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Chapter 457 - 457: What Conditions Do You Want?

At Su Bin’s residence, well-wishers came to offer their congratulations and establish connections. The continuous influx of guests resulted in a substantial pile of gifts.

Declining gifts entirely was not an option.

Being an official in the capital, it was imperative for Su Bin to grasp the customs and etiquette of the officialdom, ensuring a swift integration into this world.

However, Su Bin had instituted a personal guideline: he would not accept gifts of substantial value. Even if he did accept such a gift, he would promptly reciprocate with a gift of similar worth. This practice was known as reciprocation.

Su Bin’s rationale was firmly grounded in his understanding of the responsibilities entailed in his role at the Dali Temple. He believed it was imperative to maintain the self-awareness of an official. Accepting valuable items carelessly could lead to unwarranted suspicions of potential corruption, potentially disappointing the emperor if such practices were discovered.

The Court of Judicial Review served as the nation’s highest investigative agency, typically handling significant cases involving civil and military officials, nobles, and generals. It was conceivable that Su Bin might assume control of the Court of Judicial Review in the not-too-distant future.

These guests offered gifts in advance, not only as a gesture of goodwill but also to assess Su Bin’s character and determine his ease of interaction. Furthermore, it was a strategic move to cultivate strong relationships in preparation for potential future complications.

Su Bin did not outright decline the gifts, signifying his approachability, but his reluctance to accept highly valuable items demonstrated his meticulousness.

The emperor had assigned an observer to closely monitor Su Bin’s situation. This entailed tracking the number and identities of the visitors, the quantity and nature of their gifts, and the duration of their visits. This information was relayed to the emperor daily.

While Su Bin did not outright refuse gifts, his insistence on avoiding expensive ones was considered a standard practice.

Nonetheless, the Emperor remained keen on observing Su Bin’s performance as an official in the time ahead.

The Old Marquis had made several attempts to connect with Su Bin. On each occasion, Su Bin artfully changed the subject, signaling his uncertainty about the future. His intention was clear: he would only acknowledge his ancestors once he had secured an appointment in the imperial court.

Recognizing the wisdom in Su Bin’s approach, the Old Marquis chose to wait

patiently. After all, he had already waited for two years, so a few additional

days posed no inconvenience.

Following Su Bin’s recent appointment, the Old Marquis received a letter from him, inviting a meeting at the capital’s finest restaurant, Zhenzhen Restaurant.

This marked the first time that Su Bin had taken the initiative to invite the Old Marquis, a fact that filled the Old Marquis with great delight. He arrived at the restaurant early in anticipation.

Su Bin arrived at the restaurant to meet him alone.

“Grandpa,” Su Bin addressed the Old Marquis, marking the first time he had used this term.

Tears welled up in the Old Marquis’s eyes, tears of joy. “Good child, you’ve finally decided to call me grandpa!”

“Did you arrange this meeting to discuss my return to the Marquis Mansion?” Su Bin inquired.

“Bin’er, there’s no need for you to worry about this. Leave everything to me. In five days, it will be a momentous occasion. The Marquis Mansion will host a grand banquet, inviting all the civil and military officials. We want to show everyone that I have an exceptional grandson, while simultaneously paving the way for your future official career.”

Su Bin responded with composure, “Grandpa, I addressed you as such because you are, indeed, my grandfather.”

“However, calling you grandpa doesn’t imply that I’ve agreed to return to the Marquis Mansion.”

The Old Marquis was taken aback. “We discussed this before. You said you’d return to the Marquis Mansion when your name graces the Golden Ranking List. Bin’er, are you changing your mind?”

At this moment, it became evident that Su Bin had no inclination to return to the Marquis Mansion, despite their prior agreement.

Su Bin corrected him, “You’re mistaken. I did agree back then, but I said I’d consider returning to the Marquis Mansion only once I become famous.” This was indeed the stance he had adopted previously.

The Old Marquis’s face reddened with frustration.. “Then do you have any conditions?”