In the Zhao family hall, everyone was stunned upon hearing Patriarch Zhao’s words. The entire hall fell silent, and expressions of disbelief spread across every face.
All clear?
It was over just like that?
Just yesterday, the situation was so dire that the Zhao family seemed on the brink of annihilation, yet in less than a day, all crises had vanished?
“Ahem, Father, at a time like this, please stop joking,” Zhao Tiancheng said, clearing his throat. As the current patriarch of the Zhao family, he had seen much, but nothing like this.
A great figure, someone who could send a message through the First Commander of the Great Qin’s War Department, Li Shanhai, had threatened to make things difficult for the Zhao family. How could it possibly end so trivially?
A mere scare tactic to frighten the Zhao family, and then nothing happened?
Of course, for the Zhao family, the monetary losses incurred overnight amounted to hundreds of millions. But these were minor issues, not worth mentioning.
“Nonsense! When have I ever joked?” Patriarch Zhao immediately became agitated, glaring at Zhao Tiancheng. He then looked at everyone in the hall and spoke with annoyance.
“Everyone, you’re all fine. Disperse. The Zhao family’s crisis has been averted. However, it’s best if you all stay home recently and avoid causing trouble.”
Upon hearing Patriarch Zhao’s words, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, their faces displaying expressions of having survived a great peril.
The Zhao family's crisis had been resolved. Although they didn’t know exactly what had transpired, the continued existence of the Zhao family was the best possible outcome for them.
As everyone filed out of the hall, excitement could be seen on each of their faces.
“Tiancheng, you four brothers stay behind!” Patriarch Zhao commanded.
All the Zhao family members had left the hall, leaving only the four brothers: Tiancheng, Tianwen, Tianlong, and Tianqi.
These four were the pillars of the Zhao family, each a prominent figure in their respective fields, born into prominent families, possessing intellect and bearing the demeanor of a noble lineage.
However, these four brothers often engaged in internal conflicts, vying for the Zhao family’s resources. Although Zhao Tiancheng was the current patriarch, he couldn’t truly control his three younger brothers.
Furthermore, the Zhao family’s ancestral motto emphasized the paramount importance of the family. As long as the Zhao family continued to prosper and stand among the top aristocratic families of Great Qin, Patriarch Zhao turned a blind eye to their internal strife.
In fact, many top families operated in this manner; they feared stagnation more than competition.
However, the internal struggles within most aristocratic families had a limit: never resorting to bloodshed. After all, they shared the same bloodline, and unless absolutely necessary, there was no need for a life-or-death struggle.
Among the major aristocratic families in the capital of Great Qin, only the Li family’s struggle for the patriarch’s position ten years prior had been the most brutal. The previous patriarch of the Li family was assassinated by his own half-brother.
This incident had shocked countless people in the capital at the time. Of course, ordinary aristocratic families were not privy to this information. Even within the Zhao family, only Patriarch Zhao and a few of his sons were aware of it.
The four Zhao brothers stood respectfully in the hall, awaiting Patriarch Zhao’s instructions.
“The matters I assigned to you yesterday are no longer necessary. However, there is one thing you must investigate!” Patriarch Zhao’s eyes gleamed as he spoke unhurriedly to Zhao Tiancheng and the others.
“Utilize all the connections you have to find out which great figure was playing a joke on our Zhao family this time.”
“Also, investigate if any of our Zhao family members have had conflicts with outsiders recently. This incident occurred so suddenly, and we had no prior knowledge. I believe it’s likely that someone in the family inadvertently offended that great figure.”
“However, that great figure might have felt it unnecessary to annihilate our Zhao family over a trivial matter, hence the prank.”
“But we cannot simply forget this. Since that great figure possesses the power to destroy our Zhao family, it’s possible that if someone in our family again carelessly offends that adult in the future, the consequences next time will not simply be a scare tactic.”
After Patriarch Zhao finished speaking, Zhao Tiancheng and the others frowned. This was a fact; they still didn’t know who that great figure was, making it impossible to guarantee they wouldn’t offend them again.
Thus, the sword hanging over the Zhao family had only been temporarily sheathed, but it could fall at any moment.
“Father, please rest assured. We will diligently investigate this matter once we are done,” Zhao Tiancheng replied with a serious expression.
Zhao Tianlong knitted his brows, uncharacteristically thinking of Li Xiaotian. However, he immediately shook his head. A mere nobody from a little-known corner of Jiangnan could not possibly be that great figure.
Thinking this, Zhao Tianlong chuckled self-mockingly. It seemed he was thoroughly shaken by this incident, to the point of suspecting an ant.
“Tianlong, what are you laughing at? Do you think Father’s instructions are making a mountain out of a molehill?” Zhao Tiancheng said with a hint of coldness in his voice, noticing Zhao Tianlong’s expression.
As long as it didn’t involve matters of life and death for the Zhao family, Zhao Tiancheng and his three brothers would seize any opportunity to suppress each other, thereby gaining more recognition from Patriarch Zhao.
“Tianlong, Father just handed over the Zhao family’s financial sector to you. Have you already become complacent and think the crisis our Zhao family faced was a minor issue? Now that Father says everything is fine, you’ve let your guard down?” Zhao Tianwen, Zhao Tianlong’s second elder brother, chimed in, looking at Zhao Tianlong with a gaze full of mockery.
Zhao Tianqi, standing beside them, remained silent, but his eyes showed a clear look of enjoyment. The fiercer the struggle among his brothers, the happier he became, as it only presented him with opportunities to rise.
Currently, Zhao Tianqi, the fourth brother, controlled the least resources and was doing rather ordinarily.
“Tianlong, what’s wrong with you?” Patriarch Zhao’s expression immediately darkened upon hearing his two sons’ words, and he fixed his gaze on Zhao Tianlong, asking.
Zhao Tianlong’s face turned somewhat pale. He cursed his two elder brothers inwardly, thinking they were resorting to any means, no matter how absurd the reason, to suppress him.
However, since the patriarch had asked, Zhao Tiancheng obediently answered, recounting his and his wife’s trip to Jiangnan and the situation with Ye Qingmei.
“Is it that child from years ago? Are you certain she is of the Zhao family bloodline?” Patriarch Zhao asked after a moment of silence.
“Yes, Father. Her appearance bears some resemblance to both my wife and me. She should be my daughter,” Zhao Tianlong replied.
“Haha, she is indeed of the Zhao family bloodline. To have achieved such great success all alone and in adversity, excellent, excellent!” Patriarch Zhao said with a smile, then instructed Zhao Tianlong again.
“Go and tell her that if she wishes to return to the Zhao family, she must contribute her business to the family. The family has always lacked an industry in the Jiangnan region. Using her company as a starting point, our Zhao family can enter the Jiangnan commercial sector.”
“Of course, the family will not mistreat her; she will be rewarded severalfold and given the identity of a Zhao family member.”
“At that time, the family’s development in Jiangnan will be entrusted to you.”
Zhao Tianlong’s eyes lit up immediately upon hearing his father’s words, and he replied excitedly.
“Yes, Father!”
Thinking that he could be responsible for the business development in the Jiangnan region, thereby significantly increasing his influence within the family, Zhao Tianlong’s heart immediately filled with excitement.
Not to mention how the Zhao family’s future industries in Jiangnan might develop, but based solely on his father’s words, once the Zhao family opened up its industries in Jiangnan, the resources he, as the person in charge, could utilize would be immense.
A flicker of joy crossed Zhao Tianlong’s face, and he cast a mocking glance at his three elder brothers.
Zhao Tiancheng and the others felt a surge of anxiety. Especially Zhao Tiancheng, if Zhao Tianlong were allowed to manage the Zhao family’s future development in Jiangnan, then the industries controlled by Zhao Tianlong would soon catch up to his status as patriarch.
“Father, I think it’s best to be cautious. We cannot yet confirm if that woman’s bloodline truly belongs to our Zhao family. What if she is just some ordinary stray, trying to become a member of the Zhao family through this?” Zhao Tiancheng quickly interjected, his expression anxious.
“Yes, Father. We haven’t seen her for over twenty years. Who knows if that wild seed is truly a member of our Zhao family? Young brother Tianlong is too hasty, reporting this matter to you without even clarifying her identity. It’s truly reckless,” Zhao Tianwen also hurriedly chimed in, unwilling for Zhao Tianlong to one day lord over him.
Zhao Tianlong’s eyes flashed with anger upon hearing this, but he managed to suppress it. Knowing his two elder brothers well, he said with confidence.
“Fang Yuan and I are not so incompetent as to mistake our own biological daughter. Fang Yuan is currently in Jiangnan and can be asked to bring our daughter for a paternity test.”
Patriarch Zhao nodded upon hearing this and said.
“This is appropriate. First, verify if she is of our Zhao family’s bloodline. Not just anyone has the qualification to join our Zhao family.”
Zhao Tianlong quickly nodded in agreement, but inwardly, he was anxious, eager to rush to Jiangnan and have Ye Qingmei undergo the blood test. Whether Ye Qingmei was willing to join the Zhao family was something he completely disregarded.
If she were indeed his daughter, then her joining the Zhao family would not be up to her to decide; he, as the father, could make that decision entirely.
At this moment, the Zhao family members could never have imagined that after narrowly escaping death, they were now carelessly stepping towards true peril.
Concurrently, Li Xiaotian received the information investigated by Long Yi and, hiding in his room, read the documents silently.
Gradually, Li Xiaotian clenched his fists, his veins bulging, and an incredibly terrifying aura of ferocity emanated from him.
He had originally thought that his father’s death was a foolish act by a few individuals within the Li family, and that the majority of the Li family was unaware of it.
But now, it seemed he had been mistaken. At this moment, he felt an impulse, a burning desire to destroy the Li family immediately! To avenge his father!