The Inside Story

"Since the estate being ransacked was, eighty or ninety percent likely, the work of Sun Chuanshan conspiring with that guard, then was today's ambush on the road also ordered by him from behind the scenes?"

Meng Zhao's face darkened. He hated that wastrel Sun Chuanshan so much his teeth itched at the roots; he wanted nothing more than to skin him alive and pull out his tendons to vent the hatred in his heart.

He did not dare renege on his debt to the Black Gold Organization, which might have ties to the Demonic Path, nor did he dare make a move against anyone else or any other power. Instead, he had singled Meng Zhao out for persecution.

Raiding his property was one thing, but now they had even ambushed him personally. This was simply going too far in bullying others.

Lü Zhong nodded, his expression equally unpleasant. He tapped out his pipe and said,

"More or less. Since we recognized that the people who ransacked the estate and those who ambushed Young Master were the same group, then both matters should be inseparable from Sun Chuanshan.

"However, Young Master, although Sun Chuanshan is not valued much by the Sun Family, he is still the grandson of the Sun Family head. Blood ties are involved, and so is their face.

"If we intend to lay hands on him, we should inform the family head beforehand, lest we overlook the Sun Family's reaction."

The current situation was that the Sun Family and the Meng Family were at odds, openly and covertly fighting one another for nearly a year.

Still, most of the time, their conflicts had remained rational and restrained, never escalating to a life-or-death struggle.

If Meng Zhao's desire for revenge drove him to deal Sun Chuanshan a ruthless blow, it could very likely escalate the situation and perhaps even trigger all-out war between the Sun Family and the Meng Family.

But since Meng Zhao had already been bullied to this extent, Lü Zhong could not possibly allow his Young Master to continue suffering such grievances. Retaliation was inevitable, but they also had to plan a way out afterward, lest they end up in a dangerous predicament.

To put it bluntly, Meng Zhao was not like the brothers Meng Xi and Meng Wen. He did not have a good father overhead shielding him. He had to look three steps ahead before taking one, fortifying every step as he went. Otherwise, the slightest misstep would be a devastating disaster for the not-so-well-built Second House.

Of course, if Meng Jizu supported him, then it would not matter how much trouble he stirred up. Having someone to back you made you this overbearing.

At that moment, Lü Yue, who had been listening all along, raised a question.

"Young Master, Godfather, the estate being ransacked was indeed aided by an insider.

"But this person's acquaintance with Sun Chuanshan should have been accidental. Only after they had more contact would there have been a basis for collusion.

"Yet the attack on the road involved someone from our own residence.

"Most of them are old hands who have served us for a long time. Even if there are spies planted in our residence by other powers, they could not possibly have been planted by Sun Chuanshan.

"Much less be so easily used by him. Could there be a crucial point we have not considered?"

It had to be said that Lü Yue's reminder was timely and critical, calming Meng Zhao, who had been getting a little carried away.

Lü Zhong seemed somewhat surprised. He glanced at Lü Yue, whether in approval or frustration, it was hard to tell. With a sigh, he said,

"Ah Yue, your reasoning makes sense. In fact, this matter may trace back to the struggle between the two brothers of the First House.

"The people in our residence have served for many years, and we know their roots and backgrounds. It is not impossible that some are spies planted by other powers, but the possibility is very small.

"And Young Master has been away all these years. Quite a few people in the residence have already leaned toward the First House. The human heart is hard to fathom. Even now that Young Master has returned, it is difficult to say what they will choose.

"Young Master, do you understand what I mean?"

Though Lü Zhong had not spoken too plainly, he had already laid out one possibility.

Meng Zhao had lived two lives and was quite intelligent. Combining the information currently at hand, he boldly guessed,

"Uncle Zhong, you mean that someone in the residence wants to harm me, so they deliberately leaked this information to someone with ulterior motives—someone like Sun Chuanshan, who bears deep hostility toward the Second House—in order to kill with a borrowed knife?"

Meng Zhao's first reaction was Meng Xi. Judging by his current behavior, this Elder Brother clearly had quite a few objections to him.

It was possible that he wanted to use that fool Sun Chuanshan to teach Meng Zhao a lesson, making him keep a lower profile in the future and stop supporting Second Brother.

But from another angle, was it possible that Second Brother Meng Wen had deliberately arranged this? Perhaps he knew that, with Lü Zhong and the others' abilities, they could discover that the matter was connected to someone from the First House, thereby shifting the suspicion onto his elder brother.

Then he could provoke Meng Zhao into breaking with Meng Xi, and ultimately have Meng Zhao support him with everything he had in his bid for power?

The human heart was hard to fathom. Although Meng Wen had shown Meng Zhao goodwill and tried to win him over, Meng Zhao had not clearly stated that he would support him. Meng Wen was surely anxious and disappointed.

In order to drag Meng Zhao into the fray, strengthen his own power, and prepare to defeat his Elder Brother, it was not impossible for him to devise some sinister schemes and calculations.

For a time, the troubles brought by the brothers Meng Xi and Meng Wen once more lingered in Meng Zhao's mind.

There was no helping it. If he wanted to firmly establish and lock down the identity of Meng Zhao, then he had to bear the troubles that came with it.

Lü Zhong could see Meng Zhao's distress at this point and comforted him.

"Young Master, there is actually no need for you to worry so much over this. Perhaps someone in the residence did leak the information.

"But the one who truly decided to act was undoubtedly Sun Chuanshan. You only need to set your sights on him.

"As for the others, given your current circumstances and the strength of our Second House, it is not suitable to make a big fuss."

Lü Zhong was persuading Meng Zhao. No matter who had harbored malicious intentions, Sun Chuanshan was unquestionably the one who carried it out. It was not wrong to take out his anger on him; he simply needed to make Sun Chuanshan the target of his revenge.

As for whether Meng Xi or Meng Wen bore ill will toward him, it was not important at all. There was no need to seek trouble for himself. Who was friend and who was foe would become clear in time.

And that was also why Lü Zhong had not guided the conversation in this direction from the beginning.

What good would knowing do? It would only add to their troubles and offer no help whatsoever to the situation.

As for determining friend from foe, there was no need for Meng Zhao to do so.

Because no matter whom Meng Zhao chose to stand with in the future, he would inevitably offend the other.

As for helping neither side and maintaining a detached position as a neutral party—

If Meng Zhengan were alive, he certainly could have done so, just as the Third House now under Third Uncle Meng Hongdao's control did.

But Meng Zhao was not qualified.

Once Meng Zhao understood all this, he let out a long breath, nodded, and instructed Lü Yue,

"Ah Yue, it is enough that you know about this matter. Do not speak of it outside.

"And in the future, do not show anything unusual when dealing with people from the First House either. Understand?"

Compared with Lü Zhong's seasoned shrewdness, Lü Yue was still too young. His feelings showed plainly on his face, making it easy for others to see his true thoughts.

For example, last night, when Meng Qinghuai had been disrespectful toward Meng Zhao, Lü Yue's expression had been deeply displeased—obvious at a glance.

Meng Zhao had no plans to make trouble for the two brothers of the First House for the time being, so there was naturally no need to sour the relationship. The attitudes of those under him mattered greatly.

Hearing this, Lü Yue felt somewhat dejected. Presumably, someone from the First House had angered him badly. In the end, he merely gave a hesitant acknowledgment.

Since Young Master and Godfather shared the same view, he naturally would not sing a different tune.

"As for Sun Chuanshan, how to deal with him will be decided after I report everything to Eldest Uncle."

Meng Zhao's final words settled the matter.