Chapter 36

Yang Ji and Yang Meng, though both from the Yang family and living within the same courtyard, rarely interacted. The only time they did was during a martial arts competition, which did not end well.

"Are you not going to let me in for a moment?" Yang Meng smiled kindly.

"Come in." Yang Ji pondered for a moment and then nodded. Although they did not have much of a relationship, there were no deep-seated grudges between them.

Yang Ji always believed in the principle of "treat others as they treat you." Since Yang Meng was being generous, Yang Ji saw no reason to be petty.

However, Yang Ji still could not fathom why Yang Meng would visit him in the middle of the night and what his purpose could be.

He poured tea from the teapot on the table, using ordinary tea leaves, and then they sat down, host and guest.

"Originally, after our last martial arts competition, I intended to visit you. But when I came, I heard that you had gone to guard the family tomb on the mountain. I have been keeping an eye out, and fortunately, someone informed me as soon as you returned, so I came over."

Yang Meng took a sip of tea and paused, "I came to talk to you about something. — Your talent is exceptional, and you shouldn't be buried in the family like this!"

Yang Ji was taken aback. Although he had guessed Yang Meng's purpose, he did not expect it to be this.

"Yang Ji, your talent is astonishing. During that competition, when you were discussing below, I was indeed very angry. I intended to make you look foolish, but I did not expect your martial arts to be so high. Among all the people I have met, no one has ever practiced 'White Snake Lurking in the Grass' to such a level of mastery."

"I rarely admire anyone, but I truly admire you. With your talent, you shouldn't be buried like this!"

Yang Meng's eyes sparkled, a rare sight.

"Thank you for the compliment, Cousin."

Yang Ji said calmly. After living in the family for so long, this was the first time he had heard another family member praise his talent.

Yang Meng's expression did not seem fake or deliberately flattering. However, Yang Ji could not immediately understand what Yang Meng meant by his words.

"I have always been devoted to martial arts and have never cared about other matters. Although I have heard rumors about your parents and the First Lady, I do not know the details. In my view, the relationship between you and the First Lady is not irreconcilable."

Yang Meng looked at Yang Ji with unprecedented seriousness, "I rarely get involved in such trivial matters, but if you are willing, I can use all my abilities to mediate between you and the First Lady! With your talent, if you receive a little cultivation, you will surely..."

"No need!"

Yang Ji's face changed as he listened to Yang Meng's initial remarks. When he heard the latter part, he immediately and decisively interrupted, "There is no possibility of reconciliation between me and the First Lady!"

"Why?!"

Yang Meng was surprised. He thought he was doing a good deed, but did not expect Yang Ji's reaction to be so unexpected. According to his plan, Yang Ji, who had been oppressed in the family, would not accept his suggestion, but he certainly would not refuse so decisively.

"I know you mean well. However, if I had known your purpose for visiting me, I might not have let you in at all."

Yang Ji stood up and glanced at Yang Meng.

Yang Meng was surprised. Yang Ji knew that he might indeed have good intentions, seeing his talent and feeling a desire to help. However, there was no doubt that he still viewed the relationship between him and the First Lady as a matter of petty conflicts and insults.

Their relationship had long since transcended that level. Since the First Lady had someone poison his food and he had killed the Zhou steward, there was no room for reconciliation.

"This is not a matter of whether the First Lady will let me go, but whether I am willing to let her go."

Yang Ji paced and said solemnly, "If I accept your suggestion, what about the eight years of humiliation and the death of my mother? Can all this just be forgotten? I cannot possibly agree!"

Yang Meng was stunned, at a loss for words. He knew very little about the conflict between Yang Ji's parents and the First Lady. Eight years ago, he was only twelve or thirteen, and he did not care much about adult matters.

Seeing Yang Ji's reaction, Yang Meng realized his idea was too one-sided. However, he still wanted to do something.

"Yang Ji, I know you hate the First Lady. But we are of the same family, and as a member of the Yang family, each of us has the duty to strengthen our clan. Yang Ji, your talent is very high, and I have a feeling that if you can reconcile with the First Lady and receive full cultivation from the clan, the future of the Yang family may depend on you."

"Trust me, endure a little, and occasionally lower your head. This will benefit both you and the Yang family!"

Yang Meng said earnestly.

He was always proud and not good at flattery. Otherwise, he would not have intended to make Yang Ji look foolish. However, Yang Ji's impression on him that day was too deep.

"White Snake Martial Technique" was just an ordinary martial technique in the clan, but Yang Ji had practiced it to the legendary level of "flying over grass."

In nearly a hundred years, no Yang family member had ever achieved this. Yang Ji's ability to use his conditions to win with weaker strength showed even greater potential.

Yang Meng admitted that his talent was not bad, but at Yang Ji's age, he was not confident that he could defeat a stronger opponent with only the eighth level of breathing.

"Yang Meng, you don't need to say more. The relationship between me and the First Lady cannot be reconciled. For over eight years, I have not received anything from the clan, but the clan has taken away what belongs to me."

Yang Ji recalled the past.

He did not have to live in the shed, but the First Lady took the house that belonged to him and his mother. Even the "stipend" that each clan member should receive was taken from the inheritance his father left him, which the clan claimed to manage on his behalf and then distributed to him as a stipend.

But even so, the clan had been deducting that meager stipend for over eight years.

The clan had always taken what belonged to him, rather than providing him with anything! Oppression, insults, ridicule, and suppression... how could he identify with such a clan?

For over eight years, among so many clan members, who had ever stood up for him or said a word on his behalf?

Who had ever truly regarded him as a clan member?

Although this was a conflict between him and the First Lady, which of the many clan elders had ever said a word?

"Yang Meng, I am grateful for your thoughts. This is the first kindness I have received. However, I have no interest in strengthening the Yang family. I do not owe the clan anything, and whether or not the clan helps me, I will walk my own path."

Yang Ji spoke confidently and calmly, the result of much reflection, now expressed all at once.

"Alas!"

Yang Meng sighed deeply, "Yang Ji, I know it is hard to convince you. However, I do not see a good outcome in your conflict with the First Lady. I know you might think that just toppling the First Lady is enough, as she is just a woman. But if you really think that, you are greatly mistaken. I have recently received news that the First Prince, Xuanlan, will likely return soon!"

"What!"

Yang Ji's face changed, and with the name Yang Meng mentioned, many almost forgotten memories resurfaced.

The First Lady was not alone; she had a son named Yang Xuanlan, the eldest legitimate son of the Yang family.

If not for Yang Meng's mention, Yang Ji would have almost forgotten about him.

This was not Yang Ji's fault, as the eldest legitimate son had left the clan eight years ago when Yang Ji was only seven.

How much could he remember about someone he had not seen for over eight years?

"It is normal that you do not remember him."

Yang Meng, seeing Yang Ji's expression, knew that he, like himself, had almost forgotten this "eldest legitimate son."

"Eight years ago, the First Lady sent him out to study. Since then, she has continuously sent him various things and supported him. He has rarely returned. Now, in the clan, your generation probably only remembers his name, while our generation and the older ones have seen him and know some things about him."

Yang Ji frowned, deep in thought. In recent years, he had been buried in his studies, truly "ignoring the world outside and focusing only on the classics."

He had not cared much about what happened in the clan, knowing that his limited power could not change anything.

"How could I forget him... the First Prince, Yang Xuanlan!"

Yang Ji muttered to himself.

"You may not know, but the First Prince, Yang Xuanlan, passed the martial arts examination at twelve. His talent is astonishing. When he was young, no one his age could defeat him. He once defeated an opponent at the sixth level of breathing with only the fourth level of breathing. Ordinary people who were one or two levels higher were no match for him."

"Disciples from the Li and Chang clans challenged him, but they were all defeated. In his generation, there was no talk of the 'Three Heroes and Five Tigers' in Pingchuan County; he stood alone, the best of his generation, unmatched by anyone!"

Yang Meng's face was filled with nostalgia. The impression of the Yang family's most outstanding eldest legitimate son in decades was deeply etched in his mind.

"Eight years ago, the First Prince left the clan to explore the world and rarely returned. Even when he did, it was a quick visit, and few remembered him. Do you remember the year when the clan hung up red lanterns?"

"Remember, what about it?"

Yang Ji recalled for a moment and nodded.

In the first eight years, he cared about nothing but his studies. He remembered the red lanterns because that day was ordinary, and nothing significant had happened in the clan. Usually, lanterns were only hung during festivals.

"That year, the First Prince passed the martial arts examination and was exactly fifteen!"

Yang Meng looked deeply at Yang Ji and said slowly.

"What!"

Yang Ji was stunned, as if struck by lightning.