Posthumous Honor and Fulfilling Evan Wen’s Wish

Three hundred thousand taels of gold!

Ethan Su Wenhang has donated nearly all of the Su family's private assets.

Of course, the Su estate has more than just this bit of silver, but most of their funds were earned by Vincent Su for Ninth Royal Uncle. Only these three hundred thousand taels of gold truly belong to the Su family and are at Ethan's disposal.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ethan donated all of the Su family's businesses and liquid silver in one sweep. Before this, neither Ninth Royal Uncle nor Serena Feng knew a thing; they only learned about it afterwards.

"To give up such a vast fortune so easily—Wenhang is no ordinary person." When Serena Feng heard the news, her belly gave a fierce twitch, and it seemed even the baby inside knew, kicking her several times in a row.

"With that kind of resolve, the Su family will never lack successors. Vincent Su can rest in peace now." Ninth Royal Uncle hadn't expected Ethan, so young, to be so decisive, and he felt genuinely happy for Vincent.

The young man who once cried like a child in Serena's arms had already grown up. He only showed that side in front of Serena Feng.

Ethan's move may have caught Ninth Royal Uncle off guard, but it didn't stop him from using this opportunity to make his own plans...

Soon, news of Ethan Su Wenhang donating most of the Su family's fortune to Eastlyn's orphans spread everywhere. The act caused a sensation not just among the common people, but also among the elite.

Those nobles who loved to show off but weren't actually wealthy all cursed Ethan as a fool and a wastrel, saying he'd squandered a fortune in an instant.

Three hundred thousand taels of gold—no matter how extravagantly Ethan Su Wenhang spent, he could never use it all in his lifetime. But with one donation, it was all gone.

That's the very definition of a spendthrift!

The Capital Prefect learned of this and personally summoned Ethan. When he asked Ethan why he did it, Ethan replied calmly and gently, "My elder brother taught me from a young age that money in hand is dead; only by giving it to those in need does it find its best purpose. My brother earned this silver, and I believe his spirit in heaven would be glad to see it help others."

"And what about you? Have you thought about yourself?" Many people talk about treating money like dirt, but very few actually do it. The Capital Prefect couldn't believe this young man was so free of attachment...

"Me?" Ethan gave a faint smile. "If I have talent, what use is wealth? If I am useless, what good is keeping it? My brother may have been a merchant, but he was well-read and exceptionally learned. He taught me himself: a gentleman acquires wealth by righteous means, and gold and silver are merely external things—enough to live is enough. If life is burdened by possessions, it's better not to live at all."

Ethan's words drew praise across the capital for his gentlemanly spirit, but even more people praised Vincent Su, saying he taught his brother well and was a true gentleman and good man.

At this moment, people also remembered the enormous betting pool during Serena Feng's contest with Su Wan.

Back then, it was the Su family who set up the betting pool. Although they made money, they set aside a portion to aid poor families. Many destitute households received help from the Su family, and much of that money still remains.

In no time, Vincent Su's charitable deeds were widely praised and spread, almost becoming common knowledge. Of course, this was thanks in no small part to Ninth Royal Uncle's handiwork; otherwise, the public wouldn't have focused so much on Vincent, who is already dead, and overlooked Ethan.

Originally, the Su family's merchant background meant they had a poor reputation among elite scholars, and even decent academies wouldn't accept Ethan. But now, the Su family's reputation soared, and both Vincent and Ethan gained public recognition for their character.

Many great scholars praised the Su family as a house of accumulated virtue, and Ethan Su Wenhang for his noble character. Several offered him olive branches, expressing willingness to take him as a personal disciple.

Even the Grand Heir, famed throughout the realm, told his friends that although Vincent Su was a merchant, he was upright and talented—a true gentleman.

He also praised Ethan as intelligent, diligent, and studious—a piece of uncut jade with limitless potential. If he were willing to take disciples, Ethan would be his first choice.

Though the Grand Heir did not take Ethan as a disciple, he personally wrote a letter to Jixia Academy, recommending Ethan to a Grand Scholar as renowned as Master Wenyuan.

When that Grand Scholar agreed to accept Ethan as his final disciple, Ethan's name spread across the land. Everyone said he was lucky to have a good brother who left him a fortune to pave his way. But no one knew that Ethan would trade it all for his brother's life.

Such a major event could not escape imperial notice, nor could officials ignore it. When upright scholar-officials praised Vincent and Ethan Su in morning court, Ninth Royal Uncle seized the chance—not only commending their charity, but also mentioning Vincent's death saving the emperor.

With both events combined, the impact was far greater than the sum of its parts. Years ago, Ninth Royal Uncle had wanted to posthumously grant Vincent Su the title of Duke of Grace for saving the throne, but Serena Feng had advised against it.

Sometimes, too much favor is not a good thing. A single act of saving the emperor wasn't enough; if Ninth Royal Uncle bestowed the title then, it would have brought Vincent fame but endless trouble for Ethan.

Vincent Su was already dead, and the Su family had only young Ethan. The more honors Ninth Royal Uncle gave Vincent, the more Ethan would face jealousy and obstacles when he entered officialdom.

Besides, when Vincent died, Ninth Royal Uncle was not yet emperor. Even if he had been, as a subject of Eastlyn, saving the emperor is simply one's duty. If every act of saving the throne earned a dukedom, what would Ninth Royal Uncle's shadow guards and bodyguards think?

In the future, if someone else risked their life to save the emperor, would the ruler grant another dukedom or not?

Of course, saving the emperor must be rewarded, but the reward can't be too heavy. Once a precedent is set, it's hard to rein it in.

Serena Feng advised Ninth Royal Uncle to wait for the right moment. She believed Vincent wouldn't mind waiting a few more years, and now the timing was perfect.

With both things combined, the reputations of Vincent and Ethan Su reached heights few could surpass. Now, with the merits of saving the emperor added in, a heavy reward was only natural.

Ninth Royal Uncle issued an edict posthumously granting Vincent Su the title of Duke of Grace. Since Vincent had passed away and left no heirs, the title could not be inherited—only Vincent enjoyed this honor.

At first, many officials thought the reward was too great, but since the title couldn't be passed on, they had no reason to object. Some even felt the Su family was losing out.

In this way, Ninth Royal Uncle both honored Vincent Su and protected Ethan. With a Grand Scholar from Jixia Academy as his teacher and Ninth Royal Uncle's support, Ethan would easily enter elite scholarly circles. As long as he avoided major mistakes, a future as a high minister—or even a duke—was within reach.

Thus, Vincent Su's wish was fulfilled. The Su family had moved from commerce to government, and as long as Ethan and his descendants managed well, with Ninth Royal Uncle's favor, becoming a great noble house was only a matter of time...