The Xie residence wasn’t particularly large, so naturally the date orchard wasn’t far away either.

Even before drawing near, one could see the large expanse of date trees planted along the courtyard wall. Though they hadn’t been planted long ago, they already showed vigorous vitality—lush branches and dense leaves rustling in the wind.

Beneath the date trees, a group of children played. The older children were playing pitch-pot with Xie Shi’an in the front courtyard, while children seven or eight years old and younger played wildly here.

“Dense green leaves crown the date tree branches, clear skies and gentle breezes summon birdsong.” An adult couldn’t help composing poetry. “When these date trees grow tall, the scenery here will surely become even more distinctive.”

Official Yuan laughed heartily: “With so many date trees planted in the residence, Lord Xie and Madam Xie’s wish will surely be fulfilled.”

Qin Mingheng’s expression darkened.

Was that woman still hoping to bear a child with Xie Jingyu?

Did she know that those two children she gave birth to back then were thrown by Xie Jingyu at the main gate of his Marquis Xuanwu residence?

Two children who hadn’t quite died yet, only as big as a palm, so small, so tiny, on a snowy night with the north wind howling fiercely, wrapped only in a thin layer of torn bed curtain, their little faces frozen blue-purple…

If she knew about this matter, would she hate Xie Jingyu?

No, she would hate him even more—hate him for nearly sending the children down the road to King Yama.

Just as Qin Mingheng was lost in thought, he heard his son’s voice. He looked up and saw his son engaged in a dispute with the Xie residence’s second young master.

The heir of Marquis Xuanwu stared at the cricket clutched in Xie Shiwei’s hand and said angrily: “I saw this cricket first, it’s mine!”

He stretched out his hand, ordering Xie Shiwei to hand it over.

“I clearly caught it first!” Xie Shiwei snorted. “It’s your own fault for being slow.”

The six-year-old heir of Marquis Xuanwu was furious: “How dare you defy me! Who gave you such audacity? I’ll say it one more time—hand it over!”

He carried the aura unique to powerful aristocratic families. Xie Shiwei suddenly realized that the other party was the legitimate eldest son of Marquis Xuanwu, a great personage even his father couldn’t afford to offend.

If he offended the heir of Marquis Xuanwu, Father would surely scold him severely.

After recognizing this point, he looked reluctantly at the cricket in his hand, hesitating whether to hand it over.

“Second Young Master, this cricket was discovered in the Xie residence, so it belongs to the Xie residence.” Jiu’er stepped forward and whispered in his ear. “Although the young heir of the marquis residence has a higher status, he still cannot simply snatch away something from the Xie residence. Where would that leave the Xie family’s dignity?”

These words were exactly what Xie Shiwei wanted to hear. It was indeed something from the Xie residence, and moreover, it was a cricket he had caught—why should he have to hand it over?

He raised the cricket high: “If the heir wants it, come and take it yourself.”

He was taller, and raising the cricket so high, the heir of Marquis Xuanwu simply couldn’t reach it. Enraged, he violently shoved Xie Shiwei.

Xie Shiwei instinctively shoved back. Being two years older and stronger, this push sent the heir of Marquis Xuanwu tumbling down directly, letting out a pitiful cry.

Xie Shiwei looked over and saw that the heir of Marquis Xuanwu’s hand had struck a rock and was bleeding profusely.

Frightened, he froze for a moment, then immediately walked over and bent down, about to help the person up. At that moment, a large hand suddenly pushed him violently from behind.

He was pushed and fell to the ground. Looking up, he saw the furious Marquis Xuanwu, Qin Mingheng.

“Mar—Marquis…”

Xie Shiwei stammered.

The next moment, Qin Mingheng’s booted foot heavily stomped on Xie Shiwei’s knee.

Crack.

The bone joint emitted a crisp sound. Xie Shiwei’s face turned deathly pale instantly, followed by agonized wailing.

In the rear courtyard.

Yun Chu and the Marquis Xuanwu’s wife, Lady Luo, were chatting and laughing. Lady Lin and Madam Dai sat together discussing children. Old Madam Xie and Lady Yuan were also conversing pleasantly with several ladies.

The atmosphere here was entirely harmonious.

Just then, a matron ran over with an anxious expression: “Madam, something has happened.”

From the start of the banquet until now, near its conclusion, Old Madam Xie’s mood had been quite good because the thing she feared had never occurred. Just as her heart was about to settle into her belly, the servant said something had happened—these three words were like thunder striking her heart. She truly feared something as absurd as the last birthday banquet would occur.

Yun Chu’s expression remained calm: “What matter?”

The matron kept her head lowered: “The heir of Marquis Xuanwu’s finger is bleeding profusely…”

Old Madam Xie’s heart settled, and she sighed in relief: “Five or six-year-old children are at their most mischievous age. It’s normal to accidentally injure a finger. Has a physician been called…”

Lady Luo stood up abruptly, interrupting the old madam’s words: “How did his finger get injured?”

“It was the Second Young Master…” The matron’s head hung very low. “The Second Young Master pushed the heir, the heir fell onto a rock, and his finger started bleeding.”

“What?!” Old Madam Xie stood up too hastily, even knocking over her chair. The old lady steadied herself against the table, speaking one word at a time: “Was it Hui’er who caused the heir’s injury?”

Seeing the matron nod, the old lady’s vision began to darken. If servants hadn’t supported her, she would have collapsed on the spot.

Last time’s incident had merely caused the Xie family to lose face.

But injuring the heir of Marquis Xuanwu was equivalent to offending Marquis Xuanwu—the consequences were simply unimaginable.

Old Madam Xie was nearly frightened into fainting. But looking up, she saw Yun Chu completely composed. Somehow, it felt as if she had found her anchor, and strength slowly returned to her limbs and bones.

“Lady Marquis, don’t be anxious. Let’s go have a look first.” Yun Chu spoke. “The date tree grove is over there.”

Lady Lin’s heart felt somewhat heavy.

Marquis Xuanwu had married only one wife with no concubines or secondary consorts in his rear courtyard. After so many years, the marquis’s wife had borne only this one legitimate son. The couple doted on their only son to the extreme—one could say they feared he’d fall if held in their palms and feared he’d melt if held in their mouths. Yet this precious treasure had shed blood in the Xie residence. This matter would likely not be easily resolved.

Lady Lin followed as well.

Upon reaching the date orchard, they heard the physician emerging from a room to report: “The heir’s finger shows no damage to tendons or bones, but excessive blood loss requires careful recuperation for a month… Second Young Master Xie’s leg is somewhat troublesome. Even when healed, his future walking will differ from ordinary people.”

Xie Jingyu’s form staggered.

His eyes blazed with fire as he looked toward Qin Mingheng.

The heir merely had broken skin on his finger with a bit of blood, yet Qin Mingheng had actually stomped and broken his son’s leg. Hui’er was only eight years old—his entire future was ruined.

Qin Mingheng looked at him coldly: “A mere concubine-born son from your Xie residence, even if raised under the principal wife’s name to become a legitimate son, is still unworthy of comparison with my heir of Marquis Xuanwu. Even if all four of his limbs were broken, it would hardly dispel the hatred in my heart. This matter absolutely cannot end like this. Lord Xie indulged his beloved son in bullying the marquis residence’s heir—such insubordination and grave transgression! I will petition His Majesty to uphold justice!”

Upon hearing the two words “His Majesty,” Old Madam Xie could no longer hold on. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted at the courtyard entrance.

Xie Jingyu’s fists clenched tightly.

Though the marquis residence held no real power, it maintained extremely close relations with the imperial family. With just a few words before His Majesty, Qin Mingheng would be enough to make the Xie residence suffer greatly.

Hui’er’s crippled leg was already an established fact—they couldn’t let the entire Xie residence be dragged down with it.

He released his fingers and bowed with cupped hands: “This official has failed in teaching his son. That the heir was injured is the Xie residence’s fault. I beg the marquis’s magnanimity…”

Qin Mingheng’s face remained cold, clearly very dissatisfied with his apologetic attitude.

At this moment, Yun Chu walked in from the entrance, approached Qin Mingheng, and slowly curtsied: “Marquis, please calm your anger…”