“Madam, do you have any opinion?” the clan elders asked.

Luo Yuan came back to her senses from thoughts of her Er-ge, thought for a moment, and said, “Let’s see what attitude the Liang clan takes. If they stop provoking us, then each mind our own, and there’s no need to deliberately create trouble. If they feel unwilling over this matter and come to make trouble, we certainly have to protect ourselves and fight back.”

“As for business matters, I don’t really understand, but in business, handle things according to business, no need to consider other matters.”

Although she was young, and her tone was gentle and soft, no one dared to treat her as unimportant. Since she said so, the clan elders all nodded one after another.

“Madam is right.”

Seeing that they all nodded in agreement, Luo Yuan didn’t think what she said must be correct, so she added, “If everyone is uneasy and doesn’t know how to deal with the Liang clan, why not consult the clan deity?”

The clan elders discussed for a while, and felt that for such a major matter, it was better to consult the clan deity, to show respect. So they all rose and followed Luo Yuan toward the shrine.

The shrine was a bit different now than before. Those charred wooden pieces had been replaced, and the freshly painted colors were rich and vivid—heavy black and red—but many flowers and trees had been newly planted in the spacious courtyard. Those soft and light fresh blossoms eased that heavy and solemn feeling.

The two clan priestesses brought the jiaobei, which was the tool for asking the deity. When the clan deity was in a special state and could not express a clear answer with words, they would use jiaobei and cast them to inquire whether something was feasible.

The jiaobei were shaped like shells or a half crescent moon, one side curved and one side flat, called the “yin side” and the “yang side.”

The clan elders glanced reverently at the cocoon woven from red threads within the shrine, devoutly lit incense, and the oldest among them received a pair of jiaobei from the priestess.

“Does the clan deity permit us to take harmful action against the Liang clan?” The jiaobei were thrown out, and after landing, one was upright and one was reversed.

“The clan deity has permitted it.”

“Then please show us, should we strike first and completely destroy the Liang clan, so as to prevent them from harboring hatred and coming to take revenge?”

Both pieces landed reversed. The clan deity did not permit it.

“Yes, we understand.” With these two questions asked, everyone already had a plan in mind.

After asking, they did not dare disturb the clan deity further, and quickly left. Luo Yuan followed them out, and saw a young man outside the shrine courtyard holding up his phone, bowing devoutly a few times, then staring at his phone with a solemn face. Listening to the sound from the phone, it seemed he was playing a gacha game.

What a talent, coming to the clan deity to pray for better gacha luck? Luo Yuan wanted to laugh.

“Qin Mingyu! Get over here! You dare play that lousy game in front of the shrine, what are you doing! You are never allowed to play games again!” A certain stern-faced clan elder scolded in a lowered voice.

Ordinary people could not casually approach the shrine, so this young man had indeed come with the clan elder. He must be that elder’s grandson. Seeing the elder’s righteous expression as if he were about to sacrifice his own grandson for the greater good, the young boy shrank his neck pitifully. Luo Yuan said, “It’s fine, last time I also played this game with the clan deity a little.”

The clan elders: “……???”

Qin Mingyu: “!!!” Damn, if even the clan deity’s Madam played this game, the clan deity must bless her with gold cards every time, right? So envious! He even wanted to become the clan deity’s Madam… just kidding, clan deity please don’t blame me, please don’t blame me!

Luo Yuan: “But praying to the clan deity for gacha is useless, right? The clan deity probably doesn’t care about such things?”

Seeing his grandfather and the others all stunned, and seeing that the legendary Madam was very easy to talk to, Qin Mingyu couldn’t help telling the truth: “The clan deity does care. Last time I prayed to the clan deity, I drew five gold cards in a row!”

Although later, when his grandfather discovered he sent a red envelope to the clan deity, he really got a beating.

Luo Yuan: “……” Ah, so Er-ge would secretly help the children in the clan with gacha luck? He sat there every day on the deity’s platform, as if nothing ever happened, yet in private he would listen to the children’s wishes? Thinking of that, she suddenly felt Er-ge was so cute.

The young grandson was still dragged away by his black-faced grandfather in the end, but once they left the outer courtyard, that smiling clan elder suddenly took out his phone and beckoned him, “Mingyu, come here, come here, help me download that… what game is it?”

───♡───

After making a trip to the old residence, the Qin clan, which had been somewhat unsettled due to being implicated by the Liang clan, stabilized once again. But not all Qin clan members were happy. A portion of those who had previously been closely associated with the Liang clan felt especially uneasy. In a sealed meeting room, five or six middle-aged men looked grim. They were Qin clan members who managed some industries—belonging to the middle level of the Qin family.

“What’s going on? Why did the Liang clan deity and the Liang family’s Old Madam suddenly vanish? The Old Madam had even been discussing that cooperation with us before. Now she’s gone, what are we supposed to do about this matter?”

“There are several clan elders among us who have opinions about the Liang clan. Now that something like this has happened, they will definitely seize the opportunity to end the cooperation with the Liang clan. When they investigate, won’t our little tricks over these years be exposed immediately? Even if, by luck, we aren’t found out, once the Liang clan collapses, where are we going to make money?”

“At a time like this, you’re still worrying about money?”

“Easy for you to say. If we don’t worry about money, what should we worry about?”

“Our lives. Why did the clan deity suddenly devour the Liang clan deity? Could it be he sensed that the Liang family’s Old Madam was trying to rope us in to do something against the Qin clan? If that’s really the case, now that the Old Madam is gone, will we be targeted by the clan deity next? Have none of you thought about that?”

These words made cold sweat drip from everyone. It wasn’t that they hadn’t thought about it, but they didn’t dare think deeply.

After a long time, someone said in despair, “What’s done is done. It’s useless to regret now. Let’s keep a low profile for the time being. Maybe considering that we still bear the Qin surname, the clan deity won’t do anything to us. After all, there are so many of us… the law doesn’t punish the multitude.”

“Hmph, so many people? The clan deity slaughtered over four hundred people back then without hesitation. What are a few of us… I just don’t understand. It’s already this era, yet we still have to be manipulated by the family. If we can’t break free from the clan deity’s control, in such a large family, we will never have a chance to rise!”

“Break free from the clan deity? Do you think the clan deity is eating grass or something? How could it be that easy—you’re insane.”

“You’re the one who’s insane. We’ve already betrayed him, and you’re still saying this. Clan deity or whatever, in the end he’s just something artificially created. Other families’ clan deities can dissipate—why can’t he? If the Qin family falls, it may be terrible for those powerful elders and those who benefit in the main lineage, but for us, who can never rise, it’s an opportunity… Everyone, we can only walk this dark path to the end. Either way, we die. I don’t want to sit and wait for death!”

No one spoke again in the meeting room. All sank into a long silence.

Because of the break between the Qin and Liang clans, there were internal personnel changes in the Qin clan. Even the personnel flow at the old residence became frequent. Luo Yuan noticed that quite a few familiar faces had left, and new ones had arrived.

Serving at the old residence to guard the clan deity was an honor, and they mainly chose older, more steady-tempered people. So when Luo Yuan found Qin Zhi among the newcomers, she was truly surprised.

Qin Zhi was far too young. With someone his age, he shouldn’t have been assigned here to guard the clan deity.

“Actually… I helped a little,” Minghui admitted embarrassedly. “He has always respected the clan deity very much and has long wanted to come here, but never had the opportunity. Not long ago, he was assigned to intern at a Qin company. He discovered a spy planted by the Liang clan, so that company wasn’t harmed. As a reward, he could choose a better position, and he said he wanted to come to the old residence.”

Minghui honestly explained the cause and effect to Luo Yuan. “Minghuang and I, as Shinu, also manage the personnel arrangement at the old residence. Qin Zhi came to ask me for help. After all, we are classmates, and he was so sincere, so I just said a few words and let him pass the review.”

This was nothing serious. Many wanted to come to the old residence, and there were complicated connections involved. As long as one had ability, the older generation would hope their children could come here for a rotation. Like the previous two priestesses, their family members had also come back here for a rotation.

Minghui had a thin skin. As she spoke, she blushed. Minghuang immediately saw something was off, and there was a hint of teasing in her expression. “Blushing like that, and still saying such upright things like ‘classmates’—you actually have a crush on him, don’t you!”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Minghui hurriedly interrupted her, embarrassed yet anxious, secretly glancing at Luo Yuan.

“What are you worried about?” Minghuang patted her shoulder. “Although Shinu couldn’t marry before, now even our clan deity has a wife. We’re not of much importance now. If you really end up with Qin Zhi, Sister An definitely won’t break apart a pair of lovebirds. Right, Sister An?”

Luo Yuan smiled. “If you truly like each other, of course you can be together.”

However, she feared Minghui would be disappointed. Qin Zhi probably didn’t come here for her, but for another purpose. She recalled the empty spaces of over four hundred names in the clan genealogy, and the two-character lone name of Qin Zhi’s branch.

Qin Zhi looked very good—handsome and upright, wearing the uniform of the old residence, he carried the unique, youthful charm of an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy.

Seeing Luo Yuan and Minghui walking over, Qin Zhi showed Luo Yuan a respectful, admiring smile. “Madam.”

Luo Yuan smiled and nodded at him, treating him the same as everyone else.

Qin Zhi then asked, “Madam, has the clan deity still not broken the cocoon today?” His tone and expression were filled with concern.

Luo Yuan: “Not yet, but there’s no need to worry. The clan deity will be fine. Oh right, I remember your assigned area is on the other side, isn’t it? Did you especially come here to wait, just to ask about the clan deity’s condition?”

Qin Zhi’s expression showed a hint of embarrassment. The hand hidden inside his sleeve clenched into a fist, and he quietly took a small breath. “I shouldn’t ask so much. I ask that Madam not blame me.”

After speaking, he seemingly cast a casual glance at Minghui, as if implying that he specially waited here actually to accidentally run into her. Under his gaze, Minghui indeed grew nervous, her face flushing as she lowered her head.

Luo Yuan looked at their expressions and smiled. “You worry for the clan deity, of course I won’t blame you.”

She said a few words then was about to leave. Minghui followed her, turning her head to secretly look at Qin Zhi, seeing him smile and silently mouth: “See you later.” Since Qin Zhi came to the old residence, they often met, their relationship had progressed quickly, currently in an ambiguous stage.

Minghui pursed her lips into a smile, a bright expression as she nodded. She escorted Luo Yuan to the shrine, then eagerly left. Watching her depart with barely contained excitement, the smile on Luo Yuan’s face slowly faded.

She thought again of her own younger sister.

Anyone who, for the sake of satisfying their selfish desires, deceived and harmed innocent young girls—she disliked them all.

Entering the shrine, she sat before the deity’s platform, and took out a pair of jiaobei.

“I want to do something. Er-ge may get angry, but I still want to do it. Does Er-ge allow it?”

One jiaobei faced up and one down—smiling jiao—indicating the deity agreed.

Luo Yuan picked up the jiaobei again, and added, “This matter has to do with a member of the Qin clan. The result may not be very good. Does Er-ge permit me to act according to my own intention?”

One up and one down—the deity agreed.

Luo Yuan picked up the jiaobei. “I’ll try one last time. If Er-ge agrees again, then he mustn’t be angry with me in the future.”

The two red jiaobei fell to the ground. Still one up and one down, exactly as before.