HUS Chapter 23: The Clan Head's Considerations
HUS Chapter 23: The Clan Head's Considerations
Dec 11, 2025
Early the next morning, in the Yu family's ancestral hall on Phoenix Mountain, a grand ancestral ceremony was held.
Through this ceremony, Yu Chenglin's status as heir was officially established.
Only the absence of anyone from the Yu family's eldest branch second line made this grand occasion somewhat less than perfect.
After the solemn and grand ceremony, people from the various branches and lines of the Yu family descended the mountain one after another. The ancestral hall immediately became quiet.
Yu Xinglong had Yu Chenglin offer incense to his elder brother Yu Chengye. Taking his hand, father and son slowly walked out of the ancestral hall.
In a corner of the courtyard stood an ancient and weathered old tree. During yesterday's thunderstorm, this old tree, long hollowed out by insects and worms, had finally fallen. However, this tree required three people to embrace it. Because it was so massive, it hadn't yet been cleared and hauled away.
Yu Xinglong looked at that fallen behemoth and said to Yu Chenglin, "My son, from today on, you are the heir of the Yu family. When the day comes that your father is gone, you will be the head of our Yu family."
Yu Chenglin held his father's hand and felt that his father's hand was as cold as freshly drawn well water.
"Father, why make me the heir? I've heard some cousin brothers say I'm too young and shouldn't be the heir."
Yu Xinglong smiled faintly and looked down at him, "Chenglin, this is what your elder brother won for you with his life. It can only belong to you!"
Yu Chenglin pressed his lips together and said hesitantly, "But can your child truly be a good clan head? Will the uncles listen to your child?"
Yu Xinglong said, "That's why you must work harder than before. Study diligently, practice martial arts well, and in the future surpass your elder brother. Then you can become a qualified family head."
Yu Xinglong let out a long sigh and said slowly, "Our Yu clan established itself in Tianshui nearly three hundred years ago. For three hundred years, we've experienced countless storms yet still maintained this glorious ancestral heritage. Among this, naturally there's been the unrelenting struggle of our Yu family's ancestors through the generations, but orderly succession is also an important reason."
Yu Xinglong pointed to that fallen old tree and said, "Look at this old tree. Before our Yu family built this estate, it was already here. For it to grow this thick took at least five hundred years. But for it to fall required only one night of wind and rain!"
Yu Xinglong stroked his son's head and said in a low voice, "Chenglin, you must remember, establish the legitimate, establish the eldest! Power must be firmly grasped in the legitimate branch's hands. If your father made your second uncle's son the heir today, once this precedent is set, wouldn't everyone have a chance in the future? Once there are no rules, great chaos will ensue!"
Seven-year-old Yu Chenglin looked up at his father, only half-understanding his father's words.
Yu Xinglong said, "Your second uncle is an ambitious man. Actually, if he became clan head, he should do better than your father. However, that 'better' would only last our generation. The disasters it would bring would be endless for generations to come."
Yu Xinglong gently shook his head, "No, we don't need generations. If we did that, perhaps within three generations, our Yu clan would fall apart and become meat on others' chopping blocks."
Yu Chenglin couldn't understand such profound words, but he tried hard to remember everything his father said.
He thought that not understanding now didn't matter. As long as he remembered, one day he would comprehend.
Yu Xinglong said gently to Yu Chenglin, "So, Chenglin, you may not be the most outstanding descendant of our Yu family. But you are the most suitable. Understand?"
Yu Chenglin nodded vigorously.
Yu Xinglong smiled slightly and looked up at the white clouds in the sky outside the courtyard. His gaze suddenly became distant.
"Chenglin, your elder brother and sister-in-law consummated their marriage on the road back to Tianshui. Counting the time, in a few more days, a skilled physician will be able to tell if she's pregnant. If your sister-in-law is truly pregnant, you'll soon become a little uncle."
Hearing this, Yu Chenglin's eyes immediately showed excited joy.
He was still young. Becoming an elder gave him an inexplicable happiness and anticipation.
Yu Xinglong's eyes became somewhat strange. He suddenly asked Yu Chenglin seriously, "Chenglin, do you think your elder brother and sister-in-law truly consummated their marriage?"
Yu Chenglin didn't quite understand what consummating marriage meant. Probably just sleeping in the same room?
In his mind, sister-in-law was elder brother's wife. Wasn't it normal for them to sleep together?
Therefore, Yu Chenglin answered seriously, "It should be true. Sister-in-law is so beautiful."
Yu Xinglong laughed in spite of himself, "How old are you, kid? What do you know about beauty or ugliness?"
Yu Chenglin said indignantly, "I do understand! Sister-in-law is beautiful. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
"Haha... ahem, cough cough..." Yu Xinglong laughed heartily until tears came.
He took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of his eyes, saying to Yu Chenglin, "Go, return now. Don't miss your lessons."
Yu Chenglin obediently agreed and properly walked to the courtyard entrance. Only after descending the steps did he lift his robe hem and run off.
Watching his son's receding figure, Yu Xinglong let out a long breath and murmured to himself, "Chengye, if you have a spirit in heaven, protect your younger brother so everything goes smoothly and safely. Protect our Yu clan's foundation to prosper for generations."
...
When Yu Xinglong returned to his study, Yang Can had already been waiting for quite some time.
He had been summoned by someone sent by Butler Deng. When he arrived at the study, the heir establishment ceremony at the ancestral hall was still in progress.
Yu Xinglong entered the study and had someone bring Yang Can in. Just as Yang Can finished greeting Yu Xinglong, Yu Xinglong suddenly asked, "Yang Can, when did you become Huanhu's man?"
Yang Can was stunned and said blankly, "What?"
Yu Xinglong and Butler Deng standing at his side had been carefully watching Yang Can since he entered, observing all his reactions.
Even the most skilled at disguising would inevitably have some subconscious reaction when their heart's secret was suddenly exposed but Yang Can had absolutely none.
Yu Xinglong said, "If you're not Huanhu's man, why did you work so hard to exonerate him in Mingde Hall?"
Yang Can suddenly understood and hurriedly explained, "The clan head misunderstands! This subordinate wasn't speaking up for Second Master!"
Yu Xinglong looked calmly at Yang Can. He was waiting for a reasonable explanation.
Yang Can said, "Clan head, the young master's death is shrouded in mystery. Without ironclad evidence, Second Master cannot be convicted."
Yu Xinglong said, "But it also doesn't wash away his suspicion, does it?"
"That's true, but now, has Second Master cleared his suspicion?"
"Whether or not he's cleared his suspicion, what's your reason for speaking on his behalf?"
"This subordinate wasn't speaking for Second Master. This subordinate was only providing the clan head with an excuse to guard against the Suo family."
Yu Xinglong's expression darkened slightly, and his voice grew cold, "Yang Can, what do you mean by this?"
"Clan head, the young master considered this subordinate a confidant and often revealed his inner concerns to me. The clan head position is a throne Second Master dreams of. And our Yu family's fertile lands are a target the Suo clan covets. The clan head faces both internal troubles and external threats. The young master felt this keenly, worrying day and night. This subordinate wished he could take his place."
Yang Can spoke very emotionally, "The young master was unfortunately killed. This subordinate hasn't yet been able to repay his patronage. Only by serving the clan head wholeheartedly can I be worthy of the young master's trust."
After a moment of silence, Yu Xinglong slightly narrowed his eyes, "So you insist the Suo family is suspect because you don't want me to be taken advantage of by the Suo family?"
"Precisely! No matter what this subordinate says, Second Master cannot clear his suspicion, and the clan head, thinking of the big picture, won't put him to death anyway. Therefore, no matter what this subordinate says or does, it won't actually affect the clan head's plans for Second Master. However, with this subordinate's accusation, the clan head now has a reason he can bring up at any time to leverage against the Suo family."
Yang Can added, "What this subordinate says, the clan head may believe or not believe. The clan head can believe it now or believe it later. This is this subordinate's reason for accusing the Suo family."
Yu Xinglong's eyes slightly contracted.
Whether his son Yu Chengye had told Yang Can about the complex relationship between the Yu and Suo families, mutually using yet mutually guarding against each other—Yu Xinglong wasn't clear but even if his son truly considered Yang Can a confidant and told him these things, for Yang Can to think from this angle after his son's death and come up with such a method...
Whether this person truly felt grateful for his son's patronage or hoped to use this as a stepping stone for advancement, this person's scheming couldn't be underestimated.
After pondering for a moment, Yu Xinglong suddenly asked, "You're not from Longshang but came from the Central Plains?"
"Yes!"
"Why did you leave the Central Plains?"
"Because..."
Yang Can hesitated slightly before lowering his head and saying quietly, "This subordinate was originally a poor scholar. I was fortunate to see the eldest daughter of the Luo family from Jiangnan who had come to worship Buddha at a monastery. This Yang fell in love at first sight with Miss Luo and we pledged ourselves to each other. However, when the Luo family found out, they sent thugs to kill this subordinate's entire family. Only this subordinate barely escaped..."
Speaking to this point, Yang Can's voice carried a choking quality, as if he couldn't continue.
Yu Xinglong immediately understood.
Central Plains clans were most proud of their status and bloodline. If a lowborn person tried to climb up through marriage to a clan, they would be severely stopped.
Those clans usually wouldn't apply too much pressure on their own children. They had simpler, more direct, and more effective methods.
That was to make this person who didn't know his place and tried to climb the social ladder disappear, even their entire family.
Yu Xinglong nodded and asked again, "Was your original name Yang Can?"
Yang Can said, "I dare not deceive the clan head. This small one's original name was... Ding Hao!"
Yu Xinglong hummed and said, "Now that you're under my command, the Luo family of Jiangnan can't harm you. You can change back to your original name."
Yang Can said emotionally, "Thank you, clan head. But this subordinate swore an oath that until I can avenge my parents and family, I won't restore the name my parents gave me!"
Yu Xinglong showed a trace of appreciation and praised, "That you can have such determination is very rare. You may withdraw."
"Yes! This subordinate takes his leave." Yang Can bowed to Yu Xinglong and withdrew from the study.
Yu Xinglong leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to contemplate for a while, then said slowly, "Little Deng, what do you think of this Yang Can?"
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