Chapter 652: The Sheng Family – Part 3

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation  Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

Sheng Yuanhang’s residence.

After entering, Sheng Jing was promptly greeted by the steward.

“Third Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is waiting for you in the study,” said the steward.

A coldness flashed in Sheng Jing’s eyes before he headed upstairs to the study.

In this generation of the Sheng family, there were a total of nine young masters. From a young age, they were in a state of competition, vying for the position of family head. Despite the appearance of strength and glory, the Sheng family was also the most heartless.

Even though they were blood relatives, there was no familial bond between them. Any semblance of harmony was superficial. In reality, there was only cold repression, devoid of any warmth, which was so abnormal it made one want to flee.

Sometimes, Sheng Jing even wished he had been born into an ordinary family. Then, perhaps, he could experience the affection and friendship that existed only in dreams and fantasies.

However, reality forced him to adapt to the ways of the Sheng family. He had to disguise himself, ensuring he showed no weakness.

Sheng Jing knocked lightly on the door of the study before pushing it open. Sheng Yuanhang sat behind the desk, looking up at the sound.

“You’ve come, Third Brother,” he said, his demeanor elegant and refined, his every movement exuding grace.

But Sheng Jing wasn’t taken in by his facade. He walked straight to the desk, pulled out a chair, and sat across from him, casually asking, “Why did Big Brother send Chen Si to lead my esteemed guests to the Azure Water Garden?”

“Have they offended you?” Sheng Yuanhang frowned slightly, displeased. “Sheng Jing, they are outsiders. Are you going to confront me because of them?”

Sheng Jing reiterated, “They are my guests.”

“Big Brother must know. Are you targeting them or me?” Sheng Yuanhang’s lips tightened slightly, a hint of sharpness glinting in his eyes behind his glasses.

He hadn’t expected Sheng Jing to break his calm facade over a few insignificant people. Internal tensions simmered within the Sheng family, an undercurrent known to all. However, everyone kept their methods discreet, avoiding open confrontation and tearing off masks.

The family’s motto emphasized maintaining the vitality of the family through competition but forbade siblings from harming each other. So, even if they didn’t see eye to eye in private, they had to maintain the facade of brotherhood and harmony in public.

Regardless, as the eldest of their generation, as their big brother, Sheng Jing couldn’t show such disrespect towards him!

Sheng Yuanhang leaned back, his imposing aura radiating outward from him as the focal point.

“Sheng Jing, allowing outsiders into the Sheng family without permission violates our family’s principles. I resolved the hidden dangers for you, yet you don’t even thank me and dare to speak to me in this tone!”

“You are too presumptuous!”

Sheng Jing shrugged off his accusations, speaking coldly, “Am I the presumptuous one, or are you? You knew those people were disciples of Doctor Hua, and now that Doctor Hua has awakened grandfather and he relies on them to manage his health, if Doctor Hua finds out you’ve taken action against them, sabotaging grandfather’s treatment, can you bear the responsibility if something happens to him?”

“And besides, bringing them to the Sheng family was grandfather’s idea.”

Sheng Mingtang was worried that Hua Shifang wouldn’t treat grandfather properly, so he brought Nan Yan and the others over, intending to use Hua Shifang’s disciples to pressure him.

After all, they had forcibly brought Hua Shifang and Sun Chan to the Sheng family. In a certain sense, they had offended him. Offending a doctor, especially a divine doctor, required caution.

Sheng Yuanhang’s aura faltered. “Grandfather allowed them in?”

“Of course,” Sheng Jing replied meaningfully, arching an eyebrow.

Finding a handle on him wouldn’t be so easy. Sheng Yuanhang’s heart sank suddenly. He didn’t know about this! If he had known the truth, how could he have acted against Nan Yan and the others?

He had thought Nan Yan and the others were brought in by Sheng Jing’s own decision, providing an opportunity to trouble Sheng Jing. But now…

He swiftly turned his mind, searching for a chance to remedy the situation. Just then, a thought struck him.

Grandfather sent Sheng Jing to handle this matter instead of asking him. Did this mean that grandfather favored Sheng Jing more?

Absolutely not! He was the eldest grandson of the Sheng family and the most outstanding among their nine brothers. The Sheng family’s future must be inherited by him! Otherwise, he would become a laughingstock.

He also refused to let other brothers manage the family! The selection of the family’s successor didn’t consider age or seniority but relied on the decision of the current authority figure.

Sheng Mingtang had five sons, all of whom were currently in their prime. Yet, when selecting the next family head, he directly chose from the grandchildren’s generation – Sheng Yuanhang’s generation.

Because Sheng Yuanhang’s generation of fathers, the youngest of whom were already in their forties or fifties, had long held important positions in the family.

Allowing them to succeed as family heads would grant them too much power. To ensure fairness, impartiality, and neutrality, as well as to balance the power among the various branches, and to allow the next family head to stay in power longer, Sheng Mingtang skipped them and nurtured the grandchildren.

Nine grandsons, all with equal inheritance rights. However, now there were only eight left.

The second young master of the Sheng family had an accident seven years ago and was no longer alive.

Sheng Yuanhang had always believed he held the absolute advantage and that the position of family head was within his grasp. But when Sheng Mingtang arranged for Sheng Jing to contact Hua Shifang’s disciples instead of him, Sheng Yuanhang felt a strong sense of crisis.

Suppressing his urgency and anger, Sheng Yuanhang apologized, “I truly didn’t know about this beforehand, Third Brother. I’m sorry for acting without understanding the situation. But I was only concerned for your well-being. Please forgive my rashness.”

Sheng Yuanhang tried to brush the matter aside and even portrayed himself as acting in Sheng Jing’s best interest.

Sheng Jing couldn’t help but sneer. He knew exactly what Sheng Yuanhang was thinking. There was no brotherly affection between them; they were merely rivals. Sheng Yuanhang showing concern for him was suspicious.

But even if he didn’t accept it, few would stand on his side and believe that Sheng Yuanhang was at fault. His excuse was too clever!

Sheng Jing felt disgusted. “Big Brother, you’ve directed your apology to the wrong person. I’m not the one who was scared and deceived. You should apologize to the people you’ve harmed.”

Sheng Jing didn’t bother wasting more words with Sheng Yuanhang. He stood up and said, “Doctor Hua and his disciples are now honored guests of grandfather. Grandfather has even said to fulfill all their requests. Big Brother, you deal with it yourself.”

With that, Sheng Jing turned and left. Sheng Yuanhang watched his retreating figure, his hand tightening into a fist.

He didn’t care much about those outsiders. Even Hua Shifang, renowned as a divine doctor outside, didn’t matter much to him. He was just an insignificant doctor. Even if he killed his disciple, what waves could he really stir?

But he was worried about his position in Sheng Mingtang’s heart. Sheng Mingtang had the absolute right to appoint his successor, and outsiders couldn’t influence his decision. He had to maintain a leading position in Sheng Mingtang’s mind!

After much deliberation, Sheng Yuanhang pressed the intercom button. “Send someone to take Chen Si to the Listening Rain Pavilion.”

The steward hesitated for a moment before replying, “Yes, Eldest Young Master.”

In his room, Chen Si, who was lying on the bed groaning in pain with bandages wrapped around him, was suddenly dragged up by the guards who barged in.

The pain from his injuries flared up as they pulled on him, and Chen Si cried out, “Ah! It hurts! What are you doing?”

The guard holding him coldly relayed Sheng Yuanhang’s orders, “The Eldest Young Master commands you to apologize to those few people. If you can’t make them forgive you, your fate will be sealed.”

“Why?” Chen Si was shocked, forgetting the intense pain. “Why would the Eldest Young Master do this?”

It was the Eldest Young Master who ordered him to deceive Nan Yan and the others and lead them to the Azure Water Garden. So why was he now being asked to apologize?

“I need to go ask the Eldest Young Master for a clear explanation!” Chen Si couldn’t just let this go without understanding.

“The Eldest Young Master doesn’t have time to see you. Also, he said to handle everything on your own. If you dare to reveal anything about this matter being related to the Eldest Young Master, you’re as good as dead.”

The Eldest Young Master was treating him like a disposable pawn! Chen Si felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his expression becoming dazed.

Seeing him obedient, the two guards holding him said nothing more and dragged him out of the room.