Chapter 65: Wan Yan’s Methods
The young Chief Banner was stunned,
When he looked up, there was a bright red palm print on each cheek, perfectly symmetrical. He looked at Wan Yan, full of confusion and grievance.
Actually, it wasn’t just the young Chief Banner who was baffled,
Gu Zhan was also full of doubt deep in his heart, unable to figure out what exactly Wan Yan was plotting. Every move from start to finish was very perplexing.
If it was because Wan Yan wanted to use him as a blade to clash with the Noble Families, then the earlier moves could be explained. But after he clearly refused, Wan Yan’s actions became even more bizarre,
Not only did he not hold it against Gu Zhan for saving his face in public—now even after Gu Zhan hit his nephew, he didn’t seize the opportunity to make trouble, and instead defended him.
Gu Zhan didn’t believe there was such a thing as unconditional love in this world,
He wouldn’t think that Wan Yan truly admired him and wanted to cultivate him as a successor.
Looking at Wan Yan, Gu Zhan raised his level of vigilance against him yet again—this man who always wore a gentle smile was more formidable than any opponent he’d met before.
Wan Yan glared at the young Chief Banner, then quickly plastered on a smile and said to Gu Zhan, "Brother Gu, this boy is my nephew. He’s used to swaggering about on my account and has no sense of propriety. To think he had the nerve to offend you! Rest assured, I’ll give him a good lesson.
You want to collect a secret manual, right? I’ll have him go... Never mind, I’ll go fetch it myself. I remember you practice the saber, Brother Gu. As it happens, there’s a Profound Tier Middle Grade Saber Technique in the Inheritance Pavilion. Let me go get it for you."
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly,
He’d already investigated the secret manuals in the Inheritance Pavilion and knew that Wan Yan wasn’t trying to fob him off. The Hundred Households Office did indeed have a Profound Tier Middle Grade Saber Technique, which was the highest grade Martial Arts manual in the Inheritance Pavilion.
Since the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s standard Martial Arts was the Saber Technique, the saber collection was relatively abundant, hence there could be such a grade.
Gu Zhan cupped his hand and said, "Thank you, sir. But for such a trivial matter, it’s really not proper to trouble you personally..."
"Oh, come on," Wan Yan patted Gu Zhan’s shoulder and said, "We’re all colleagues here, and it’s rare for me to meet someone like you who gets along so well with me. Just wait a moment!"
With that, Wan Yan went straight into the Transmission Room.
Soon,
Wan Yan came out holding a manual rubbing, and handed it directly to Gu Zhan, saying, "Brother Gu, the Dao of Martial Arts is all about steady progress. Remember not to be impatient. This saber technique is of quite a high grade, and it will be rather difficult to cultivate. You must have patience and hone your skill well."
Gu Zhan cupped his hand, "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I won’t stay any longer—another day, I’ll be sure to call and thank you properly."
"Alright, alright," Wan Yan chuckled, "Take care, Brother Gu."
Gu Zhan cupped his hand again, turned, and left with his men.
At the door of the Inheritance Pavilion,
Wan Yan smiled warmly, watching Gu Zhan walk off into the distance. He clicked his tongue and sighed, "This young man—not bad. So young, yet already powerful and courageous. A rare thing indeed!"
Just then, the young Chief Banner who’d been beaten by Gu Zhan earlier came up behind Wan Yan with a face full of grievance, saying, "Uncle, he’s just a country bumpkin! You’re a dignified Thousand Households, why should you be afraid of him? I... I was just standing up for you! Today he dared to openly embarrass you..."
Wan Yan turned and glanced at the young Chief Banner, saying calmly, "Just mind your own business. Do I need you to stand up for me?"
"Uncle..."
"Enough," Wan Yan waved his hand impatiently, "Behave yourself from now on—don’t meddle in things that aren’t your concern. Understand?"
"Yes."
The young Chief Banner left resentfully, clutching his swollen face.
Right then, a Personal Guard at Wan Yan’s side spoke up, "Sir, Gu Zhan directly refused to take over East City—he’s guessed that you wanted him to be your blade. Now that he won’t cooperate, what shall we do?"
Wan Yan let out a light laugh, "I made it perfectly obvious I wanted him as a blade. If he couldn’t see through that, he’d have no qualifications to be the youngest Hundred Households in Linjiang County’s Embroidered Uniform Guard history. I never expected it would be so easy to make him act."
The Personal Guard asked in confusion, "Then why did you go to so much trouble..."
"It was for the Rong Family to see. The Rong Family is my first step in breaking up the Noble Family alliance," Wan Yan said with a faint smile. "The more lenient I am with Gu Zhan, the more appreciation I show, the less daring the Rong Family will be to bet on Gu Zhan staying neutral."
The Personal Guard was blank for a moment, then said, "But now, Gu Zhan openly rejected you in public and spelled out his neutral stance. There won’t be any conflict between him and the Rong Family anymore."
"Heh," Wan Yan chuckled, "I’ve dealt with Noble Families a lot. Their heirs are all the same, looking down on people from Lower-class Families, each more arrogant than the last.
Gu Zhan doesn’t want to be their enemy only because he knows how strong the Noble Families are. But just because he doesn’t want to offend them doesn’t mean the families really respect him. In their eyes, without Gu Chuan’s protection, Gu Zhan is just a low-born brute!"
With that,
Wan Yan took a document from his robe and handed it to the Personal Guard. "This document is evidence of crimes committed by several of Gu Zhan’s Personal Guards in the South City Hundred Households Office. Take it and give it to Rong Hao. Tell him: as long as he arrests and punishes those who should be arrested and punished, I won’t touch his Hundred Households position."
The Personal Guard took the document, frowning. "Sir, Rong Hao isn’t stupid. You’re blatantly forcing him to break with Gu Zhan—he probably won’t agree."
"He’ll agree," Wan Yan said. "The Rong Family is deeply divided now. The collateral branch holds power and has been wanting to support Rong Hao as Patriarch. The current Patriarch, Rong Yichu, is having his authority chipped away and is nearly being forced out—he’s fighting hard for power.
At times like this, Rong Hao’s position as Hundred Households is especially important. If he falls now, it’ll give Rong Yichu a huge breathing space, and though Yichu is young, he’s immensely capable—none of the collateral branch dares give him a chance.
Also, Gu Zhan does have a great reputation in Linjiang County, but families like the Rong Family are arrogant to the bone. Outwardly they keep up appearances, but in truth, they look down on people like Gu Zhan. Compared to losing the Patriarch’s seat, Rong Hao would rather offend Gu Zhan. Besides, he has no choice.
Do you think all this time—leaving the South City Hundred Households Office to its own devices, openly showing my appreciation for Gu Zhan, and even going so far as to beat my own nephew for him, being so lenient with him—it was all for nothing? The real purpose is to leave Rong Hao no choice.
Right now, Gu Zhan is technically neutral, but can Rong Hao afford to gamble on that? With how much I’ve shown favor to Gu Zhan—almost as if I’m chanting for him to be my successor—do you think with all my courting, Rong Hao dares bet that Gu Zhan will always stay neutral?
He definitely won’t dare. In his eyes, he and Gu Zhan are destined to be enemies sooner or later, so what difference does it make to offend him now or later? What’s more, if he offends him now, he can at least keep his Hundred Households position and maybe even seize the Patriarch’s seat—why not go for it?"