Ji Xiu couldn't be bothered to waste words on Madame Shen. He ignored her and looked directly at the clan elders. "Elders, I assume you have heard from Manager He about what transpired last night. I wonder what your thoughts are?"
The elders, having been thoroughly offended by the Eldest Young Master earlier and seeing Madame Shen fail to placate them, didn't hesitate. "Madame Shen harmed concubines, and the Young Master sought pleasure during the mourning period, bringing shame to our name. Neither is fit to lead. We believe a new head must be chosen!"
Madame Shen shook with rage once more. But with the elders and managers united, she, a woman confined to the inner chambers, no longer held any power.
The elder who had been knocked over earlier was helped into a chair and spoke first: "I think the Second Young Master is decent."
The Second Young Master froze, then rushed forward with excitement to massage the elder's shoulders. Seeing this, the other elders frowned. While it was important for the family head to be aligned with the elders, such a fawning and subservient attitude was simply too pathetic to represent the Shen family.
Even the injured elder was startled. He pulled away from the Second Young Master and muttered, "Then again, ignore my thoughts."
The Second Young Master was stunned. Second Uncle also retracted his gaze, looking at the other concubines' sons. He grew increasingly dissatisfied. Madame Shen had been the victor of inner-court battles for twenty years; under her watch, any truly capable or outstanding concubine's son had never been allowed to flourish. Those who survived were timid and mediocre.
"Since the men are unusable," Ji Xiu said airily, "why not select a woman to be the family head?"
…
This statement was bold to the extreme. While the martial arts world featured many famous heroines and some families had female leaders, the Shen family was deeply patriarchal.
Madame Shen looked at Ji Xiu in shock. The elders were even more resistant. However, Ji Xiu’s silver tongue was sharp; with a few well-placed arguments, he suppressed their initial protest.
Second Uncle’s heart wavered. A woman... perhaps it wasn't impossible... "Second Brother, what are you saying?!" he accidentally muttered his thoughts aloud, causing the other elders to glare at him.
Ji Xiu stepped forward. Suddenly, the air in the courtyard grew heavy. He released the internal pressure of a Pre-heaven Master. Aside from Shen Lang and Ji Zian, everyone felt as if a mountain were pressing down on their shoulders. Their legs weakened, and they nearly knelt.
"I believe the Sixth Miss is an excellent choice for the family head. What do you all think?" Ji Xiu asked, his voice calm and light, yet echoing like a thunderclap.
Manager He, sensing the sheer depth of Ji Xiu's power, was the first to realize the situation. "I agree!" he shouted.
The moment he spoke, the pressure on him vanished. Seeing this, the other managers followed suit. One by one, the "I agrees" filled the air.
Ji Xiu looked at the elders. Second Uncle, seeing the martial potential Ji Xiu represented, had a flash of inspiration. "I also agree! If the Sixth Miss is the head, and you are her husband, would you be willing to teach the Shen youths martial arts and lead our family back into the Jianghu?"
The other elders realized his brilliance. The Shen family had retreated from the martial arts world because the previous generations lacked talent and were bullied. If a master like Ji Xiu backed them, they could reclaim their ancestral glory.
Ji Xiu was slightly annoyed—he had meant to threaten them into making Shen Lang the head so he could enjoy the family's resources. Instead, he had ended up being recruited as a tutor. Still, seeing Shen Lang’s determined face, he gave a reluctant nod.
…
A few days later, Master Shen was buried. Shen Lang officially received the family head’s token in the ancestral hall, becoming the 15th head of the Shen family.
Ji Xiu stood outside the hall with Ji Zian. Fu Luoyang approached them. "Brother Ji, congratulations. The Sixth Miss is a much better choice than the previous one."
"Why do you say that?" Ji Xiu asked.
"She is calm and composed. Even after gaining power, she hasn't lost herself. That alone makes her superior to the Eldest Young Master," Fu Luoyang replied sincerely.
Ji Xiu smiled. He had originally just wanted to stop his son from murdering everyone, but when he had asked Shen Lang if she wanted to lead, she had answered with a firm "Yes." She wanted to reform the corrupt family that had brought her so much pain.
"I've come to say goodbye," Fu Luoyang said, looking a bit downcast. "My father sent a message. The Demonic Sect is active again and has attacked several families in the North. I must lead reinforcements."
Ji Xiu froze. In the original timeline, Fu Luoyang died in the North. His brother, Fu Chang’an, only became the protagonist because Luoyang had passed away.
"Don't worry, Brother Ji," Fu Luoyang laughed. "The Demonic Sect has been in decline since the new leader took over. It’s just a routine operation." Don't raise death flags, Ji Xiu thought. He looked at Ji Zian. "I'll accompany you. I want to take Zian out to see the world."
Fu Luoyang was delighted and agreed to meet them once he passed back through Yangzhou.
As Fu Luoyang rode away, Madame Shen appeared at a distance, screaming at Ji Xiu about his "vicious heart" and stealing her son’s inheritance. She and her son had been kicked out of the residence, though they were allowed to keep her dowry. They were currently trying to sue through the local officials, but the officials had no desire to cross a martial arts expert like Ji Xiu.
…
Inside the Shen house, Shen Lang found Ji Xiu. Her face was resolute. "Husband, I want to learn martial arts."
Ji Xiu smiled. "Fine. Zian, starting tomorrow, you will be responsible for teaching your mother."
Shen Lang was stunned. "What?" She had wanted to learn from Ji Xiu! To learn from her own son... she felt her "motherly dignity" was at stake.
Ji Zian’s eyes had brightened at the prospect, but seeing her rejection, he immediately pouted, his face turning cold. "If Mother won't learn, I don't want to teach!"
"Good! Then I'll let your father teach me," Shen Lang huffed.
Ji Zian pursed his lips and stomped away in a huff.
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