Ning Shaoqing questioned softly, his expression already solemn and chilly, eyes gleaming with coldness like that on a blade, giving out an air of killing. Ning Shaoyu involuntarily trembled in terror and chill.

Just after half a day, he had deeply realized that Ning Shaoqing changed obviously this time.

In fact, as he just stepped into the meeting room in the ancestral hall, Ning Shaoyu had smelt a rat. Not just him. The several elders who supported him were all wearing a bad look.

The old man hadn’t come out of his room after he claimed to fall ill ever since the Spring Festival. Several days ago, he had been coughed like lying. Wasn’t that poison incurable? Wasn’t him dying?

How came that he now sat in the main chair healthy, not coughing…? The only explanation was that the old guy had discovered long ago and intended to lead them into the trap.

The more he thought, the more terrified Ning Shaoyu was. Hence, the harder he should try to let the eighth elder survive. Otherwise, what to do if he was forced to confess everything?

He had never been in direct contact with those people. Everything was arranged through the eighth elder. As long as eight elder remained clamed up, nobody could do anything to him.

Master Ning glanced at eighth elder who was kneeling, “Do you have anything to say?”

He was quite calm, as if he had anticipated this day to come, and looked right in the eye of master Ning, “I have nothing to say.” He was kneeling, but his attitude was tough and voice loud.

The others were surprised. The first family elder was irritated, scolding loudly, “You traitor! Don’t you realize you are wrong?! If you’re guilty, then name the people you’ve contacted with and other traitors. We won’t lift you from death penalty, but we’ll at least let you suffer less.”

The clan elders were all selected from side branches based on their ability. The first clan elder was close to eighth elder and persuaded patiently, “Eighth elder, the clan treats you nice. Why did you join outsiders against your own people?”

The eighth elder didn’t answer, gritting his teeth, and made a weird smile.

Ning Shaoqing took a glimpse and dashed over with a smirk, pinching his chin. However, it was late. The poison had reached his throat. As the eighth elder’s head ducked to one side, he lost his breath.

Everybody present here was martial artists with great learning. When Ning Shaoqing dashed over, others also found it strange and followed up.

Naturally, Ning Shaoqing understood it too. Seeing the eighth elder died, he felt greatly relieved.

The first elder, a good friend of the eighth elder, sighed, “For whom on earth you should do this?”

Afterwards, he turned and bowed to master Ning, “Master, could you do me a favor and show mercy? He has committed suicide. Since he did contribute a lot to the clan. Could you give him the grace of forgiving his families?”

Obviously, master Ning hadn’t expected the sudden suicide of the eighth elder, but he had expected the first elder’s request, looking stumped and solemn, “I guess you know that treason is an unbearable crime in our clan. Not only he must die, his properties be confiscated and families expelled out of the clan! I also do wish to show mercy, but if this exception was made, then how would the rest of the clan respect our clan rules and our ancestors?”

Without rules, the clan would be a mess. If clan rules were mentioned, there seemed to be no wiggled room. The first elder sighed, “Sorry that my request made it hard for you, master.”

As they talked, master Ning waved his hand, and guards showed up and dragged out the corpse.

“Since the clan traitor has figured out. The rest will be handled by the first elder. Let’s put an end to this matter.” Master Ning cleared his throat, “Today’s meeting isn’t to clear away traitors only. There’s another major event to discuss with you.”

The family elders and clan elders glanced at each other and spoke in unison, “Please.”

Master Ning said, “I’m old already and not well. I don’t think I could manage the clan affairs anymore. Hence, I’d like to pass my position to Shaoqing, our eldest young lord.” He said the eldest young lord instead of his son. As a convention, the eldest young lord was recognized as the future master of the clan.

Hearing this, coldness surfaced in the eyes of Ning Shaoyu. The old man always liked Ning Shaoqing and never thought of or for him…

Discussions began among the elders.

“Why do you say so, master?”

“I don’t think you’re unhealthy. And you manage our clan in an orderly way.”

“I only believe that master is in prime time. It won’t be late to choose a future master in a few years.”

Everybody focused on the health condition of master Ning, but none of them pointed out whether Ning Shaoqing was still the eldest young lord of the clan.

Master Ning didn’t seem to understand their implication and only sighed about his health, “It doesn’t appear to you that I’m not well. But I know I’m injured inside. As much as I’d like to, I don’t have the energy to care about the clan affairs.”

When it came to this, the position of clan master was going to be taken by others.

Certainly, they all stood up to comfort master Ning, some claiming to have a special prescription against coughing, some others recommending a good imperial doctor, still others suggesting to invite the strange doctor.

Master Ning just waved his hand, “Let’s put aside my health condition. Now it’s a eventful time, and we need a decisive and capable man to lead us break through the predicament, other than someone who puts on air as a master and does nothing but inviting famous doctors and taking drugs.”

His voice wasn’t loud but majestic on itself. For a time, nobody refuted.

They were all silent.

Master Ning look to Ning Shaoqing with satisfaction, “I believe Shaoqing’s talents are witnessed by all of you.” Suddenly, his eyes became sharp and words tart, “Hadn’t he been undercover outside the family for over a year, we couldn’t possibly figure out the traitors and clear away the perils.”

Many years ago, Ning Shaoqing had secured his position of the first young lord. They objection was nothing more than his absence and lacking of duties towards the clan. Now, the words of master Ning worked as a mind relief. It was their plan to have sent Ning Shaoqing out! He had suffered for the clan!

“When Shaoqing was out, before the traitors were cleared, I couldn’t spell it out. Hence, Shaoqing has suffered a lot…”

The words put the hall into silence again. Although some of them were crystal clear of what Ning Shaoqing had undergone in the past year, they weren’t able to say it.

Ning Shaoqing looked serious, “These are what I should do. As long as I’m here, I won’t let rats stealing a bit of our clan.” He couldn’t let father down. He couldn’t concede anymore. He must take the position as soon as possible.

His ceaseless secret hard word during these days were enough to pay back the year’s leisure time. He deserved it with a clear conscience.

Master Ning nodded at him and then turned to the others, with a solemn look, “If there aren’t opinions, I plan to hold the ceremony tomorrow in the ancestral hall.”

The first clan elder peered around everybody else and exchanged a look with his close ones, “Should we discuss more about it?”

Then, he looked to the second clan elder, who coughed, “Selecting a new master is a huge event. We can’t be so hasty.”

The third clan elder said, “We don’t need to decide it immediately. It’d be better to discuss more.”

The fifth clan elder said, “Lord Shaoqing has worked well in the clan and is the first candidate for the future master. Yet, it’s a huge event to hold a ceremony in the ancestral hall. Should we invite an imperial astronomer to help select a good day?”

“I agree with master. The first lord always acts decisively and fairly. The affairs handled by him was always flawless. Besides, he has been assisting master for many years. Never did he make a mistake. Since master feels unwell and wishes to step down. Then it’s great that first young lord takes it over. It’s better that we make a quick decision during this eventful time.”

The first family elder didn’t look up to anybody but said loudly, in a determined tone.

The second family elder added, “Our clan never sticks to trivial manners. Nor do we care about others’ opinion. There’s no better day than present. Since master has decided on tomorrow, we’ll of course support it…”

There were a few others, nervous, didn’t talk. They were exactly who had accepted bribes from Ning Shaoyu. As they sensed the master’s sharp sight and at the thought of the fact that the eighth clan elder was dead, they all said, “We’ll follow master’s order.”

Only then did master Ning nod in relief, “Well, in view that most of you agree with me in supporting the first young lord to take the position, then…”

Before he finished, he coughed nonstop.

The first family elder continued for him, announcing loudly, “Tomorrow is a great day. Tonight, let’s fast and bathe for first young lord. Tomorrow, at six o’clock in the morning, we’ll gather in the ancestral hall and select a new master before our ancestors.”

**

In the Peach Blossom Garden.

Before long, Bihuan fetched a blue dress and led Chuyi here.

“Lady.” Seeing Mo Qianxue’s messy dirty clothes, Chuyi believed that lady must had been bullied and quickly went to hold her, “Are you okay, lady?”

“I’m okay. I just feel sore in my other. I guess I caught a cold when I slept here.” The words were said to Chuyi, and also to Bihuan.

A girl who had just lost her virginity must feel uncomfortable. But the discomfort wasn’t in her, but in Bihuan.