CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 96: WHY IS THE SISTER-IN-LAW CLINGING AND NOT LEAVING?_2

This is an unspoken etiquette among the Black Tortoise Noble Families.

Just like Wang Shouzhe’s future brother-in-law, Chen Fangjie, if he were to hang around the Wang Family’s main residence all day, he would probably be kicked out by Wang Shouzhe after a time or two.

Therefore, even if Chen Fangjie came to help Wang Shouzhe with matters, he wouldn’t step into the Wang Family’s main residence to avoid being seen as an impatient libertine by the Wang Family members.

"Alright then, once Brother Shouzhe and sister are married, there won’t be so many concerns," said Liua Ruolei with a look of regret, "Brother Shouzhe, keep the courtyard I’ve been staying in for me recently. No one else is allowed to stay there."

Wang Shouzhe broke into a cold sweat.

This little auntie really plans to settle down at the Wang Family, huh? But there’s no way to refuse her request, so he had to say, "Alright, I’ll give the order later."

Beside them, Liua Yuanrui felt like shedding tears.

How come our Liua Family’s legitimate daughter seems to be getting married off with an added gift?

...

Almost simultaneously, in a hidden manor.

Here, the elders and higher-ups of the Liu and Zhao Clans gathered. The two ancestors sat at the head seat, each with very grim expressions.

They originally went to the Wang Family to cause trouble with great confidence but were met with a disastrous defeat, leaving them embarrassed. More importantly, the reputation of the Liu and Zhao Clans had been utterly ruined by Wang Shouzhe, losing public support and becoming the laughingstock.

"Brother Zhide," said Zhao Clan Ancestor Zhao Bojun with a heavy expression, "With the methods of that Wang brat, there will undoubtedly be more blows to us. At such a life-and-death juncture, our two clans must set aside suspicions and overcome the difficulties together."

"Indeed, that brat is truly formidable," Liu Zhide replied heavily, "but he underestimates the foundation of our two clans. Brother Bojun, I fear your family’s Zhao Daoyuan is close to advancing to the Spirit Platform Realm, right?"

Zhao Bojun’s face stiffened, then he laughed heartily, "I said it, this matter couldn’t be hidden from Brother Zhide. But Brother Zhide, isn’t your Liu Shenghao also close to success?"

Zhao Daoyuan and Liu Shenghao, both talented clansmen, are on the path to the Spirit Platform.

Not every family will always fully support the clan leader at any time. Sometimes, for long-term interests, they will preferentially cultivate some talented direct veins.

Just like how the Wang Family had once focused on cultivating Wang Xiaohan.

"Alright, let’s speak frankly," Liu Zhide said, "Our two clans must spare no expense to purchase those auxiliary materials, letting Daoyuan and Shenghao push towards the Spirit Platform Realm. As long as we gain one more ancestor at the Spirit Platform Realm, even with Gongsun Mang and Wang Longyan protecting them, we can be confident to forcibly eliminate Wang Shouzhe. By then, the Wang clan, dogs without a king, would be nothing to fear. We could handle them at will."

After this incident, their top feared target had already shifted to Wang Shouzhe.

"But before that, we must sign a century-long joint development contract to avoid mutual suspicion."

"It should be so; our two clans will jointly control Ping’an Town. Let’s act quickly, aiming to sprint within a month."

Post-alliance.

The Liu and Zhao Clans seemed utterly silent, lowering their flags without any actions. While the Wang Clan, in contrast, vigorously expanded the Zhuwei Lake project. The three clans entered a brief period of peace.

Yet amidst this, a dangerous undercurrent was brewing.

On this day.

Not far from Dingpu Ferry.

There was a small, elegantly landscaped manor, named "Xia Garden" due to the vast ponds filled with lotus flowers.

This season was when the lotuses were in full bloom. In the ponds covering no less than two hundred acres, there were scenes of various lotuses blooming everywhere.

A winding boardwalk led to the center of the pond, to a stilted bamboo house structure— "Lotus Listening Pavilion."

In this beautiful moment.

Staying at the Lotus Listening Pavilion, feeling the night breeze, watching the bright moonlight, admiring the enchanting lotuses, with incessant frog croaks echoing around, was particularly elegant and tasteful.

Unfortunately, Lotus Listening Pavilion was only habitable during this time of year.

This courtyard, which cost the Liu Clan a significant amount of money and effort, was originally meant to please a noblewoman from the Celestial Human Family Lei.

However, it currently belonged to "Goddess" Zhong Luoxian.

Tonight, the moon was bright and the wind was high.

Two noble young gentlemen in cloud pattern brocade robes were sitting cross-legged on the second floor of the Lotus Listening Pavilion, drinking top-grade spirit tea—"Red Lady," casually chatting about some anecdotes.

And a beautiful, elegantly disposed woman was serving the two gentlemen, her gaze occasionally drifting to one of the younger and more handsome gentlemen.

"Brother Chen, are you bored recently?" said the younger gentleman in the brocade robe, none other than the current Wang Family’s Patriarch Wang Shouzhe, with a hint of impatience in his words, "If there’s nothing going on, stop coming to Ping’an. It doesn’t look good."

Wang Shouzhe was slightly tipsy. He had just sent off the clingy little sister-in-law. Not even two days of peace, and the future brother-in-law came to bother him again. It was not a quiet life.

"Not exactly free," replied the other gentleman, naturally the Young Clan Leader of East Port Chen Family, Chen Fangjie, with a shameless smile, "But your long-plotted grand performance, I’m at least playing a minor villain role in it. If I don’t come to see the end, I’d feel some regret."

"I’ve heard that you, Shouzhe, shone brilliantly at the Wang Family’s main residence, defeating the Liu and Zhao Clans completely, sending them off in disarray," Chen Fangjie said, "I already missed one grand scene, I didn’t want to miss a second. I don’t quite understand why you don’t want me to be part of the finale? Rest assured, I’m just here to watch the fun, not seeking any benefits."

Wang Shouzhe was speechless. His future brother-in-law insisted on joining the play; he couldn’t just chase him away, could he? Fine, fine, if you insist on loving the feeling of ’envy, jealousy, and hate,’ I’ll grant your wish.

Beside them, serving as Wang Mei, no, it’s "Zhong Luoxian," who gently covered her mouth with a smile, her voice soft and tender, "Patriarch, before the main show starts, would you like me to provide some preludes to amuse you both?"

Preludes?

"Cough, cough~" Wang Shouzhe, who was drinking tea, almost choked and coughed to death.

"Zhong Luoxian" and Chen Fangjie both gave Wang Shouzhe a curious look. It’s just a prelude, why react like this?

"Cough, cough~" Wang Shouzhe coughed more violently. Alright, he admitted that his thinking was "advanced" compared to these people. It seemed that his brother-in-law and Wang Mei were still quite innocent.

Suppressing his peculiar emotions, Wang Shouzhe said earnestly, "Wang Mei, what kind of prelude have you prepared?"

"Patriarch, please call me Luoxian," she teased, flashing a coquettish glance at Wang Shouzhe, before drawing a Jade Flute, "In these times of idleness, I’ve learned the art of playing the flute. On such a long night with plain drinks, let me play a tune for you to lift your spirits."

...