Chapter 6: System Change (1/2)
Chapter 6: System Change
“UNFILIAL SON!”
Su Cheng’an’s thunderous voice rang through the halls.
“You unfilial son! You actually dared to deceive me!?”
Pa! Su Cheng’an slapped his son across the face.
“What are you doing!” Tang Hongrui 1 moved forward to protect her son.
“You would still protect him!?” Su Cheng’an’s body trembled with anger as he pointed at Su Chen and yelled, “This unfilial son actually dared to lie to his father! His eyes hadn’t recovered in the slightest!”
“Then what of it?” Tang Hongrui rudely replied, “Didn’t Chen’er do so only because you thought to favor the Second Elder’s suggestion of a system change?”
“I was acting in the interest of the clan.”
“Oh? Was it not for your fourth concubine?” Tang Hongrui looked at Su Cheng’an with an ice cold gaze.
Ever since Su Cheng’an married his second concubine, the affection between Tang Hongrui and Su Cheng’an had greatly declined.
Su Cheng’an was stunned but soon recovered, and furiously said, “I wanted another child but you feared it would harm Chen’er and were thus unwilling. Did I have any other choice?”
“Nonsense!” Tang Hongrui bluntly spat at her husband’s face, “Did you really need to marry three to fulfill that goal? Clearly you were motivated by lust!”
Su Cheng’an blushed and immediately said, “As the child of a great clan, to start branches and scatter leaves is a righteous matter. Chen’er is blind and is doomed to have difficulty succeeding in the future. As the future clan head, my heir must be outstanding and capable. What about this do you not understand?”
Those words were not incorrect.
More sons would produce more happiness; this was a sentiment shared by all great clans. Their reasoning was quite simple: all it took was one talented, determined individual to lead a clan to glory. As long as there was a talented enough descendent, no one cared if a majority of offspring were disappointing.
As such, when the previous generation selected an heir, they would look at not only their own children, but the children of the third generation as well.
As the eldest son of the Clan Chief, succession rules dictated that Su Cheng’an would be the future clan lord. But if he didn’t have an excellent heir, then that future would never come to be. After all, no one wished for the Su Clan to sink into internal strife after Su Cheng’an passed.
Tang Hong’rui looked at her husband with great resentment, “You talk and talk, but you cannot hide your selfish intent. You only think of yourself.”
“I am only thinking of myself?” Su Cheng’an felt incomparably wronged, “Who do you think was shielding the boy from the wind and rain these past two years if not I? The second elder had long wanted to change the system. Yet, leading a group of sixty elders, I persisted in preventing it. It was only because of me that he was able to place first in two evaluations despite being blind!” ”
“That’s right. That was after you heard your son’s eyesight was recovering,” Tang Hongrui grimly laughed,“But what about now?”
Su Cheng’an froze.
“You cannot continue to persist, correct?” Tang Hongrui continued, “Because you’ve discovered there is no more value in continuing to protect your son.”
Su Cheng’an’s face became ashen as he remained silent.
Tang Hongrui looked at her husband with disappointment, “Su Cheng’an, I see through you. You are but a selfish scoundrel who measures his own son based on how useful he is to you. If he can be used, you will take care of him and protect him from wind and rain. But if there is nothing to gain, you will immediately abandon him.”
“When have I ever abandoned him?” Su Cheng’an could only feel extremely vexed. Did he not only slap his son once? This animal lied to his father. Should he not discipline him? And when did he say anything about abandoning him or driving him away? Besides, he is truly unfit to become a warrior…
However, he didn’t finish that thought. He only looked at his own son.
He said, “Chen’er, tell me, why have you not given up until now?”
“Because I am convinced I will recover.” Su Chen replied, “That beggar said that he exchanged my eyes, not destroyed them. He told me he could give me a future with limitless possibilities. This means, that I could possibly recover.”
“YOU LIED TO ME BECAUSE OF THE RAMBLINGS OF A BEGGAR?” Su Cheng’an roared, unable to control himself.
Su Cheng’an was familiar with these words. During Su Chen’s depression, he and Tang Hongrui had even used these words to comfort him. At the time, Su Cheng’an also shared the hope that sustained Su Chen now.