HUS Chapter 21: The Tongue of Zhang Yi
Dec 11, 2025
Second Master Suo grew angrier the more he listened. Suddenly he slammed the table heavily and rose in fury, "Bullshit! This is simply far-fetched nonsense! Yang, were you bought off by Yu Huanhu? Or perhaps... you were Yu Huanhu's man all along? Could it be that the insider who colluded and conspired, tipping off information and harming the Yu family's heir, was you?"
Second Master Suo's whiskers bristled, his eyes showing killing intent. As he spoke, he advanced toward Yang Can.
Seeing this, Suo Zhanzhi immediately became anxious. Second Uncle had formidable external martial arts skills. If he struck without restraint...
Suo Zhanzhi hurriedly rose from her chair and quickly inserted herself between Suo Hong and Yang Can.
"Second Uncle, don't be upset. Let Zhizhi question him."
Suo Zhanzhi blocked Suo Hong and slowly walked toward Yang Can.
At this moment, Suo Zhanzhi in her plain robes was like an apricot blossom on a branch after rain—pure, graceful, and restrained.
"Master Yang."
"Young mistress."
"Could Master Yang be suggesting that this humble wife killed her late husband?"
Yang Can shook his head, "Young mistress, this subordinate believes that regarding the young master's death, the Suo family has major suspicion. However, although you, young mistress, are a Suo family member, the Suo family isn't only you."
Suo Hong said angrily, "Then who exactly is the Suo family person you speak of? Could it be me?"
"Second Uncle!"
Suo Zhanzhi frowned and called out lightly, stopping Suo Hong, then turned back to Yang Can, "Master Yang says my Suo family has major suspicion. What is your basis?"
Yang Can said, "When two families marry, the man takes a wife, the woman marries. Returning from fetching the bride, the husband's family should naturally take charge. But throughout this journey, Nanny Tu overstepped her bounds in everything, making all decisions with a single word. And my young master lost his life rashly precisely because of this."
Suo Zhanzhi said, "That can only prove that Nanny Tu was careless and negligent, with poor arrangements that were taken advantage of. How can this implicate my Suo family as having ulterior motives?"
Suo Hong said loudly, "That's right. That old woman Tu was also killed. Are you still going to throw dirt on her?"
Yang Can said, "If Nanny Tu hadn't died, I would instead feel I was being overly suspicious. Precisely because Nanny Tu died, and died quite strangely, I feel there must be Suo family involvement."
Suo Hong flew into a rage and wanted to rush forward to slap this slanderous little thief to death with one palm.
Suo Zhanzhi hurriedly blocked Suo Hong again.
Yu Xinglong said, "Second Master Suo, calm your anger. Yu naturally wouldn't suspect your Suo family. But my son was killed, and there are various theories with many unclear suspicious points. It's better to let him explain everything clearly in public."
Suo Hong glanced coldly at Yu Xinglong and slowly sat back down, saying with sarcasm, "Fine. After all, my Suo family's daughter became a 'roadside widow' for nothing because of your Yu family! Even if you don't pursue this matter, my Suo family won't let it rest easily. Naturally it must be investigated thoroughly and clearly."
Yu Xinglong glanced at Yang Can and said in a deep voice, "Continue."
Yang Can bowed slightly, "Yes."
Yang Can looked at Suo Zhanzhi and said seriously, "The bandits attacked suddenly for the purpose of valuables. But that day, those bandits bypassed the valuables and went straight for the camp center. After they shot and killed the young master with one arrow, they immediately sought to break through. Isn't this suspicious? This shows they were not only familiar with our camp layout but also recognized my young master. Their purpose in coming was for my young master. Making off with some valuables while escaping was only to deceive others. At the same time, even though the camp guards were caught unprepared, with only about a hundred cavalry bandits, if there was no inside accomplice going easy on them, they couldn't have so easily penetrated to the camp center."
Suo Zhanzhi said, "Even if there was an inside accomplice, how can you be certain this accomplice was from my Suo family?"
Yang Can said, "Our Yu family guards were responsible for outer perimeter defense. When bandits attacked suddenly, our outer defense couldn't be deployed in time. But what about the inner perimeter your Suo family was responsible for? When bandits attacked and left one survivor, this isn't surprising. What's surprising is that this very survivor supposedly knows who the mastermind behind this matter is. May I ask, if this matter was truly instigated by our Yu family's Second Master, would he let a group of bandits clearly know he was the instigator? Precisely because of this accusation, it instead becomes difficult to justify."
Yu Huanhu slightly narrowed his eyes. His gaze toward Yang Can showed increasing appreciation.
Suo Zhanzhi said coldly, "You still haven't explained why, precisely because Nanny Tu died, my Suo family is instead more suspicious."
Yang Can said, "If we say that the sole survivor just happened to know who the mastermind was, this still isn't extremely suspicious then Nanny Tu's death can further prove it."
Suo Zhanzhi's willow brows raised as she questioned, "How so?"
Yang Can said, "I believe that when the young master was attacked, the one who tipped off the bandits, created the opportunity, and used the bandits' hands to kill the young master was Nanny Tu. Therefore, when I told Steward Yi that your Suo family had much to do with the young master's death, Nanny Tu was silenced."
Hearing his name mentioned, Yi She's heart immediately jumped with alarm, fearing being dragged into the water again.
Fortunately, Second Master Suo had already burst out laughing, "Hahaha, simply absurd! I ask you, what benefit would my Suo family gain from doing this?"
Yang Can cupped his hands, "May I ask Second Master Suo, what benefit would our Yu family's Second Master gain from killing the young master?"
"Need you ask? Your Yu family's eldest branch main line and second line struggle, who in all of Longshang doesn't know? He doesn't want the eldest branch main line to grow stronger through marriage alliance with our Suo family!"
Yang Can nodded and said calmly, "Second Master Suo makes an excellent point then does Second Master Suo think that in your Suo family, is there anyone..."
Yang Can looked at Suo Zhanzhi again, "In your Suo family, is there anyone who doesn't want the young mistress's branch to grow stronger through marriage alliance with our Yu family?"
As soon as these words came out, all of Mingde Hall suddenly became terrifyingly quiet.
All along, everyone had felt Yang Can's "accusations" were very laughable.
Even Steward Yi had only pulled him out with gritted teeth to save himself.
No one believed Yang Can's words, only because... the Suo family had absolutely no motive to kill Yu Chengye but no one expected Yang Can to have such a unique perspective.
The Suo family's motive for murder suddenly existed!
Silence. Complete silence.
The Yu family wasn't a monolithic bloc. Could the Suo family be one?
Never mind a great family passed down for generations upon generations. Even among ordinary common households with just two or three children, wouldn't they fight bloody battles over inheritance?
The Suo family was even larger than the Yu family. Were the Suo family's various branches that harmonious?
Wasn't there a single branch that couldn't bear to see Suo Zhanzhi's branch prosper?
Or even had competing interests with them?
As soon as Yang Can spoke these words, Yu Huanhu was instantly no longer the sole suspect universally condemned.
Yu Huanhu looked at Yang Can with eyes showing increasingly rich appreciation, even carrying a hint of affection.
Yang Can's voice slowed down, but with Mingde Hall now silent as death, everyone still heard clearly.
"Clan head, Second Master Suo, all branch heads and elders, please think, could that captured bandit survivor possibly be a death warrior thrown out by the true mastermind to bite others?"
Though this statement was quiet, to Yu Xinglong's ears it was no less than thunder on level ground.
Even with Yu Xinglong's deep composure, his expression couldn't help but change. However, this was only his guilty conscience. In fact, no one suspected him because of Yang Can's words.
It was truly because the one who died was his own son, moreover the son he relied on most and had painstakingly cultivated since childhood.
Yu Huanhu's eyes flashed. He seized the opportunity and stood up.
He first laughed bitterly toward the sky, then feigned righteous indignation and said loudly, "My elder brother has a calm temperament while I, Yu Huanhu, have an aggressive nature. Therefore, in managing family enterprises, Huanhu and elder brother often have disagreements. However, though we brothers have some disputes, to say that Huanhu coveted the clan head position so much that I went mad enough to murder my own nephew, this is absolutely impossible."
Yu Huanhu slowly raised three fingers to heaven, his eyes reddening as he swore a poisonous oath, "If nephew Chengye was killed at my, Yu Huanhu's, instigation, both heaven and men will condemn me! I, Yu Huanhu, will die without a burial place. After death, I will become a wandering ghost, never entering the ancestral hall."
With Yang Can's words and Yu Huanhu's oath, people's thoughts wavered even more.
Could it be we truly misjudged? This matter has nothing to do with Yu Huanhu?
Seeing this, Yu Xinglong had to stand up, "Second brother, don't be agitated. How can you swear such a poisonous oath! Elder brother... naturally trusts you."
Yu Huanhu didn't accept his consolation. Striking while the iron was hot, he continued counterattacking, "Since that bandit insists I, Yu Huanhu, killed my nephew, elder brother, then kill me! Nephew Chengye hasn't gone far on the road to the Yellow Springs. I, his second uncle, can accompany him on the journey."
Yu Xinglong said angrily, "Huanhu, don't speak nonsense. When did elder brother say you were the murderer? Only because this matter has various theories and you, second brother, became a suspect, if this matter spreads, will it only ruin your reputation alone? Therefore, elder brother must act cautiously. Elder brother only wants to investigate this matter clearly to restore your innocence!"
If possible, Yu Xinglong wished he could immediately chop Yu Huanhu to pieces.
Phoenix Mountain Manor was his territory. If he truly wanted to kill Yu Huanhu, Yu Huanhu really couldn't escape even with wings but killing Yu Huanhu alone wouldn't solve the problem at all!
The eldest branch's second line had already gained momentum. When Yu Huanhu came to Phoenix Mountain this time, he left his eldest son Yu Rui to guard their base in Dailai City.
If Yu Xinglong killed Yu Huanhu, Yu Rui stationed in Dailai City would immediately rebel.
Once the Yu family's eldest branch main line and second line fought, the other seven clans would pounce like a flock of vultures. The Yu family's nearly three-hundred-year foundation would be wasted as a wedding dress for others.
Yu Huanhu also knew his elder brother was indecisive. As clan head bearing responsibility for the entire Yu clan, he absolutely didn't dare bear the serious consequences of rashly killing him. However, what he worried about wasn't that his elder brother would kill him, but rather...
Now that he finally had an opportunity, how could Yu Huanhu not seize it?
Yu Huanhu immediately said, "Elder brother, Second Master Suo keeps saying I, Yu Huanhu, harbor treacherous intentions because I covet the clan head position. Little does he know that Huanhu only feels sorry that elder brother's health is frail and wants to share elder brother's burdens. My sincere heart is actually suspected like this. So be it, so be it! Since it's like this, then today, Huanhu will publicly clarify my aspirations!"
Yu Huanhu's eyes were bloodshot, his lips trembling.
Elder brother could act. How could he not? Just act then.