Tang Xia was in the middle of preparing to study abroad when her family suddenly informed her that she was getting married. This scared her so much that she hurried home to see what was going on.
By the time she got home, the Ye Family had already formally come to discuss her marriage to Ye Xuan.
Tang Xia immediately asked her mother what was going on and why such an important decision was made without consulting her.
This was her lifelong concern, shouldn’t they discuss it with her first?
Her mother replied helplessly, "Neither your dad nor I knew. Your grandfather just single-handedly agreed to it with the Ye Family. Your dad was so upset, he’s currently in talks with your grandfather and the people from the Ye Family."
Tang Xia was confused and surprised, saying, "How could my grandfather do this? Wasn’t he the one who cared for me the most? Why would he make such a big decision without even consulting me? Is he just assuming I’d agree?"
Her mom hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your dad never wanted you to know too much, but I think you’re grown up now. Whether it’s good or bad, you should be aware of it. We can’t be with you forever, and eventually, you’ll need to shoulder all of life’s burdens yourself. Mom will tell you then, your grandfather is biased against you because you’re a girl, and your dad refuses to have an illegitimate child who might compete for a male heir. He’s already decided to transfer all the family assets to your second uncle and Chunlai. In other words, your dad is already your grandfather’s discarded child, and our whole family can be sacrificed for the Tang Family’s interests. Your grandfather deliberately arranged a marriage with the Ye Family to leverage their military influence against Yang Chen. Since we’re all abandoned, how could he consult us? We now have only two choices: either accept his manipulation or leave the Tang Family. Your dad now has almost no assets from the Tang Family, only the assets he earned later. To be blunt, your dad is now a figurehead, in name the current patriarch of the Tang Family, but he has no real power. Your dad doesn’t want you to know this, and even more so doesn’t want you involved. He hopes you just focus on learning the piano and achieving your dreams. But... now it seems... your grandfather doesn’t want to give you that chance."
Tang Xia was completely stunned. She originally thought her family was happy and prosperous, but never imagined that behind the seemingly tranquil lifestyle lay turbulent undercurrents.
Tang Xia immediately replied, "No way! This is my lifelong matter, I can’t let grandfather dictate it."
After speaking, Tang Xia was about to head to her grandfather.
Her mother quickly held her back, saying, "Don’t go just yet, your dad is discussing with them. Wait for your dad to come back and hear what he has to say. Don’t worry, your dad would never use you as a tool. If you go now and make a scene, it would be embarrassing for both families."
Tang Xia nodded and could only sit and wait for her dad to return.
About half an hour later, Tang Chenghu returned, dejected.
Tang Xia quickly asked, "Dad, what did grandfather say?"
Tang Chenghu sighed and said, "Your grandfather said you must marry Ye Xuan, and there’s no room for negotiation. Ye Xuan has seen your photo, is very pleased, and has formally expressed his willingness to marry you."
Tang Xia, without saying a word, immediately wanted to head to her grandfather’s place.
Tang Chenghu quickly held her back, saying, "Don’t go, it won’t help, it’s all your grandfather’s scheme."
Tang Xia: "Scheme? What scheme?"
Tang Chenghu: "Your grandfather’s true aim is to use you as a focal point to provoke conflict between the Ye Family and Yang Chen, ensuring the Ye Family directly confronts Yang Chen, rather than the Ye Family helping the Tang Family to fight Yang Chen. These two scenarios are fundamentally different. Whether you’re willing to marry Ye Xuan is actually unimportant. What’s important is that once Yang Chen knows you are to marry Ye Xuan, he will certainly try to stop it, leading to a feud between Yang Chen and the Ye Family. Haha... your grandfather is ruthless indeed, willing to use anyone for the Tang Family’s future. Let alone you, I’m now also an abandoned pawn, my only value being sacrificed for the Tang Family’s benefit."
Upon hearing her dad’s words, Tang Xia felt her worldview crumbling.
She never imagined that the grandfather who once treated her so kindly and affectionately would one day do this to her.
Was it all because she was a girl and couldn’t be the next patriarch of the Tang Family?
Yet she had never expressed any desire to be the head of the Tang Family, nor had she talked about inheriting the Tang Family’s assets. She always said her dream was to be a pianist, so why be so cruel to her?
Now Tang Xia finally understood what Yang Chen had told her before, that she was an adult and there were things she needed to know and confront, or else, like now, her worldview would collapse.
Tang Xia said to her dad, "Then let’s leave! Didn’t you save 2 billion in the Swiss Bank? Together with your assets, it’s enough to ensure our family’s well-being without any worries."
Tang Chenghu clenched his teeth and said, "But I can’t bring myself to do it! Everything that was mine being taken away like this, asking me to leave the Tang Family now means I’ll live the rest of my life in regret and guilt; I might as well die. I hate my own weakness, not having heeded Yang Chen’s advice earlier. If I had listened to him, and not sought his help in healing your grandfather, the situation wouldn’t have developed to this point. I treated him like my own father, but he treated me as a tool. I’m so damned regretful! I overestimated the father-son bond, I overestimated my own abilities; a mistake at one step, wrong at every step, to the point of this irrecoverable situation now! Alas..."