Old Lady Qiu still wanted to argue, but her arms were grabbed by her two daughters-in-law. The maids and servants she had brought also became silent as cicadas, not daring to act presumptuous anymore.
Qiu Yuanqing said in a deep voice: “Don’t be too arrogant and forget propriety! What place is this? Hmm? This is Jianchuan City in the Shu region of the Great Zhou Dynasty! This realm belongs to the Li family! Princess Consort Zhongshun’s visit to Jianchuan should have been such a wonderful thing, but it was disrupted by that bastard Feizhen! He offended the Princess Consort, so being beaten was deserved!”
“But, but Feizhen has already been…”
“Whether beaten to death or crippled, it’s all Feizhen’s own doing! As his mother, you’ve only indulged your son, spoiling him into a wastrel who fights cocks and walks dogs. Isn’t the fault yours? What kind of character Feizhen has—don’t think I, his uncle, don’t know!”
Old Lady Qiu hung her head and took the scolding, her face alternating between red and white, extremely embarrassed.
Qiu Yuanqing was the legitimate second son of the main branch. Although he was younger than her husband, ever since the clan head—Qiu Yuanqing’s biological father—had gone into seclusion two years ago, almost all the power of the entire Qiu family had fallen into Qiu Yuanqing’s hands. Whether they would eat well or poorly in the future all depended on Qiu Yuanqing’s word.
Old Lady Qiu pressed her lips together and hung her head, not daring to say another word like a quail. Tears and snot covered her face as she felt heartbroken for her son who had been kicked and crippled. Thinking of how Qiu Feizhen was usually lustful and didn’t know restraint or self-preservation, she had lectured that bastard many times but he wouldn’t listen. Now he had actually molested imperial relatives, ending up crippled. Old Lady Qiu was angry at her son’s lack of ambition, tears falling like broken beads.
Seeing Old Lady Qiu become obedient, Qiu Yuanqing nodded with satisfaction and said, “You should all go back.”
He then respectfully saluted Qin Yining and said, “Princess Consort, please don’t blame us. This old man’s nephew is ignorant. After returning, this old man will definitely discipline and punish him severely.”
Qin Yining smiled and shook her head, “It’s no trouble. Since it’s not Second Master’s own household member, naturally Second Master cannot be blamed.”
Although Qiu Yuanqing’s attitude was respectful and courteous, Qin Yining felt something unusual about the whole situation. This person was not simple either. As Jingzhe had investigated, the Qiu family in Jianchuan was truly like a local emperor, able to decide life and death for officials sent down by the court, influencing the court’s personnel decisions, eliminating dissidents cleanly and efficiently. So why would they fear a Princess Consort today?
Her husband was indeed formidable, truly a war god. However, with mountains high and roads far, and Jianchuan Pass being a place where one man could hold off ten thousand, she was certain that even if Pang Xiao regained control of the Huben Army and came with his direct troops, breaking through Jianchuan Pass would not be easy.
Qiu Yuanqing’s current behavior worried Qin Yining that it might just be surface appearance, and she feared he might make moves behind the scenes.
These thoughts flashed through her mind in just a breath’s time. Qiu Yuanqing then respectfully said, “The inn is filthy. How can the Princess Consort, who is like gold and jade, make do in such a place? Although my humble residence is simple, it has several clean rooms. I’ve already ordered them to be cleaned and tidied. Please, Princess Consort, honor us by moving to my humble residence?”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yining’s face showed nothing, but alarm bells were already ringing loudly in her heart.
The Qiu family mansion was so vast, and this was someone else’s territory with abundant manpower and tight security. If she went there, wouldn’t she be walking into someone else’s trap? It would not be easy to get out again!
“Thank you for Second Master’s kind intention, but we will be leaving soon. Moreover, my subordinates are all of military background, used to freedom, and probably wouldn’t adapt to life in a great mansion. Feishan is also not at home now, so I won’t trouble you.”
Hearing this, Qiu Yuanqing’s eyes flickered, and he smiled knowingly: “Since the Princess Consort has other arrangements, I won’t insist. When there’s an opportunity in the future and Feishan is home, please honor us with your presence at our humble residence.”
“Naturally.” Qin Yining smiled and nodded.
Qiu Yuanqing turned back and ordered people to take Old Lady Qiu and her group away from the inn.
Watching these people’s retreating figures, Qin Yining couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Being able to avoid direct conflict was naturally good. But for the days ahead, she should plan carefully, otherwise she might lose her life in Jianchuan without even understanding why.
On his side, Qiu Yuanqing led his people out of the inn and immediately saw a man over sixty with a plump figure in luxurious clothes leading a group of servants carrying sticks and clubs, approaching angrily.
“Cousin Mingming, what are you doing?” Qiu Yuanqing stopped, crossing his hands and looking down as he inquired.
Qiu Yuanming said furiously, “I’m going to kill that shameless seductive fox who ruined my son’s manhood, yet she still has the face to live?” He turned back and waved, “Come, follow me in and beat her!”
Qiu Yuanqing glanced back at Qiu Yuanming and said coolly, “Don’t blame me for not reminding you. The one in that room is the wife of Great Zhou’s Prince Zhongshun, Pang Zhixi. Her father is Qin Pan’an, her maternal grandfather’s family was the former Great Yan’s Duke Dingguo. She was designated as Great Yan’s Saintess and was once proposed as Great Yan’s Empress. Now as a Princess Consort, she still enjoys the favor of both palaces, and the head of the Lu family of noble households in the capital is her good friend.”
Turning around, Qiu Yuanqing crossed his hands and paced slowly, gradually approaching Qiu Yuanming whose face was twitching with flesh: “If Cousin Ming disregards my advice and offends such a person, then you’ll have to handle the aftermath yourself. I won’t force anything.”
At this moment, Qiu Yuanming’s face wasn’t just twitching with flesh—his whole body was trembling, not from fear but from anger.
“Qiu Yuanqing! How can you side with outsiders? Just because Feizhen isn’t your son, you won’t care about him? If it were just flesh wounds, that would be one thing, and I wouldn’t be so angry. But he was injured there! When a man is crippled in that place, isn’t it enormous humiliation? That Princess Consort is just a whore! Since she came to Shu region and entered Jianchuan City, how to deal with her—isn’t that for our Qiu family to decide? We’ve handled bigger matters before, so why should we have to wrongly treat my son now!”
Qiu Yuanming spoke louder and louder, finally almost shouting for everyone to hear.
Qiu Yuanqing raised his left hand, using his long-nailed little finger to dig in his ear, then flicked his fingernail.
“I’m not deaf, why are you shouting so loudly?”
“You!”
“If you have the ability to handle the aftermath yourself, don’t come to me, don’t implicate the main branch, then I won’t stop you. After all, he’s your son. If you want to be buried with your son, how could I not fulfill your paternal devotion?”
Qiu Yuanqing stroked his flowing long beard, chuckling softly as he turned and walked away. His current appearance was completely different from the respectful and courteous manner he had shown when facing Qin Yining.
“You, Qiu Yuanqing, don’t be too arrogant!”
Qiu Yuanming shouted at Qiu Yuanqing’s retreating figure.
But Qiu Yuanqing never looked back, leading his people straight away.
Old Lady Qiu on the side tugged at Qiu Yuanming’s sleeve, “Master, master…”
“What!” Qiu Yuanming was furious.
But when he looked up, he met the probing gazes of the surrounding people and heard the buzzing discussions.
Only then did he realize that his earlier furious appearance had been seen by this group of lowly people, who were clearly here to watch the spectacle!
Vaguely, he even heard people discussing how Qiu Feizhen had become a eunuch. Qiu Yuanming became even more angry, only now realizing that their commotion had let everyone know that his son would be a eunuch from now on!
Furious and ashamed, he turned back and slapped his wife with his backhand.
“You ignorant foolish woman! Who told you to make trouble!”
“How is it my fault?” Old Lady Qiu covered her face in disbelief, tears flowing again.
The two daughters-in-law nearby lowered their heads in unison, not daring to look up.
Qiu Yuanming was just venting on his wife after being humiliated by Qiu Yuanqing’s scolding. His behavior was no different from his wife’s, so he couldn’t say anything sensible at the moment.
Qiu Yuanqing’s earlier threat was still quite effective for him. The ancestors of their branch were all from collateral branches of illegitimate lines, and by his generation, talent had withered even more.
The Qiu family had rules: any descendant with ability could serve the family. Those who didn’t want to contribute could just lie around and enjoy themselves—the Qiu family’s wealth was inexhaustible for a lifetime. The only requirement was not to cause trouble outside.
Qiu Yuanming’s lineage had always lived in luxury without doing proper work. Qiu Yuanming was a wastrel in his youth, and his father and son were also wastrels. In normal times, eating and drinking was fine for everyone, but when real trouble arose, they inevitably had to turn to the main branch.
The Qiu family head had been in seclusion for two years. In the main branch lineage, the eldest master (Qiu Feishan’s father) had died early, so now all power rested with Second Master Qiu Yuanqing. Once he caused any trouble, he would definitely have to turn to Qiu Yuanqing.
Therefore, Qiu Yuanqing’s earlier threat to him was actually very effective.
He was just saving face by finding himself a way out.
Qiu Yuanming strode ahead with big steps, while his wife sobbed quietly, not daring to cry aloud, walking behind him with her head down. When the two reached their carriage, Qiu Yuanming suddenly stopped and turned back to look fiercely toward the inn’s courtyard.
His legitimate eldest son—how could he tolerate being bullied like this?
Being crippled in that place as a man—would there ever be a chance to stand up again in this lifetime? He could never swallow this humiliation!
Back in her room, Qin Yining sat in the main seat with lowered eyes. Mu Jinghu said hesitantly, “It was my fault earlier. I was too impulsive, which gave those people an opportunity.”
“How can this be blamed on you?” Qin Yining looked up in surprise, meeting Mu Jinghu’s angry and guilt-filled eyes, immediately understanding what this blockhead was thinking.
“Young Master Mu, today you protected me, and I’m grateful beyond words. You did nothing wrong. That lecher laid hands on me, and if you had seen it and remained indifferent, that would have been wrong. You don’t need to blame yourself. Today’s fault lies with that Qiu Feizhen, with the Qiu family people who think they’re above everyone else because of their wealth and power.”
“But I seem to have caused you trouble.” Mu Jinghu felt much better in his heart. The anger and murderous intent in his eyes dissipated somewhat, but he was still troubled. “I’m afraid they’ll harm you. That second master just now didn’t look like a good person either.”