234: Chapter 234 The Aura of an Emperor

A black sedan drove steadily toward the convalescent home in the southern part of the city.

In the driver's seat, Study Committee Member Cao Rui kept his hands on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Late last night, after the drinking party at Tingyu Pavilion ended, he learned that Zhu Wenhao was heading to the Old Master Li residence for a banquet today. He had made up his mind early on to take over the job of driver this morning.

9:30 AM.

The lobby on the first floor of the Jingjiang Business Hotel was well-heated.

Director Xu Jie, wearing a dark trench coat, stepped out of the elevator.

She spotted Study Committee Member Cao Rui waiting there at a glance.

Director Xu Jie walked over.

"You're Study Committee Member Cao Rui, right? I'm Director Xu Jie from the Party and Government Office."

Study Committee Member Cao Rui turned around. Seeing the internal affairs manager by Secretary Zhu's side, he immediately reined in his playboy demeanor and replied crisply, "Hello, Director Xu Jie. I'm responsible for driving the Secretary today."

After exchanging greetings, the two said nothing more.

Director Xu Jie stepped back half a step, standing by a potted plant, though her peripheral vision kept assessing Study Committee Member Cao Rui.

Having grown up in the compounds of The Capital, the intelligence network she possessed had long since stripped away every detail of Study Committee Member Cao Rui's background.

Although this man had a touch of the arrogance typical of a scion of a prominent family, he relied on the protection of Deputy Secretary Cao Hang and was deeply proud. Aside from his own uncle, there were very few people in Jingjiang City who could make him bow his head.

The only explanation for him acting as a driver was that last night, relying solely on his wrist and spirit, Zhu Wenhao had completely tamed this unruly horse in a single night.

Just as Director Xu Jie was pondering, the elevator deep in the lobby made a crisp "ding" sound.

Zhu Wenhao stepped out.

Su Qinghan followed half a step behind him, accompanying him at his side.

Director Xu Jie looked toward the sound. The moment her gaze touched Zhu Wenhao, her heart skipped a beat, and the steps she had prepared to take forward were frozen in place.

Today's Zhu Wenhao was completely different from the past.

Since she began working with him, Zhu Wenhao had always maintained an introverted and calm demeanor.

Dealing with the town's messy accounts and responding to the difficulties posed by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, he relied on legal principles, procedures, and unfathomable calculations. That was the character of a wise general who hid behind the scenes and planned before acting.

But at this moment, that mild and gentle grassroots cadre was gone.

The man walking toward her moved with an unhurried pace, his leather shoes striking the marble floor with a dull, oppressive sound.

He did not deliberately pull a long face, nor did he look around. His gaze was projected straight forward, as if this grand hotel lobby, or even the entire Jingjiang City, was not enough to be worthy of his attention.

It was an indifference that regarded all things in heaven and earth as mere grass.

Director Xu Jie's breath hitched.

She was too familiar with this aura.

In The Capital, when her grandfather, who had fought his way through a hail of bullets, decided the fate of certain generals or even matters of life and death in his study, the heavy, awe-inspiring weight he exuded was exactly this.

Words became law; life and death were in his hands.

As long as he stood there, the thousands of troops around him became pawns that could be discarded or deployed at any time.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui, standing to the side, bore the brunt of it.

He had always held Zhu Wenhao in awe, and now, facing this undisguised pressure, he subconsciously lowered his head, unable to even muster the courage to look at him directly.

A seed of wholehearted devotion took root and sprouted in the depths of Study Committee Member Cao Rui's heart at this very moment.

This was exactly the effect Zhu Wenhao wanted.

He had kept a low profile in the past to conserve strength.

Now, with Li Zhengxing about to be parachuted into Jiangnan, Old Master Li had set up this family banquet—nominally to reminisce, but in reality, to consolidate military power and pave the way for his legitimate eldest son.

The transfer of family power was always a bloody game.

If Zhu Wenhao had worn that gentle coat to the Li family today, he would only have ended up as a stepping stone for Li Zhengxing to establish his authority, to be manipulated at will.

He wanted to show his muscles to those who thought they could control the overall situation at this family banquet today.

Director Xu Jie was, after all, trained in the compounds. After a brief moment of distraction, she quickly composed herself.

"Secretary Zhu." Director Xu Jie walked up, "I have already placed your things in the trunk."

Zhu Wenhao lowered his gaze and nodded slightly.

There was no extra small talk, not even a single word spoken.

He needed to maintain the continuity of this aura; he could not afford to let this "momentum" leak out during trivial exchanges.

The atmosphere was somewhat stagnant for a moment.

Su Qinghan, who was following behind, saw this and stepped forward with great tact to fill the gap.

"Director Xu Jie, thank you for your hard work."

Director Xu Jie glanced at Su Qinghan, and the two understood each other without words. One was a formidable minister of the outer court, and the other was a graceful, clear stream of the inner court; they coordinated seamlessly.

The group walked to the steps outside the hotel.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui had run down early to open the back door, shielding the edge of the car roof with one hand.

After Zhu Wenhao bent down and sat in the car, Su Qinghan got in from the other side.

Only then did Study Committee Member Cao Rui carefully close the door, walk back to the driver's seat, and start the engine.

Director Xu Jie stood in the cold wind, watching the black sedan drive into the traffic until it disappeared from sight.

She straightened the collar of her trench coat and turned to walk toward another official car parked on the side of the road.

Her itinerary for today was to head to the Provincial Party Committee Compound to lay out another secret line.

The interior of the car was silent.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui focused on controlling the steering wheel.

The convalescent home in the southern part of the city was located on the outskirts of Jingjiang City, surrounded by mountains and water, with a very high level of security. It housed retired ministerial-level officials.

Zhu Wenhao leaned back deep into the leather seat, his eyes slightly closed.

The vehicle drove away from the bustling city, and the surrounding scenery gradually became lush and quiet.

Ahead, a People's Armed Police checkpoint spanning the road blocked their path.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui slowed down, about to lower the window to hand over the pass that Zhu Wenhao had given him earlier.

The sentry's gaze swept over the car's license plate and then clearly saw the inconspicuous special pass on the inside of the windshield.

There was no questioning, nor was there any request to present identification.

The sentry stood at attention, gave an extremely standard military salute, and pressed the control button with his other hand.

The barrier slowly lifted.

Study Committee Member Cao Rui swallowed, tapped the accelerator lightly, and the vehicle drove steadily into the internal lane of the convalescent home.

The car traveled through the woods along the asphalt road and finally stopped in front of a detached blue-brick building.

The engine cut out.

Before Study Committee Member Cao Rui could get out of the car to open the door, the mottled vermilion wooden door of the courtyard was pushed open from the inside.

The person who walked out was not the head secretary, Butler Wang Jianan, who was usually responsible for welcoming and sending off guests.

It was a middle-aged woman wearing a dark purple cashmere coat with her hair styled in an elegant bun.

Li Juan.

Zhu Wenhao's mother.

Zhu Wenhao pushed the door and got out of the car.

He straightened the hem of his dark coat and looked calmly at the woman standing on the steps.

Butler Wang Jianan did not appear, but instead, Li Juan waited outside the door herself.

This was by no means Old Master Li being negligent; on the contrary, it was using an extremely intense "family etiquette" to dilute the upcoming game.

By first using family affection to place you in a high position, once you get to the negotiating table, will you, as the younger generation, still have the heart to negotiate terms with your elders?

An open conspiracy, calculated silently.

"Mother." Zhu Wenhao stepped onto the steps.

Su Qinghan followed closely behind and called out generously, "Hello, Auntie."

Li Juan's gaze lingered on Su Qinghan for half a second, with complex emotions hidden in the depths of her eyes.

The fact that this girl could stand here today meant that Zhu Wenhao had already made his choice.

In this marriage alliance and interest exchange of the powerful families, this son was simply not controlled by the family.

"It's good that you're here. It's windy outside, you must be frozen." Li Juan put on the demeanor of a loving mother, reaching out to pull Zhu Wenhao's arm.

"Come in quickly. Your grandfather is happy today; he set up the chessboard in the study early this morning, just waiting for you to come and play two games with him." Li Juan's tone was urgent, trying to guide the two of them across the threshold.

As long as they entered this door and followed Old Master Li's rules, everything would be out of Zhu Wenhao's control.

However, Zhu Wenhao's footsteps did not move an inch.

Not only did he not follow Li Juan's force to walk inside, but instead, he stood with his hands behind his back, as steady as Mount Tai on the blue-brick steps.

The atmosphere became extremely subtly stagnant at this moment.

Li Juan's hand remained in mid-air, and the smile on her face stiffened.

She looked at the son in front of her, whose cold and sharp aura made people shudder, and suddenly felt a palpitation.

She realized that she could not see through this young man at all.

"Mother." Zhu Wenhao spoke unhurriedly.

"Grandfather's chess game can wait."

"I'm afraid we aren't the only family coming to Grandfather's courtyard today."

Zhu Wenhao brought his gaze back to Li Juan's stunned face.

"There are others coming. Let's wait here in the wind a bit longer."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Juan's heart shook violently.

Today was a family banquet set by the Old Master himself.

Only Zhu Wenhao was invited; this was an internal closed-door meeting of the family.

How could there be any outsiders?

Most importantly, even she, his own daughter, could not arbitrarily add or subtract personnel from the Old Master's schedule.

Why was Zhu Wenhao so certain that someone else would come today?

What kind of secret move had he hidden in this family banquet, behind the Old Master's back?

Li Juan was about to ask, but the words in her throat had not yet been uttered.

From the far end of the quiet asphalt road in the convalescent home, a steady yet heavy roar of a car engine could be heard.

The sound came from afar and approached.

Li Juan turned her head abruptly and looked in the direction of the sound.

A black sedan broke through the winter mist and was slowly driving toward this secluded courtyard.