Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 932: Chapter 664: Who Could They Be

”Who could they be?” Yu Qingyi asked.

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a moment, ”It could be people from King Da Liang or Chen Hengchang!”

Since the other side mentioned troops at the gates of Capital City, it indicated that one of them was a rebel and traitor.

Currently, among the rising rebel forces in Da Rong, only two are significant: King Da Liang and Chen Hengchang.

Compared to them, other rebels are minor, including those rebels in Bashu.

”And the other one? They even want a piece of territory!” Yu Qingyi asked again.

Yang Zhenshan’s lips slightly curled, ”It should be a noble, and not just any ordinary noble!”

Only nobles would desire territory.

There aren’t many whom both King Da Liang and Chen Hengchang would value so much; you wouldn’t find many in the Capital City now.

Moreover, it certainly isn’t a civil official; a civil official wouldn’t desire territory, nor would they have the ability to help the rebels take over Capital City at this time.

Apart from civil officials, only nobles and the royal family remain.

The royal family wouldn’t attach themselves to King Da Liang, at most they would join Chen Hengchang.

But it has been a rule since Da Rong’s founder that the royal family holds titular titles, and Chen Hengchang, being a descendant of Da Rong’s founder, wouldn’t defy the ancestral rules.

Therefore, it can only be the nobles.

Moreover, this noble must possess formidable strength; otherwise, they wouldn’t be worth such a great price to win over.

Figures flashed through Yang Zhenshan’s mind.

Within the Capital City, there are few noble families with Innate Martial Artists, just a few of them.

Duke Ning, Duke Shou, Duke Xing, Marquis Changping, Marquis Suning, Marquis Hai Ning, Marquis Wuding, Marquis Jianchang, and Marquis Nanyang.

The first to be excluded is Duke Xing, Qu Changkong; the Qu family has long been stationed at the Southern Border Town for generations, so they naturally wouldn’t want any territory.

Marquis Wuding, Guo Ying, can also be excluded; the Guo family currently occupies Yunling Town, so if they wanted territory, Yunling Town would naturally be their first choice.

It’s also unlikely for Marquis Suning, Sun Yunbo; the Sun family’s roots are in Anxi Town, and perhaps they, like the Guo family, aim to consolidate their own power.

As for the remaining ones!

Yang Zhenshan also excludes Marquis Nanyang, Lu Baishu, because Lu Baishu has only recently broken through to the Innate Realm a few years ago and currently cannot influence the situation in the Capital City.

As for the remaining ones, all are possible.

The Zhou family of Duke Ning Mansion and the Liang family of Marquis Changping are those Yang Zhenshan is most familiar with, but he cannot be certain of their other intentions.

Although Yang Zhenshan believes these two families are unlikely to easily side with the rebels, he truly cannot be certain.

Because he is not very familiar with the patriarchs of these two families.

Zhou Lan and Liang Chu have their own tenacity, but matters involving the survival of the family are not theirs to decide.

The ones who can truly decide are the Innate Martial Artists of their families.

Zhou Tianci from the Zhou family and Liang Shengze from the Liang family; these two are currently top-tier Innate Martial Artists.

Zhou Tianci is the grandfather of Zhou Mao, and is now over a hundred and thirty years old.

Liang Shengze is the grandfather of Liang Chu, and he is also over a hundred and twenty years old.

For Martial Artists below the Way Entry stage, their power peaks at such an age.

If Zhou Tianci or Liang Shengze chose to join a faction for the continuation of their family, it wouldn’t be impossible.

However, Yang Zhenshan believes there is someone more likely.

Duke Shou, Wang He!

Wang He is the maternal grandfather of Emperor Chengping, a true royal relative.

But the title of Duke Shou is not hereditary; it’s just a third-class hereditary duke, and once Wang He passes away, the title will become Marquis Shouning.

All these years, Wang He has never let go of the title, simply because he doesn’t want the Duke Mansion to become a Marquis Mansion.

It shows that Wang He is someone who values titles highly!

Yang Zhenshan is eighty percent sure that the man in the black robe was a person sent by Wang He.

Of course, Yang Zhenshan won’t expose the other side.

Their aim is to break through to Capital City.

And Yang Zhenshan also wants someone to break through to Capital City.

”Let’s go, we’ll rest first and act tomorrow!” Yang Zhenshan said softly.

Afterwards, the couple entered the space to rest.

...

The next morning.

In the warm room of the Changping Marquis Mansion’s Yingxue Courtyard.

Yang Yunxue was wearing a blue round-neck robe embroidered with gold thread, with only a gold silk beaded hairpin in her hair. Next to her was a celadon tea tray with an old kiln-baked teapot from last year, brewing her favorite Spiritual Dew Tea.

At this moment, she was teaching a little girl to write large characters, the elderly and the young both bent over the desk, carefully writing stroke by stroke.

The little girl was about ten years old, her hair in two buns, with round cheeks, shallow dimples, and bright eyes under her long eyelashes.

”Grandma, look~~” The little girl finished writing a set of large characters and eagerly presented it to Yang Yunxue.

Yang Yunxue looked at the neat characters with affection and smiled, ”Very good, Mingzhu’s writing is getting more and more proper!”

This little girl was none other than Liang Qingping’s eldest daughter, Liang Mingzhu, who was Yang Yunxue’s eldest granddaughter, raised by Yang Yunxue from a young age. It was not that others were unwilling to raise her, but because Yang Yunxue liked her, so she kept her in her own courtyard.

Liang Mingzhu’s calligraphy was naturally not excellent, merely proper, but every stroke was written with great care, without any hint of perfunctory intent.

Upon receiving praise, the little girl immediately beamed, her eyebrows arching like crescent moons, and her dimples made her even more adorable.

At this moment, Xia Feng approached Yang Yunxue unhurriedly.

Yang Yunxue glanced at her, and Xia Feng immediately stepped forward, bent down, and whispered, ”Madam, someone from the old family has come, requiring your personal reception!”

Xia Feng was Yang Yunxue’s maid, part of the first batch of servants bought by the Yang family.

When Yang Yunxue got married, Yang Zhenshan provided her with ten people as part of her dowry: Nanny Zhang, Xia Feng, four maidservants, and four footmen.

Nanny Zhang had long since passed away, and Xia Feng, now nearing fifty, had transitioned from a maid to a nanny.

Upon hearing this, Yang Yunxue looked up at her, ”Reception!”

The ”old family” naturally referred to her maiden family, the Yang family.

Yet, the wording was somewhat peculiar; she was now a grandaunt of the Yang family. Who from the Yang family warranted her personal reception?

Xia Feng’s face was rather long. She was never considered beautiful, and age had not improved her appearance. However, she wasn’t unattractive either. Though almost fifty, she had maintained her appearance well, her complexion rosy and with few wrinkles.

However, her features gave her a somewhat stern look, and given her many responsibilities as the governing nanny, the maids in the courtyard felt she was somewhat harsh.

In truth, Xia Feng was warm-hearted beneath her cold exterior. For many years, she had served Yang Yunxue diligently and without fault.

Otherwise, Yang Yunxue would not have kept her by her side.

And now Xia Feng’s face was not cold; her narrow eyes even showed traces of excitement.

”It is the old master and old lady!”

”They have come secretly; this servant has already guided them to the rear courtyard annex!”

Xia Feng said.

Yang Yunxue was both surprised and delighted, ”Really!”

”Yes!” Xia Feng whispered, ”The old master does not wish for anyone to notice, so he instructed this servant not to welcome them ostentatiously!”

”Oh oh oh~~” Yang Yunxue stood up excitedly and walked out without a second thought.

”Grandma~~” Liang Mingzhu looked at her grandmother in confusion.

Yang Yunxue patted her forehead and said, ”Mingzhu, darling, you stay here and practice your writing. Grandma has something to take care of!”

Liang Mingzhu responded obediently, and Yang Yunxue quickly walked out of the warm room.

February in the Capital City was still chilly. As she stepped out and felt the cold wind, Yang Yunxue’s excitement subsided.

”Father and mother have come quietly?”

”Yes.” Xia Feng, following behind, nodded gently.

Yang Yunxue asked, ”No one noticed, right?”

”Madam, rest assured, this servant has already sent everyone away!”

”That’s good!” Yang Yunxue said.

Although she was unsure of Yang Zhenshan’s purpose for coming, she had heard some rumors lately.

For one, Chen Mingxi’s trip to Divine Wood Island to invite Yang Zhenshan was no secret to those with keen interest.

Though Yang Yunxue had spent many years without stepping outside the house, she was well aware of the happenings in the Capital City.

Chen Mingxi hadn’t succeeded in bringing Yang Zhenshan back, yet Yang Zhenshan had come suddenly.

She could guess something was certainly up.