Chapter 22 : Lin family Meeting ( 2 )

***Crack ***Crack

Just as the Great Elder's faction was chattering among them , a strong hand slapped the armrest of his seat. But because the force applied in it was a bit stronger , causing the right side of the seat to be broken and fall on the ground .

Everyone in the hall from youngest Lin Xiaoxiao to the most senior great Elder cast their gazes on the figure , only to find the person doing so was none other than Lin Xiaoting , himself. His face full of anger and a dangerous aura was passing through his eyes .

" Everyone Shut up. I called this meeting to think of a solution to protect our family. Not to let someone regret the past nor to let you scold the others . " By this time Lin Xiaoting had already lost the calmness of a family head , and in a fit of rage , he shouted and scolded everyone present.

Because this action was so untimely and unexpected , the council of Elders was caught off guard and the hall fell in an awkward atmosphere , completely silent.

" Patriarch , how could you be so rude when speaking to us. Nevertheless all of us are your family members and mostly seniors who look after you. " The Great Elder said something with that sacred face of his. Not forgetting his aim to bring down this guy's reputation within the clan .

" Don't try to speak nonsense. When you are the one who refuses to accept the severity of the current crisis. But instead of sharing the burden you are trying to cause a rift within the clan. At least shame on you . " A Young Elder named Lin Ran , supporting Lin Xiaoting's faction scolded back the Great Elder in rage as much as the current family head is.

" You..You dare speak to me like that . As the Great Elder of the family, I can practice the family law to punish you for this insolent behaviour of yours. " The Great Elder said with a serious face , knowing that the other party is young and he can intimidate him with the authority.

" Fuck off !! Do you still think of family law ?? Knowing , When there is zero percentage chance that the family will survive after the current crisis passed by " The Young Elder Lin Ran didn't back down but said in a more angry tone than before. Perhaps he too was feed off with this Idiotic Great Elder.

" Presumption !! How can you curse the whole family like that. I think you don't want to be a part of the family anymore. "

" I must say you are counting death when trying to disrupt the hierarchy of power within the clan. "

" I suggest killing this guy immediately who speaks ill of his own clan and family members. "

The Elders of the Great Elder faction felt offended and said one after another.

" Me courting death ?? Hahahah , Aren't you guys also doing that ?? We lived in the land that the Su family owns , and that treasure junior of yours didn't find anyone else to curse but the two children of the Current Emperor Su. Is this anything different from what I did ?? Shouldn't our family also be eliminated by this logic " Lin Ran suddenly has a mockery on his face , and giving a maniac laugh he hinted others the point they actually overlook.

Hearing his words, the hall fell in silence again. Even the Elders of the Great Elder's faction started to think of this major issue .

The Su Family is indeed so powerful and they are just a mere subordinate under their rule. Just like how they are capable of trapping and torturing a single Lin Ran with no resistance. They too can be dealt with that way.

The main problem is not this but the motto they have presented at the start. To preserve the family's blood for the younger generation. But what to do after that ?? Just fend off the juniors to live a life by themselves in the world with countless enemies and no allies , even their subordinate families have turned their back on them.

In such situations the best possible results can't be anything else than being accepted as a slave by the other clans and families. Males will be doing physical labour and females can only prostrate themselves to warm the beds of their 'owners'.

Otherwise Where to send them and where to find resources to cultivate and live , when with the arrogance of a big clan they might not be able get two meals which even a mortal have difficulties earning in .

Relying on a Lin Tian ?? They might have thought of this in the past but not now . If the previous Lin Tian was a dazzling star in their eyes then , the current him is nothing more than a defeated general , no matter how talented he is , can't be a match for the opponent.

Even if he can make progress at a very fast rate , can he still be compared to Su Yang who had unlimited resources and peerless talented to advance in the cultivation by leaps and bounds with almost no bottleneck. Not to mention , there are still hidden cards he has not shown so far .

Thinking of this , almost everyone in the hall has a solemn expression and stupified face but they fail to notice the sly smile on Lin Ran's face. Obviously , it was his plan to guide everyone's thinking to a certain scenario. Now there shouldn't be any more discord between the clan under the huge pressure. Even the family head should have no major problem to deal with other than the Su Family's rage.

" Lin Ran..." Lin Xiaoting whispers softly after being calmed down , his face was full of pride and gratitude. This is the confidant he has cultivated all by himself, although in terms of cultivation aptitude he is not born as talented as Lin Tian but is a master of word play and acting.

" What are your thoughts on the current affairs, Patriarch?? " Suddenly , an elder asked Lin Xiaoting , with some embarrassment. Being in the same faction as the Great Elder must have been the cause of this embarrassment.

" Yes , Patriarch. Regardless of what you decide on , I will follow your orders regardless of life and death."

" Me too !! "

" Me too !! "

" Me too !! "

Suddenly , all of the Elders in the family have sobered up from the fake delusions that the Great Elder was giving them for quite a while and pledged their alliance to the family head .

" Hmph !! " The Great Elder can only snort coldly knowing that he has lost his voice in the family after being tricked by a younger person but since it is about the well being of the whole clans and survival , he will be silent for this once.

" Since you guys are so inclined to listen to my thoughts then let me tell you something I analysed after watching the Crown prince last night. You might not believe it but what his highness wanted to do in the banquet from the very beginning was not to kill Lin Tain but to humiliate him as much as possible whether going back on words or defeating him with so much pretentiousness was all a part of it. "

Lin Xiaoting said in a serious tone , his face was full of bewilderment , having a hard time to believe in his own conjecture. After all , Su Yang and Lin Tian have never met each other before the banquet night , How was the seed of hatred germinated in Su Yang's heart in the first place ??

" Patriarch , I don't know what do you mean ??" The Great Elder asked calmly , not angry as much as others might have expected him to be.

" Nothing much. Since Prince Su Yang wants to humiliate Lin Tian why don't we do it ourselves. In this way , at least a part of the clan can be spared under the mercy and we may rejuvenate the clan in the future generations or in the best case scenario, the current crisis can be completely avoided.." Lin Xiaoting didn't look at the Great Elder's side but said in a very calm tone. Though his face was a little uncomfortable as he seems to have made a certain decision in his heart.

"Lin Xiaoting...You.." The Great Elder wanted to refuse the proposal at the start but seeing the hot gazes concentrated on his own , he backed down.

Obviously , he still haven't given up on Lin Tian despite knowing the severity of the problems . Maybe , it is due to the halo of the protagonist's camp that brings only the loyal follower or to say , mindless slaves ..

" I suggest , banishing that Sinner Lin Tian from the clan and so do his closest people "

" At least make him an Eunuch before sending off. "

" That won't be enough , how about we remove the tombstone of his parents and elders from the ancestral tombs. "

" Not only his parents and elders but the seven generations of ancestoral grave and tombstone should be dug out , completely cutting the relationship with the family. "

It didn't take long before the rest of the Elders came out with a plan more cruel than the previous ones , making the Great Elders blood boil in rage , but knowing saying anything will be useless he can only listen quietly , pretending to be deaf.

" I gave my acquisition to the suggestions put forward by the council of the Elders . Though it will be very painful to send off the bodies of the fallen fellows and seniors, but to preserve the clan , we can only make this necessary sacrifice. May their soul forgive us , the non-filal descendants . " Lin Xiaoting said with a not so calm face , his eyes were filled with waves of emotions and his tone has nothing but melancholy and regret.

" Patriarch , I too have a proposal. It's just that I don't know if I should say it or not ... " Suddenly, the elder on the left side of Lin Xiaoting said in a hesitating tone , bringing him back to reality , and attracting all of the attention and gaze in the room.

" You don't need to be in trouble too much. It's not like I can be angry at you in such times . Just say , I will listen with full attentiveness. "

Managing the family for so long made Lin Xiaoting have a tactical understanding of the people of his own faction, and listening to the hesitation in the person's tone he know that the upcoming words have some really absurd suggestions , the type that are potent enough to enrage him . Helplessly , he can only assure the safety of the opposite while betting the same can be at the very least useful enough to be used as a sincere move towards the Su family and Su Yang.

The Elder suddenly lowered his head with shame and solemnity on his face . His whole body was soaked in sweat but instead of wiping it , he can only clench his fists in helplessness while presenting his suggestions in a low tone.

" Patriarch , I have heard the rumours within the clan regarding the young lady Lin Xiaoxiao and Lin Tian having some kind of romantic affairs... I... I.. I think sending.. the young lady .. as a personal maid to Prince Su Yang should be .. humiliating enough.. "

Hearing his words , the scene fall in a complete silence . The time seems to be frozen and everyone has a hard time in breathing and understanding the meaning.

Reason ?? Isn't being close to Su Yang that every young lady desires in half of the entire Human realm, whether being as his maid or a lowly servant sweeping the floor ?? But all of those are the second or later borns of the family heads with no right to inherit the later's position. However , Lin Xiaoxiao is different from them as the only daughter of Lin Xiaoting and his heir , sending her to Su Yang is equivalent to taining the dignity of the whole family , much worse than Lin Tian's actions.

Though Lin Xiaoting was ready for whatever the elder was going to say but the matter of sending his very own daughter to the person caught him off guard , making him uncomfortable. Even though he is a father , he is also the head of the family , so concealing his emotions very well he gave a deep look at Lin Xiaoxiao and asked plainly.

" Really ?? "

Lin Xiaoxiao's expression changed slightly , not expecting this matter to be brought in light. For the past few years , she has helped Lin Tian that has fallen from grace and eventually discovered his mysteries and recovering talent. It didn't take long before she fall for him but because of the family's eye that are constantly watching , she never dared to reveal the same .

" I wonder if it being true or not actually matter , since there are rumors then , there must be basis for it. "

Lin Xiaoxiao's voice was calm but indifferent and cold , there was some kind of helplessness hidden in it.

The reason why she accepted so easily is also be because of this helplessness. Since her own family has already found out of her affairs then , so do the Su Family's informant hidden in the Lin's mansion and workshops.

Natural , they have already reported the same back to their owners , which will eventually brinh nothing but danger to her side . So , why not just admit it on your own initiative , cutting the chit and chat , atleast it will save a lot of time and a good impression on the opposite.

" **Sigh , To think my own child was supporting Lin Tian in silence , right under my nose and even advanced to this extent. I must have been a disappointing person as a family head " Lin Xiaoting sighed heavily , muttering in a self-depreciating tone.

His words made others unable to perceive his true thoughts, and secretly they can only thought of something in their hearts .

" Patriarch, do you really want to send young lady as a maid of the Su clan ?? It Wouldn't only humiliate Lin Tian but also you to the extreme. ?? " An Elder asked nervously but his voice has a hint of solemnity.

" Elder doesn't necessarily need to bother themselves with my affairs . It was me , who did the wrong thing in the first place and it is not related to the family head in any manner. What did they say , the minister chose the king of their own and so did me. The only difference is that I made a mistake in supporting the side I thought was capable enough. Naturally , I must bear the consequences of it" Lin Xiaoxiao responded calmly , not giving a chance for her father to feel ashamed at all .

She knows clearly that the resistance is completely futile , even if her father wants to find a way to prevent her from entering the Su family, it will only bring endless troubles to him. So , instead of bothering him , she might as well take the whole blame on her , reducing the burden on his heart.

" Daughter , Why are you so stupid.." Lin Xiaoting face immediately turned ashen , his heart was like cut and dugged out by someone with most cruel way possible.

His daughter is both bold and daring but is still his only child , being the sole reason for him to live a life. If the family really abandoned her then , what about him?? Could he really remains indifferent to her ??

But as the representative of the family and it's head , it is his duty to preserve the clan's intrest more than his own. Even he is asked to sacrifice his own life to protect the clan , he must do it then , what is a mere daughter worth ?? Silently , he has already accepted her fate as the lowest slave belonging to Su Yang.

However ,unknown to him a pair of eyes hidden in the dark , were looking at him with deep meaning , disappearing before he could find out.