Chapter 111: Chain Reaction

The afternoon sun hung in the sky as a complex and tense atmosphere permeated the residence of the Su family’s senior branch. The courtyard where Uncle Su resided was unnaturally quiet, though people gathered in and out. The door opened occasionally, with servants carrying in hot water or bringing out basins of blood-stained water.

In the adjacent parlor, the patriarch, Old Master Su Yu, sat in the seat of honor, leaning silently on his cane. Beside him were several elders from the collateral branches, while Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang stood in the courtyard outside.

Su Tan’er sat near the doorway with her mother, her two aunts, and Ning Yi. Her mother and aunts were weeping softly, and behind them, Xing’er, Juan’er, and Chan’er were also wiping away tears. Unlike them, Su Tan’er had stopped crying after the initial shock. Her posture appeared no different from usual, but her hands were gripped tightly onto the armrests of her chair, her knuckles white. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her gaze remained cold and sharp as she waited for news of her father or the captured assailant.

When she had first returned, her hands and clothes were splattered with blood. If Ning Yi had not ordered Chan’er to fetch water for her to wash, her hands would likely still be stained crimson. She had not yet changed her blood-spotted clothing, and her hair was slightly disheveled, but she remained composed and clear-headed. There was little Ning Yi could do but wait for the situation to unfold.

The courtyard was filled with relatives close to the primary branch. Beyond the courtyard, the rest of the household was likely whispering, speculating on the outcome, the future of the Su family’s third branch, and the shifting power dynamics.

The assailant had been apprehended on the spot, but he was currently at the magistrate’s office rather than the Su estate. For now, the family could only wait for preliminary word from the authorities.

As they waited in silence, those entering and leaving the bedroom brought no good news; it was mostly talk of the eldest master’s condition being critical and the ongoing efforts to save him. From time to time, someone would enter the courtyard to whisper inquiries. At one point, Su Wengui arrived and, after glancing around the room with a hardened expression, gritted his teeth and stepped inside.

"Ning Yi, you were there. How could you fail to protect the eldest uncle?"

Only a few days ago, they had been visiting brothels together, but now the facade had crumbled. His voice was low, sharp, and filled with indignation. Ning Yi raised an eyebrow. Su Wengui suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Ning Yi’s clothes to pull him up. In the next instant, Ning Yi caught his wrist and twisted it, pinning him against a pillar with one hand.

"Let go of me, you useless piece of trash..." Su Wengui hissed, knowing he couldn't afford to cause a scene. Ning Yi merely tilted his head, watching him with a cold, indifferent gaze. Suddenly, a loud *thump* echoed through the front of the parlor—the sound of a cane striking the floor. Old Master Su stood up. Though his hair and beard were white, he still carried an air of vigor. Usually gentle, he was now visibly suppressed with rage. When his young attendant tried to support him, he pushed him aside and walked forward with slow, steady steps.

Seeing the old master approach, a glimmer of opportunistic triumph flickered in Su Wengui’s eyes. "Let me go... Third Granduncle, Third Granduncle, look at what he is doing..." He struggled, but after a moment, Ning Yi sighed and released his wrist, ignoring him. Outside, the whispering onlookers watched the scene. Su Wengui stumbled back a few steps. "Ha! Third Granduncle, look at him—" Before he could finish, he caught sight of Su Yu’s glare. The old man’s face was etched with fury, and he suddenly swung his cane, striking Su Wengui across the head without mercy.

"At a time like this..." Ning Yi muttered as he turned back toward his seat. Su Wengui, struck and bleeding, stumbled out of the hall, tripped over the threshold, and collapsed to the floor. When he struggled to turn around, his left cheek was torn open, and he spat out blood along with half a tooth. The old master’s cane tapped the ground as he approached, step by step.

"At a time like this," the old man said, shaking his head with a deep, stern voice, "put away your petty schemes!"

In such a situation, regardless of whether Su Wengui’s provocation had merit, everyone would now be whispering about how the son-in-law was present and what he did or did not do. But to Ning Yi or the Old Master, the true intent was clear. With the internal competition in the Su family, the Old Master wanted stability; he despised the idea of brothers turning against one another. The matter was not yet settled, but if the result was dire, these two knife wounds could drag down the entire senior branch. Who could say if the other two branches weren't involved?

With the situation still uncertain, the most urgent matter for the Old Master was to prevent any form of internal strife. Yet, Su Wengui was playing these small-minded games. The man who had been known for his benevolence for years finally lost his temper. He walked slowly past the threshold, glanced at the whispering crowd, and sighed.

"Those who have no business here, move along. Don't crowd the courtyard... everyone, go wait outside."

Su Yunfang nodded and gestured to the crowd, and many began to disperse. The old man added, "Carry Wengui out as well." Attendants hurried over to assist him.

Ning Yi found Su Wengui’s extreme stupidity absurd. He had some intelligence—some peers even called him a "wise star"—but it was unclear where he had put it to use. Standing there for a moment, he turned and sat down. As he placed his hand on the armrest, another hand covered his. Su Tan’er was still sitting there, lips pressed tight, her hand covering his and gripping it firmly. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she glanced at him. Ning Yi nodded and covered her hand with his, patting it gently.

Someone came out of the bedroom again. Su Yunfang supported the Old Master in the corridor as the person reported, though the news was much the same as before. Ning Yi knew that for injuries like these, the first few days were the most dangerous. If there were any definitive news now, it would likely be the worst kind. For now, they could only wait.

The Old Master walked back, supported by Su Yunfang. As he passed Ning Yi and Su Tan’er, he paused and patted their joined hands. His expression was complex. Finally, he just nodded and said, "The two of you, take care of yourselves." He then turned toward his seat; it was not yet time for final words.

After a while, one of the Su family managers who had been sent to the magistrate’s office returned to report.

"...The assailant who wounded the Eldest Master is named Chen Er, originally from Jiayu, Ezhou. According to him, three years ago, our Su family opened a shop and acquired land in Ezhou, hiring thugs to drive his family from their home. His mother died as a result, and his family was forced to move to a low-lying area. During this year’s floods, because the land was so low, they couldn't escape in time, and his wife and children perished in the flood. Upon arriving in Jiangning and seeing a member of the Su family, he was seized by a sudden murderous impulse. This man... his story is consistent, his motives are clear, and he speaks with an Ezhou accent..."

The manager lowered his head, pausing briefly. "However, when we tried to pull strings with acquaintances at the yamen, we hit a wall. Steward Chen says the officers moved too quickly, and we cannot get access to Chen Er... It seems someone may have arranged everything before we could act. Once the trial begins in a few days, even if he is sentenced to death, I fear that..."

Su Tan’er listened quietly, her expression unchanged, but her grip on Ning Yi’s hand tightened. A *thump* sounded as the Old Master’s cane struck the floor. He gritted his teeth, enunciating each word with venom: "This was not aimed solely at Boyong. Someone... wants to dismantle the Su family."

Merchants value their reputation. If these accusations of forcing a family into ruin were brought to trial and spread by those with malicious intent, it would be a devastating blow to the entire Su house.

This person hadn't just stabbed someone, upsetting the balance of the Su family branches; they intended to bite the entire family. Su Yunfang’s face darkened. "The Xue family?"

Su Zhongkan shook his head. "Hard to say."

The Old Master was silent for a moment. "Keep investigating. Use every connection we have to dig into Chen Er’s background. Check inside and outside the city, all the way to Ezhou. Have the manager in charge of Ezhou verify if this happened three years ago. Continue to apply pressure at the yamen... To choose to strike after the city gates were closed, to kill, and then to frame us—this man’s methods are vicious and his schemes deep. This is a matter of life and death for our family. You must hold the situation together. I... I must prepare to pay a few people a visit."

After saying this, the Old Master rose with the help of his cane. "If Boyong’s condition stabilizes, send word to me." He offered a few words of comfort to Su Tan’er’s mother and the two aunts. As he crossed the threshold, he looked at the bloodstains on the corridor floor for a long time before pointing at them with his cane. "Do not tolerate such foolishness again."

With that, the old man, supported by his attendants, walked away.

No matter how severe the injuries, the emergency treatment eventually had to come to an end. Toward dusk, the doctor finally exhausted all his efforts.

"The Eldest Master is still unconscious. The next few days will be critical; it is hard to say if he can make it through, though there is still hope. However... Madame, Miss, and the young master-in-law must prepare yourselves mentally. The knife wound in his back damaged his spine. Even if he survives, I fear he will be paralyzed in his legs... and if it is only his legs, that would be the best-case scenario..."

As the words were spoken, Su Tan’er’s mother swayed and fainted.

The setting sun burned across the horizon, casting magnificent clouds. The entire Su residence was now in motion. As for the people in this courtyard—some shocked, some weeping, some fainting—in the midst of this vast, bustling household, it was already just a minor incident.

More, more complex, and more dangerous things were perhaps already waiting in the darkness ahead.