Qi Yun was different from Qi Ning—he was the legitimate eldest son of the Qi family and the current Right Assistant Administrator of the Imperial Secretariat. When the money house owners saw his private seal, they were overjoyed beyond measure and immediately lent large amounts of silver to Qi Ning, even fearing he wouldn’t borrow enough. Qi Ning obtained the silver and then lent it out at forty percent interest. With his left hand he collected the high interest payments from those who could repay, and with his right hand he received the fertile farmland from those who couldn’t. In less than a year, the amounts passing through his hands were enough for the court to take his head.

This matter came to light less than half a month after Qi Ying went north for the peace negotiations.

Some common people harmed by this case committed suicide in desperation, and their grieving relatives petitioned all the way to the Son of Heaven. The new Emperor was furious upon hearing this and immediately ordered the Court of Judicial Review to investigate thoroughly. This investigation also implicated the eldest young master of the Qi family, who knew nothing about the matter.

Qi Ning wasn’t an official and still had room for maneuvering, but Qi Yun was a dignified Right Assistant Administrator of the Imperial Secretariat—this was knowingly breaking the law. Worse still, he had been in charge of the land tax reform policy. When this matter came to light, it became even more inexplicable, with everyone saying he was using his official position to open back doors for his family members, that the Qi family was pursuing a tyrannical path.

When the legitimate eldest son of a family was involved in a major case, the Chancellor as head of the clan naturally couldn’t stay out of it. The day after both the eldest and third young masters were imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review’s jail, he was summoned to the palace by the new Emperor for questioning and accountability. The Chancellor was unprepared for this sudden crisis, became furious with grief, and soon fell ill.

During this period, with the Chancellor bedridden, the eldest and third sons imprisoned, and the second son far away in the north, all family matters fell on Yao Shi alone. She had to care for Qi Zhang while visiting the children in prison, and also had to work connections everywhere trying to overturn the case. She was truly overwhelmed and suffering unbearably. Even worse, when the tree falls the monkeys scatter—even though the Qi family hadn’t fallen yet, people had already sensed something wrong and were keeping their distance. Even the Zhao family had broken off the engagement between Zhao Yao and Qi Le a few days ago, leaving Yao Shi hitting walls everywhere.

The eldest daughter-in-law Han Ruohui was naturally worried sick seeing the situation. Her husband was so upright and honest, born into a prestigious family—what didn’t he have? Why would he need to engage in such dangerous business as private lending and land seizure that could cost him his head? He was naturally wronged! But now with her father-in-law bedridden and second brother-in-law far away in the north unable to help, and all the officials who used to fawn over the Qi family now nowhere to be found, who could she rely on? She could only return to her natal family with her pregnant belly, asking the Han family to mediate and save her husband from prison.

But her natal family also broke her heart.

Her father Han Shousong remained noncommittal about this matter, but her uncle Han Shouye firmly refused to extend aid to the Qi family, even seeming quite pleased as he said: “The wheel of fortune turning is the greatest principle under heaven! The Qi family has had smooth sailing for decades, always dominating others—why shouldn’t they be allowed to have bad luck now? Aren’t they very capable? Isn’t that Qi Jingchen able to turn clouds to rain with a flip of his hand and determine the fate of the world alone? Let them solve it themselves! What are they coming to our family for?”

Han Ruohui knew that this uncle of hers was stubborn and loved glory, always caring most about face. He felt that his cowardice in the Northern Expedition had been shamefully exposed by Qi Ying, so he had been resentful ever since. Yet he had clearly relied on Qi Ying’s strategies to gain merit in the Northern Expedition victory, but now he was eager to see the Qi family fall, seemingly believing that only this way could he erase the traces of his past cowardice and claim all the credit for himself.

How despicable and absurd!

Han Ruohui was both angry and furious, but had to suppress her temper and beg her father for help to save her husband.

Her father Han Shousong was the head of the clan and naturally could see this matter more clearly than anyone.

The Qi family… they had stood alone in excellence, conducting themselves above others. After a long time, this inevitably attracted disaster. Right after Qi Er went to the north, Qi Yun and Qi Ning’s affair was exposed—it was hard not to suspect this was deliberately orchestrated by someone.

Private lending and land deals—these businesses had always been favored by the Fu family. Perhaps the Qi family had been tricked and drawn into it by the Fu family’s schemes. And the Fu family now had an Empress, making them the Son of Heaven’s in-laws, so… this was authorized by the Son of Heaven.

Even setting aside that the new Emperor had half of the Han family’s bloodline, even if he had no connection to the Han family at all, could the Han family help the Qi family? To help the Qi family now would be tantamount to making enemies of both the imperial family and the Fu family simultaneously. Could the Han family manage that? Even if they could, what benefit would there be?

Han Shousong looked at his daughter and sighed deeply.

Certainly he was Ruohui’s father, certainly he had watched Qi Yun grow up, certainly he had deep private friendship with the Qi family.

But before family interests, all of this was insignificant. He was the head of the Han family and had to be responsible for the clan’s survival.

At such a critical juncture, the Han family couldn’t get involved in disputes. As for the Qi family… they could only pray for their own fortune.

After thinking this through, Han Shousong patted his beloved daughter’s hand and sighed: “Your in-laws’ family has many troubles now, and with your pregnancy it’s inconvenient for you to rush about. Stay home and rest for a while. When the storm passes, we’ll discuss whether to return or not.”

These words…

Could it be that he wanted her to distance herself from the Qi family?

Han Ruohui’s heart turned to ash upon hearing this, completely understanding her father’s meaning.

Protecting himself wisely, he wouldn’t interfere in this matter.

Han Ruohui was a daughter of a prestigious family and had understood since childhood that everything should prioritize the family. But she had been married to Qi Yun for several years, the couple was harmonious and deeply in love. She truly loved Jingyuan, loved that man’s character, even loved his rigid pedantry. Now that he was in prison and his family faced great calamity, how could she just abandon them?

She had a fierce argument with her parents and uncles, breaking relations, then resolutely returned to the Qi family. But days of toil had disturbed her pregnancy qi. Her nearly six-month pregnancy was very dangerous. Today the physician had said there were signs of miscarriage and urged her to rest carefully. That’s why Hui’er came to Yao Shi’s room—to avoid disturbing her mother.

The many changes over two months naturally also alarmed Old Lady Qi.

The old lady knew that private lending and land collection was business her natal family often engaged in. Upon hearing that Jingyuan and Jingan were imprisoned, she felt very ominous. But she had supported her natal family for so many years and thought they should remember her kindness, so she immediately had someone invite Fu Bi, the head of the Fu family, to the mansion to find ways to help her two grandsons.

That Fu Bi had never been close to Old Lady Qi. When visiting the mansion he agreed to everything verbally, but afterward there was no action. Seeing this wouldn’t work, the old lady changed into formal court dress and dragged her elderly body into the palace to request an audience with the current Empress—who was the niece-granddaughter she had once loved most, Fu Rong.

But times had changed. The Fu family girl who had once depended on Old Lady Qi’s support had transformed into the gracious and noble mother of the nation. After meeting, she no longer called the old lady “great-aunt grandmother” as in the past, but kept saying “Old Lady Qi” with distant formality.

Seeing that the Rong’er girl she had once cherished was now putting on imperial airs toward her, Old Lady Qi was angry but dared not speak, only suppressing her temper to plead with her gently, asking her to mediate before the new Emperor, saying: “Your Majesty knows that these two grandsons of mine are most rule-abiding, taught properly by their father to be upright—they would never commit crimes and break laws!”

The Empress maintained a dignified and polite demeanor, nodding in agreement upon hearing this, but then showed a troubled expression, saying: “This palace indeed knows the character of the two young masters of the Qi family, but the inner palace cannot interfere in government, and with solid evidence it’s really impossible to say anything—this is truly difficult…”

Old Lady Qi became even more anxious hearing this and spoke without thinking: “What solid evidence! They must have been harmed by villains and splashed with dirty water! When has our Qi family ever done this private lending business? This is simply…”

Before the old lady finished speaking, she saw the Empress’s face suddenly turn cold, her aura so sharp it felt very strange, almost unbelievable that this was the gentle and filial niece-granddaughter who had once snuggled beside her. She immediately felt as if someone had grabbed her throat and couldn’t say another word.

The Empress remained silent but raised her hand to dismiss the servants in the palace. After everyone left, she said sternly to Old Lady Qi: “Private lending isn’t the Qi family’s business? Then old lady, please tell me whose business it is?”

Old Lady Qi broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this, knowing she had misspoken. But she had been served and flattered at home for too long and had forgotten how to speak diplomatically. Now questioned by Fu Rong, her face alternated between red and white, looking extremely uncomfortable.

The Empress pretended not to notice, remaining graceful and dignified beyond words, her tone even more indifferent: “Old Lady is the Qi family’s daughter-in-law, but even more so the Fu family’s daughter. In such troubled times, I imagine one should find the right position to stand in, otherwise many people might find things difficult to handle, wouldn’t you agree?”

Old Lady Qi understood—Fu Rong was making her choose between the Qi family and Fu family. If she spoke for the Qi family and tried to save those two grandsons, she would be betraying her natal family. But if she didn’t want to make enemies of her natal family, she had to keep her mouth shut, accept this enormous crime, and sacrifice her two grandsons’ lives!

Although Old Lady Qi had been confused all her life and could never forget using the Qi family’s power to support her declining natal family, most of her life had been spent in the Qi family. She was inseparably connected with the people there—how could she truly abandon the Qi family for her natal family?

The Qi family was her life!

She had always thought supporting the Fu family was good for both families—the Fu family could gain practical benefits while the Qi family could earn the Fu family’s gratitude, so they could advance and retreat together in major events, remaining unshakeable through storms. Who would have thought her beloved natal family members were all like wolves! Not only were they ungrateful with hearts like wolves and dogs, they even bared their fangs to devour the Qi family until nothing remained!

She was truly blind!

Being confronted by Fu Rong like this, Old Lady Qi felt both ashamed and regretful. After returning to the Qi family she wept heartbrokenly and soon fell ill as well, in worse condition than Qi Zhang and Han Ruohui. The physician said her time was probably short.

Yao Shi wept continuously as she spoke, crying and asking Qi Ying: “Jingchen, what should we do now? Your grandmother, father, sister-in-law, brother—each of them… what should we do…”

Sorrowful and mournful, sobbing endlessly.

Qi Ying gently patted his mother’s shoulder to comfort her while his thoughts turned several times, his eyes growing even darker.

His mother only saw the surface of all this but hadn’t seen the deeper layers.

The trigger for this matter was a commoner who had his land confiscated committing suicide, with his family petitioning all the way to Jiankang—this was completely absurd. How many noble families were there in Great Liang? Which family didn’t hide filthy and broken affairs behind them? Which family hadn’t caused several deaths? So many commoners wanted to file complaints, but where would they find such connections? Every level involved officials protecting each other and covering up—where was justice? If no one was backing this matter or providing guidance, how would that “commoner’s” family have the supernatural ability to spread this matter until everyone in Jiankang City knew about it?

Even more calculated was the timing—it happened neither early nor late but precisely when he went north for peace negotiations, clearly seeing that he wasn’t in Jiankang then and couldn’t take charge of the family situation. And that letter-carrying servant wasn’t really trapped by bandits either—he was deliberately trapped by the orchestrators, who calculated the time to capture him and calculated the time to release him.

What would Qi Ying do if he received this family letter during negotiations? The orchestrators probably worried he would use the negotiations as leverage to fight back, so they specifically waited until the negotiations ended before letting him know about this matter. At the same time, once his family was in trouble, even if he was at the ends of the earth he would have no choice but to return to Jiankang, like a kite held by string with no possibility of escape.

The people behind this wanted him to work heart and soul to handle one last matter for Great Liang, then after draining his last drop of blood, put him to death.

Link by link, exquisitely brilliant.

Qi Ying’s heart had already sunk to the bottom.

But all this didn’t need to be told to Yao Shi. After all, he didn’t want to add to his mother’s troubles unnecessarily. At this moment he only said: “Mother need not worry—I am here for everything.”

He only said this one sentence, but his tone was steady and his expression calm, making anyone who heard and saw feel reassured. Yao Shi felt as if she had found her pillar of support and firmly believed Jingchen could bear all of this, nodding repeatedly with relief.

Qi Ying calmly comforted his mother with a few more words, then urged her to rest well. After bidding farewell to Yao Shi, he left Jiaxi Hall.

The moment he stepped out that door, his expression suddenly became solemn. All the composure and confidence from moments before disappeared completely, replaced by unprecedented worry in his phoenix eyes.

He understood—the storm was coming.

Author’s Note: Peeling away