12dz Chapter 606 Yuan Tan: I Have Another Brother? The Cunning Cao Ang!
Chapter 606 Yuan Tan: I Have Another Brother? The Cunning Cao Ang!
"I'm tired, Zixiu, let's call it a day."
Yuan Tan instructed his servants to put away the chessboard and then pulled Cao Ang to the window.
"I wonder if that wretched child is dead or alive outside the Han borders!"
Yuan Tan gritted his teeth.
The "bastard" he was referring to was naturally Yuan Shang, who had fled to the island nation.
Before Yuan Shang fled, he personally poisoned Yuan Xi with food prepared by Yuan Xi! (See Chapter 384 for details)
Although Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang had a terrible relationship and were mortal enemies.
However, there were no major conflicts between him and his half-brother Yuan Xi.
I feel very sorry about the death of my second brother, Yuan Xi.
In addition, Yuan Shang and the wicked Liu clan also bear direct responsibility for Yuan Shao's death!
"Brother, rest assured, after we unify the Han territory, even if Yuan Shang hides in the island nation, our army will surely capture him and bring him back!"
Cao Ang promised.
"Zixiu, thank you."
Yuan Tan was extremely grateful.
Yuan Shao, the father, had only three sons in total. Yuan Xi was already dead, and Yuan Shang was a worthless fellow.
This left Yuan Tan feeling quite lonely.
Cao Ang's presence filled the void in his heart.
The grudges and grievances of the previous generation did not affect his friendship with Cao Ang.
After chatting with Yuan Tan for a while, Cao Ang left Yuan Tan's residence and returned to the Court of Justice.
Yuan Tan yawned; eating too much makes one sleepy.
"Oh well, I'll just get more sleep. It's all good in the end."
Yuan Tan thought to himself.
But just as Yuan Tan was falling asleep, he dreamt that his father, Yuan Shao, was taking him, still a young boy, to shoot arrows.
Several shouts rang out from the courtyard, disturbing Yuan Tan's peaceful sleep.
"Who?"
Yuan Tan looked displeased.
It was like a college student catching up on sleep after staying up all night, only to have their rest interrupted; their faces were full of reluctance.
"Yuan Tan, why don't you pay your respects to your uncle and great-uncle?"
A middle-aged man nearing fifty and a hunched-over old man in his seventies walked in from outside.
"Why are you here?"
Upon seeing these two men, Yuan Tan became even angrier.
Even when his father Yuan Shao was still alive, his relationship with the old folks in the Yuan family wasn't particularly close.
Now that only the hot-tempered Yuan Tan remains, how could he possibly have a pleasant expression?
Ultimately, the problem lies with these old fogies in the Yuan family—they lack foresight and are far too self-righteous!
These old fogies bet everything on Yuan Shu back then, giving him all their resources.
After Yuan Shu's defeat, he was forced to surrender to Cao Cao, and then turned around and spoke ill of Yuan Shao to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao knew best what kind of person Yuan Shao was.
However, at that time, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were still major enemies. Cao Cao's camp had the support of these old members of the Yuan family, which slightly increased the moral high ground on their side.
At worst, it can lower the morale of Yuan Shao's side.
Yuan Tan may not blame Cao Cao's camp, but that doesn't mean he doesn't resent those old fogies of the Yuan family!
These people are both stupid and wicked, relying on their age and seniority.
"Humph, you have no respect for your elders."
Yuan Tan's uncle reprimanded him.
Yuan Tan was furious and nearly smashed an empty wine jug over his shoulder.
"I'm disrespectful? What right do you, a member of a collateral branch, have to talk to me, a direct descendant?"
Then the uncle spoke up:
“Yuan Xiansi, that’s where you’re wrong.”
"Branch and direct descendants? My Yuan family doesn't distinguish between them so clearly."
"Besides, even if he's from a collateral branch, he's still your uncle, your elder. You should show him respect."
Yuan Tan's uncle is the oldest living member of the Yuan family in terms of seniority.
Of course, he got his position purely by working his way up through seniority.
On the eve of the decisive battle between Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, a member of the Yuan family who was of a higher generation heard that his ancestral tomb had been robbed by a "mysterious person." He was then humiliated on the spot by Su Yu and died of anger.
"Uncle, you're mistaken."
“I was just taking a nap when you and this uncle barged in without saying a word. How can this be reasonable?”
Uncle Yuan Tan raised the tip of his nose:
"What? You're not a descendant of the Yuan family?"
“Our elders have taken the initiative to visit you; this is a kindness you should remember.”
Yuan Tan rolled his eyes dramatically.
This old man is hopeless!
He didn't believe that the old man and his so-called uncle had come to see him without a reason.
The Yuan family's home is in Runan, which is quite a distance from Xuchang, unlike Yingchuan, which is much closer.
Therefore, this old man must have come prepared.
Seeing that Yuan Tan was not easily fooled, the old man decided to get straight to the point.
"Xiansi, do you remember that you have other brothers?"
Yuan Tan's anger was instantly ignited.
"Uncle, are you just here to amuse me because you have nothing better to do?"
My father had three sons.
"Don't you and all the uncles in the clan already know about this? Why ask me again?"
Old Yuan laughed and said:
"I don't have the time to amuse myself with you."
"But I vaguely remember that Yuan Chu should have had four sons, right?"
Yuan Tan: "Huh!?"
For a fleeting moment, Yuan Tan did indeed have a slight urge to act.
He couldn't help but wonder if his father really had an illegitimate child, just as this old man Yuan had said.
But in an instant, Yuan Tan shook his head again.
What is this?
If her father really had other sons, he would have made arrangements long ago, and she couldn't possibly have been completely unaware of it.
The Yuan family isn't the kind of family that engages in power struggles in female-oriented novels, where they would kill any illegitimate child.
An illegitimate child is just a child without a legal status; it's perfectly acceptable to give him the status of being born to a concubine.
In families with few bloodlines, not only can they tolerate illegitimate children, but they might even provide some support.
"Uncle, where did you hear this news from?"
“If my father really had other sons as you say, I should at least know that.”
Old Yuan's face broke into a smile:
"I naturally have my own sources of intelligence."
"Since you were unaware of this, then so be it."
"But if you really had another younger brother, would you be able to accept it?"
Yuan Tan wasn't that clever, and for a moment he didn't realize the hidden meaning in the old man's words.
He answered to himself:
"Having more brothers is fine, anyway. I'm already content with the current situation, as long as the extra brothers are indeed my father's bloodline and not as repulsive as Yuan Shang."
Old Yuan nodded, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Yuan Tan, and then hurriedly took his leave.
Yuan Tan was puzzled, but he didn't think much of it, assuming that the old man had just heard some rumors from somewhere.
five days later
When Cao Ang visited Yuan Tan again, Yuan Tan chatted with Cao Ang about the matter.
"Brother, is what you say true?!"
"Could it be that General Yuan really has other bloodlines still living in the world?"
Cao Ang's expression remained unchanged, but a tidal wave of emotions surged within him.
He's not as naive and easily fooled as Yuan Tan.
Yuan Shao did not have a harmonious relationship with the elders of the Yuan family.
Old Yuan wouldn't come to Yuan Tan's door just because of some rumors.
If Yuan Shao had other bloodlines besides Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Shang, this matter could be a big or small one.
Treating him as a wealthy man to be raised is a private matter for the Yuan family, and can be considered a minor issue.
Being used by people with ulterior motives to cause trouble under a pretext cannot be defined as a trivial matter!
……