Chapter 1556 – Cutting Down Nie Liang, Attacking Yang Tao, Sword Aimed at the World (Ninety-Four)
“Since there’s such a connection, why did the head of the Qiu Clan easily throw in their lot with us, given that he is Yan Lin’s… blood-related maternal grandfather?”
Yang Si displayed a complex expression, and were it not for the gossip-loving Feng Zhen, this connection might have remained hidden forever.
“The Qiu family and Yan Lin both care about their reputations. The head of the Qiu might be able to let it go, but do you think Yan Lin would look poorly upon them?” Feng Zhen scoffed, “Yan Lin isn’t foolish; he knows what kind of people the Qiu are. If he endorses this relationship, wouldn’t that entirely affirm that his mother was nothing more than a lower-status daughter of the Qiu Clan’s concubine? Not just a concubine’s daughter, but the daughter of a truly unsavory prostitute. Even if she turned her life around, her bloodline would remain tainted. If he denies it, at least she was a legitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant, which is much more respectable.”
Yang Si curled his lips in a cold laugh. “That’s true.”
Feng Zhen cast a glance at Yang Si and, seeing no signs of him being upset by the term “prostitute’s daughter,” felt reassured.
“A legitimate merchant’s daughter couldn’t possibly marry into a scholar family, could she?”
Yang Si was very clear that the social climate decades ago was far harsher than the current chaotic times, with distinct boundaries between the scholarly and the commoners, let alone the daughters of merchants.
Let’s not mention marrying Yan Lin’s father; even marrying a fallen scholar’s illegitimate son, that would be considered a major step up.
“Thus, Yan Lin’s father didn’t want to force that girl into becoming a concubine. Later, he found a way to hide her true identity and asked a longtime friend to take her in as an adopted daughter. After two years, they married under the guise of a scholar family’s adopted daughter.”
Yang Si sighed, “What a lovesick fool.”
For many noblemen, if they fell in love with a woman of low birth, they could just take her in as a concubine without a second thought. Who would worry about whether she was being wronged? If she felt wronged, they could simply visit more often and shower her with gifts to win her favor.
To marry a woman of humble origins properly, that Yan surname lad surely went through a lot of trouble.
Feng Zhen added, “A heart too deep won’t last, and great wisdom can lead to harm. Yan Lin’s father has both issues, so he won’t live long.”
With just that one statement, it wiped out Yang Si’s melancholy musings.
“What about the Qiu Clan? No reactions at all?”
Even though the Yan family wasn’t prominent, the Qiu Clan was no bunch of wallflowers either; two families banding together would surely be better than going solo.
Feng Zhen sneered. “Of course they reacted! But they were unfortunate enough to be repeatedly turned away by Yan Lin and his father.”
In truth, the Qiu Clan did want to acknowledge Yan Lin as their unwitting grandson. Even if they couldn’t formally acknowledge him, establishing some form of friendly connection would suffice. However, Yan Lin’s father was genuine in his feelings for his wife and cut off all relationships that could harm her. Acknowledging this familial link would be like admitting his wife had been an unspeakable, publicly shamed former prostitute of the Qiu Clan!
While listening, Yang Si nodded along, enjoying every bit of the scandal surrounding the noblemen.
He hadn’t expected such a “good man” to exist in this world; truly rarer than national treasures.
If he were in Yan Lin’s father’s shoes, back when he was seventeen or eighteen, even if he met a captivating woman, he probably wouldn’t have had the same courage.
It was precisely because he could not do so that he admired those who could.
Feng Zhen remarked, “The Qiu Clan has been declining even further in recent years, their resources dwindling while children keep popping out. The poorer they get, the more children they have. Not to mention those side branches; even the main branch is doing the same, making their large clan more of a burden. In contrast, Yan Lin has become the most trusted confidant of the lord Yang Tao, often entrusted with significant responsibilities. The Qiu Clan is both envious and fearful.”
Yang Si pondered, “Fearful?”
Feng Zhen said, “Fearful of being silenced, naturally. Fearful of Yan Lin oppressing them day after day, leaving their whole clan with no prospect of rising.”
Yang Si almost burst out laughing at the Qiu Clan’s predicament, swiftly opening the golden-flecked fan in his hand, hiding his glee behind its surface.
“Yan Lin probably didn’t even regard them seriously, let alone suppressing or silencing them. They seem to be making too much out of nothing.”
Yang Si was self-aware enough to recognize that he was completely different from Yan Lin.
The former was vengeful; regardless of whether his enemies were noble lords or common folk, crossing him would exact a price. His heart was smaller than a needle’s eye. But the latter was different; saying Yan Lin was carefree wouldn’t be entirely accurate, but he indeed wouldn’t concern himself with the barks of ants.
How did the Qiu Clan look to Yan Lin? Just like ants!
Their status was worlds apart; unless something extraordinary happened, they’d never cross paths. How ludicrous for the Qiu Clan to worry about Yan Lin oppressing them?
Feng Zhen laughed, “Regardless, people like the Qiu Clan are just the puppets we need—using someone else’s blade for our own purposes is brilliant.”
Yang Si closed the golden-flecked fan and played with the jade pendant hanging from it.
“Take it easy. Don’t capsize the boat.”
Relying solely on tides for sailing has its risks; a larger wave can indeed sink the ship. Feng Zhen had experienced this firsthand before.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the unfortunate Qiu Clan was quaking in their boots under Feng Zhen’s watchful eye.
Yan Lin had caused Feng Zhen to suffer a significant loss, and then Feng Zhen’s subsequent efforts to spread rumors were effortlessly deflected.
To outsiders, the entire battlefield seemed to be tipping in favor of Yang Tao. This news was a tonic for Yang Tao’s supporters but a shattering thunderbolt for those fence-sitters who couldn’t wait to switch sides! In the past few days, Feng Zhen had been intentionally avoiding the spotlight, further inciting panic among them. At this moment, the Qiu Clan had finally received a response after working through countless connections.
The best way for a noble family to preserve its status and reputation is to enter officialdom. Once they possess power, how could “money” and “influence” remain elusive?
Seeing Yang Tao faltering, they hurriedly turned to the enemy, scheming for opportunities and self-recommendations in hopes of gaining favor.
However, Jiang Pengji’s side was even harder to navigate than Yang Tao’s, and there had been no news for a long time.
At this moment, they finally got some news that should have been met with joy, but they couldn’t bring themselves to smile.
Firstly, the job they had schemed for was on the front lines, and the danger was immense; one slip could cost them their lives.
Secondly, the position was too lowly, with limited advancement. It was clearly a way to brush people off.
Thirdly, the scales of victory in the war were tilting towards Yang Tao, making them waver and question the correctness of their earlier decision to switch sides.
Little did they know, with what kind of lord comes what kind of subjects; Feng Zhen was also a seasoned master of bait and switch.
To further incite the Qiu Clan’s treachery, he had been making plenty of behind-the-scenes moves.
“Dad, I think Liu Xi is destined to achieve nothing great.”
The head of the Qiu Clan’s son was about to go crazy from the torment inflicted by his superiors. Just thinking about that smug little face brought him immense humiliation.
Old Master Qiu asked, “Did you suffer any grievances again today?”
The son felt highly wronged; over the past few days, he had been mercilessly harassed and insulted by unreasonable superiors, nearly collapsing under the pressure.
Old Master Qiu sighed, “Go on, tell me what happened this time?”
