Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 21 Zhang Yi's Tongue

Master Suo grew angrier and angrier as he listened. Suddenly, he slammed his hand on the table and stood up angrily: "Bullshit! It's utterly far-fetched and a load of nonsense!"

Mr. Yang, could it be that you've been bribed by Yu Huanhu? Or... are you actually one of Yu Huanhu's men?

Could it be that you were the traitor who colluded with insiders, shared information, and harmed the Yu family's heir?

Master Suo, with his bushy beard and murderous eyes, approached Yang Can as he spoke.

Suo Chanzhi panicked upon seeing this. Her second uncle was a highly skilled martial artist, and he was going to use any force he wanted...

Suo Chanzhi hurriedly got up from the chair and quickly stepped between Suo Hong and Yang Can.

"Second Uncle, don't be angry. Let Zhier ask him."

Suo Chanzhi blocked Suo Hong's path and slowly walked towards Yang Can.

At this moment, Suo Chanzhi, dressed in a simple white robe, resembled an apricot blossom on a branch after the rain, pure and graceful.

"Mr. Yang."

"Young lady."

"Does Mr. Yang perhaps believe that I murdered my late husband?"

Yang Can shook his head and said, "Young Madam, I believe that the Suo family is highly suspected of being involved in the young master's death."

However, although you, young mistress, are a member of the Suo family, the Suo family is not limited to just you.

Suo Hong angrily retorted, "Then who are you referring to as a member of the Suo family? Do you mean it's me?"

"Second Uncle!"

Suo Chanzhi frowned and called out softly to stop Suo Hong, then turned back to Yang Can: "Mr. Yang, what is your basis for saying that my Suo family members are highly suspicious?"

Yang Can said, "When two families unite in marriage, the man marries the woman, and the bride returns home, the husband's family should be the primary family."

However, along the way, Granny Tu overstepped her bounds and made all the decisions on her own.

And it was precisely because of this that my young master so rashly lost his life.

Suo Chanzhi said, "That only shows that Granny Tu was careless and made poor arrangements, which led to others taking advantage of her. How could it implicate my Suo family in having ulterior motives?"

Suo Hong shouted, "Yes, that old butcher was also killed. Are you going to smear her name again?"

Yang Can said, "If Granny Tu doesn't die, I'll think I'm just being paranoid."

It was precisely because Granny Tu had died, and in such a strange manner, that Yang suspected the Suo family must have been involved.

Suo Hong was furious and wanted to rush forward and slap this lying thief to death.

Suo Chanzhi hurriedly stopped Suo Hong again, but Yu Xinglong said, "Second Master Suo, please calm down. I will naturally not doubt your Suo family."

But my son's murder has been the subject of much speculation, with many unanswered questions. It would be best if he could explain himself publicly.

Suo Hong glanced coldly at Yu Xinglong, then slowly sat down and said sarcastically, "Fine, anyway, my Suo family's daughter is now a 'widow' because of your Yu family!"
Even if you don't pursue this matter, the Suo family will not let it go so easily; we will investigate it thoroughly and clearly.

Yu Xinglong glanced at Yang Can and said in a deep voice, "Continue."

Yang Can bowed and said, "Yes."

Yang Can looked at Suo Chanzhi and said seriously, "The bandits launched a surprise attack, their aim is to steal valuables."

But on that day, those bandits ignored the valuables and went straight to the center of the camp.

After they shot and killed the prince with an arrow, they immediately rushed to break out of the encirclement. Isn't that suspicious?

This shows that they are not only familiar with the layout of our base, but also recognize my young master.

Their purpose in coming here is to steal some valuables from my young master when they escape, just to cover their tracks.

Meanwhile, even though the guards in the camp were caught off guard, a mere hundred or so horse bandits couldn't have so easily infiltrated the center of the camp without an inside agent letting them pass.

Suo Chanzhi said, "Even if there is an inside agent, how can you be sure that this agent is from my Suo family?"

Yang Can said, "My Yu family guards are responsible for the outer perimeter defense. When the bandits attacked suddenly, my outer perimeter defense was not deployed in time. But what about the inner perimeter that your Suo family is responsible for?"

It's not unusual for a bandit to be attacked and one of them to be left alive.

What's strange is that this very survivor knows who the mastermind behind this is.

If this was truly at the behest of our Second Master Yu, would he have made it clear to a group of bandits that he was the one who ordered it?
It is precisely because of this accusation that it becomes difficult to justify one's own explanation.

Yu Huanhu narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze towards Yang Can becoming increasingly appreciative.

Suo Chanzhi said coldly, "You haven't said yet why my Suo family is more suspicious precisely because Granny Tu died."

Yang Can said, "If the only survivor happens to know who the mastermind is, it's still not entirely suspicious."

Therefore, the death of Granny Tu can be further proven.

Suo Chanzhi raised an eyebrow and questioned, "What makes you say that?"

Yang Can said, "I believe that when the young master was attacked, it was Granny Tu who tipped off the bandits and created an opportunity for them to kill him."

Therefore, when Yang suggested to Steward Yi that the Suo family was closely involved in the young master's death, Granny Tu was silenced.

Upon hearing his name mentioned, Yi She was immediately terrified, fearing he would be dragged into the mess again. Fortunately, Second Master Suo burst into laughter: "Hahaha, utterly absurd! I ask you, what benefit would my Suo family gain from doing this?"

Yang Can cupped his hands and said, "May I ask, Second Master Suo, what benefit did I, Second Master Yu, gain from killing the young master?"

"Is that even a question? Everyone in Longshang knows about the conflict between the eldest and second branches of the Yu family."

He doesn't want the eldest branch of the family to grow stronger through marriage with our Suo family!

Yang Can nodded and said calmly, "What Master Suo said makes a lot of sense."

So, Second Master Suo, do you think your Suo family has anyone…?

Yang Can then looked at Suo Chanzhi and asked, "Is there anyone in your Suo family who doesn't want the young mistress's branch of the family to grow stronger through marriage with our Yu family?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire Mingde Hall suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone has always found Yang Can's "accusations" ridiculous.

Even Steward Yi only reluctantly pulled him out to save himself.

No one believed Yang Can's story, simply because... the Suo family had no motive to kill Yu Chengye.

However, no one expected that Yang Can would have such a unique perspective.

The motive for the Suo family's murders has finally been discovered!
Silence, absolute silence.

The Yu family isn't a monolithic entity, but does that mean the Suo family is?
Let alone a large family that has been passed down for generations, even ordinary families with only two or three children might fight tooth and nail over inheritance.

The Suo family was even larger than the Yu family, yet the various branches of the Suo family lived in such harmony?
Is there no house that can't stand the sight of the tangled branches?
Even those who have competing interests with them?
The moment Yang Can uttered those words, Yu Huanhu was no longer the sole suspect condemned by everyone.

Yu Huanhu's gaze toward Yang Can was filled with even stronger admiration, and even a hint of affection.

Yang Can's voice softened, but the Mingde Hall was completely silent at this moment, and everyone could still hear him clearly.

"Lord of the clan, Second Master Suo, heads of various branches, and elders, please consider this: is it possible that the captured bandit is actually a traitor thrown out by the real mastermind to bite others?"

Although the words were spoken softly, to Yu Xinglong, they were like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

Even with Yu Xinglong's deep-seated cunning, his expression couldn't help but change.

However, this was just because he felt guilty; in reality, no one suspected him because of Yang Can's words.

The real reason was that the one who died was his own son, and the son he relied on the most and had painstakingly cultivated since childhood.

Yu Huanhu's eyes flashed, and he seized the opportunity to step forward.

He first let out a sad laugh, then pretended to be indignant and said loudly, "My elder brother is calm and steady, while Huan Hu is impulsive. Therefore, Huan Hu and my elder brother often disagree on how to manage the family business."

"While there were certainly some disagreements between my brothers, it's absolutely impossible that Huan Hu, coveting the position of clan leader, would be so depraved as to murder his own nephew."

Yu Huanhu slowly raised three fingers to the sky, his eyes red as he swore a poisonous oath: "If my nephew Chengye was killed on my orders, may heaven and man be outraged!"
"I, Yu Huanhu, will die without a proper burial place; after death, I will become a wandering ghost, never to be enshrined in the ancestral temple."

With Yang Can's words and Yu Huanhu's solemn oath, everyone's resolve wavered even further.

Could it be that we really misjudged the situation? And this matter has absolutely nothing to do with Yu Huanhu?

Seeing this, Yu Xinglong had no choice but to stand up: "Second brother, don't get agitated. How could you make such a vicious oath! Your elder brother... naturally believes you."

Yu Huanhu did not accept his advice and pressed his advantage to continue his counterattack: "Since that bandit insists that I, Yu Huanhu, killed my own nephew, then kill me!"
My nephew Chengye isn't too far from the underworld, and I, his own second uncle, can keep him company on his journey there.

Yu Xinglong angrily said, "Huan Hu, don't talk nonsense. When did my brother ever say you were the murderer?"

Because of the conflicting opinions surrounding this matter, you, my second brother, have become a suspect. If this matter becomes public, won't it only ruin your reputation?

That's why I had to act cautiously. I just want to get to the bottom of this matter so I can clear your name!

If possible, Yu Xinglong would love to chop Yu Huanhu into pieces right now.

Phoenix Manor is his territory. If he really wants to kill Yu Huanhu, Yu Huanhu will have no chance of escaping.

However, killing Yu Henghu alone will not solve the problem at all!
The eldest son's two branches have already gained considerable influence. Yu Huanhu's visit to Phoenix Mountain this time left his eldest son, Yu Rui, in the old stronghold of Dailai City.

If Yu Xinglong kills Yu Huanhu, Yu Rui, who is stationed in Dailai City, will immediately rebel.

If the eldest and second branches of the Yu family start fighting, the other seven clans will swarm in like a flock of vultures, and the Yu family's nearly three-hundred-year-old foundation will be wasted on others.

Yu Huanhu also knew that his elder brother was indecisive. As the head of the clan, he bore the responsibility for the entire Yu family, and he would never dare to bear the serious consequences of easily killing him.

However, what he was worried about wasn't that his older brother would kill him, but rather...

Now that he finally had the opportunity, how could Yu Huanhu not seize it?

Yu Huanhu immediately said, "Brother, Master Suo keeps saying that I, Yu Huanhu, am plotting something because I covet the position of clan leader."

Little did they know that Huan Hu was simply worried about his elder brother's frail health and wanted to share his burdens.

My brother's painstaking efforts have been met with such suspicion. Oh well, oh well!

"In that case, Huan Hu will now publicly declare his intentions!"

Yu Huanhu's eyes were red and his lips were trembling.

If the older brother can act, so can he; he can just act.

(End of this chapter)