Although the Wu Family was the leader among the Four Great Families of Jiangnan, their ancestral ho was not as conspicuous as their reputation suggested.
The Wu Family's ancestral ho was located in City South of Jianghai, an estate that was sowhat old and consisted of several separate courtyards.
Aside from its slightly larger area, there seed to be nothing particularly special about the residence from the outside.
If it was your first ti seeing this house, you'd never believe it was the Wu Family's ancestral ho.
However, those who truly knew this residence were aware that it was far more than it appeared on the surface. Not to ntion its rigorous defenses, most of the people who entered and left were influential figures whose every step could shake Jiangnan.
At this mont, in one of the separate courtyards inside, a man in his fifties dressed in traditional attire was strolling around.
Although he was over fifty, he was very well maintained and had a vibrant spirit, looking no different from a man in his forties.
Soon, a young man under thirty walked in and bowed to the middle-aged man in traditional attire:
"Father!"
"Follow to the study," he said.
"Yes!"
The two entered a sowhat dimly lit study one after the other. This study was different from others—as one stood inside, it was not the scent of books that filled the air, but rather the cold tallic atmosphere.
The young man didn't like this study very much, or more precisely, he was quite uncomfortable with it.
He didn't understand why his father always preferred to think and have important conversations in this cold study—like now.
The middle-aged man in traditional attire noticed the young man's discomfort and asked indifferently:
"Do you know why I like to think and talk here?"
"I do not."
The young man answered honestly.
"Secrecy ensures no leaks," the middle-aged man enunciated slowly, "The saying goes, 'Teach the Dao only to the worthy, and impart the laws only to the discreet.'"
"Son takes heed," he replied.
"Good, take a seat," he beckoned.
They sat down across from each other, with tea equipnt in between, and the elder in traditional attire started to brew tea, his movents fluid and practiced—a testant to years of refinent.
"Please let do it, how could I let you, father, undertake such a task?"
The young man reached out, preparing to take over the teapot.
"Haha, there's no need for such formalities between us father and son," replied the middle-aged man with a slight smile, "Besides, I can hardly stomach the tea you brew."
"That is true, how could my skill in brewing tea compare with yours, father?"
The young man smoothly offered a complint.
The middle-aged man chuckled softly, neither confirming nor denying, as he poured tea for himself and the young man.
"Try it, this is genuine Xinyang Maojian, much more enjoyable than those expensive teas sold in the market."
The middle-aged man took a light sip and a look of pleasure appeared on his face.
The young man mimicked the older man's action, taking a shallow sip, and laughed:
"I can't make out the difference; to , all teas taste the sa."
"Forget it, giving you fine tea is a waste," laughed the middle-aged man, before casually asking, "You've had a bit of trouble recently, haven't you?"
"A minor issue, not worth your concern, father," replied the young man.
The young man's heart skipped a beat. How did his father know about it?
"Not worth my concern?" The middle-aged man suddenly scoffed coldly, "It involves that girl Tang Yun, doesn't it?"
"Yes!"
The sudden cold laugh from the middle-aged man made the young man's hair stand on end, and he replied nervously.
"Speak, what exactly happened?"
"Yes!"
The young man was Wu Yuanli, the eldest son of the Wu Family, and the middle-aged man in traditional attire was his father—Wu Jingui.
Seeing the stern look on his father, Wu Jingui's face, Wu Yuanli didn't dare to hide anything. He recounted the evening's events in detail, including Su Chen and Tang Yun's passionate kiss and the fact that he was beaten up.
After listening to his son's account, Wu Jingui did not fly into a rage, nor did he speak of taking any action against Su Chen. Instead, he furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought.
He was very clear about the strength of the bodyguards he had assigned to his son; each was capable of handling several top-notch special forces soldiers on their own.
Moreover, the leader among them had been arranged by the old lady herself, a mber of the mysterious force under the old lady's command.
Although the old lady favored the second son's child Wu Yuanpin, Wu Yuanli was still her own flesh and blood, and just as much a part of the Wu Family's lineage.
Yet, to think none of these people could match up to that young man; this made Wu Jingui have to consider the matter seriously.
"Do you know why I agreed to your pursuit of Tang Yun?"
Seeing that his son had encountered such a situation without reporting to him, Wu Jingui was sowhat disappointed, as it showed his son had not grasped the importance of the matter.
"It probably has to do with her father, Tang Mingji has a very promising career," Wu Yuanli looked at his father and ventured a guess.
"That's certainly one of the reasons, but it's not the main one," Wu Jingui shook his head, thinking it seed necessary to share so information with his son.
"Then what is the main reason?"
Wu Jingui was puzzled; his pursuit of Tang Yun had not been deeply thought out, and was mainly due to her beauty.
"Do you know the surna of Tang Mingji's wife?"
"I don't."
Wu Yuanli shook his head. How could he know that, and why would he care what Tang's wife's surna was?
"Her surna is Pei!"
Wu Jingui's eyes, sharp as an eagle's, fixed upon Wu Yuanli as he spoke gravely.
"What about the surna Pei?"
Wu Yuanli asked, still not understanding, his voice faltering.
"What about the surna Pei? Think about it yourself!" Wu Jingui huffed disdainfully.
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"Pei?"
An epiphany struck Wu Yuanli as he saw the extrely serious expression on his father's face, like a bolt of lightning had hit his mind.
"Father, do you an that Tang's wife cos from that family?" Wu Yuanli's face was full of shock, his mouth agape.
"Humph, luckily you're not completely clueless!"
Having received his father's confirmation, Wu Yuanli was completely dumbfounded.
That was the Pei Family, the entity second only to the Shen Family among Huaxia's top families!
"Moreover, the old Pei patriarch is said to adore that granddaughter of his. Just think, if you marry Tang Yun, would the Wu Family successor be far from reach?" Wu Jingui said gravely. "Not only could you secure the successor position, but you could also take the Wu Family to the next level."
"I understand! I will definitely win over Tang Yun!"
Wu Jingui felt his blood boiling with boundless enthusiasm as he declared.
"And that young man? What do you plan to do about him?" Wu Jingui asked again, taking a sip from his teacup.
"Father, rest assured, I won't let him go! Whoever dares to block my path must pay the price!"
Wu Yuanli had already planned not to let go of Su Chen; now that he knew of Tang Yun's true identity, it was even less likely.
"You don't have to worry about this matter, I'll take care of it," Wu Jingui stated indifferently. Wu Yuanli wanted to object, but upon catching the frightening glint in his father's eyes, he promptly shut his mouth.
As Wu Yuanli left the study, a shadow flashed out from behind the curtain, clothed in a black Taoist robe with not a single breath of his presence leaking out.
If one were not deliberately searching, one might not even notice his presence; he was like a shadow, concealed in the darkness...
"Uncle Chen, what do you think about the young man ntioned by Yuanli?"
Wu Jingui did not turn back, as if he knew the other person would be there.
"Sowhat interesting."
"As you know, we can't let others find out about this, so I have to trouble you, Uncle Chen."
"Fine. I will give you a result within three days," said the man.
"With Uncle Chen handling it, what worries do I have?"
After finishing the conversation, Wu Jingui walked out of the study...
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