As the epidemic subsided, the General's Mansion should have continued to be immersed in peace. However, a wave of conflict quietly rose within the family.

On this day, sunlight streamed into the council hall of the General's Mansion, where important members of the Xiao family gathered. Xiao Yichen sat in the main seat, his expression serious. His gaze slowly swept over everyone present, a strange unease rising in his heart.

Xiao Yichen's uncle, Xiao Yuanhai, broke the silence first. He cleared his throat and said, "Yichen, you are now the head of the General's Mansion and have been managing family affairs for some time. Your uncle has some things to say, but I don't know if I should."

Xiao Yichen nodded slightly and said, "Uncle, please speak freely."

Xiao Yuanhai stood up, paced around for a moment, and then said, “Look at our General’s Mansion. We have many properties, but under your management, the profits are not increasing. Take those shops in the city, for example; business is getting increasingly slow. If this continues, the foundation of the family may be shaken.”

Xiao Yichen frowned and said, "Uncle, the reasons for this are complicated. In recent years, the imperial court has increased taxes, and market competition has become increasingly fierce. It is not because of my mismanagement."

At this moment, Xiao Yichen's cousin, Xiao Yifei, also stepped forward and echoed, "Yichen, what Uncle says makes sense. Furthermore, in the training of the family's children, you have focused too much on martial arts and neglected business acumen and academic studies. How can we guarantee the long-term prosperity of the family if things continue like this?"

Lin Wan'er sat to the side, listening to their accusations, feeling somewhat displeased. She said softly, "Elders, my husband's training in martial arts is also for the sake of the family's foothold in the court and on the frontier. As for business and studies, we have been trying to balance them, and in recent years the family has also made achievements in cultural inheritance, such as Nianchen's progress in poetry, calligraphy and painting."

Xiao Yifei sneered and said, "Sister-in-law, although you are intelligent, this is ultimately a major family matter. How can Nianchen's progress represent the development of the entire family?"

Xiao Yichen raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet and said, "Since everyone has many opinions on the management of the family, let's speak freely today and discuss a solution together."

Xiao Yuanhai said, "I think we should reorganize the family business, transfer some of the loss-making shops, and concentrate on operating those profitable businesses. At the same time, we should select some family members with business talent and cultivate their business skills."

Xiao Yifei continued, "In the education of the family's children, a special school should be established. In addition to martial arts courses, courses such as business, literature, and etiquette should be added, and regular assessments should be conducted. Those who perform well should be rewarded. This will encourage them to study diligently."

Xiao Yichen pondered for a moment and said, "My uncle and cousin's suggestions have some merit. However, the transfer of property needs to be carefully considered, and we cannot act blindly. As for the education of the family's children, establishing a school is indeed a good idea. I will discuss the specifics with Wan'er."

However, the matter did not end there. In the days that followed, Xiao Yuanhai, Xiao Yifei, and others seemed unsatisfied with merely offering suggestions; they began to win over members of the family and attempt to expand their influence.

Under their influence, some members of the family began to question and resent Xiao Yichen's management. They discussed it privately within the manor, and some even deliberately disobeyed Xiao Yichen's orders on certain matters.

Lin Wan'er noticed the subtle changes in the family and said to Xiao Yichen, "Husband, my uncle and cousin's actions are probably not just for the development of the family, but seem to have the intention of vying for control of the family."

Xiao Yichen's expression was solemn as he said, "I've also noticed something. But they are family members after all, and I don't want to easily resort to violence with them. Let's first consider the family's interests and solve the practical problems; perhaps that can resolve this conflict."

Therefore, Xiao Yichen began to arrange adjustments to the family business, personally inspecting the operation of each shop and discussing improvement strategies with the shopkeepers. On the other hand, he and Lin Wan'er began to prepare for the construction of the family school, inviting some well-known scholars and businessmen to serve as teachers.

At the opening ceremony of the family academy, Xiao Yichen delivered a speech: "Dear family members, the purpose of the academy's opening today is to cultivate you into well-rounded descendants of the Xiao family, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possessing both virtue and talent. The rise and fall of the family rests on the shoulders of each and every one of you. We must unite as one and work together for the future of the family."

However, Xiao Yuanhai and Xiao Yifei deliberately made things difficult for him at the opening ceremony. Xiao Yuanhai said, "Yichen, this school is good, but without sufficient financial support, it may not last long. How do you plan to solve the funding problem?"

Xiao Yichen replied, "Uncle, I have arranged for someone to recalculate the income and expenditure of the family business. A portion of the funds from the profitable businesses will be allocated specifically for the operation of the school. At the same time, we will also encourage family members to strive to secure more resources for the school through their own efforts, such as earning profits in business practice and donating them to the school."

Xiao Yifei persisted, "This is just your plan; whether it can be realized is still unknown. What if the school is abandoned halfway through? Wouldn't that be a waste of the family's resources?"

Lin Wan'er stepped forward and said, "Cousin, everything requires trying and effort. We have full confidence in the school and believe in the abilities of the family members. If everyone can work together instead of making unfounded doubts here, the school will surely succeed."

Despite Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's efforts, the family feud intensifies. In decision-making regarding family affairs, Xiao Yuanhai and others often unite against Xiao Yichen, leading to many stalemates.

During a family ancestral worship ceremony, the conflict finally erupted. In front of everyone in the family, Xiao Yuanhai accused Xiao Yichen of violating ancestral precepts and failing to manage the family effectively, demanding a new election for family head.

Xiao Yichen said angrily, "Uncle, I have always been thinking of the family's best interests, and everything I have done is for the long-term development of the family. If you have different opinions, you can discuss them with me. Why do you have to openly provoke trouble during this sacrificial ceremony?"

Xiao Yuanhai said, "Hmph, your so-called development will only lead the family to decline. Today, I will seek justice for the family."

Xiao Yifei chimed in, adding fuel to the fire: "That's right, we can't let Yichen continue to ruin the family."

Looking at the chaotic situation, Lin Wan'er knew that she needed to present solid evidence to quell the conflict. She calmly said, "Elders, although my husband has encountered many difficulties in managing the family, he has also achieved considerable success. For example, in the border wars, he protected the family's honor and the country's peace; during the epidemic, he actively searched for antidotes, saving countless people, including family members. Isn't all of this for the sake of the family?"

After hearing Lin Wan'er's words, the family members fell into deep thought. Some of the disciples who had been misled by Xiao Yuanhai and others also began to waver.

Xiao Yichen continued, "Uncle, cousin, if you truly care about the family, then stop the disputes and work together with me. I am willing to accept everyone's supervision, as long as the General's Mansion can get better and better."

Xiao Yuanhai and Xiao Yifei exchanged a glance. They hadn't expected Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er to react this way. They had thought they could easily seize control of the family through this conflict, but they hadn't anticipated that the family members wouldn't be entirely on their side.

After Xiao Yichen's sincere statement, some elders in the family also stepped in to mediate. They criticized Xiao Yuanhai and Xiao Yifei's excessive behavior and advised them to prioritize the overall interests of the family.

In the end, Xiao Yuanhai and Xiao Yifei had no choice but to admit their mistakes. They realized that their actions had aroused public outrage within the family, and if they continued, it would only lead to the family's disintegration.

This family feud was temporarily quelled thanks to the wisdom and perseverance of Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er. However, they knew that maintaining the harmony and stability of the family still required their continued efforts, and many more challenges awaited them in the future.

After the family feud, the General's Mansion gradually returned to its former peace and order. While handling family affairs, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er also paid more attention to the cultivation of Xiao Nianchen, hoping that he could grow into a pillar of the family.

One day, Xiao Yichen was reviewing official documents in his study when a confidential letter caught his attention. The letter mentioned a series of bizarre incidents that had recently occurred in the capital and surrounding areas: several high-ranking officials had their homes burglarized late at night, and the stolen items were not gold or silver treasures, but rather some seemingly ordinary scrolls and letters that contained hidden secrets; wealthy merchants in some places had mysteriously disappeared, leaving only some strange symbols at the scene; and even several military camps had been infiltrated at night by unidentified individuals, although no major casualties were caused, there seemed to be a leak of military intelligence.

Xiao Yichen frowned deeply. He knew these events were no accident and that a mysterious force must be behind them. He immediately summoned his trusted generals for a secret meeting in his study.

"Gentlemen, have you heard about the recent events in Kyoto?" Xiao Yichen asked with a solemn expression.

A general clasped his hands in a fist and replied, “General, I have heard a little about it. These events seem to be separate, but I feel that there must be some connection between them. However, I cannot yet determine who is responsible.”

Xiao Yichen nodded slightly and said, "I have the same concerns. These events could pose a huge threat to both the imperial court and the General's Mansion. We must find out the truth as soon as possible."

Therefore, Xiao Yichen ordered the formation of a special investigation team, which he personally led, to secretly investigate these bizarre events. They started with the stolen scrolls and letters, and after careful study, they discovered that most of these scrolls and letters involved confidential government affairs, military deployments, and the secret inheritances of some families.

"It seems that this mysterious force's target isn't money, but rather this confidential information. What exactly is their purpose?" Xiao Yichen pondered to himself.

During the investigation, they discovered some clues. Near the mansion of a missing wealthy businessman, a group of people dressed in black robes were seen moving about mysteriously at night. These people moved quickly and seemed to have strict organizational discipline.

After receiving the news, Xiao Yichen decided to set up an ambush in that area, waiting for these mysterious people to reappear. After several days and nights of surveillance, finally, on a dark and windy night, the group of black-robed men reappeared.

At Xiao Yichen's command, soldiers surged out like a tide, surrounding the men in black robes. However, the men in black robes did not panic; they quickly drew their weapons and engaged in a fierce battle with Xiao Yichen's soldiers.

The men in black robes were highly skilled in martial arts and worked in perfect coordination. Their weapons were also quite peculiar; the blades gleamed with a chilling blue light, seemingly coated with deadly poison. Xiao Yichen's soldiers fought valiantly, but for the time being, they found it difficult to subdue them.

Seeing this, Xiao Yichen personally charged into the battle. He wielded his longsword, his swordplay fierce and each strike carrying a powerful aura. He moved like lightning, instantly felling several black-robed men.

Under Xiao Yichen's leadership, the soldiers gradually gained the upper hand. After a fierce battle, they finally captured all the men in black robes.

Xiao Yichen ordered his men to bring the men in black robes back to the general's mansion for interrogation. However, when they removed the men's masks, they discovered that these men all wore strange masks covered with complex runes, making it impossible to see their faces.

"Who exactly are you people? Why are you causing trouble in Kyoto?" Xiao Yichen asked sternly.

The men in black robes remained silent, refusing to utter a single word no matter how Xiao Yichen interrogated them.

While Xiao Yichen was interrogating the man in black, Lin Wan'er also noticed something unusual in the general's mansion. While tidying the study, she stumbled upon some strange markings on an ancient book, markings that were remarkably similar to those found near the residence of the missing wealthy merchant.

Lin Wan'er's heart skipped a beat; she knew these markings might hold the key to unlocking the mystery of the mysterious organization. So, she began consulting various ancient texts, trying to find clues about these markings.

After several days of effort, Lin Wan'er finally found some relevant records in an ancient secret book. It turned out that these markings belonged to a mysterious organization that had long since vanished into the annals of history. This organization had once attempted to overthrow the imperial court and seize control of the world, but was defeated by the united efforts of the heroes of the time and disappeared without a trace.

Lin Wan'er immediately informed Xiao Yichen of this news. Upon hearing it, Xiao Yichen was greatly shocked. He realized that this mysterious organization might have made a comeback, and their ambitions were even greater than before.

"Wan'er, you did a great job. Now that we know their origins, we must be even more vigilant," Xiao Yichen said.

To learn more about this mysterious organization, Xiao Yichen decided to travel to an ancient temple in the capital. It was said that the temple's abbot was a learned monk well-versed in history, and perhaps he could provide more clues about the organization.

Xiao Yichen arrived at the temple and met the abbot. He explained his purpose to the abbot and showed him the strange markings.

The abbot's expression changed slightly after seeing it, and he said, "Amitabha, benefactor, this is the mark of the 'Shadow Society.' This organization was designated as a cult hundreds of years ago. They are skilled in assassination and theft of secrets, and their methods are extremely cruel. Now that they have reappeared in the world, they will surely bring a catastrophe to the world."

Xiao Yichen asked, "Master, is there any way to stop them?"

The host pondered for a moment and said, "The Shadow Society is elusive and tightly organized. To stop them, we must first find their lair and destroy their foundation. But this will not be easy; they must have set up numerous traps and mechanisms around their lair."

Xiao Yichen thanked the abbot and returned to the General's Mansion. After discussing with Lin Wan'er, he decided to intensify the investigation into the mysterious organization and prepare for their retaliation.

In the days that followed, Xiao Yichen and his investigation team traveled extensively, searching for the Shadow Society's hideout. Based on various clues, they gradually narrowed down their search area.

Finally, they discovered some suspicious signs in a valley on the outskirts of the capital. An eerie atmosphere permeated the valley, and the area was heavily guarded, with men in black robes patrolling from time to time.

Xiao Yichen knew that this was very likely the Shadow Society's lair. He immediately devised a detailed attack plan, preparing to destroy this mysterious organization's stronghold in one fell swoop.

One night, Xiao Yichen led the elite soldiers of the General's Mansion and quietly made their way into the valley. They avoided the patrolling men in black robes and carefully infiltrated the valley.

However, once they entered the valley, they discovered that the traps and mechanisms there were far more complex than they had imagined. The moment they stepped into the valley, they triggered a series of traps, unleashing a hail of arrows and tumbling boulders, plunging the soldiers into immediate danger.

Despite the danger, Xiao Yichen remained calm and directed his soldiers to cooperate, dodging traps and obstacles as they continued to advance deeper into the valley.

After a difficult battle, they finally broke through the traps and reached the core area of ​​the Shadow Society's lair.

Here, they saw the leader of the Shadow Order. The leader wore a long black robe and a golden mask, obscuring his face.

"Xiao Yichen, do you think you can stop us? You've already entered a land of death." The leader let out a sinister laugh.

Xiao Yichen said coldly, "The Shadow Society has committed all sorts of evil deeds and attempted to overthrow the imperial court. Today, I will definitely eliminate you completely."

Having said that, Xiao Yichen charged at the leader first. The leader was not to be outdone, drawing a black scimitar and engaging Xiao Yichen in a thrilling duel.

Both were extremely skilled in martial arts, and for a time, their swords clashed and they were evenly matched. Xiao Yichen unleashed all his skills, his sword moves becoming increasingly fierce, while the leader's scimitar moved with impenetrable speed, like a black whirlwind.

Meanwhile, the soldiers and members of the Shadow Society also engaged in fierce combat. Shouts of battle and screams of agony echoed through the valley, and blood stained the ground.

After a fierce battle, Xiao Yichen finally found the leader's weakness. Seizing the opportunity, he thrust his sword forward, striking the leader squarely in the chest. The leader let out a scream and collapsed to the ground.

With their leader fallen, the Shadow Society members were thrown into disarray. Xiao Yichen led his soldiers in pursuit, completely destroying the Shadow Society's hideout and successfully eliminating this threat to the imperial court and the General's Mansion.

After this battle against the mysterious organization, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er's prestige in the capital was further enhanced. They used their wisdom and courage to safeguard the peace of the General's Mansion and made significant contributions to the court and the people.

After the turmoil caused by the mysterious organization, the streets and alleys of the capital gradually returned to their former hustle and bustle. Inside the General's Mansion, Lin Wan'er watched Xiao Nianchen playing in the courtyard, but her mind was preoccupied with another matter concerning the foundation of her family and nation—cultural inheritance.

That day, Lin Wan'er told Xiao Yichen her thoughts: "Yichen, look at the world today. Although it seems peaceful and prosperous, I always feel that something is quietly slipping away. Our poetry, songs, etiquette and culture are becoming increasingly difficult to pass on to the younger generation. If this continues, the foundation of the country may be shaken."

Xiao Yichen nodded slightly and said, "Wan'er, what you say is very true. When I was fighting on the frontier, I found that many people knew very little about traditional etiquette and culture, and some ancient skills were in danger of being lost. However, the preservation of culture is not an easy task. Do you have any thoughts?"

Lin Wan'er pondered for a moment and said, "I want to set up a small cultural school in the General's Mansion first, and gather the children of the mansion and children in the surrounding area who are interested in learning, to systematically teach them poetry, calligraphy, painting, etiquette and other aspects. But I am worried that I alone will not be able to support the operation of this school."

Xiao Yichen gently held Lin Wan'er's hand and said, "Wan'er, you don't need to worry. It's already commendable that you have this idea. I will fully support you. You can use all the resources in the General's Mansion. As for teachers, I can send people to find some virtuous and learned scholars to help you."

With Xiao Yichen's support, Lin Wan'er began to prepare for the cultural school in great detail. She personally selected a quiet courtyard in the General's Mansion as the school site, ordered people to clean and arrange it, and purchased teaching materials such as tables, chairs, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

However, many difficulties were encountered in recruiting students. Many families believed that these cultural skills were not very useful for their children's future, and they preferred that their children focus on martial arts or business so that they could bring honor to their ancestors and acquire wealth in the future.

Lin Wan'er personally visited several families, patiently explaining the importance of cultural inheritance to them: "Dear parents, poetry and songs can cultivate one's character, calligraphy and painting can refine one's temperament, and etiquette and culture are the principles for our conduct. These seemingly useless things are actually like a beacon, illuminating the inner world of children and making them virtuous and cultured individuals."

Through Lin Wan'er's tireless efforts, some families were finally moved by her sincerity and agreed to send their children to the cultural school. However, the number of students was still limited, and their ages and academic levels varied.

The cultural academy finally opened. Lin Wan'er invited an old scholar named Su Wenxuan to teach poetry. Old Master Su was devoted to the creation and study of poetry throughout his life and was quite famous in the capital.

In the first lesson, Master Su recited Tang and Song poems with a swaying head, explaining the rhythm, imagery, and emotional expression of the poems to the students. However, most of the children in the audience looked blank, and some even began to whisper and doze off.

Lin Wan'er observed from the side, secretly anxious. She knew that to truly let these children appreciate the charm of poetry, traditional teaching methods could not be relied upon alone.

Therefore, Lin Wan'er decided to change her teaching methods. She took the children out of the classroom and into the garden, where they used the flowers, trees, pavilions, and towers as inspiration to create their own poems.

At first, the children were still a little at a loss, but with Lin Wan'er's patient guidance, they gradually opened up. Some children looked at the blooming peach blossoms and recited: "Peach blossoms with pink faces reflect the spring light, bees and butterflies dance gracefully." Although the verses were a little naive, they were full of childlike innocence and imagination.

Lin Wan'er gave full affirmation and encouragement to the children's performance, which made the children more interested and confident in poetry creation.

In terms of calligraphy instruction, Lin Wan'er invited Li Mobai, a renowned calligrapher. Li Mobai's calligraphy is vigorous, powerful, and elegant. In class, he demonstrated the evolution of various calligraphic styles and writing techniques to the children.

However, the children encountered many difficulties while practicing calligraphy. The brush seemed very unruly in their hands, and the characters they wrote were crooked and uneven. Many children began to complain and even wanted to give up.

Seeing this, Lin Wan'er picked up a calligraphy brush herself and demonstrated for the children. She wrote stroke by stroke, while explaining the cultural connotations and spiritual pursuits behind calligraphy: "Calligraphy is not just about writing characters, but also an expression of one's state of mind. Every stroke contains power and emotion, and one must be calm, focused and concentrated to write well."

To help children practice calligraphy better, Lin Wan'er also organized calligraphy competitions and exhibitions to stimulate their competitive spirit and creative enthusiasm.

The painting instruction is led by a female painter named Lin Ruoxue. Lin Ruoxue specializes in landscape and flower-and-bird paintings, and she uses delicate brushstrokes and rich colors to show the children the wonderful world of painting.

However, drawing requires a certain amount of talent and patience, and some children gradually lose interest in the process. Lin Wan'er then encourages them to start with things they are interested in, such as drawing their favorite animals or toys.

At the same time, Lin Wan'er also combined painting with poetry, allowing children to write poems for their paintings or create paintings based on the content of poems, so that children could inspire and promote each other in different art forms.

In teaching etiquette and culture, Lin Wan'er takes a hands-on approach. She starts by teaching the most basic daily etiquette, such as greetings, sitting posture, and standing posture, explaining to the children the importance of etiquette in interpersonal communication.

However, children are naturally lively and active, and often find these tedious etiquette rules boring. Lin Wan'er then uses role-playing, scenario simulation, and other methods to let children learn etiquette through games.

For example, she set up a scene of a palace banquet and had the children play different roles, such as emperor, minister, palace maid, eunuch, etc., to experience the application of etiquette at the banquet.

Despite the best efforts of Lin Wan'er and the teachers, the development of the cultural academy still faces many challenges. Financially, the limited number of students means tuition revenue is insufficient to cover the academy's daily expenses, and the General's Mansion's resources cannot be unlimited.

Regarding the teaching staff, although several well-known literary figures were invited, their time and energy were limited, making it difficult for them to devote themselves fully to the school's teaching for an extended period.

Moreover, external criticism has never ceased. Some believe that Lin Wan'er's actions are a waste of time and energy and do not provide any substantial help to the development of the General's Mansion.

Faced with these difficulties and doubts, Lin Wan'er also experienced disappointment and confusion. But whenever she saw the children's occasional expressions of love and understanding of culture during their learning process, she reaffirmed her belief.

Xiao Yichen always silently supported Lin Wan'er from behind. In his spare time after handling military affairs, he would also come to the cultural school to learn poetry and calligraphy with the children, setting an example for them through his actions.

At a family gathering at the General's Mansion, Xiao Nianchen stood before everyone and recited a poem he had written: "A gentle breeze caresses the willows, its rhythm melodious; the bright moon shines through the window, evoking thoughts of my hometown. I wish to learn from the sages and write down my lofty aspirations, to pass on the fragrant culture."

Although the poem was not yet fully developed, it greatly shocked the family members present. They saw the brilliance of cultural inheritance shining through the child and began to re-examine everything Lin Wan'er had done.

As time went on, some students from the cultural academy gradually began to distinguish themselves in the cultural field. Their poems were appreciated by literary circles in the capital, and their calligraphy and paintings were exhibited in some exhibitions, causing quite a stir.

This has led more people to recognize the importance of cultural heritage, and the cultural academy has attracted more students and supporters. Lin Wan'er knows that although her path of cultural heritage preservation is still fraught with difficulties, she has taken a solid first step, and there is still a long road ahead.