Qi Yuan let out a surprised “ah,” looking a little flustered. “Father, I wouldn’t dare take my sister’s place! Just being able to come home—I’m already truly satisfied…”
She looked like a frightened little rabbit, seemingly easy to manipulate and control.
Seeing her like this, Qi Zhen’s lingering regret over losing a daughter he had raised for over ten years dissipated a bit. He waved his hand, gesturing for her to sit.
Only then did he speak calmly, “It’s not your fault. She was arrogant and shallow-hearted, truly not fit to stay in this household any longer.”
He paused, then suddenly slammed the table. When he saw Qi Yuan looking up at him with wide eyes, he said sternly, “From this day forward, you are the most esteemed daughter of the Qi family—you represent our family’s face and reputation. Do you understand?!”
Qi Yuan clearly understood how Qi Zhen felt at this moment.
He had raised Qi Jin for over a decade. If she had been merely ordinary, her departure would have been no great loss.
But Qi Jin had been one of the most outstanding noble daughters in the capital. Qi Zhen had placed high hopes on her.
At the very least, he had intended to marry her into a powerful noble house.
Qi Jin had been a brilliantly packaged product, carefully polished and placed in a jeweled box by the Qi family, waiting for the best offer.
But she was far too impatient. Just because she had temporarily lost favor and was sent to the countryside estate, she made the scandalous mistake of seducing Qi Yunting.
And it became a public spectacle.
She thought she had merely cost Qi Yunting a marriage alliance with the Xiang family?
No, far more than that.
She had cut off her only value with her own hands.
How could Qi Wang possibly accept a woman with such a scandal?
Now, Qi Zhen had no choice but to cultivate another daughter.
Qi Yuan understood perfectly. She sat down meekly, responding in a soft voice, “Yes, Father.”
She looked ever so obedient.
Qi Zhen gave a satisfied grunt and tapped the table, finally bringing up the main point. “Ah Yuan, for your homecoming and official acknowledgment banquet, we want to arrange it properly.”
Qi Yuan murmured inwardly: Here it comes.
Sure enough, the next moment Qi Zhen sighed and said, “After all, you were lost for more than a decade. If Her Highness the Eldest Princess were to attend your acknowledgment banquet, and word spreads that you were once raised under her care—then no one in the capital would dare look down on you again.”
In the Qi family, even a dog had to prove its worth.
Only the useful were valued.
When Qi Yuan first brought up the Princess, she knew this moment would come. Having just sealed an alliance with Xiao Yunting, she now smiled with perfect ease: “Father, I’ll write to Her Highness and to Jiang Momo, and invite them both.”
Seeing how happy she seemed about inviting the Eldest Princess and Jiang Momo, Qi Zhen’s final traces of suspicion melted away.
He nodded in approval and said kindly, “Exactly. If they’ve helped you, we should naturally show our gratitude.”
If the Eldest Princess truly attended, it would elevate Qi Yuan’s status significantly.
Not only would it suppress the recent scandal involving Qi Jin and Qi Yunting and restore their reputation, but even the broken marriage alliance with the Xiang family might become salvageable.
A stroke of great fortune indeed.
With his goal achieved, Qi Zhen felt content. He stood and reminded her, “Alright. Rest well these next few days. If you lack anything, feel free to ask your mother.”
Qi Yuan also stood to see him out. She asked with a sigh, “Father, how is Mother doing now? If Ah Jin really can’t come back, she must be heartbroken, right?”
Qi Zhen frowned slightly.
Qi Yuan lowered her head in sorrow. “I heard from Big Brother that Ah Jin was often sick when she was little. It was Mother who prayed and made offerings everywhere, raising her with much difficulty. She must be reluctant to let her go.”
Qi Zhen immediately thought of how Madam Wang had reacted before they left.
Though she had vowed to eradicate the problem completely, Qi Jin was indeed her cherished treasure.
Over the years, Madam Wang had truly done everything possible for Qi Jin.
She might not actually be able to follow through.
Qi Zhen’s head began to ache. Regret bubbled up. Why had he left something so important to Madam Wang?
Still, none of that showed on his face. He merely smiled and patted Qi Yuan on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. She committed a grave mistake. Your mother knows right from wrong. She won’t have trouble making the right choice. Go on, no need to see me off.”
Qi Yuan smiled and answered sweetly. But the moment she turned around, her smile vanished completely.
Madam Wang hadn’t come back with them—Qi Yuan had already guessed Qi Zhen left the matter of Qi Jin to her.
She knew Madam Wang far too well.
She had always been soft on Qi Jin, hopelessly partial.
In her past life, even when Qi Jin broke her legs, Madam Wang did nothing.
At the memory, Qi Yuan instinctively touched her knees.
They were still intact now—unlike before, when she had been beaten, thrown onto the street to beg, her festering wounds crawling with maggots.
The pain from that life ran so deep that it still made her tremble just thinking about it.
Even in this life, Qi Jin had already tried to strike first.
She had simply failed this time.
With vipers like her, if you don’t pull them out by the roots, they’ll always come back in the spring breeze.
Qi Yuan stared at the candle before her and slowly picked up the scissors, snipping the wick.
The flame went out.
Qi Zhen left quickly, calling for Liu Zhong. He asked coldly, “Has the Madam returned?”
Liu Zhong shook his head. “Not yet, My Lord.”
“Take some guards and go to the countryside estate,” Qi Zhen said in a low voice. “Confirm whether Qi Jin is dead. If she’s alive, I want to see her. If she’s dead, I want the body. If the Madam doesn’t hand her over, interrogate the rest of the staff. She cannot be left alive!”
The Qi family had completely fallen out with Qi Jin.
And knowing her intelligence, she was surely aware of their intentions.
It was now a matter of life and death. If Madam Wang still let her live, she’d be releasing a tiger back to the mountains!
Don’t say a woman can’t cause trouble—Qi Zhen never underestimated anyone.
Liu Zhong, a loyal confidant who had once followed Qi Zhen onto the battlefield, was shocked by the order—but he quickly composed himself.
“Rest assured, My Lord. I’ll get to the bottom of it!”
Qi Zhen took a deep breath and waved his hand. “Go.”
He walked a little farther, then turned to glance back at the Mingyue Pavilion.
Inside, Qi Yuan had already closed her eyes.
From the moment she spoke to Qi Zhen, she knew he would hunt Qi Jin down to the end.
One more person dead— Perfect.
She thought.
I’ll never be the one who gets killed again.
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