Chapter 678: Elder Song’s Efforts
Opportunity!
Elder Song, unaware that he had just narrowly escaped a life-and-death situation, suddenly had a thought.
The Song family was on the brink of collapse, and it wouldn't be long before they were completely wiped out.
To prevent retaliation, there was a 90% chance those behind the scenes would eliminate every descendant of the Song family, leaving no room for resistance. But what if they allied with Ye Fei instead?
While it might lead to a more brutal end, there was also a slim chance this young man could work miracles, giving the Song family a lifeline.
If that happened, not only could the Song family recover, but they might even rise to new heights.
With this possibility in mind, Elder Song made up his decision. Since doing nothing meant certain death, and taking a risk offered a glimmer of hope, why not fight back?
"So, you're the leader of the Ye faction from Wanghai. What brings you to the capital?" Elder Song asked, testing the waters now that he'd made up his mind.
Ye Fei, however, waved his hand impatiently. "Enough with the roundabout talk. I'm here because of Song Xuan and Song Ci. If you have something to say, say it directly. Otherwise, don't blame me for not giving you a chance."
Ye Fei had little goodwill toward the old man, especially after noticing the flash of killing intent in his eyes earlier.
Elder Song was taken aback by Ye Fei's bluntness and momentarily speechless.
But Song Renhui, standing nearby, was thrilled. He'd been searching for an excuse to get his grandfather to take action against Ye Fei, and now Ye Fei had given him the perfect opportunity.
Feeling a rush of excitement, Song Renhui pointed at Ye Fei and shouted, "Ye Fei, who do you think you are, talking to my grandfather like that? I'll teach you some manners today! Guards!"
He was eager to summon the family's so-called experts to settle the score for the humiliation he'd suffered in Wanghai.
The only regret was that, with his grandfather present, he couldn't take the opportunity to beat up Song Ci as well.
Ye Fei ignored Song Renhui's outburst and turned to Elder Song with a look of disdain. "Is this the heir you've chosen for the Song family? I think the term 'senile' doesn't even begin to describe you."
Elder Song didn't argue. Instead, his face flushed with embarrassment. Song Renhui had always put on a good act in front of him, and as the eldest grandson, he'd seemed like the natural choice.
But over the past month, as the Song family teetered on the edge, Elder Song had seen through Song Renhui's incompetence. He'd been deeply disappointed but had kept it to himself to save face.
Now, however, things were different. Song Renhui was yelling at someone who might be the Song family's only hope. If Ye Fei walked away, the Song family would be finished.
"Shut up!" Elder Song slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, silencing Song Renhui. He then waved at the guards who had entered Song Renhui's call. "All of you, out."
"Grandfather…" Song Renhui scolded, and looked at Elder Song with confusion and hurt. But Elder Song ignored him, turning to Ye Fei with respect. "Mr. Ye, would you join me in the study for a private conversation?"
Though Ye Fei had no fondness for the old man, he was still Song Xuan's father. Out of respect, Ye Fei nodded and followed Elder Song into the study, leaving the others in stunned silence.
This included Yan Ruyu, Song Xuan, and Song Ci. They knew Ye Fei was powerful, but they hadn't expected him to command such respect from Elder Song.
The others were even more shocked, their eyes filled with envy and awe as they looked at the three women who had arrived with Ye Fei.
Even Song Ci's father, who had always looked at Yan Ruyu with possessive eyes, now gazed at her with pure admiration. As for Song Renhui, he finally realized what was happening and sat there, utterly dumbfounded.
Inside the study, Elder Song pulled out a chair for Ye Fei and gestured for him to sit. Ye Fei didn't stand at the ceremony and took a seat. "Speak," he said simply.
This time, Elder Song didn't beat around the bush. He laid out the crisis facing the Song family in detail. When he finished, he let out a long breath, realizing how relieving it felt to speak so directly.
What Elder Song described matched the information Ye Fei had already gathered, with a few additional details. After listening, Ye Fei asked, "So, what's your plan?"
"Originally, I thought of saving as many as I could. I used Song Xuan's broken engagement as an excuse to expel her from the family, hoping those behind this would spare her. Later, I used the same logic to remove Yan Ruyu and Song Ci," Elder Song explained. He didn't immediately bring up the idea of allying with Ye Fei, knowing that Ye Fei seemed close to his daughter and granddaughter.
While he wasn't sure which one Ye Fei was involved with, he believed this explanation would earn him some goodwill. As someone privy to classified information, he knew Ye Fei valued his family and friends deeply.
Elder Song's timing was impeccable. After hearing this, Ye Fei's tense expression softened. He didn't doubt the old man's words. Earlier, he'd found it odd that Elder Song would expel Song Xuan and the others so abruptly. Now, it made sense—he was trying to save as many as he could. Ye Fei respected Elder Song's efforts to protect his family.
"So that's what happened," Ye Fei nodded. "I'm sure Song Xuan and Song Ci will be happy to know you had their best interests at heart. I'll thank you on their behalf."
"Them?" Elder Song was puzzled. Was Ye Fei involved with his daughter or granddaughter? Or both? But he kept these thoughts to himself, smiling slightly. "It's nothing. As a father and grandfather, it's the least I could do for them."
"You've done well. You're a decent elder," Ye Fei said with a smile. Then he asked, "Did you come up with any solutions during your earlier discussion?"
Though Elder Song was nearly sixty years older than Ye Fei, the compliment pleased him. However, he frowned and said with frustration, "What solutions could they offer? All they suggested was forcing Song Xuan to marry into the Zhang family, hoping to beg for mercy from our enemies."
To be honest, Elder Song was deeply disappointed. The descendants he'd thought so highly of had proven utterly useless in a crisis.
"Wasn't that your original plan?" Ye Fei asked coolly, his expression darkening. Song Xuan was his woman, and he wouldn't tolerate anyone plotting against her.
"That was the original idea, but after learning the Zhang family was involved, I abandoned it. I may not be a good man, but I'd never throw my daughter into the enemy's fire," Elder Song said firmly, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Then tell them this: if anyone dares to scheme against Song Xuan again, I'll deal with them myself before anyone else gets the chance," Ye Fei said coldly. Even though Elder Song was Song Xuan's father, Ye Fei didn't hesitate to assert his authority. As for the rest of the Song family, Ye Fei left it to Elder Song to handle.
"Don't worry. Nothing like that will happen again," Elder Song assured him, now realizing that Ye Fei was involved with his daughter. But he didn't dare act like a father-in-law. In their dynamic, Ye Fei held all the power.
"One more thing," Ye Fei continued. "Song Ci is my disciple. I don't want her distracted by her mother being harassed."
"Understood. I'll have Yan Ruyu accompany Song Ci to Wanghai. Under your protection, no one would dare to trouble her," Elder Song said, relieved. He'd long been aware of Yan Ruyu's allure.
While he was too old to act on it, he knew his sons and even grandsons harbored inappropriate thoughts.
Over the years, he'd kept them in check, but it was only a matter of time before they turned on each other over her. Handing Yan Ruyu over to Ye Fei lifted a weight off his shoulders.
Ye Fei nodded, satisfied. The old man was quick to understand, and Ye Fei appreciated it.
"Now that the personal matters are settled, let's talk about your family's situation," Ye Fei said, shifting the conversation.
"What's your plan?"
What do you think?
Total Responses: 0