Luoyi, inner city, Dongyang Mansion.
Because Grand Priest Dongyang Si Chen had been forced to resign voluntarily and relinquish his position as Grand Priest, the various powers led by the Dongyang Family had flocked to Dongyang Mansion to probe for news or seek countermeasures.
This was only natural.
If the Dongyang Family's great ship truly ran into trouble, then these families and nobles would absolutely abandon ship at the first opportunity rather than live and die alongside the Dongyang Family.
That was politics.
Grand Priest Dongyang Si Chen understood the stakes clearly. So, even though he knew the Dongyang Family's political power had not yet suffered any damage, he still had to placate the various factions.
If he did not show himself and offer reassurance, that would be what truly brought political disaster upon the Dongyang Family.
Thus, although Dongyang Si Chen had only just stepped down and was in an extremely foul mood, he still had to put on all sorts of airs and soothe the subordinate forces who had come to Dongyang Mansion.
For most nobles and families, it was enough for Dongyang Si Chen to appear, receive them collectively, and give them a little confidence.
But for several core families that were highly important to the Dongyang Clan's political bloc, they could not simply be dismissed so casually.
Dongyang Si Chen therefore hosted a family banquet: first, to reassure them; second, to exchange views; third, to discuss and formulate a plan.
After stepping down as Grand Priest, Dongyang Si Chen not only had to put forward a candidate for the next Grand Priest, but the Dongyang Family's political bloc also had to bare its fangs, seize the opportunity to expand its political territory, and warn all other factions.
Originally, this should have been an exceedingly easy matter.