Chapter 28: The Conspiracy of the Four Great Families

Guided by Ye Shihan's directions, Ye Kai slowly drove the car up the mountainside of Cloud Top. Then, under the stunned gazes of Ye Kai and Liu Xiangqin, Ye Shihan led them into the villa. Gazing at the hall’s decor—simple yet dignified—Ye Kai was deeply astonished.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu and Taishui sat on the sofa, watching the two with indifferent expressions, betraying no emotion whatsoever. At Ye Shihan’s invitation, Ye Kai and his wife sat down as well, though their faces still reflected profound shock.

Xiao Yu knew they had come to see Ye Shihan for a reason, so he signaled Taishui, and the two of them rose and went upstairs, leaving the three with ample privacy.

It turned out Ye Kai and his wife had come to ask Ye Shihan to arrange a position for Ye Kai within the project. This put Ye Shihan in a difficult position—not because of Ye Kai’s abilities, but because she did not wish to invite gossip or accusations of favoritism.

After the couple stated their request, Ye Shihan refused them without hesitation. This angered Ye Kai and Liu Xiangqin so much that they left in a huff. Watching her parents storm out, Ye Shihan could only sigh helplessly, but she did not compromise her principles.

Upstairs, Xiao Yu and Taishui had been quietly observing the exchange. When they saw how firmly Ye Shihan refused, both men were visibly surprised.

"Big Brother, I never expected Sister-in-law to have such integrity. With her character, it won’t be long before her reputation in Phoenix City soars," Taishui remarked with admiration.

Xiao Yu merely smiled and nodded, saying nothing.

"Big Brother, now that Sister-in-law is in charge of the Ye family and the project is settled, what should we do next?" Taishui asked, turning to Xiao Yu.

"We are far from the end," Xiao Yu replied calmly. "The project may be decided for now, but do you really think the families of Phoenix City will let her execute it smoothly?"

Taishui immediately realized the implications. The project Huayi Group was developing was so lucrative it invited envy from all sides. If Ye Shihan truly managed to see it through, the Ye family’s power would increase dramatically, inevitably threatening other families in Phoenix City—including the city’s Four Great Clans.

These families would surely devise ways to hinder the project’s progress. If it failed, Huayi Group would hold the Ye family accountable, and at that point, the other families could preserve their own positions or even profit from the Ye family’s misfortune. Why wouldn’t they?

"Have Jiang Qin keep a close eye on the movements of Phoenix City’s most powerful families during this period," Xiao Yu said, his voice calm. "If they really unite against the Ye family, inform us immediately so we have time to prepare."

Taishui nodded, replying, "Understood, Big Brother. If these people are truly so blind to reason, then perhaps it’s time Phoenix City saw a change."

Xiao Yu’s concerns were well founded. At that very moment, in another grand hall of the Cloud Top Villa, four elders were gathered, all with furrowed brows, deep in thought.

This was the villa of the Wang family, the most powerful of Phoenix City’s Four Great Clans. Those gathered were none other than the heads of these families.

"What are your thoughts?" The man seated at the head of the table, clad in a gray traditional suit, finally broke the silence. His name was Wang Bolin, current patriarch of the Wang family.

The others turned to him but remained silent, unable to make up their minds about his earlier proposal.

Only half an hour earlier, these men had all left the banquet hosted by Ye Shihan and returned to their respective homes, only to be summoned again by Wang Bolin for an urgent discussion.

Despite all belonging to the Four Great Clans, there were still differences in strength among them, and the Wang family stood above the rest. Naturally, the others dared not ignore Wang Bolin’s invitation, and all rushed to his home.

When they arrived, Wang Bolin immediately shared his concerns about Ye Shihan securing the Huayi Group project. As expected, his reason for calling them together was fear that Ye Shihan’s success would threaten their own standing.

The other three heads nodded in agreement. For centuries, the Four Great Clans had been unchallenged in Phoenix City. But now, the Ye family had secured ties with Huayi Group, whose behind-the-scenes owner hailed from one of the Seven Lesser Clans of Yanjing—a power well beyond anything the Four Great Clans could match.

"Are we really going to do this?" Chen Qiang, head of the Chen family, dressed in a black traditional robe, frowned, still weighing the gravity of the matter.

"Hmph! One cannot catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s den. Don’t tell me you’re not tempted by the profits this project will bring," Zhang Chen, head of the Zhang family, sneered, clearly looking down on Chen Qiang’s hesitation. "Great deeds require boldness."

Of all those present, only Zhou Binglong remained silent, head bowed and brow deeply furrowed in thought.

"The launch of this project seems imminent for the Ye family, and time is running out for us," Wang Bolin said, his expression cold. "Tonight, decide: will you stand by and watch the Ye family surpass us, or shall we strike first?"

As Wang Bolin finished, Zhang Chen immediately voiced his support, and after a moment’s hesitation, Chen Qiang also nodded in agreement.