Chapter 287: Soujin Past: The Heavy Decision
287 Soujin Past: The Heavy Decision
When Nanglong Souka returned from his work and heard what had happened in his home, he was frustrated and angry. Why the emperor suddenly set his eyes on them? He hurriedly went to the palace and asked to meet with the emperor. In the end, only Strategist Wu came out.
"Strategist Wu, can you explain this matter to me?" Nanglong Souka asked with a heavy tone. Why did the emperor suddenly attack them? What had they done wrong?
Strategist Wu sighed. "It's not in the plan to attack you and your family. However, the emperor is worried about your growing power, and he decides to attack you too. That way, it will be seen as another example for other people."
The news coming from Strategist Wu was like a knife cutting his heart and flesh. He always did his work well and never thought of anything funny towards the emperor. All this time he had served the emperor to his fullest, but what he got in the end? A blatant betrayal.
Suddenly, he felt that his life was truly worthless. Serving under the new emperor was the same as looking for dying in an unreasonable way. If the previous emperor was a wise emperor, then the new emperor was truly a foolish one.
"An example," Nanglong Souka said in mocking tone. "What makes you certain that I would volunteer myself to become the example?"
"Souka, don't do anything funny. The Emperor won't let you get away if you do something ridiculous."
Strategist Wu warned. As he always stayed beside the emperor, he knew full well how the emperor was always trying to have anything under his control. If there was anything that didn't come under him, he would try his best to tone them down. Although he was not really suitable to become an emperor, the previous emperor only has one son.
Nanglong Souka shook his head helplessly. "Let me meet with my son first."
Strategist Wu didn't want to get into trouble for letting Nanglong Souka met with his son, but he knew that this matter would not end easily if the old man couldn't meet with his son. With no other way, he complied.
After getting the permission, Nanglong Souka rushed to the prison to meet with his beloved son. He quickly found the young man, sitting calmly in his cell.
"Father, you look weird," Nanglong Sei joked when he looked at his father.
Nanglong Souka was pissed by his son calmness. "You brat, you better not say that this is also your plan!"
"It's not, but it's still within my calculation," Nanglong Sei laughed. "Don't make that face father, ever since the change of the reign, you should have predicted that the four big families won't experiences any peace."
"I will get you out from here."
"You don't have to, father," Nanglong Sei added. "Things will be better if it ended this way."
"What are you talking about? You still have wife and son who need you badly!" Nanglong Souka felt that his patience was tested over and over again by this young man. How could he say that it was fine for things to end up this way? This old man would not agree!
Nanglong Sei smiled sadly. "And how do you want to convince the emperor? He is ready to execute me anytime and possibly implicate the entire Nanglong family. Even if I'm proven right, will he take his word back?"
It was impossible. For the sake of his face, the emperor would surely continue with his decision and didn't allow them to interfere. If they continued to provoke the emperor by proving that he was wrong, how would you think his attitude towards them would be? The Nanglong family would become the second Jun family in Ming Kingdom.
This kind of emperor was really troublesome and even Nanglong Souka knew that the matter would not end easily. He was the kind of person who would feel even the slightest threat directed towards him and eliminated them completely.
He would not care about the effect that would follow after that. This kind of emperor would bring the entire kingdom into their doom.
"Our Nanglong Family is not a comparable force to the Imperial Family," Nanglong Sei reminded.
As the head of the family, Nanglong Souka knew that too. Their family might be big, but if they have to face the entire kingdom, they were surely looking for death. The people around the emperor were strong.
Looking at his troubled father, Nanglong Sei smiled bitterly. "I talked with the Jun family just a few days ago."
Nanglong Souka raised his head and looked towards his son with anticipation. What did he want to tell him?
"They don't have any means to retaliate anymore. The emperor has blocked every way available to them. They can only rely on keeping a low-profile."
Nanglong Souka was stunned. If even the Jun family was driven to that edge, what about their Nanglong family? The situation here was really direr than what he thought at first, and looking at his son expression, he knew that the matter was exceptionally terrible.
"However, should the Jun family survive this tribulation, they would thrive," Nanglong Sei smiled. "This is what we should do with our Nanglong family. Evade the worst situation and build our power again. This is the only way for us to be able to survive and possibly contend against them. Father, you should know what to do, right?"
Nanglong Souka knew, but he didn't want to do that. If for the sake of his family he had to sacrifice his only son, what would Soujin said to him? The little boy would surely be angry and all. Besides, he was a father too.
"I can't do that. I don't want to lose you."
"There is no other way father. Give Soujin and Qin Shie a better future, I don't want them to get down with me," Nanglong Sei patted his father shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm ready."
Nanglong Souka wore a helpless expression. "I will do as you said, but if Soujin blames me, it's your entire fault."
"He will understand in the future that this is the only way," Nanglong Sei smiled. "And this experience may make him even stronger."
"Your way of thinking is really peculiar," Nanglong Souka laughed bitterly. He was defeated by his own son in this battle of wits, but he knew that there was indeed nothing they could do now. If they just strike unprepared, they were really stupid. He knew that they needed to wait and the only way for the emperor to let them off was by letting them took his son.