Chapter 351: Clearly Arranged
The luncheon was held in a grand hall.
On the surface, the Xu family looked quite simple, but they certainly had all the essentials.
After all, they were modern people—not doing anything as archaic as cultivating immortality up a mountain! They enjoyed their conveniences like everyone else.
However, for Xu Xiaoya, the only nuisance was that the so-called family luncheon didn’t start with food right away.
They still had to engage in socializing and blow some commercial smoke up each other’s skirts.
At first, there were only some appetizers and little snacks, maybe some desserts to whet the appetite.
So Xu Xiaoya camped out by the dessert table.
When others came looking for her, she was all ears.
As long as they didn’t directly stand in front of her, she didn’t care.
Today was exhausting; she needed to refuel!
Xu Xiaoyue thought for a moment and decided to approach her, quietly advising her to pay a bit more attention to her image.
Xu Xiaoya simply pointed to her side: “Pay attention to what? Just look at them!”
Little Moon took a glance.
Good grief, even those old geezers were doing the same! Did they catch it from Little Yuliya or something?!
Xu Cheng’an chuckled: “Haha, it’s fine! This time, His Highness said everyone should be a little more relaxed, no need to be so uptight.”
Others chimed in: “Yeah, yeah! Just be casual! Be casual!”
But then Xu Cheng’an seemed to think of something and approached: “Your Highness, since we have the chance, can I ask how you and Little Moon are planning to arrange things in our Xu family?”
Xu Xiaoya looked up and shot back, “What did you originally plan?”
“Here’s the thing. Our Xu family’s patriarchs have always been acting patriarchs, but the real patriarch position has been waiting for you. And as for Little Moon, I think she could be cultivated as our direct line.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Xu Xiaoya narrowed her eyes.
She might be carefree right now, but when it came to serious matters, she was as sharp as a tack.
If she really became the head of the Xu family, it’d elevate their status substantially.
Sure, they had a bit of a leading edge now, but that was only a nod to their identity.
It was safe to say that this old fox had his schemes well laid out.
Now that she had just started running the show, it wouldn’t be wise to smash the long-standing setup to pieces.
Thus, Xu Xiaoya was not about to do that.
Maintaining the status quo was best.
She could steer the ship but remain above it all.
“Old man Xu, I don’t think being the head suits me. I’ve got a lot on my plate with the Jade Emperor Kingdom; I’m super busy! I barely have any time to manage here, and even less to show my face. Why don’t you keep acting as patriarch? The Xu family is thriving, which is pretty great.”
The old foxes perked up their ears as this topic came up.
Hearing her say this, Xu Cheng’an felt a wave of relief wash over him.
As expected of her Highness, she considers everything. She’s not falling for this old fox’s trickery.
No worries, we’ll keep it moving as if we didn’t hear a thing.
Xu Cheng’an wasn’t giving up, “Actually, you really don’t need to worry too much. How about you serve as the junior patriarch for a while and switch once you have some free time?”
“Where would I find the time, huh? You really have no idea what I’m dealing with!”
“Uh…”
Xu Cheng’an wanted to say more, but Xu Xiaoya cut him off.
“However, I do have a brilliant idea.”
She grabbed Little Moon by the arm: “Look, Little Moon is my twin; she shares some of my characteristics and powers, and she has a bit more free time. Why don’t we have her take on the role?”
“Ah?”
Little Moon was bewildered.
This was already the umpteenth time today she found herself dumbfounded.
She had an inkling of what Xu Xiaoya wanted her to do, but she never expected she’d be shoved right to the top!
No way! Absolutely not! No can do!
Xu Cheng’an was also stunned.
But then he thought, well, maybe it’s not such a bad idea!
Now that he saw her Highness’s attitude, it was clear she wouldn’t agree.
So, settling for a second-best option was also a way out. After all, Little Moon was the closest to her Highness, so that added legitimacy for the Xu family.
“Well, since you say so, if Little Moon does indeed share some traits of your Highness, it wouldn’t exactly go against our long-standing traditions.”
“But Little Moon doesn’t seem as mature as your Highness. She needs some time to mature. Perhaps starting as the junior patriarch for a while would be better.”
Xu Xiaoya shot a wink at Little Moon: “Little Moon, what do you think?”
With you winking at me, what else could I possibly think?
But being a junior patriarch is not entirely out of the question.
The title of junior patriarch is just a nominal thing! Adding that position wouldn’t affect the Xu family’s original operation at all.
It merely meant she’d hear a bit more about things and check in occasionally. Decisions and the heavy lifting would still be on others.
Though lacking actual authority, the perks would be plentiful.
Little Moon had already learned many internal secrets and was eager to boost her strength.
The resources at school were totally inadequate now; moving to the Xu family was indeed a good choice.
“I’ll go with what my sister arranges.”
Xu Xiaoya smiled slightly: “Alright, then it’s settled!”
Xu Cheng’an also chuckled: “Then I’ll go announce this good news!”
“Go on then.”
In a flash, Xu Cheng’an made his way to the center of the banquet hall, grabbed a microphone, and called out a couple of times to grab everyone’s attention.
“Good news, everyone! Just now, I discussed with Her Highness the Princess, and with her recommendation, it has been decided that Little Moon, who shares the same lineage as her Highness, will take on the role of junior patriarch in our Xu family.”
“After she has refined her skills and passed my evaluation, she will officially be promoted to the position of patriarch. Let’s give her a round of applause!”
The hall erupted with applause and chatter.
Just when Xu Cheng’an thought everything had been decided simply, a few dissenting voices rang out.
“Wait! Grandpa! I don’t accept this!”
“Yeah! We don’t accept it!”
Xu Cheng’an frowned and looked toward the source of the voices: “Xu Qingyan, what did you say?”
The loudmouth was Xu Qingyan, Xu Cheng’an’s grandson and the leader of the youngest generation in the Xu family.
The group that chimed in with him were his pals.
Xu Qingyan met his grandfather’s stern gaze, instinctively flinching a bit but still stepping forward: “I don’t accept! I oppose! If it were her Highness taking the role, even directly as patriarch, I’d totally be on board.”
“But since it’s not her Highness, why this person who just popped up out of nowhere?!”
Xu Cheng’an felt a headache coming on.
He specifically mentioned that it was her Highness’s recommendation, and that it was merely a junior patriarch role.
Anyone with a little savvy could grasp the underlying implications, but those hot-headed youths were another story.
Especially Xu Qingyan, who always aimed to take Xu Cheng’an’s place.
When he explained the matter yesterday, he only stated he’d try to get her Highness to take on the patriarch role but had not anticipated her pulling this stunt.
While Xu Cheng’an was busy nursing his headache, Xu Xiaoya suddenly appeared beside him and gave him a playful tap, gesturing for him to step aside a bit.
“Xu Qingyan, right?”
“Y-yes!”
Xu Qingyan seemed quite nervous, more so than when he faced his own grandfather.
Xu Xiaoya smiled: “Don’t be nervous. It’s understandable that Little Moon isn’t immediately trustworthy. You saying you don’t accept is quite reasonable; what can we do to make you accept?”
“I…”
“I have a suggestion.” Xu Xiaoya jumped right in, “I believe that in the future, whether in Blue Star or the Otherworld, we should prioritize strength. Why don’t you and Little Moon have a contest to determine the future junior patriarch? How does that sound?”
Xu Qingyan pondered for a moment and nodded: “Okay! Your Highness’s words make perfect sense!”
“It’s not just him; any other Xu family members who have similar thoughts can absolutely challenge as well.”
Xu Cheng’an, hearing this, was a little troubled: “But Your Highness, many of us didn’t bring our equipment today.”
“No worries, no need for fuss.”
Xu Xiaoya pressed her right hand against her chest, muttering some incantation.
A pendant at her chest began to float, glowing golden.
With a dramatic wave of her hand, golden light enveloped everyone.
The next moment, as the light faded, everyone looked up and gaped.
This place is… Golden City?!
