The old patriarch's intention was obvious, and the second master Wei was not so foolish as to be completely oblivious. He naturally understood. Although he couldn't be the patriarch, his Zhan'er was destined to be the next patriarch. It was not in vain that he had arranged for Zhan'er to be sent to the old ancestor for years of tutelage.
Wei Wensong also understood that the old patriarch had given up on him. However, he no longer intended to remain the patriarch. He did not believe that Wei Wenrong's friend could replace Ling Luoyi. Ling Luoyi had returned for revenge. Without absolute strength, why would she return? And cause such a stir?
Seeing Wei Wensong's expressionless face, the second master Wei was displeased. He had been waiting to see Wei Wensong beg him, but Wei Wensong showed no reaction. He said unhappily, "Big brother, you are about to abdicate. Is there anything you can teach your brother? My brother can then pass it on to Zhan'er. You have been the patriarch for so many years, and you must have a lot of experience to teach Zhan'er, right? Don't be stingy, big brother. Zhan'er is your own nephew."
Seeing the second master Wei directly attack, the old patriarch Wei sighed. As expected, he couldn't let him be the patriarch; he was too impatient. The old patriarch Wei looked at Wei Wensong, who was still expressionless, and sighed again. Although Wensong was steady, he was too arrogant and had offended the royal family. If he hadn't offended the royal family, perhaps he could have sought peace with them, and maybe the royal family would have intervened, and Ling Luoyi might have spared the Wei family. It was a pity.
Wei Wensong smiled and said, "Second brother, since big brother has fallen to this point, it means big brother's experience is not worth emulating. If you want big brother to teach Zhan'er, are you also hoping that Zhan'er will end up like big brother?"
The second master Wei's face changed, and he said angrily, "Wei Wensong, you sinner of the Wei family! You have harmed the Wei family to this extent and are still not satisfied. You even curse my Zhan'er! What are your intentions? Do you not want the Wei family to prosper? How much hatred do you have for the Wei family?!"
Hearing the second master Wei's questioning, others also began to question Wei Wensong. The old patriarch Wei, however, closed his eyes, unwilling to watch any further.
Wei Wensong had no intention of paying attention to the second master Wei. He stood up and said, "Since the old patriarch, the patriarch, and the elders wish for me to abdicate and yield to the worthy, then Wensong will comply with your wishes. From today onwards, I am no longer the patriarch of the Wei family! I will move out of the patriarch's courtyard tomorrow."
After speaking, without waiting for anyone else's reaction, he walked directly out of the council hall. As he took the last step, he suddenly turned back and said to the old patriarch Wei, "Old patriarch, do you really think that the Wei family has become like this without Ling Luoyi's involvement? Can Wei Wenrong's friend really save the Wei family? Even if he can replace Ling Luoyi, will he always stay with the Wei family? Have you considered what the Wei family's fate will be if he leaves?"
After posing these four questions, Wei Wensong left directly.
These four questions were impactful, but except for the old patriarch Wei and the patriarch Wei, everyone else took them as Wei Wensong's dissatisfaction with being forced to abdicate and did not take them to heart. However, the old patriarch Wei despaired. He had always known that Wei Wensong was extremely proud and would never compromise, even if it meant death. But since he had said this, it was likely that the Wei family was truly beyond help.
The Wei family's fate was sealed.
The patriarch Wei, sitting below, looked at the expression of the old patriarch Wei and felt his heart sink. He could guess the old patriarch Wei's thoughts, but even if he knew this, he could not say it. He was the patriarch, bearing the responsibility of the Wei clan. Even if there was a sliver of hope, he had to risk his life for it! As for what would happen in the future, that would be a matter for the future. If they couldn't even get through the present, how could there be a future?
In the council hall, apart from the old patriarch Wei and the patriarch Wei, everyone else was immersed in the joy of the Wei family overcoming this crisis and reaching greater heights, without thinking about the consequences of failure. It was less about not thinking and more about not daring to think.
The more joy they showed on their faces, the more fear they felt in their hearts.
Wei Wensong returned to his courtyard and ordered the housekeeper to clear out a courtyard and move his belongings in. After giving the instructions, Wei Wensong ignored the housekeeper's bewilderment and walked towards the courtyard of a concubine who had recently given birth.
Entering the room, Wei Wensong looked at the infant still in swaddling clothes. The infant was about three months old, plump and tender, and very cute.
Wei Wensong looked at his youngest son. He hadn't even given him a name, and now, if he didn't do something, the child wouldn't be able to survive.
Thinking of this, Wei Wensong made a decision. He called for his most trusted subordinate and instructed him to send the child away, saying, "From today onwards, this child has nothing to do with the Wei family! This child can take any other surname, anything at all, but absolutely not Wei! Do you understand?!"
Wei Wensong's words were sudden, and even his confidant and concubine were taken aback, looking at him with disbelief.
The confidant was the first to react, looking at the child in his arms, at a loss.
At this moment, the concubine also reacted. She quickly snatched the child, held him carefully, and asked in disbelief, "My lord, why are you abandoning this child? This is your own son! Why send him away? The Wei family is not unable to raise him!"
The concubine's voice was a little loud. Wei Wensong quickly covered her mouth and warned in a low voice, "Keep your voice down, don't let anyone find out!"
The concubine felt wronged by being yelled at. Clearly, he was the one abandoning her child, and now he was yelling at her. But she was still very afraid of Wei Wensong. It was the instinct of a mother that made her question Wei Wensong just now, but now that her reason had returned, her fear of Wei Wensong surged to the forefront.
Seeing that she had quieted down, Wei Wensong explained, which was rare, "It's not that I'm abandoning this child, but that this child can only survive if he leaves the Wei family!"
The concubine did not understand his meaning and asked, "My lord, what does this mean? Is it that Madam wants to harm him?! Or someone else?"
The concubine did not know about the crisis facing the Wei family. She was the illegitimate daughter of a minor official's family and was not valued at home. Because she was good-looking, her father presented her to Wei Wensong, and she gained Wei Wensong's favor. After having this child, she was elevated to the rank of concubine. To her, the only people who would harm her child were those in the inner courtyard.
Wei Wensong clearly doted on this concubine quite a bit, patiently explaining to her, "It's not someone from this mansion, it's Ling Luoyi."
"Ling Luoyi?" In the past month, Ling Luoyi's affairs had been widely discussed, and the concubine had heard of them. But she didn't understand the deeper implications and asked in confusion, "Why would the eldest daughter of the Ling family want to harm my child?"
Wei Wensong sighed and said, "The enmity between the Ling family and the Wei family is no longer a secret. Ling Luoyi has returned for revenge, and with her abilities, the Wei family is powerless to resist. We killed so many people from the Ling family back then, do you think she will let us go? Do you think this child can still survive?"
The concubine was not a foolish person. After hearing this, she understood. Given the Ling family's hatred for the Wei family, even if they didn't exterminate the entire Wei clan, they would certainly not let go of Wei Wensong's branch, who were the main culprits! If this child remained, he would surely not survive.
After thinking it through, the concubine tearfully pleaded, "My lord, then send the child away quickly. If the Wei family is truly doomed, this child is your last bloodline. I beg you to find a good home for this child."
The confidant also understood. He held the child, bowed to the couple, and then quickly left.