Springtime Affairs in a Noble Family

Dingguo Gongfu.

Madam Qin searched the entire mansion thoroughly, but could not find Qin Pei.

She found the Duke of Dingguo in the study. "Lu Zhong, do you know I can sue you?"

"What evidence do you have that I kidnapped Qin Pei?" the Duke of Dingguo sneered. "It's you who sent people to hunt him down and harm innocent people; that's why I can sue you!"

After saying this angrily, the Duke of Dingguo told Qin Shi to get out.

He's very annoyed right now.

Xie Yunting is a scoundrel, nothing you say will work, and he can't talk to Xie Yunting about his own affairs.

Qin Pei's wife had cried in front of Qin Shi several times. Qin Pei knew about the shameful things Qin Shi had done, otherwise she wouldn't have been in such a hurry to find Qin Pei.

She couldn't guarantee what Qin Pei would say to Lu Zhong.

Once Qin Pei betrays her, she will truly be completely controlled by Lu Zhong.

The Duke of Dingguo shared the same idea. He needed Qin Shi's approval to allow his son to be recognized as a member of the clan, and he could use this opportunity to imprison and interrogate Qin Pei.

For several days now, he has kept Qin Pei locked in a dark room, so dark that he can't see his hand in front of his face. Qin Pei can only see a little light when he delivers food each day.

Qin Pei is also a man of perseverance; even after all this, he still hasn't said a word.

Since the Duke of Dingguo hadn't managed to extract anything useful, he naturally wouldn't release the person.

The couple both wanted to tear each other apart, but they were helpless.

Unable to get the person or extract any information, Qin had no choice but to take the person back to her parents' home.

Upon seeing her brother and sister-in-law, Qin poured out her grievances, "That heartless Lu Zhong betrayed me back then, and now he wants to bring back this bastard child. Qin Pei's fate is unknown, brother, you must help me!"

Qin Shaoyuan said this was going too far, "Lu Zhong truly doesn't take our Qin family seriously!"

Qin said yes.

Her sister-in-law, Wang, retorted, "If you ask me, why did things come to this when you arranged someone for your husband years ago?"

"What are you saying, sister-in-law? If it weren't for our Qin family, where would Lu Zhong be today? It's already a great honor for him that I married him; he still wants three wives and four concubines? Dream on!" Madam Qin found her sister-in-law's words offensive. "Does sister-in-law have some grievance against me?"

Wang Shi did indeed have many grievances. Over the years, the Qin family had cleaned up countless messes for Qin Shi. The troubles Qin Shi caused had to be dealt with by the Qin family, and the Wang family also had to contribute.

Qin was too obsessive. Lu Zhong had received favors from the Qin family, but he was also capable on his own. Qin was single-mindedly pursuing Lu Zhong, but unfortunately, she couldn't give birth to a healthy son. How could Lu Zhong be content with that?

"I hope you can think more positively. You and your brother-in-law have spent most of your lives together. If you cause trouble now, won't you become a laughingstock in Bianjing?" Madam Wang pleaded earnestly. "The Qin family isn't what it used to be. They wouldn't let you cause trouble then, but your brother-in-law is still capable. Now the Qin family needs his help. For the sake of how good the Qin family has been to you in the past, please stop making trouble, okay?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Shaoyuan and Madam Qin were both unhappy.

"Why are you siding with outsiders?" Qin Shaoyuan glared at him. "Lu Zhong is currently favored by the Emperor, but the Emperor is getting old. In the past, we always valued civil officials, but only the Emperor values ​​military generals. Fortune changes every thirty years, and Lu Zhong is getting old too. How long can he remain powerful?"

A military general who cannot go to the battlefield will eventually be rejected.

Faced with her husband's lack of understanding, Wang could only sigh.

Qin continued to plead, "Brother, please help me! Whether it's Qin Pei or Xie Yunting, I absolutely cannot let that bastard child return to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!"

Qin Shaoyuan said he would take care of it and immediately ordered his men to search for Qin Pei's whereabouts.

As for Xie Yunting, he planned to try diplomacy first, then resort to force.

After all, Xie Yunting is the most unreasonable person, and it wouldn't be wise to make an enemy of him at this time, especially since the marriage between the Qin family and Xie Yunting is still a mess. Xie Yunting hasn't given any definite answer yet.

Qin Shaoyuan sent someone to the Xie residence to invite Xie Yunting over for a chat, in preparation for discussing marriage.

When Xie Yunting received the invitation, he had already finished talking with Cui Zeyu.

"Since you've made your decision, I'll definitely cooperate with you. But do you want to tell Sister Cui about the plan?" Xie Yunting asked.

"I'll find a chance to talk to my sister," Cui Zeyu said. "Right now, I need to see Lu Zhong."

He has made his decision and is going to start making arrangements for what comes next.

"Seeing the Duke of Dingguo is easy; he's been looking for you anyway," Xie Yunting said, adding that he could arrange it.

The next day, Xie Yunting took Shuanzi to the Qin family. As soon as he arrived, Qin Shaoyuan warmly invited him in.

"There's no one else here today, just the old man and you. Let's have a few drinks." Qin Shaoyuan gave Xie Yunting face and led him to sit down. There was a table full of good wine and food.

Xie Yunting glanced at Shuanzi, who then sat down. "Then thank you, Lord Qin. My elder brother said the Qin family is hosting a banquet today and invited me to come and enjoy the feast. I hope Lord Qin doesn't mind?"

"No problem, no problem at all, please eat." Since everyone was seated, Qin Shaoyuan dared not send them away. The Qin family had already offended Xie Yunting; if the marriage wasn't settled soon, the Qin family would be a laughingstock in Bianjing.

Shuanzi began to wolf down his food.

Xie Yunting also drank heartily, exclaiming, "Good wine!"

After a few rounds of drinks, Qin Shaoyuan was a little tipsy. He pulled Xie Yunting aside and started telling him how hard he had worked, rambling on and on. Finally, he mentioned his two granddaughters, saying, "You can have whichever one you like. The wedding day is coming up soon, so we need to be prepared. Otherwise, we'll be in a rush and things won't go smoothly, don't you think?"

"This is something you should handle. Your family keeps saying 'Third Miss' one minute and 'Fourth Miss' the next. How can I dare to name someone?" Xie Yunting was not drunk at all. Before he came today, he had already guessed what Qin Shaoyuan was going to say.

Qin Shaoyuan was in a dilemma. "Marriage is a major event, and you have to like it first."

"Lord Qin is mistaken. It's a question of whether your Qin family wants to marry into the family. If you don't want to, you can go to the official's house. I don't mind!" Xie Yunting held a grudge and remembered everything the Qin family had done before.

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Qin Shaoyuan poured wine for Xie Yunting and then brought up Lu Zhong's recent visits to the Xie residence, saying, "My sister told me that my brother-in-law has been frequently visiting the Xie residence lately. Some things are matters between the couple, and even I, as his brother-in-law, shouldn't interfere. Yunting, you shouldn't meddle either, okay?"

"Lord Qin is mistaken again. I have no connection with the Duke of Dingguo, so how could I possibly interfere in his family affairs?" Xie Yunting said, turning to leave. "You keep saying things that are unpleasant. Enough, enough. I don't think this wine is necessary!"

As he was about to leave, Shuanzi immediately stood up.

With a single glance from Xie Yunting, Shuanzi ran out to lasso the horse.

Qin Shaoyuan quickly pulled Xie Yunting to sit down. "Alright, alright, I won't talk about that. It was my Qin family's fault for not handling things properly before. I'll punish myself with three drinks, you drink one, okay?"

Seeing Qin Shaoyuan lower his stance, Xie Yunting knew that the Qin family was in a lot of trouble over the marriage arrangement, so he drank it all in one gulp.

He had always been a good drinker and was thinking of leaving once Shuanzi returned, but not long after, he started to feel dizzy.

When I looked at Qin Shaoyuan again, the person in front of me began to appear as a double image.

Oops.

He was careless.

That bastard is so bold as to drug him!

Xie Yunting flipped the table over; being a military officer, he could still barely keep his body upright.

Qin Shaoyuan had painstakingly set up this scheme, determined to make Xie Yunting and his granddaughter's relationship a fait accompli. This would not only secure the marriage but also allow him to manipulate Xie Yunting.

The servants of the Qin family swarmed over and surrounded Xie Yunting.

But they underestimated Xie Yunting's skills; even three or five of them were no match for him.

However, the medicine took effect, and Xie Yunting's knees buckled. Fortunately, Shuanzi returned in time.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Shuanzi drew his sword. "What have you bastards done to my brother?"