"Big brother, be careful with your words!"
Su Hao reminded from the side. Su Yuan was still shouting for Bai Meizi to be killed, and Su Canghai could no longer stand it. He slapped the table and yelled, "Xiao Yuan, calm down. How can you let Young Master Qin witness such a scene?"
Su Yuan said with a face full of grief and indignation, "Father, this slut openly cuckolded me and clearly intended to humiliate me. Why should I show her any past affection?"
"Su Yuan, you indeed need to calm down. Bai Meizi is not someone you can just kill. She is the eldest daughter of the Bai family." Qin Fengwu spoke up to remind him. These words did make Su Yuan calm down, as the Bai family was no weaker than the Su family of Jiangnan.
Su Shanshui shifted his gaze from Su Yuan, shaking his head inwardly.
"Then—"
"What should I do now? Am I supposed to watch this pair of adulterous lovers dote on each other in front of me?" Su Yuan gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly.
Su Hao's eyes darted around, knowing his chance to shine had arrived. He stepped forward and said, "In my opinion, we should kill that dog of a man first, to completely sever Bai Meizi's thoughts. The rest can be handled internally by us. We must not let outsiders know."
"But Big Brother, you still cannot divorce Bai Meizi, or Father might lose his chance to go to the capital. After we obtain what we desire, it won't be too late to mention divorce."
Su Shanshui nodded.
Su Canghai also cast a meaningful glance at his second son, realizing this was the mature and steady approach.
Su Yuan felt indignant and was about to say something when he suddenly realized that Su Hao was performing a bit too outstandingly, which sent a shiver down his spine.
"Good!"
"Let's proceed as Su Hao suggested. I have no objections. We must prioritize the overall situation of the Su family," Su Yuan said in a deep voice, which brought some disappointment to Su Hao's heart.
The next moment.
Su Yuan suddenly turned to look at his brother, "Su Hao, I know you have considerable influence. This Yu Huaiqing will be your responsibility. Do you have the confidence to help the Su family eliminate this major threat?"
Su Hao understood Su Yuan's intention behind these words, which was clearly telling him—he could at best be the Su family's hidden shadow, helping the family deal with troubles in secret.
Meeting everyone's gaze, Su Hao did not show his displeasure.
He agreed with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Su Shanshui then breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice, "Chen Jin'zhao's shadow is also behind this matter. He has set his sights on the Su family and has become a major concern for us. Young Qin, are you also troubled by this issue?"
Qin Fengwu smiled faintly, "I'm actually fine. I've already cleared up the misunderstanding with him, and from now on, we'll mind our own business."
Su Changhai looked at Qin Fengwu in surprise, "If I recall correctly, Chen Jin'zhao stole your fiancée. Aren't you even a little angry?"
"She's just a woman, not worth falling out with Chen Jin'zhao over her." Qin Fengwu spoke eloquently, making Su Shanshui sigh, "Young Qin has a magnanimous heart and will surely achieve great things in the future. You must then offer the Su family some support."
Qin Fengwu smiled and agreed.
In reality, he wanted to get rid of Chen Jin'zhao more than anyone. The reason he said this was to avoid being used as a pawn by the Su family and to confront Chen Jin'zhao at their instigation.
This was not a wise move.
Su Canghai, standing nearby, asked Su Yuan to learn from Qin Fengwu and to cultivate relationships more.
Su Yuan patiently agreed.
Learning that Qin Fengwu had no intention of dealing with Chen Jin'zhao, Su Shanshui no longer discussed how to deal with Chen Jin'zhao, but shifted the conversation to domestic matters.
During the banquet.
Qin Fengwu suddenly asked, "By the way, I have something I'd like to inquire about. Is it convenient?"
Su Shanshui chuckled, "Please, go ahead."
"I want to ask about Su Jian..." Qin Fengwu lowered his voice.
In an instant.
The atmosphere in the Su family's council hall became somber. Many Su family disciples looked at Su Shanshui, while Su Shanshui looked at Qin Fengwu.
Qin Fengwu's expression remained unchanged, still composed, "If it's inconvenient for Grandfather Su to tell me, then consider it unasked."
"Look at what you're saying, as if you don't consider our Su family as one of your own. I know what you're curious about." Su Shanshui smiled and continued in front of everyone, "Actually, Xiao Jian was not executed. He's alive and well."
Qin Fengwu raised an eyebrow, "Oh? I seem to recall he was executed?"
Su Shanshui stated it plainly, "We used a trick called 'replacing the crown prince with a dog.' We found someone beforehand with a similar build and appearance to Xiao Jian and, after advanced plastic surgery, his features became identical to Xiao Jian's. Even we could hardly tell the difference."
"So that's how it is. The Su family truly has remarkable methods." Qin Fengwu applauded.
Su Shanshui turned to look at Su Yuan, "Xiao Yuan, go and call your brother."
Su Yuan nodded and rose.
Not long after, Su Yuan led a plain-looking young man back to the council hall. Upon seeing this young man, Qin Fengwu instantly understood everything.
The young man did not resemble Su Jian. Instead, he had an extremely ordinary face.
He—
was Su Jian, who had narrowly escaped death!
Everyone except the Su family believed he was dead, but in reality, he was alive and well.
"Xiao Jian, haven't you met your brother Qin yet?" Su Canghai prompted.
Su Jian quickly called out, "Brother Qin!"
Qin Fengwu nodded, "No need to be so formal."
However, in his heart, he marveled that these powerful aristocratic families, entrenched in their regions, were indeed not to be trifled with. They had thought of such schemes.
The Su family had also arranged a new identity for Su Jian, that of an illegitimate son of Su Canghai's brothers, and had fabricated much of his life history, to the point where it was indistinguishable from the truth.
Next.
The Su family and Qin Fengwu discussed cooperation, achieving good results. Both sides were very satisfied and intended to deepen their cooperative relationship.
The host and guest enjoyed themselves immensely.
The Su family even specifically invited Qin Fengwu to stay for a banquet held at the highest standard.
By the time Qin Fengwu left the Su family, it was already 9:30 PM. He had drunk quite a bit at the banquet, causing his cheeks to flush. On the way back to his residence, Qin Fengwu opened the car window to let the cold wind blow in, making him much more sober.
Looking at the receding night scenery outside the window, Qin Fengwu's lips curved into a cold smile, "If Chen Jin'zhao knew Su Jian was still alive, would he use this opportunity to bring down the Su family?"
"I'm very much looking forward to it."
Qin Fengwu had no doubt about Chen Jin'zhao's capabilities. He even admitted that Chen Jin'zhao's talent was no less than his own, considering Chen Jin'zhao was the only opponent of his caliber in Qin Fengwu's eyes.
He murmured with a smile, "Chen Jin'zhao, don't disappoint me."
The Su family did not know that Qin Fengwu intended to sell them out to Chen Jin'zhao and, through Chen Jin'zhao's hands, bring down the Su family, or at the very least, severely weaken them.
"Grandfather Su, I apologize."
"You thought I was after this position you hold, but in reality, I want the entire Jiangnan. So your Su family will be swept into the dust of history, and I will become the new king of Jiangnan."