Dai Huabin and Dai Yueheng were both born to the duchess.
But as for their relationship, they were brothers in name only at best.
Unlike Huo Yuhao, who was born to a concubine, they both had a real claim to the inheritance. The struggle to become heir had always been this way.
When Dai Huabin learned that Zhang Yang and Zhang Lexuan had an ambiguous relationship, he immediately thought he might be able to sow discord and exploit it.
He instructed his underlings to draw on the White Tiger Duke's resources, and they soon got to the bottom of the whole affair.
"A few days ago, the eldest senior sister brought him back from outside."
"She made a special trip to the academic affairs office and got him a transfer student slot."
"Apparently, it went against procedure, so she used her inner court disciple privileges to get him the green light all the way!"
"This Zhang Yang sure is charming. Wasn't that senior sister supposed to be aloof and icy? What's so icy about her?"
Zhang Lexuan had made no particular effort to conceal what had happened.
It hardly qualified as a secret when so many people had seen it in broad daylight.
As a result, it was relatively easy to investigate. Dai Huabin's expression turned strange when he finished reading.
Oh, big brother, that icy goddess you remember might only be icy toward you. For all you know, she's all over Zhang Yang, heh heh heh.
"Wait here. I'm going to the inner court."
After a moment's thought, Dai Huabin decided to stir up trouble.
He ordered his underlings to stand by and walked alone down the academy's main road.
Using his connection to Dai Yueheng, he had his arrival announced and entered the cultivation room, where he met the elder brother he had never gotten along with.
"I'm surprised you came to see me on your own. Are you in trouble?" That was Dai Yueheng's usual impression of him; he knew exactly what sort of person his younger brother was.
"Haha, don't joke around, big brother. I know you've been in seclusion lately, so you definitely haven't heard what's happening outside. I came especially to let you know," Dai Huabin explained with a smile.
He was respectful on the surface and did not dare openly fall out with him.
In just a few words, he piqued Dai Yueheng's interest.
Then he told him everything he had learned about Zhang Yang and his relationship with Zhang Lexuan, leaving nothing out.
It wasn't as though he had lied. He had only added a little oil and vinegar, all to worsen the conflict. Ideally, they would fight to the death.
Zhang Yang was more handsome and popular than him. He deserved to die!
Dai Yueheng was competing with him for the dukedom, so he deserved to die too!
As Dai Huabin saw it, after he sowed discord this time, whatever happened and whatever the outcome, there would be no downside for him.
If Zhang Yang happened to have some background, or really did have something going on with the eldest senior sister, then Dai Yueheng would be kicking an iron plate. That would be even more interesting.
"Senior sister Zhang... brought a man back from outside!"
"She used her inner court disciple privileges to get him into Shrek?"
"Do you have any proof of what you're saying? You should understand the price of lying to me."
Although Dai Huabin's motives were impure, he had guessed one thing correctly: Dai Yueheng was angry.
The goddess can be icy toward me, and she can barely give me the time of day, but she absolutely can't treat only me that way!
If Zhang Lexuan had brought back a woman, Dai Yueheng would not have reacted. But Zhang Yang was not only a man; he was outstanding in looks, bearing, and talent, an all-rounder in all three.
A sense of crisis and jealousy surfaced at the same time.
His tone turned cold as he gazed gloomily at his younger brother.
Despite having prepared himself, Dai Huabin could not help breaking out in a cold sweat under the terrifying pressure.
"Big brother, it's absolutely true. Plenty of people know about it. You can easily ask around in the outer court."
"And Zhang Yang is in Freshman Class One. How handsome is he? Before I came here, two homeroom teachers were trading insults over him!"
Dai Huabin's smile grew wider and wider.
He had taken the bait so easily. The eldest senior sister was quite charming herself!
But just as he was about to keep egging him on, thinking about how to make a bigger fuss,
he saw that Dai Yueheng's expression had calmed. He narrowed his eyes at him, a hint of amusement and coldness in his gaze.
"You did well with this."
"Keep an eye on Zhang Yang for me from now on."
"I'm an inner court disciple, and I often cultivate in seclusion. It wouldn't be convenient for me to target a freshman."
"But you, my dear younger brother, why don't you see your good deed through and teach him a lesson for me?"
Dai Yueheng was no fool.
He saw at a glance that Dai Huabin was secretly up to no good.
If he followed Dai Huabin's suggestion, he would break the school rules and offend Zhang Lexuan. It wasn't worth it.
Foolish little brother, aren't you standing up for me? Then why not make a move for me while you're at it?
As fellow freshmen, even if they came into conflict or someone died, the negative repercussions would not reach him.
Besides, he could wait and see whether the eldest senior sister, who was usually absorbed in cultivation, had really been "bewitched" by a handsome man.
"Huh? I... I should make a move?"
Dai Huabin was dumbfounded and froze on the spot.
He was just about to make some excuse when Dai Yueheng raised a hand and patted him on the shoulder as though to reassure him.
The pressure of a Soul Emperor filled the room in an instant. Combined with his gloomy gaze, it carried an implicit threat.
"Of course. Who else could it be? Me?"
"Thank you for the information. Go take care of it at once."
Dai Yueheng's tone brooked no doubt, leaving no room for argument and blocking the words Dai Huabin had been about to say.
At that, Dai Huabin felt his scalp go numb. He had lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot, and he backed down in stifled frustration.
Although he looked down on Dai Yueheng, thinking he had merely cultivated a few years longer and was not necessarily more talented,
he did not dare say those things to his face.
Having been too clever for his own good and forced to swallow the loss, he turned and left the room helplessly.
When he returned to the outer court, several of his newly recruited underlings had been waiting in the same spot for quite some time.
"Boss Dai, what's wrong? Who made you angry?" a buzz-cut youth asked obsequiously.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't! Come on. You're coming with me to find trouble with Zhang Yang later." Dai Huabin waved a hand irritably.
He led his underlings back to the teaching building.
He used Dai Yueheng's name as an excuse for being late to class.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang, sitting in Freshman Class One, still had no idea he was being targeted.
Of course, even if he had known, he would not have cared. A handsome face attracted trouble, and there was no avoiding it.
Even the two homeroom teachers, Zhou Yi and Mu Jin, had fought over him, let alone the students.
Girls might fight over him out of jealousy, and boys might envy him. There were plenty of reasons to pick a fight with him on purpose. He just had to get used to it.
"Zhang Yang, how about we have dinner together too?"
"Oh, right, Yuhao makes really delicious grilled fish!"
"Let's go to the snack street in the back alley. We can head back to the dorms after eating and have a look around while we're there."
Once again, Xiao Xiao was the one to suggest it, full of enthusiasm.
Her favorability had reached 80, and she could hardly wait to win herself over.
Naturally, Zhang Yang could not refuse. He happily accepted the invitation, and the four of them set off together again.
They left the teaching building and headed toward the academy's back gate. They had not gone far before he sensed something was wrong.
With his Charm God's Body, he naturally radiated boundless charm, making it easy for people to take a liking to him-unless they were romantic rivals.
Because of that, the killing intent and malice around him stood out. He spotted Dai Huabin and his companions without even needing to probe with his spiritual power.
They're already starting to pick a fight?
I don't remember offending them yet, do I?
It was bound to happen sooner or later, but today it really is a bit troublesome. I'll have to solve it with charm!