Chapter 24: My Name Is Can, Named After the Volcano

The old steward, Deng Xun, replied with a smile, "In this old servant's view, this young man is quite ambitious and calculating."

"Oh?"

"He has been by the young master's side for less than half a year. The young master only took him in out of gratitude for saving his life. At that time, it was a critical moment for the marriage alliance between the Yu and Suo families, so the young master could not have possibly confided everything to him."

"Are you saying that he deduced the relationship between our two families through mere hints and clues?"

"Yes!"

"Go on."

"With the young master murdered, the responsibility certainly cannot be traced back to a mere retainer. However, a retainer... strictly speaking, a retainer is not considered a member of the Yu family, but a private associate recruited by the young master. With the young master dead, this man has no further ties to the Yu family. Yet, here in Longshang, if he leaves the Yu family, what other path does he have? He took a desperate gamble, using the tactic of implicating the Suo family to catch your eye, sir. One could say he is both bold and resourceful."

Yu Xinglong smiled slightly. "While the move was risky, if the gamble pays off, there is great potential there."

"Exactly. That is why I believe this young man has ambition and means. To possess such cunning and strategy at such a young age is quite rare."

"Hmm..."

Yu Xinglong tapped his fingers lightly on the desk, his gaze falling upon a pile of ledgers in the corner. These were the property and personnel records handed over by Yu Huanhu. Six major manors, totaling over fifty thousand acres of fertile land. Three horse farms, housing over fifteen thousand warhorses. Furthermore, there were tens of thousands of people—herders, tenant farmers, and free citizens—attached to these estates. This was everything his son had exchanged his life for; oh, and one must add the confirmed position of "heir presumptive."

Yu Xinglong gave a self-deprecating smile. As soon as these assets were returned, they had already become the target of others. The collateral branches, the major stewards, and especially that fool Yu Xiaobao, who had high aspirations but little talent... To whom should these assets be entrusted? The family's senior stewards were reliable, yet untrustworthy. They were reliable because their authority derived from the Yu clan; thus, they rose and fell with the family. They were untrustworthy because they had never clearly taken a side in the power struggle between the main and secondary branches. Now that the eldest son had passed and the second was young, it would be even harder to force them to take a stand. Entrusting these assets to them would only strengthen their leverage to sell their loyalty to the highest bidder. As for Yu Xiaobao and the collateral branches, Yu Xinglong did not consider them at all. Having already suffered losses because of Yu Huanhu, how could he not learn his lesson? For Yu Xinglong, loyalty was paramount, though capability was equally indispensable. He had no shortage of men who were either loyal or capable, but finding someone who possessed both was difficult indeed.

After long consideration, Yu Xinglong suddenly asked, "Little Deng, what do you think of appointing Yang Can as a steward for the Eldest Branch?"

Deng Xun was slightly moved. "You intend to use him, sir?"

"Indeed."

Steward Deng’s graying brows furrowed, and a trace of confusion flickered in his eyes. For a moment, he could not fathom the deeper intent behind his master's arrangement. Deng Xun hesitated, "Sir, this Yang Can has already offended the Suo family deeply. If you appoint him to the Eldest Branch, might that..."

"Might it displease the Suo family and my daughter-in-law, you mean?"

Yu Xinglong rose from his seat and walked to the window, standing with his hands behind his back. The spring light, filtering through the carved lattice, cast mottled shadows across his face. "I shall also allocate all the manors and pastures returned by Huanhu to the Eldest Branch! With this in place, will the Suo family and my daughter-in-law still be dissatisfied?"

Steward Deng vaguely grasped Yu Xinglong’s intention and said hesitantly, "You mean to use the estates and pastures to appease the Suo family, while using Yang Can as a wedge driven into the Eldest Branch for future use?"

Yu Xinglong nodded slightly. "Little Deng, you know me best! Since this Yang Can is an opportunist seeking advancement, I shall grant him that opportunity. I will assign all these assets surrendered by Huanhu to the Eldest Branch. That way, the Suo family will have no cause to stir up trouble over a mere Yang Can."

A gust of wind blew outside, making the wind chimes under the eaves clatter. Steward Deng understood and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Whether the young mistress is with child is not yet known. Even if she is, whether she will give birth to a boy won't be revealed for another nine months."

Yu Xinglong returned to his desk, picked up a thin porcelain teacup, and stirred the amber tea. "If she gives birth to a son, the Suo family will have reason to interfere further, perhaps even plotting for the position of heir..."

Steward Deng said, "At that time, we can 'uncover new evidence,' have Yang Can come forward to implicate the Suo family again, and thus sever their grasping claws."

Yu Xinglong continued, "If the Suo woman is not pregnant, or if she gives birth to a daughter, the Suo family will have no excuse to make a fuss. I can reclaim these properties from the Eldest Branch at any time."

Steward Deng clapped his hands and laughed. "The Second Master, having been forced to cut off one of his own arms to escape, surely cannot be pleased. If he tries to use these estates to stir up trouble, the autumn harvest this year will surely be poor. When that happens, someone will have to take the blame."

Yu Xinglong smiled slightly. "The year-end audit is when we settle accounts. If my daughter-in-law is pregnant, that is precisely when she will be due..."

Steward Deng said significantly, "To cut off the Suo family's claws, we need Yang Can. And to provide an explanation to the various branches, we also need a Yang Can."

Yu Xinglong nodded slightly, sipped his tea, and said calmly, "Go and make the arrangements."

"Yes!" Steward Deng bowed and retreated, then asked in a low voice, "Sir, should I send someone to the Central Plains to investigate the background of this Ding Hao and the Luo family?"

"No need." Yu Xinglong said indifferently, "When the poplar trees turn golden, it is the time for the fruit to fall. When that time comes, whether this fruit—Yang Can—is given to someone to eat or plucked, it must be harvested. Surely you don't expect it to rot on the branch?"

...

The next day, Yu Xinglong met with Yang Can once more.

"Yang Can, you were highly valued by my son Chengye, and you saved his life. I will not treat you unfairly." Yu Xinglong spoke to Yang Can with a pleasant expression. "You were originally a member of the Eldest Branch. You can no longer remain a mere retainer. After much consideration, I wish to appoint you as the Second Steward of the Eldest Branch. Are you willing?"

The "Eldest Branch" as Yu Xinglong referred to it, more accurately meant the main lineage of the eldest branch. However, it had become customary to use "Eldest Branch" to refer to the main line itself.

Yang Can was inwardly overjoyed; this move had paid off. He did not hide his surprise; a young man should wear his emotions on his sleeve. The less deep the city-dwelling, the more a superior would feel at ease using him.

Yang Can cupped his hands in gratitude. "If the Clan Head trusts me so, this subordinate... I shall devote myself entirely to your service, sparing no effort even unto death."

From today on, he was qualified to call himself a retainer of the Yu clan. Although he was only an external affairs steward for Yu Chengye’s branch—quite different from the external stewards like Yi She who presided over territories on behalf of the entire Yu family—this step was crucial. It was like the barrier between a clerk and an official; once crossed, the world would open up before him.

Yu Xinglong seemed satisfied with Yang Can's response. Stroking his beard, he smiled, "I have looked at your records; you are twenty-three, past the age of capping. You should have a courtesy name. Have you asked an elder to give you one?"

Yang Can said, "I had not yet reached the age of capping when I fled the Central Plains for Longshang, so I have not requested a courtesy name from an elder."

Yu Xinglong pondered for a moment and nodded. "In that case, I shall take the liberty. Your name is Yang Can; 'Can' implies a spark, but a spark must eventually set the prairie ablaze to realize its potential. I have it..." Yu Xinglong raised an eyebrow. "How about you take 'Volcano' as your courtesy name?"

Yang Can bowed. "I dare not refuse a gift from an elder. I accept the name 'Volcano,' to emulate the force of lava breaking through the earth and the ambition to soar toward the heavens!"

Yu Xinglong smiled. "Excellent! Little Deng..." Yu Xinglong turned to the steward standing by. "Escort 'Volcano' to the Eldest Branch and help him get settled."

...

In the inner residence of the Eldest Branch, Little Qingmei was in high spirits. She sat on a circular chair in front of the screen wall, crossing her legs and holding a cup of tea. Her small fingers pinched the lid, brushing the tea leaves with a rhythmic motion, her gaze sweeping over the three rows of maids and matrons before her.

This demeanor was something she had learned from Matron Tu. When at the Suo family, she had observed the way Matron Tu gathered the staff for lectures. About half of the people standing before her were part of the dowry from the Suo family, while the other half were original staff of the Eldest Branch. Little Qingmei’s scolding today was aimed primarily at the latter.

"You have all spent plenty of time within these high walls and deep courtyards. Whether you came with the Young Mistress from her maiden home or were here in the Eldest Branch from the start, you should know the rules and understand your place," the young girl spoke with a clear, sharp voice, enunciating every word as if she were a lead actress on stage, audible throughout the courtyard.

"Our Young Mistress is a person of gentle temperament and will not treat you harshly, but we servants must have some sense of propriety." Little Qingmei sipped her tea, looking remarkably sage-like for her age. "Rules are rules. The mistress's kindness is a grace, but we must not become lazy, slack, or worse—comply in appearance while disobeying in secret—just because we are familiar faces who have been here a long time."

*Pfft!* Little Qingmei flicked her tongue to spit out a tea leaf, her eyes flashing like a blade. "From now on, if anyone dares to act like that and I catch you, you will be walking straight onto a bed of nails; don't blame anyone but yourself."

Little Qingmei stood up, placed the cup on a side table, put her hands behind her back, and walked down the stone steps with her chest puffed out. "From now on, the rules of this house must be clear. What should be done must be done without omission; what should not be said must not be whispered. If anyone doesn't take my instructions seriously, the Young Mistress might be easygoing, but that doesn't mean I am. Since the Young Mistress has appointed me as the Second Steward of the Eldest Branch, some people better weigh for themselves whether their bones are harder than the family law..."

"Qing... Sister Qingmei..."

A pretty maid in green, who looked even younger than Qingmei, walked quickly from under the corridor and called out to her.

"In formal settings, you must call me Second Steward!" Little Qingmei’s pretty face stiffened. This Qiaoshe was originally from the Eldest Branch, and Qingmei had a natural animosity toward her. She put on a stern expression, "What is it?"

Qiaoshe’s eyes held a hint of playful mockery as she said loudly, "Second Steward, the Second Steward has arrived."