The inner hall is not far from the warm pavilion. When Xiao Jingqian appeared in the inner hall, he was already well-dressed. A man in his forties dressed in coarse cloth was waiting in the hall. When he saw Xiao Jingqian appear, he hurried forward and said respectfully: "Second Young Master!"

Xiao Jingqian looked at the man a few times, walked to the chair and sat down, and said, "You look very ill, are you in the mansion?"

The man hurriedly said, "The villain was taken to the mansion by Butler Liu half a year ago and worked in the warehouse. The second young master returned few times and didn't see much, so he might not remember the villain very much."

"Did Liu Chong send you here?"

"Yes." The man hurriedly said, "Second Young Master, for a hundred thousand urgent matters, the villain got the order of Butler Liu, and rushed over and delivered a letter to the Second Young Master."

"You said that Liu Chong sent you here, what did he give you?"

The man immediately took out something from his arms, but it was a string of Buddhist beads made of sandalwood. Xiao Jingqian saw the Buddhist beads, nodded and asked, "What letter did he ask you to send? What is the letter?"

"Butler Liu said that it is of great importance. You cannot write letters, you can only pass oral communication."

"Can't write a letter?" Xiao Jingqian frowned, "What happened?"

The man looked around and approached, lowered his voice and said, "Second Young Master, the master is critically ill!"

"Ah?" Xiao Jingqian suddenly stood up and said in a lost voice: "Father, he..."

The man hurriedly raised his finger to his mouth and reminded Xiao Jingqian not to speak loudly. Xiao Jingqian also knew that this matter was of great importance. He looked solemn and lowered his voice: "Tell me quickly, what's going on, what's going on, what's going on now?"

The man looked around, as if afraid of someone eavesdropping. Xiao Jingqian shook his head and said, "But it's okay, there will be no one here."

"Three days ago, the master suddenly fainted in the mansion. At that time, the eldest son, butler Liu and others were present, so he immediately invited the doctor. The doctor came to the mansion to treat the master. Why did he suddenly fainted? The doctor only told the eldest son, and even the wife didn't know." The man lowered his voice and said, "But Liu felt something was strange, so he secretly found the doctor and spent some money to ask about the master's situation. Butler Liu did not tell the villain what disease it was, but only said that the doctor told him that the master was afraid of being in danger this time."

Xiao Jingqian clenched his fists with both hands and said in a deep voice: "Will my father wake up now?"

"I haven't woken up yet, but the eldest son blocked the news and went to the mansions of several elders in the clan several times." The man whispered: "Butler Liu asked the villain to come and deliver the letter to the second son. If nothing unexpected happens, the eldest son is preparing to hide the news of the master's illness from the second son, and then secretly contact the elders in the clan. When the master... the master is in an accident, he will immediately take over as the head of the family."

Xiao Jingqian sneered: "The short-sighted guy, how can this family leader be occupied by someone like him? What else did Butler Liu say?"

"Butler Liu also said that the master doesn't know if he can wake up. If he can't wake up, the eldest son will definitely pass on the master's will, and he will definitely say that the master is going to make the eldest son the head of the family. The eldest son is now in secret contact with the elders of the clan, so he must have obtained their support." The man said in a deep voice: "He deliberately concealed the news of the master's illness, because he was afraid that the second son would go back to compete with him for the position of the head of the family. As long as the second son did not know the news, he ascended the position of the head of the family. When the second son knew the news, it would be too late."

"What a Xiao Jingsheng." Xiao Jingqian said angrily: "I thought I knew nothing outside, but I didn't know that Butler Liu had always been my eyes in the city." He patted the man's shoulder, "You did a good job, by the way, what's your name?"

"Little man Niu Qing!"

"Niu Qing, you have made a contribution this time. I will definitely be rewarded if I look back. Does Butler Liu say anything else?"

"But Mr. Liu said that the elders in the clan do not all support the eldest son. Many people actually support the second son. The second son is both civil and military, and has both virtue and talent. Only when the second son inherits the position of head of the family can the Xiao family prosper." Niu Qing said: "But if the second son is not in the palace and relies on the power of the eldest son, they dare not object."

"That idiot is determined to give the foundation of Beishan to Zhu Lingyue for free. He doesn't want to shine his family, but instead wants to be Zhu Lingyue's lackey." Xiao Jingqian sneered: "Although Zhu Lingyue is powerful, why should you be afraid of him? Our Xiao family may not be able to compete with Zhu Lingyue. If the position of the head of the family falls into the hands of that idiot, Beishan will soon become Zhu Lingyue's on-the-trade meal. Even if this young master is crushed to pieces, he will definitely not let that happen."

Niu Qing said: "Second Young Master, Mr. Liu said that the future of the Xiao family is entirely entrusted to the second son. Once the eldest son gets the position of head of the family, the Xiao family will be destroyed. Therefore, Mr. Liu ordered the villain to tell the second son that the master is seriously ill no matter what. There should be no delay, because... because the master's situation is unclear now, if the second son is too late to go back, I am afraid... I am afraid that everything will be too late."

Xiao Jingqian immediately said, "Yes, I'm going to rush back now. Niu Qing, you wait first. I'll entrust the affairs in my hand now, and then wait for a soldier to go back to the capital. I have the power of the soldiers in my hand. Let's see how that idiot fights me!"

"Second Young Master, you must not." Niu Qing hurriedly said, "Butler Liu repeatedly told the villain that he must persuade the second Young Master not to act irritably."

"Take anger?"

"Second Young Master, the current situation of the master is uncertain. Although he is seriously ill, he may not be able to wake up." Niu Qing said softly: "If the second young master leads his troops back and the master wakes up, how should the second young master explain to the master then? Could it be that the master know that the second young master is going to lead his troops back to compete for the position of the head of the family? Moreover, many elders in the clan praised the second young master and felt that the second young master was far better than the eldest young master. But if he really brought the troops back, I am afraid that the elders in the clan would also think that the second young master...!" But he did not continue.

Xiao Jingqian frowned and said, "It's okay to say it, I won't blame you if you say it wrong."

"Second Young Master, if you lead troops back, the elders will also feel that the second young master is holding a strong threat and seizing power by virtue. This is absolutely ineffective against the second young master." Niu Qing said solemnly: "The second young master wants to be the head of the family. If you want to convince the clan, you must conquer people with virtue. If you lead troops back, it will only damage the prestige of the second young master, which is definitely not the best strategy."

"Yes, yes." Xiao Jingqian suddenly realized: "Niu Qing, you are right, yes, you can't lead troops. If you really want to lead troops back, Xiao Jingsheng's idiot will definitely say that I seize power by power. Hehe, I will not give him a chance to be honest. This is what everyone hopes for as the head of the family. You must be convinced by virtue and be convinced by virtue...!" He patted Niu Qing's shoulder and sighed: "Niu Qing, I didn't expect you to have such insights. You are really a talent. Don't worry, when I get the position of the head of the family, I will definitely use you well."

"The villain thanked the second young master." Niu Qing said gratefully.

"What should you do according to your opinion?"

"Butler Liu has already thought of a countermeasure." Niu Qing said softly: "Second Master, don't make a big fuss. Don't reveal the condition of the master to others. Whether it is Zhu Lingyue from Tianshan or Chu Huan from Xiguan, your eyes are all staring at our Beishan. If they know that the master is seriously ill, they will cause great trouble. So the fewer people know about this news, the better."

Xiao Jingqian thoughtfully and nodded, "You are right."

"The second young master should rush back to the city overnight." Niu Qing said seriously: "The second young master is only more than one hundred miles away from this place. The second young master is quick to rush back to the city. You should set off now. You should be able to rush back to the city before dawn. The second young master doesn't have to do anything more. As long as you go back and see the master and stay by the master's side, the eldest young master will have no choice. The master has always appreciated the second young master. As long as the master can wake up, he will definitely hand over the position of the head of the family to the second young master. Even if the master cannot wake up, as long as the second young master is in the city, the elders who support the second young master will dare to stand up and support the second young master... As long as the army is at a last resort, it will be no longer too late for the second young master!"

Xiao Jingqian naturally understood the meaning. If he received the support of the elders in the clan and finally seized the position of head of the family, then everyone would naturally be happy. However, if more people support Xiao Jingsheng and were finally gaining the advantage by Xiao Jingsheng, it would be a last resort. At that time, there would be no need to care about prestige. He would inevitably mobilize troops and seize power by relying on his power.

Xiao Jingsheng understood very well that what he wanted to seize was not just the position of a head of a family. Only by gaining the position of a head of a family can he be qualified to inherit Xiao Huanzhang's power and become the governor of Beishan Road, with great power.

The position of governor of Beishan Road is different from the past. If it were the past, after Xiao Huanzhang's death, he would have to be appointed by the court and sent another official to the post.

But now the court cannot control the northwest, and the Xiao family cannot watch the power being taken away and let others take the position of the governor of Beishan. The Xiao family is deeply rooted in Beishan, and both money, grain and troops are firmly in the hands of their clan. The gentry and wealthy families in Beishan are also under the Xiao family. If Xiao Huanzhang died of illness and the position of governor is vacant, it is natural that all the officials in Beishan will submit a memorial to the court and collectively recommend Xiao Huanzhang's descendants to succeed the governor.

This is just a skill in the scene. After all, the Xiao family does not want to be easily charged with treason.

The Xiao family is already deeply rooted in Beishan and is difficult to shake. If the court follows the flow, then both sides will be happy and the court continues to live his life. The Xiao family will continue to be a minister of the Qin Dynasty on the surface. However, once the court really wants to send another official, there are many ways for the Xiao family to choose. Although one sent officials can be killed, even if they do not take their lives, all the money, food, and the officials sent have no place to stand.

And the even more broken-out path is naturally a direct rebellion. Now there are rebellious forces everywhere in the world. Even if the Xiao family rebelled, the court would not be able to conquer.

However, unless it is absolutely necessary, the Xiao family will not take this path. Just like Zhu Lingyue, everyone knows that he has become a powerful force in the northwest, and even more so that this person is determined to be the whole northwest, but as long as he does not put forward a banner, he will still be a good minister of the court.
Chapter completed!