The summons came through Hong at dawn—formal calligraphy on expensive paper, sealed with the patriarch's personal stamp.
"Young Master Wei is invited to attend the family's strategic council as junior observer. Your recent contributions merit inclusion in clan planning. Attendance required at the ninth hour."
Zǔ Zhòu smiled, setting aside the temporal theory text he'd been annotating. Third place in competition, healing Liu Hao, demonstrated cultivation progress—together they'd earned him a seat at the table where real decisions were made.
"No decision-making authority," he told his anchor servant while dressing in formal robes. "But proximity to power often matters more than wielding it directly."
The council chamber occupied the main hall's upper floor, accessible only through guarded stairs. Zǔ Zhòu arrived precisely on time, bowing to the guard who verified his invitation before allowing entry.
Inside, twelve seats surrounded an oval table of thousand-year ironwood. Liu Tiansheng sat at the head, flanked by Elder Feng and Elder Mao (who managed external relations). Other positions held department heads—military, trade, cultivation resources, intelligence.
"Wei'er," his father acknowledged. "Take position at the observation bench."
Three chairs sat apart from the main table—for those invited to listen but not participate. Liu Feng already occupied one, radiating the confidence of acknowledged heir. The third held a middle-aged woman Zǔ Zhòu recognized as Liu Yin, who managed the family's merchant operations.
"Third Brother," Liu Feng nodded cordially. "Your invitation was well-earned."
"Eldest Brother honors me. I hope to learn from observation."
Liu Tiansheng called the meeting to order. "Three matters require attention. First, the Zhang family's encroachment on our eastern trade routes. Second, the Chen family's petition to the city lord regarding mining rights. Third..." He paused. "Unusual reports from our borders."
Elder Mao unrolled a map, marking locations with red ink. "Zhang family caravans have established 'rest stops' along the Jade Road—technically public land, but positioned to intercept merchants before they reach our territory."
"Clever positioning," the trade minister admitted grudgingly. "Not illegal, but it diverts profit."
"The Chen family matter is more direct," Liu Tiansheng continued. "They claim historical precedent for the Seventh Peak iron mines. Documents from two centuries ago, allegedly granting their ancestor rights."
"Forged?" Elder Feng asked.
"Possibly. But proving so would require accessing city archives, which the Chen family coincidentally donated to last month."
Politics within politics. Zǔ Zhòu observed the dynamics carefully. Each elder protected their domain while considering family benefit. Conflicts arose not from disagreement about goals but methods.
"Military response to the Zhang family?" the war minister suggested.
"Would justify their victim narrative," Elder Mao countered. "They're baiting us into aggression."
The debate continued for twenty minutes—proposals, counterarguments, incremental adjustments that solved nothing. Zǔ Zhòu identified the core issue: they approached each problem separately rather than recognizing the pattern.
Liu Tiansheng finally turned to the observers. "Fresh perspectives sometimes illuminate old problems. Feng'er, your thoughts?"
Liu Feng straightened. "The Zhang family tests our boundaries. Show strength through trade sanctions. Restrict access to our premium goods until they withdraw."
"Sound reasoning," his father acknowledged. "Liu Yin?"
The merchant offered complex financial maneuvers that would pressure both families through market manipulation. Technically brilliant but requiring resources the Liu family couldn't spare.
"Wei'er?"
Zǔ Zhòu affected thoughtful hesitation. "May I ask a naive question first?"
"Proceed."
"Why are both families moving against us simultaneously? The Zhang and Chen families aren't allies—they competed for the southern contracts last year."
Silence. The elders exchanged glances.
"Unless..." Zǔ Zhòu continued with calculated innocence, "someone benefits from us being pressed on multiple fronts?"
Elder Mao leaned forward. "Explain."
"The city lord gains if three major families exhaust resources competing. Taxes remain constant while our expenses increase. Perhaps these conflicts are... encouraged?"
He let them draw conclusions, watching comprehension dawn. The Zhang and Chen moves were too coordinated for coincidence. Someone orchestrated the pressure.
"If that's true," Liu Tiansheng said slowly, "then responding to either family directly plays into the manipulation."
"What would you suggest?" Elder Feng asked, genuinely curious now.
Zǔ Zhòu projected nervous energy, the young cultivator offering ideas beyond his station. "What if... what if we made the Zhang and Chen families compete against each other instead of us? They both want advantages. Offer the same opportunity to both—exclusive trading rights, perhaps. But make them bid against each other."
"They'd see through such obvious manipulation," the trade minister protested.
"Not if it seemed like bureaucratic inefficiency rather than strategy. 'Accidentally' extend the same offer to both. Let them discover the duplication. Their suspicion would focus on each other."
The room fell silent as implications calculated. It was deviously simple—turn the pressure back on the attackers by making them attack each other.
"There's elegance to it," Elder Mao admitted. "Minimal resources, maximum chaos among competitors."
Liu Tiansheng studied his third son with new interest. "And the mining rights?"
"Historical documents are only as valid as their verification. Commission a 'complete historical survey' of all regional claims. Not targeting the Chen family specifically—just bureaucratic thoroughness. The delay gives time to ensure our own documentation is... comprehensive."
Another pause. Liu Yin actually smiled. "The boy thinks like a merchant. Buying time while appearing methodical."
"The third matter," Liu Tiansheng moved on, but his approval was evident. "Border reports mention temporal distortions. Scouts describe 'time moving strangely' near the eastern markers."
Zǔ Zhòu's interest sharpened, though he kept his expression mildly curious. His reality scars were drawing notice.
"Cultivation deviation on a large scale?" Elder Feng suggested. "Or natural phenomenon?"
"Unknown. But trade routes are beginning to avoid the area."
"Perhaps," Zǔ Zhòu offered hesitantly, "investigation could be combined with the Zhang family matter? If their rest stops are so strategically positioned, they'd notice distortions first. Offering to jointly investigate shows cooperation while learning what they know."
"And if they refuse, they appear to be hiding something," Liu Feng added, building on the idea. "Well-reasoned, Third Brother."
The meeting continued, but Zǔ Zhòu had achieved his goals. The elders now saw him as insightful rather than just talented. His suggestions would create chaos—the Zhang and Chen families turned against each other, bureaucratic delays preventing quick resolution, and investigation into temporal distortions that would inevitably lead nowhere productive.
When dismissed, Liu Tiansheng held him back.
"Your observations showed unusual sophistication," his father said. "Have you been studying strategy alongside cultivation?"
"The temporal manual emphasizes seeing patterns across time. Perhaps that perspective translates to political patterns."
"Perhaps. You'll attend future councils. Observation only," he stressed, "but your insights have value."
Walking back with Liu Feng, his eldest brother seemed thoughtfully quiet.
"You manipulated them," Liu Feng finally said. "Those weren't naive suggestions. You knew exactly how each family would react."
Zǔ Zhòu projected alarm. "Eldest Brother, I merely—"
"Peace. I'm impressed, not offended. The clan needs subtle thinkers." Liu Feng paused. "Just remember that subtlety aimed at family is less welcome than that aimed at enemies."
A warning wrapped in praise. Liu Feng recognized manipulation but approved its direction—for now.
That evening, Zǔ Zhòu compiled intelligence from the council:
The city lord orchestrated pressure on major families Border regions showed temporal distortion awareness Liu family resources were stretched thin Internal tensions existed between military and merchant factions His suggestions would create three-way conflict among rivals
"Chaos seeds planted," he told his network leaders. "Monitor Zhang-Chen interactions closely. They'll discover the 'duplicate' offers within days. Document every hostile action between them."
"The temporal distortions?" Hong asked.
"Will draw investigation eventually. Ensure our people report any scouts approaching the eastern regions. I want to know who investigates and what they find."
Jin Wei raised a hand. "The ancestral hall research you requested—it confirms thirteenth-generation bloodline manifestation should occur within the year. The elders are quietly preparing contingencies."
"Which the council didn't discuss," Zǔ Zhòu noted. "Family secrets remain compartmentalized. Good. Continue monitoring."
The small council had provided exactly what he'd hoped—intelligence on clan politics and opportunity to plant destructive suggestions while appearing helpful. The elders would implement his ideas, creating chaos they'd thank him for designing.
"Next council in two weeks," he decided. "By then, the Zhang-Chen conflict should be burning nicely. I'll offer solutions that seem to help while deepening the chaos."
His invitation to observe had become permission to architect the family's external conflicts. All while they remained blind to the internal corruption spreading through their younger generation.
"Fresh perspective," he mused. "If only they knew how fresh. And how perspective can be poison when properly administered."