“Of course,” Zhan Jingting answered without hesitation, “Everything in this house is decided by Madam Zhan.”

Qiao Wanwan couldn't help but chuckle, "That's really sweet talk."

Zhan Jingting patted her head and said, "Wanwan, as long as you're happy, you can do whatever you want."

After Qiao Wanwan fell asleep, Zhan Jingting returned to his study.

"Master Zhan," Jiang Dong knocked and entered, "as you instructed, we are now fully tracking them. This time, two have died and six are wounded. We won't be able to quell our hatred until these people are completely wiped out!"

Zhan Jingting's handsome face remained expressionless. "I know."

"Master Zhan, we've been on the defensive for too long." Jiang Dong said with a pained expression. "For you and your wife, the brothers have been selfless and devoted. If it were for the young master, I believe they would fight tooth and nail to risk their lives!"

Zhan Jingting looked up at him. "You mean, it's not worth getting into this passive situation just to save Zaozao?"

Jiang Dong replied truthfully, "Master Zhan, I don't want to deceive myself. I have always respected Miss Zaozao because she is Madam's sister. We, like you, love her because of her."

"But she wouldn't listen to advice and insisted on going out, which led to these consequences. I really feel it's not worth it for the brothers to pay for her mistakes!"

"The Imperial View Group has a great reputation, and everyone knows that we are invincible. But now we are in such a passive situation, which is really embarrassing. Just like that day, if we had dropped bombs, the mastermind behind the scenes would have been killed by us, and we wouldn't have lost a single soldier. Unlike now, where people are dead and injured, but he still managed to get away."

Zhan Jingting parted his thin lips slightly, "Then what do you think we should do?"

Jiang Dong immediately knelt down. "Master Zhan, I dare not say anything to ask you to give up rescuing Miss Zaozao, because that would be disrespectful to Madam. But I beg you, turn this passive situation around. When we find them next time, I will go to rescue them alone. If I succeed, it's because my luck hasn't run out. If I fail, I will perish with them. That way, you won't have any worries!"

Zhan Jingting smiled faintly, "Then if someone else tries to harm me next time, can you be resurrected and protect me in this way?"

Jiang Dong said firmly, "No, this opponent is the strongest in history. I believe that as long as we deal with him, no one will dare to cause trouble in the future."

"Jiang Dong, how old are you? How can you still be so naive?" Zhan Jingting leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "There are always people more powerful than you. The next opponent will only be stronger."

“I understand what you just said. You think that as long as you risk your life, even if you can't save Zaozao, you'll have done right by Wanwan. That's right, in Wanwan's eyes, your lives are just as precious as Zaozao's. Don't even mention you, any bodyguard would have the same effect if they sacrificed themselves as you said. But is this the way to solve things?”

“That day’s sacrifice was an accident, but you want me to choose someone to reduce the potential casualties with their death. Theoretically, it seems reasonable, but in reality, it goes against the natural order. If Wanwan knew, she would choose to secretly leave here and go save Zaozao herself rather than burden others.”

Jiang Dong hurriedly said, "But Master Zhan, we are willing..."

"In Wanwan's words, your willingness doesn't mean your lives are worthless," Zhan Jingting said calmly. "Wanwan has already decided not to select people from the orphanage to train for Xiao Jiu and the others."

“But Master Zhan, this has always been a tradition of the Zhan family.” Jiang Dong frowned. “If we don’t carefully select and train a group of people to be loyal to the Zhan family, it will inevitably be unsafe to find people from outside in the future. The purpose of this tradition is to protect the heir. We can’t abandon it!”

“Wanwan has already made her decision, so let’s listen to her.” Zhan Jingting smiled. “She doesn’t even want to force Xiao Jiu and the others to inherit the Zhan family, let alone anything else.”

Jiang Dong shook his head. "No, you still need to persuade Madam properly."

“Wanwan has always been stubborn, and I respect her decision.”

Jiang Dong looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Get up. Don't mention this again." Zhan Jingting withdrew his gaze. "Remember, what we need to do is improve our combat capabilities and reduce casualties next time, not arrange for someone to sacrifice themselves to buy temporary peace."

"I understand." Jiang Dong then stood up. "Master Zhan, I'll go out first. Call me if you need anything."

Jiang Dong walked out of the study and met Zhan Yin.

"What's wrong?" Zhan Yin asked bluntly. "You look so pale. Did my uncle scold you? If he's still angry, I'm not going in to invite his wrath."

"No." Jiang Dong composed himself. "Master Zhan is not angry. Young Master Yin may go in."

"But judging from your expression, it's not that simple," Zhan Yin asked with a gossipy look. "Tell me, what did you two talk about?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Dong sighed. "It's just that I feel Master Zhan has changed. He actually listened to Madam and stopped training assistants for the young master and the others. This has always been a tradition of the Zhan family, a tradition that is beneficial to the heirs."

Zhan Yin's lips twitched. "Jiangdong, the Qing Dynasty is already dead. How can you still be so old-fashioned and support such dregs? Like Wanwan, I think it's unnecessary. If you're going to provide funding, then provide funding. Why do you have to pull people in and train them to serve the Zhan family? Doesn't that make it seem like you have ulterior motives?"

"And do you really think these people were all willing? They were all very young when the Zhan family chose them, and they had no other choice. Your group might be okay, but my dad told me that in my uncle's grandfather's generation, those who were chosen and refused had no chance of survival."

"Is that so?" Jiang Dong asked in surprise.

"What's so strange about that? With the Zhan family's capabilities, killing someone is easier than crushing an ant, let alone an orphan. Only by making an example of them will the other children obediently accept the arrangements and risk their lives for the Zhan family." Zhan Yin raised an eyebrow and said, "Now that Heaven has sent Wanwan to the Zhan family to rectify these outdated customs, isn't that a good thing? What era are we living in? All lives are equal, so I support Wanwan!"

"So, it makes sense that Master Zhan supports Madam."

Zhan Yin's lips twitched. "Do you really think my uncle is stupid? It's good that he agreed to let this matter end with Wanwan. But if he hadn't agreed, given Wanwan's personality, she would definitely have continued to fight for it. As she finds out more and more, she'll probably think that you didn't work for the Zhan family voluntarily and that's why she dismissed you and set you free. After all, she values ​​freedom the most."

"Madam really does such a thing!" Jiang Dong looked at him with a smile. "Young Master Yin, you know a lot."

"That's right, I'm a wise man who pretends to be foolish," Zhan Yin said proudly. "Besides, I'm surnamed Zhan, so I know a bit about the secrets of wealthy families."

Jiang Dong nodded.

"Oh, right." Zhan Yin remembered the important matter, "How's the tracking of that group going? Why haven't we heard anything about the follow-up? It's such a pity they got away that day!"

"Young Master Yin, you are unaware of something..."