Chapter 123: A Mad Idea

To Fang Xu, encountering Murong Bai here could hardly be a coincidence. Was it not, perhaps, a matter of destiny?

He had been deeply concerned about the rise of Murong Fu, and now, having learned of the internal rules of the Murong clan from Murong Bai, he could only sigh at how profit-driven they truly were. Yet, was that not to be expected?

The Murong family lacked the military power held by the Shangguan clan, the vast lands and resources of the Zhuge family, and the abundant mines of the Duanmu clan. Consequently, their position among the four great earth-bound families was unexpectedly awkward, placing an immense burden of responsibility upon their patriarch.

Since that was the case, why shouldn't he, Fang Xu, act as the bridge between them? Although he was not personally acquainted with anyone from the Duanmu family, Shangguan Lian had mentioned that because the Duanmu clan controlled over half of the iron mines in the Great Qin, and the Shangguan family required iron ore to forge weapons, their relationship was actually quite amicable. As for the Zhuge family, they maintained friendly relations with all three other clans. After all, everything was driven by profit; unless the Zhuge family were to rise to supreme power, they would never refuse a trade with the Murong clan.

"I have an idea, but I do not know if you two are willing to support me," Fang Xu said, smiling at Zhuge Jun and Shangguan Lian, who stood on either side of him.

"Are you not afraid that we might leak your plan?" Shangguan Lian asked, covering her mouth with a playful smile. Zhuge Jun looked at Fang Xu with similar confusion; it was clear they were thinking the same thing.

"Without your assistance, my idea is nothing more than idle talk. And if you choose to inform the Murong family, I would have no recourse, would I?" Fang Xu replied with a bitter smile. Before they could respond, he continued, "But I choose to trust you. I only wonder, are you willing to go mad with me just this once?"

Fang Xu understood the difficulty of his request. Neither Zhuge Jun nor Shangguan Lian could unilaterally dictate the interests of their respective families. Even if they wished to help, they might find their intentions hampered by their positions. They exchanged a helpless look.

Fang Xu, sensing their hesitation, laughed. He had no intention of toppling Murong Fu right now. Murong Fu’s status within the clan was at its zenith; even with the support of the Zhuge and Shangguan families, it was unlikely that Murong Bai could secure the candidacy for patriarch. In Fang Xu's view, such a move would only expose their plans to Murong Fu. He dared not underestimate his opponent. Though Murong Fu often acted foolishly, one must never judge a book by its cover.

"Are you willing to support me?" Fang Xu asked earnestly. To support him was to tie their fates to his. This troubled Zhuge Jun, but Shangguan Lian suddenly smiled. She firmly hooked her arm through Fang Xu’s and looked at him with an enchanting expression.

"Of course I trust you! After all..." Shangguan Lian left the sentence unfinished, but Fang Xu knew exactly what she meant. He rubbed his nose in embarrassment and looked sincerely at the contemplative Zhuge Jun.

"Can you guarantee that the status of the Zhuge family will remain unshaken?" Zhuge Jun asked with unexpected gravity.

Both Fang Xu and Shangguan Lian were taken aback. It was clear that Zhuge Jun never underestimated anyone, especially not Fang Xu. If Fang Xu could devise such a scheme, it meant that one day he might very well hold the entire Murong clan in the palm of his hand. Given his ambiguous relationship with Shangguan Lian, if he ever decided to turn against the Zhuge family, the outcome would be no different than what he was planning today. Zhuge Jun was not worried about being targeted himself, but he did not want to see his family suffer. It was no wonder he was the brains of the Zhuge clan; he had foreseen possibilities that even Fang Xu had not yet considered.

"As long as no unforeseen disasters occur, I promise that I will always remain in peace with the Zhuge and Shangguan families!" Fang Xu declared solemnly. This offered Zhuge Jun a measure of reassurance.

It was ironic; Fang Xu was merely a Commandant of the Nine Ministers, yet he spoke as if he were representing Qin Suwen herself. That Zhuge Jun and Shangguan Lian saw no impropriety in this was, in itself, quite amusing. Yet, in the near future, both would feel immense pride in their decision, grateful that they had not chosen the wrong side.

Having secured their support, Fang Xu turned with a smile to Murong Bai, who had been waiting patiently.

"You must recognize these two, right?" Fang Xu asked, gesturing toward Zhuge Jun and Shangguan Lian.

"Naturally! Naturally! It is my greatest honor to have seen the noble faces of Young Master Zhuge and Miss Shangguan!" Murong Bai said, bowing his head in excitement. It had to be said that his manner of speaking was truly pleasant. Even knowing it was flattery, one could not feel offended. This was the power of language, and it was why Fang Xu had chosen him.

"Since you recognize them, let us return to the main topic. Regarding what I asked of you earlier, what are your thoughts?" Fang Xu’s smile faded, replaced by a questioning look.

Murong Bai understood the weight of the question. He paused, falling into deep contemplation. One must not mistake his humble demeanor for a tendency to blindly agree; he had his own calculations and interests to protect. It was clear he was weighing the pros and cons.