Chapter 414: The Big Tree Attracts Wind

Chapter 414: A Great Tree Catches the Wind
When Li Chen was visiting the Xu family, Zhao Tai was experiencing firsthand the terror of the Zhao family's rules.
Zhao Tailai, bound to a stool, screamed like a pig as each lash of the whip landed on his body.
"Father! Father! Don't hit! Please don't hit!"
Seeing Zhao Taile's back and buttocks bloodied from his own beatings, screaming in agony, Zhao Xuanji's rage still hadn't subsided.
"I told you to make friends with the Crown Prince, not to be a shield for them! Don't you know that your position as chairman will bring ruin upon your father and the entire Zhao family!?"
Zhao Xuanji's roar turned Zhao Tai's face pale.
"Father, I really didn't think that much about it. And this Wen Yuan Hui, it actually seems quite good. I got carried away and agreed impulsively. Father, please forgive me! I'll go resign right now. I'll go immediately."
Zhao Tailai was thoroughly frightened. He pleaded desperately, " ... "
Zhao Xuanji snorted coldly, dropped his whip, and gritted his teeth: "Resignation? It's easy to become the leader, but it's hard to resign!"
Looking at Zhao Tailai's tear-streaked face, Zhao Xuanji felt incredibly disappointed.
"I've long given up expecting you to be any help, but now that you're grown, if you can't do anything at least don't get in the way and cause trouble! How could I have given birth to such a useless thing?!"
Zhao Tailai felt unwilling and resentful in his heart, but he didn't dare to talk back at this time. He just said weakly: "Father, I still don't understand why I became the president, and ended up being a scapegoat."
"If you could just figure it out, you wouldn't be such a simpleton!"
Zhao Xuanji rebuked, "This Wenyu Conference was organized by the Prince of Wen Wang. Why would he so easily give you the position of chairman? Do you believe me or not, even if you didn't actively join, he would find a way to pull you in, and then use every means possible to hand you this position of chairman!"

"Think about it, the Wenyuan Hui has just been established. How many powerful families in the capital have flocked to join? All those who joined the Wenyuan Hui are extraordinary descendants of noble families. Once they form an alliance, what a formidable force that would be? Such a big event, wouldn't the Dongchang be aware of it? If the Dongchang noticed, wouldn't the East Palace know?"
Zhao Tailai was stunned and said, "What does that have to do with me being the president? Isn't it a good thing? It increases the influence of our family."
"Why should the Zhao family need you to increase this influence?!"
Zhaoxuanji flew into a rage and said, “Zhao Family, I, Zhaoxuanji, rely on influence? I’ve diligently cultivated it for decades. My network of real power and connections is like an intricate web spreading throughout the court. Do I need this superficial influence? This is what happens when you stand tall—you attract wind!”
"To hold such a literary gathering so openly, what do you think the East Palace will think? What exactly are you trying to do, Zhao Tai? Are you rebelling? If you rebel, wouldn't that mean your old man is rebelling too?"
The interplay and balance in politics are filled with too many unspoken, subtle nuances that Zhao Xuanji couldn't articulate, and Zhao Tailei couldn't comprehend.
The Eastern Palace wouldn't be so foolish as to assume that the Zhao family was rebelling simply because Zhao Tai came to be the head of the association. It was obvious to everyone that Zhao Tai had been tricked and taken advantage of.
But does that matter?
It doesn't matter.
It's important that the chairman is Zhao Tailai.
Once the East Palace makes a move, Zhao Tailei won't be able to escape.
This is what passive voice is.
It is far more distressing for him to be passively caught in this situation than to have orchestrated Xu Changqing's downfall.
And this is exactly what King Wen was happy to see.