Chapter 181

Chapter 181: One Grandson Less Makes No Difference

Chen Qishan didn’t believe that Qin Xian would go as far as destroying the Chen family over a mere woman.

The Chen family was indeed far inferior to the Qin family, but in Anxi Province, they were the undisputed dominant force, deeply entrenched for generations.

If the Qin family truly wanted to annihilate them, they would have to pay a heavy price.

A man like Qin Xian—someone who stood at the pinnacle of power—would never act on impulse due to personal emotions.

But the problem wasn’t whether Qin Xian would wipe out the Chen family.

The real danger was that he could effortlessly expel them from the Imperial Capital’s inner circle.

Chen Qishan’s position as the Minister of Internal Affairs was far from stable.

Countless political rivals lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to drag him down.

If word got out that Qin Xian was dissatisfied with the Chen family, many would eagerly seize the chance to drive them out.

And that—was something Chen Qishan absolutely could not allow.

While the Chen family held absolute dominance over Anxi Province, their influence did not extend far beyond it.

That was precisely why Chen Qishan had invested countless resources, strategies, and generations of effort to climb into the Imperial Government.

Now, he had finally taken the crucial step forward, securing a position within the Empire’s core of power.

For decades, the Chen family had sacrificed everything for this goal. This was the most critical period in their history.

If Chen Qishan successfully established himself in the Imperial Capital, and if the Chen family could secure their position, then in twenty years, they would truly gain a foothold among the Empire’s aristocratic elite.

With time, if the Chen family produced just one or two more ministers, they would officially transition from a regional aristocracy to an imperial powerhouse.

But if they failed…The Chen family would fall back to their provincial status—all their efforts across generations would be reduced to nothing!

At that thought, Chen Qishan’s expression turned ice-cold. He would never allow anyone to sabotage the Chen family’s rise.

Not even his own grandson.

Chen Liu’s mistake—though seemingly minor—was an unpredictable risk. Sitting alone in his study, Chen Qishan deliberated for a long time.

Finally, he summoned Kang Hui.

“Kang Hui. Although you serve as Chen Liu’s personal butler, how many years have you been with the Chen family?”

Hearing this, Kang Hui’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly replied, “I have served the Chen family for over thirty years.”

Chen Qishan nodded. Then, in a low voice, he spoke a few simple words.

The moment Kang Hui heard them, his face turned deathly pale in shock.

For a long time, he was too stunned to respond. Finally, he managed to whisper in disbelief, “Master… have you truly decided? Young Master hasn’t committed any crime—there’s still room to salvage this!”

Chen Qishan merely gazed at him indifferently. At that moment, Kang Hui shuddered violently. Then, with a heavy heart, he bowed deeply and murmured:

“I understand.” He turned and left the study, his steps slow and heavy.

As Chen Qishan watched his departing figure, for the first time, a flicker of hesitation flashed across his face.

Because the order he had just given was simple—Eliminate Chen Liu.

That was why Kang Hui had reacted with such horror and disbelief.

If there were any other way, Chen Qishan would have never wanted to kill Chen Liu. Even a vicious tiger would not eat its own cubs.

And this was his favorite grandson! If he could, he would simply send Chen Liu away, imprison him under heavy guard, and ensure that Qin Xian wouldn’t pursue the matter further.

But the problem was…Chen Qishan could not afford to take that risk.

He had already witnessed firsthand the ruthless nature of the Imperial Capital’s power struggles.

This city was a den of vipers and blades, filled with endless conspiracies and traps. There was no room for even the smallest mistakes.

The Empire had stood for over a thousand years, and the aristocratic families that survived in the Imperial Capital were few and far between.

Throughout history, there had been many ambitious provincial leaders like himself—powerful figures who had risen to top government positions and sought to secure a permanent foothold in the capital.

But nearly all of them had failed. Though they had held office for many years, they had never truly become part of the Imperial elite.

And in the end—their descendants were always sent back to the provinces.

Many times, they had been just one step away from success—only to fall short at the last moment. That could not happen to the Chen family.

And so, Chen Liu had to be removed.

Chen Qishan was Chen Liu’s grandfather. But first and foremost, he was the head of the Chen family—a man who had dominated the political battlefield for decades.

In his heart, family bonds would never outweigh the interests of the Chen clan.

After all, he still had many other grandsons. He had over a dozen grandsons. Losing one Chen Liu—meant nothing.

A chilling indifference settled over Chen Qishan’s face. He picked up the phone and gave a calm order, “Tell Jie’er to prepare. Have him come to the Imperial Capital tomorrow.”

Chen Jie was another of his grandsons. His talent was second only to Chen Liu, but unlike Chen Liu, he was far more mature and pragmatic.

He understood the importance of family interests. Since Chen Liu was now a liability, it was time to train a new successor.

The Next Day…

A shocking piece of news spread from the Chen family.

Chen Liu, the eldest grandson of the Chen family—the most beloved heir of Chen Qishan—was suddenly dead.

The news immediately sparked a wave of attention throughout the Imperial Capital.

After all, though the Chen family was a newly rising power, they had already gained significant recognition.

By all logic, an heir like Chen Liu should have been nearly impossible to kill. He had plenty of life-saving artifacts, emergency scrolls, and a powerful personal guard.

For him to die so suddenly—in his own home—was undeniably suspicious.

Yet, when authorities requested an investigation, the Chen family refused outright.

Instead, they publicly declared, “Chen Liu died in a cultivation accident.”

It was such an obviously fabricated excuse that they didn’t even bother making it sound convincing.

At the same time, rumors quickly spread about Chen Liu’s encounter with Qin Xian the day before.

At that moment, the aristocratic families of the Imperial Capital finally understood the truth.

And they were all shaken by Chen Qishan’s ruthlessness and decisiveness.

All because Chen Liu had taken interest in Qin Xian’s woman, The Chen family had immediately executed their own heir out of fear.

That was the terrifying power of the Qin family. And that was the price of ambition in the Imperial Capital.