Reincarnated as a Ginkgo Tree: I Create an Eternal Divine Kingdom - Chapter 87

If the Su Family Village had not built the city in advance, they would have missed the opportunity even if it presented itself. Despite their foresight, the massive influx of people made Su City feel overcrowded.

When constructing the city, the Su Family believed its size would be more than sufficient, but they had not anticipated the sudden explosion in popularity of the Misty Area. This led to the current situation where Su City’s area was far too small to accommodate the population.

Currently, Su City hosts nearly 100,000 people daily. The only reason the number isn’t higher is that the city has become so crowded that many people prefer to stay outside. If not for the overcrowding, the population would have been even greater.

With the expansion of the Sui River, this phenomenon intensified. Previously, the Sui River was merely a small stream of little value to large businesses. But now, the river had widened to an average of fifty feet, fully capable of accommodating large vessels.

Connecting to the Wushui River to the northeast and the Misty Area to the southwest, the Sui River linked vast markets with abundant resources, making it a bustling trade route. Within days, the Sui River became one of the busiest rivers in Qingzhou.

As the only city on the edge of the Misty Area, Su City’s importance was unparalleled. Many businesses and factions began constructing temporary ports there. Naturally, Su City wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away. The city simultaneously began expanding its outer walls and building ports.

At the same time, the potential of Su City did not go unnoticed, and it quickly became the target of envy from various factions. At that moment, a group of visitors arrived at Su City.

They descended from flying cranes.

“Su Qing greets you all,” Su Qing said politely, bowing to the group.

The leader of the group was a pale-faced young man with an arrogant demeanor, looking down on everyone.

“How dare you! The heir of the Southern King’s Manor arrives, and yet your Su Family’s patriarch doesn’t personally greet him? Instead, he sends a mere youngster. Are you disrespecting the Southern King’s Manor?” an attendant behind the pale-faced young man shouted in a sharp, grating voice.

“Southern King’s Manor?” Su Qing’s expression changed.

In Qingzhou, the most prestigious power wasn’t Green Hills Mansion but the Southern King’s Manor. The Southern King was a founding hero of the Great Xia Dynasty, and his descendants had inherited the title of king.

Although the Southern King’s Manor had long since lost its former power and now held more honor than actual authority, the prestige of the family was still significant. The Southern King’s Manor had been entrenched in Qingzhou for many years and remained the largest local power. Green Hills Mansion often had to negotiate with the Southern King’s Manor when making decisions.

The arrogant young man before him was none other than Fan Zhe, the current heir of the Southern King’s Manor. With his status, it was no wonder he was so conceited.

“Indeed,” the attendant, Eunuch Feng, sneered. “Tell your patriarch, Su Yan, to come here immediately, or your Su Family will bear the consequences.”

Su Qing dared not delay. After half a cup of tea’s time, Su Yan hurried over, accompanied by several key members of the Su Family.

“I am Su Yan, and I greet the young lord,” Su Yan said calmly, not showing any sign of submission.

This attitude clearly displeased the group from the Southern King’s Manor.

“Patriarch Su, you seem to have quite a sense of self-importance,” Eunuch Feng said in a sarcastic tone.

“I believe you must be Eunuch Feng,” Su Yan responded. “I apologize for not welcoming the young lord earlier; I was busy with trivial matters and unaware of the young lord’s arrival. It was not my intention to be disrespectful.”

“Enough, Eunuch Feng, stop wasting my time,” Fan Zhe said impatiently, cutting off Eunuch Feng, who was about to further berate Su Yan.

Eunuch Feng immediately softened his tone and then turned to Su Yan with a stern expression. “Patriarch Su, the Southern King’s Manor has long intended to build a city near the Ancient Wilderness Mountains, in line with the will of Green Hills Mansion. Now that your Su Family has conveniently built one, you’ve saved us the trouble. As of today, your Su Family will assist us in transferring control of this city to the Southern King’s Manor. Don’t worry, your family will not be left out of the benefits. The Southern King’s Manor will ensure that your family holds a position of importance in the city, and we might even consider allowing your son to become one of the young lord’s trusted lieutenants.”

Su Yan was stunned. The Southern King’s Manor intended to seize the city his family had painstakingly built, and they were doing so as if they were bestowing a favor.

If the Su Family were still the humble village it once was, Su Yan would likely have felt compelled to comply or at least would have refused more cautiously. However, times had changed.

Su Yan smiled as he looked at Fan Zhe. “Young lord, are you saying this is the will of the Southern King’s Manor?”

“Indeed,” Fan Zhe replied coolly. “Don’t even think about refusing. You don’t have the right.”

“Escort the guests out,” Su Yan ordered without hesitation.

Fan Zhe was taken aback. When he finally comprehended what had happened, his expression turned dark, and he glared at Su Yan with cold eyes.

“How dare you!” Eunuch Feng shrieked. “Patriarch Su, are you courting death?”

Su Yan narrowed his eyes.

Sensing the tension, a gaunt man behind Fan Zhe stepped forward and whispered, “Young lord, we should leave.”

Fan Zhe looked confused but trusted the gaunt man. “Let’s go,” he said, fuming as they left.

Once outside, Fan Zhe asked, “Uncle He, why did you suggest we leave?”

“Danger,” the gaunt man replied solemnly.

“Danger?” Fan Zhe was puzzled. “As far as I know, the Su Family was nothing more than a group of villagers. Their success in building this city was purely due to luck.”

The gaunt man explained, “I don’t know much about the Su Family’s past, but I do know that the current patriarch is likely as powerful as I am.”

Fan Zhe was shocked. “Uncle He, you’re a late-stage Foundation Establishment expert!”

Eunuch Feng broke into a cold sweat. He had been incredibly arrogant and harsh toward Su Yan just moments ago.

“But don’t worry too much,” the gaunt man reassured. “Many things can be accomplished without direct confrontation. Simply have Green Hills Mansion issue an order for the Su Family to relinquish control of the city.”

At the Su Family compound, Su Zheng fumed, “The Southern King’s Manor is utterly shameless.”

Su Qing, on the other hand, was worried. “Given the nature of the Southern King’s Manor, they won’t give up easily after failing today.”

“We’ll deal with whatever comes our way,” Su Yan said calmly.

The Southern King’s Manor was confident that seizing control of Su City would be straightforward. They believed they could easily persuade Green Hills Mansion to order the Su Family to hand over the city.

The Southern King’s Manor had many allies in Green Hills Mansion. These individuals collaborated to submit a proposal to the prefect, but to their surprise, it was rejected.

“What happened?” The supporters of the Southern King’s Manor were baffled.

“It’s Su Yao,” one insider revealed. “Su Yao intervened behind the scenes, causing the prefect to reject our request.”

“Su Yao alone couldn’t have that much influence over the prefect,” another person argued.

“Not just Su Yao, but also the Grand Elder,” the insider explained.