Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Yang Zhenshan had been following them for two hours, until the three of them entered a tea house. Just as Yang Zhenshan was hesitating whether to follow them inside, suddenly someone approached him and said, "What are you looking at?"

Yang Zhenshan turned around abruptly to find a scruffy old man standing behind him.

"It's you, you scared me."

It was An Yuxing, and god knows how this old man suddenly appeared here.

An Yuxing stretched his neck to look into the tea house, "That's your granddaughter, and at your age, you are actually secretly following your own granddaughter!"

Yang Zhenshan pushed him away disdainfully, "Go away, stop talking nonsense."

Unmoved, An Yuxing continued to observe the three people inside the tea house. Once they went up to the second floor, he then said, "That must be Qu Changkong's grandson! Are your two families planning to form an alliance through marriage?"

"You actually know him!" Yang Zhenshan was surprised that An Yuxing knew Qu Shaogong.

It wasn't strange for An Yuxing to know Yang Wanqing, as An Yuxing often came to him for drinks over the past three years and thus became very familiar with the Yang family members.

"Of course, I know him. Qu Changkong even came to drink with me in the capital years ago!" An Yuxing said.

Yang Zhenshan's eyes lit up, "Let's go, let's have some drinks!"

"Have drinks! You have good wine!"

"Do you want to drink Drunken Immortal Brew?" Yang Zhenshan said cheerfully.

The Drunken Immortal Brew is a new wine he brewed in recent years, made from Drunken Immortal Herb.

It's essentially similar to the Hundred Herbs Brew but is made more intoxicating with the addition of Drunken Immortal Herb, so much so that even Innate Martial Artists would get drunk to oblivion after drinking it.

"Made some more, let's go!"

Hearing there was Drunken Immortal Brew, An Yuxing immediately perked up.

The two of them returned to the Marquis Jing'an Mansion together, where Yang Zhenshan had a table of fine dishes prepared and then brought out two pots of Drunken Immortal Brew.

Slurp~~

An Yuxing took a sip of Drunken Immortal Brew with his wine cup and showed a face of enjoyment.

The old man usually guzzles other wines straight from the pot, but he sips the Drunken Immortal Brew slowly and delicately.

One reason is because the Drunken Immortal Brew truly has an excellent taste that leaves one wanting more, and the second reason is that Drunken Immortal Brew is quite intoxicating, to the point that even a seasoned drinker like An Yuxing can't handle much.

Yang Zhenshan also took a small sip, savoring the rich and delicate myriad of flavors.

"Come on, tell me about Qu Changkong!"

He knew of Qu Changkong, but his understanding remained superficial.

"Qu Changkong, oh, Qu Changkong is extremely cunning and sly!"

"..."

Yang Zhenshan was somewhat speechless. You, a centenarian relic, are actually calling someone else cunning and sly. Is that appropriate?

"Why do you say so?"

As he sipped his liquor, An Yuxing said, "Qu Changkong inherited his title about forty years ago when the forces at Southern Border Town were weak compared to the Jinlong Dynasty. Even with the support from Da Rong, facing the Jinlong Dynasty was extremely challenging.

"But Qu Changkong was very patient. After inheriting his title, he showed weakness to the Jinlong Dynasty on one hand, while on the other hand, he trained elite soldiers in Southern Border Town. Moreover, he did something else!"

"What did he do?" Yang Zhenshan asked curiously.

An Yuxing grinned and said, "He sent many ruthless criminals to the Jinlong Dynasty."

Yang Zhenshan blinked.

"One ruthless criminal might not cause much havoc, but ten, a hundred, a thousand—considering how large the Jinlong Dynasty is, when hundreds and thousands of ruthless criminals entered the Jinlong Dynasty, they committed murders and arson, dealing all sorts of evil, and even formed bands of highwaymen with Qu Changkong's support!"

"Just within ten years, the once prosperous Jinlong Dynasty turned into a land of chaos!"

"There were everywhere bandits, everywhere criminals!"

"In the end, he didn't even need to send more criminals into the Jinlong Dynasty; many people within the Jinlong Dynasty turned into criminals on their own."

"And he still didn't stop there—he continued to proclaim in Da Rong that the Jinlong Dynasty is a paradise for criminals, where one could live freely as long as they went there, prompting many wanted martial artists in Da Rong to flee to the Jinlong Dynasty!"

"At first, the Jinlong Dynasty didn't realize Qu Changkong's treachery. When they finally did, by that time Qu Changkong already had 200,000 elite troops under his command, while the Jinlong Dynasty, plagued by criminal chaos, had lost much of its military strength!"

"Ever after, although the Jinlong Dynasty repeatedly invaded the Southern Border Town, they were badly defeated each time."

"Now, the Jinlong Dynasty has basically lost control, the royal family of Jinlong cannot manage the many forces within the country; the entire nation is overrun with highwaymen, industries are declining, and the people are suffering immensely."

An Yuxing narrated slowly.

Yang Zhenshan listened, stunned.

Damn, Qu Changkong is really cunning!

To use such repugnant tactics to ruin a dynasty!

A few hundred or a thousand criminals might not seem much, but that's the Jinlong Dynasty—if it were in Da Rong, it would likely cause only local unrest, but given the small territorial expanse of the Jinlong Dynasty, similar to that of Liaodong, the emergence of several hundred or thousand criminals, especially those who are martial artists, is predictable.

One criminal could harm dozens or hundreds of civilians; thousands of criminals would make the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians miserable.

Qu Changkong is not only extremely cunning but also deceitful to the extreme.

However, this wouldn't affect the marital alliance between the two families; no matter how deceitful Qu Changkong is, he wouldn't harm his own grandson. The only concern is to be wary not to be used by him.

"What about his grandson?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

An Yuxing looked at Yang Zhenshan oddly, "How would I know that? I only met Qu Shaogong once!"

Well, that's true. An Yuxing's acquaintance with Qu Changkong was due to not yet having sequestered himself in Sanshan Valley when Qu Changkong first rose to prominence; however, Qu Shaogong is quite young, so it would be odd if he knew much about him.

Yang Zhenshan stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"If you're looking to find a marital house for your granddaughter, why not consider your disciple?" An Yuxing suddenly suggested.

Yang Zhenshan was taken aback, "My disciple? You mean Chenhui?"

"How so, my great-grandson isn't good enough for your girl?" An Yuxing said somewhat discontentedly.

Yang Zhenshan was speechless, "Old man, don't stir up trouble. If those two are interested, naturally, I'd be happy to see it happen, but there's just no spark between them!"

Yang Qingwan is not unfamiliar with An Chenhui. It's not just An Chenhui, but also the Crown Prince and Prince Dai whom she knows.

But there seems to be no romance there.

If there were such intentions, Yang Zhenshan would not be so troubled now.

Perhaps the Crown Prince and Prince Dai aren't feasible options, but there is absolutely nothing hindering between An Chenhui and Yang Qingwan; if they could marry, Yang Zhenshan would certainly not obstruct it.

"Electricity? What do you mean?" An Yuxing was somewhat puzzled by Yang Zhenshan's expression.

"It means they are mutually attracted!"

"I see!" An Yuxing thought for a moment and sighed softly, "Ah, my great-grandson is indeed a bit dull!"

Both Yang Zhenshan and An Yuxing have headaches. An Chenhui is already over twenty years old this year, but he has yet to marry.

It seems that keeping An Chenhui by his side has delayed his marriage.

"You, as a master, should make some arrangements for Chenhui!"

Yang Zhenshan looked up, "Do I need to make the arrangements?"

"Should I be the one to do it?" An Yuxing looked at him.

The two glared at each other, each looking at the other.

However, Yang Zhenshan was the first to give in; damn it, what could he do, as An Yuxing was practically half his master, and in these three years, An Yuxing had guided him a lot.

"Then which family's daughter would be suitable?"

An Yuxing looked at Yang Zhenshan, "Don't you have several granddaughters?"

"..."

Yang Zhenshan was completely speechless, were you eyeing my granddaughters.

"Wan Ting, or Miao'er!"

Both Yang Wanting and Jiang Miao are fourteen this year, which is the age for discussing betrothals. Although they are seven years younger than An Chenhui, it still could work.

An Yuxing recalled; he had seen both of these little girls, and in his memory, Wan Ting was more lively, while Miao'er was lively too, full of vigor.

"Miao'er then!"

"Why?" Yang Zhenshan was curious why the old man chose Miao'er.

"Miao'er is calmer, although myfamily isn't a great noble family, it still has many family members, and Chenhui's future wife will be the matriarch of the household," explained An Yuxing.

"Let's settle it as such then, I'll send a letter back home immediately, asking Chenhui's parents to come over and discuss the betrothal!"

"Wait, how can this be settled just like that? I haven't agreed yet, besides, my daughter and son-in-law have to agree too!" Yang Zhenshan hurried.

This old man always acts carelessly, just trying to settle the marriage of two kids in a few words, isn't that nonsense?

"Do you think the kid Chenhui is not good?" asked An Yuxing.

"Not at all, he is my disciple, if he weren't good, I would have expelled him from the sect a long time ago, even though he is your great-grandson!" replied Yang Zhenshan.

"So what are you hesitating for! I'm not even disdainful of your granddaughter!" An Yuxing said discontentedly.

Yang Zhenshan glared at him, "You dare to disdain my granddaughter, I named Miao'er, and I watched her grow up, hmph, no way, no way, with you as an ancestor like that, Miao'er would definitely be wronged if she married!"

"Ah, don't say that, I was just talking nonsense!"

An Yuxing panicked, "What do you want, as long as this old man can provide, I'll give it to you!"

"Cut it out, what are you saying, it makes it sound like I want to sell my granddaughter!" Yang Zhenshan picked up his drink and drank it, "Don't be anxious, I'll first inquire my daughter and son-in-law's opinion."

"After all, I'm just her maternal grandfather, I can't decide on my own."

"Moreover, there's no need to be anxious; Miao'er is only fourteen this year, even if she is to be married, it can only happen two years later!"

Seeing him insist, An Yuxing said, "Alright, let me know the outcome, so I can make arrangements!"

After a meal with drinks, they almost settled the marriage between An Chenhui and Jiang Miao.

While Yang Wanqing's marriage is still unresolved, Jiang Miao's marriage is tentatively arranged.

After sending An Yuxing off, Yang Zhenshan pondered for a while, then summoned Yang Yunyan and Jiang He.

In the evening, in the front hall of the main courtyard, Yunyan and Jiang He accompanied Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi for dinner.

"What do you think of An Chenhui?" Yang Zhenshan asked.

Jiang He and Yang Yunyan didn't quite understand Yang Zhenshan's intention, but Yang Yunyan nevertheless said, "Dad, isn't Chenhui your disciple? Shouldn't you know best about how he is?"

Yang Zhenshan coughed lightly, "Old An wants Miao'er to marry Chenhui!"

Yang Yunyan and Jiang He looked at each other, "Is that appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Yang Zhenshan queried.

Yang Yunyan said, "Dad, thefamily is also a major clan, isn't it a mismatch for us?"

Jiang Miao's surname is Jiang, not Yang, which is a point that both Jiang He and Yang Yunyan have always cared about. So, during the past few years when Jiang Ning was discussing marriage, they chose a match that was a good fit for the Jiang family.

Of course, the threshold of the Jiang family isn't low. With the Yang family as in-laws, and Jiang He now having an official position, the Jiang family holds a respectable threshold.

Earlier this year, Jiang Ning married; his wife is the niece of the Han family from the Changping Marquis Mansion, as she is also cousin to Liang Jinyan and Yang Yunxue.

This Han family is a Martial Arts Family, though not deeply influential, they aren't considered a powerful noble family either.

Moreover, the Yang family and the Liang family are relatives by marriage, which enhances their connection.

Liang Hanyu arranged this marriage, and Yang Zhenshan also kept an eye on it, finding the girl quite suitable, also agreeing to it.

"It doesn't matter, his family is not a great noble family either; although Old An is formidable, your dad isn't much worse!" Yang Zhenshan confidently stated.

Although his strength is still quite far behind An Yuxing, he is younger.

Do not underestimate the youth in poverty; compared to An Yuxing, Yang Zhenshan is still young.

Though he may not match An Yuxing now, in another decade or more, he will definitely not be inferior to An Yuxing.

Yang Yunyan looked at Jiang He again, who smiled and said, "Dad, if you think it's suitable, then there's no problem! Chenhui is gentle by nature, and he will definitely not let Miao'er suffer in the future."

Jiang He wasn't just speaking off the top of his head; An Chenhui truly has a mild disposition. The old Chenhui was somewhat timid, but in the past two years, ever since being mentored by Yang Zhenshan, he has become a lot more cheerful and resilient.

Yang Zhenshan nodded, "You're not wrong there!"