Amid a flurry of gasps, the sharp blade in Qin Yong's hand came to a halt just above Qin Li's shoulder. Qin Li's pupils contracted for a moment before returning to normal. No one noticed the position of his hands. 'Even if Qin Yong hadn't stopped, I was confident I could kill him with a single strike the instant that blade touched me!'
As for Qin Yong, fine beads of sweat had formed on his forehead. His gaze flickered as he stared at Qin Li. 'This kid has given me too many shocks today. So many that I can't figure him out at all!'
One should never underestimate the little guys. To thrive within a great family like a fish in water was no ordinary feat. They might lack the broad perspective and magnanimity of the powerful, but they were never short on cunning and street smarts.
If Qin Li could see the old man, how could Qin Yong have missed him? The moment those figures appeared, Qin Yong had spotted them, and his heart went cold.
He couldn't fathom why the Old Master would suddenly show up, but that didn't stop the wheels in his head from turning. No matter what, blood was thicker than water.
Under the circumstances, he couldn't have just stopped. If he had, he would have been finished in the Qin Family. A wave of relief washed over Qin Yong. 'Thankfully... I didn't make a fatal mistake.'
At that thought, Qin Yong suddenly felt his back was soaked with sweat. A slight breeze sent an icy chill through him, making him shiver. He turned, his face a mask of terror and reverence, and bowed deeply. "Qin Yong... pays his respects to the Patriarch!"
The old man approached with a dark expression, walking with large, purposeful strides. Behind him, Qin Feng and the others exchanged a glance before following at a slower pace.
Only then did the onlookers realize that the Patriarch had arrived at some unknown point. They all fell silent, their faces turning deathly pale as they dropped to their knees. The Qin Family's rules were strict. For what they had done today, even exile from the family would not be an over-the-top punishment.
However, Patriarch Qin clearly couldn't be bothered with them. A middle-aged man with the air of a steward, walking behind the old man, frowned and waved a dismissive hand. The crowd of onlookers scattered in an instant. Though their hearts burned with curiosity about why the Patriarch had come, they now wished they had never been there at all.
The old man was none other than the Patriarch of the Qin Family, Qin Hongyuan. He was also Qin Hanyue's father and Qin Li's maternal grandfather.
Yellow Sand City was located in the southern part of the Cyan Dragon Kingdom. It was one of the kingdom's largest cities and the most prosperous place in the south.
As the head of one of the three great families in such a city, one could well imagine Qin Hongyuan's status.
It was no exaggeration to say that if the Qin Family's Patriarch so much as stomped his foot, the entirety of Yellow Sand City would tremble.
Qin Hongyuan glanced at Qin Yong, who stood with his head bowed, not daring to look up. "Qin Yong," he said, his tone placid, "if I recall correctly, your family has served the Qin Family for three generations. You're over forty this year, are you not?"
Qin Yong's body trembled violently. Though Qin Hongyuan's tone sounded mild and placid, he could clearly detect the Patriarch's displeasure. With a THUD, Qin Yong dropped to the ground, his body shaking as he replied, "Answering the Patriarch, I am forty-four years old this year."
"You are clever," Qin Hongyuan said. "But you are not wise enough. Very well. In light of your family's three generations of loyal service to the Qin Family..."
A flash of joy sparked in Qin Yong's heart. 'The old master is sentimental after all,' he thought. But Qin Hongyuan's next words plunged him into an icy abyss, so much so that he nearly fainted.
"You are to leave."
Qin Hongyuan's voice was not loud, but it held an unquestionable authority. He then turned to the steward and said, "Go to the accounts office and give him two thousand pieces of silver. Rewards and punishments must be clearly distinguished. That is the key to how our Qin Family has maintained its foothold in Huangsha Town for over three hundred years!"
The middle-aged man acknowledged the order, but he knew full well who the Patriarch's words were truly meant for. 'He's saying that for the Third Young Master to hear.'
At this, Qin Yong suddenly raised his head, his face streaked with tears. He choked out, "Qin Yong... thanks the Patriarch for sparing my life!"
Qin Hongyuan waved a dismissive hand and sighed. "Go on, now."
"Grandfather..." The handsome young man beside Qin Hongyuan, seemingly unable to watch any longer, spoke up with a frown. "What did Qin Yong do wrong? You're saying Qin Li was right to kill someone? How is that 'clearly distinguished rewards and punishments'?"
Qin Hongyuan glanced at Qin Feng but ignored him. Instead, his gaze fell upon Qin Hanyue, who stood there without giving him so much as a single look. He spoke softly, "Little Yue'Er, do you... still hate me?"
Hearing him call her Little Yue'Er, the rims of Qin Hanyue's eyes instantly reddened. Yet she fought back the tears, refusing to let them fall. She pursed her lips and said in a frigid tone, "Little Yue'Er died thirteen years ago."
"I knew it. You've never forgiven your father."
A desolate look fell over Qin Hongyuan's face. He waved his hand, his enthusiasm gone. "Alright, everyone is dismissed. Qin Ze, go have someone prepare Zichen Garden. Let the mother and son move in there."
Without waiting for a response or paying any mind to the stunned crowd behind him, the old man turned to leave. But in the instant he turned, the look he gave Qin Li held a newfound warmth.
"You're Qin Li, right? You've done well."
Whether it was Qin Feng, the kneeling Qin Yong, or anyone else present, nearly everyone was frozen in place, utterly petrified.
Even Qin Hanyue and her son, Qin Li, looked utterly bewildered. The moment Qin Hongyuan turned his back, two silent tears finally traced their way down Qin Hanyue's cheeks.
Zichen Garden was the very place she had lived before leaving the family. For thirteen years, countless people in the Qin Family had coveted it, yet it had remained empty all this time.
And today, Patriarch Qin Hongyuan had actually given Zichen Garden back to Qin Hanyue. It took less than an hour for this news to spread like wildfire throughout the entire Qin Family.
Everyone was left reeling from the news, unable to comprehend it. They couldn't fathom what had gotten into the Old Master. Not only did he turn a blind eye to the vile actions of that little bastard, Qin Li, but he also preached about "clearly distinguished rewards and punishments" while exiling Qin Yong, who had done nothing wrong. And most importantly... he had given the finest courtyard in the Qin Family back to Qin Hanyue and her son.
'What right did that shameless woman and her bastard son have to live there?'
This was especially true for the daughters-in-law of the Qin Family's main lineage. For years, they had all coveted that exquisite and magnificent garden, begging for it several times to no avail. Eventually, they gave up on the idea, contenting themselves with the fact that it was, at least, empty.
But now, they could no longer bear it. They resolved to go to the Old Master and demand an explanation. The Qin Family's rules were strict, but precisely because of that, not even the Patriarch could do as he pleased, could he? To give away what was essentially the Qin Family's public property to the very people who had brought it shame—what kind of farce was this?
Somehow, word of this reached the ears of several Qin Family Elders, all well into their twilight years. Leaning heavily on their canes, the Elders hobbled along, furiously cursing this offense to public decency as they marched toward Qin Hongyuan's residence.
Trailing behind the Elders were the daughters-in-law of the main family line. And behind them were various high-ranking members of the collateral branches and a number of stewards.
After all, there was safety in numbers. Besides, they truly wanted to know what could have possibly possessed the Patriarch to make such an utterly bizarre, and to many, disheartening decision.