Meng Mingshu was having a miserable time. He had overestimated his own resolve and courage, and underestimated Jade City's cruelty and greed.
Everyone knew the Meng Family's mountain of gold had run dry. Like a giant beast nearing the end of its life, it had endured a brief period of probing. Once the hunters confirmed there was no secret treasure, they swarmed in, their eyes fixed on the scraps of flesh that remained.
Meng Mingshu had become head of the family as he wished, only to be immediately abandoned by his own kin. His elderly grandmother wept in front of dozens of family members, saying she was old and could no longer endure the turmoil, and that she wished to divide the family and live on her own. Amid everyone's chorus of agreement, the person who "voluntarily" moved out of the old mansion was Second Young Master Meng.
The Meng clan of North City, whose name had resounded throughout the Western Regions, split into several households. Its already modest holdings were gobbled up, leaving Meng Mingshu with only Bodhi Garden and two small residences. No relatives fought over the family businesses, since every Meng shop and money house was already buried in debt.
The servants were next to betray him. The more honorable ones came to shed a couple of tears before their new masters, but most simply fled. The Meng business network collapsed at an astonishing speed, while creditors from all over hurried over to demand repayment, saying nothing about how much merchandise they had seized from the Meng shops.
Throughout it all, the people of Jade City changed their attitude as well. The assorted people who had once lined up to curry favor with the Meng Mansion now puffed out their chests in front of the new head