Yu Changan was seated in an elegantly designed Sandalwood Taishi Chair, savoring a cup of Qianshan Tea, and asked indifferently, "Has Phoenix been beaten up?"
"Yes," Yu Haoran, standing beside him, nodded and said with a heavy tone, "Secretary Lin and I went to the Monitoring Bureau to pay a visit. At first, they refused to let us see him. When we finally did... Uncle Three had been beaten beyond recognition; it was almost impossible to identify him."
Yu Changan slowly took a large sip of tea, as if his son’s life and death were less significant than this tea-tasting affair.
"It’s indeed a curious matter," Yu Changan looked towards Yu Haoran and asked, "Does our Yu Family have a feud with the Monitoring Bureau?"
"What about Yan Wenli, any feud with him?"
"Although Yan Wenli has taken down a few of our chess pieces, it’s not to the extent of fostering a vendetta..."
"In that case, why do they keep doggedly pursuing our Yu Family?" Yu Changan asked, his face showing contemplation.
"I think it’s not about the Monitoring Bureau or Yan Wenli wanting to be our enemy... It’s that Tang Fei causing trouble."
"He’s relying on his close relationship with Phoenix, with support from his uncle above and Yan Wenli backing him, so he wants to use our Yu Family to establish his own authority."
"He wants to tell everyone in Phoenix City, ’Aren’t you all saying the Yu Family is formidable and not to be offended? Well, I have deliberately crossed them. Not just offended, but I have slapped their faces, beaten them until they’re unrecognizable...’"
Yu Changan turned to Yu Haoran and asked, "So, what is his purpose in doing this?"
"To boost his own prestige, does he want to plant his own flag in Phoenix City?" Yu Haoran ventured uncertainly.
Yu Changan shook his head, saying, "What use is there for him, a small team leader in the Supervision Institute, to plant a flag? What can he offer others, and what can he exchange?"
"Such a fragile bamboo stick can be easily uprooted by anyone. So what’s the point of planting this flag? Who would do something with no benefit?"
"Then why is he, like a Mad Dog, relentlessly attacking our Yu Family?"
"He’s not important; the intentions of those above are what matter." Yu Changan said to Yu Haoran, "Last time, Secretary Lin went on behalf of your father to intercede with Yan Wenli, but Yan Wenli staunchly defended that young man, endorsing all of his decisions."
"And there’s something even more infuriating. Not only did our uncle not help our Yu Family, but I heard he has promoted that youngster... He’s now the Deputy Director of the fifth division of the Supervision Institute. How long has he been in the Monitoring Bureau?"
"This is the attitude from above." Yu Changan sighed softly and said, "Yan Wenli is a clever man; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to keep his position as Director of the Supervision Institute. Either he kills others, or he gets killed by others."
"He has no children, no descendants, and is the trusted arm of the King... I heard his wine cellar is never empty; the King sends carloads to their house."
"No one is clearer about what the King is thinking than he is. He would rather offend the Yu Family than stand with Tang Fei... Isn’t the answer obvious?"
Yu Haoran was greatly alarmed and asked, "Does our uncle intend to take action against us? That’s impossible, isn’t it? He’s aiming at the other families... How does that relate to us?"
"Are the Shen Family and the Lu Family the only ones among the nine major families, and not the Yu Family? Do the Shen and Lu Families have all the resources and voice, while the Yu Family has nothing?"
"Grandpa..." Yu Haoran was horrified, finding his grandfather’s words terribly alarming.
In his understanding, the Yu Family was part of the royal relatives, intimately connected with the Royal Family as if "cut to the bone but still joined by flesh."
Although the Yu Family was categorized among the nine major families, they were a unique existence.
They were different from the other families; they were wholly on the side of the Royal Family.
When the Royal Family prospered, so did they.
If the Royal Family fell...
Pah pah pah, such a thing was impossible.
"The Yu Family is the Yu Family, the Zhong Family is the Zhong Family. Though these years, our relationship has been extremely close, and because of your aunt, the Royal Family has granted us special care."
"But after all, we are two distinct families. That’s why I previously declined the Royal Family’s grace, choosing to move back to our old mansion... Getting too close sometimes leads to biting your own tongue. What if our family conflicts with the Royal Family, what then?"
"Familiarity breeds contempt, eventually leading to grievance. I’ve been saying this all along, to your father, your uncles, and now to all of you. Don’t think that just because we’re on good terms with the Royal Family right now, we should rashly draw closer... We must bear in mind the cautionary tale of the Tang Family."
"Compared to the flourishing times of the Tang Family, what are we?"
"We’re not like the Tang Family; they held military power and plotted rebellion... Our endeavor is to merely make a little money, what harm can we do?"
"So, they strike at the Lu Family and the Yu Family first." Yu Changan said, "With the Shen and Qin Families in control of significant forces, how could they act rashly?"
"Grandpa, I don’t understand what he gains by attacking us? We are on his side."
"They’re forcing people to take sides." Yu Changan said with a chuckle, "This is them telling everyone not to harbor improper thoughts nor waver in loyalty. Aside from the legitimate Royal Family... standing with anyone else might result in a whipping."
Yu Haoran hadn’t realized that the Yu Family’s situation was so perilous, that what seemed like a minor dispute between insignificant figures could conceal such significant implications.