Chapter 52: Hou Yu’s Note

Chapter 52: Hou Yu's Note

When Pei Zhi heard the word "kidnapped," his expression changed instantly. He asked in alarm, "Kidnapped? By whom? Who forced him to return to Beijing? Could it be… Hou Hongchang?"

Hou Yu sneered. "If my uncle and aunt had really found out, do you think they would need to force someone surnamed Chu to go north? They'd have torn him apart in Guizhou to vent their anger! Calm down and think carefully. Everyone has been searching for him like mad for two years, but he's been staying quietly in Guizhou. How could they not find him in two years? There must have been someone protecting him. And this person is incredibly powerful with an extraordinary status. At least, they hold power that even the Han family can't match. Can you guess who it might be?"

Others might have been stumped, but Pei Zhi almost immediately knew the answer. "—Long Jiwei!"

"Yes, to be precise, it's the Ninth Bureau under Long Jiwei's leadership," Hou Yu said. "The people from the Ninth Bureau were the ones who sent Chu Gong from Beijing to Guizhou. Although Long Jiwei hasn't awakened for two years, they've been faithfully carrying out his orders. I bet Long Jiwei gave a strict order that Chu Ci couldn't fall into the hands of the Han family or others. That's why the Ninth Bureau placed Chu Ci in Guizhou, protecting him while providing conservative treatment. From his appearance, I don't think he's undergone surgery."

A weight settled in Pei Zhi's heart, and a hint of panic involuntarily showed on his face.

No surgery meant that the gastric cancer hadn't been completely treated. Chemotherapy would be ineffective at the final stage, and by now, it was definitely in its advanced phase.

—It was incurable.

"If the Ninth Bureau is still under Long Jiwei's control, then with his methods, we wouldn't be able to discover Chu Ci's death. But you should know that last month, chaos erupted in Guangxi. Several of Long Jiwei's most loyal subordinates died, and someone was parachuted in as the acting head of the Ninth Bureau. This person is the son of some top leader, harboring ambitions to replace Long Jiwei as the real head of the Ninth Bureau."

Pei Zhi blurted out, "He must be eager to win over your established, influential families, right?"

Hou Yu nodded and said, "In fact, the one surnamed Chu is a grand gift he presented to our family. However, he's quite cowardly and didn't dare to brazenly bring Chu Ci's head directly to Beijing, considering that Long Jiwei did indeed issue an order years ago to ensure the preservation of Chu's life. If he were to openly defy Long Jiwei's words in such a manner, the people of Division Nine would surely turn against him, and Long Jiwei, upon waking up, would undoubtedly spare him no mercy. So he devised a compromise. He must have used some means to force Chu Ci out of Guizhou, compelling him to return to Beijing, and then discreetly informed my uncle and aunt, making it easy for them to locate Chu Ci in the capital. Thus, even if our family takes Chu's life, no one can directly lay the blame at his feet."

Pei Zhi couldn't help but grit his teeth slightly as he asked, "How many people currently know about Chu Ci's situation?"

"Our family is aware, and Madam Han certainly knows too. The reason they haven't made a move yet is simply because they're waiting for Han Yue to leave Beijing. If he were to find out about this, who knows what consequences would arise? Perhaps Madam Han could persuade him, but what if she can't? What if he suddenly becomes irrational and insists on saving Chu Ci?"

Hou Yu took a puff of his cigarette and continued, "Besides, they plan to hold a secret trial for that Chu guy. Ideally, they'd make him publicly confess that he killed Hou Hongchang, Han Qiang, and the others for monetary gain, not out of some sense of righteousness as the online rumors suggest. After all, back when Hou Hongchang hit someone, public opinion on the internet put immense pressure on the Hou family. Then, when he was murdered, there was an outpouring of approval. Hou Hongchang's parents are still furious about it all."

"So it is. Not only do they intend to eliminate Chu Ci, but they also want to ruin his reputation!" Pei Zhi sneered and inquired, "Who could have conceived such a malicious scheme?"

Hou Yu cleared his throat. "Of course, matters like these often involve suggestions from subordinates... At this point, what's the use of dwelling on it?"

From his reaction, Pei Zhi could roughly guess that this scheme had originated from his family members. Hou Yu, feeling embarrassed, was reluctant to acknowledge it and thus shifted the blame onto his subordinates.

However, he was right about one thing – it was pointless to dwell on these matters now. It was thanks to the despicable scheme the Hou family had cooked up that Chu Ci had managed to cling onto his life for a few more days. Otherwise, he might have been killed by the Hous on the very first day he returned to Beijing.

Pei Zhi puffed silently on his cigarette for a while before abruptly lifting his head to fix Hou Yu with a stare. "You also bear the surname Hou; Hou Hongchang is your own cousin. I refuse to believe that you don't wish to avenge him—so what's the meaning behind telling me all this now?"

Hou Yu met Pei Zhi's gaze without the slightest evasion, an odd smile tugging at his lips after a prolonged moment. He countered, "Mr. Pei, let's assume you were an ordinary citizen, entirely unaware of the intricacies of this case. Suddenly, a relative of Hou Hongchang emerges, insisting that their son is innocent. They claim that the migrant worker boy who was hit was actually violating traffic rules, and the person who killed Hou Hongchang was merely a robber seeking riches. Now, with the murderer finally apprehended, Hou Hongchang's name can be cleared. Would you believe it? Do you think the common people would believe it?"

Pei Zhi slammed his hand on the table. "Do you take me for a three-year-old?!"

"Exactly. Neither you nor I believe it, and I doubt many others will either." Hou Yu sneered. "Yet, somehow, Hou Hongchang's parents genuinely think that everyone should believe it, and that public opinion online will definitely side with them. It's hard to fathom how someone could be so foolish, even less astute than a three-year-old. It seems my mother was right when she said long ago that people who have been in positions of privilege for too long tend to develop an inflated sense of self-importance, believing themselves omnipotent and untouchable, treating the world's rules and boundaries as mere trifles. The saddest thing about human nature is overestimating one's own intelligence and regarding others as fools to be manipulated at will."

"…Even Marshal Hou is still involved in this mess with your uncle and aunt," Pei Zhi exclaimed, taking a deep breath. "I ran into Han Yue at the cemetery. Apparently, Marshal Hou is planning to set him up on a date."

"The old man has already been led by them into committing many foolish deeds," Hou Yu paused, his voice descending into an even deeper register. "It is said that the blessings of a nobleman last for five generations, but then wane. This is because in families like ours, after several generations of proliferation, there will inevitably arise numerous parasitic individuals who act with reckless abandon. Just like a great tree entangled with vines that vie for its water and nutrients, if left unchecked, these parasites will eventually drain the tree dry, causing it to wither and decay, and together they will march towards annihilation."

Pei Zhi fell silent for a moment, as if pondering something. After a while, he asked, "Are you planning to use my influence to deal with the Hou family, including Hou Hongchang?"

"If I could, I would handle it myself. But with too many relatives, I don't want to be drowned in their criticism. Even if my father is still alive now, he will eventually leave one day. If all the Hou relatives turn their backs on me, how will I proceed then?"

Hou Yu glanced at Pei Zhi and continued with a leisurely smile, "Yes, I am quite selfish. But I haven't forced you to confront Hou Hongchang's family. You could also choose to do nothing, pretending that you never met me today, watching helplessly as that Chu man is executed for robbery and murder—let me tell you the truth, the Chu family doesn't have many days left. As soon as Han Yue leaves the capital, they'll make their move."

Pei Zhi's brows furrowed, his expression growing more anxious. After a moment, he abruptly crushed his cigarette onto the table and asked, "Why did you choose to tell me instead of Han Yue?"

Hou Yu leaned back into the high-backed chair and said slowly, "Because Madam Han is involved in this matter, and Han Qiang is Han Yue's own brother… By revealing this, I'm already taking a huge risk. If Han Yue were to betray me, how could I still have a place in the family?"

Hou Yu was a ruthless character. When Han Yue decided not to avenge Han Qiang, he had struggled and suffered. In contrast, Hou Yu didn't hesitate at all; he directly betrayed his uncle, aunt, and their entire family without any qualms. It was an incredibly smooth betrayal.

Pei Zhi was aware of the unique situation in the Hou family, with its intricate family relationships. It wasn't surprising that such a reckless and brainless second-generation heir like Hou Hongchang could emerge, nor was it strange that someone as ruthless and daring as Hou Yu could be cultivated.

"I'll agree to your terms," Pei Zhi seemed to make a firm decision, gritting his teeth before extending his hand to Hou Yu. "But you have to give me Chu Ci's address first. I need to confirm that he's still alive."

Without any hesitation, Hou Yu promptly took out a notepad and scribbled down the address of a hospital, followed by a name and phone number. He explained that it was the contact information of a hospital supervisor who had been friends with him for over a decade and was very discreet. If anything happened, Pei Zhi could seek help from this person to avoid detection by the Hou family, especially Hou Hongchang.

Pei Zhi took the note, pressing it firmly in his palm.

Hou Yu slowly put away his gold pen. "I suggest you act quickly. Not only does the Hou family want him dead, but he probably won't last much longer himself. My buddy at the hospital told me that he's already been given a terminal diagnosis. With conservative treatment, he might survive two more weeks; anything beyond that would be a miracle."

Pei Zhi drew a deep breath, stood up, and said solemnly, "Thank you – I'll take my leave now."

Hou Yu nodded and smiled slightly.

Pei Zhi opened the private room door and stepped out, immediately pulling it shut behind him.

The room faced a corridor, with a window overlooking the street on one side and a wall adorned with paintings on the other. Han Yue leaned against the wall near the door, in the process of lighting a cigarette, but his hands were trembling, unable to ignite the lighter with a snap.

Pei Zhi tossed the note to him and walked past without diverting his gaze.

Han Yue didn't even bother to light his cigarette, immediately bending down to pick up the note: "You really gave it to me?"

Pei Zhi marched forward in silence until he reached the staircase. Suddenly, he halted abruptly. Turning back, he fixated on Han Yue with a seemingly mocking expression, his voice low and hoarse, "Do you know, Han Er, I should have never gone abroad for my studies. I should have joined the military with you guys!"

The last few words were spat out with gritted teeth, as if squeezed from the depths of his clenched jaw.

In the next instant, he turned around and strode downstairs with long strides, swiftly vanishing through the entrance of the teahouse.