In the Zhao family hall, everyone obeyed Old Master Zhao's instructions and retreated, but worry etched on each of their faces. The Zhao family was their mighty tree, and if this tree fell, their future prosperity would vanish.
In the hall, after everyone had left, Old Master Zhao slumped his head, completely deflated, like a punctured balloon, utterly devoid of spirit.
He had a premonition that the Zhao family was facing an unprecedented crisis this time, and a single misstep could plunge them into eternal damnation.
Old Master Zhao took a deep breath, then pulled out his phone and called a friend.
"Hello, Brother Ouyang, what exactly is going on with this matter? We've been friends for decades. I'm begging you, please reveal some information. Which distinguished individual has made a move against our Zhao family?"
As soon as the call connected, Old Master Zhao spoke with urgent sincerity.
"Alas, Brother Zhao, it's not that I don't want to help you. I've tried many connections for you, but I'm also in the dark and don't know the identity of this esteemed person."
Old Master Zhao was taken aback and stunned for a moment, but quickly regained his composure and continued to ask.
"Brother, you must help our Zhao family this time. If it's inconvenient for you to say, then perhaps you could give me a hint, or tell me who I can approach to find out the truth."
"Brother Zhao, it's not that I won't help you, but I truly don't know the other party's identity. Let me put it this way: the person who notified me was Lord Li from the First Command Headquarters. His words were simple: someone in your Zhao family has offended a great figure they shouldn't have, and that great figure is very angry, so they are teaching your Zhao family a lesson."
"What? Lord Li? You mean Lord Li Shanhai from the First Command Headquarters? We haven't offended anyone lately! Those troublesome scions of our family have been unusually quiet these past few days." Old Master Zhao was utterly shocked. Lord Li Shanhai from the First Command Headquarters, that was one of the most powerful figures in the Qin Kingdom, holding significant military authority.
And from what Old Master Ouyang implied, Li Shanhai seemed to be merely a messenger. How was that possible? Who in the Qin Kingdom possessed the ability to have Li Shanhai personally deliver a message?
Could it be the King of Qin? The thought instantly turned Old Master Zhao's face deathly pale, his heart feeling as if it might shatter at any moment.
However, after careful consideration, Old Master Zhao dismissed this idea. It was highly improbable. The King of Qin was the very heavens of the Qin Kingdom, its most respected figure. If he intended to deal with the Zhao family, he wouldn't have gone through such elaborate trouble.
But if it wasn't the King, then who else in the Qin Kingdom could command Lord Li of the First Command Headquarters to deliver a message?
Old Master Zhao sat in his seat, his brow furrowed into the character "川," meticulously recalling all the forces that had any grievances with the Zhao family. The more he thought, the deeper his frown grew. In his memory, there seemed to be no force with such immense power that they could compel Li Shanhai to deliver a message.
After all, even for the Zhao family, getting an audience with Li Shanhai depended entirely on his mood, let alone having him deliver a message. It was simply impossible!
"Hoo!" Old Master Zhao exhaled a long breath. He desperately wanted to summon everyone in the family and question them thoroughly about whether they had offended any influential figures recently. But remembering that he had just dismissed them, reassembling them so soon would only sow greater panic.
"Alas! What will be, will be. Let's hope our Zhao family can get through this safely!" Old Master Zhao sighed.
The colossal entity that was the Zhao family began to operate stealthily. All its core members were leveraging their connections, attempting to uncover who had made a move against them. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, not a shred of information about the mastermind emerged.
For a time, a palpable sense of unease gripped the Zhao family. Some clever individuals, with their wealth, secretly fled abroad. Others, through various means, began transferring their assets. As for the women of the Zhao family, many returned to their maiden homes to seek refuge.
The various actions of the Zhao family members did not escape the notice of the outside world, immediately sparking widespread speculation. The Zhao family was a top-tier noble family in Qin; what kind of incident could force them into such a state?
However, the Zhao family remained tight-lipped about their predicament. The factions that had severed ties with them also seemed to share a tacit understanding, not a single piece of news leaking out. Consequently, the outside powers remained unaware of what had befallen the Zhao family.
If they had known the truth, it would have undoubtedly caused a seismic upheaval, affecting countless noble families.
The protagonist responsible for all of this, Li Xiaotian, was currently at home, doting on his wife, Ye Qingmei.
He was completely unaware that his single remark had plunged a preeminent family in the Qin Kingdom into a state of sleepless dread overnight.
Of course, given Li Xiaotian's disposition, even if he knew, it wouldn't matter. Who told the Zhao family members to upset his wife?
What Zhao family? What top-tier noble family? To Li Xiaotian, none of it mattered. If he willed it, the Zhao family could vanish into thin air overnight.
As for his wife, Ye Qingmei, if she desired a life of luxury among noble families, it was simple. He, Li Xiaotian, would bestow one upon her!
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, the woman outside has not left," Long Yi reported as he re-entered the room, addressing Li Xiaotian and Ye Qingmei.
Li Xiaotian glanced at Ye Qingmei. She bit her lip, her eyes slightly red, her thoughts unreadable.
Li Xiaotian frowned slightly and shook his head at Long Yi.
The woman outside was Fang Yuan, Ye Qingmei's birth mother. She had somehow discovered Ye Qingmei's residence and arrived early that morning. Without knocking, she had been waiting outside.
Li Xiaotian was at a loss. It seemed that unlike Zhao Tianlong, this Fang Yuan might genuinely wish to reconnect with Ye Qingmei, driven purely by familial affection, without any ulterior motives.
However, regarding this matter, Li Xiaotian could only be an observer. He could not make the decision for Ye Qingmei; she had to figure it out herself.
"Xiaotian, what do you think? Should I go out and see her? What should I do?" Ye Qingmei murmured softly.
"If you want to see her, then see her. If you don't, then don't. If you feel awkward about asking her to leave, I can have Long Yi escort her away," Li Xiaotian replied, his heart ultimately feeling a pang of sympathy.
"No! Don't do that!" Ye Qingmei exclaimed immediately upon hearing this. She then tightly grasped Li Xiaotian's hand and hurriedly continued.
"Don't let Long Yi drive her away. I... I'll go and see her. I have to face this eventually."