Volume 1, Chapter 35: I Don't Want This Son Anymore

He knew his son’s capabilities all too well. While the boy might not have the guts for gambling or debauchery—and with servants watching him closely, it wasn't likely he could have fallen into such traps so easily—where then had the eight thousand taels gone?

"Are you going to talk or not!"

Qi Yongxiang struck him again. Qi Haosong gritted his teeth, refusing to make a sound. His left arm was swollen high, oozing a mixture of blood and serum.

Madame Jin grabbed her husband’s arm. "Stop hitting him! Master! Do you really intend to beat him to death?"

"If I don't beat him today, he'll empty this entire household tomorrow!" Qi Yongxiang roared, kicking a chair over. "Are you going to talk! Are you going to talk!"

The rattan whip lashed against the floor and snapped, the broken piece flying toward Madame Jin. She covered her mouth in terror, crying out hysterically. "Song'er, just tell him! Your father is only doing this because he's afraid you'll go astray!"

It was truly bizarre. The gatekeepers of the manor claimed they had never seen Qi Haosong leave. Where could he have spent so much money? Madame Jin’s fingernails dug into her palms, almost drawing blood. Could it be that some audacious servant had secretly enticed him into bad habits? If she ever found out who dared to do such a thing, she would tear them limb from limb!

"Second Uncle, discipline is one thing, but don't make yourself ill over it."

Qi Jinshan slowly stepped into the room. Xie Mingyue glanced at the fallen Qi Haosong, who shot her a vicious glare. She couldn't help but sneer inwardly. She knew Xie Wanqing and she were at odds, but to think this brother-in-law was so eager to settle scores on Xie Wanqing’s behalf.

"Jinshan," Qi Yongxiang said, his temper cooling slightly upon seeing him. "This unfilial son will be the death of me!"

Qi Jinshan glanced at the stubborn Qi Haosong and flexed his wrists. "Eight thousand taels is no small sum. It certainly needs to be investigated."

Qi Yongxiang threw the rattan whip down in a rage. "He won't say a word even if I beat him to death. He's beyond saving. Take him to the Dali Temple; tell them I’m the one pressing charges."

"Master!" Madame Jin rushed over, wailing. Terrified that Qi Jinshan would actually take her son away, she scrambled to his side, pleading. "Song'er, tell your father! Who enticed you to spend so much money? Was it gambling? Or something else?"

Seeing the cold, sharp look in Qi Jinshan’s eyes, Qi Haosong felt a sudden tremor of fear. He had witnessed Qi Jinshan’s methods before. The year Xie Mingyue had fainted upon seeing him, Qi Jinshan had investigated three major cases, practically living in the Censorate. When he returned home, his sleeves and hemlines were stained with blood. During that time, the execution grounds at the vegetable market had been flooded with blood, and even the most slippery servants in the manor had become remarkably well-behaved. The mere memory made Qi Haosong shiver.

This Xie Mingyue was truly a bane; she hadn't just harmed the Second Sister-in-law, but now she had tricked his elder brother into coming to harm him as well.

"Second Uncle, are these words true?" Qi Jinshan asked, looking at Qi Haosong with a mocking smile, not missing the hatred in the boy's eyes directed at Xie Mingyue.

Qi Yongxiang swept a cold glance at Qi Haosong. "You ungrateful wretch! Our dignified Marquis household, no matter how incompetent we may be, cannot tolerate thievery or underhanded dealings. Take him away and investigate him thoroughly. If he has truly besmirched the reputation of the Marquis household, then he is no son of mine!"

He was genuinely incensed. Their branch of the family didn't have much of an inheritance; their current comfort relied entirely on the generosity of the Marquis of Shunqing, who had taken them into the manor. Qi Yongxiang had been content with their life, looking forward to the day Qi Haosong married and gave him grandchildren. But now, Qi Haosong had become so reckless that he was throwing away eight thousand taels as if it were nothing. How could he not be furious?

"I didn't do anything wrong!" Qi Haosong blurted out. Qi Yongxiang immediately slapped him across the face. "I'm giving you one last chance. Are you going to talk or not!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting like an ox. Perhaps his appearance was truly too terrifying; Qi Haosong looked from Qi Jinshan to his father and finally lowered his head.

"I had the gatekeeper's wife use the money to commission a set of jewelry. That eight thousand taels hasn't been spent; only two thousand was used, and the rest is in the bank earning interest."

"Jewelry?" Madame Jin’s wailing stopped, her expression turning fierce. "You aren't even married yet! Who is the jewelry for? Lin Lang?"

Lin Lang was a maid Madame Jin had chosen to warm Qi Haosong’s bed. She was quiet and rarely left the house. Madame Jin didn't think she was capable of such a thing.

Qi Haosong’s jaw tightened. Under the weight of Qi Jinshan’s dark, penetrating gaze, he swallowed hard. He was nervous.

Xie Mingyue suddenly smiled. "Second Aunt, just because the Third Brother isn't married doesn't mean he doesn't have someone in his heart. Perhaps he intended it as a gift."

Hearing this, Madame Jin’s eyes turned sharp. "He’s about to enter marriage negotiations, what 'someone in his heart' could he possibly have?"

Qi Haosong sensed the threat in Madame Jin’s words and clenched his fists.

Madame Jin stared at him. "Which shameless hussy is it? Daring to accept two thousand taels worth of jewelry!" Even she couldn't easily afford such expensive finery. Qi Haosong must have been bewitched by some vixen outside and lost his mind!

"Mother... it was only this once," Qi Haosong pleaded in a low voice. "Once I am married, I will devote myself to my wife."

"Gifts are fine, but who is it for?"

Qi Yongxiang had listened to enough. Seeing his son so infatuated with a woman, he barked, "If you don't tell us, when your brother finds out, that woman won't have it easy!"

Qi Haosong’s face turned pale, his pupils constricting. Reluctantly, he muttered, "It... it is the Fourth Young Lady of the Duke of Chen’s household."

Seeing Qi Yongxiang and Madame Jin both stunned, he quickly added, "This was entirely my own doing. The Fourth Young Lady is unaware of this. Father, Mother, please do not trouble her."

"Why would we do that? Quickly, someone, untie the Third Young Master." Madame Jin’s expression shifted instantly, forcing a smile. "The Fourth Young Lady is excellent; she’s a good girl. But how did you come to know her?" She wondered to herself—when she was looking at potential matches recently, the Fourth Young Lady was indeed her favorite, but this was all too coincidental.

Qi Haosong breathed a sigh of relief, clutching his arm. "The Third Young Master of the Duke of Chen’s house and I were in the same academy."

Since both the Third Young Master and the Fourth Young Lady were children of concubines, it didn't seem so abrupt that he would know his classmate's sister. Madame Jin, eighty percent convinced, rushed over, calling for medicinal balm. "You foolish child, why were you so stubborn? You suffered for nothing."

She cast a resentful glance at Qi Yongxiang, who snorted coldly. "Ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth! You haven't earned a single cent, yet you dare spend two thousand taels to woo a woman!"

"Oh, Master, stop scolding Song'er," Madame Jin said, eyeing the presence of the eldest branch and signaling her husband. "It's better than spending it on some street entertainer. Like the Heir of Prince Jin, who keeps opera singers and showers courtesans with money. Do you want Song'er to end up like that?"

Seeing that the truth was better than he had anticipated, Qi Yongxiang remained silent with a dark expression.

"So the Third Brother was just showing his affection for his future bride," Xie Mingyue said with a smile, walking to Qi Jinshan’s side. "Since all is well, Second Uncle and Second Aunt should get some rest. We won't disturb you further."

"Not at all, not at all. It’s the fault of the servants for having no sense, disturbing you both." Qi Yongxiang knew they had been summoned by a maid, so he hurriedly saw them out. Qi Jinshan had to attend the morning court; being dragged out in the middle of the night to deal with his uncle beating his son—what kind of situation was this?

As Xie Mingyue reached the door, she suddenly turned back. "Oh, by the way, Second Aunt, one more thing." She wore a look of concern. "Ever since Wanqing had that incident in the ancestral hall, she hasn't left her courtyard. I heard she even called for a doctor tonight. She must be deeply distressed. If you have the time, please go and comfort her."

As the words fell, before Madame Jin could react, Qi Haosong blurted out, "The Second Sister-in-law is sick? Is it serious? Was it because of you? It’s all your fault!"

He pointed his finger at Xie Mingyue, and the expressions of everyone present changed instantly.