Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 934: Chapter 665: The Liang Family Excels at Self-Preservation, Don’t They?

Among them, there’s also Liang Chu, whose attitude is crucial. However, over the years, Liang Chu has always regarded Yang Yunxue as the apple of his eye.

Truly, Yang Yunxue, this grandaughter-in-law, is valued more by Liang Chu than his own grandson, Liang Jinyan.

Previously, Liang Chu felt he had no chance of becoming an Innate Martial Artist and believed that his children and grandchildren were also unlikely to have the opportunity, so he pinned all his hopes on Yang Yunxue.

He hoped that after Yang Yunxue became an Innate Martial Artist, she could support the Liang family.

Yang Yunxue did not disappoint him. Over the years, she made rapid progress, even becoming an Innate Martial Artist before Liang Chu.

To put it plainly, if it weren’t for Yang Zhenshan sending a large amount of wine to the Liang family over the years, Liang Chu really wouldn’t have had the chance to break through to the Innate Realm.

Liang Chu broke through when he was already over eighty years old, later than Ji Zhen by a few years.

Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment and said, “Father should meet him in person; as a junior, it’s not appropriate for you to speak directly!”

Yang Yunxue didn’t say much, just nodded, “Very well, I’ll arrange a meeting for Father!”

“Mm!” Yang Zhenshan replied.

“Should Father meet Jinyan?”

“Let’s forget it this time. It’s not suitable for the news of my return to the Capital City to be exposed; the fewer people know, the better!” Yang Zhenshan said.

Yang Yunxue wasn’t disappointed, promptly saying, “Father, Mother, please follow me!”

Afterward, she led Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi toward the Filial Piety Hall of the Changping Marquis Mansion.

For Yang Yunxue, seeing Liang Shengze was easy. Although she was the daughter-in-law of the Marquis Mansion, she was an Innate Martial Artist. Her status was higher than that of the headmistress of the mansion, even though she wasn’t the headmistress herself.

Liang Chu’s wife, Lin, had passed away many years ago, and now the headmistress of the Changping Marquis Mansion was Yang Yunxue’s mother-in-law, Han.

Besides Han, the Liang family also had the eldest grandson’s wife, Lin.

If ranked by seniority, it would naturally fall on Yang Yunxue. But Yang Yunxue was an Innate Martial Artist, and just by this fact, her words carried more weight than her mother-in-law, Han’s.

Han found it difficult to see Liang Shengze, but Yang Yunxue only needed to send a message, and she could see Liang Shengze without hindrance.

In recent years, Liang Shengze hadn’t traveled far because the situation in Da Rong was too unstable, and he wasn’t at ease with his family.

Seeing Yang Zhenshan, Liang Shengze was quite surprised.

After Yang Zhenshan explained his intentions, Liang Shengze stared at him silently for a long time.

“You should understand, ever since the founding Emperor, my Liang family has been passed down to this day, and everyone can betray Da Rong, but my Liang family cannot!”

Liang Shengze looked at Yang Zhenshan with a complicated expression.

Yang Zhenshan, sitting opposite him, stroked his beard and said calmly, “That’s right, the Liang family has been passed down since the founding Emperor for nearly four hundred years!”

“In these four hundred years, they’ve enjoyed unparalleled wealth and glory, but surely the ancestors wouldn’t want the descendants of the Liang family to squander this four hundred years of prosperity?”

“After the new dynasty is established, the Liang family can continue to enjoy wealth and prosperity, and perhaps the descendants may enjoy it for another four hundred years!”

“The first four hundred years were given by Da Rong, and the latter four hundred years will be given by my Yang family!”

Liang Shengze stared closely at Yang Zhenshan, “Can your Yang family trust my Liang family?”

“Why not? The Liang family is best at self-preservation, aren’t they?” Yang Zhenshan chuckled.

He spoke more straightforwardly with Liang Shengze, simpler than he would with Xuanzhen, though not so directly.

With Xuanzhen, Yang Zhenshan merely mentioned it briefly, and Xuanzhen ordered the Wuzhen Taoist Palace to close its gates.

But with Liang Shengze, Yang Zhenshan needed to explain the stakes clearly.

Although the Liang family is close to the Yang family, persuading them to betray Da Rong isn’t easy, as the Liang family truly shares the same fate with Da Rong.

However, Yang Zhenshan’s words were very true: the Liang family is best at self-preservation.

The Liang family has survived for four hundred years by adhering to the wisdom of choosing what to keep and what to forsake.

No matter how prosperous the Liang family was in the past, they were able to let go without hesitation.

Regardless of the status or power involved, the Liang family was able to abandon it without attachment.

It’s this very ability to let go that has allowed the Liang family to survive four hundred years without destruction.

To the Liang family, temporary loss of power isn’t a major issue as long as their title remains. Their descendants can always regain power.

Yang Zhenshan’s comment about the Liang family’s expertise in self-preservation had two meanings: firstly, if the Yang family seizes the world, the Liang family can continue its legacy through its unique wisdom of discernment; secondly, since the Liang family is adept at self-preservation, they should clearly see the current situation and prioritize self-preservation over loyalty to the ruler.

Liang Shengze glanced at Yang Zhenshan, then at Yang Yunxue standing behind him, furrowing his brow.

This matter is somewhat troublesome.

It involves not just the affairs of the world but also the internal dynamics of the Liang family.

Yang Yunxue is a woman of the Yang family, but also the granddaughter-in-law of the Liang family.

If the Liang family chooses to refuse the Yang family, the result is not only a question of the Liang family’s continuation but could also cause internal division within the Liang family.

Betting on both sides?

That’s clearly impossible. Being indecisive is most disliked, and betting on both sides results in being accepted neither inside nor out.

Liang Shengze sighed deeply; the Liang family’s options were limited.

They could either hide away and ignore state affairs or follow the Yang family to the end.

Actually, before meeting with Yang Zhenshan, Liang Shengze planned for the Liang family to lay low, avoid state affairs, and wait out the chaos before seeking their fortune once more.

Although this approach wouldn’t allow the Liang family to maintain its prestigious status, at least it wouldn’t lead to ruin.

No matter who came to power, the Liang family’s four Innate members could ensure the family’s legacy.

However, the Yang family’s sudden interference meant the Liang family couldn’t continue hiding.

They couldn’t escape it; the Yang and Liang families are too closely tied, bound by marriage.

If it were other family ties, the Liang family could simply disown them, but not with the Yang family.

“Ah, tell me what you need this old man to do, speak straightforwardly!” Liang Shengze ultimately made his decision.

In truth, there was nothing much to hesitate over.

The Yang family’s strength was evident, and for the Liang family to rely on the Yang family wasn’t a shameful matter.

“If one day the Capital City falls, I must ask you to protect the relatives of the Yang family and help them leave the Capital!” Yang Zhenshan requested.

Liang Shengze nodded, “That is easily done, I agree!”

…

Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi stayed only two days in the Capital City. Originally, he had thought of seeing Zhou Tianci, but after considering it, Yang Zhenshan decided against meeting Zhou Tianci.

The Zhou family, unlike the Liang family, although close to the Yang family, lacked the marital bonds.

Yang Zhenshan’s ties with the Zhou family mainly revolved around Zhou Lan, and while he did have some connections with other members of the Zhou family, it was not enough to entrust matters of life and death.

With the Liang family taking care of matters in the Capital, it was enough, and there wasn’t much more to be done.

To prevent exposing his presence in the Capital and avoid others guessing the Yang family’s plans, Yang Zhenshan thought it best to leave the Capital promptly.

After leaving the Capital City, Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi went to Chongshan Town. There, they did not reveal their identities, nor did they meet with Yang Chengye.

The two of them disguised themselves, blending into Chongshan Pass, and rented a discreet little courtyard to live in.

The future protagonist of Chongshan Town is Yang Chengye, and naturally, Yang Zhenshan couldn’t overshadow his eldest grandson.

However, to prevent any unforeseen events, Yang Zhenshan needed to personally back his eldest grandson.

Therefore, he chose to hide his identity in Chongshan Town and secretly support his grandson.

Of course, he would secretly assist his grandson.

He had already prepared a large amount of medicinal broth for Yang Chengye, and upon arriving at Chongshan Pass, he invested a substantial amount of Spiritual Spring Water into it.

The Spiritual Spring Water was poured into the wells as if it cost nothing.

Well, indeed, the Spiritual Spring Water cost nothing.

In the wells of several government courtyards within the city, the wells in the military camps outside the city, and the well in Yang Chengye’s courtyard, Yang Zhenshan secretly infused them with a large amount of Spiritual Spring Water.

He did not do it all at once, but rather slowly, at a leisurely pace.

Since they were to stay in Chongshan Pass for a while, there was no rush.

Thus, Yang Zhenshan and Yu Qingyi lived as ordinary people in Chongshan Pass.

Meanwhile, on Divine Wood Island, the Yang family secretly commenced its support for Chongshan Town, sending massive amounts of provisions, armaments, and medicines to Chongshan Town, while many martial artists quietly arrived at Chongshan Town.

Li Chang and Wang Lei arrived at Chongshan Town one after another, coming to Yang Chengye’s side to serve as guards.

Although the Yang family’s actions were significant, they did not draw the attention of those mindful because, at this time, all factions in Da Rong were focused on King Da Liang and Chen Hengchang.