Chapter 660: Competing for the Position of Acting Clan Leader

The reason Ji Yingjie's confidants would recommend Zhu Yiwen is very simple.

The Elders are all high-ranking and powerful, and they have been coveting the position of Clan Leader for more than just a day or two.

It sounds nice, Acting Clan Leader?

Once someone sits in the position of Clan Leader, no one is willing to step down.

By then, let alone the position, it is hard to say whether the Clan Leader's life could even be preserved.

But Zhu Yiwen is different.

Zhu Yiwen is capable; under the authorization of the Clan Leader, he has managed the Clan's affairs, and the arrangements were orderly without any problems arising.

Moreover, Ji Yingjie's confidants all believe that Zhu Yiwen has no ambition, which is the most important thing.

Capable, and no ambition.

He can ensure the normal operation of the Clan, and he can also wait for the Clan Leader to wake up and smoothly return the position—what a beautiful thought!

The two sides began a fierce debate, arguing incessantly.

It seemed that both sides had sufficient reasons.

The Conservative Faction opposed Zhu Yiwen acting as Clan Leader, with a legitimate reason—for thousands of years, the Ji Family has had no rule allowing a man to hold power!

A man holding power is equivalent to shaking the foundation; it is absolutely forbidden.

The Confidant Faction argued on strong grounds: How is there no such rule?

When the Clan Leader went out, didn't she also let Mr. Zhu manage the family business for a period of time?

Everyone witnessed the results of his management; why didn't you jump out to oppose it back then?

The Conservative Faction: Can that time be the same as now? Back then, although the Clan Leader was not at home, she was constantly paying attention and remotely controlling everything in the Clan.

Moreover, the Elders were also monitoring him at close range at the time; if he dared to have ulterior motives, he would have been executed immediately.

Now it is different; the Acting Clan Leader possesses the highest power in the Clan, and he has the final say on everything.

Once Zhu Yiwen takes office, even the Elders will have to obey his orders; with power, he can do whatever he wants, and no one can control him—the risk is too great.

The Confidant Faction mocked: You see things so thoroughly; you haven't been coveting the Clan Leader's position for just a day or two, have you?

Don't always think of yourselves as smart people and everyone else as fools.

The Clan can only be run by the Ji Family; if the Ji Family's woman is in a coma, then the Ji Family's man will temporarily take her place—there is no problem with that!

Zhu Yiwen is Ji Yingjie's person, so he is also counted as a man of the Ji Family.

The argument between the two sides reached a fever pitch; the women argued until their faces were red and their ears were hot, arguing from day until night.

They argued from morning until evening, but the two sides still could not reach a result that both were convinced by.

Zhu Yiwen did not say a word the entire time, sitting in his seat as quiet as an old monk in meditation, but when others asked him to state his position, he appeared neither humble nor arrogant.

He showed no desire for the Clan Leader's power, yet he appeared very confident in the Clan Leader's recovery.

Zhu Yiwen stated: "If I am allowed to act as Clan Leader, I will stake my head on the line to guarantee that I will manage the Clan's affairs well, and when the Clan Leader wakes up, I will return a better, more powerful Clan to her."

He also said: "This life of mine was saved by the Clan Leader; from that moment on, I have been a dog for the Clan Leader, and I am willing to do anything for her."

"If the Clan Leader could wake up now, I would be willing to die immediately!"

Although these words of loyalty were of no use, they moved the Confidant Faction to tears.

But the Conservative Faction still did not agree.

And because they were numerous and powerful, they eventually gained the upper hand.

Zhu Yiwen was squeezed out of the candidate position, but he was not annoyed; he didn't even frown, and he went to serve the Clan Leader instead.

One week later.

Everyone gathered in the conference room again.

It was the same matter as last time, but the attitude was completely different!

Now there was almost no dissent; everyone supported Zhu Yiwen to be the Acting Clan Leader.

The reason is simple: the Conservative Faction was not harmonious internally either.

In opposing the Confidant Faction, these people were united.

However, when it came to choosing an Acting Clan Leader from among the Elders, the Elders' opinions were not unified!

Everyone wanted to be this Acting Clan Leader, and everyone felt they were the most qualified; at first, it was just arguing, but it soon evolved into physical fighting.

Every day people fought, and every day people were injured.

This week, the Clan was in chaos, yet there was still no result that satisfied everyone!

Finally, they unanimously decided to let Zhu Yiwen be the Acting Clan Leader; let him stabilize the situation first, and then they would replace him themselves.

Zhu Yiwen saw the thoughts of these people clearly.

On the surface, he remained calm, but in reality, the changes over these days were all within his plan.

Even the fact that those people fought to this extent involved Zhu Yiwen in every incident; he was not on the surface, but in the shadows, he was "helping" every Elder.

It would have been better if he hadn't helped; the more he helped, the more chaotic it became, and finally, it turned into a complete mess.

Zhu Yiwen became the Acting Clan Leader.

For the first ten days or so, he behaved himself, but he didn't last long before his true colors were revealed.

The first thing he wanted to do was to find out where the Ji Family's Treasure was hidden.

He hadn't been idle at all these days; he had carefully searched Ji Yingjie's bedroom and Study several times, almost digging three feet into the ground.

But he hadn't found any traces at all.

Clan Leader's bedroom.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

Nianyin entered and bowed respectfully to Zhu Yiwen: "Good afternoon, Acting Clan Leader. Did you look for me for something?"

She is Ji Yingjie's most capable confidante; this time, Zhu Yiwen was able to become Acting Clan Leader, and Nianyin's contribution was indispensable.

"Mm."

Zhu Yiwen pointed to the purple nanmu carved chair beside the daybed: "Sit, I have a very important matter to ask you."

"This subordinate dare not."

Nianyin suddenly knelt on the ground, terrified and trembling.

That chair is the seat reserved for the Clan Leader; only Zhu Yiwen, now serving as Acting Clan Leader, has the qualifications to sit on it.

If she were to sit on that chair, it would imply she had thoughts of rebellion, which is why Nianyin was so terrified.

"Acting Clan Leader, I am just as loyal to the Clan Leader as you are; with the heavens above, the sun and moon can bear witness."

Nianyin raised three fingers on her right hand, preparing to swear an oath, but was stopped by Zhu Yiwen: "No need to swear, I believe you."

He said with a pleasant expression: "Actually, it doesn't matter if I'm acting or not; let alone acting, I have no interest in being the real Clan Leader... I think you are suited to be the Clan Leader."

Nianyin: "This subordinate dare not."

Zhu Yiwen: "Don't talk about daring or not, I want to know if you want to?"

"I do not." She did not hesitate for even a second.

Zhu Yiwen was slightly disappointed; he did not expect that there would really be someone who did not crave or care about power.

Since temptation would not work, he would change his approach.

He sighed: "You are truly clever, knowing that this Acting Clan Leader position is a hot potato and not taking it; I am the foolish one, always thinking about sharing the Clan Leader's burdens and worries, so I took it on."

"Only after becoming it did I realize how difficult it is; the daily expenses of the clan alone are a not insignificant figure... The Clan Leader has hidden a Treasure outside; give me the address, and I will retrieve some to handle the emergency." He began to plead poverty.

Zhu Yiwen's goal was those Treasures hidden outside.

But he did not know where they were hidden, and asking directly was too obvious; it would be very easy to be refused.

So he changed his method, guiding her step by step!

Nianyin understood the meaning behind his words.

However, she pretended not to understand: "That won't happen; the Clan Leader has long since made arrangements for the clan's daily expenses. Even if we did nothing and just lay around eating and drinking for ten years, there would be no deficit."

"Acting Clan Leader, you can rest assured; there will definitely be no problems regarding the finances." She did not refuse directly, but it was a refusal nonetheless.