You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 164 - 163 Exposure

People who are annoying often tend to live longer, or to say, as people live longer, they inevitably become more annoying.

Le Yuxin squatted beside Jing Zhengwu’s corpse, looking at his pale and serene face. For some reason, instead of feeling the joy of an enemy’s death, he felt his heart and veins tangled together, a vague and inexplicable sadness piercing through his soul.

Jing Zhengwu was not an annoying person.

Although Le Yuxin knew that Jing Zhengwu had conspired with the Qin Family to assassinate him and constantly fought against him both openly and secretly, those were all struggles for interest and power. Even though their positions were indeed life-and-death, he did not dislike this half-brother.

Through several brief encounters, Le Yuxin recognized a more authentic Jing Zhengwu: oddly provocative, secretly bold, never giving up, ruthless, and even somewhat childish.

When Jing Zhengwu had the upper hand, he didn’t disgust or suppress his elder brother, at most boasting a little about being favored by their father; when he was at a disadvantage, he never became hysterical but conserved his strength and waited for the opportunity to counterattack.

Using a game metaphor, Jing Zhengwu was like an opponent player who, when leading in the early stages, would taunt with a few ’?’ remarks. But if his gank failed and he was beaten by Le Yuxin, he would quietly farm, never admitting defeat, and relentlessly competing with Le Yuxin to the end.

Sooner or later, Le Yuxin would have to deal with Jing Zhengwu, but not as an enemy, rather as an opponent.

Originally, after having lunch with others at the Celestial Court restaurant, Le Yuxin was still immersed in the joy of suddenly inheriting the patriarch position, contemplating how his brothers would retaliate, when a servant from the Jing Family suddenly notified him to go to Jing Garden.

On the way back, Le Yuxin almost sorted out the reasons for this series of changes.

The White Night’s attack on Half City had become a foregone conclusion. Even though this time Le Yuxin would be in trouble, if not dead, he found five other chamber successors to share the blame, not only suffering no loss but rather invisibly elevating his social status.

The Jing Family’s factories in Half City were completely destroyed, a heavy blow to the Jing Family, especially to the three brothers—although they had other businesses, the highest profits came from those Jing Family factories managed by them.

Le Yuxin alone found an alternative route through the "Youth Daily." Even though the printing plant in Half City was burned, there were printing plants outside the county. At most, it was a bit more troublesome, but it could still operate steadily. When everyone else suffered heavy losses, and you made a small profit, it meant you were a step ahead.

From social status to business ability, Le Yuxin had already perfectly defeated the three brothers. Jing Qingfu wanted to pass the position of patriarch to him. Who supported it, who opposed it?

The reason for choosing the day of the Silver Blood conference for Jing Shou to pass the position was threefold:

① Although there were six people sharing the blame for the Half City attack incident, to ensure everything went smoothly, Jing Qingfu first transferred the patriarch position to Le Yuxin. With this protective shield, even if the other five were all dragged out and executed as punishment, Le Yuxin would certainly be acquitted;

② Qin Leyin and others also said that the Silver Blood conference was the best opportunity for a declaration. Moreover, every time the chamber changed its chief executive, it needed to report at the Silver Blood conference. Since everyone was already there, everything could be resolved together;

③ Jing Qingfu couldn’t wait any longer.

Upon entering Jing Garden, Le Yuxin was also contemplating how to deal with his brothers. Jing Zhengfeng and Jing Zhengtang were relatively easy to handle, but Jing Zhengwu was a real hot potato.

Letting him go was absolutely impossible. Le Yuxin trusted his judgment about him, and half of the Jing Family supported Jing Zhengwu, with the maternal Qin Family’s secret support. One day, they might openly resist Jing Zhengwei’s tyranny—Le Yuxin wasn’t interested in wasting time on family infighting.

Considering house arrest or stripping him of his assets, forcing him to become a son-in-law to the Qin Family, was a favorable option. Although someone like Jing Zhengwu could possibly regain strength or even become more formidable after becoming a son-in-law, by then Le Yuxin would have left Xuanzhu County, traversing mountains and rivers to find the Divine Demon Well. Jing Zhengwu’s revenge on Jing Zhengwei had nothing to do with Le Yuxin.

But this scheme was no different from sparing him, as the internal threat within the Jing Family would still exist, and Jing Zhengwu’s identity could at any time become a sharp blade against Le Yuxin.

The most thorough and best solution, naturally, was—

Kill him.

But even this plan had significant issues. Fratricide wouldn’t bring a good reputation, and the clan would be disheartened, potentially causing the Jing Family to fall apart. Even though Le Yuxin had no affection for the Jing Family, seeing it collapse wouldn’t be satisfying.

After all, I spent months winning the Jing Family, how could it be ruined as soon as I got it?

At least let me have fun with it...

Before entering, Le Yuxin hadn’t decided how to handle Jing Zhengwu.

And now, the ’cowardly suicide’ Jing Zhengwu lay in front of Le Yuxin.

Someone had already settled everything for him.

Yet Le Yuxin couldn’t feel happy.

Perhaps he could never become an annoying person.

The surroundings were very quiet. The clansmen hardly dared to breathe. Jing Zhengtang stood silently behind. His inseparable fiancée was not by his side; could he be afraid of something?

"Master has awakened, Master has awakened!"

A servant ran in frantically shouting with joy, causing the clansmen to show happiness. The dejected Jing Zhengtang couldn’t help but get excited: "Father is okay!?"

The servant quickly replied: "Yes, after treatment by the two Medical Officers, the master has already woken up!"

"What happened?" Le Yuxin stood up and asked: "Apart from the incident with Second Brother, did anything else unexpected happen today?"

"Yes."

The old butler, with a face full of worry, walked to the doorway, barely managing a smile: "Young Master, Third Master, please follow me out."

Jing Zhengtang nodded and went out, and before leaving, Le Yuxin glanced at Jing Zhengwu on the ground, suddenly saying: "It’s cold on the ground, you guys, move Second Brother to his room temporarily."

The nominated clansmen were taken aback, shaking their heads repeatedly: "Young Master, let the servants handle this..."

"Young Master," the old butler also said, "placing Second Master in the Main Hall was the master’s command, he hopes..."

"I understand, shock and awe, but it doesn’t seem very effective." Le Yuxin smiled: "Look, these cousins don’t seem to regard me, the new patriarch, in their eyes. I ask them to do a little thing, and they keep making excuses."

"Very well, I remember you guys. I’ll count to five, if within five seconds Second Brother’s body is still on the ground, then I’ll have candidates for the next shock and awe. Five, two, one..."

Before Le Yuxin finished speaking, several clansmen hurriedly rushed over to lift it up. Le Yuxin loudly urged, "You all walk in order, don’t mess up the appearance of the body."

After saying that, Le Yuxin couldn’t help but burst into laughter, like a child who had successfully played a prank.

The old steward sighed and said to them as they walked, "Young master, the reason why the Jing Family has been able to thrive to this day is because everyone is united, cooperating well, and due to the leadership and personal charm of the Patriarch..."

Le Yuxin said, "You’re trying to persuade me that, having just become the Patriarch, I should unite the clansmen, win over factions, be humble and kind, and not act like a new official burning three fires, ordering the clansmen around arrogantly and unruly?"

The old steward remained silent, clearly agreeing with this view.

Le Yuxin shook his head: "Your thinking is good, but even your master never used your gentle means."

The old steward couldn’t help but say, "But the young master is the young master, and the master is the master!"

"You think I’m not as ruthless as he is? Don’t worry about that."

Le Yuxin looked at the lush Jing Garden ahead, squinting slightly: "You will all know how ruthless I can be, whether it’s to the Silver Blood Association, the Jing Family, or... myself."

The old steward was silent for a moment, then said, "It was inappropriate for the old servant to overstep."

"It’s okay. So, what exactly happened?"

The old steward sighed deeply, his expression becoming even more worried: "This morning, the Grand Madam... the Second Young Master’s mother, came to visit the master."

"The two of them were alone in the room, and there was no movement until the Grand Madam came out and told me to get the Medical Officer. When I entered, I found the master’s chest stabbed with a knife, blood covering the entire bed."

Jing Zhengtang showed a calm expression, clearly already aware. Le Yuxin thought for a moment, without asking about the details, and instead asked, "Where is the Grand Madam now?"

"In the side room, watched over by the servants." The old steward paused: "I ordered no one to approach the Grand Madam; she probably doesn’t know the Second Young Master’s news yet."

Le Yuxin clicked his tongue in amazement: "This really is... all affection breeds sin, and no one is without grievance."

Upon hearing Le Yuxin’s brazen comment, neither the old steward nor Jing Zhengtang reacted, unsure if they agreed with Le Yuxin’s words or realized that Le Yuxin already had the freedom to do as he pleased.

Arriving at Yunji Residence, the two Medical Officers stood timidly shivering by the door. They knew who they were treating, and more importantly, understood what chaos would ensue should this person die. They even imagined that many high-ranking officials, to stabilize the situation, might kill the Medical Officers to conceal the death of such an important figure, naturally making their legs shake with fear.

The old steward walked in with small steps and saw Jing Qingfu sitting on the bed as if nothing had happened, not holding the soft tube of the water pipe, his face even more worried: "Master, young master and Third Young Master, have arrived!"

Jing Qingfu said softly, "Let them in, everyone else should leave."

The old steward nodded in acknowledgment, leading the two Medical Officers out. Before Le Yuxin entered, Jing Zhengtang couldn’t wait to rush into Yunji Residence, kneeling before Jing Qingfu’s bed, lowering his head and tremblingly said:

"Father, I beg you to spare Feiwei!"

Le Yuxin was shocked, feeling as if struck by lightning, his hands and feet turning cold.

"Zhengtang, you are a smart child," Jing Qingfu said: "But the armor you sought to lower Zhengwu’s hostility has now become your weakness."

"You should be glad that I didn’t choose you in the end. The Patriarch of the Jing Family must not have such a significant weakness."

Jing Zhengtang kowtowed heavily: "I beg father to spare Feiwei!"

"One day, you have one day. No matter what you do within this day, tomorrow she will return to you safe and sound, but you must finish everything today. Go now."

Jing Zhengtang knocked his head three times hard on the ground, then turned and left Yunji Residence. At first walking, then jogging, and eventually the sound of running faded into the distance.

Yunji Residence was left with just two people, one old and one young, one on the verge of becoming another of the ancestors at any moment, the other young and vigorous with an infinite future.

Looking at Jing Qingfu, Le Yuxin suddenly thought that perhaps it’s not that living longer makes one more detestable, but that only detestable people can live long.

"Do you know why Zhengwu must die?"

"I know."

"No, you don’t. Do you know why I had to threaten Zhengtang with Feiwei?"

"I know."

"No, you don’t. Do you know why I must pass the Patriarch’s position to you today?"

"I know."

"No, you still don’t know." Jing Qingfu shook his head: "Do you know that of the two groups that attacked Half City yesterday, only one was White Night’s?"

"I know."

Just as the words fell, Le Yuxin suddenly realized the problem within.

Only one group of the attackers in Half City were White Night Walkers, information known only to White Night and those involved in Silver Blood discussions. Jing Qingfu had just awoken; Jing Shou hadn’t had time to tell him.

If Jing Qingfu inferred this intelligence by himself, it means that...

Linking to a series of negations Jing Qingfu had just made in response to him, a terrifying thought suddenly emerged in Le Yuxin’s mind: "Do you know about my connection with White Night?"

Jing Qingfu’s aged face revealed a trace of appreciative smile:

"I know."