CHAPTER 713: CHAPTER 438: ALIVE! _3

"Not taking action was the right choice. Killing a sovereign in public... Our Shen Family couldn’t bear that stigma." Shen Wuxiang nodded in agreement and spoke out, "If you had truly done that, we would have lost the legitimacy to support Zhong Tianque’s ascent to power."

"Justice, sometimes it’s worthless. But at crucial moments, it’s priceless."

"I failed to complete the task Grandpa assigned to me and am willing to accept punishment." Shen Xinglan knew that his grandfather was trying to comfort him.

If it had been any other subordinate who failed to complete their assigned task, they would probably have been severely reprimanded by now.

"You have the qualities of an ancient gentleman, which is both your strength and your flaw."

Shen Wuxiang did not continue on Shen Xinglan’s topic, and as he looked at his grandson, he earnestly taught, "It’s a strength after success, a flaw before."

"Governing a nation requires benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, and keeping one’s word. However, founding a nation requires one to use any means necessary, to the extreme."

"If one cannot suppress one’s conscience, harden one’s heart, and be ruthlessly decisive... they cannot sit in that position."

"Grandpa, I understand," Shen Xinglan respectfully acknowledged the lesson.

"Let’s drop this matter for now."

"We’re not attacking?" Shen Xinglan asked in confusion.

"The situation at Lu Ban Mountain is already decided. With our reinforcements not yet arrived, Qin Jianyi and the Lu Clan pincered attack caused severe losses to the hundred thousand allied troops. Liu Zhishen and several generals were captured by them."

Shen Wuxiang’s voice was heavy.

Nothing could be done; the news was simply too dire.

The failure of this battle had already affected their overall strategic situation.

The Qin Family and Lu Clan joined forces for a major victory, and the siege at Lu Ban Mountain had been lifted.

Would other clans consider making their moves now?

Would those families or forces that had initially intended to align with the Shen Family reassess the value of both sides?

Difficult indeed!

"..."

Shen Xinglan felt equally heavy-hearted.

He knew, opportunities in war were fleeting.

If he could have captured the Phoenix Palace at the critical moment, then, even if they lost the battle at Lu Ban Mountain, they would still have the ability to control the overall situation.

Now with Lu Ban Mountain lost and the Phoenix Palace still in Tang Fei’s hands...

"Am I truly incompetent?"

For the first time, Shen Xinglan, always seen as a paragon, harbored such doubts in his heart.

The last attempt to assassinate Tang Fei ended with defeat at his hands.

This time, an attack on Phoenix Palace was thwarted by a poison strategy...

It could be said that his repeated failures had brought the Shen Family to this dire plight.

Originally, they had advantages everywhere.

Whether it was killing Tang Fei or breaking through the Phoenix Palace, both could have solidified the Shen Family’s control over the situation.

Unfortunately, such a pity.

"Don’t be too hard on yourself. The situation is still within our control," Shen Wuxiang understood what Shen Xinglan was thinking.

This child was meticulous and thoughtful, and consecutive failures had severely impacted his confidence.

That was not what Shen Wuxiang wanted to see.

"What’s next..." Shen Xinglan looked at Shen Wuxiang and asked, "What should we do?"

"Wait."

"Wait?"

"Wait for them to come to us for negotiations," Shen Wuxiang said.

"I understand," Shen Xinglan nodded.

"You’re also tired. Go rest for a while," Shen Wuxiang suggested.

Shen Xinglan nodded and prepared to find a nearby place to rest.

He would only disturb his grandfather’s work by staying here.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.

Turning around to look at Shen Wuxiang, he asked, "If, I mean if... Tang Fei faced this situation, what choice would he make?"

Shen Wuxiang shook his head and said, "Tang Fei wouldn’t need to make a choice."

"Why?"

"Because you couldn’t do what he would do," Shen Wuxiang bluntly said.

If Tang Fei and Shen Xinglan were in each other’s shoes, could Shen Xinglan push Zhong Daolong out as a scapegoat?

Setting aside his character, he couldn’t even get past his connection with Phoenix.

He and Phoenix had grown up together like childhood sweethearts, though their relationship had grown distant over time, even as Phoenix began seeing that boy with the surname Tang...

He couldn’t bear to do it.

Upon thinking this, he couldn’t help feeling that his grandson seemed a bit like a lovesick fool.

"..."

Shen Xinglan’s expression was blank.

------

"Really retreated?" Tang Fei asked aloud.

"They retreated," Yan Jinnian, who had been monitoring the situation, said, "The Fire God Army had already assembled, ready to attack from the main gate, but when they saw Zhong Daolong... they turned back."

Tang Fei gave a thumbs up to the old man, praising, "This strategy really worked."

"..." The old man.

"..." Yan Jinnian.

Ignoring their peculiar expressions, Tang Fei looked at the old man and asked, "What’s next?"

"Now that we have the bargaining chips, we can start negotiating with Shen Wuxiang."

"What’s our bottom line?"

"To survive," the old man answered without hesitation.

"..."