Chapter 33: 33. Forced the palace to ascend to the throne

On the outskirts of Haicheng stood the Yuan family estate.

The splendid, sprawling estate covered tens of thousands of square meters, and everything within had been decorated in stark white. To facilitate visitors coming to pay their condolences, the main gate was wide open, ensuring unobstructed access. Soul Banners, wreaths, and paper effigies of people and horses—various mourning items were piled as high as mountains, spreading out from the memorial hall deep within the manor.

In a side hall to the right, all members of the Yuan family were present. Their faces were grim as they tightly surrounded Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue.

A middle-aged man in mourning clothes pointed at Yuan Youwei and demanded, “Yuan Youwei, what are you thinking? Why are you hosting a funeral for an outsider?”

His name was Yuan Ruohai, the second master of the Yuan family. After Yuan Youwei’s parents had passed away, he should have become the heir. Unexpectedly, the Old Master, Yuan Tianguang, had doted on the second daughter of the main branch even more and was determined to make her the successor instead. Yuan Ruohai had long harbored resentment over this. Now, seizing the opportunity, the thoughts he had suppressed for so long could no longer be contained.

“Second Uncle, I am arranging the funeral for Lin Suxin, firstly to thank Lin Fan for saving my life,” Yuan Youwei said, biting her lip as she calmly met the judgmental stares of the crowd. “Secondly, it is to conceal the news of the Old Master’s death so we can handle his arrangements at the same time, preventing any unforeseen complications!”

She had already explained these two reasons to everyone when she returned last night. Being forced to repeat herself now gave Yuan Youwei a terrible sense of foreboding.

“Hmph! A fine excuse to ’prevent unforeseen complications.’ I think you’re just a love-struck fool! To curry favor with some divorced man, you’ve thrown away the Yuan family’s dignity!” Yuan Ruohai flew into a rage, his voice rising sharply. “You took the Old Master to see Lin Fan last night, and what happened? Nothing changed! That bastard even desecrated the Old Master’s face, and not only did you fail to hold him accountable, you gave him one hundred million in cash? Then, early this morning, you handed over property worth tens of millions? What in the world are you doing, Yuan Youwei!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar. One hundred million in cash, plus property worth tens of millions? So Yuan Youwei was willing to spend a fortune to keep a pretty boy!

“Yuan Youwei, you must give us a reasonable explanation!”

“That’s right! You’re so generous to outsiders but so stingy with us! Are you not ashamed to face the Old Master’s spirit in heaven?”

“The Old Master’s body hasn’t even been laid to rest, and you’re already in a rush to empty the Yuan family’s coffers?”

Everyone was furious, pointing at Yuan Youwei and cursing loudly. Even Mrs. Xue could only bite her lip, unable to say a word in her defense.

“Lin Fan saved my life twice last night.” Yuan Youwei took a deep breath, and a frosty chill appeared on her beautiful face. She slowly swept her gaze over the familiar, angry faces, her heart sinking. “In your eyes, is my life not worth that much money?”

“Stop making excuses, Yuan Youwei! I think the Old Master spoiled you rotten! You’re simply not fit to lead the Yuan family!”

At a signal from Yuan Ruohai, a white-haired elder stepped out from the crowd and approached Yuan Youwei.

“I am a clan elder. Even Tianguang had to call me Seventh Brother. Now that the Yuan family is without a leader, I propose we strip Yuan Youwei of her status as heir!” Seventh Uncle announced, his gaze sweeping across the room. “Ruohai is capable and driven. We old-timers have all witnessed his contributions to the Yuan family over the years!”

The hall fell silent for a moment before bursting into shocked murmurs. Mrs. Xue’s expression tightened as she cast a worried glance at Yuan Youwei. The others exchanged looks, their expressions a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. Clearly, Yuan Ruohai was staging a coup to oust Yuan Youwei from power.

“Dad, are you insane? You’re trying to take over at a time like this?” Standing behind his father, Yuan Tao was visibly startled as he whispered the question.

“You little brat, what do you know? I’m doing this for you!” Yuan Ruohai snapped, then strode confidently to stand before Seventh Uncle. “Seventh Uncle, my abilities are humble. I am truly unworthy of such a heavy responsibility.” He put on a look of shame, shaking his head. “However, I cannot bear to watch an ignorant junior like Yuan Youwei drag the Yuan family’s name through the mud and bring it to ruin!”

“…Second Uncle. I never thought it would be you.” At that moment, Yuan Youwei, who had been standing frozen, clenched her fists and spoke through gritted teeth. “The Poison Insect in the Old Master’s body—was it you who colluded with Ah Tai to plant it?”

Yuan Ruohai’s face stiffened. “What nonsense about a Poison Insect? I have no idea what you’re babbling about!” he snapped, turning away with an angry snort. However, anyone with eyes could see the flicker of guilt in his.

“Second Uncle, Seventh Uncle, how can you do this? Do you have no respect for the Old Master?” Seeing this, Yuan Youwei’s beautiful eyes reddened as she choked back a sob. Her heart felt as if it had been plunged into ice.

“The one who has let down Tianguang is you, his unfilial descendant!” Seventh Uncle’s face darkened as he pointed a trembling finger toward the coffin in the outer hall. “You, an unmarried maiden, are brazenly hosting a funeral for an outsider’s deceased mother and daring to publicize it throughout the city?

“Yuan Youwei, have you no shame? You have utterly disgraced the Yuan family!” he roared, stamping his foot, his face contorted with rage as spittle flew from his mouth.

“That’s right! We never agreed to this! It was all your reckless decision!”

“Yuan Youwei, oh, Yuan Youwei, don’t you realize all of Haicheng is laughing at our family right now?”

“I agree with Seventh Uncle’s proposal! Let Ruohai take charge of the Yuan family!”

“I agree! It’s better than someone secretly transferring family assets to benefit an outsider!”

One after another, shouts of condemnation rang out. Yuan Youwei trembled, clenching her teeth in silence. Meanwhile, Yuan Ruohai and Seventh Uncle exchanged triumphant glances, their faces beaming with victory.

“The Black Tiger Hall also agrees that Brother Ruohai should inherit the Yuan family!”

The next moment, a loud, rough voice boomed from outside, accompanied by the sound of countless footsteps. Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue exchanged a look, their expressions changing drastically. Yuan Ruohai, however, was ecstatic and strode forward to greet the arrivals.

“Lord Hu, your presence brings great honor to the Yuan family!”

The newcomers were a group of menacing men in black suits. Their leader was a burly, bearded man in a black trench coat. His face was fleshy and fierce, twisted into a savage smile. This was Chen Heihu, the master of the Black Tiger Hall, which boasted thirty thousand followers. He was the infamous underground emperor of Haicheng.

“This… this…” The Yuan family members exchanged uneasy glances. It was well known that this man was the Yuan family’s archenemy. His brazen appearance now certainly meant he was up to no good.

BANG!

A smirk played on Chen Heihu’s lips as he dragged a chair over and sat down ostentatiously at the hall’s entrance. Beaming, Yuan Ruohai coolly took his place by his side.

“The Bright Moon Villa also supports Brother Ruohai!”

“As does the Divine Blade Sect!”

“And so do we, the Bamboo Union, the Eight Treasures Pavilion, the Sky Blast Gang…”

More voices thundered from outside. Group after group of men strode forward, packing the entrance tightly. It was a dark, overwhelming mass of people, like a surging black tide stretching as far as the eye could see.

The Yuan family members were aghast, gasping in shock. The top-ranking underground power, the Black Tiger Hall; the second-ranking Bright Moon Villa; the third-ranking Divine Blade Sect; and all the gangs that controlled Haicheng’s docks and ports—nearly every major figure in Haicheng’s underworld was present, and it seemed they were all here to back Yuan Ruohai.

“Yuan Youwei, don’t blame your Second Uncle for being heartless. It’s just that the Old Master favored you far too much when he was alive!” Yuan Ruohai declared, beaming with triumph as he held his head high. He turned and clasped his hands in thanks to the crowd behind him. When he faced Yuan Youwei again, his smile had turned cold, the pretense finally dropped.

“Second Uncle, are you trying to push the Yuan family into a fiery pit?!” Yuan Youwei’s face was a mask of disappointment and despair, her heart sinking as if into an ice cavern. For him to have gained the support of so many underworld forces, the Yuan family would surely have to pay an enormous price.

“Enough of this nonsense! Today, whether you accept it or not, the result will be the same,” Yuan Ruohai sneered, pointing toward the memorial hall outside. “Men! Go smash that worthless Lin Suxin’s memorial tablet and portrait! Destroy it all!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep