It's a letter, a message from Blue Moon City!" The butler rushed out and carefully untied the letter from the owl's claws.
The council hall fell silent instantly, all eyes focused on the letters in the butler's hand.
The air seemed to freeze; even breathing could be heard clearly.
The butler respectfully handed the letters to Lin Zhengxin. Lin
Zhengxin took a deep breath, suppressing his unease, and accepted the letters. He first picked up the top letter, a secret letter from a family informant planted in Blue Moon City. He quickly scanned it, his expression shifting from initial tension to astonishment, then disbelief, and finally, a deathly pale. "Patriarch? How did it go?" one of the branch patriarchs asked impatiently. Lin Zhengxin didn't speak, but simply handed him the letter. The letter passed quickly among the core members, and everyone who read it turned extremely pale, their expressions varying—some shocked, some fearful, some bewildered, and some thoughtful. The contents of the letter were like a bombshell, sending shockwaves through the core members of the Lin family. First, the assassination of Earl Carlton, after a joint investigation by the security department and the church, was officially classified as a "terrorist attack planned and carried out by followers of an evil god." All evidence pointed to a certain evil cult organization, with no direct connection to Su Yu, who had been previously suspected. Therefore, Su Yu's name was officially removed from the suspect list. This news sank the hearts of everyone in the Lin family. Su Yu had been completely cleared of suspicion, meaning their plan to use Earl Carlton's death to bring down Su Yu had failed! The second piece of news left them even more dumbfounded, almost unable to believe their eyes. The Ying Kingdom Parliament voted and passed the decree, which will soon be signed into effect by Her Majesty the Queen—the title of Baron of Ying Kingdom is conferred upon Su Yu! Baron! A mage of commoner origin, an "enemy" who has been fighting to the death with the Lin family, has actually been conferred a noble title? And this is right after Earl Carlton was assassinated and Su Yu was cleared of suspicion?
"How...how is this possible?!" One person's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembling, barely able to speak.
"Has the royal family gone mad?! They actually bestowed upon him the title of Baron?!"
"What makes him so special?! Just because he knows some magic? Or because he..." Someone stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something, their eyes filled with horror.
The letter subtly mentioned that this bestowal seemed to have been "pushed" by the Duchess of Loiret from France, Princess Lin Pengpeng.
Princess Lin Pengpeng!
Su Yu, Baron!
These keywords, linked together, created an unbelievable yet seemingly the only reasonable explanation that surfaced in everyone's minds.
This completely proved the rumor.
"Looking for...looking for a son-in-law?"
Another branch family leader uttered these three words tremblingly, his voice filled with bitterness.
No wonder Su Yu was able to rise so quickly, escape unscathed from the Earl of Carlton's case, and even be bestowed the title of Baron—it was all because he had gotten involved with Princess Lin Pengpeng from France!
He had become the princess's chosen one.
If that were true, then everything the Lin family had done before would have been tantamount to suicide!
They had not only offended a talented young mage, but also a princess!
One could even say that if it had been 1525 instead of 1825, Su Yu would have directly obtained the title of Duke of Loire.
Because a wife's lands and title would unconditionally be transferred to her husband.
Now, although this law had been amended, the power wielded by the husband of the Duchess of Loire was still terrifying.
The situation had completely changed!
Resist? With what could they possibly use to resist?
Given the Lin family's current situation, to confront a husband with the status of a baron, the Duchess of Loire, and Su Yu, a decisive and highly talented mage?
This was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, a suicide mission!
A deathly silence fell over the council hall, broken only by the heavy breathing of the members.
"No…it can't be! This must be fake!" Lin Zhengxin roared, unable to accept this cruel reality.
"Master! Calm down!" A branch family leader who had been silent all along suddenly spoke up, "This is not the time for impulsiveness! We must face reality!"
"Reality? What reality?!" Lin Zhengxin roared, his eyes red. "Are we supposed to bow down to that man?!"
"Bowing down? Perhaps... that's the only option." Another family member said in a low voice, his voice filled with bitterness. "Confrontation is no longer in the family's interest."
"That's right!"
"For the sake of the family's continuation, we can no longer fight Su Yu!" "
Earl Carlton is dead. We've lost our biggest backer. Su Yu is now a baron, and he has a princess backing him. We can't win!"
"As long as we're alive, we can fight again. Let's save the family first!"
More and more people began to echo this sentiment.
They hadn't lost any sons or daughters. Perhaps they were resentful, but faced with the cruel reality, they quickly made the choice that best protected the family's survival.
Reconciling with Su Yu, even bowing down to him, though humiliating, could at least prevent the family from being suppressed or even destroyed.
Lin Zhengxin watched as these family members turned against him, advocating for reconciliation. His heart felt like it was being torn apart.
He slammed his fist on the table, roaring, "Shut up! You...you actually want to bow down to that person?! What about the honor of the Lin family?!"
"
Honor can't put food on the table! Patriarch!" The middle-aged man stood up, looking directly at Lin Zhengxin. "The most important thing now is the survival of the family! What use is honor if the family is gone?!"
"I disagree!" Lin Zhengxin shouted, "I am the patriarch! My word is law!"
"Patriarch, you cannot risk the fate of the entire family for your own selfish reasons!" The middle-aged man refused to back down.
"Yes! We demand a family vote!"
"Yes! Let's decide by vote!"
Seeing the growing disagreement, several core members requested a vote.
According to the Lin family's rules, when the family faces a major decision, and the patriarch's opinion contradicts that of the majority of core members, a family vote can determine the final outcome. Even the patriarch must obey the collective decision.
Looking at the impassioned crowd, Lin Zhengxin knew he could no longer suppress them.
His face was ashen, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Fine! Vote! I want to see how many of you are willing to grovel!"
The vote began quickly.
The nine core members in the family council hall voted in turn.
"Those who agree to reconcile with Su Yu, please raise your hands," the middle-aged man presided over the vote.
Swish!
Six hands shot up without hesitation.
"Those who disagree?"
Lin Zhengxin and one member of a branch family raised their hands. Two votes against.
"Those who are neutral?"
The remaining person hesitated for a moment, then finally raised their hand to choose neutrality.
One vote neutral.
The results were in: six votes in favor, one neutral vote, and two votes against.
The votes in favor of reconciliation held an absolute advantage.
The middle-aged man took a deep breath and announced, "According to family rules, with a majority in favor, the resolution takes effect. The Lin family has decided to reconcile with Baron Su Yu…."
"Even the head of the family must obey the collective interests of the family," he added, looking at Lin Zhengxin.
Lin Zhengxin slumped into his chair, his face ashen.
Inside the council chamber, no one cheered, and no one spoke.
Only a heavy, suffocating atmosphere pervaded the room.