Chapter 407: Ambitious Uncle

"What does Uncle want me to do?"

Chen Guanlou didn't play roundabout games; he asked directly.

The clan's uncle stared at him, then carefully said, "If you have a way to make Chen Qingzhi shut up and stop causing trouble, that would be best. If you'd rather not show your face, I can arrange a chat with him for you. I'm sure he doesn't want to escalate things."

Chen Qingzhi would never let things stay quiet—he'd welcome it if everyone found out. Chen Guanlou had been hoarding all the benefits, growing fat and satisfied, and many had long resented it. But since Chen Guanlou wasn't an easy target, with no soft spots except one elder sister, and since he had ties to the Hou Fu's main household, personally gathering antiques and paintings for the Lord, and even spoke with the chief steward, everyone had endured it and held back.

But…

Once someone took the lead, a collective backlash would erupt, and even if Chen Guanlou was in the right, he'd still suffer heavily within the clan.

The clan judges cases not just by right and wrong, but by weight and influence.

To quell this so-called "public outrage," someone would inevitably have to bleed heavily.

Chen Guanlou thought it over and made up his mind: "Please, Uncle, help me!"

"You really want me to speak for you?" The clan's uncle seemed uncertain, seeking confirmation.

Chen Guanlou solemnly replied, "Chen Qingzhi is a scoundrel—I have no time to argue with him. You hold great prestige in the clan; everyone respects you. I trust you'll handle this fairly. All expenses will be borne by me."

"We'll discuss expenses later. Since you trust me, I'll speak for you. The clan is full of good and bad elements—this is a chance to expose its problems."

Hearing this, Chen Guanlou understood: the uncle meant to use this opportunity to strengthen his own influence and enter the Clan Elders' Council.

That group of elders, all frail and ancient, were long overdue for renewal.

The uncle's ambition to seize control of clan affairs and become the permanent Deputy Clan Leader was plain for all to see.

The main clan leader, Lord Hou, was constantly away leading troops in battle and never had time to manage the clan's extensive duties.

Even if Lord Hou were in the capital, busy daily with court intrigues, clan matters were left to the elders to handle themselves, with only annual allocations of silver, grain, and resources. As for how those resources were distributed, if no one complained, Lord Hou never inquired—he was simply too busy.

Even if someone did complain, unless it was serious, the elders were left to resolve it themselves.

The uncle had clearly timed this perfectly: whether Lord Hou remained clan leader or the heir apparent inherited the position, neither had time to manage clan affairs. The clan needed a strong, respected, energetic man to serve as permanent Deputy Clan Leader and shoulder the burden.

The uncle's intent was obvious: who else but him?

By dealing with Chen Qingzhi, he could reorganize clan affairs, expose its flaws, and win the heir's favor—all while securing his place in the Clan Elders' Council as Deputy Leader.

With the Hou Fu's backing, his scheme would surely succeed.

This chain of calculations was perfectly timed. If each step went right, the clan would soon change dramatically.

The uncle as permanent Deputy Clan Leader?

Chen Guanlou weighed it up—it wouldn't hurt him.

He'd long resented the clan's old men who relied on age to demand deference. He belonged to the clan's high-income group, paying annual silver contributions—called "donations" or "clan fees." No matter the name, he never withheld payment, yet he received no benefits, and the poor families who should have benefited received nothing either.

Take the clan's private school: the Hou Fu annually subsidized it, yet not every child could attend.

Those elders controlled enrollment slots, openly and secretly collecting "tuition." This kept many poor students out.

Yet Du Fuzi's tuition was paid by the Hou Fu—the clan didn't spend a single coin.

The noon meal was also covered by the Hou Fu—the clan didn't provide a single grain. And yet, the children still had to bring their own lunch.

Clearly, it had been embezzled.

The uncle never openly declared his intent to join the Clan Elders' Council or become Deputy Leader. Chen Guanlou pretended ignorance, merely saying he'd fully support the uncle if needed.

Chen Qingzhi, that bastard, deserved to feel the weight of clan rules and the shame of public disgrace. He was a bully who cowered before strength—when facing Chen Guanlou, he was restrained. But when tormenting other clan members, his behavior was vile.

Chen Guanlou didn't involve himself in clan affairs, yet he'd heard plenty of rumors about Chen Qingzhi.

The moment they settled this, someone came to summon him.

The heir apparent, Chen Guanfu, wished to meet Chen Guanlou in the second courtyard's study.

"The heir wants to see me?"

The page nodded. "Indeed."

"The heir knows me?" Chen Guanlou was astonished. He'd assumed the heir was aloof, like so many noble youths—yet this man, just back a few days, already knew of him and wanted to meet.

"Young Master Chen, please follow me quickly. Today there are many people waiting to see the heir—they're lined up. Don't keep him waiting."

"Alright, alright, lead the way. This bustle makes even Lord Hou's time seem quiet."

"It's different."

"How so? Tell me."

"Lord Hou prefers quiet. He dislikes socializing—unless it's urgent or involves important people, no one dares disturb him. The heir is different. He doesn't mind handling mundane affairs. So many come now to meet him and report matters."

"The imperial appointment hasn't come yet, so the heir must be idle—no wonder he has time for clan matters. Today, so many come to pay respects, yet he still found time to see me. I didn't realize I was so important."

The page, likely a close attendant of the heir, knew some things: "Perhaps because you handled the last mission exceptionally well."

"You mean the cargo transport? That was ages ago—nothing worth mentioning."

The page glanced back at him, seeing his serious expression, yet unable to suppress the smirk at the corner of his mouth—he was clearly pretending modesty.

Chen Guanlou was a little proud—he'd talked down an eighth-rank peak martialist with nothing but his tongue. Who wouldn't call that impressive?

Though he'd lost a thousand taels, the chief steward later reimbursed him. Net gain: a fortune.

As they passed corridors and courtyards, the surroundings suddenly grew quiet. The maids and pages moved with perfect discipline, soft-footed, making no sound.

They finally reached the second courtyard's study—a vast compound, courtyard within courtyard.

He'd imagined a study as a single room for reading and writing.

The Hou Fu's study spanned twenty to thirty rooms, nested in courtyards.

He was led to a side chamber to wait.

The maid was highly trained: no sooner had he sat than tea and snacks arrived. The tea was perfectly warm, the snacks delicious, and even a few storybooks were provided to pass the time. If he grew tired of reading, several paintings of elegant ladies adorned the walls for appreciation.

In short, everything was perfectly arranged, leaving him feeling utterly at ease, inside and out.