CHAPTER 109: CHAPTER 109: DIVISION (PART 2)

Grandmaster Tang San is sixty-five this year, with a corpulent body and white hair and beard.

The scene of the Tang Family’s house servants being beaten and knocked down had thoroughly shocked Grandmaster Tang San. After entering the courtroom, he could only shiver and kowtow, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Grandmaster Tang Wu, on the other hand, is much younger, only around fifty-three or fifty-four, and much bolder. After kowtowing three times, he raised his head and said, "The eldest brother made a grave mistake, and it is only right that the Commandery Princess seeks justice. My third brother and I do not usually concern ourselves with the grain store matters, I humbly ask the Commandery Princess to be lenient and spare us brothers."

Jiang Shaohua curled her lips slightly, not quite smiling: "Indeed, I must severely punish Old Master Tang. Both of you are his full-blooded brothers, even if you don’t manage the grain store, you are aware of this, aren’t you?"

Grandmaster Tang Wu sighed: "I won’t hide it from the Commandery Princess, as a commoner I privately advised my brother several times. But he was arrogant and reckless, and wouldn’t listen. In the Tang Family, everything is decided by the Family Head. It doesn’t matter if I disagree."

Grandmaster Tang San wiped his tears and said, "It was all the eldest brother’s idea. We brothers couldn’t stop him."

Jiang Shaohua oh-ed lightly, and her gaze swept over the faces of Grandmaster Tang San and Grandmaster Tang Wu: "Old Master Tang, for committing such acts, is no longer fit to be the Family Head of the Tang Family. Between the two of you, who can succeed Old Master Tang?"

Grandmaster Tang San was initially dumbfounded; when he grasped the meaning, he was terrified, shaking his head repeatedly and saying he didn’t dare.

To stab the elder brother in the back now and seize the position of Family Head would only result in being infamous for treachery among brothers. Besides, even with the full support of the Commandery Princess, it would still be no easy task to suppress Old Master Tang’s faction.

However, Grandmaster Tang Wu’s eyes lit up. He gritted his teeth, straightened his chest, and said: "As long as the Commandery Princess spares the Tang Family once, and spares the eldest brother’s life, I, Tang Wu, am willing!"

"Fifth Brother!"

Grandmaster Tang San stared wide-eyed in shock, blurting out: "How can you betray the eldest brother and betray the Tang Family!"

Grandmaster Tang Wu appeared upright and unashamed: "Third Brother, you’re wrong. The eldest brother made serious mistakes, implicating the entire Tang Family. I’m merely righting the wrongs."

"Besides, I have not wronged the Tang Family. The family business handed down from our ancestors has always been in our legitimate main branch. I, Tang Wu, am also of the legitimate line and have the right to pursue the Family Head position. Of course, you, Third Brother, are older than me, and I should defer to you."

Grandmaster Tang San glared furiously, spat heavily, and said: "Pah! I’m not as shameless as you."

Grandmaster Tang Wu, having received a faceful of spittle from Grandmaster Tang San, didn’t get angry or confrontational, nor did he appear ashamed. He wiped his face with a hand: "Since Third Brother is not interested, I will not decline the responsibility. I will return and summon the clan members to the ancestral hall, along with Second Brother, Fourth Brother, and Sixth Brother, to discuss this matter."

Grandmaster Tang San, feeling his blood surge, was almost overwhelmed with anger on the spot.

Jiang Shaohua watched the lively scene with great interest.

The Tang Family isn’t an ironclad unity either. This Grandmaster Tang Wu clearly harbors some ambition.

Ambition is good! Such people are easier to manipulate and control.

"Commandery Princess, please give this humble one three days." Grandmaster Tang Wu wiped off the spittle on his face and earnestly pleaded, "Within three days, this humble one will certainly provide the Commandery Princess with an explanation."

"Also, please spare the eldest brother’s life. He is seventy this year, an age that is rare to reach. I implore the Commandery Princess to give him a chance to reform."

Jiang Shaohua said coolly: "Rest assured, I will have someone carefully investigate this matter. Old Master Tang’s life will not be endangered. As you said, within three days, I expect to see sincere remorse from the Tang Family."

...

Grandmaster Tang San trembled as he stood up, walking out of the county government hall. It was unclear whether it was from kneeling for too long, or the overly intense emotional turmoil, his vision periodically darkened.

A familiar hand grabbed his arm: "Third Brother!"

Grandmaster Tang San breathed heavily, fiercely shaking off Grandmaster Tang Wu: "Get off me, don’t touch me."

Grandmaster Tang Wu, being about ten years younger and much stronger, held onto Grandmaster Tang San tightly; despite Grandmaster Tang San’s efforts, he couldn’t shake him off, instead tiring himself out terribly.

"Third Brother, don’t get angry first, listen to me." Grandmaster Tang Wu supported Grandmaster Tang San, walking forward while sighing quietly: "The Commandery Princess leads over a thousand elite soldiers, coming aggressively. Our Tang Household only has over a hundred house servants, they are of no use. You also saw the Commandery Princess’s force today. How can our Tang Family settle this without giving an account?"

"An arm can’t twist a thigh; however many people we have in the Tang Family, we are just wealthy landowners, are we going to contend with the Commandery Princess? Moreover, we were in the wrong first. Not to mention we can’t stand firm, even if we stubbornly resist, if the Commandery Princess labels us as dishonorable, what becomes of us?"

"The Commandery Princess clearly wants our Tang Family to fight internally, let’s fake it and show her a fight. First, get through this crisis."

Grandmaster Tang San’s heart softened halfway, but he heavily snorted in reply: "You aren’t faking it; you clearly want to seize the Family Head position."

Grandmaster Tang Wu said quietly: "We are all brothers; whoever becomes the Family Head is the same. When the flesh rots in the pot, it doesn’t benefit outsiders."

"Third Brother, as long as you stand by my side, if I become the Family Head, I will never treat you poorly. When the time comes for different houses within the family to divide, I guarantee the Third House will get the most."

Grandmaster Tang San’s heart disgracefully wavered for a moment.

Old Master Tang’s treatment of the brothers was average, and the children of the main house were all extremely arrogant. If Fifth Brother was in charge, the Third House might have a better life...

"I alone don’t have that much sway," Grandmaster Tang San’s tone subtly shifted: "You’ll need to persuade the Second, Fourth, and Sixth Houses as well as the elders in the clan."

Grandmaster Tang Wu grinned, chuckling quietly: "Just offer them more benefits."

...

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the county government’s courtroom eased considerably.

Chen Zhuo looked approvingly at Jiang Shaohua: "The Commandery Princess’s strategy is truly brilliant."

Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly.

Having spent six years in the palace in her previous life, and then married into the Wang Family for over a decade, all she saw were these constant struggles, and all she heard were schemes and plots. These means of manipulating people were second nature to her.

"The Commandery Princess is remarkable!" County Magistrate Zou praised enthusiastically, buttering up: "With just a slight trick, you’ve set the Tang Family to infighting. Once they change Family Heads, their influence is bound to decline."

Jiang Shaohua glanced coolly at County Magistrate Zou: "I specifically brought elite troops here; the Tang Family lowered their heads because they were perceptive. If they refuse to be dignified, I will assist them in that regard."

The calm words carried a strong undercurrent of killing intent.

County Magistrate Zou felt a chill down his back and suddenly lost the courage to meet the Commandery Princess’s gaze.

In his ears once again sounded the Commandery Princess’s cold voice: "County Magistrate Zou, the root cause of this incident, ultimately, is due to your weakness and incompetence as a magistrate, unable to keep order among your people."

"Helping you clean up this mess was a one-time thing. If it happens again, you can remove your official’s hat yourself and retire."