Phoenix Startles the Sky

  For over two hundred years since the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, apart from the imperial family of Yuan, there are seven other prominent and historic aristocratic families.

  Huai Ping Li, Yong An Wen, Ji Dong Xiang, Ying Zhong Chen, Ding Yang Diwu, Guang Nan Zheng, and Jing Bei Liu.

  In terms of power, the Liu family seems more glorious than the other six families, as they have direct contact with the imperial family, and the Liu and Yuan families are also close.

  Eighteen years ago, Liu chose Yuan Haotian, the ninth prince with the least power, in the Eight Kings' struggle for power, beyond everyone's expectation.

  From the first year of Qing to the tenth year, these ten years were the most glorious decade for the Liu family in Beijing, with power and influence that no one dared to rival, surpassing the six other families and openly becoming the leader of the seven families.

  Celebrating ten years, no one expected that in the midst of a swift and fierce sweep, it would end with the extinction of the Liu clan.

  The seven major surnames no longer have the name Liu, and in the northern part of the capital, apart from the royal family, there are no more aristocratic families. The extinction of the Liu clan also made the remaining six major surname families more low-key and cautious, never easily participating in the politics of the northern capital.

  Although the sun is shining brightly, many people in Beijing feel that a stormy rain is unfolding quietly, and no one knows how many people will be engulfed by the waves.

  The Tao and Shi families respectively relied on the eldest prince and second prince, while Consort Mei and Consort Yu were both stable in the harem. If it weren't for the bloody rainstorm of five years ago when Emperor Qing was too overbearing and powerful, perhaps these two families would have become the second or third Liu family by now. The power that the Liu family had in those days, monopolizing the court and overshadowing everything else, who wouldn't be envious and yearn for it?

  However, due to the extinction of the Liu family and intimidated by Emperor Xian's power, these imperial relatives could only withdraw their hands, tuck in their tails, and keep a low profile as much as possible.

  No matter how low-key they are, the positions of the two families, Tao and Shi, are already set. When the Emperor is old, a struggle is inevitable.

  Also because of this understanding, although the two families Tao and Shi are not yet openly fighting in secret, they are also clearly distinguished.

  However, this situation was broken three years ago. The person who broke the situation was not a noble family, nor an official family, nor a royal family, but a merchant family in the capital city.

  The Lin family was just an ordinary merchant family, but after the Liu family was destroyed, it quietly appeared in the sight of the people in the capital.

  Although unbelievable, Lin's family indeed achieved it, and Lin's daughter made the two young masters of Shi Tao's family become brothers-in-law!

  But apart from this incident, the Lin family, except for holding some banquets during the four seasons when flowers bloom, is still relatively low-key in their actions.

  The sunset is like a brocade, the bamboo forest is half-hidden and half-revealed, a pavilion can be seen, simple and natural yet elegant and unique, with red pillars and a green roof, in the gently swaying curtains, a figure can be seen sitting upright inside, intently playing the zither, the melodious sound of the zither is pleasant to hear.

  Lin Yingying was followed by two slender and elegant maids as she walked along the secluded path towards the pavilion in the bamboo forest. Listening to the sound of the guqin, she didn't go forward to disturb him, but stood outside the pavilion until the music stopped. Then, with respect, she bowed her head and greeted the person inside: "Brother, Mother asked me to invite you to the study."

  The two maids with elegant appearance who had been waiting outside the pavilion came forward, bowed to Lin Yingying and asked about her well-being before lifting the curtain.

  A moment later, a man in purple clothes walked out of the pavilion. His skin was as smooth as white jade, with delicate features and fluttering sleeves. His beautiful eyes were clear and bright, but his gaze seemed to be flowing with three points of evil spirit like a demon, Lin family's young master Lin Weitan.

  The appearance of Lin Weiting suddenly made all five women present, including Lin Yingying, lose their luster.

  Lin Yingying looked at the person walking out and sighed softly. In front of her brother's exquisite and unparalleled face, she couldn't help but lose her radiance.

  "Older brother." Lin Yingying stepped forward again and slightly bowed her head.

  Lin Weiting raised an eyebrow: "What's going on that made Mother so anxious, and you came to find me personally?"

  Lin Yingying sighed: "The Tao and Shi families are probably both going to be ruined."

  Lin Weiting's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, but he remained silent, his mouth corners slightly curving upwards. The capital city was finally becoming interesting.

  In the study, Mrs. Lin stood in front of the window watching the two people walking slowly towards the study, with pride and comfort in her eyes, the greatest pride of her life was giving birth to this pair of children.

  "Madam, the young master and miss have arrived."

  Mrs. Lin turned around and looked at the two people walking into the study, thinking of the undercurrents in the capital city nowadays, and sighed softly: "Tang Er, I should have listened to you earlier, but unfortunately, we lost two chess pieces."

  Although he sighed, there was no regret or pain in his tone, only some annoyance.

  Lin Weiting smiled and raised her wide sleeves, lying sideways on the soft couch in front of the window. Her every move was as enchanting as a demon, causing the two people who were used to it to be stunned for a moment. After regaining their senses, the mother and daughter tacitly turned away, no longer gazing at him.

  "It's just two chess pieces, why should Mother worry?"

  "Brother, what Mother is concerned about isn't those two chess pieces, but the storm that's brewing in the capital. She wants to hear your opinion on whether we should continue making our move." Lin Yingying said.

  Lin Weiting's eyes slightly raised, her gaze swept lightly towards the sky outside the window. The setting sun dyed the clouds a desolate yet vibrant red, and the layered clouds transformed into dazzling floral patterns drifting in the sky.

  "With such scenery, it's natural to fall in love." He said calmly.

  Mrs. Lin was taken aback, looking up at her son who was lounging on the soft couch by the window, gazing out at the sky with a lazy expression. No matter what decision she made, Tong'er seemed uninterested and always let her handle it, so today he suddenly declared his intention, which shocked her greatly.

  "Tong Er, so according to your meaning, where should this child be placed?" The eldest and second princes were basically ruined, the two pawns she had placed in the Tao Shi family were naturally useless, it was just a pity that she had spent some thought on training them.

  Lin Wei Tang turned her gaze to Lin Ying Ying sitting beside her, and smiled faintly: "Ying Ying's marriage, mother can start considering now."

  Lin Yingying's face stiffened for a moment, then she pouted and bit her lower lip: "Does brother also regard his own sister as a chess piece?"

  Mrs. Lin was also surprised, her face slightly sinking: "Tang Er, Yingying is your sister." The palm and back of the hand are all flesh, although she is a daughter, she is also the flesh that fell from her body, absolutely not comparable to those chess pieces.

  "It's precisely because she is my sister that I spoke up." Lin Weitan was calm and unruffled in the face of his mother's displeasure and his sister's grievances.

  Recalling what Tong'er said earlier, Mrs. Lin's elegant and charming face seemed to be deep in thought: "Your meaning is that the real opportunity has finally arrived?"

  "It's close enough!"

  "In your opinion, who can match our Yingying?" asked Mrs. Lin with a frown.

  Lin Yingying also looked at Lin Weiting with 70% nervousness and 30% anticipation.

  Lin Wei Tang smiled slightly, her perfect lips opening lightly: "Hua Wang."

  "What? Prince Huai?" Lady Lin was surprised.

  Lin Yingying furrowed her brow slightly, but didn't say a word.

  "But King Hui..." Mrs. Lin thought of King Hui who was suffering from a lingering illness, and the thought of marrying off Yingying still made her feel reluctant to part with her.

  "Huai Wang is the top choice, and then there's the middle and lower choices, it all depends on how Yan Yan chooses."

  Mrs. Lin's eyes lit up as soon as she heard there were other options, and she hastily asked, "Then who are the second and third choices?"

  "Xuan Huai Wang was chosen for her elegant appearance and intelligent talent, she had a 30% chance of becoming the empress. Gu Ling was selected as the second choice, and Liao Qing Yun was selected as the third choice."

  Mrs. Lin narrowed her eyes: "What does Tong Er think is the possibility that the person hiding in the dark is Prince Huai?"

  "Seventy percent." Lin Weidang replied faintly, admiring the changing colors of the evening sky.

  "Tong'er thinks that Huai Wang has a 70% chance, so why does Yingying only have a 30% chance of becoming the empress? Does she think that Huai Wang's chances of succeeding are only 30%?"

  The beautiful sunset just now has faded away, Lin Weitan withdrew her admiring gaze and turned to look at Mrs. Lin: "It's about time."

  Lin Yingying gave him a white eye and said in a bad tone: "Brother, let me go gamble with this 30% chance, isn't it too risky? This is about your sister's lifelong major event."

  Mrs. Lin thought for a moment and felt that her daughter was right.

  "Mother, Yingying is my sister, I won't harm her."

  Mrs. Lin looked at Yingying, her eyes hesitant, but soon became determined, and said softly: "Yingying, you are my daughter, your marriage is not for me to decide, your brother may be a bit strange, but I believe he won't harm you, since he has proposed three candidates, you try to get close to them yourself, see who you like, everything will be up to your own heart's desire, okay?"

  Ying Ying nodded: "Daughter knows." Then she got up and bowed slightly to Lin Wei Tang: "Ying Ying was in a hurry just now, and rushed into her brother. Please don't blame your sister, brother."