Chapter 19: At the Hall of Virtue and Enlightenment

Yu Xiaobao felt deeply wounded. "I’m fighting for your son’s succession rights, Second Brother. How could you stab me in the back like this?"

Yu Xiaobao hurriedly said, "Second Brother, if your son Ziming isn’t qualified, then among the Yu family’s younger generation, who else is eligible..."

Before he could finish, Second Uncle interrupted with a couple of coughs.

"Xiaobao, you’ve always been reckless since you were young. Now that you’re already a grandfather, how can you still be so immature?"

Yu Xiaobao’s face flushed red. "Second Uncle, how can you say that?"

Second Uncle replied calmly, "There’s an old saying: a long illness makes a good doctor, and living long means wisdom. Your eldest brother is a bit frail, but it’s nothing serious. Besides, Chengye and Chenglin—the two brothers—are from the main branch and main line. The order of seniority must not be disrupted...

Our Yu family has been passed down for hundreds of years; if we had no rules at all, what kind of family would that be?"

Yu Xiaobao retorted, "Second Uncle, aren’t these rules made by people? Chengye was unfortunate and passed away young. Chenglin is still too young. If something were to happen to him, and for two successive heirs to die prematurely, how could outsiders view the Yu family?"

Sixth Uncle suddenly said, "How can you curse your own nephew like that? Chengye was already an adult when the accident happened. If we say that even choosing an adult heir can prevent accidents forever, then what’s the point?"

Yu Xiaobao was somewhat surprised. Second Uncle had some influence and it was one thing for him to make a statement, but what power did Sixth Uncle have besides seniority? Although he sensed something was off, he couldn’t quite understand why.

Yu Xiaobao, easily sulking, was now angry and disregarded seniority, retorting sharply.

But Yu Huanhu, who had been silently observing, couldn’t help but change expression.

The Sixth Uncle’s branch had virtually no influence and usually only dared to speak on trivial matters to maintain a presence without making enemies.

Succession was an extremely sensitive matter; how could this Sixth Uncle dare to intervene?

Yu Huanhu realized something was wrong. The family elders from each branch had already started to voice their opinions.

"Our Yu descendants are all capable, but for the long term, it’s safer to appoint the heir from the main branch and main line."

"I agree with Sixth Uncle. Chenglin should be made heir."

"Sixth Uncle’s reasoning is sound. From a long-term perspective, appointing Chenglin brings more benefits than drawbacks."

The Yu family had a nearly three-century legacy, and with its main and minor branches, legitimate and secondary houses, the total population exceeded six thousand.

There were over ten heads of branches.

These ten or so heads, along with the elders, stood up like ministers in a court, each declaring support.

For a moment, Sixth Uncle’s face—marked with scars—flushed with excitement.

He had never felt so honored. This overwhelming support was intoxicating.

Sixth Uncle excitedly cleared his throat...

Yu Xinglong quietly waited for the elders to finish speaking before turning to Yu Huanhu and calmly asked, "Second Brother, what’s your view?"

Yu Xiaobao, ignored and treated like air, flushed deeply, feeling like a clown.

"Heh heh..." Yu Huanhu chuckled hoarsely twice.

Seeing the elders from various branches come forth, he knew something was happening he wasn’t yet aware of.

---

Regarding the dispute between the main branch and the secondary main line, the old foxes of each house usually avoided involvement, so why were they all stepping forward now?

Something was clearly amiss.

Yet Yu Huanhu didn’t know exactly what had transpired to cause these elders to take sides.

Thinking this over, Yu Huanhu smiled calmly and said, "The opinions of the branch heads and elders are mature and prudent. I, Huanhu, also agree."

Yu Xiaobao felt caught between a rock and a hard place, his face alternating between blue and red. He snorted coldly but shamelessly sat back down.

Yu Xinglong nodded and said, "Very well. As the head of the family, I hereby announce that Yu Chenglin is appointed as the Yu family heir. Tomorrow, we will all go to the ancestral hall to pay respects to our forebears."

Hearing this, Second Uncle and Sixth Uncle secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

They truly feared a violent clash between the main branch and the secondary main line.

An intellectual dispute was acceptable—they could even benefit from it.

But a physical conflict was absolutely intolerable. If the family’s assets were destroyed, they would be the first to suffer.

So, they could only openly support the appointment of Chenglin as heir.

This was the result of Yu Xinglong’s recent efforts to communicate and negotiate with them individually.

Yu Huanhu must have been silently grateful to them as well.

Who else but you would dare commit such a taboo act?

You did it, and yet left a messy trail for others to seize.

Though the evidence was thin, if the head of the family—an old man grieving a lost son—were to lose his temper, could anyone blame him?

At the same time, the branch heads and elders were also using this opportunity to reprimand Yu Huanhu, because assassination crossed their bottom line.

If you have the ability, fight openly—but not with underhanded tactics.

If you dare assassinate the heir today, and tomorrow I refuse to support you for the family head, will you even try to kill me?

Seeing Yu Huanhu wisely retreat, the old men all secretly relaxed.

Second Uncle said, "Head of the family, as it is the spring plowing season, each branch has many tasks to attend to. Since the heir is decided, after tomorrow’s ancestral rites, can we each return to our own affairs?"

Sixth Uncle added, "Yes, the head of the family has worked hard these days and should rest well."

Yu Xinglong smiled faintly, just as he was about to respond, an aged, powerful voice sounded outside Mingde Hall.

"Everyone, wait a moment! Suo Er has something to say!"

A vigorous man just over fifty strode into the hall.

Tall in stature, though slightly stooped, he appeared close to nine feet tall.

His partially bald head, thick, messy, graying eyebrows, and large hooked nose gave him an imposing presence.

Yu Xinglong immediately stood from the seat of honor, cupping his hands in salute. "Master Suo Er."

Some elders and branch heads in Mingde Hall did not know Suo Hong, especially powerless elders like Sixth Uncle.

But now, seeing the family head show such respect and call him "Master Suo Er," even the unknowing understood.

As expected, this was Suo Hong, the second elder of the Suo family of Jincheng.

---

Suo Hong raised his graying eyebrows and said solemnly, "Head of the Yu family, I have just received news that the death of the Yu family’s eldest son and heir was not caused by bandits robbing money, but was orchestrated by someone who disguised the attack as a robbery to cover an assassination."

His words sent a shock through the hall.

Those previously unaware were stunned; even the elders who had visited the dungeon with Yu Xinglong were awakening from a dream.

They had thought appointing Chenglin as heir meant the family head had given up on pressing charges against Yu Huanhu. Yet now, through Suo Hong, he was striking again?

Yu Xinglong knew the elders would be displeased, but he could only sneer inwardly.

This was an opportunity his son had fought for with his life. How could the mere title of heir satisfy him?

Feigning shock, Yu Xinglong asked, "What? This is news indeed. Who was behind it?"

"Of course..."

Suo Er extended a finger and slowly swept it across the crowd before stopping and pointing directly at Yu Huanhu, the second branch’s head.

"Was him. Yu Huanhu of the Yu family’s main branch, second line."

The hall was stunned again. All the noise fell silent, only the rain pattering outside.

Yu Huanhu slowly stood, staring at the accusing finger as if it were a sword.

He said coldly, "Master Suo Er, you can eat your meals carelessly, but words must not be spoken recklessly."

Yu Xiaobao, who had long been ignored by his elder brothers and felt humiliated, sat there sulking. Seeing this, he was secretly excited.

If the main branch’s first and second lines fought and both were weakened, wouldn’t the third line finally have a chance to rise?

Suo Hong said coldly, "After the murder of Yu Chengye, the head of the family sent steward Yi She to retrieve the spirit. Yi She learned that they caught a live bandit and interrogated him. The bandit confessed that Yu Huanhu ordered the killing of Yu Chengye."

Yu Huanhu shouted angrily, "Nonsense! How could I harm my own nephew? Master Suo Er, bring that bandit here. I want to confront him openly."

Suo Er sneered at Yu Xinglong, "I was just about to question that bandit carefully. I heard the head of the family has already detained him?"

Yu Xinglong paused before answering, "The bandit was severely injured and soon died in the water prison."

Upon hearing this, Yu Huanhu felt relieved.

He was not a fool; he could see that his eldest brother was colluding with Suo Er to stage a drama. But he wasn’t sure how far his brother’s ambitions extended.

If pushed too far, he might have to fight to the death.

But if the main branch’s first and second lines clashed, both would be gravely harmed.

Then the other seven clans would swoop down like vultures to tear the Yu clan apart.

His eldest brother, as head of the family, certainly didn’t want such a scenario; Yu Huanhu, who aspired to replace him, didn’t want it either.

Now that the "bandit" was dead, it meant his eldest brother did not want a fight to the death.

Understanding his brother’s limits, Yu Huanhu calmly said, "So, Master Suo Er, you have no evidence whatsoever. You rely on sharp tongues alone to accuse me of such a crime?"

Suo Hong shouted sternly, "The bandit is dead? Even so, there are other proofs. I ask the head of the family to summon him to Mingde Hall to clarify everything in public!"