Chapter 1104 — The Kang Family Grows Anxious, Too
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Liu Tianyi and Liu Tianli both sank into deep thought. It had to be said that Liu Jinghan's words had set their minds racing. For the Liu family this was an opportunity — handled well, the family's standing might one day rise even above that of the aristocratic families altogether, and how far it could go would depend on just how high Wei Zhao himself could ultimately climb.
But if Wei Zhao was cut down by his enemies before ever reaching that height, the Liu family would be swept away along with him, and everything they had built would be destroyed in a single day. Opportunity and peril, it must be said, always walked hand in hand.
Had the Liu family already been driven to the end of its road, neither Liu Tianyi nor Liu Tianli would have minded staking everything on one last throw. But as things stood, neither of them could yet bring himself to make up his mind.
"Father, you mean..." Liu Tianyi raised his head to look at the old master of the family, Liu Zhenhu.
"What Jingjing says makes sense. But then again, until it comes to that pass, I cannot make the final decision either!" Wise an old man as Liu Zhenhu was, the matter was far too grave for him to choose on the spot: "Keep a close watch on the proceedings of the aristocratic families' assembly, and on Wei Zhao's movements of late. As for any concrete plan, we can only play it by ear, one step at a time."
"Yes, Father!" Liu Tianyi nodded. For the time being, this was also the safest course.
Liu Jinghan said nothing more. In her heart she leaned toward an alliance with Wei Zhao, but that was nothing more than wishful thinking — Wei Zhao might have no desire to work with the Liu family at all. Eager as the Liu family was to play the little brother, did Wei Zhao want such a follower?
If Wei Zhao already had sufficient backing and formidable enough power, then a little brother like the Liu family was of no use to him; and if he lacked that power, then accepting him as their leader would be of no use to the Liu family either. For the first time, Liu Jinghan found herself at such a loss. With the Xiao family as the floor beneath them, she had not worried greatly about the Liu family's future — but now she had no choice but to worry.
The Kang family, for its part, learned of the Xiao family's news at the very first moment.
That the hidden Pi family had actually become the Xiao family's backer — in the space of a moment the Xiao family had gone from the family at the very bottom to a top-tier house that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Yu family. Their strength still fell short of the Yu family's for the time being, but with the hidden Pi family propping them up from behind, their growth in power was easy to foresee.
"Kang Guifeng, you useless fool! Didn't you tell us the Xiao family had become a stray dog, not worth a single scrap of trouble? You had the Kang family keep its distance — and now look at the fine mess you've made! Satisfied now? The Xiao family has become a top-tier house second only to the Yu family, with a hidden family standing behind them, and you threw the marriage alliance away!" The moment Divine Doctor Kang heard that the Xiao family now enjoyed the Pi family's support, he flew into a towering rage, summoned Kang Guifeng, Kang Cuipu, Kang Jinglong and Kang Jingming together, and berated them in fury.
"Father, I... In that situation the Xiao family was plainly beyond saving. But who could have guessed that the hidden Pi family would not hold them to account for injuring Elder Pi, and would lend them a hand instead..." Kang Guifeng was wretched enough himself. Who could have known things would turn out this way? Had he known, why on earth would he have broken off the engagement — he would have had his son betrothed to Wang Xinyan on the spot! But now? Anything he said came too late. There was no medicine in this world that could undo a regret, and his came too late to swallow.