Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains
Chapter 937 - 937: 407. Strive for time, Hexi Grand Banquet

New Yu Era, Year 1332, November Seventeenth

Hexi, Tao City, Hou Clan's Main Hall, Zhao Yang Palace

Just returned from Jianye Prefecture City, Hou Yuxiao, after meeting with Jing Tianyu and his group along with Hou Yujie and Hou Yuduan, gathered Hou Yucheng and Hou Yuling together. At this moment, there was no one else in the main hall except for the five of them.

Hou Yuxiao gently waved his hand to shield the entire main hall, then turned to look at Hou Yucheng and asked in a low voice, "What have Jing Tianyu and the others been up to in the city these days?"

Hou Yucheng shook his head and said, "I haven't deliberately kept an eye on them, they're unusually low-key, almost staying indoors all day, except for... Lian Ningxue!"

Lian Ningxue?

Hou Yuxiao didn't react at first, but soon remembered that she is the bride-to-be sent by the Hedong Alliance to the Hou Clan. Seeing the unusual expression on Hou Yucheng's face when he mentioned Lian Ningxue, he suddenly asked with a strange tone, "What's up?"

"Lian Ningxue is deliberately getting close to me!"

This time, not only him, but Hou Yuling and the other two also chuckled lightly, and only stopped after being warned by Hou Yucheng's glance, restraining their smiles.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Seeing Hou Yuxiao's slightly teasing expression, Hou Yucheng said self-deprecatingly, "I still have some self-awareness. Ten years ago, I had a brief encounter with Lian Ningxue. This woman is definitely not the type to voluntarily attach herself to someone. Her eagerness to approach me is likely as you suspected, wanting to probe into the situation in Hexi. As advised by elder brother, I didn't alienate nor overly welcome her but maintained a neutral attitude. Yet she is undeterred, not giving up at all!"

Upon hearing this, Hou Yuxiao immediately retracted his playful expression, looking more serious.

"The Alliance is confident enough to send Lian Ningxue for a marriage alliance, which means they have absolute faith in her. Four days later, when Great Jin's Princess Taiping, Yuwen Qing arrives, it'll probably be the same. Fourth Elder, keep an extra eye out as well."

"Yes, elder brother!"

Upon hearing this reminder, Hou Yujie cupped his hands and nodded solemnly.

After all, the Lord of Hexi is still Hou Yuxiao. Both armies have already settled in Hexi, yet the host's attitude remains ambiguous. Both sides are eager to confirm, thus resorting to these means.

"Honestly, they can't find out much from us!"

Hou Yucheng shook his head, looking at Hou Yuxiao with a slightly helpless expression.

As soon as he said this, the other three also raised their heads to look at Hou Yuxiao, their faces filled with the same confusion.

Indeed, neither Lian Ningxue nor Yuwen Qing can extract any information from Hou Yucheng and Hou Yujie, because up until now, Hou Yuxiao still hasn't explicitly told the four of them Hexi's stance.

Of course, Hou Yuxiao explicitly stated to them that Hexi was against Jin.

Yet, while instructing the four to seek the River Lord of Tongtian in Si Shui, Hou Yuxiao himself led the army to welcome Great Jin's southbound forces, simultaneously expressing Hexi's allegiance to Great Jin to Tuoba Zun. These actions were witnessed by Hou Yujie and Hou Yuduan, and known to Hou Yucheng and Hou Yuling as well.

The 4.5 million army stationed at Xingnan Prefecture, plus the 500,000 Red Flame Army brought back from Xiapi County, was also arranged by Hou Yuxiao at Xingnan Prefecture, clearly maintaining a distance from both the Alliance and Great Jin, also showcasing a form of neutrality.

In summary, everything arranged by Hou Yuxiao so far, not only leaves Jing Tianyu and Tuoba Zun unable to see where he stands, even the four are left in the dark.

"Elder brother, I really can't figure out what you are planning."

"It seems we're trying not to offend either side, but we're actually offending both."

"Before Hexi's position becomes clear, Jing Tianyu and Tuoba Zun will surely treat us with courtesy. Elder brother just mentioned setting a banquet four days later where Tuoba Zun will also come, and Jing Tianyu showed no reaction, even volunteering to attend. Clearly, they're worried about us siding with Great Jin, right?"

"Indeed, judging by what we saw in Xiapi County, even if Great Jin's southbound forces aren't a million strong, their total number at least exceeds 800,000. Their numbers already surpass the Hedong Alliance. If we lean towards Great Jin, then the Great War in Hexi is grim for the Alliance!"

"When we were in Xiapi County, upon hearing that Jing Tianyu was in Tao City, Tuoba Zun immediately accepted elder brother's invitation. This inadvertently makes Hexi a prized target."

"Only for a short time though. Once the stance is clear, the situation will change."

......

Of course, saying all four are utterly confused is not entirely accurate.

Except for Hou Yucheng, Hou Yuling, and Hou Yujie, who were full of bewilderment, Hou Yuduan sat there with an increasingly calm expression. Seeing Hou Yuxiao not speaking, he took the lead to explain to the other three.

"Second Brother, Third Sister, Fourth Brother, no need to worry, we certainly have a stance!"

With Hexi's current strength and status, it doesn't have the qualifications to maneuver between Great Jin and the Alliance, nor the leverage to spectate like the New Moon Cult. Only by choosing a side can it gain a chance of survival.

But selecting a side also means thoroughly offending the other.

These facts are clear to Hou Yucheng and the three.

Their confusion mainly lies in Hou Yuxiao's series of arrangements - befriending both sides, placing Hexi's 5 million troops all in Xingnan Prefecture, and holding a banquet in Tao City, inviting people from both sides, what exactly is he attempting to do?