Chapter 106 - 105: Oppression from the Noble Families
Gu Zhan raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Since even Wan Yan has been used as your pawn, why did Lord Wu tell me so much? If Wan Yan can be manipulated, then it’s not a problem to scheme against me, is it?"
Wu Yang spoke slowly, "There are two reasons for telling Lord Gu so much. First, I hope to form an alliance with someone of Lord Gu’s potential. I believe, given your talent, you will go further than any of us.
If Lord Gu is willing to join forces, our six families will sincerely support you. Should a new dynasty rise, Lord Gu, you will be among the outstanding ones, and our investment will surely yield a hundredfold return."
Second, it’s also because I know Lord Gu’s youth and arrogance and hope you will recognize reality—right now, you have no other option. We have plotted this game for a long time. Wan Yan and Yang Yuzhi have both lost. Lord Gu, you would do well to consider carefully before making your move."
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "So, when did all this begin?"
Wu Yang spoke slowly, "When Wan Yan came to Linjiang City, I already knew. The feud between the Noble Families and Transitory Officials has reached the moment of armed confrontation."
I specifically investigated Wan Yan’s character and devised a ’lure into the trap’ plan tailored to his personality. At the cost of sacrificing the Rong Family to start, followed by the contention in South City—all to numb Wan Yan and let him believe he had succeeded."
Yet, neither Wan Yan nor we anticipated Lord Gu’s strength, which disrupted many plans. Still, we adapted accordingly and ended the ’lure into the trap’ plan ahead of schedule."
Gu Zhan frowned and said, "Wan Yan underestimated your ambition from the very start."
"Indeed," Wu Yang nodded. "Just as we underestimated your power and potential from the beginning, which now leaves us with the arrow on the bow, but missing a piece. The Hundred Households Office, to us, remains an unstable factor. Thus, tonight’s banquet inviting Lord Gu is meant to seek cooperation."
Gu Zhan felt a touch of emotion in his heart,
As expected, these Noble Families—those who have held their place for centuries—not a single one is simple,
The struggle between Nobles and Transitory Officials,
is truly unfathomable,
every event is a game within a game, the schemes are endless.
"Lord Gu," Wu Yang said, "the words have come to this point, you should make your choice. Two options: cooperate, or... die. We’ve laid everything out so frankly, you should be clear—there is no third path between us."
In an instant, the atmosphere in the hall became stifling once more,
murderous intent surged forth.
Gu Zhan poured himself a cup of wine, looked at Wu Yang, and said, "Lord Wu, do you believe that if I don’t walk out of Prefecture Government within the next hour, my thousands of brothers will raze this place to the ground?"
Wu Yang chuckled faintly. "No, they won’t."
Gu Zhan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Wu Yang spoke in a low voice, "I know Lord Gu, you must have investigated before coming here, saw that none of the Six Great Families had stirred before entering the Prefecture Government. But, what about after you entered?"
Wu Yang tapped the table lightly and said, "Lord Gu, you look glorious now, but your foundation is too shallow. Your power, without you, is like rootless duckweed—vulnerable and easily destroyed!"
...
Hundred Households Office, General Hospital Case Room.
Rong Yichu was reviewing memorials, yet for some reason, a wave of inexplicable irritation rose in his heart, making it impossible to calm down.
Just then, a knocking came at the door.
"Mr. Rong," a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard stood outside, hands clasped in salute, "The Patriarch Lin requests to see you in the council hall."
"The Lin Family!"
Rong Yichu’s brows instantly knitted, a surge of intense disgust welling up inside.
He would never forget after the Rong Family’s incident, the Lin Family’s revolting faces. Not only did they disregard years of friendship, they directly kicked him while he was down, and humiliated him in public,
that letter of divorce,
completely trampled his dignity as both a Patriarch and a man.
Recalling those scenes,
the hatred in Rong Yichu’s heart could not be suppressed.
He took a deep breath to calm himself, then slowly rose and walked out.
Soon, Rong Yichu arrived at the council hall,
and the moment he entered, he saw Patriarch Lin and Miss Lin Xue’Er, father and daughter both.
Rong Yichu was a man of considerable cultivation and bearing, so much so that Gu Zhan had praised him many times. Even facing the Lin Family pair, he maintained his composure.
Entering the hall, Rong Yichu wore a faint smile, betraying none of the hatred he’d shown outside, cupped his hands in salute, "Elder Lin!"
Patriarch Lin looked Rong Yichu up and down, smiled slightly, and said, "Yichu, dear nephew, I trust you’ve been well."
Rong Yichu replied with a soft laugh, "Thanks to Elder Lin’s blessings, everything’s been quite good for me."
After that, Rong Yichu turned to Lin Xue’Er and cupped his hands, "Xue’Er, little sister, long time no see."
Lin Xue’Er pursed her lips, said nothing, and turned her head away.
Rong Yichu smiled gently, taking no offense, and slowly sat down, asking, "I wonder what instruction Elder Lin has for me today?"
Patriarch Lin smiled, "I came to see you today, dear nephew, to discuss the matter of your marriage to Xue’Er."
Rong Yichu was taken aback, and said, "Elder Lin must be joking. My engagement to Xue’Er was annulled long ago, so what is there to discuss about marriage now?"
Patriarch Lin hurriedly waved his hand, "What are you saying, dear nephew? Your marriage with Xue’Er was arranged by your father and me—parents’ words, the matchmaker’s agreement, such a bond cannot be broken just because this troublesome girl wants to withdraw! Our two families..."
"Elder Lin!" Rong Yichu interrupted Patriarch Lin, "The engagement is broken, there is no fate binding our families. There’s no need to bring it up again. If Elder Lin has nothing else, please leave. I am busy with official duties..."
"Rong Yichu!"
At that moment, Lin Xue’Er suddenly shouted in fury, "What do you mean by that? You think I want to marry you? You still think you’re the Patriarch of the Song Family? Now you’re just Gu Zhan’s dog—are you even worthy of me? If not for my father’s request, you think I’d bother seeing you? And you dare to refuse? What right do you have? Who do you think you are—do you have the right to reject?"
Rong Yichu’s face was expressionless; he looked at Lin Xue’Er calmly and said, "Are you finished? If so, please leave."
Lin Xue’Er raged, "Rong Yichu, you..."
"Elder Lin," Rong Yichu looked toward Patriarch Lin, voice heavy, "If your only purpose today is to humiliate me, you’ve succeeded. You may leave now."
Patriarch Lin hurriedly said, "Don’t be angry, dear nephew. If you won’t talk about it, then we won’t. But I wonder if the rest of the Rong Family feels the same as you?"
"What do you mean?" Rong Yichu frowned.
Patriarch Lin produced a box and slowly opened it—inside lay a bloody severed hand.
"Dear nephew, do you recognize whose this is?"
Rong Yichu’s expression instantly changed,
that scar on the palm—he recognized it too well.
It was the hand of Rong Wanshan, now the Rong Family’s only Innate Martial Artist. The scar was from a youthful duel with an expert, and had remained ever since.
Patriarch Lin smiled and said, "Rest assured, dear nephew, for now the Rong Family is safe. Whether they remain safe, however, depends on what you do next!"