Old Master Lin smirked and said, "How come, I came to discuss the marriage of my grandson Lin Yuze and your granddaughter Ye Ning!"
Old Master Ye and others in the room are dumbfounded and Old Master Ye laughed out loud saying, "Jiushang, announce the engagement now. Entire capital city should know about this joyous occasion in an hour."
Ye jiushang nodded and left immediately to make arrangements and to spread the news.
Lin Kai wanted to talk to his father, but thought for a while and decided to talk later.
He want his children to choose their life partners themselves. After all they have to be the ones who have to live their lifetime with. He always think that as parents and grandparent, they should only guide and give opinions and not force marriage.
How come his father do not know his son's views, old master Lin will never play with his grandsons and granddaughter's lives. He stated his stand, "Kai, I know what you are thinking. It is a nominal engagement just to mislead the Song family. Children will decide for themselves and I will never force them."
Old Master Ye nodded, "Little Kai, don't think too much. If we can make an engagement, we can also break it. If children do not like the engagement, we will break it after we solve the Song family matter."
"Its not like we are getting them married now."
Lin Kai sighed in relief.
Lin Manor
At night, Old Master Lin asked everyone to gather in his courtyard for dinner.
Chujiu was shocked when she heard about the engagement but Lin Kai explained the cause and she understood the plan.
When she is invited for the dinner, she had a vague understanding of why all of them are invited.
Since they have planned with the engagement, shouldn't they have a joyous family dinner. There are still spies in the manor and Lins have to put on a show for them.
After the dinner is completed, all six of the Lin family members went to Old Master Lin's study to discuss the future plan and how Ye family will be part of their plan.
Chujiu did not find any clues after following Bai Shan, he simply went to his home and explained to his family what happened. Seeing the reactions and behaviour, they doesn't seem to know anything.
"I only found that, it was Song Que who introduced the girls' group of Mystic Maiden Sect to Bai Shan."
Bai Shan is an enthusiastic and straightforward person with no scheming mind, Song Que arranged everything for him.
Bai Shan only wanted to show off in front his brothers by arranging a surprise for the celebration.
Its not a simple matter to invite girls from Mystic Maiden Sect to perform, even if they are outer sect disciples, they are still well respected in the continent.
Arranging their performance is a notable thing, so Bai Shan also paid a considerable amount to the girls. He now regrets for what he had done.
Chujiu explained the details and shared her opinion, "I don't think we will get anything valuable even if we capture Bai Shan secretly and interrogate him. I think only Old master Song, Song Huai and Song Ling know about the master plan."
"Also, I did not detect any dark element substance in the floating fragrance restaurant or near Bai Shan."
Lin Kai thought for a while and said, "I think that Song Que had it with him and was around the restaurant. He must be waiting for the right time but Ye Yuan disrupted his plan."
"But how could he escape my senses?"
Grandfather Lin is not surprised, "The Song family got their hands on the dark substance and that Ling brat has abnormal cultivation level... they must have had some stealth tools which could surpass an expert senses."
Lin Kai proposed himself to monitor Song Huai and get some clues.
Grandfather Lin thought for a while and said to his eldest son , "Go check if Gu family has a gathering or anything that will assemble all their family?"
"I will meet Gu Sicheng tonight."
Gu Sicheng is Old Master of the Gu family.
Ye, Gu, Bai and Song families are top aristocrat families in East Pheonix Kingdom.
Whereas Lin family is unique powerhouse in the entire continent with their own power and so other families and clans could not be compared to them. Their main headquarters is the capital of East Pheonix Kingdom.
Chujiu pondered for a moment and said, "Grandfather, is Old Master Gu trustworthy?"
Old Master Lin smiled at Chujiu and said, "Old Ye, Old Bai and Old Gu are my most trusted friends, we have all been through several life and death situations. We have held each other backs all these years since we are young. Old Song is ambitious and cunning, so we are on good terms with him on the surface. Though we studied together, we are not much close to him."
'So that is how it is'
Next day Chujiu went to her Eldest aunt to play and hear gossip. How could the cold madam Lin have much gossip to share, all the servants and maids are scared of her much less tell her some gossip.
Still she can take Chujiu to her sister Daya and spend some time together.
Being Madam of a huge family like Lin family is not a small thing, she is quite exhausted recently and is looking for a break.
Now Chujiu came, she took her and went to Su Daya.
Lin Kai made sure that Chujiu is not going out today and went on to complete his task.
Chujiu came to her second uncle's courtyard. There is a petite and innocent looking woman tending to flowers in the courtyard.
If Chujiu had not heard the words of her second aunt before in grandfather Lin's sideroom, she would have still be deceived by her second aunt's appearance. She is simply a wild and cunning wolf.
"Second Aunt, little jiu is here with eldest aunt!"
Su Daya, as soon as she heard Chujiu's voice, spun around and walked towards them with a wide grin on her face.
She is so happy that little nine has come to see her. Finally she can have little nine to herself, she conveniently ignored her elder sister. Her elder sister always dot on her and give in no matter what she ask for.