Learning how to read people is an invaluable lesson no matter your social standing, and in my lessons, I was taught how to glean clues from watching people and the local environment before combining them into a logical construct.
"Thank you for sharing your stories Madam Shen Dongmei," I bowed before gifting her a small token of appreciation, "our talk was really interesting these past few days."
"Oh my, don't worry about it Yue'er," the older woman replied while fanning herself and smiling, some of the powder in her face flying off with the wind, "it is always a pleasure to help someone with such a bright future in our clan. Please remember aunty in the future when you become City Lord, alright?"
Her eyes opened a minute amount, the smile got wider with a predatory glint to it and I felt a shiver down my spine when she licked her lips and 'forgot' to hide the action with the fan.
Definitely sending an apology letter to Yang Xin later.
"I will keep this meeting in mind, Madam Shen Dongmei," I gave her another bow, waiting the minimum required by etiquette before turning and walking as fast as etiquette allowed.
In the end, she was just one of many I had to deal with but by far the most troublesome of the bunch. Fortunately, or unfortunately, she was also the one with the greatest amount of information I was looking for.
I lost some money for the bribes and got on the radar of someone in a disturbing way but I believe the information I got was worth it.
Generally speaking the older generation impression of Sister Xiu isn't good, and initially, I thought that was because her general performance wasn't up to her position standard as the Patriarch sister, but the dislike ran deeper than that. It was only when talking with Madam Shen Dongmei something new came up, as she compared Sister Xiu with 'that woman'.
The only direct clue I got about 'that woman' is that she was an outsider, but I got more out of what people weren't saying instead. Turns out any information about 'that woman' was being suppressed, the ones who catch themselves slipping the mention giving plenty of tells indicating fear.
Not even her name was mentioned.
Very interesting, and also very troubling.
...
"Yue'er, what's the meaning of this?"
"This is just a little help," I pointed out to the shocked Sister Xiu, "I know how hard it can be working on the district, and I thought you might appreciate the extra capital in order to speed up some projects."
"That's true," she allowed, "but these resources are yours, you should focus on using it to advance your own cultivation."
I crack a bitter smile at her words, after all, I still can't tell her that I'm intentionally slowing down my cultivation speed and one of the reasons why my progress became much more absurd.
"Knowing that Sister Xiu is doing well will help with my state of mind," I offered, "knowing there is someone to help build up our side frees a lot of time for me to do other things."
Her eyes softened and I was quickly pressed on her chest, smelling the faint fragrance of winter plum flowers from her.
Stupid sexy sister.
Wait.
I looked up at her. "Sister Xiu, did you managed to breakthrough?"
"En, I wanted to surprise Yue'er."
"You did," I replied honestly, after all, she should have been stuck on the body tempering stage for a little while yet, "congratulations Sister Xiu!"
"Thank you," she said before crushing me further into her hug, "I can't help Yue'er if I'm trailing behind all the time, right?"
I will need to look further into her methods to make sure no shenanigans are going on, but for now, I will simply be happy for her breakthrough. She was stuck as a 1-Star Silver for a while now and I don't want to ruin the moment for her by being suspicious.
I have other things to worry about, like the meeting with Shen Yong.
That will prove to be an interesting event.
<|=== To Be Continued
I had to do some light research on Shen Yong, but thankfully most of the information Chen Fang could procure for myself.
Speaking of which, I turned to the man, "Chen Fang, do you think you could properly coordinate with a couple of underlings to make some of your job easier?"
"Yes Young Master, I believe I can handle a small group to aid in my tasks."
"Then starting for next month I will set aside a budget for you to hire and manage your own people. Just make sure to send me a report on the expenses later."
He gave me a light bow, "as you wish, Young Master."
"You should be prepared to free up some time since I should finish your project next month."
His voice was level, though I could hear the hope and excitement in it. "Thank you, Young Master."
"Now, what I have to work with?"
"Please understand Young Master that I only managed to gain common knowledge," I nodded indicating him to continue, "Shen Yong is the cousin to your father, but you can also consider them foster brothers as Shen Yong' father Shen Qian took him in after your grandfather passed away. Shen Qian was the Patriarch at the time and despite having two natural sons in the form of Shen Qian and Shen Wu he not only took your father in but also treated him as his own son, since both he and your grandfather Shen Chang were close."
"By all accounts, they were friends during their childhood, but at some point, Shen Qian decided to step down from the post of Patriarch in order to enter into death seclusion and try to reach Legend Rank. Shen Yong being the oldest was set to inherit the title of Patriarch, but his brother greatly exceeded him in cultivation talent so the plan was for him to abdicate the title and pass it on his younger brother after their father entered death seclusion."
"When Shen Qian entered death seclusion your father waited for the small window between Shen Yong abdicating and passing on the title, exploiting a rule where anyone in the family can contest the title of Patriarch when the previous abdicate due to insufficient talent. Both Shen Wu and Shen Hong dueled and at the time nobody had any doubt in the outcome, knowing that Shen Wu was already a Black Gold demon spiritualist with a Black Gold demon spirit and was regarded as the greatest genius of the clan at the time, so it was a great surprise to everyone when your father managed to defeat him by a narrow margin, thus snatching the title of Patriarch from that branch. A few days later Shen Wu passed away from some mysterious sickness."
"Shen Yong never forgave the betrayal of Shen Hong, accusing him of poisoning his brother, but not only he lacked the personal strength to contest the decision but that generation of elders were evenly split in terms of support between the two, with Shen Hong personal strength tipping the scales on his favor."
My father totally poisoned his foster brother, didn't he?
"Afterwards Shen Yong started to oppose your father in every manner possible, even trying to remove him from the seat of Patriarch by accusing him of bringing outsiders to internal clan politics since that's forbidden, but nothing ever came out of those accusations."
The outsiders are totally the dark guild, aren't they?
"That's disturbing," I sighed with a shake of my head, "did you had any luck finding his disposition towards me?"
"As far as I gathered his attitude is more in line with all other Elders, meaning he is exasperated with you for not playing the usual power dynamics of clan politics and annoyed at the fact they can't openly retaliate due to value to the Sacred Family."
Which for him is basically a cover sign of approval due to our innate relationship. The situation is workable but it will be harder than I'm used to since he's a veteran of the social arena for decades now. "And his cultivation level?"
"He's stuck as a 5-Star Gold Rank for years now but had given up on breaking through."
I nodded, "well, we delayed this meeting as much as we could. Let's go."
...
I was led to Shen Yong guest room in his private mansion and made to wait for over an hour before he appeared. When the door finally opened after waiting for so long Shen Yong silently sat down on his chair before staring down at me.
I meet his gaze unflinchingly, staying silent for the moment.
Eventually, he was the first to speak.
"Well boy, I'm here. Out with it."
... ok.
"Please, allow me to start off by apologizing for the delay in addressing the politics of the clan. My previous lack of knowledge and neglected training due to my age and status as spare put me on a disadvantage that took some time to rectify."
Shen Yong simply blew a derisive huff at me, "yet you managed to quickly learn all subjects put in front of you to a frightening degree. What you lacked wasn't knowledge or experience, but interest in finding out more. Shen Xiu could have explained things to you if you simply asked, but in that woman's eyes you can do no wrong."
"I still remember when you snubbed Shen Ming after your victory," he said while subtly pushing his aura on me "it was clear to all that your decision to remain independent was not born from what you lacked, but what you had in anbundance."
The emphasis was put in such a way that most people would try to sink in their chair over the shame and intimidation.
I found the attempt cute.
"I do not need someone attached to my household that so easily discards their former allies like trash, their loyalty will always be in question alongside their good judgment."
He remains silent for a while and I use this time to go over the information I have in my head with my first-hand impressions of the man. There was rage and hatred barely concealed beneath his gaze directed at me, or more accurately at the man who he superposes over myself. He also no doubt wishes for the position of Patriarch that was usurped by my father, though I suspect if he had to choose between the position and my father's head on a silver plate he would always take the head.
Interestingly there's also jealously directed at me, and I am reminded of his son that can't really compete against me. Not only his son was beaten by the son of Shen Hong but he can't even consistently take the second place, or that's what I believe goes over his head on this matter.
Eventually, he tilts his head a minute amount in acknowledgment of the point.
Taking that as my cue I continued by bring up the reason for my visit.
"As Elder understand my father can be very overbearing when his wishes are denied, and while that's his right as the Patriarch it doesn't change the fact that it can make things difficult for everyone involved, myself included. I would ask if Elder Shen Yong can provide me with guidance in avoiding incurring the Patriarch's wrath, however unreasonable it might end."
His breathing is even and there are no waverings in his eyes, but the next words confirm that the bait was tempting for him.
"As the newly nominated heir, it is the Patriarch's right to guide you. It would be unseemingly to interfere without his blessings."
A typical non-committal answer, but considering he should be frothing at the mouth over the notion of helping his rival son it means he decided to take a wait and see approach.
Now I need to figure out how to proceed from here...
[ ]Write In Plan.
Spoiler: rolls
<|=== To Be Continued...
"My father's expectations can be impossibly high and I'm not certain he's experienced in dealing with a unique case like myself. The methods and mentality employed in the attempt to help my brother might not be nearly as useful with me."
Elder Yong simply gives you a derisive, unrefined snort in response. "Say it loud and clear boy: he's a moron. You're not fooling anyone here."
"Such language is beneath the heir apparent and the son of the Patriarch besides."
The Elder doesn't look very impressed with my current discourse so I tried to switch tactics to see if I could get through him.
"Of course, I wouldn't dream of making closer ties to the esteemed Elder without offering anything else in return. I could certainly help the younger generation to more quickly promote their cultivation if you're willing."
This time his eyes lock down on my own much like hawk focus on his prey, though the moment passes soon after. "Could you boy? If so why didn't you help those on your own little corner of the Estate? If it were so trivial to help someone cultivate you might have gotten better results by now." His tone is more dismissed than angry, and honestly, I'm not sure if that's actually better.
"I believe there's nothing else for us to discuss at the time Shen Yue," he says while standing up, "but please do come to visit any time. Just make sure not to embarrass your father when you return, and remember to show proper results first before trying to sell a promise of assistance."
He didn't quite kick me out of his presence, but it was a near thing.
...
"Young Master, your father has requested your presence at your earliest convenience." Chen Fang said after that disastrous meeting.
"By that, you mean right now, or actually at my earliest convenience?"
He paused for a moment, a strange look over his face. "He's willing to let you schedule a meeting with him next month, but you need to send the appointment date soon. From that alone, it doesn't appear to be urgent."
"Right, thank you, Chen Fang."
I turned back to my desk and finished penning the last of my reply letters.
This is going to suck.
Spoiler: rolls
<|=== To Be Continued...
The past month schedule was really tight with all my responsibilities and time spent cultivating, and then there was the fruitless endeavor with the Elder.
Well, fruitless but it had to be done sooner or later. After all, the reason I had survived all my potential political opponents was because of the implied threat of my father position, but if I want to actually form my own power base I need to properly play this political game.
There are still a couple of obligations to follow through in this month, with the highest priority being the Meeting with Shen Hong, Patriarch of Sacred Family, and I can't afford to put this off so it will be the first thing I will do in the following month. Mandatory, 1AP, multiple updates.
I probably should schedule cashing in that favor from the City Lord soon before I'm forced to use it. 1AP, as soon as possible.
I can't forget to set up the cultivation scriptures for Xiao Xue, Lu Piao, Qi Ting and Song Ai. 3-5AP to research for all of them, 4-5AP to determine quality for all of them, 3-5 months deadline.
There is also Xiao Ning'er scripture to keep in mind. It will cost 2-3 AP for diplomacy, and after it is finished 2-3AP for research and 2-4AP to determine quality, 2-3 months deadline.
There are also Chen Fang scripture finishing touches. It will cost 2-4AP to create, building on previous research, 1 month deadline.
Another thing to keep in mind is the ongoing investigation on Sister Xiu issues. Each progress in the investigation will cost 3AP, unknown completion requisites, must be done as soon as possible!
And now that I actually have everything set up I can start the operations I had in mind with my formations. ESPECIAL: 0AP basic (help district infrastructure), 1AP advanced (setting up new industry), 2AP comprehensive (setting up large scale new industry).
Essentially, our district takes care of the worst jobs possible, the impure ones that deal with death and filth alongside tiring manual labor. The disposal and cleaning of those materials take a lot of time, so with my formations being set up, I should be able to finish it really quickly. Since they have steel tools to aid their task the simpler aspect can go much quicker, and from there the various small formations will do their work.
All that random junk and refuse they gather I can grind with the formations, and together with the alchemical substance I commissioned from Yang Xin it will clean it from bacteria and parasites, making it safe to handle. Combined with my previous life research I can make cheaper, stronger bricks that are not dependent on the local clay supply.
The local waste disposal locations can double as suppliers for construction material factories, and with the bricks designs, I can build a large house by peasant standards in record time, with much better insulation than the usual wooden houses.
There's another point, which is the separation of resources. As it turns out there are many minerals that might be useful to basically everything that we pass off as impurities and ignore, and not mere mortal elements that are useful for modern earth industries such as niobium, but more mystical substances like special kinds of Jade Shards that are found on the ground and are subsequently found in trace amounts on pottery.
The few mentions of those substances that I found in the SWE era books indicates that a couple of those special materials were valuable to basically everything in ancient times. I would go as far and say that one of those mysterious substances was their equivalent of aluminum: more valuable than gold due to its difficulty in processing, and then when it becomes cheap it becomes an essential element used in basically everything. Proper research on those elements will take a while though.
More immediately, it should allow me to corner a market of waste disposal if I manage to gather the required manpower for it. I would need to craft a couple of talismans to make things easier and more efficient in certain areas, but it can be done. While the Inner City have proper sewage the farther away from it the system becomes less reliable, and not all subsidiary cities have a sewage system as good as the Inner City.
Oh, people will look down on me immensely if I pursue this, but I can become really rich since nobody else would want to deal with this unseemingly job.
Maybe it's my previous life upbringing, but for me, money is money, no matter if you're shoveling shit or creating computer programs, and I believe this can be a literal million spirit coins market that remains ignored, not counting eventual profits from the recycling of special materials found in random trash.
Right, time to properly pen my next month schedule.
1096 AD, 11th Month Schedule
All workloads gain a bonus +1AP from Epic Stamina
Honestly, it was the first time I came within spitting distance of my father's solar. He greets the important guests there for social occasions, while I remember my brother being called to it countless time in the past.
Shen Fei...
I shook my head to disperse those thoughts before knocking on the door twice.
"Enter," came my father's voice as the doors opened, a pair of servants waiting inside just for this moment before they leave, closing the door behind me.
"Father," I greeted him with a small bow as it was dictated by decorum, "I came as you requested."
He harrumphed before motioning me to sit down in front of his desk. The chair was tall for my current size, but thankfully it was comfortable enough if he decides to stretch this meeting.
"Shen Yue," my father started, his tall frame looming over me from behind his desk, "do you know why I asked you to come?"
"The messenger didn't inform me, father."
His right hand started stroking his beard, an action I often saw him perform when he was pleased, or right before he sent someone to be punished.
"I heard rumors that you wanted to talk with Shen Yong, that old goat. What were your intentions behind it?"
I stared back at my father's eyes, searching for his intention yet he was extremely well guarded in this case, not even a small muscle twitch on his face to give away any sign. What is telling however is the tone that he made when this meeting started.
Straight to the point, intimidation tactics, an impersonal greeting, and all of those on someone that's supposedly his favored son after the announcement from before. Of course, he never talked with me about his decision regarding my future, or even hinted at his plans either. In a sense that's beneficial to me since I don't want to be fully involved in his dealings, chief among them the one with the Dark Guild, but if this is the courtesy he gives to his future heir, what kind of man is my father?
Still, I have to give him an answer.
Honestly, I wasn't certain what to make of my father, so I decided to be honest while hiding some of my true intentions to get a feel for his reaction.
"First, I had some hopes to see if he could be brought around to agreeing to my candidacy as heir," I started explaining myself and he nodded, "upon meeting the man and feeling him out I gleaned that he views his son as a disappointment, especially when he compares his progeny to myself, which is not helped by the fact that apparently, he despises you and me for being your son."
Shen Hong snort but otherwise didn't say anything, so I went on. "I generously offered to give Shen Yong's son some assistance in improving his cultivation in exchange for his compliance, but he decided not to take the offered carrot. Apparently, he rather faces the stick I believe you are preparing if he does not abandon his defiance."
My father face was still as if carved from stone and utterly unreadable. That wasn't a good sign, but he didn't say anything so I took that as my cue to continue.
"Second, I've found many of the family's elders have been rather frustrated by my successes in spite of my apparent refusal to play the typical games involved in our Sacred Family's internal politics. As the spare, that seemed acceptable, but I felt that if I was to become the heir then I needed to begin normalizing relations for the sake of family unity. I was hoping that showing a willingness to play the game would assuage them, even if I did not succeed in my first goal."
I looked back into my father's eyes, and for a moment I hesitated before taking a bold step. "Father, on consideration I do not know if this was the right move. I would appreciate your wisdom in this matter."
He stayed silent for a moment before ringing a small bell and an attendant came almost immediately.
"Call a meeting with all other elders," he said to his attendant before standing up.
"Father?"
"Follow me, Shen Yue."
...
"We are all here for a single motive, to acknowledge my son as the one and true heir."
There were some rushed whispering all around us between the several Elders of the family, Sister Xiu included.
"Those that are against it stand up."
Shen Yong gave me a sharp look before standing up proud and taking a couple of steps forward.
"Anyone else?" Shen Hong asked everyone around us, but none dared to rise from their seats or object in any way. "Very well then."
He slowly approached Elder Yong, his presence filling the small room we were in until it became an oppressive mantle pressing down on our shoulders.
Startled, Shen Yong took a step back just as my father came within arm's length. "What's the meaning of this Shen-"
"I have tolerated your existence for far too long Shen Yong," my father interrupted before taking another step forward and being within arm's length of Elder Yong once more, "your services are no longer required."
Swish! Snap! Crunch!
"Grahf!" My eyes bulged out as Shen Hong punched through Elder Yong chest, his bloodied hand coming out from the other side. "W-wha?"
"I am simply cutting down some loose ends, brother," Shen Hong said in a casual tone, "nothing personal. It's just business."
Instead of pulling back his hand he swings his arm, cutting through his body like a sword and tearing out a large lump of flesh that fell on the ground. Bones, muscle and organs lay on the ground, fresh blood oozing from the ball of flesh as if a large predator had torn off chunks from a still living prey.
Elder Yong was dead before he hit the ground.
The Patriarch snapped his fingers and a couple of experts hidden in the shadows appeared. "Go to the former Elder Shen Yong estate and kill everyone, and make sure to bring me his son's head."
"Father!"
I quickly turned to him, horrified at his methods.
"For those that are incompetent in politics, or simply have no patience for it, power is the best way to go forwards. Look around you Shen Yue," he swung his arm around the room, "do you think any of those present have the guts to contradict me?"
I slowly turned around the room and saw their reactions. Somewhere horrified at what the Patriarch had done but where bitting their lips or clenching their fists until it became bloodied, while others had a satisfied expression on their faces.
"But Shen Yong son has nothing to do with this!" I couldn't help but protest.
"Doesn't he?" He raised an eyebrow, "do you truly believe once he hears his father died by my hands he would weakly submit? That he would accept my actions and let go of the memory of his father in order to save his own skin?" He paused for a moment as those words hit me, "and if he did, would you trust this spineless, useless coward?"
My words got caught in my mouth as I couldn't really refute his logic at this time, seeing some truth in them despite the brutality of the action.
"Even so," I tried through gritted teeth to keep my balance, "he shouldn't be judged by the crimes of others."
"If he were so concerned with his father's plot he should have disavowed him before, as it stands his silence made him complicit in Shen Yong's numerous schemes," he looked down on me, his gaze cold ruthless, "do you have a problem with my judgment?"
"I do not approve of it," I replied him equally firmly.
"Then show me what you're made off!"
In an instant, he merged with his demon spirit and brought down a fist towards my face.
My hand shot up immediately and meet his attack, sparks of fire flying from the impact, time seeming to stop at that exact moment.
"OOOOOHHHHHHH!"
The crowd went wild around us and on instinct, I retaliated with a fist of my own.
"Impressive," the Patriarch said for a moment before lazily catching my attack with his own hand, "but not good enough."
Swish! Blam!
"Guuuuhah!"
My world was only pain, and something broke around my chest and on my arm.
"The first lesson my father taught me, Shen Yue," I heard a distant voice talking, "is that without power, you don't have the right to speak."
...
I woke up again on the night of the same day feeling sore all over, with bandages covering my chest and my hand. Breathing was difficult and I felt like my hand was being gnawed by a starving dog.
"Shh," I heard Sister Xiu gentle voice at my side, "get back to sleep Yue'er, the pills did their work but you still need to rest. You have to be presentable for tomorrow's funeral."
"Shen Yong... and his son... didn't... deserve... that."
"It was your father wishes," Sister Xiu said with no small amount of fear in her voice.
"I will... try... to... attend... their funeral... tomorrow..."
"... it wasn't their funeral I was referring to, their heads were put on pikes and their bodies throw to the pigs," Sister Xiu corrected making me sick on the stomach.
"The funeral we're going to is to the late wife of the City Lord, Ye Hweiru."
<|=== To Be Continued...