"I heard that Quan An, my younger brother, is about to get married. I've recorded this video to offer my congratulations. I wish my brother a long and happy life together, with hearts united like mandarin ducks, and a bright future for both his and his bride's families."
The video was very short, and the person in it had a cold expression, showing none of the joy expected in a congratulatory message.
However, none of that mattered!
What mattered was the identity of the person in the video, and the phrase "Quan An, my younger brother"!
This person actually called Hu Quan An his brother?
How could that be!
When did Hu Quan An find such a powerful backer?
After all, Hu Quan An had stayed in Jianghai City for years and didn't reside in Yan Jing regularly.
Moreover, Hu Quan An was only the grandnephew of Old Master Hu, not his direct grandson, so his presence was rather low.
Few people in the Hu family ever took Hu Quan An seriously.
Who would have thought that Hu Quan An, without making a sound, had accomplished something so significant?
He had acknowledged the most prominent young master in Yan Jing as his elder brother?
That was the universally acknowledged number one young master in all of Yan Jing!
In terms of family background, character, and looks, he was first-rate!
No matter how one looked at it, such a person should have no connection with Hu Quan An, yet it had happened!
"Hu Quan An, is this video photoshopped?" someone tentatively asked.
Hu Quan An chuckled, "Photoshopped? Let me ask you, who in all of Yan Jing dares to do such a thing! If this were to get out, would I still want to live?"
Everyone fell silent.
Indeed, if the foremost young master found out about this, Hu Quan An would likely be at the bottom of the sea within a day!
And it would be in a way that no one would dare to investigate or pursue afterwards!
"Furthermore..." Hu Quan An added. "The video can be faked, but the wedding gift can't, can it? Tomorrow morning, you'll see if my elder brother comes to deliver the gift, and that will settle it!"
"What?" Several members of the Hu family exclaimed in unison.
It wasn't enough that the foremost young master recorded a congratulatory video; he was even going to send a wedding gift?
While the likelihood of the foremost young master personally attending was slim, even if he merely sent a subordinate to deliver the gift, the honor and prestige would be enough to shock the entire Yan Jing!
Instantly, jealousy and resentment filled the eyes of several Hu family members.
Jealousy was easy to understand. The resentment stemmed from the fact that Hu Quan An, who previously had no standing in the Hu family, now had his status skyrocket!
One must remember that this was a crucial moment for the Hu family. Old Master Hu was on his deathbed, and doctors predicted he had only two more days to live.
It could be said that although Old Master Hu was not yet dead, the covert struggle for succession had already begun.
Whoever could seize the position of the legitimate heir would be equivalent to becoming the crown prince in an ancient dynasty; as soon as the emperor passed away, they could immediately ascend the throne.
Previously, it was only the few members of the Hu family contending amongst themselves, but now, Hu Quan An had suddenly joined the fray!
And Hu Quan An had the support of the foremost young master behind him. If the foremost young master explicitly endorsed Hu Quan An as the new head of the Hu family, then everyone else would have to obediently step aside!
The power of the foremost young master was that immense!
A single word could influence the succession of a family's leadership!
"There are still four hours until dawn. You should all hurry and get some sleep! Do not delay my wedding, and most importantly, do not delay the ritual to bring good fortune to my granduncle. Otherwise, if anything unfortunate happens to him, the blame will fall upon you."
Hu Quan An said with a hidden menace in his smile.
"By the way, you used to like staying out until midnight and not returning home at night. I wouldn't interfere with that; but from now on, such behavior must cease. I don't want people saying our Hu family has improper conduct. Do you understand?"
After speaking, Hu Quan An turned and left without waiting for their response.
The several Hu family members watched Hu Quan An's retreating back, their anger surging, their faces contorted with extreme displeasure.
"Pah! The old man isn't even dead yet! And he thinks he's the family head?"
"That dog who relies on its master's influence! He just latched onto the foremost young master's leg! What kind of foremost young master is he? When our old master was hale and hearty, why didn't he butt into our family affairs? He's just bullying our Hu family because we seem to have no one strong! As long as we brothers are united, we can tell that foremost young master to get lost! Am I right, brothers?"
However, these words received no response.
"Uh, I drank a bit too much today, so I'm going back to my room to sleep."
"I'm also feeling a bit dizzy. I need to go back and sober up. I have to get up early for the wedding!"
"Right, right, bringing good fortune to the old master is the important thing. Everyone should go to sleep quickly, don't miss the main event!"
In the blink of an eye, the several Hu family members scattered like startled birds.
The one who had rallied them to oppose the foremost young master was left standing alone.
After a long while, he also left dejectedly.
As he walked, he shouted, "Hey, my dear brothers, I was just talking nonsense while drunk. Just pretend you didn't hear anything, and absolutely don't mention it to anyone..."
...
In Old Master Hu's hospital room.
Old Master Hu lay on the hospital bed, his breath faint.
His complexion could no longer be described as pale; it was a sickly yellow, like faded gold paper.
Experienced physicians, upon seeing such a complexion, would immediately instruct the family to prepare for the funeral.
This indicated that the patient was beyond saving, and even divine intervention would be futile.
The entire room bore no resemblance to a hospital room. Instead, from the bedsheets to the canopy, everything was a deep red.
Even Old Master Hu's pillow had been replaced with a red one.
At the head of the bed, a design resembling both a "囍" (double happiness) character and a Taoist talisman was affixed.
At the foot of the bed, bean-sized particles were scattered, extending all the way outside.
It seemed Hu Quan An genuinely intended to perform the ritual to bring good fortune to Old Master Hu, hoping for his condition to improve quickly.
"Granduncle, I've come to see you." Hu Quan An appeared like a soul collector, silently materializing beside Old Master Hu's bed, and spoke in a drawn-out voice.
Old Master Hu's eyelids twitched, as if he were particularly resistant to Hu Quan An's presence.
"Granduncle, are you very disappointed? You intended to trade your life for mine, but I'm fine, and you're dying!"
"I admit, you were very powerful and influential when you were alive, and even the foremost young master had to show you some respect. But unfortunately, you're dying! The respect of a dead person is worth nothing!"
"So, from now on, the Hu family is my dominion. Where I say the Hu family goes, it goes. Even if I wanted to squander the entire Hu family, no one would be able to stop me!"
"This feeling is truly wonderful! Hahahaha..."
Hu Quan An laughed triumphantly.
On the hospital bed, Old Master Hu was so enraged that his body convulsed repeatedly, and he directly spat out a mouthful of blood!
"Oh, why are you so agitated? You didn't get agitated when you sent me to prison, but a few words from me have made you angry?"
"This is a typical case of not being able to play fair! It's not good for you to be like this..."
"Alright, I'll stop here! Otherwise, if you kick the bucket later, how will the ritual to bring good fortune be performed? Speaking of which, I truly am a filial descendant!"
Hu Quan An gently patted Old Master Hu's cheek, then picked up a pillow towel and haphazardly wiped the corner of Old Master Hu's mouth.
He then turned and left.
Old Master Hu was left alone on the hospital bed, his throat emitting a "heh-heh" sound.
Clearly, he was extremely angry, yet utterly helpless.