If one does not plan for the distant future, one is doomed to immediate worries. No one dares to claim that their family's power or status will last for ten thousand years, enduring as long as heaven and earth. To ensure the family bloodline can continue and be passed down in any era, contingency plans are essential.
Any family with some foundation will leave backup plans for their descendants, let alone the royal family. But what each great house leaves for their heirs is known only to the direct bloodline—the true heirs who inherit the ancestral hall and carry on the family's honor.
As for the existence of the Heaven-Son Sword, perhaps only Aunt Evelyn and Jason Lan know of it; no one else has even heard of it, and Ninth Royal Uncle certainly has no clue.
Even though Ninth Royal Uncle knows nothing of the Heaven-Son Sword, that doesn't mean he's unaware of Jason Lan's movements.
What is Jiangnan? That’s Ninth Royal Uncle’s turf. If Jason Lan sends people to operate in Jiangnan, how could Ninth Royal Uncle not know? He received word the moment it happened.
"Xiao Sword Manor, Ethan Xiao?" Ninth Royal Uncle carefully pondered these words.
Xiao Sword Manor is already destroyed. Even if Ethan Xiao is a renowned swordsmith of his time, he alone can't revive Xiao Sword Manor. Jason Lan's goal can't possibly be the manor itself, so...
"Jason Lan must be targeting Ethan Xiao as a person." Vincent Su had analyzed Xiao Sword Manor in detail and didn't think there was anything there worth Jason Lan's attention.
No matter how famous Xiao Sword Manor once was, that was twenty years ago. Its power has long since been carved up by other sword forges, and the manor itself has disappeared into the river of history.
"Ethan Xiao must have something Jason Lan wants. Make sure Colin and the Prince of Jiangnan keep an eye on him—don’t let him leave Jiangnan." As long as Ethan Xiao stays on Ninth Royal Uncle’s turf, even if Jason Lan has sky-high abilities, he won’t be able to pull anything off.
"Should we inform the Valley Master?" Vincent Su asked tentatively.
"No need. The Valley Master knows what he's doing." Since Nolan handed Thomas Shen over to the Valley Master, he wouldn't interfere any further. Even if the Valley Master favored Thomas, Nolan wouldn't intervene.
Vincent Su nodded, glanced at Ninth Royal Uncle, and hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Our people in Shandong have been spotted by Serena's subordinates."
"Mm." Ninth Royal Uncle responded, utterly unconcerned.
Vincent Su, unsure what Ninth Royal Uncle meant, asked, "Should we pull them back?"
"No need."
"What if Serena finds out?" If they've been spotted, it's not hard to trace whose people they are—as long as one is patient enough.
"It doesn't matter."
"Huh? Aren't you worried Serena will be angry? You two just made up—now something else is about to happen?"
Ninth Royal Uncle looked up at Vincent Su, answering with certainty, "She won't."
"You planted spies on Serena's turf—how could she not be angry?" If he were in Serena's shoes, he'd have kicked Ninth Royal Uncle out long ago.
"A good husband respects his main wife and doesn't interfere in the inner courtyard's affairs, but that doesn't mean he's completely ignorant of what goes on there." Ninth Royal Uncle, for once, kindly explained things to Vincent Su—though it only left Vincent more confused.
Was Ninth Royal Uncle saying the Phoenixfield Clan was his back courtyard?
Why did that sound so awkward?
But thinking about it, it actually kind of made sense.
Just what kind of relationship do Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng have, anyway?
Maybe the world of big shots is just something small fries like them can't understand.
The more Vincent Su thought about it, the more confused he got. He finally decided to just let it go—after all, neither Ninth Royal Uncle nor Serena Feng cared, so why should an outsider like him worry so much? It's like the emperor not being anxious, but the eunuch dying of worry.
Pfft, pfft, pfft... He was definitely not a eunuch.
Vincent Su pulled his scattered thoughts together and buried himself in his work. It was nearly dawn before he finally unraveled the tangled mess. Ninth Royal Uncle had just finished arranging external affairs; after leaving all the follow-up work to Vincent, he returned to the manor.
Inside Ninth Prince Manor, Felix Fuller had been waiting in the study for a while.
Without any small talk, as soon as Nolan entered, Felix began discussing official business.
"Prince Jason of Riverreach has been making frequent moves, drawing in quite a few ministers lately. He's also made covert contact with the Taishang Emperor and the Empress Dowager. The Taishang Emperor ignored him, but didn't stop him either. The Empress Dowager, under the pretense of concern over the Emperor's studies, summoned the Grand Heir the next day." When Nolan is away from the capital too long, people get restless—always dreaming of greater glory and wealth.
"Write out the list." With most of the military power in his hands, Nolan had no need to play games with these people. If they dared to have such ambitions, they'd better be ready to face his wrath.
"Yes, sir." Felix was momentarily stunned—he hadn't expected Nolan to be so direct.
But after a moment's thought, Felix understood. Nolan now held both military and political power—he didn't need to worry about desperate, cornered men anymore.
"After failing to win the clan head position, Third Young Master Cui outwardly submitted, but continues his little schemes in secret. Unfortunately, he seems to have grown suspicious of me, and is starting to guard against me." Felix had kept close contact with Third Young Master Cui lately, and they'd actually cooperated several times. The Southlyn Jin Fan incident was based on Felix's intel.
But it was precisely because of that incident that Third Young Master Cui started to suspect Felix.
"Cut off that line." The Cui family isn't easy to meddle in. Before Cui Haoting takes the top spot, he'll let Felix and Third Young Master Cui cooperate; but once he's in charge, he won't tolerate any threat to the family's interests. If Third Young Master Cui ever learns Felix's true motives, he wouldn't let Felix off either.
No matter how fiercely they fight inside, outwardly they'll always protect the Cui family's interests. That's an idea drilled into every great-house child from birth: no matter what, the family's interests come first.