HUS Chapter 22: He Came Bathed in Light
Dec 11, 2025
Yu Huanhu cupped his hands in a full bow to everyone and said in a clear voice, "These past years, because elder brother has been afflicted with minor ailments, he gradually handed over six estates with over fifty thousand mu of good farmland and three ranches to Huanhu to manage. Since Huanhu took over these enterprises, I've been conscientious and diligent, not daring to be careless in the slightest. How these estates and ranches have fared under Huanhu's management is very clear to all branches and lines. I, Yu Huanhu, have been worthy of the Yu family."
"Now, to avoid suspicion, Huanhu will return all these enterprises to elder brother. All tenant farmers and retainers dependent on these estates and ranches will also be returned together. From now on, Huanhu will live in seclusion in 'Dailai City' and will no longer concern myself with family affairs."
As soon as these words came out, the entire hall immediately erupted in clamor.
Yu Xinglong's expression changed. He hurriedly tried to dissuade him, "Second brother, why go this far, why go this far? Your brother only wants to investigate the truth of Ye'er's death but has never suspected you. Why must you..."
Yu Huanhu interrupted him, "Elder brother, I naturally trust you. However, public opinion is fearsome!"
Yu Huanhu sneered and glanced at Suo Hong, raising his voice, "Now, since some claim I murdered our Yu family's designated heir for personal gain, if I proactively return these enterprises and live in seclusion in Dailai City from now on, surely that can prove Huanhu's innocence? Ha, hahaha..."
Yu Huanhu looked up at the sky with a bitter laugh, flung his large sleeve, and turned to leave, "Elder brother, Huanhu will go now. The account books for the estates and ranches will be presented shortly!"
"Second brother, second brother, you... alas, why torture yourself like this!" Yu Xinglong couldn't catch up. He could only stamp his foot with a face full of chagrin.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaobao was greatly delighted. Whether his second brother's move was advancing by retreating or not, for him it was a tremendous opportunity.
Managing such a vast family was quite mentally exhausting.
If elder brother's health weren't frail with limited energy, how could he have gradually transferred so many enterprises to second brother's hands back then?
Now that second brother was returning these enterprises and elder brother didn't have that much energy to manage them, then wasn't I...
The "invisible man" Master Bao Three immediately rushed forward in one leap.
"Elder brother, elder brother, second brother has always had a fiery temper. Elder brother, don't take it to heart. After some time when second brother's mood settles, he'll be fine.
Though second brother has thrown down his burden, don't you still have your third brother? Third brother will naturally share elder brother's burdens. Elder brother need not worry excessively."
Yu Xinglong saw Yu Huanhu flinging his sleeves and leaving, moreover at the cost of returning six prosperous estates and three ranches. At this point, he couldn't very well continue pressing. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
He glanced at Yu Xiaobao and sighed, "Third brother, you should counsel second brother more later. Our Yu family's foundation of hundreds of years still requires us of the same clan working together with one heart to be stable and lasting."
Yu Xiaobao was overjoyed, thinking this was elder brother agreeing to let him help manage the enterprises. He hastily responded, "Elder brother, rest assured. Second brother just has that dog temper. I'll counsel him."
Suo Hong exchanged a glance with Suo Zhanzhi and said with feigned resentment, "The clan head says Second Master Yu couldn't be the culprit. Could you truly suspect someone from my Suo family employed underhanded means?"
Yu Xinglong smiled bitterly, "Brother Suo, our two families' marriage alliance is complete. We share both glory and loss together. How could the murderer of Chengye possibly come from the Suo family? Yang Can was an adviser valued by Chengye and is simply overcome with grief at Chengye's death. Moreover, he doesn't know the deep bond between our two families, so he fantasized wildly with a bunch of nonsense. Brother Suo, please don't take offense."
Having said this, Yu Xinglong turned to Yang Can seriously, "Yang Can, quickly apologize to Second Master Suo."
Yang Can still maintained his upright appearance, "Clan head, this subordinate's suspicions have basis..."
"Silence! Apologize!"
"Clan head, the young master died miserably. The true culprit remains in doubt. Our Yu family eldest branch's guard captain was originally innocent yet has instead become a scapegoat. Now the clan head still wants this subordinate to apologize to the Suo family? This subordinate refuses! Refuses ten thousand times!"
Yu Xinglong said, "Cheng Dakuan failed in his duty to protect. What more is there to say? Could it be that I shouldn't apply a small punishment? In a moment, you can go to the water dungeon and bring him out. Now, immediately apologize to Second Master Suo."
Yang Can hesitated slightly before finally approaching Suo Hong with an appearance of having to bow his head for Leopard Head's sake.
Second Master Suo waved his hand impatiently, "Forget it, forget it. I don't want to receive... hmm?"
He saw Yang Can walk past Second Master Suo, cupping his fists in a deep bow to Suo Zhanzhi, "Young mistress, this subordinate is also moved by the young master's death and unspeakably grief-stricken. If I have offended the young mistress anywhere, I beg your forgiveness."
A trace of red appeared on Suo Zhanzhi's jade-like pretty face. She wasn't quite certain whether the "offended" Yang Can mentioned was really "offended."
This bastard's expression when speaking to her was a bit wicked, not quite like he was talking about offending.
"Ahem! Forget it. Considering your complete loyalty to my late husband, I won't pursue it. You may leave."
"The young mistress is magnanimous. This subordinate is deeply grateful. Taking my leave."
Yang Can turned around and bowed to Yu Xinglong again, "This subordinate takes his leave."
Then he walked out of Mingde Hall and headed straight for the water dungeon.
Suo Hong awkwardly lowered the hand he had raised in the air, covering it by stroking his beard, "Ahem! I conduct myself properly and sit upright, so naturally I'm not afraid of suspicion. However, my niece is pitiful. Now she's already become your Yu family's daughter-in-law. Yu Clan Head, you mustn't mistreat her."
Yu Xinglong said, "Brother Suo, please rest assured. Zhizhi is already our Yu family's eldest son's wife. This will never change. Yu naturally won't mistreat her."
Suo Hong sighed and said, "I only hope heaven opens its eyes and allows Zhizhi to leave behind a son or daughter for Chengye. In that case... this poor child won't be too lonely in the future."
"Yes, let's hope so!" Yu Xinglong agreed with a smile, but a shadow quietly rose in his heart.
Was Suo Zhanzhi truly pregnant?
Was that child really my son Chengye's?
...
Yu Huanhu didn't wait until tomorrow's ancestral hall sacrifice. Storming angrily out of Mingde Hall, he immediately descended the mountain.
The carriage jolted along. Yu Huanhu leaned against the soft backrest, his body gently swaying with the bumps, eyes slightly closed, saying nothing.
Accompanying him to Phoenix Mountain Manor was his second son Yu Ming, who now wore an angry expression.
"Father, just because they say we're the culprits, we are? Returning those six great estates and three ranches, though it won't hurt our branch's vitality, isn't handing them back like this letting them off too easily?"
Yu Huanhu said quietly with closed eyes, "If we don't agree, what else can we do?"
Yu Ming said, "What do you mean what else? Would elder uncle really dare kill you, Father? If he dared make a move, elder brother is stationed in Dailai City and would immediately rebel against him."
"But what if he doesn't kill your father but instead keeps him under house arrest on Phoenix Mountain? Then finds an excuse saying it's only to investigate the truth and clear your father's name?"
Yu Huanhu opened his eyes and stared at his son, "But this truth can never be clarified. What then?"
Yu Ming was stunned and stammered, "This... elder uncle he... wouldn't go that far."
Yu Huanhu smiled faintly, "Wouldn't go that far? Hehe. Just now in Mingde Hall, he already showed this intention. If your father hadn't caught on early, and if he weren't such an indecisive person, at this moment, hmph!"
Hearing this, Yu Ming was speechless and couldn't help but irritably tug at his collar.
Yu Huanhu let out a light breath, "Since your elder uncle has staged such a grand spectacle and won't even pursue the true culprit who killed his son but wants to insist it's your father, if we don't cut off a fatty piece of meat big enough to satisfy him, your father couldn't leave."
Yu Ming said shamefully, "Yes, your child thought too simply."
Yu Huanhu slightly narrowed his eyes and said, "However, when Chengye was alive, your elder uncle still didn't have the energy to manage these affairs. How much more so now?
Moreover," he drew his hands together in his sleeves, his face showing a trace of mockery, "the stewards of those estates and ranches are all my people.
Though your elder uncle has taken them over now, he can't just randomly find someone to replace them. Especially..."
Yu Huanhu smiled contentedly, "Spring plowing is imminent. At this time, will he drastically shake up the stewards of the major estates? If he doesn't move them, then it will be difficult to move them later. Otherwise, he'll inevitably bear the infamy of discarding someone after using them. If he does move them, hehe, delaying one spring plowing season means delaying an entire year. These estates were fine in your father's hands, but once they return to his hands, each one will have poor harvests this autumn. Will he as clan head need to give an explanation to the entire family?"
Yu Ming's eyes immediately brightened.
Yu Huanhu said, "Your elder uncle just made a marriage alliance with the Suo family and has the momentum of a grief-stricken army due to his heir's death. We had to retreat one step at this time. However, since I've yielded this step, he can't very well press his advantage further."
After a pause, a trace of curiosity appeared in Yu Huanhu's eyes, "That Yang Can is somewhat strange."
"Yang Can?"
"That's right, him. This person needs thorough investigation."
...
Inside the water dungeon, Leopard Head was nearly frozen stiff.
Suddenly, the great door creaked open.
A column of light shot in from the prison entrance, landing right on Leopard Head.
Leopard Head squinted his eyes and looked up toward the stone steps.
A figure appeared at the water dungeon entrance, walking down the steps one by one.
Sunlight scattered from behind that person, making him appear like a deity: the god of light.
He walked before Leopard Head and bent down slightly.
Only then did Leopard Head clearly see the person's appearance. The visitor was Yang Can.
Leopard Head's eyes suddenly widened, "Yang... Master Yang?"
His muscles were frozen stiff. Even uttering these words was difficult.
Yang Can smiled, "Brother Cheng, I told you that as long as the clan head saw me, you would be safe. Now, the clan head has seen me."
Leopard Head's dark eyes immediately enlarged, "Master Yang, you... you mean?"
"That's right. You can leave now."
In that instant, Leopard Head Cheng Dakuan's tears flowed like rain, "Through fire... through fire and water, Master Yang!"
From inside the water dungeon came a hoarse, trembling cry from the depths of his soul