Your answer determines our choice.

Your choice decides the future of our family.

Sheng Xinhua understands her father's meaning, but it is precisely because of this that it is even harder to answer the question.

What virtues or abilities do I possess to decide the rise or fall, life or death of a clan?

Fatherly love is as immense as a mountain.

It burdens Sheng Xinhua, leaving her feeling heavy-hearted, almost unable to breathe.

"Dad..."

Sheng Xinhua's eyes are red. She is not a sentimental woman and never easily expresses her emotions.

Unless she can't control them.

Sheng Jing smiles, but because he seldom does so, his expression appears somewhat stiff.

He boiled a pot of water and poured it into the teapot, and the rich, thick aroma with hints of sweetness from the tea immediately began to waft from the spout.

Its scent makes one feel relaxed and happy.

"The situation is becoming increasingly tense. With Tang Fei pressing on step by step, it's unrealistic for us to maintain a neutral stance."

Sheng Jing poured the golden tea into a fair cup and then picked up the semi-transparent cup to serve tea to Sheng Xinhua.

Sheng Jing likes drinking tea and is naturally a tea master.

The same brew of tea, the same pot of water, but when he makes it, the tea is quite different from others'.

When Sheng Xinhua asked him why, he said, "It's just that my hands are more skilled."

You even open bottle caps faster than others...

Sheng Xinhua was left speechless.

"To fend off external chaos, we must first stabilize internally. Shen Wuxiang wants a life-and-death battle with Tang Fei but needs a stable and powerful rear support. It's only by clenching five fingers into a fist that makes the strike more forceful."

"So lately, the Security Bureau and Monitoring Bureau have been grabbing people left and right. Those who don't cooperate, don't choose sides, or refuse to pledge their allegiance... have all been thrown into prison."

"The crime doesn't matter. If you want to detain someone, can't any crime be fabricated? Shen Wuxiang's frenzied purging of dissidents leaves the rest looking on with anger but unable to voice it..."

"When I think of it now, his ordering the Security Bureau to intercept you at the airport also has a motive to it... even dared to act against the Finance Minister's relatives. Who else would dare to speak out?"

"Kill the chicken to scare the monkey?" Sheng Xinhua's lips curl into a mocking smile as she asks.

"That's about the meaning. Shen Wuxiang puts us forward, easily intimidating those dissatisfied opponents."

"They really know how to choose their targets..." Sheng Xinhua spoke harshly, feeling anyone would be upset experiencing such events: "The Monitoring Bureau? Yan Wenli was caught, Yan Jinnian betrayed, hasn't the monitoring system already been paralyzed?"

"In any era and any place, there are opportunists. With so many figures in the Monitoring Bureau, is there really no one who wants to make achievements?"

Sheng Jing is not surprised at the reappearance of the Monitoring Bureau, after all, in times of chaos, harsh measures are used effectively, and the Monitoring Bureau is indeed a sharp blade.

"The current Director of the Supervision Institute is Zhao Deqian, who was the former Deputy Director."

"Zhao Deqian? Wasn't he a student of Dean Shang Xiulin?" Sheng Xinhua looks puzzled.

"Heh..." Sheng Jing sneers and says, "Tang Fei can persuade Shen Qingping to serve him, so why can't Shen Wuxiang appoint a student from Shang Xiulin as the Director of the Monitoring Bureau? Attract people with allure, gathering many followers."

"Really lacking backbone."

"Backbone?" Sheng Jing shakes his head and sighs, "In times of life and death, backbone is worthless."

There is another sentence Sheng Jing doesn't say. Although Tang Fei has gathered a group to compete with Shen Wuxiang for empire, most people still favor Shen Wuxiang.

No choice, having controlled the Imperial Army for decades, most of the empire's territories are already under his domain...

Tang Fei has won several battles and occupied a few cities, but compared to the vast empire, it's indeed trivial.

They now choose to support and follow Shen Wuxiang, who knows if he might not be someone to follow once he holds the Dragon's power someday?

From the basic setup, Shen Wuxiang clearly seems more destined to be the Emperor.

Or rather, he is already the puppet emperor of the Phoenix Empire.

The Emperor Emeritus?

Thinking of Zhong Tianque's situation, Sheng Jing sighs softly in his heart.

The son of a monarch, reduced to such a state...

Wealth doesn't last three generations, and the continuation of power is even harder.

"Dad, I understand your meaning, and I also know what you want to do." Sheng Xinhua raises her head, looking seriously at Sheng Jing, speaking in a deep tone, "I and Tang Fei are friends, very, very good friends, even friends who can... exchange lives."

"But that's my personal emotion and life. It can't be because of me alone that affects the development and future of the entire family."

"You're not just my father but also the Clan Leader of the Sheng Family. So, for the sake of the Sheng Family and for the family, you should make the best choice."

Sheng Jing holds the teacup, sipping the hot tea inside slowly.

After finishing one cup of tea, he turns to look toward the kitchen and says, "Your mom said she wanted to make soup. Is that soup not done yet?"

"Dad... I'm serious." Sheng Xinhua said urgently.

She doesn't know if her father has already made a decision, and before the result is confirmed, it keeps her on edge.

She has people she wants to protect but also doesn't want to become the family's sinner.

Sheng Jing sighs softly, looking at Sheng Xinhua and saying, "I am first your father, then the clan leader. Your happiness and the family's happiness are one. If my daughter is not happy, am I not a failed clan leader?"

"Don't worry, I know what choice I should make, whether it's for you or for the Sheng Family..."

"Ancient people always liked to say they'll take off their hat for a beauty in anger. I have no beauty, just a wife and children."

"If someone bullies my wife and children, and still wants to escape cleanly... not that easy."

"I do not agree."

"Dad..."

Sheng Jing waved his hand and said, "Let's eat, you need energy to fight."

"..."

"Fight who?" Mei Yuyin walked to the dining room with a pot of soup and asked curiously after hearing Sheng Jing's words.

"I say, the cat we keep at home always likes to go out and fight with other people's cats..." Sheng Jing said with a chuckle, getting up and heading towards the dining room.

Everyone knows that the Finance Minister is a doting husband, unwilling to let any storm outside blow into his courtyard and soak his family.

------

Qi Mountain.

This is the military stronghold of the Shen Family, with most stationed personnel and their families here, hence there are no civilian prisons, only military ones.

Friends who frequently visit prisons know that military prisons are more stringent, harsh, top-secret, and brutal than civilian ones.

The prison is located in the northwest corner of Qi Mountain, a hidden spot.

It is directly dug out from the rock wall, a cave-like stone chamber with the sound of chains scraping piercing the marrow.

The moss-covered walls exude salt frost, resembling frozen teardrops under the torch light.

Very retro.

This is purposefully arranged by Shen Wuxiang, as such an environment has a stronger sense of oppression and is more likely to break down the psychological defenses of offenders, forcing them to spill the truth.

"Open the door."

Shen Xinglan stood at the entrance of a stone prison, shouting an order.

"Yes, General."

The prison warden accompanying him pressed his fingerprint against the fingerprint lock, the red button spinning, and the dark door opened with a 'click'.

"Leave now." Shen Xinglan said coldly.

"Yes, General."

The warden dared not hesitate for a moment, turned around, and walked away.

He also waved his hand, signaling the guards around to leave.

He knew the identity of the young man before him, someone he couldn't afford to offend.

Cannot afford to offend.

Shen Xinglan stood at the door, looking at the tortured, disfigured couple inside the stone prison.

Shen Anyuan and his wife Ji Yunfeng, also his third uncle and aunt within the clan.

The sudden noise disturbed Ji Yunfeng who was in a dazed state, a lady of noble status suddenly becoming a prisoner in this dungeon, devoid of light, starved and thirsty.

Most importantly, their psychological endurance is weak; even without severe torture, the despair and panic are enough to break them.

Ji Yunfeng rubbed her eyes, saw the visitor was Shen Xinglan, and in her excitement rushed over, hugging Shen Xinglan's leg: "Xinglan, I'm your third aunt... Xinglan, please save me, save us..."

"We can't hold on much longer... Xinglan, I'm begging you, let us out."

"We didn't do anything wrong, we don't know anything... Xinglan, third aunt always liked you, when you were little... when you loved eating the cheesecake I made..."

"Every time you visited, I'd make cheesecake for you... when you couldn't finish, I'd pack it in a small box for you to take home."

"Xinglan, do you remember? Do you remember? I'm your third aunt, Xinglan..."

Shen Xinglan is the pride of the Shen Family, admired and flattered wherever he goes.

The uncles and aunts within the family all know his extraordinary status, hence they're eager to curry favor and build good relationships, offering him all treats and joys.

Shen Xinglan remembers.

But now, he can only pretend to forget.

A silver mask covers half his face, and the exposed half seems colder than the mask itself.

He looked down at Ji Yunfeng crawling on the ground, his voice devoid of any human emotion: "Is the call connected?"

"No... no one answers. Did Qingping change his number? His phone is always off..." Ji Yunfeng sobbed bitterly, hoping tears could soften Shen Xinglan: "Xinglan, speak with your uncle... let us out?"

"We promise... we'll keep calling... we'll definitely bring Qingping back..."

"He belongs to the Shen Family alive, even in death... he must die within the Shen Family..."

Shen Anyuan was sleeping, groggily hearing his wife's cries.

Struggling to open his eyes, he saw Shen Xinglan standing before them, while his wife knelt begging for rescue.

Shen Anyuan looked at Shen Xinglan, hoarsely asked: "Did uncle send you?"

"I came by myself." Shen Xinglan answered expressionlessly.

"Xinglan... you know everything, we've tried our best."

"We call many times every day, trying everything to contact him... but you know the situation..."

Shen Anyuan, agitated, suddenly began coughing violently.

He lacks cultivation, overseeing the Shen Family's business empire.

Indulgence in pleasures has long exhausted his vitality.

He usually seems fine, but under stress, his true form emerges.

Staying in this stone prison for days felt like centuries.

Sleeping on the cold and damp stone bed, he caught a high fever, and now remains muddled daily.

Shen Xinglan remained indifferent, like an outsider, letting Shen Anyuan cough his heart out.

Only after a long time, once Shen Anyuan calmed did he speak: "Your task failed."

"Xinglan... give us more time." Shen Anyuan pleaded: "For the sake of family..."

"Xinglan, your third uncle never mistreated you... I'm Shen Family too, with Shen blood flowing through my veins..."

"Tomorrow, I'm going to the battlefield." Shen Xinglan remained unmoved, his voice cold and crystalline: "You will go with me."

"To the battlefield? What can we do there? Xinglan... we are powerless..."

"As a flag sacrifice."

"..."

"Traitors to the nation, kill without mercy."

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