At the foot of the Imperial City.
The news about one day's enfeoffnt of four princes did not dissipate completely due to the Elders' Court's declaration, but still lingered over the capital.
As for the upper-echelon insiders who truly knew the situation, they all kept their heads down, quietly awaiting developnts. In their view, a confrontation as earth-shattering as the sky falling and the earth rending had been brewing since the day the War God of the State took office. But no one had expected the day of the real confrontation to arrive so swiftly.
The appointnt of three princes in the Chenlong Martial District had co too fast, with a ferocity that startled countless people. This also showed that so people in power were growing anxious, unwilling to delay even for a mont.
No one could remain uninvolved in this internal power struggle, especially not the nobles and mbers of the upper class. When the two sides truly clashed, they would have to choose a side.
A major reshuffle was about to unfold over the Imperial City.
In the drizzling rain, a comrcial vehicle slowly headed toward the Martial Association Headquarters.
Inside the vehicle.
"Boss, the Gao Family is stirring up trouble again," Yang Hu reported. "The Eighteen Iron Riders of the Chen royal clan have been garrisoned with the Gao Family! The one responsible for liaising with them is a clan relative nad Chen Fei."
Ordinary prominent families often stratified their mbers based on the proximity of blood ties, but for a higher-level royal clan, the hierarchy was even more rigid. There were the direct descendants, clan relatives, relatives by marriage, and family servants, in that order. For example, the Great Elder of the Chen royal clan was a relative by marriage who had been pushed to the forefront.
The Eighteen Iron Riders, tracing their origins back to the first generation, were originally just family servants of the Chen royal clan. It was only through an accumulation of military rit and shedding blood for the clan that they were granted the Chen surna. Even now, they could only be considered relatives by marriage.
"It seems the Gao Family found out that you were the one who killed Gao Fan, Boss. After receiving this information, the Chen royal clan imdiately sent reinforcents, intending to use the Gao Family as bait. They're waiting for you to jump out so they can eliminate you in one fell swoop."
The Great Elder had relayed this information to Yang Hu when he went to the Elders' Court to submit docunts the day before.
Yang Hu continued, "The old patriarch of the Gao Family even publicly declared that it doesn't matter that you've stepped down as the Zhennan Prince. Even if you were still in office, having committed such a heinous cri, you must personally go to the Gao Family, kneel before Gao Fan's morial altar, and kowtow to admit your guilt."
Chen Yang smiled but said nothing.
Yang Hu sighed. By latching onto the Chen royal clan, has the Gao Family obtained a death-proof dallion?
"After this business with the Martial Association is settled, we'll pay the Gao Family a visit," Chen Yang said coolly, without even looking up.
"Okay!" Yang Hu nodded solemnly. It might be an inescapable trap, but so matters simply had to be resolved, right? For instance, the Martial Association's upcoming tenth-anniversary celebration.
It was still early.
Chen Yang and his group found a teahouse nad "Immortal Residence" directly across from the Martial Association Headquarters. The teahouse was renowned in Cangyun City. Combined with the Martial Association's tenth-anniversary celebration and the downpour outside, many early arrivals had gathered there to rest while waiting for the auspicious ti.
Just after they had ordered, Chen Yang looked up and saw a young man, who looked to be the teahouse manager, walking toward him.
Their eyes t.
Hmm?
Both n frowned, their expressions turning to ones of astonishnt.
The young man stopped for a mont, gave a slight nod, and then strode away with an unnatural look on his face.
Chen Yang stared at his retreating back, old mories he thought long-forgotten stirring once more.
"Hey!" Qin Qiu glanced over, then waved her hand in front of Chen Yang's face. "Does he seem familiar?"
"It's not déjà vu; we're old acquaintances." Chen Yang took Qin Qiu's hand and said with a trace of emotion, "To be precise, he's my senior brother. His na is Xie Yuan."
Calling him senior brother was correct. When Ren Tong had brought Chen Yang to the Martial Departnt, Xie Yuan was already there. Being slightly older and also a disciple under Ren Tong, it was natural for Chen Yang to call him senior brother.
Initially, Ren Tong had higher hopes for Xie Yuan. But as ti went on, the sharp-witted young man grew weary of life on the battlefield and lost his edge. In a career with the Martial Departnt, conviction was paramount. Once that conviction was lost, one's original purpose was lost along with it.
"Father tried to persuade him several tis, but not only did he refuse to listen, he flew into a rage, accusing Father of being a fool who only knew how to fight wars and didn't understand how to secure his own fortune."
"In the end, he caught the eye of a rich young lady and resolutely chose to leave the military. He cursed Father for his foolishness and boasted about the magnificent life he would lead."
"The crucial thing was, this wealthy young lady's grandfather held a deep grudge against Father."
For a disciple he treated like his own son to run off with the descendant of his enemy—what a heart-wrenching betrayal.
Ren Tong was so enraged he spat up a mouthful of blood, yet Xie Yuan declared with smug satisfaction that without the old man holding him back, the rest of his life would be far more vibrant and exciting. Not only that, he even tried to persuade Chen Yang not to waste his youth, promising that if Chen Yang left with him, he could guarantee him a life of splendor and riches.
Yet here they were, ten years later. Xie Yuan, who had once betrayed his ntor in his single-minded pursuit of wealth and pleasure, was now rely the manager of a teahouse.
Honestly, it was a truly lantable sight.
"The temptations of this world are truly endless. So few people are able to hold on to their original convictions."
This resonated deeply with Qin Qiu. Hadn't she faced the sa thing when she took over the Qin Corporation? Countless scions from prestigious families had tried to take advantage of her. If she had agreed back then, the Qin Corporation would have easily overco its crisis, but her own fate would have probably been miserable, wouldn't it?
Chen Yang smiled and said no more. Everyone has the right to pursue what they want, but repaying kindness with malice is despicable.
Yang Hu, standing to the side, also sighed with emotion. People like them held fast to their beliefs. Once you joined the military, you could never forget that commitnt.
Ultimately, the topic was too heavy, so they dropped it.
Before long, the teahouse staff began approaching all the tables. At their urging, the patrons, though clearly annoyed, had no choice but to stand, settle their bills, and leave.
As the manager, Xie Yuan eventually had to face Chen Yang.
"It's been ten years, hasn't it? Who would have thought we'd et here," Xie Yuan said, initiating the conversation with a mostly blank expression.
Chen Yang simply nodded, not saying much. From the mont Xie Yuan had insulted Ren Tong and thrown himself into the arms of his master's enemy, any relationship between them had been severed.
As the saying goes, those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Their reunion now was rely an encounter between two people who used to know each other, warranting nothing more than a simple nod.
"I'm sorry, but you have to leave."
Xie Yuan said flatly, "The Martial Association just sent word. They've booked the entire teahouse to entertain distinguished guests from the royal clan, as well as from the Xuanse Sect and the Gan Family of Yuning Mountain."
Though he didn't state it outright, his intention to kick them out was perfectly clear.
With a sudden commotion, a group of seven or eight people stepped out of a comrcial vehicle by the entrance as the other guests were getting up to leave. The group was led by a young man and woman.
The woman's narrow eyes swept across the room. Seeing that people were still inside, she imdiately gestured for an obsequious old man at her side to lead the way.
"Why are there still people in here? Don't tell you expect this lady to sit and drink tea with this kind of trash?" The woman's haughty, piercing voice echoed through the teahouse before she even stepped inside.
Her tone was sharp and left no room for argunt.
"..."
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