If he chose the latter, the Tang clan was highly likely to win an upheaval, perhaps even split apart. In the end, the former had a greater chance of victory.
Thus, this multiple-choice question was extremely simple.
The Tang Old Master had decided to support Shang Xingzhou, so he naturally had to give up on Chen Changsheng.
The Tang Old Master had decided to pass the Tang clan to the second branch, so he naturally had to suppress the chief branch.
If Tang Thirty-Six were a mediocre person, perhaps this matter would have been relatively simple.
But he was not. Moreover, he had a friend, the current Pope.
Thus, the Tang Old Master could only imprison him in the ancestral hall.
He might be imprisoned for the rest of his life, until he became a white-haired madman in a few decades or a hundred years.
Of course, it was even more likely that once Shang Xingzhou subdued the Orthodoxy and eliminated Chen Changsheng, he would be bestowed a bowl of poison.
Yes, poison, dagger, white silk, pit — no matter what method he used, he would still die.
A few years ago, Tang Thirty-Six naturally would not have believed that the Old Master would have done this.
But now, he had long since understood that his benevolent grandfather was just an illusion, an illusion.
The Tang Old Master had held him on his knees and told him stories from long ago, describing the splendor of the future with incomparable indulgence. This was naturally love.
But what he loved was not the boy in his lap, but the future of the Tang clan.
Now, the Tang Old Master had arranged a new future for the Tang clan, and he also had a new grandson.
Thus, for the sake of the Tang clan's future, how much he had doted on Tang Thirty-Six was now just as cruel.
From the moment he understood this matter, Tang Thirty-Six no longer hoped that his grandfather would release him.
He did not want to be imprisoned in the ancestral hall for the rest of his life, nor did he want to silently die.
He wanted to leave this place, but he made no attempt.
Because on the second day after he was imprisoned in the ancestral hall, many of his father's loyal subordinates had attempted to rescue him.
Those people had all died, and later, even more members of the chief branch had died.
He could only fall even more silent.
Whether it was the paper slips between the stones thrown over the wall or the secret markings carved into the bottom of the dishes, he could only pretend that he did not see them.
Gradually, no more urchins threw stones over the wall, no more kites appeared in the sky.
It had been a very long time since the main gate of the ancestral hall had opened.
… …
… …
No matter how well it was maintained, a door that had not been opened for a long time would always make some unpleasant squeaking sounds when it was opened again.
The front door of the ancestral hall opened, and a gust of cold winter wind mixed with snow drifted in.
Tang Thirty-Six sat on the cattail hassock and stared at the memorial tablet at the top without turning his head.
The old Guardian of the Tang clan walked up behind him and said, "The Old Master has something to say to you."
There was no chat after a long separation, no greetings, not even a summary of the past.
The old consecrator looked at his back without any expression on his face.
"You need to investigate whether or not Second Master Chu poisoned you, and whether or not he colluded with the demons."
"You have two hours. During this time, the entire Tang Clan is yours."
Tang Thirty-Six didn't turn around. He was still quietly looking at the memorial tablets in the dark ancestral hall.
After a long time, he finally spoke.
This was the first time he had spoken in half a year. His voice was a little hoarse, and his pronunciation was a little stiff.
"That guy is here?"
The old consecrator replied, "Yes."
Tang Thirty-Six still didn't turn around. "What did he say to the Old Master?"
The old consecrator was quiet for a while, then he repeated the conversation between Chen Changsheng and the Tang Old Master in the old estate, not making a single mistake.
Then he said, "You've already wasted the time of two cups of tea."
"This is the Tang clan. If I wanted to do something, I wouldn't need so much time."
Tang Thirty-Six stretched, and some dust came out from his clothes.
This stretch was so smooth that one could even hear the creaking of bones.
Then, he got up from the ground, patted the dust off his butt, and took out a palace armchair from the ancestral hall to sit on.
He was still unkempt and dirty, still covered in dust, but his eyes were no longer indifferent. They were extremely bright, even somewhat sharp.
There was no longer any sense of lifelessness. His body was brimming with vitality that had come from some unknown source.
The Tang clan's old Guardian narrowed his eyes at this sight.
"That monster from the Longevity Sect is called Chusu? What an arrogant name. I admire it. "
Tang Thirty-Six extended his hand and took a cup of tea from the mute servant. After taking a sip, he continued, "If he's already left Wenshui, where can I go to capture him?"
The old Guardian seemed to have thought of something, and his expression became rather strange. "From the first day he entered the city, the Old Master sent people to keep an eye on him. He can't leave."
"Then what need do I have to do?" Tang Thirty-Six dipped his index finger into the tea and flicked it at the densely packed memorial tablets behind him. "As for the second condition, it's very simple. Great Guardian, there's no need to worry about it. I naturally have a way to prove to the Old Master that Second Uncle is related to the demons."
The old Guardian expressionlessly asked, "Then what does Sir want to do now?"
"Call Seventh Uncle over, call Sixteenth Uncle over, and invite the Old Uncle of Jia 'er Alley over."
Tang Thirty-Six casually said, "It's been a long time since I've seen these relatives. You don't say, I really do miss them."
The old Guardian didn't know why he wanted to see these people or what it had to do with these two matters.
The people standing guard outside the ancestral hall also didn't know.
But the Tang Old Master had made it very clear that Tang Thirty-Six would be responsible for handling these two hours in Wenshui City.
Let alone these people, even if he wanted to call the entire clan to the ancestral hall, he would still have to do so.
Even though today's snow was rather heavy, no one dared to defy the Tang Old Master's will. It didn't take long for the three to arrive at the ancestral hall.
As they gazed at Tang Thirty-Six seated in the palace armchair, the three felt very complex emotions. They didn't know how to face him.
The Pope had come to Wenshui City, the gate to the ancestral hall had been opened, and they had heard that the Old Master had even given Tang Thirty-Six great authority. Just what did this mean?
Could it be that the chief branch, which was on the verge of losing power, was about to make a comeback?
"It's nothing else. The Old Master gave me a rare two hours of freedom and said that I could do whatever I wanted."
Tang Thirty-Six looked at them and said, "So I called the three of you over to play mahjong with me."
The three were rather shocked. They glanced at each other and then at the old Guardian.
Tang Thirty-Six looked at the old Guardian and said, "You can do anything, and that naturally includes playing mahjong?"
The old Guardian expressionlessly replied, "Yes."
The mahjong table was quickly prepared.
The jade-green jade and bamboo mahjong tiles were neatly arranged, very comfortable to look at.
"It's very pleasing to the eye, don't you agree, Seventh Uncle?"
Tang Thirty-Six used his finger to lightly stroke the back of the tiles and sighed, "I wonder what the scenery of the Bamboo Garden is like in this cold winter."
Including his Seventh Uncle, the other three people at the mahjong table only looked at the tiles in front of them, neither responding nor reacting. "
"Have the people of the Maple Hall go and take a look. Seal up the Bamboo Garden. Not a single scroll or person can be lost," Tang Thirty-Six said as he looked at the tiles.
The old Guardian said nothing. If one didn't look carefully, they wouldn't be able to tell. He gave a slight nod.
Countless stewards and subordinates of the old estate were waiting outside the ancestral hall, following them.
Upon hearing this, Seventh Uncle finally couldn't help but raise his head to glance at Tang Thirty-Six.
Tang Thirty-Six showed no reaction. Drawing a tile, he continued, "The Cloud Group goes to the Serene Residence. The River Hall goes to Hesi. I want a map of the Serene Residence and a bill for Hesi."
At this point, the remaining two people at the mahjong table finally raised their heads.
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