SFS Chapter 288 The Empress Dowager gives the final approval, and the family heirloom is stamped.
Chapter 288 The Empress Dowager gives the final approval, and the family heirloom is stamped.
Ye Hongtu, standing to the side, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye.
This was the first time he had ever seen the ruthless and decisive Empress Dowager show such a... down-to-earth expression.
"A grand plan!"
Holding the jar, Su Mingzhu gave Ye Hongtu a deep, resounding order.
Her voice still carried an unquestionable authority, but the coldness had vanished without a trace, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.
"Go outside and spread my message."
"From today onwards, Jiang Chen will be the most honored guest of the Su family, and Qingqing's future husband!"
"From now on, whenever you see him, it will be as if you were seeing me!"
"If any of the younger members of the family dare to gossip or give him a hard time in front of him again..."
A ruthless glint flashed in Su Mingzhu's eyes.
"Break his legs and throw him out of the Su family!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Ye Hongtu felt a chill run down his spine and immediately bowed to accept the order.
He knew that the Empress Dowager's words were not just for the benefit of the relatives outside.
It was said to him, to Su Tianhao, and to all the core members of the Su family!
This is the most direct and forceful way to vindicate Jiang Chen's identity!
Ye Hongtu turned around and quickly walked out of the back hall.
In the back room, only Jiang Chen and Su Mingzhu remained.
Holding the precious jar, Su Mingzhu's expression had changed from shock to genuine kindness and affection.
She stood up and walked to Jiang Chen's side.
Those eyes, which had been sharp as an eagle just moments before, were now narrowed into slits with a smile.
"Good child, my good child!"
The old lady stretched out her wrinkled but well-maintained hand and grabbed Jiang Chen's arm.
The way they were so affectionate, anyone who didn't know better would think Jiang Chen was her long-lost grandson.
"Child, you've been wronged."
The old lady gently patted Jiang Chen's hand, her tone full of affection.
"It was our Su family who failed to recognize your talent and treated you poorly."
Jiang Chen was left speechless, both amused and exasperated by the old lady's 360-degree change.
He could only scratch his head and chuckle.
"Madam, you're too kind."
"We're all family, so let's not speak like strangers."
"Great! Well said! We're family!"
Su-Mingzhu smiled even more happily.
She took Jiang Chen's hand and suddenly removed a jade thumb ring from her well-maintained left thumb. The ring was a vibrant green, with such high clarity that it seemed as if water could drip from it.
This thumb ring is clearly no ordinary item.
That was a keepsake passed down from the first patriarch of the Su family who made the family fortune!
It is a symbol of the Su family's power!
Throughout history, only the chosen family heir has been qualified to wear it!
"Here, child, take this."
Without saying a word, Su Mingzhu shoved the cool, smooth jade ring into Jiang Chen's hand.
Jiang Chen was taken aback.
He could feel a warm energy flowing through his skin the moment he touched the ring.
A notification even popped up on the system panel.
[An ancient artifact containing faint spiritual energy has been detected...]
Goodness, it's a real gem.
"Grandma, this is too expensive, I can't..."
Jiang Chen was about to decline when Su Mingzhu straightened her face.
"What? You're not listening to me anymore?"
The old lady's tone carried a hint of reproach.
"I told you, we're family!"
"Consider this a gift from me, your elder, as we meet in person!"
"If you and Qingqing get married in the future, and that girl dares to act like a spoiled princess and bully you..."
Su Ming-zhu pointed to the ring in Jiang Chen's hand and said decisively.
"Take this ring and, on behalf of me and the ancestors of the Su family, teach her a good lesson!"
"..."
Jiang Chen was completely speechless.
The old lady's actions were truly a bit outrageous.
This is like handing over the imperial sword to someone else.
Outside.
The Su family's relatives were craning their necks, waiting to see what would happen.
They all assumed that Jiang Chen had been inside for so long without coming out because he must have displeased the Empress Dowager, and that he was probably kneeling inside being scolded.
The eldest aunt, Su Yaqin, whispered gloatingly to her second uncle who was standing next to her.
"Just watch, that kid won't be leaving here alive without being skinned alive!"
"Exactly! What kind of trash dares to come to the Su family's door? They're courting death!"
Just then.
The beaded curtain in the back hall was lifted, and Ye Hongtu walked out expressionlessly.
He cleared his throat and repeated Su Mingzhu's words verbatim in front of everyone.
When I heard the phrases "seeing him is like seeing me" and "break his legs and throw him out," I felt...
The entire main room was deathly silent.
Su Yaqin and her second uncle's gloating expressions instantly froze on their faces.
His face looked worse than if he had swallowed a fly!
The color drained from their faces at a visible speed, turning them deathly pale.
That's a slap in the face!
That was a really hard slap in the face!
They were hitting each other loudly!
Before they could even recover from their shock...
Jiang Chen swayed as he walked out of the back room.
As he walked, he fiddled with the emerald green thumb ring in his hand.
Then, in front of everyone, he slowly and leisurely slipped the priceless jade thumb ring, which represented the highest power of the Su family, onto his own thumb.
Not too big, not too small, just right.
This means I've finally cleared the provincial capital, the most difficult dungeon.
At that moment, all the relatives held their breath.
Looking at the glaring green on Jiang Chen's thumb, they felt their worldview had been turned upside down.
In my mind, the system's final settlement voice arrived as promised, like a divine decree from the heavens, booming loudly!
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have successfully subdued the highest authority of the powerful family, completely clearing away external obstacles to the family's expansion!]
[Result: Epic achievement "Suppressor of Powerful Families" achieved!]
[You are receiving an ultra-rare reward based on your achievement level...]
[Congratulations, host! You have obtained an extremely rare reward: 1 set of [All-Terrain Ecological Agriculture Intelligent Transformation Blueprints]!]
[Blueprint Description: This blueprint incorporates ecological agricultural technology that is fifty years ahead of our current era. It can transform any designated terrain into a sci-fi-level agricultural base integrating "fully automated planting, intelligent breeding, ecological energy recycling, and environmental self-purification"!]
Jiang Chen's spirits lifted instantly!
As he stared at the incredibly complex, futuristic 3D blueprint in his mind, his heart began to pound uncontrollably.
With this thing...
The wasteland behind Jiangjia Village, and the land that was just acquired through consolidation...
It will no longer be ordinary farmland!
It will become a world-leading, unique, super agricultural fortress!
I've stayed in the provincial capital long enough.
It's time to go back to the village and pull off a big heist!