Because of the time spent purchasing and processing raw stones, Yan Qingsang was delayed. By the time he rushed back, Yan Jinnan and the others had long since returned to the estate.
And, quite obviously, Yan Jinnan had already lodged his complaints ahead of time.
The entire estate occupied by the Yan family was steeped in an oppressive atmosphere. The moment Yan Qingsang returned, all he was met with were sullen faces.
Jiang Chen followed at Yan Qingsang's side, putting on a show of looking anxious and uneasy. In truth, his heart was surging with excitement.
He had a premonition that he was now within arm's reach of Huang'er.
Yet this feeling — being so close yet unable to recognize each other — left Jiang Chen simultaneously stirred, anxious, and melancholy.
"Qingsang, who is this?" An elder frowned even more deeply upon seeing Yan Qingsang bring a stranger inside.
"Elder He, this is a friend Qingsang has made. We get along quite well. Qingsang has learned a great deal about ancient jade from him and felt greatly enriched by it, so he invited him back for an evening of candlelit discussion."
Yan Qingsang answered with a composure that was neither servile nor arrogant.
His deferential attitude at the Jade Appraisal Hall had been for the greater good — he hadn't wanted outsiders to think the Yan family was tearing itself apart from within. But now, back in the family estate and seeing this atmosphere, he knew full well that Yan Jinnan had already tattled. His mood was naturally none too pleasant, so his attitude took on an edge of recklessness.
"Hmph!" Yan Jinnan slammed his palm on the table. "Qingsang, you're getting more and more out of line. Let me ask you — back at the Jade Appraisal Hall, what exactly was the meaning of that? Deliberately dragging the family down, were you? Intentionally causing trouble? I finally managed to persuade Xiahou Xi to come, and you — you deliberately undermined everything! Now look — a perfectly good situation, ruined by your stubbornness!"
The other members of the Yan family were all glaring at Yan Qingsang. Clearly, each and every one of them had been stirred up by Yan Jinnan's instigation, their tempers flaring.
Yan Qingsang let out a cold laugh. "Yan Jinnan, the fact that I didn't confront you at the Jade Appraisal Hall was because I didn't want outsiders to see our family fighting among itself. I'll say only one thing — if you want to build a relationship with Xiahou Xi, I have no objection whatsoever. But that groveling of yours, that obsequious manner — looking as though you were about to drop to your knees and kowtow — that wasn't building a relationship. That was dragging the family's face through the mud! The Yan family's tens of thousands of years of heritage, thousands of years of dignity — you've thrown it all away!"
"Bullshit! You can't see the bigger picture, and you dare slander me?"
"The bigger picture? Yan Jinnan, your idea of the bigger picture is licking Xiahou Xi's boots? Didn't you see how every last one of them was laughing at you behind your back? They drink your wine to your face while secretly making you the butt of their jokes! When first-rate families exchange pleasantries, can't you at least have some backbone? Even if you want to seek peace, does your head have to drop between your legs? Or are you simply born with a servile spine?"
Yan Qingsang's own anger had been building up inside him, and he had finally found an outlet to let it loose.
Elder He shouted furiously, "Both of you, shut your mouths! Qingsang, watch how you speak!"
Yan Qingsang lifted his chin. "Elder He, Qingsang may not be silver-tongued, but he knows this much. Among first-rate families, the only way to earn respect is through heritage and strength. Fawning and fawning can only earn a moment's self-comfort — it will never earn lasting respect. If our Yan family wants to avoid being pushed to the margins, the only path is to strengthen ourselves and rebuild the family's standing. Not to put on these humiliating displays. Doing so only makes others think our Yan family is growing weaker by the day!"
It had to be said that Yan Qingsang's words made considerable sense. In truth, the Yan family had once been a great clan — one that had stood on equal footing with the Xiahou family.
Their decline had only come about in the last few hundred years.
If what Yan Qingsang said was true — if Yan Jinnan really had been abasing himself to the point of shamelessness — then the Yan family truly could not afford to lose that much face.
For a moment, the two elders exchanged glances and found themselves at a loss for words.
The truth was, they couldn't very well adjudicate this matter. Both Yan Jinnan and Yan Qingsang were geniuses of the family, each with their own faction of backing. Whichever side they favored, the consequences wouldn't end well.
With no alternative, Elder He offered a conciliatory word. "Jinnan, Qingsang, you two differ in your philosophies, but your starting point is the same — the family's welfare. I hope you'll set aside your prejudices and discuss matters together beforehand going forward. Don't let your tempers get the better of you and act impulsively. The family has reached a critical juncture and simply cannot withstand any more upheaval. As for this matter, you needn't dwell on it too much. Xiahou Xi may be considered a young genius within the Xiahou family, but ultimately he's not the one who holds the decision-making power. His personal likes and dislikes cannot determine the family's trajectory — at least not at this stage."
Yan Jinnan still wasn't convinced. "So it just gets swept under the rug? Yan Qingsang undermining the family — that's plain as day, isn't it?"
"Enough, Jinnan. Don't be biased. Qingsang is a member of the Yan family too. If he dared to undermine the family, every last member of the Yan family would never let him off."
"Qingsang, you take note as well. In situations like this in the future, you must keep your composure. No matter how displeased you are, you should come back first and discuss things."
Yan Qingsang nodded faintly. "I understand."
He knew that pressing the matter with Yan Jinnan wouldn't lead to any favorable outcome, so he let it drop.
The fact that the matter could end this way — essentially swept aside — was already a better result than he could have hoped for.
Yan Jinnan's eyes darted to the side, and he sneered, "That matter can be let go. But Yan Qingsang bringing a stranger back to the family estate — isn't that far too undisciplined? Elder He, Elder Quan, surely you don't think this kind of thing can be tolerated and indulged as well?"
Yan Qingsang's temper flared again. "Yan Jinnan, can you not function unless you're targeting me? So what if I bring a friend along? Does the family have a rule that forbids making friends?"
Yan Jinnan let out an unsettling chuckle. "Human hearts are treacherous. You may think of him as a friend, but that doesn't necessarily mean he thinks of you as one."