A few days later, four letters were sent from the capital of Dayu to the Qin and Sun families respectively.

The Sun family.

"Master, we have received a letter from Da Yu."

At that time, the head of the Sun family was taking medicine. The successive blows had taken their toll on his health. Even though he had worked hard to build up his wealth over the years, his two children were in the hands of Da Yu.

It was only then that the head of the Sun family realized the true intentions of coming to Dayu. Detaining Sun Cai and Sun Shu was not a temporary measure; Dayu wanted to crush the Sun family's Achilles' heel.

"A letter from Da Yu, could it be a message sent by one of our people in Da Yu?"

The head of the Sun family accepted the letter with some skepticism, but the familiar handwriting sent a chill down his spine.

It's Cai'er and Shu'er's handwriting!

On this day, the head of the Sun family did not leave his study. Even the meals delivered to his study remained untouched in the room until Madam Sun personally led people to the study. By then, the head of the Sun family was already deathly pale.

"Master, what happened? You can't go without eating."

Madam Sun supported the head of the Sun family, her voice already trembling slightly.

The head of the Sun family turned his head blankly to look at Madam Sun. "Madam, our child... says he's not coming back and wants to stay in Dayu."

"What? How could Cai'er and Shu'er not come back? It must be Da Yu who forced them."

Madam Sun looked at the head of the Sun family in disbelief, only to see a bitter smile on his face as he handed her the crumpled letter.

"They want to stay in Dayu to prepare for the imperial examinations three years from now."

Upon seeing the familiar handwriting on the letter and hearing the words of the Sun family patriarch, Madam Sun fainted.

"Help the lady back to the courtyard."

The Sun family patriarch's voice was also indifferent, as if all his strength had been drained away.

"Master, what should we do now?"

"What should we do?" The head of the Sun family sneered. "I only have these two children. If they stay in Dayu, the Sun family will be without an heir."

No descendants...

The head of the Sun family sat back down in his chair, a glint of tears welling up in his eyes.

In her letter, Shu'er recounted many things about Lingyun Garden. She said that women in Dayu could also become officials and begged him to give her a chance.

There's also Cai'er, who said that this time it was just because the preparation time was too short, and he wants to try again in three years.

That's three years...

......

In stark contrast to the somber atmosphere at the Sun family, Second Master Qin almost burst out laughing after receiving the letters from Qin Zheng and Qin Ke'er, and immediately took the letters to the Elders' Hall.

"Elders, look at Ke'er. She passed the exam and now she wants to stay in Dayu to continue participating in the palace examination. Does that mean she'll be serving in Dayu afterward?"

Faced with Master Qin's questioning, everyone present was speechless.

Even though they were more inclined to side with the Qin family head, Qin Ke'er's letter made it impossible for anyone to speak up for her.

"And then there's Zheng'er. As the young master of the Qin family, not only did he fail the imperial examination, but he also has to stay in Dayu to wait for the spring examination three years later. Doesn't the Qin family need him during these three years?"

"If you ask me, they're both spoiled rotten by their older brother!"

For the first time, no one present raised any objection when faced with the aggressive Second Master Qin.

“The shops that Zheng’er used to run can’t just be left unattended like this. I’ll send someone to pick them up tomorrow, and then return them to Zheng’er when he comes back.”

Qin Erye finally got his revenge. After returning to the courtyard, he held Mei'er and wanted to make love to her, but Mei'er looked worried.

"Mei'er, today is such a good day, why are you looking so gloomy?"

Upon hearing this, Mei'er silently rolled her eyes. Her master was furious, while this guy was just grinning like an idiot. Thinking of this, the smile on Mei'er's face froze.

"I am not frowning, but I am feeling a little unwell."

"Are you feeling unwell?" Master Qin immediately stood up. "I'll have the family physician come and take a look at you."

"Second Master, you said that Da Yu's attack on the Pei family means that they will also attack us later?" Mei'er finally asked, waiting for Second Master Qin's reaction.

Unexpectedly, Second Master Qin didn't take it to heart at all. "The Pei family brought this upon themselves by deliberately spreading rumors, which angered the Qin family. As long as you don't take the initiative to antagonize Da Yu, we won't be targeted by Da Yu in the short term."

Mei'er was so angry that her fingernails dug into her palms.

"Second Master is wise."

The Pei family.

"Master, some of our businesses have already started to operate openly, so we won't be short of money in the short term." Pei Jian listened to his subordinate's report, but he couldn't smile at all.

These businesses were all painstakingly planned by him over the years, and nearly half of them were forced out of the market in one fell swoop.

"Neither the young master nor the young lady of the Qin family nor the Sun family are willing to leave Dayu."

Upon hearing this, Pei Jian laughed angrily, "What's the difference between these people and the Yun family? They've all betrayed their ancestors and stayed in Dayu, letting the enemy control their families for nothing?"

"Master, please calm your anger."

“The Sun family only has Sun Cai and Sun Shu left. What difference is there between the Sun family and the useless ones now? The Qin family... Second Master Qin is like a blockhead.” Pei Jian suddenly felt a sense of desolation. “Now, the only family we can use is the Gong family.”

"Master, there's... there's one more piece of news."

"explain."

"The Empress Dowager of Dayu is pregnant, and looks to be about six or seven months along."

"real?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Jian jumped up from his chair excitedly, a glint in his eyes that his subordinates couldn't decipher. "It's good that she's pregnant! It's good that she's pregnant!"

"First, contact the Gong family. Hasn't the Gong family always wanted to annex the Yun family? I wrote to them before that the time was not yet ripe, but now the time has come."

The gloom on Pei Jian's face vanished, replaced by an unusual excitement.

Watching the servant's departing figure, Pei Jian opened the hidden door again, and the terrifying-looking Gu worm reappeared in the air. As usual, Pei Jian cut his finger and used his own blood to feed the Gu worm.

“I’ve nourished you with my blood for so long, it’s time for you to put your skills to use.”

After saying that, Pei Jian revealed a cruel smile.

At the same time, a loud bang came from the side room where Pei Zhi was refining medicine, and Pei Zhi ran out of the side room covered in dust.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

Pei Zhi shook her head. Thick black smoke began to billow from the room. Pei Zhi reached out and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I'm fine."

"Young Master, you've been inside for several hours now. Why don't you go to the main room and rest for a while?"

Pei Zhi shook her head and stepped into the side room again. She had a strong premonition that she had to refine this medicine.

She knew that the people around her father had gone to see her brother.