so she was not privy to many things within the Duke Zhen Country Mansion. Moreover, as a woman, she was also not involved in certain matters within the mansion. "All I know is that all the prominent families in Jinling have good relations with the Song family, and the Cao Group and Salt Gang in Jinling also have good relations with the Song family."