East City, Rong Family.
As one of the major noble families in Linjiang County, the Rong Family’s presence was formidable; they had established a gigantic manor right in the most prosperous district.
The senior members of the Rong Family almost all lived in this grand estate, and any significant events were always hosted here.
In truth, a noble family like this was somewhat akin to a conglomerate in later generations; no matter how wide its business or how vast its holdings, it required a central headquarters. The Rong Family’s manor served as such a headquarters, overseeing all the family’s assets.
Rong Hao, the Hundred Households of the East City Hundred Households Office, was now the representative of the collateral line; anything related to him drew the utmost attention from inside the family. Tonight, the matter of Rong Hao being handled by Wan Yan at the Hundred Households Office had naturally aroused the Rong Family’s high alert.
The reason a noble family could take root and become entrenched in a place was not merely due to the prowess of its experts, but because of its foundations—its people permeated all aspects locally, especially official power.
And departments like the Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been territory fiercely contested by noble families.
The Rong Family was able to dominate several other noble families in East City largely because they had consistently held control over the East City Hundred Households Office.
Now, with Wan Yan’s arrival and taking direct control of Rong Hao’s post, although it wouldn’t cripple the Rong Family immediately—as the Hundred Households Office was still staffed mostly with their people—over time, if unchecked, the office would inevitably change hands.
Therefore, once Rong Hao returned,
The senior members of the Rong Family immediately convened a meeting of the highest order.
Noble families like the Rong Family were actually very complex internally, with multiple factions; at present, the main struggle lay between the direct lineage and the collateral line.
The previous patriarch of the Rong Family died in Martial World conflict, causing severe damage to the direct lineage; though the patriarch’s position remained, under pressure from the collateral line, the family installed the teenage Rong Yichu.
Rong Yichu, only son of the late patriarch, was forced to become patriarch at fifteen or sixteen; given his youth, it was hard to win broad support, and with the direct lineage in decline, the main branch had been suppressed by the collateral line for years.
Still, fortunately, Rong Yichu was competent,
and as he grew older, he gradually began to fight back; however, the direct lineage’s decline left recovery out of reach.
Meanwhile, the collateral line kept suppressing the direct line, strategically pushing Rong Hao as their leader—the main reason Rong Hao could become Hundred Households at just thirty.
The collateral line placed all their hopes in Rong Hao; thus, his position was crucial for them.
Now, within the Rong Family’s council hall,
Several clan elders sat at the head, with Rong Yichu and Rong Hao positioned left and right below, followed by other family leaders.
Everyone was voicing opinions and discussing strategies.
Rong Hao wore a dark expression, glancing occasionally at Rong Yichu; he worried that Rong Yichu might seize the moment to kick him when he was down. After all, if he lost his Hundred Households status, he’d find it difficult to compete with Rong Yichu within the family.
As the assembly grew tense and no solution was found,
A guard suddenly entered from outside, cupping his hands. "Just now, a Thousand Households’ Personal Guard from the Hundred Households Office delivered a document and a Thousand Households Identity Token."
The senior members of the Rong Family were all puzzled.
The guard handed the document to the Grand Elder.
The Grand Elder glanced through it, then passed it along with a doubtful look, saying, "This document contains evidence of dereliction and corruption by some senior staff in the South City Hundred Households Office."
After that, the Grand Elder looked at the guard and asked, "Did the messenger say anything else?"
The guard hurriedly replied, "He told me to inform Young Master Hao that as long as you lead men to execute or arrest those listed as necessary, he won’t move against your position as Hundred Households."
Everyone’s faces changed instantly, each with their own expression.
"No," Rong Yichu suddenly spoke. "Wan Yan is clearly trying to use Gu Zhan as his knife against our Rong Family, but Gu Zhan refused. Now, Wan Yan wants us to make enemies with Gu Zhan ourselves, forcing Gu Zhan to side with him. If he has all this evidence, why not handle it himself? Why insist that Rong Hao acts?"
The executives all nodded subtly.
Wan Yan’s purpose was obvious; they could all see through it.
Still, Rong Hao looked at the document, his hand gripping Wan Yan’s Identity Token, and said slowly, "But do we really have a choice now? If we don’t antagonize Gu Zhan, the East City Hundred Households Office will change hands. The losses could be huge for us—everyone should weigh that!"
Rong Yichu frowned, saying, "The Hundred Households Office won’t change hands so quickly. We can deliberate further, but making enemies with Gu Zhan happens in an instant. Gu Zhan isn’t simple; his methods are even more brazen than Gu Chuan’s ever were, and he’s vicious and vengeful, willing to risk everything. If we can avoid offending him, we should."
"Hmph," Rong Hao snorted coldly. "Who is Gu Zhan? Just some peasant brute flaunting a bit of cultivation. If Gu Chuan were still in Linjiang City, yes, we couldn’t provoke him. But without Gu Chuan, what does Gu Zhan amount to in front of our Rong Family?
Also, you’ve seen Wan Yan’s attitude toward Gu Zhan. He’s determined to recruit him—hell, he’d promise to make him successor if he could. Do you really think, under such tempting offers, Gu Zhan can stay neutral for long? Sooner or later, he’ll stand against us. Since that’s inevitable, why not offend him now to keep the Hundred Households Office?"
Rong Yichu shook his head. "No, this must be carefully considered... I’ve investigated Gu Zhan. In just a few months, he went from Hereditary Small Banner to become the youngest Hundred Households in Embroidered Uniform Guard history in Linjiang City. It’s not that simple..."
"Heh," Rong Hao sneered. "Everyone knows Gu Zhan only got where he is by luck, clinging to Gu Chuan. Rong Yichu, even if Gu Zhan is vengeful and has some background, offending him versus losing the East City Hundred Households Office—can’t you weigh which is worse? Offending Gu Zhan is the smallest loss. Why do you keep blocking me? Instead of worrying about family interests, are you deliberately suppressing me?"
Rong Yichu furiously replied, "Rong Hao, what nonsense are you spouting! If you do this, our Rong Family will end up walking right into Wan Yan’s trap. Wan Yan surely has a killer move prepared afterward..."
"Even so, it’s still Wan Yan!" Rong Hao retorted. "Gu Zhan is nothing—we Rong Family can handle him however we please."
"You—"
"Enough." At this moment, the Grand Elder spoke. "Yichu, the Hundred Households Office is of vital importance to the Rong Family. We can’t afford any slips. That Gu Zhan may be exceptional, but he’s an inherent enemy. Relatively speaking, dealing with him to protect the East City Hundred Households Office gives us the most return."
The other clan elders echoed in agreement.
Seeing this, Rong Yichu sighed,
He knew that, in the eyes of the clan elders, his role as patriarch was mere ornament. Even if he was far more capable than Rong Hao, most of the collateral line still favored Rong Hao. Compared with family interests, they put their own faction’s interests first.
Just then, the Grand Elder added, "However, Yichu did make a point. Gu Zhan’s conduct is wild; to be cautious, I and the Third Elder will join Hao, along with some of our top talents. If Gu Zhan has any sense, he’ll hand over his people willingly!"

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