Chapter 86: A slap in the face, a shattered dream

Everyone clearly saw that what Zhao Enhong was holding in his hand was Zhao Yi's booklet.

With a "crack", the porcelain cup in the second wife's hand shattered to the ground, making a sharp and crisp sound.

Her mind went blank and for a moment she couldn't see clearly what Zhao Enhong was holding in his hand.

The second master was like being hit on the head with a club. He was completely stunned and stared at the booklet in Zhao Enhong's hand with his eyes wide open.

"impossible……"

Shen Mingzhu's face turned pale, as if someone had broken her beautiful dream and dragged her out to face the cruel reality.

She didn't want to believe what she saw and thought she was dreaming. She pinched her thigh with her fingers, and the piercing pain tore her heart, which was full of longing and hope.

The most unbelievable person was Zhao Jue. He seemed to be thrown into the clouds, with the stars in the sky at his fingertips, but in the next moment he fell heavily into the abyss.

He stared at the booklet in Zhao Enhong's hand.

This old fellow clearly accepted his generous gift and promised to smooth things over for him, but in the end he ended up setting him up.

Zhao Jue believed that everyone's nature was to seek benefits and avoid harm. He promised Zhao Enhong that if he came to power, he would definitely arrange a future for his grandson and let his grandson seek medical treatment and have children.

But Zhao Enhong didn't buy it at all. He would rather cut off the inheritance of the incense than not fail to fulfill his duties.

This overturned Zhao Jue's understanding of human nature, and he could not understand Zhao Enhong's actions.

"A reason." Zhao Jue's face was tense, and he said coldly, "I want a reason."

"Sanlang, your strategy is not suitable for the development of a large clan. If it suffers a severe blow and its foundation collapses, the entire clan will return to its starting point."

The first elder analyzed the pros and cons of the two men: "Erlang's strategy is very good. He taps into the expertise of each clan member, allowing each to leverage their strengths within their own areas, and then carve out a path with the support of the clan. In the future, no matter who in the clan encounters difficulties, there are thousands of clan members who can help."

The second elder said, "The entire clan runs a business together, and there are only a few people in charge. Driven by interests, it's easy for them to become divided. I'm afraid that before we face external threats, internal troubles will arise."

The third elder said, "Erlang's proposal is exactly the opposite. The clan's children rely on their own abilities, eliminating the hidden dangers at the root."

"The position of leader has always been held by the most capable, so how could there be disunity?" Zhao Jue was unconvinced. "We have established clan rules. Anyone who does not follow them will be severely punished."

"Then why is Sanlang competing with Erlang for the title today?" Zhao Enhong asked with a smile, "Is it because Erlang is incompetent, or is it because the ancestral legacy was not clearly written?"

Zhao Jue's face was gloomy, fearing that Zhao Enhong would say that he was trying to bribe him. After all, the old man did not play by the rules.

He clenched his fists tightly and said expressionlessly, "It's not that I'm competing with my second brother, but because my second brother is frail and can't overwork, I'm taking this opportunity to demonstrate my abilities so that you can trust me with the title and my second brother can recover."

Zhao Jue reminded Zhao Enhong that Zhao Yi was in poor health and asked him to think twice before choosing an heir.

"cough."

Zhao Enhong coughed briefly.

With his cough, Zhao Jue's tense nerves were stretched, and it felt like a knife was hanging over his head.

It is true that no matter when or where, Zhao Enhong always has a smile on his face, making it difficult to understand what he is thinking.

He was the kind of person who would talk to people with a smile while stabbing them mercilessly.

"You've certainly done a great job of being filial. Not only are you respectful to your brother, but you're also filial to your elders." Zhao Enhong cleared his throat and smiled warmly, as if chatting. "As soon as I arrived in Beijing, you visited me and gave me some generous gifts. As your elder, I didn't prepare a gift for you. I felt ashamed, so I personally wrote a calligraphy piece for you."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room changed their expressions.

Especially Duke Zhao, the old lady and the other three elders, all shook their heads in disappointment.

The knife above his head fell, cutting Zhao Jue's tense nerves. Their disappointed looks deeply stung his eyes.

Zhao Enhong was completely unaware that the atmosphere had become subtle. He signaled the servant beside him to give the calligraphy to Zhao Jue.

The servant held the calligraphy in front of Zhao Jue and said, "Third Master, this is the calligraphy given to you by Mr. Zhao."

The veins on Zhao Jue's forehead throbbed, and he wished he could strangle the man in front of him. But not only could he not do that, he had to respectfully accept the calligraphy.

"Thank you for the calligraphy, elder." Zhao Jue accepted it with both hands, a smile on his face, and said frankly, "I know your grandson. I came to visit you this time just to learn about his recent situation."

Zhao Enhong smiled kindly, showing a hint of tolerance, and said nothing more.

The main hall fell silent again.

The Second Lady's heart seemed to be frying in oil. She looked at the Duke of Zhao with a pale face: "Father..."

Duke Zhao raised his hand and interrupted the second lady.

"I said that day, whoever wins the approval of the clan elders will be granted the title." Duke Zhao stood up, exuding the awe-inspiring righteousness of someone who has held a high position for a long time. "Zhao Yi's strategy today has won the approval of the clan elders. He will be the heir to the Duke's Mansion from now on."

"Cough cough cough... cough..." Zhao Yi calmed down his cough, stood up and saluted: "I will definitely live up to the high expectations of the elders."

The people in the second house looked very bad, like defeated roosters, exuding a dejected air.

Zhao Jue clearly realized that the moment Zhao Enhong opened his mouth, his situation was over.

But the moment when the dust has settled is still hard to bear.

Especially since everyone in the mansion was convinced that the title would fall on him, he also believed this deeply and was even very proud of it, but in the end he became a joke.

He looked at Shen Qingtan opposite him. Her eyebrows were calm, and the corners of her lips were slightly curved. She handed tea and handkerchief to Zhao Yi beside her, and she was not surprised by the favor or criticism.

She did not show a victorious attitude just because Zhao Yi got the title.

The calmer their first wife is, the more their second wife looks like a clown.

Zhao Jue couldn't stay any longer, tightly clutching the calligraphy in his hand, and stood up to say goodbye: "Junior has things to attend to, so I'll leave first."

He strode out of the main hall. The sunlight shone on his body, but he could not feel any warmth. Instead, a chill seeped into his bones.

Zhao Jue looked at the servants who were peeking in with a sharp gaze. He knew without thinking how they would mock him.

Zhao Enhong!

He gritted his teeth, opened the calligraphy in his hand, and a line of words came into view.

Don't make enemies with villains, for villains have their own enemies. Don't flatter gentlemen, for gentlemen don't do favors for themselves.

Zhao Jue's face instantly turned pale. These words were warning him not to make enemies with villains, because villains would naturally have enemies who would be his enemies.

Don't use improper means to show your courtesy to a gentleman of moral character, because a gentleman will not give special favors to others for personal reasons.

This piece of calligraphy hit Zhao Jue hard in the face like a slap in the face.