Schemes and Calculations

"Should I look at the Clan Chief Candidate List first, or the Rebel List?" Alexander Hayes murmured, sounding as if he was talking to himself, yet also seeming to solicit others' opinions.

Zachary Yan was on edge, his nerves stretched to the limit. He blurted out instinctively, "Of course, we should look at the Clan Chief Candidate List first!"

"Clan Chief Candidate List, tsk tsk." Alexander Hayes looked up at Zachary Yan, then nodded, appearing to agree with him. He proceeded to open the list and examined each candidate one by one.

Every member of the House of Zhao was so tense that they could barely breathe—especially those candidates whose names were on the list. Their hearts felt like they were about to leap out of their chests.

This moment when Alexander Hayes spoke was the turning point that would decide someone’s fate!

Alexander Hayes patiently and methodically went through the list from top to bottom, then again from bottom to top. The tension among the Zhao family was about to explode, especially for Zachary Yan, whose neck was stretched out like a giraffe.

After finishing, Alexander Hayes looked up at Zachary Yan with a puzzled expression. "Zachary Yan, this is your list of clan chief candidates—are you sure there’s no mistake?"

Zachary Yan had no idea what game Alexander Hayes was playing. Wiping his sweat, he replied, "Your Highness, this is the list our clan selected. There’s no mistake."

"Sean Hayes, read the names aloud for everyone." Alexander Hayes handed the candidate list to Sean Hayes.

Sean Hayes read out each name one by one. When he finished, the members of the House of Zhao were drenched in sweat, but all confirmed that these were indeed the clan chief candidates nominated by their families—the list was accurate.

Alexander Hayes swept his gaze over the Zhao family, not appointing a new patriarch, nor uttering a single word.

Instead, he tore open another scroll—the list of traitors—gave it a quick scan, then handed it to Edward Yun for public reading.

"Your Majesty, we’ve already rounded up all the traitors and await your judgment," declared Zachary Yan, bringing forth the rebels whom the Zhao family had already bound.

This so-called band of traitors, each one wailing and crying for their parents as they were dragged forward, all knowing their end was near.

"Seems this group of traitors is missing two," Alexander Hayes remarked.

"Your Majesty, your insight is truly keen! I was just about to report: Justin Zhao’s wife and son are also traitors, but those two are slippery. The moment they caught wind of trouble, they fled! Your Majesty, with eighty percent of our Zhao Clan Guards lost, we simply have no one to send after them. Please, dispatch your own men to the Qian family and have them brought in," Zachary Yan pleaded respectfully.

Alexander Hayes lowered his gaze, a cryptic smile flickering across his face.

The Zhao family—cunning right to the bitter end. Even now, they were struggling desperately, never letting go of a single chance to turn the tables.

Mrs. Penny Zhao and her son had clearly already been killed by the Zhao family, yet now they pretended not to know, trying to coax Alexander Hayes into sending men to the Qians. Their intentions were obvious: they wanted the Qians to blame King Alexander for the deaths of Mrs. Penny Zhao and her son.

That way, Alexander Hayes would become the scapegoat, bearing all the resentment, while the Zhao family could argue they were just following royal orders in pursuing Mrs. Penny Zhao and her son.

But no matter how intricate the Zhao family’s schemes, they were still no match for Alexander Hayes.

Alexander Hayes shook his head gently, adopting a magnanimous air. “Justin Zhao’s son is only six—just a child. According to Jin Dynasty law, even in cases of clan extermination, children so young are spared. As for Mrs. Penny Zhao, a woman of the inner household, she never meddled in treason, and now she’s a widow. Enough. I am newly crowned and wish to shed no more blood. I will spare them both. By royal decree, Mrs. Penny Zhao and her son are pardoned. As long as they do not rebel again, let them live out their days with the Qians.”