First Madam Luo was so angry she was almost spitting blood. This second branch is really shameless. If she hadnât been eyeing her mother-in-lawâs gold and jewelry, how could she possibly have helped her?
It was all mutual benefit, yet now theyâre making it sound like it was the first branch that harmed their second branch.
"Have you two argued enough?" Old Mu slammed the table, and the two women, glaring like fighting roosters, fell silent.
"The matters between your two branches, you can argue however you want after this is over," Old Mu said coldly. "The issue at hand is about the third branch."
Old Master Luo remained silent, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
No matter how he thought about it, there were no advantages. If he agreed, the two branches would have no more ties from then on. If he disagreed, rumors would spread that the first branch wronged the third branch. Such enmity, involving the murder of a wife and mother, would make him too foolish to aid the enemy.
Old Master Luo was very frustrated. How did things become like this?
"Fine, I have no objections!" Ultimately, Old Master Luo agreed, "But there is one condition you must agree to."
"What is it?" Luo Linhao thought, could he be trying to plot something amid this?
Old Master Luo sighed, "Since the third branch wants to rewrite the family tree, you must include our father in it." This time, Old Master Luo wisely didnât mention including the Old Madam Luo.
His thinking was that as long as the ancestors of the third branch were the same as theirs, in future ancestor worship ceremonies each year, they could claim to go to worship their father. Over time, the third branch would find it impossible to sever ties with the first branch!
"Naturally! The family tree of our third branch will start from my father and my mother," Old Mu didnât have so many concerns, and he also thought this was only right.
"Then I have no objections."
The clan members saw that the first and second branches had no objections, so they couldnât block it even if they wanted to. They were also wary of Linhao, sensing he wasnât someone to be trifled with. One day, he might even take action against the clan members, which would not be worth it.
"Since you have made up your minds, letâs proceed. Bring the pen and ink, and we two elders will draft the documents ourselves."
With pen and ink ready on hand, it didnât take long for the documents to be signed. Luo Linhao immediately had someone go to the authorities to seal and file the documents. Within two hours, the documents regarding the separation from the clan and division of family were in the hands of the clan, the first branch, the second branch, and the third branch.
Seeing how quickly Luo Linhao handled things, those present felt some regret. As the saying goes, having someone in the court makes things easier. The documents could return so quickly all because of the State Dukeâs influence.
If they had this relationship, everything they did in the future could also be expedited. Now, it seemed unlikely.
"Now that this matter is concluded, letâs discuss something else." Luo Linhao put away the documents and turned with a wicked glance towards the first branch.
"What else is there?" The clan members were displeased. Why does the third branch have so many issues?
"Naturally, itâs about how Lord Earl was harmed back then."
Old Master Luo panicked upon hearing this and, without paying attention to what Linhao was talking about, said, "Why are you being so unforgiving?"
Second Luo wasnât anxious, but his wife couldnât hold it in, "Exactly, just now, it seemed that the first and second branches agreed for your branch to leave the clan, so you wouldnât pursue the matters with the first and second branches anymore. How can you go back on your word?"
"What we meant was not to pursue the cause of my motherâs and my grandmotherâs deaths," he paused, then continued, "but we never said we wouldnât pursue the matters of my abduction and being poisoned in the army back then."