Chapter 698: Chapter 87: The Trend! The Artifact Spirit Comes to Life_3

Secondly, regardless of whether he truly believes it in his heart, he must show outwardly that he trusts Gongyang Strategy completely, giving him enough face. As for whether he secretly investigates, that’s another matter.

"Unbelievable, our noble Zuoqiu Race was so easily toyed with. Truly a disgrace!" Zuoqiu Zhenghua’s reaction was swift. He immediately slammed the table in anger, declaring, "Those Qiaan Family and Wang Family simply do not regard us Zuoqiu Family at all! Our Zuoqiu Family will definitely not let them off easily!"

"Both of you, remain calm."

Seeing their attitudes, Gongyang Strategy was well aware of the situation.

He continued, "I do have a plan. The Qiaan Family and Wang Family could pay a price, and the Zuoqiu Family can vent its anger. Would Brother Deye be willing to hear me out?"

Zuoqiu Deye’s heart skipped a beat, realizing that after all the maneuvering, the real show was finally about to begin.

He cooperatively raised his hand, saying, "Naturally. Please go ahead, my lord."

"In this matter, both the Zuoqiu Family and Cao Family are victims. My thought is this: Why don’t your two families join forces..." Gongyang Strategy then elaborated on his plan in detail.

Zuoqiu Deye, having lived for hundreds of years, was an expert in understanding situations. Upon hearing this turn of speech, he understood most of it.

He exchanged a glance with his great-grandson Zuoqiu Zhenghua, with a somewhat hesitant expression, "This... this matter is of great importance. I need to return and discuss it further before making a decision."

"That’s natural. It’s to be expected."

Gongyang Strategy naturally did not force the two, and after exchanging a few courtesies, let them leave.

After the two left, only Gongyang Strategy and his two companions remained in the Cyan Bamboo Courtyard.

"My lord, will they agree?" Cao Youqing frowned slightly, expressing her doubt.

"Don’t worry, they will agree."

It wasn’t Gongyang Strategy who answered her but Xiaoyue.

She smiled, "Master has excluded Fairy Youqing from Zuoqiu Qingyun’s case, so the Zuoqiu Family has no reason to continue targeting the Cao Family. Disclosing the plan shows our stance plainly, also subtly supporting Fairy Youqing. Unless they’re foolish, they’ll know what to do."

After all, the connections and energy represented by a Great Celestial Pride at the Purple Mansion Realm of Lingyun Sacred Land are not something a Fourth-Grade Noble Family can contend with.

Even a fool knows who to choose between friend and foe.

"Moreover, my lord’s plan doesn’t need them to take risks, so they have even less reason to refuse." Xiaoyue added.

Cao Youqing still hadn’t quite grasped it, "But, can this really succeed?"

"It’s sufficient." Gongyang Strategy glanced at her, saying flatly, "Most of the time, plans don’t need to be overly complex; what’s important is their effectiveness."

Furthermore, conspiracies are easily unraveled, whereas straightforward and open schemes are often the hardest to resist.

His goal has never been to obliterate the Qiaan Family or Wang Family. Such arrangements are merely to exert pressure by leveraging the greater situation. It’s also to make the Qiaan Family and Wang Family understand what it truly means to oppose him.

From the beginning to the end, he has always desired Longzuo County.

Of course, if he can seize this opportunity to gather some talent, that would be even better.

He asked Xiaoyue to call over the estate’s servants, to clear the wine and dishes, and replace them with tea. He spoke with a casual attitude, "Now that the momentum has been established, all that’s needed is a gentle push. In this matter, the other people in Longzuo County aren’t worth worrying about; only two people need attention: One is Patriarch Qiaan, Qiaan Xuehan; the other is that Patriarch Wang, Wang Shouzhe."

"Qiaan Xuehan?"

Cao Youqing was momentarily stunned.

She could understand Wang Shouzhe, after all, she’d suffered losses at the hands of Wang Shouzhe more than once, and naturally knew of this person’s fearsome qualities. But Qiaan Xuehan?

In her impression, Qiaan Xuehan was just a whimpering coward, someone hardly worth such attention.

"I almost forgot, Fairy Youqing has been in secluded cultivation all this time and probably isn’t clear about the situation." Xiaoyue poured Gongyang Strategy a cup of tea, casually explaining to Cao Youqing, "In recent years, the Qiaan Family’s development momentum has been strong. Your cheap great-nephew Qiaan Xuehan, though he doesn’t show off, has gradually increased his authority within the Qiaan Family internally over the years, and unknowingly, he has gained quite substantial influence within the Elder Council. In this regard, he’s much stronger than his father, and can be considered a figure."

It’s crucial to know that Qiaan Xuehan’s father, Qiaan Qinhong, was significantly constrained by the Elder Council during his tenure, otherwise, he wouldn’t have hesitated so much and been overly cautious.

For Qiaan Xuehan to straighten out the Qiaan Family’s complex internal relations and within just over ten years secure the position of patriarch, besides having the support of the ancestor, his own capability must be extremely solid.

After a pause, Xiaoyue added, "Under his leadership, the Qiaan Family might still have the possibility of advancing further."

The Qiaan Family is already a Purple Mansion Family; advancing further would mean becoming a Fourth-Grade Noble Family.

It’s essential to understand that while maintaining a Noble Family is relatively easy, progressing further is exceptionally difficult. Moreover, how many Fourth-Grade Noble Families exist in all of Daqian? To elevate a Fifth-Grade Noble Family to a Fourth-Grade, such a person could barely be called a "hero."

Xiaoyue’s evaluation was indeed very high.

Cao Youqing hadn’t expected that the Qiaan Xuehan she never regarded could receive such high praise.

However, Sister Xiaoyue has followed their lord for many years, and her ability to assess people is even recognized by their lord. Since she said so, it’s likely not wrong.