Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

The Ba Dao Sect from Jizhou could only muster four disciples to join the Martial Arts Pavilion.

The disciples of the Martial Arts Pavilion are all one in a hundred martial geniuses.

They are the one in a hundred among martial artists, not ordinary people.

As a noble family, the Sun family surprisingly did not have a single person who could enter the Martial Arts Pavilion, which shows the incompetence of the Sun family's younger generation.

Yang Zhenshan did not return to his residence but directly took Sun Anyang to the Marquis Suning Mansion.

"Call at the gate!"

Personal follower Li Chang immediately stepped forward and knocked on the grand entrance of the Marquis Suning Mansion.

Actually, the side door of the Marquis Suning Mansion was open, but since Yang Zhenshan was visiting, he naturally had to enter through the main gate. A dignified Marquis, other than when entering the Imperial City, should always use the main entrance wherever he goes.

Hearing the knocking, the gatekeeper from inside hurriedly came out from the side door and asked, "Who goes there?"

This gatekeeper seemed a bit unobservant. Yang Zhenshan was standing right in front of the gate, yet he failed to notice him. Not to mention Yang Zhenshan, he failed to notice even his master's son, who had been carried right to the doorstep.

"I am Yang Zhenshan. Go, fetch someone from your house who is in charge!" Yang Zhenshan said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the gatekeeper looked at Yang Zhenshan, finally noticing Sun Anyang lying on the ground.

"Master Sun!" He recognized Sun Anyang and exclaimed in shock.

"Hurry up!" Yang Zhenshan shouted impatiently.

The gatekeeper dared not delay and scurried into the mansion to call for someone.

It seemed that he didn't know who Yang Zhenshan was, or perhaps he had not yet remembered.

As the gatekeeper ran into the house, he first shouted: "Hurry, someone! Master Sun is injured!"

Then, a group of guards, along with a tall man, came running and asked, "Where is Master Sun?"

"Outside the gate!"

Then the tall man, followed by seven or eight guards, rushed towards the gate hurriedly.

However, as the man just walked out through the side door, he realized something was amiss.

His household's Master Sun was indeed injured and outside, but there were several other people standing there as well.

"I am Wu Tiancheng. May I ask who you are?"

"Yang Zhenshan! Call someone from your house who can make decisions."

Wu Tiancheng was startled for a moment, then quickly came to his senses, and said, "Please wait a moment, Marquis Yang, I will go call our master right away!"

He signaled to the guards behind him with his eyes, and they immediately went back inside to report.

In fact, there was no need for him to send someone to notify again, as the gatekeeper had already gone to the front hall to find the gentlemen of the Sun family.

At this moment, Sun Decang and Sun Desheng were entertaining a guest in the front hall.

Visiting them today was Uncle Anshun, Zhu Rong, who is around fifty years of age. He had once served as a Military Officer under Sun Yunbo's command but had resigned after an injury and spent the past years living in retirement in the Capital City.

Now, a few of Zhu family's young members serve under Sun Yunbo's command, so with the New Year approaching, he came to build relationships and express a sense of closeness.

While the three were chatting and laughing in the hall, an old servant came to Sun Decang's side and whispered, "Master, Master Sun is injured and has been brought back!"

Sun Decang frowned and looked to Sun Desheng at his side, "Go and see!"

Sun Desheng was still unaware of what had happened when the old servant repeated the message to him.

"Brother Zhu, please excuse me for a moment, there's a little matter I need to attend to!"

Sun Desheng bowed to Zhu Rong and headed towards the gate, but before he could leave, another guard came to report.

"Master, Marquis Jing'an is outside!" The guard said without deliberately lowering his voice.

Because there was no need to conceal the matter, Sun Anyang's injury could be handled quietly, but Yang Zhenshan's arrival meant that the Sun family had to go out to welcome him.

Sun Decang's expression changed slightly, "Marquis Jing'an? He came with Master Sun?"

"Yes, Master Sun seems to have been struck with military cudgels!" said the guard.

Sun Decang immediately understood what had happened.

It was he who had used his connections at the Ministry of Personnel for Sun Anyang to secure a position at the Martial Arts Pavilion.

He stood up abruptly, glaring fiercely at Sun Desheng, "See what a fine son you've raised!"

At this moment, Sun Desheng was still confused, suddenly chided by his elder brother and bewildered by the situation.

"Brother Zhu, please excuse me for a moment!"

"Ha ha, let's all go together. I've long admired Marquis Jing'an's reputation but have never had the chance to meet him. Today seems to be a fortunate coincidence, allowing me to also make the acquaintance of Marquis Jing'an!" Zhu Rong laughed.

Their Anshun Marquis Mansion was rather inconspicuous in the circle of nobles, although they had many members serving in the military, they were mostly insignificant positions.

And Zhu Rong himself was more of a layabout, without any official positions.

Therefore, he usually had no access to Yang Zhenshan, so now that he finally had the opportunity, Zhu Rong did not want to miss it.

Naturally, Sun Decang did not want Zhu Rong to witness his family's embarrassment, but he could not stop Zhu Rong from seeing Yang Zhenshan, and could only say, "Then let's go together!"

As they talked, a group of people quickly left the main hall. Moments later, the main door of Marquis Suning Mansion opened, and Sun Decang strode out, smiling broadly as he clasped his hands in greeting, "Old Sun Decang pays respect to Marquis Yang!"

"Zhu Rong pays respect to Marquis Yang!"

Zhu Rong looked at Yang Zhenshan curiously.

Yang Zhenshan did not care about Zhu Rong and instead addressed Sun Decang, "You know this lad, don't you?"

"I do, he is my nephew!" Sun Decang inwardly groaned with dismay.

From Yang Zhenshan's stance, it was clear that he had come to settle scores.

"This boy embezzled two hundred thousand taels of silver from my Martial Arts Pavilion. Here, this is the ledger!" Yang Zhenshan tossed the ledger to Sun Decang.

Sun Decang caught the ledger in a fluster, exclaiming in shock, "Two hundred thousand taels of silver!"

"That's right, I will give Marquis Sun some face and won't report this to the court, but your Sun family must return the embezzled silver to the Martial Arts Pavilion!" Yang Zhenshan spoke earnestly but was making up absurdities.

He wasn't really giving Sun Yunbo face; he was extorting from the Sun family.

Report to the court?

Don't be joking. If it were reported to the court, the court would at most compensate the Martial Arts Pavilion with tens of thousands of taels of silver, then dismiss Sun Anyang from his office.

As for dealing with Marquis Suning Mansion, Emperor Yanping would most likely just reprimand them and would not really punish Marquis Suning Mansion.

"This, this..." Sun Decang was at a loss for words.

Two hundred thousand taels?

Would he believe it?

Of course not!

His dear nephew had only been appointed at the Martial Arts Pavilion for a few months, how could he embezzle two hundred thousand taels of silver?

But does it matter whether he believes it?

Yang Zhenshan didn't care what he thought and directly said, "Deliver the silver to the Martial Arts Pavilion within three days. If you fail to do so, I'll personally go to Marquis Sun to settle the account!"

Sun Decang's face changed again and again.

Ask his father for the account?

Where would his father put his face?

If Yang Zhenshan really went to Sun Yunbo to settle the account, Sun Yunbo might kill these unworthy descendants at that time.

"Marquis Yang, Marquis Yang, this~~"

He wanted to ask Yang Zhenshan if it could be less.

But Yang Zhenshan ignored him completely, mounted his horse, "Let's go, to the Ministry of Personnel, dammit, they keep sending trash to my Martial Arts Pavilion, do they really think I'm a vegetarian!"

Having said that, he rode toward the Ministry of Personnel office with a few personal followers.

He left Sun Decang, his two brothers, and Zhu Rong looking at each other.

Zhu Rong watched as Yang Zhenshan's figure disappeared into the distance, then cupped his hands towards Sun Decang, "Since Mr. Sun has a family emergency, I shall take my leave!"

With a stiff face, Sun Decang returned the gesture, "Brother Zhu, take care!"

What a disgrace!

Their kith and kin embezzled silver outside and someone even came knocking on their door—none other than Marquis Jing'an.

At this moment, he wasn't upset about the silver, he was distressed over his reputation.

If this matter were to spread, Marquis Suning Mansion would soon become the laughing stock of the Capital City.

Furthermore, this would affect the prospects of the Sun family's younger members. Now that Yang Zhenshan had gone to trouble the Ministry of Personnel, it would likely be difficult for the Sun family's younger members to seek official positions in the future.

"Get this bastard inside!" Sun Decang roared through clenched teeth.

Sun Desheng was also furious, "That bastard embezzled two hundred thousand taels and he only gave me less than twenty thousand taels! This unfilial son!"

In his anger, Sun Desheng even kicked the unconscious Sun Anyang.

"..."

Sun Decang stared blankly at Sun Desheng, "You knew!"

"Uh!" Sun Desheng spoke somewhat sheepishly, "Knew a little!"

Sun Decang nearly crushed his back teeth, "You idiot!"

"Big brother, why are you cursing?" Sun Desheng said discontentedly.

"I ought to beat you! Come, someone, bring the family law!" Sun Decang was driven mad with anger.

He had finally secured a position for Sun Anyang with great effort, even arranging to transfer Bao Lang specially from the Ministry of Personnel. He had been counting on Sun Anyang to help the Sun family regain some honor in the Martial Arts Pavilion.

But what now!

At this moment, Sun Decang wished he could kill this father-son pair of incompetents.

Afterward, a huge commotion broke out in the Sun family, with cries of agony echoing through the mansion.