Alexander Hayes' Intentions

Alexander Hayes lifted his eyelids and looked up from his book, gazing at Sean Hayes with unfathomable depth. "Do you know why I demanded that the House of Zhao deliver those two lists in three days?" he asked, his tone mysterious.

"Uh..." Sean Hayes scratched his head, looking troubled. He was a master at fighting and killing, but scheming was definitely not his strong suit. He tried to analyze, "Your Highness thinks that, aside from the dead Justin Zhao and his father, there must be others involved in the attack against us. So, you want the House of Zhao to hand over those traitors themselves to eliminate future threats? And as for having them submit a list of candidates for clan leader, that's... that's..."

Sean Hayes racked his brain but couldn't come up with an answer, earning a look of disdain from Alexander Hayes.

Alexander Hayes shifted his gaze back to his book and said coolly, "You'll see the purpose of those two lists soon enough... For now, your top priority is to prepare the Queen's chambers. You may go."

"Yes, Your Highness..." Sean Hayes left, still completely baffled.

Early the next morning, the elder of the Zhao clan, second only to the late Mr. Charles Zhao Sr., gathered the influential members of the family for a meeting.

This elder was named Zhao Yan, a gray-bearded man of about sixty.

Zhao Yan managed the Anchester Chamber of Commerce and was known for his shrewdness.

Seeing everyone was present, Zhao Yan stroked his beard and spoke, "I have gathered all the clan members today, and you all know the reason. Now that Anchester has been reassigned to the territory of King of Qin, Alexander Hayes, the means of His Highness are clear to all Zhao family members. I spent yesterday moving corpses, and my whole body still aches! Times have changed. Overnight, our Zhao family lost tens of thousands of soldiers—nearly eighty percent of our fighting force. Now, the Zhao family is like a tiger that has lost its fangs, no longer what it once was. If the remaining Zhao descendants are not careful in managing things, we may end up like the late clan leader and Justin Zhao!"

Zhao Yan's words left everyone silent, but among them, there were those whose minds were already scheming—now that the old clan leader was dead and the position vacant, there was an opportunity to seize power.

Zhao Yan's younger brother, Zhao Yu, was in his forties and in his prime. He rolled his eyes and said, "Big Brother is right. The Zhao family faces an unprecedented crisis, and we must unite to overcome this hardship! Now that the old clan leader is gone, our clan is leaderless, scattered like sand. I believe our top priority is to elect a new clan leader! The new leader must be virtuous, capable, and in the prime of life to lead the Zhao clan to grow and prosper."

As soon as Zhao Yu finished speaking, members from each branch of the Zhao family lowered their heads, exchanging glances with their own kin.

The position of clan leader was a coveted prize—everyone wanted it.

Just as Zhao Yu finished, Lady Qian immediately interjected, "Of course the position of clan leader should go to my son! He is the direct descendant of the clan leader’s line. Now that my father-in-law and husband are both gone, their status and wealth rightfully belong to my son!"

Back when Justin Zhao’s father was clan leader, with Justin as the magistrate, their position was rock solid. Now that both father and son are dead, only Lady Qian’s young son remains from their branch—he is just six years old.

A six-year-old child, without the protection of his father and grandfather, cannot become clan leader, even if his mother comes from the prestigious Qian family.

Zhao Yu paid no mind to the widow Lady Qian. He sneered, "Lady Qian, you must be joking. Is our Zhao family so short of men that we’d let a six-year-old take charge? You’d best take your son home and live in peace—don’t come out making a spectacle of yourself!"