Chapter 98: The Dawn of Chaos and the Rising Gale (I)

The matter of selecting an heir concluded amidst a surprising turn of events. Yun Bin, the son of the family head from Minzhou in North Xi, was chosen—despite never having participated in the preliminary rounds. This caused no small amount of resentment among the other branches. However, when the clan elders spoke of the current instability in Minzhou and the relative order maintained by that specific branch, even the most disgruntled had to acknowledge Yun Tan’s capabilities.

A month later, on the twentieth day of the eighth month, the Lixin Marquis Mansion held a grand adoption ceremony, formally bringing Yun Bin under Yun Ci’s name to continue the ancestral lineage. The Matriarch bestowed upon him the name "Cheng," the significance of which was self-evident.

Entering the genealogy, registering in the clan records, kowtowing to the ancestors, and being invested as the Heir Apparent—the ceremony lasted an entire day. The procedures were tedious and complex, yet the boy performed every step with caution, without a single error. From that day on, Yun Bin ceased to exist in this world; there was only Yun Ci’s adopted son—Yun Cheng.

Yet, this major event failed to bring joy to the Lixin Marquis Mansion. No one from North Xi came to offer congratulations; neither the imperial Yuan clan nor the rebel Chen clan sent any representatives. In ordinary times, this would have been unthinkable. But on the very day of Yun Cheng’s adoption ceremony, the Chen forces breached the North Xi imperial capital and struck directly at the Zhaoyang Palace.

The Yuan clan’s cause was lost, and the fact that they had no chance of recovery was undeniable.

Seven days later, the Yuan Emperor of North Xi committed suicide by poison within the Zhaoyang Palace. He took his final breath upon the dragon throne, right before the eyes of Chen Xuan, the son of the rebel leader Chen Wangzhi.

When the news reached South Xi, it was already the ninth month. Although they tried their best to keep it from the Yun clan members, the anxiety and panic began to surface. The Matriarch made a decisive move, ordering Yun Tan to secretly return to North Xi to pacify the various branches and to temporarily close all unnecessary shops, prioritizing self-preservation.

It was well known that the current glory of the Yun clan relied entirely on their centuries-old, close ties with the Yuan and Nie families. When the ancestors of the Yuan clan first unified the world and established the Great Xi Dynasty, they had declared their intent to "share the world" with the Yun clan. Even after the Great Xi Dynasty split into North and South Xi, the Yun clan had maintained a moderate, neutral stance.

Now, the fall of the North Xi Yuan clan would naturally implicate the Yun clan.

"Times have changed. If we don’t find a way forward, I fear the Chen clan’s next target will be us," the Matriarch said, heavy with worry. She summoned Chuxiu and Yun Xian to the Rongjin Hall, hoping to devise a strategy. As the heir, Yun Cheng stood by to listen and learn about the politics of the North and South.

"Mother, please compose yourself. The Chen clan has just taken North Xi and has yet to ascend the throne. They will certainly focus on purging the Yuan Emperor's loyalists; they will have no time to bother with South Xi in the short term. We have at least two years of breathing room. There is no need to panic," Yun Xian said first. He believed that even if the Chen clan ascended the throne in North Xi, purging dissent and reorganizing the government would not be an overnight task, not to mention pacifying the populace. He felt the Yun clan could likely hold on for a few more years.

But the Matriarch was clearly more far-sighted. "That may be so, but if we do not prepare for a rainy day, we will find ourselves in a passive position. We have many kinsmen and businesses in North Xi. The loss of wealth is minor, but I fear the Chen clan will use both soft and hard tactics to harass our people."

The more she thought, the more anxious she grew. "Compared to the glory the Yun clan has inherited for hundreds of years, if it can only last for a few more short years, will it be destroyed in my hands? What face would I have to meet our ancestors, to meet... the late Marquis and his father?"

At the mention of "the Marquis," Chuxiu’s eyes grew warm. "When I served with ink and brush at the Qingxin Studio, the Marquis already held this concern." She remembered what Yun Ci had said: "With the current turmoil in North Xi, the changing of the throne is only a matter of time. South Xi seems peaceful, but the princes are restless in their bid for the succession... In the long run, I fear the Yun clan will no longer be able to protect itself..."

She had not expected Yun Ci’s words to be prophetic, as he had long seen that the Yuan clan would fall to the Chen. Recalling her conversation with Shen Yu about the succession struggle in South Xi, Chuxiu felt infinite concern for the future of the Yun clan.

Though she knew her status was low, she spoke her thoughts: "Matriarch, why don't we take this opportunity to abandon North Xi entirely!"

"What did you say?" Before the Matriarch could react, Yun Xian exclaimed in shock, "Are you mad? Our roots in North Xi go back hundreds of years. Can they just be abandoned so easily?"

Chuxiu bit her lip. "It is merely my shallow opinion, I..."

"Absurd!" Yun Xian retorted bluntly.

"Third brother, let Chuxiu finish. She is the Lady of the Lixin Marquis Mansion!" The Matriarch suddenly commanded, then turned to Chuxiu: "Why do you think this way?"

Chuxiu glanced at Yun Xian and poured out her thoughts: "It is said that the Chen clan was not originally named Chen. They changed their name to demonstrate their loyalty to the Yuan Emperor. The Yuan Emperor was moved and granted them the hereditary title of 'King of Suppression.' Logically, he treated them well. Yet, the descendants of the Chen clan still overthrew their master... it shows they are ungrateful."

Chuxiu paused, and seeing the Matriarch did not interrupt, she continued: "If the Chen clan can betray their own master, do you expect them to grant the Yun clan a good end? Our ties to North Xi are deep; we will be implicated sooner or later. Even if they fear our wealth and influence now, who is to say they won't cut us off once they no longer need us? Therefore, we must rely on the Nie family of South Xi. That is a centuries-old friendship, and the Lixin Marquis Mansion is located in South Xi, which is naturally more trustworthy than the Chen clan."

The Matriarch’s eyes flickered. After a long silence, she asked, "You advocate for proactively currying favor with South Xi?"

"No, not proactively, but we can no longer maintain such an aloof stance," Chuxiu explained. "The Chen clan is ambitious. If my guess is correct, they intend to unify the North and South. As for South Xi, they will likely strike while the Chen Emperor’s foundation is unstable... The seventh and ninth princes of the Nie Emperor of South Xi are both men of war; if they go to the battlefield, they may not necessarily lose to the North..."

"Only a sufficiently powerful family can maintain neutrality in chaotic times, preventing others from acting rashly. But the Yun clan is no longer that way; our vast wealth and fame are coveted, and our clansmen are scattered and infighting. If we continue to watch, we will offend both the North and the South, and the Yun clan will eventually become meat on the chopping block, perhaps divided between the two nations!" Chuxiu spoke boldly, her sincerity ringing clear.

Hearing this, the Matriarch’s eyes shone with sharp light, and Yun Xian looked on in astonishment. "Sister-in-law, did you... think of this yourself?"

Chuxiu shook her head sadly. "It was the Marquis... he often mentioned it. If he were still alive, he would surely have a perfect strategy."

Yun Xian could not hide his sorrow. "Big brother was brilliant and far-sighted. Alas..."

The Matriarch suddenly took over the conversation. "You are right. Only a powerful family can remain neutral. Our internal fighting is merely us propping up a facade of glory! If we do not make a decision early, we will be played by the two nations, and we will have destroyed ourselves from within before we even see the situation clearly!"

The Matriarch looked at the respectfully standing Yun Cheng and added, "Look at this selection of the heir; the branches not only used underhanded tactics but dared to openly obstruct others. If not for Yun Tan’s quick response, Cheng’er would not have had the chance to enter the mansion."

"But we cannot be so rash as to rely on the Nie family. Though the Chen clan are rebels, they have a reputation. Chen Wangzhi and his son are wise and govern well; I find them more honorable and trustworthy than the Yuan Emperor," Yun Xian persisted, his cautious nature resisting such a hasty move.

"You say the Chen clan is more honorable? I think it is because they have yet to taste the pinnacle of power," Chuxiu sighed. "Throughout history, how many heroes were generous and righteous when they began their rise, only to become debauched, ungrateful, and suspicious after achieving success? Third brother, watch the future. Once the Chen clan sits firmly on the throne of the North, will they still govern with diligence?"

"Sister-in-law..." Yun Xian looked at Chuxiu in disbelief, amazed that such insights could come from a young woman, and one of servant origin at that!

This time, not only Yun Xian but even Yun Cheng could not help but exclaim, "Mother!" His expression was one of clear admiration.

Chuxiu ignored them and continued to look at the Matriarch. "The Yun clan has long had ties with the Yuan and Nie families. If we switch to supporting the rebels, we will be seen as ungrateful by the world. Furthermore, the Chen clan’s promises are untrustworthy; they can overthrow the Yuan, and they can later suppress the Yun!"

"We have two or three years—perhaps less—before the Yun clan is drawn into the chaos of the North and South. Matriarch, I implore you to be decisive!" Chuxiu’s words were earnest and firm.

The Matriarch’s gaze lingered on Chuxiu as if trying to pierce through her. After a long time, she asked expressionlessly, "And in your view, how should we approach the Nie family? And how should we account for the situation in North Xi?"

This stumped Chuxiu. She had the idea, but the specific implementation required long deliberation. However, one point could not be delayed: "Take advantage of the instability in North Xi to close all our shops under the pretext of business. There is no need to ship the silver back to South Xi, as I fear it cannot be transported anyway. It would be better to let the North Xi clansmen divide it! In chaotic times, having more money on hand is never a mistake."

"Divide the money!" Yun Xian immediately blocked her. "Sister-in-law, do you know how much property we have in North Xi? That capital is enough to buy an entire army! You want them to divide it on the spot?"

"Even if we wanted to ship it back, would the Chen clan allow it? Would the North Xi branches not feel bitter? This news cannot be hidden; if a large amount of silver is shipped back, will it be safe on the road? I fear it would be looted by bandits long before it reaches South Xi, and it would cost the lives of our clansmen!" Chuxiu retorted righteously.

The Matriarch had never seen her this resolute. Perhaps Chuxiu herself had not realized that when facing Yun Ci’s legacy and fulfilling his unfinished ambitions, she possessed such courage. The Matriarch finally said, "Hesitation brings disaster. If we cannot let go of these assets today, we will leave infinite trouble for the future!"

After Chuxiu finished speaking, the room remained silent for a long time. It was not until much later that the Matriarch finally agreed. "We will do as you say. You are the Lady of the Lixin Marquis Mansion and hold the keys to the household; you shall issue this order! If there are any mishaps, I still have enough authority to step in and remedy them."