#214 - Borrowing Arrows
An hour later.
The carriage that had almost clashed with the Freemasons earlier had stopped in front of the small house. In the side room, Xu Qingwan, Yang Liushi, and Liang Qin sat together, looking at each other with some trepidation.
Besides them, Ah Chun in the backyard was looking at the little girl who was about her age with curiosity.
“My name is Ah Chun, and I am... my Shifu’s disciple.”
“My name is Qiaoling.”
Wei Qiaoling blinked her dark eyes and replied in imitation, “I’m my Big Brother’s little sister.”
“Hmm.”
Ah Chun nodded and recalled what Yuan’er had said, finally confirming that her Shifu and the other girl’s Big Brother were the same person.
“Then what should I call you?”
“Um...”
Hearing this crucial question, Wei Qiaoling puffed out her cheeks and pondered for a long time before finally reaching a conclusion.
“Since I am your Shifu’s little sister, then I am your Shimei!”
“But...”
Relying on her limited understanding of interpersonal relationships, Ah Chun decisively raised an objection.
“But you aren’t Shifu’s disciple, so how can you be my Shimei?”
“That’s right, oh.”
Wei Qiaoling was stumped and paced back and forth with her hands behind her back.
Ah Chun was puzzled: “Why are you walking back and forth?”
“That’s how adults think.”
Wei Qiaoling shook her head and explained, “My Daddy has been walking back and forth at home like this every day recently!”
“Oh.”
Ah Chun nodded as if she understood, and asked softly, “Have you figured it out yet?”
“I’ve figured it out!”
Wei Qiaoling stopped and proudly gave her brand-new insight: “My Big Brother is your Shifu, so I am your Shi-Xiao-Mei!”
“Shi-Xiao-Mei?”
Ah Chun was stunned, carefully pondering this title, and realized that it really made sense.
Shifu’s little sister, isn’t that Shi-Xiao-Mei!
Wei Changtian and Wei Xianzhi, who had come from afar, were unaware that Wei Qiaoling had just created a brand-new interpersonal title. They were currently plotting a series of preparations before launching a full-scale war with the Liu family.
This matter was of great importance, and a few words in a letter could not explain it clearly, so Wei Xianzhi had made a special trip to Shu Province.
As for Wei Qiaoling... she had insisted on coming along, clamoring that she hadn’t seen her Big Brother in a long time.
“...”
“Father, since the Liu family dared to blatantly mobilize so many people to launch an attack at the poetry gathering, they must have already made preparations to deal with the aftermath.”
Drinking tea, Wei Changtian calmly analyzed, “Therefore, we should not be too hasty. We must also make all the preparations before taking action.”
“I naturally understand this.”
Wei Xianzhi frowned and paced back and forth in the room, “I just can’t understand what relationship the Fo Lian Temple has with this matter.”
“I will be able to find out about this matter soon.”
Speaking of Fo Lian Temple, Wei Changtian immediately thought of You Jia and asked in a deep voice, “Father, how much do you know about the Dragon Guards?”
“You actually know about the Dragon Guards?”
Wei Xianzhi was stunned at first, but thinking about the “intelligence capabilities” Wei Changtian had shown many times before, he quickly felt that it was nothing unusual.
“The Dragon Guards are actually a group of death warriors most trusted by the emperors of the past. There are very few people, at most only a few dozen.”
“Are there any of our people among the Dragon Guards?” Wei Changtian asked again.
“No.”
Wei Xianzhi sighed, “The Dragon Guards are all cultivated from a young age, and it is impossible to plant spies in them.”
“Hmm.”
Wei Changtian nodded, not feeling surprised by this result, and thought for a while before asking again, “Father, what about Kui Long?”
“Kui Long?”
Wei Xianzhi’s reaction was the same as Qin Zhengqiu’s when he first heard the name: “Could it be some kind of monster?”
“No... I’ll investigate this matter myself.”
Wei Changtian pondered for a moment, not wanting to add burden to Wei Xianzhi at this critical juncture, and brought the topic back to the Liu family’s matter.
“Father, in this life-and-death struggle between us and the Liu family, Ning Yongnian will probably not intervene... What is the Xu family’s attitude? Has it been found out who killed Xu Shixing?”
“...”
Hearing this question, Wei Xianzhi suddenly stopped and pointed upwards with narrowed eyes.
“Ning Yongnian?!”
Wei Changtian didn’t have so many scruples as him and frowned to confirm, “He killed Xu Shixing?”
“Hmm.”
Wei Xianzhi finally stopped walking and slowly sat down on the chair, “It’s almost certain.”
“Then why hasn’t the Xu family made any moves?”
Wei Changtian was puzzled, “Haven’t they found out yet?”
“The Xu family already knows.”
Wei Xianzhi casually placed a letter on the table, “They are waiting for an opportunity.”
“...”
Picking up the letter, Wei Changtian read it carefully, and when he put it down again, the tea had already gone cold.
This letter was sent back by a spy from the Suspended Mirror Division planted in the Xu family. The content was both expected and unexpected.
The family head was killed, so it was certain that the Xu family would not let it go.
But Wei Changtian did not expect that this wealthiest family in Da Ning would be so fierce. Judging from this posture, they were simply going to rebel with the strength of the entire clan!
This time, there will be great chaos!
Sighing inwardly, he had roughly figured out part of Ning Yongnian’s plan.
Kill Xu Shixing and take all of the Xu family’s assets for himself.
Ning Yongnian must have foreseen the consequences before doing this, and he also knew that the Xu family would definitely fight back.
Of the three great families of Da Ning, Ning Yongnian was not afraid of any one of them alone, so he had to prevent the Liu and Wei families from standing on the Xu family’s side... After all, everyone understood the principle of the rabbit dying and the fox grieving.
No wonder all the timings were just right.
When the Liu and Wei families are at war, they will naturally not have the time to deal with the Xu family.
And no matter how determined and prepared the Xu family is, it is impossible for them to really succeed in rebelling.
Then, when the Liu and Wei families have decided the winner, the Xu family will probably be finished.
At that time, only one last, lingering “victor” will remain of the former three great families.
And whether this victor is “Liu” or “Wei”, they will no longer be able to compete with the imperial family, and the final outcome will be self-evident.
“...”
Turning to look at Wei Xianzhi, who was frowning, Wei Changtian knew that he should have already thought of this.
Indeed, the most ruthless part of Ning Yongnian’s move was that it left the Liu and Wei families with no choice.
If Li Huaizhong had not revealed the Liu family’s conspiracy in advance, then after the Liu family killed Wei Changtian, they would have tried their best to clear themselves of the relationship. At least, the conflict between the two families would not have intensified so quickly on the surface.
But now that the news that "the Liu family intended to assassinate Wei Changtian to avenge Liu Xiang" had spread throughout the world, it immediately put the Liu and Wei families in a situation where they had to fight.
Shake hands and make peace?
Of course not possible.
Not fight first? Wait until the Xu family’s matter is over before talking?
Also impossible.
And since the battle between the two families is inevitable, then the key to breaking the situation lies with the Xu family.
But...
“The Xu family is already an arrow on the string, and it has to be fired.”
Wei Xianzhi rubbed his forehead with a wry smile, “What’s more, they don’t intend to take it back.”
“Father, if they don’t take it back, then so be it.”
Wei Changtian poured himself another cup of fresh tea and said slowly with narrowed eyes:
“Perhaps we can borrow this arrow for our own use.”
