Chapter 524: Fallout

Ye Tian Yun had noticed the subtle exchange between the Gao Family.

Both him and Fang Yunru gave a side glance at each other with a slight smile on their face.

In front of them, Clan Head Gao Kang moved and took the main seat on the table.

Gao Long stood behind him, and the Fang Clan' brothers' took their respective seats.

"How are you injured, Xiao Chen?" Gao Kang asked in a calm voice.

Ye Tian Yun lightly leaned forward while replying, "I will recover soon, Clan Head Gao."

Gao Kang frowned lightly, and then glancing at Fang Yunru, he asked, "What about you? How is your cultivation going on?"

"It has improved quite a lot, Uncle Gao," Fang Yunru replied with a smile.

"Hmm," Gao Kang nodded his head and gestured at Gao Long.

Gao Long immediately moved and poured wine for his Father.

Clan Head Gao Kang took a sip and asked, "Xiao Chen, I heard you wanted to discuss something?"

Ye Tian Yun nodded, "Yes, but before that, I have something to give you."

"Oh? I wonder what?" Clan Head Gao squinted his eyes out of curiosity.

Ye Tian Yun smiled and took a black box.

This was a gift that he had prepared for Clan Head Gao before heading out of his room. 

To be more specific, this box was already present in the ring that Butler Liu gave him. He had already checked its contents, and this was a worthy gift.

Clan Head Gao was a bit taken aback by the exquisite box.

He moved his hand and clicked open the box and couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing the contents.

"This…"

Even Gao Long, who was standing right behind him, was surprised.

The other person remaining in the room, Fang Yunru, also had his mouth open wide in surprise.

"Is this…"

Ye Tian Yun smiled and nodded, "Indeed. This is a Thousand Year Old Ginseng."

"Thousand Year Old!?" Gao Long and Fang Yunru took a deep breath.

Clan Head Gao Kang's hand moved, and he swiftly closed the box once again.

He leaned a bit forward and asked Ye Tian Yun in a lowered voice, "Xiao Chen, this… this is too precious. Did Prime Minister Fang tell you to give me?"

Ye Tian Yun smiled and shook his head, "No. It's my personal gift to you."

"This is too precious," Clan Head Gao Kang pushed the box towards Ye Tian Yun, "There was no need for any gifts. And what you have brought will cause commotion in the whole Capital City. It may not be of much use to you, but this will be a matter of life and death to the old ministers. You should take it back and put it in an auction. You will earn hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones."

Ye Tian Yun smiled, "It's for you. If I wanted to put it in the auction, I would have already done it."

"This…"

"Uncle, please take it." Fang Yunru suddenly smiled, "Let's mark this as a new chapter in the history of our clans. Soon we will be a family, and if you don't deserve this gift from Xiao Chen, then no one else does."

Gao Kang smiled, "Ah, you kids. Alright, I will take it. But I won't let you guys leave empty-handed. Tell me, what do you want? I will do my best to help you."

"You both may not know, but this Ginseng is very important for my Clan."

"Oh?" Both Ye Tian Yun and Fang Yunru were genuinely surprised.

"Uncle, is everything alright?" Fang Yunru frowned, "I am sorry, but I just returned yesterday, so I am not up to date with the happenings of Capital City."

"Mother is ill," Gao Long replied, "We have prepared a Hundred Year Old Ginseng, and it will be arriving soon. But this Thousand Year Old will definitely help her a lot."

Ye Tian Yun frowned, "Is the illness very severe? Did you call the Royal Physician?"

Gao Long gave a wry smile, "How could we call the Royal Physician? That's for the Xin Royal Clan."

"So?" Ye Tian Yun was a bit confused.

Just then, he felt a nudge on his leg. 

Fang Yunru was signaling him to shut up.

Ye Tian Yun exhaled, "There should be more accomplished physicians, right?"

"Yes, I have arranged a few." Clan Head Gao Kang reassured him, and then staring at the black box, he said, "Xiao Chen, I will be honest. You're not someone I approve of, mainly because of your past deeds. But this gift has changed my opinion of you. Maybe it's because of the circumstances; maybe it's just the gift itself."

"Clan Head Gao, don't think too much," Ye Tian Yun replied, "In fact, if I had known Madam Gao's health was not good, I would have brought a better gift."

"You have already given me more than enough. The Thousand-Year Old Ginseng had miraculous life-increasing abilities and countless other health benefits."

"Tell me, Xiao Chen, what can I do to return this favor?" 

Before Ye Tian Yun could ask, Fang Yunru interrupted, "Uncle Gao, please don't put it like that. And you have already given us the most precious thing we could have asked for. Sister-in-law is worth more than a hundred such ginseng."

Gao Kang smiled and shook his head, "That's a matter between Prime Minister Fang and me. And don't put it like this; you are making it look as if we're doing an exchange."

"Ah, I had no such intentions," Fang  Yunru immediately apologized, lest Clan Head Gao misunderstood.

Ye Tian Yun suddenly said, "Clan Head Gao, I know, this is why I actually do have something in my mind."

"Oh?" Clan Head Gao narrowed his eyes, "What is it, do tell."

Ye Tian Yun pursed his lips and asked, "I would like you to give me the Thunder Valley in the Northern Province to my name."

"No. Not that place." Clan Head Gao Kang frowned.

The smile on Ye Tian Yun's face receded.

….

"Why not?" Ye Tian Yun frowned.

"That place is an old trade route," Gao Long, who was standing behind his Father, explained, "Even though it's rarely used, it does come in handy."

Ye Tian Yun smiled, "What's the worry then? It's not like I am stopping the trade route."

Clan Head Gao Kang frowned, "No. This place is not open for discussion. Ask for anything else."

Ye Tian Yun shook his head, "The Thunder Valley. I want nothing else. In fact, you don't need even to give the Fang Clan any dowry."

Clan Head Gao frowned, "It's not about dowry. That area is important for the Gao Clan, economically and historically. I will not hand it over to… to anyone."

Ye Tian Yun narrowed his eyes for a moment before his expression turned normal, "Clan Head Gao, I don't know why, but I find it quite funny that you consider me an outsider."

"N..no." Clan Head Gao shook his head, "When did I say that?"

Ye Tian YUn smiled, "Let's not waste our time. I am here for the Thunder Valley, and I will leave after I have received it."

Clan Head Gao Kang and his son Gao Long frowned.

"Xiao Chen, I knew you wanted something in return when you brought the Thousand Year Old Ginseng. Tell me, what else did your Father tell you to ask for?"

Ye Tian Yun frowned, "Do you think he would even let me get out of my room in this condition? He doesn't know about this meeting, but he will if the meeting doesn't go as expected."

Clan Head Gao frowned, "Xiao Chen, if you think threatening me with your father's name can get you what you want, then I should tell you that you're too naive."

Ye Tian Yun smiled, "If my Father was here, things would have surely been different, and trust me, he doesn't interfere much in what I do. He had his own troubles keeping him busy."

Clan Head Gao exhaled, "This discussion will go nowhere. The Thunder Valley will forever belong to the Gao Clan. And if you think I am ungrateful, then you can take back your gift."

Ye Tian Yun frowned, "Clan Head Gao, I don't like to get rejected; you should at least know this much about me."

"Brat, now you're crossing the line here," Clan Head Gao smiled, "You should keep your attitude in check. Not everyone is afraid of your Father."

"We will see," Ye Tian Yun stood up, and glancing at Fang Yunru, he said, "Second brother, let's go."

Fang Yunru, who was taken aback by everything, stood up and followed Ye Tian Yun.

Just as he reached the gate, Ye Tian Yun saw Gao Xuan standing outside.

He smiled at him and turned his head towards the confused Gao Father-Son duo; he said, "You can keep both of them. The gift I gave you and your daughter."

"What…"

Everyone at the scene opened their eyes wide as Ye Tian Yun left the room.