Chapter 17 Internal Conflicts within the Cao Family

"What? They still dare to cause trouble?"

Emperor Cao Xukun raised an eyebrow, popped a freshly peeled grape into Su Wanqing's mouth, patted his backside, and stood up with a speechless expression: "I thought those old fogies could hold out for a while, but it turns out that's all the stamina they have. Is their main goal just to rush to their deaths?"

"Exactly!" Lin Yueer said, hands on her hips, looking puffed up with anger. "The Great Elder has blocked the Council Hall with four other elders. They're slamming the table, demanding you be kicked out of the Cao Family. They say you've disgraced the family reputation, invited wolves into the house, and they even said... they even said Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya was forced by you!"

"Forced?" Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya sneered, drawing the flowing cloud sword from her waist. "I'd like to see which old fogey dares to say I was forced again."

"Don't get excited, don't get excited." Emperor Cao Xukun pressed down on her hand and said with a smile, "It's not worth getting angry at a bunch of old fogies who have one foot in the grave. Let's go and see what tricks they can pull."

Saying this, he took Su Wanqing's hand, put his arm around Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, and with Lin Yueer following alongside, the four of them marched grandly toward the Council Hall.

Just as they reached the entrance of the Council Hall, they heard the Great Elder's hoarse, desperate shouting from inside:

"That scoundrel Emperor Cao Xukun! He has completely disgraced our Cao Family! He stole someone else's fiancée, imprisoned a disciple of the Qingyun Sect, and even crippled Cao Xuan! Such scum must be kicked out of the Cao Family!"

"That's right! The Great Elder is correct!" another elder chimed in. "Although Cao Xuan's dantian was crippled, he is loyal to the family and has a strong spirit despite his disability! In my opinion, the position of Young Clan Leader should be taken by Cao Xuan!"

"Strong spirit despite his disability? I think his brain is the one that's disabled."

Emperor Cao Xukun pushed the door open and entered, leaning against the doorframe, looking at the people inside with a mocking smile: "Cao Xuan brought that upon himself. He tried to cripple me but ended up being crippled by me instead—a classic case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice. In his state, he can't even take care of himself, and you want him to be the Young Clan Leader? What can he do? Be a mascot for the Cao Family? Or are you saying you want the Cao Family to just lie flat and rot from now on?"

The Council Hall fell silent instantly.

When the Great Elder saw Emperor Cao Xukun, he was so angry his beard twitched. He pointed at his nose and cursed: "Emperor Cao Xukun! You still have the nerve to come back! Look at the good things you've done! Stealing Su Wanqing, imprisoning Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya—you are simply a hooligan! Scum!"

"Hey, hey, hey, watch your language." Emperor Cao Xukun picked at his ear. "What do you mean 'stealing'? Su Wanqing is with me of her own free will. Matters of the heart are about mutual consent. If Young Master Xiao Chen has poor character and couldn't keep her, is that my fault?"

"And Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya." He stepped aside and pushed her forward. "Tell them yourself, did I force you?"

Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya crossed her arms and coldly swept a glance over the elders present: "I am staying in the Cao Family of my own free will, and I am following Emperor Cao Xukun of my own free will. If anyone dares to spout nonsense again, don't blame me for being ruthless with my sword."

After saying this, she turned her wrist, the flowing cloud sword unsheathed, and a sword aura slashed into the pillar beside her, leaving a deep sword mark.

The whole room was instantly deathly silent.

This was a Golden Core Stage powerhouse! Who would dare provoke her?

The Great Elder's face turned green and white, and he couldn't speak for a long time. This was the trump card argument he had prepared, but he had been slapped in the face by Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya on the spot. It was a massive social death scene.

"Ahem." Another elder quickly tried to smooth things over. "Even if Lady Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya is here willingly, it is a fact that Emperor Cao Xukun crippled Cao Xuan! Cao Xuan is our Cao Family's second genius. To have him crippled just like that, who would dare work for the Cao Family in the future?"

"Second genius?" Emperor Cao Xukun scoffed. "With his level of Qi Refining Stage 8, he deserves to be called the second genius? I knocked him down in three moves. If he's a genius, then what am I? A Heavenly Emperor?"

"Besides, he was the one who attacked first, trying to cripple me. I was just acting in self-defense. It's not like I should have stretched out my neck for him to chop off just because he came at me with a blade, right? You guys are pretty skilled at moral kidnapping, aren't you? Standing on the moral high ground and criticizing everything—isn't it cold up there?"

The few elders were rendered speechless, their faces turning bright red.

Seeing this, the Great Elder could only pin his last hope on Patriarch Cao Xiaotian, who sat in the main seat.

"Patriarch! Say something!" the Great Elder said, bowing to Patriarch Cao Xiaotian. "Emperor Cao Xukun is acting so recklessly. If we don't punish him, the Cao Family will lose all face! I propose we immediately revoke Emperor Cao Xukun's candidacy for Young Clan Leader and appoint Cao Xuan as the Young Clan Leader!"

Everyone's eyes turned toward Patriarch Cao Xiaotian in the main seat.

Patriarch Cao Xiaotian held his teacup, took a slow sip, and didn't even lift his eyelids, as if he hadn't heard anything.

He had been sitting there from the start, watching the commotion below without saying a word, acting as a background prop the whole time, his main focus being to observe.

Emperor Cao Xukun looked at him and couldn't help but laugh: "Grandfather Patriarch, you've had three pots of tea, right? If you drink any more, you'll be urinating frequently. Say something. If you don't speak, I'll think you've fallen asleep."

Patriarch Cao Xiaotian lifted his eyelids, glanced at Emperor Cao Xukun, then lowered his head to continue drinking tea, still not speaking.

The Great Elder was anxious: "Patriarch! You cannot indulge him any longer! If this continues, the Cao Family will be destroyed in his hands!"

"That's right, Patriarch! Please make a decision!"

"We all support appointing Cao Xuan as the Young Clan Leader!"

Several elders chimed in, their voices getting louder one after another.

Emperor Cao Xukun put his hands in his pockets, leaned against the pillar, and looked at them with a mocking smile: "Fine, you want to appoint Cao Xuan, right? Sure. But I'll say the ugly things first: if Cao Xuan becomes the Young Clan Leader, from now on, if anything happens to the Cao Family, I won't interfere at all. When Young Master Xiao Chen attacks, or the Qingyun Sect attacks, you handle it yourselves. Don't come looking for me."

As soon as these words were spoken, the elders fell silent instantly.

They knew clearly in their hearts that the only person the Cao Family could rely on right now was Emperor Cao Xukun. If they really drove Emperor Cao Xukun away, Young Master Xiao Chen would definitely bring people to take revenge, and the Cao Family would be truly finished.

The Great Elder was also stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said: "Don't try to scare us! Young Master Xiao Chen has the backing of the Qingyun Sect, but our Cao Family is not to be trifled with either! Without you, we can still defend the Cao Family!"

"Is that so?" Emperor Cao Xukun raised an eyebrow. "Then when Young Master Xiao Chen sent three assassins last time, who killed them? When Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya attacked last time, who subdued her? It wasn't you, was it? With your cultivation level, Young Master Xiao Chen could crush you with one finger."

"Let me tell you, the only reason I'm still willing to stay in the Cao Family is to give face to Grandfather Patriarch. If you don't know what's good for you and insist on forcing me to leave, then I'll turn around and leave. When the Cao Family is wiped out, don't blame me for not warning you."

The elders looked at each other, not daring to speak.

The Great Elder looked at the group, trembling with rage, but there was nothing he could do. He knew Emperor Cao Xukun was telling the truth; the Cao Family simply couldn't function without him now.

"Good... very good!" The Great Elder gritted his teeth. "Emperor Cao Xukun, don't get cocky! Tomorrow I will convene a meeting of all the elders and vote to decide the position of Young Clan Leader! I don't believe that with so many elders, we can't deal with a brat like you!"

"Voting? Sure." Emperor Cao Xukun smiled, his eyes cold. "I'll play along to the end. I'd like to see who dares to vote against me tomorrow."

After saying this, he turned and led the three women out of the Council Hall.

Watching Emperor Cao Xukun's back, the Great Elder slammed his fist on the table in anger: "I'm so mad! I'm so mad! Tomorrow I must unite all the elders and kick this scoundrel out of the Cao Family!"

In the main seat, Patriarch Cao Xiaotian finally put down his teacup. Watching the Great Elder's back, a trace of imperceptible amusement flashed in his eyes.