Yanjing, in a quaint little courtyard.
An elderly man with white hair and beard sat drinking tea with a middle-aged man in the courtyard.
After the middle-aged man relayed some information to the elder, a trace of surprise flashed across the elder’s face.
"So many people actually want to make a move against them?" The surprise on the elder’s face quickly vanished. "Their counterattack is so fierce, all taking heavy shots?"
"More than four people are dead, and some have been captured by them!" The middle-aged man’s expression remained unchanged as he spoke. "It seems, they’ve brought enough experts and strengthened their defense. Moreover, they might be trying to take this opportunity to escalate the situation."
After pondering for a while, the elder forcefully waved his hand. "Then do nothing at all. They’re waiting for us to fall into the trap!"
"Father," the middle-aged man hesitated for a moment before whispering. "Is it possible to act under another family’s banner?"
"This tactic has been used many times before. Do you think it’s effective? It will only result in more losses."
"Alright then!" The middle-aged man said nothing more, nodding lightly. "I’ll give the order to have them stop stirring things up."
"The most crucial thing now is how to deal with the other families’ alliance. They want to crush our Chen Family to death!" The old man chuckled a few times, then his eyes turned fierce. "If they really are like this, then don’t blame me for being ruthless. If it comes to mutual destruction, let’s see who perishes first."
The old man’s words startled the middle-aged man. He opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.
"You should not stay in Yanjing any longer. Go back soon. You’ve been in Yanjing for several days now; since the tasks are completed, it’s time to return. Otherwise, someone will impeach you again!" The old man ignored the middle-aged man’s hesitant expression and quietly instructed, "Don’t worry about the family affairs. Focus on resolving your own crisis first. If you succeed in resolving the crisis, the future of the Chen Family can be entrusted to you."
The old man’s words made the middle-aged man excited but he did not show it. He calmly replied, "Dad, I won’t disappoint you."
"Lately, Chen Yiping and Chen Yihe have been interacting with the Ling Family frequently, they intend to stir up trouble!" The old man’s eyes glowed fiercely again. "Those two traitors, if they dare to do this, then don’t blame me for being ruthless."
"Dad, if they dare do such a thing, they must be taught a lesson. During these troubled times, not only are they collaborating with the Ling Family, but they’re also mingling with the Luo Family, attempting to betray our Chen Family’s interests or even replace us. We absolutely cannot let them succeed." The middle-aged man’s words were filled with anger.
"In any case, I’m old, unafraid of anything." The old man’s expression returned to calm. After laughing lightly, he continued, "I’ve tolerated them repeatedly, but if they continue to push, I will not yield. Old Mr. Fang wants to scheme against me; it’s not going to happen. Does he really think the Fang Family is that formidable?"
"Dad, Fang Xiang and Fang Zhonghua are plotting against us; we can’t let them succeed."
"I know what to do. Don’t worry about these matters. Go back tomorrow and don’t give them any ammunition. After all, you’re not holding a position in Yanjing now!"
"Alright!"
In the Yang Family Old House, Yang Yunlin and Yang Yuanshan sat together drinking tea.
Today, Yang Yunlin originally had some official duties, but due to a call from his father, he had to change his plans and rush over to listen to his father’s lecture.
"As soon as Luo Ziling went to Hengdian, he was attacked by multiple forces. Were any of them ordered by you?" As soon as Yang Yunlin sat down, Yang Yuanshan mercilessly questioned him.
"No!" Yang Yunlin was a little surprised but immediately denied it. "I haven’t been involved in such matters."
"Really?"
"Yes, really!" Yang Yunlin answered confidently.
"Good, if not. Stop doing things only fools would do." Yang Yuanshan looked at Yang Yunlin with disdain.
Yang Yunlin felt a sudden pain in his chest and an overwhelming sense of injustice.
But before he could say anything, Yang Yuanshan continued, "In these volatile times, when the situation is unclear, observe more and act less. At least for now, maintaining good relations with the Ling Family and the Luo Family is more beneficial for us. Great achievements do not scruple over small matters. If you can’t let go of such things, how can you achieve anything great?"
Yang Yunlin finally couldn’t help but retort, "Dad, that was your own son, my younger brother, who died!"
Yang Yuanshan remained silent for a while, then softly said, "Have you ever thought about who would have died if Luo Xusheng hadn’t fought back then?"
Yang Yunlin did not answer; he didn’t know how to answer.
He couldn’t imagine his own father asking such a question.
Yang Yuanshan asked again, "If you were Luo Xusheng, what would you have done?"
Yang Yunlin shook his head, "I am not Luo Xusheng. I wouldn’t encounter the situations he does."
Yang Yuanshan sighed, then gently said, "Actually, back then, Luo Liansheng wanted to kill you as well!"
Yang Yuanshan’s words almost made Yang Yunlin jump up.
He looked at Yang Yuanshan in disbelief.
"At that time, I demanded Luo Xusheng pay with his life. Luo Liansheng came to me and threatened that if I really wanted his son dead, he wouldn’t hesitate to ensure I had no descendants." Yang Yuanshan looked at Yang Yunlin with a helpless expression. "If he wanted your life, you wouldn’t have lasted long!"
Before Yang Yunlin could respond, Yang Yuanshan continued, "If Luo Xusheng had died back then, more people would have perished. Not just you, I myself might not have survived!"
Yang Yuanshan’s words left Yang Yunlin stunned in place.
These things, Yang Yuanshan had never told him before.
Yang Yuanshan didn’t say anything more, just slowly sipped his tea.
Yang Yunlin didn’t know what to say.
Finally, Yang Yuanshan spoke again, "Do you think, if you manage to kill the Luo kid, you will survive? You should be grateful your attempts didn’t succeed. If the Luo kid had died, your days would have been numbered. I’ve told you before, but you just wouldn’t learn. Be thankful you have a good daughter, as they haven’t gone hard on you."
Yang Yuanshan’s words deeply shook Yang Yunlin.
Sweat broke out on his forehead, but he didn’t know how to respond to his father’s words.
Yang Yuanshan continued, "Sir Luo dared to directly confront Ling Jinhua, even disregarding Ling Mingrui. Do you really think, back when Luo Xusheng was forced to leave Yanjing and his son went with Luo Liansheng to the Northwest, it was because of our pressure? They Yang Family couldn’t threaten him."
"Then why did he accept such an arrangement?" Yang Yunlin became curious.
Yang Yuanshan didn’t speak for a long time, just slowly drank his tea.
Yang Yunlin was eager to know the answer, yet he didn’t want to push, so he just kept drinking tea, one sip after another.
After a while, Yang Yuanshan softly said, "Back then, when Luo Liansheng was concocting a medicine, he accidentally poisoned himself. If he hadn’t been poisoned, he wouldn’t have taken Luo Ziling to the Northwest. No one could have harmed him except himself. The so-called mercy of Ling Jinhua and the Fang Family’s help were all false. What’s important is that at the time, Luo Liansheng’s power had significantly weakened."
"Cough... cough..." Just as he took a sip of tea, Yang Yunlin choked.