Chapter 222 – The Only and the One
“Father really doesn’t know about this?”
Jiang Pengji thought that given Liu Zhi’s keen interest in her, the happenings around her should have been impossible to miss.
Liu Zhi shook his head. Ever since Jiang Pengji had Xu Ke relay her stance, his watchful gaze had loosened.
Who would have thought that his own daughter would swiftly send Meng Liang off to the great beyond? Must efficiency be this high?
“I’m not omniscient; how could I know everything?” Liu Zhi felt a slight throb in his forehead. Yet, now that the incident had occurred and the person was gone, there was no chance for recovery. It was better to consider the next steps. “You use Meng Liang’s life as a canvas to woo Meng Hunyun… Knowing your temperament, the benefits you gain must not be limited to just this, are you extorting the Meng Clan?”
Extorting?
Ugh, what an unflattering term! That’s simply asking for what’s due!
Jiang Pengji revealed a bit of her plan, receiving a mix of Liu Zhi’s repressed anger and helpless gaze.
“Didn’t I give you that list before? If you need more, just go to the accounts office and withdraw some…” Liu Zhi’s tone dripped with reluctance. “You are the sole sprout of the family; all of this is yours. Why bother splitting it cleanly with your father?”
To put it nicely, it shows she has her own capabilities; to put it bluntly, it means she’s become distant, which Liu Zhi despised seeing.
Jiang Pengji fell silent for a moment.
In the past, she’d usually brush off such concerns, but now she felt differently.
“Father is mistaken. It’s not about keeping things separate; I simply don’t wish to get too entwined with those noble families.” Jiang Pengji hesitated before speaking, only to be met with Liu Zhi’s shocked stare. She continued, “Starting from scratch would make things easier to delineate later on.”
Regardless of Xu Ke, Meng Hunyun, or the yet-to-be-involved Qi Guanrang, they all shared a common trait—low social status!
This wasn’t because she couldn’t attract people of higher standing; in fact, just waving the banner of “Liu Zhi’s child” would draw in individuals with certain status solely because of Liu Zhi’s influence, basically riding on her father’s coattails.
So why didn’t she do that?
Because she wasn’t inclined to.
Getting too involved too soon would leave her reactive in the future.
Jiang Pengji had her goals clearly mapped out. Therefore, to achieve those goals, she needed to create a series of plans.
Considering the current social climate, she decisively abandoned the easier route of leveraging her father’s status.
The initial perks were indeed enticing, but what about in the later stages?
She wanted to cultivate her own foundation and talent, not rely on those whose heads were filled with clan ties.
Don’t be fooled by how those noble families tout their surname and lineage or profess their loyalty. In reality, for clan interests and their own benefits, they would toss aside any dignity, honor, or greater good when the situation demanded.
They were like sweet poison encased in sugar; initially, they tasted divine, but once the sugar wore off, only poison remained.
Looks alluring, but it’s lethal once consumed.
The path she chose would inevitably touch upon the families’ most lethal interests—education!
Why are the noble families noble?
Because they hold wealth, granaries are stocked, and they monopolize education, making learning a privilege for a select few, indirectly controlling the court… Talent primarily springs from these families, generation after generation… After countless generations, officials within the court usually share blood or kinship ties. When this group unites, where is there room for the emperor’s voice?
Want to make a move against them?
Ha, they wouldn’t hesitate to cook the emperor’s goose first.
Jiang Pengji had grown weary of this ignorant era. Out of a hundred people she encountered, ninety-nine could barely recognize a single character.
Beyond educational knowledge, there were fields.
Were the tenant farmers of Dongqing not hardworking?
They worked hard; Jiang Pengji was very aware of this. They were up before dawn and only returned home after sunset, carrying hoes on their backs.
Toiling from dawn till dusk, by year’s end they barely had any surplus to save.
If they encountered a disaster, they might not even achieve a full meal all year long, leading to mass starvation.
“Starvation everywhere”—just a phrase?
This was a living hell!
But why, despite working so hard, did they continue to suffer from hunger and cold?
Was it because the land was barren, or were taxes and exploitation too brutal?
Don’t let Jiang Pengji’s system’s complaints about her staying home fool you—she sought to understand this era through books and engaged in conversations with farmers to learn about their lives… The more she learned, the clearer her path became.
This path was long, but she would strive to chart it out and perfect it.
Clearly, on the planned path, noble family interference was not permitted at the start.
If they got involved, future developments would be severely constrained.
She aimed to promote education, allowing all children, regardless of status, to learn—do you think the noble families would approve?
She wanted to reform land systems so that all hardworking citizens could reap the rewards of their labor—would the noble families be willing?
Her plans touched the most crucial interests of these families.
Would they not be fueled by a fierce opposition?
At that point, would it be her listening to them or the other way around?
From the perspective of a noble child, Jiang Pengji’s ideas seemed like ancestral annihilation, a bizarre anomaly.
“Why?”
Liu Zhi struggled for a long while, finally quivering out a few words.
Jiang Pengji calmly asked, “The only and the one—does Father see any difference?”
She was well aware that thanks to her mother’s influence and hints, Liu Zhi was mentally prepared for this reality.
In terms of stirring up chaos, Liu Zhi was fully supportive of her, encouraging her to walk this path.
So, she wished to have an open and honest conversation with him.
“Only… one…” Liu Zhi, quick-witted, instantly understood what she meant.
What is the only?
In history, there has only ever been one.
What is one of many?
Just one among the myriad.
Jiang Pengji’s implication was crystal clear.
She wanted to tread over the noble families, promote education, reform land, and enlighten the populace… To these few noble families, she certainly seemed detestable, but to the broader masses and future generations, she might just be the only one to reach this point in history.
Future generations would never catch up!
Jiang Pengji suddenly smiled, confidence radiating, “If Father thinks I’m being unfilial, now is still the time to act.”
With her wings unformed, if Liu Zhi intended to turn against her, she couldn’t fight back, could she?
Of course, if Liu Zhi wished to keep her, he must have that capability.
Liu Zhi’s expression turned from astonishment to resignation.
“You know I wouldn’t harm you. If not for your assuredness, how could you speak to me like this?”
Because she was certain, she dared to be candid.
“Nothing is more important to me than your mother, you, and your two brothers.”
Moreover, even if the noble families were weakened, who would dare mistreat the future of the Liu family?
Liu Zhi was a clever man.
This question seemed difficult, but it was actually a no-brainer.
