Chapter 607 - Intricacies

Chapter 607: Intricacies

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
His magnificent and powerful words reverberated through the huge main hall.
Even Mu Wanrou was too shocked to respond.
The old man actually used the inheritance to the Mu family to threaten his grandson.
Despite her shock, she was actually gloating inside still. Now, more than ever, she knew that she could lean on his blindsided love for her to get what she wanted.
Mu Yazhe’s eyes narrowed the instant he heard this threat.
Oh, yes. How could he overlook this matter?
When Mu Sheng first announced this marriage arrangement, he also announced his intention to make him the next heir. How could he have forgotten that he had gotten the inheritance not because of his outstanding performance but because of this engagement with his grandfather’s pet, instead?
The reason he had agreed to this engagement with Mu Wanrou in the first place was that his grandfather had openly promised to bequeath him the Mu inheritance.
This was an attractive offer indubitably.
The intricacies of the extended Mu family were too abundant, and the existing conflicts of interests were too copious.
It would not be exaggerating to compare the Mu family to the imperial court in ancient times.
Setting aside the distant relations and those children born out of wedlock under Mu Sheng, the old man himself already had three wives. These three women were fertile and bore him five sons and three daughters.
Of these five sons, he was most impressed with the child of his third wife, Mu Lianjue.
This son was the most savvy, capable, and charismatic of them all;
Unfortunately, no matter how exceptional this son was, the old man did not think that he was suitable to be the next heir as he was born to his third wife. According to tradition, all elite families had the first sons to inherit the family fortune. Thus, he did not think Mu Lianjue’s status would be appropriate to take after him.
As Mu Liancheng was born to his first wife, he was acknowledged inwardly by Mu Sheng as his next in line despite not matching up to his half-brother.
However, before the time came for Mu Liancheng to take over the household, he passed away at a young age. Since then, the matter of succession was put aside.
The old man was holding onto his power all this time. As he grew older, internal strife started a rift within the household.
This was akin to the imperial household of Emperor Kangxi where, out of his 24 sons, nine fought for control of the throne.
In the case of the elite families, it was not uncommon to see brothers turn into bitter enemies for the sake of succession.
Hence, the old man was eager to get the next heir in place to create order within the family and reduce any unnecessary conflict.
He was looking at the next suitable candidate.
Mu Yazhe turned out to be the most satisfactory.
The young chap, at the tender age of 14, already garnered his approval. In fact, the old man believed that this grandson’s ability was truly remarkable among the younger offspring.
The young Mu Yazhe was also eager to secure his position in the Mu family with this inheritance.
After his father’s passing when he was 14, he and his mother were left to fend for themselves in this big household. They would be defenseless and bullied without any power.
If it were not for his maternal family being equally influential, he would probably be sacrificed in this struggle for power.