Chapter 529: I Want to Change Something
"Sly fox."
"Have some respect. He is your father, after all."
"I haven’t acknowledged him. He’s talented enough to work with, but he’s not cut out to be a father."
"No one is good at everything. Gu Shuo became a father before he was even married. You have to give him some time to adjust." Dean Chen had watched Gu Shuo’s generation grow up and knew their character well.
Ye Qianning picked at her fingers, muttering with her head down, "Well, I need time to adjust, too. In any case, I don’t want to acknowledge him right now."
Dean Chen chuckled softly. He saw right through her but didn’t press the issue. ’Given the current situation with the families, it makes little difference whether she acknowledges him or not. They’ve probably been wanting to add her to the family registry for ages.’
"Master, did you talk to the Emperor about the Zhan family’s situation?" Ye Qianning asked, looking up.
"I did. I told him the truth about the Zhan family. Your mother did those families a great service back then, so the Emperor understands why the other three treat you so well. The matter is being kept under wraps. The Emperor has no intention of revealing it, so the news won’t get out. But I believe it’s a vulnerability he can exploit." Dean Chen knew the Beili Emperor all too well.
’What’s hidden now could be used against them at a critical moment in the future.’
They were all young masters from noble families, for whom reputation was everything. If this were to be exposed, the impact on Xiang Minghou and the other three would be immense.
Hearing this, Ye Qianning’s expression darkened slightly. The truth was bound to come out sooner or later. The events of that year had left a deep scar on Zhan Chi, Gu Shuo, and the others.
While it wasn’t uncommon for young noblemen to frequent pleasure houses in those days, the situation with the four of them... If someone with malicious intent were to twist the story, they would face public ridicule and scorn.
The pressure would be immense.
If they could never overcome their own trauma, the consequences of this secret being exposed would be devastating.
"At the very least, he won’t say anything for now, so you don’t need to worry, Master. This trauma has to be confronted eventually."
"In a year or two, I’ll find an opportunity for you and me to go to Nanyuan, along with those men. You have to find the courage to face the place where the trauma began."
If they could resolve their trauma before the Beili Emperor decided to make his move, then there would be nothing to fear from this situation.
"Alright."
Ye Qianning thought so, too.
’The trauma must be undone where it began.’
"I’m telling you all this so you’re prepared for what might come."
He was getting old, and his involvement in the affairs of the royal court made his future uncertain. He would only be at ease if he said these things now, rather than later.
Ye Qianning nodded slightly.
’Boss Gu and Minister Qian aren’t men who would crumble easily. If this gets out, the one who’ll take it the hardest is probably the sheltered young master of the Zhan family.’
’Zhan Chi has been suffering from severe aftereffects ever since the Nanyuan incident. Even if he goes back, as for his trauma... it’s hard to say if he can overcome it.’
"Young Miss." Luo Wen knocked and entered, handing her a letter.
Ye Qianning took it, broke the seal, and stared at the words written inside. The letter gave a simple update on the group of children. The person selling them was shrewd and had doubled the price.
Her people had bought a local courtyard to house them for now, but the plans for establishing a sect still needed to be finalized.
"Who is the letter from?" Dean Chen asked.
Ye Qianning handed the letter to him.
Dean Chen took it and read it carefully. Although he didn’t know the full context, he could piece together the general idea from the letter.
"When did you buy so many children?" Dean Chen was quite surprised.
"A while ago, I had my people go to the black market and they stumbled upon it. They found that many children from all over were being sold there. The fates of those who are bought and sold are often tragic. I wanted to change something, so I had Luo Xuan and Du Ying buy that group of children. There may be many more in the future."
"You... want to change what?"
"Their fates."