15 Negotiations with City Lord

Shen Yue then went to the city lord mansion and asked the guard to meet the city lord. When he realized his mistake and was about to be questioned by the guard, he saw Zi Yun walking towards him. She spoke to the guard who left and faced Shen Yue.

"Shen Yue, please come in." She had a respectful face with some traces of sympathy on it.

"Thank you. I need to see your father." He didn't smile but said in a serious voice. His family members might have just died after all. It would be unrealistic if he acted like he was happy. He was mostly concerned about whether his mother was fine.

"I will take you to him." She led him toward the building and to the office he first had the meeting with city lord about his family's betrayal.

After knocking on the office door, Zi Yun said, "Father, Shen Yue has come to see you."

There was silence on the room and then an authoritative voice, "Come in," could be heard.

When they entered the office, Ye Zhong was sitting behind the desk and Nie Li was standing beside him. Shen Yue bowed as soon as he went in and bypassed the greetings and directly asked.

"City lord, I have come to ask about the situation of my family. Especially my mother and other younger cousins, they had no knowledge in the plot of the upper echelons."

"You are right. They are all safe. We only attacked the combatants that resisted. I am sad to say that both your father and brother have perished in battle. Although they deserved it, it must be hard for you. I have to first thank you for your contributions. Let me know if you have any requests I can fulfil."

"I am glad that my mother and the rest are safe. I want to ask about how you plan to handle the aftermath. There is a lot of anger from the public towards my family. Those responsible have already been punished so I hope city lord can step in to control the nobles that want to take advantage of the mess."

Ye Zhong was silent for a moment and was about to reply when Nie Li spoke to him as if Shen Yue wasn't in the room.

"Father in law, we cannot be seen as supporting the traitors after all. We must stay neutral in this otherwise the other nobles will blame us for not protecting the city."

"Cough..cough. Shen Yue, we will make sure your family is not harassed but we can't publicly declare our support at the moment. How about we hire some mercenary guards for your surviving family?"

Shen Yue was silent for half a minute as he gazed at Ye Zhong. There was less politeness in his tone this time as he said.

"I have purchased a small mansion on the outskirts of the city." Everyone in the room was shocked into silence.

"Where did you get the money for the that?" Nie Li interrupted with a hostile tone.

Shen Yue looked at him but ignored him and continued to talk facing Ye Zhong.

"I just used some money I saved up."

Of course, even a young master like him couldn't get enough stipend to buy a mansion but Shen Yue was not going to dive into that. He didn't feel the need to explain how he spent his own family's money. Besides, after everything he had done for him, if the City Lord asked him for the money he took, he will never forget it. He will lose all allegiance to Glory City and even take his own family away if he ever get a chance or straight up kill him if he becomes powerful enough in the future. Of course, he was already very overwhelmed and could not think calmly at the moment.

"I wish to move my mother and surviving family members of the elders to that mansion. My mother and the others had no part in the rebellion. I can vow to that. They are only women and children who were unknowingly get swept into this debacle."

"How can we know that without investigating?" Nie Li interrupted again. Zi Yun on the side looked angrily at Nie Li and about to say something. Ye Zhong spoke up first.

"Shen Yue, I understand your intention. I will allow it." Ye Zhong was actually relieved. He was thinking about how to deal with the survivors since he knew the public wouldn't want them to continue to live in the mansion. Shen Yue's suggestion would solve most of his problems. He knew Shen Yue probably raided the treasury beforehand, but it seemed to be not much since there was a lot left in there. Besides, he wanted to use the treasury to rebuild some damages in his mansion and add to his own treasury to use for Glory city.

"Lord Father-in-law, this is not appropriate. We should investigate more." Nie Li spoke again hurriedly.

"Nie Li, I have decided." Ye Zhong was determined and gave Nie Li a glare but Shen Yue's next words shocked him.

"City lord, my mother wishes to use part of the treasury left in the family mansion to pay compensation to families hurt by the Dark Guild. She wishes for you to administer it on her behalf. She also wishes to donate the rest of the treasury to the city to spend on the reconstruction of Glory city."

Ye Zhong was shocked for a moment. He was never planning to give the treasury back to the survivors. He was planning to do the compensation and renovations in the City Lord's name anyway. But Shen Yue's words forced him credit the family survivors to the reconstruction that will happen. Of course, he can refuse it but he is bound by honor through his promise to Shen Yue. He felt some admiration for the young man in front of him. The man was dependable, smart and loyal to Glory City. If only he wasn't born in that detestable family, he might have been pulled over to his side. He then looked at Nie Li and Zi Yun but put his thought out of his mind.

"Hmph, the treasury now belongs to Glory city anyway." Nie Li muttered on the side. Zi Yun was now practically glaring at Nie Li.

"I agree with your mother's suggestion. The public will know of her generosity. Also, I will send someone with you to inform the guards stationed at your mansion that they can leave and prepare to set out for the new house." Ye Zhong spoke next.

"I thank you for your help. I shall leave for now." Shen Yue gave a short bow to Ye Zhong, glanced at Nie Li and then nodded at Zi Yun. He then walked out of the office immediately.

Zi Yun followed and caught up with him when he was already at the gate. She called out "Shen Yue", and when Shen Yue glanced at her, she just said, "I'm sorry…ahh.. that is I hope everything gets better." Shen Yue nodded and then walked away leaving Zi Yun blaming herself for not thinking of something nice to say. She felt she could have said some condolences for his family or anything else to comfort him. As she gazed at his departing figure, she subconsciously felt the necklace on her chest with her hands.