Chapter Four: Letting Go of My Wife

With a light, offhand remark, Sun Feng suddenly felt as if he had swallowed something bitter and was left dumbfounded, standing there at a loss.

Yes, it was he who had sent the maid to call Lin Qian.

Originally, he had intended to use the meal as an opportunity to put Lin Qian in his place, to crush his arrogance. After all, in this household, he was the heir.

He wanted Lin Qian to know that whether he could have a meal in this house depended entirely on his favor.

Yet, with Lin Qian’s words, inviting him to eat but not arranging a seat for him, wasn’t that both demanding and dismissive at once?

What did that make him, especially with Princess Anning present?

Just as Sun Feng was at a loss, Sun Feiyan spoke up beside him.

“Feng’er first went to fetch you today; then the princess arrived, and we had to attend to the whole family’s affairs. Being busy and forgetting about you is only natural, isn’t it?”

“You forget to arrange a seat for someone you kindly invited, but you remember to slight them? That’s just rude.”

“Sure enough, the longer you stay in a filthy place, the filthier you become—in body and soul. You see filth everywhere!”

Sun Feiyan spoke harshly, without mercy.

“Sis, don’t say that. This matter really was my oversight.”

“Big brother has suffered hardships outside for three years and is sensitive; I should have taken that into account.”

“Brother, I won’t eat. Please, take the seat.”

Sun Feng said sincerely, stepping aside.

Hearing the siblings’ coordinated exchange, Lin Qian was speechless.

In just a few words, they had completely erased Sun Feng’s intent to humiliate him, instead painting him as a sensitive man, stirring trouble for no reason.

Lin Qian simply smiled and chose not to argue or explain, turning to leave.

“Sun Qian, don’t go!” Li Hongfang, seated at the head of the table, called out just then.

But Lin Qian’s steps did not falter.

The next moment, Sun Feiyan stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

“Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear Madam calling you?” Sun Feiyan glared fiercely.

Lin Qian had once been obedient and clever, always obedient to her. But after three years as a slave in the Imperial Stables, he now exuded a repulsive aura inside and out.

“Madam is calling me?”

“I recall that ever since you were demoted to the Imperial Stables, your surname ‘Sun’ was taken away. You should now be called Lin Qian!”

At that moment, Lin Qian met Sun Feiyan’s gaze calmly.

“What? You… you don’t have the Sun surname anymore? Who took it away from you?”

Panic flickered in Sun Feiyan’s eyes.

“This isn’t something Miss Sun should ask me. You should ask Madam and the Prince!”

Sun Feiyan looked toward Li Hongfang.

Li Hongfang stood, her expression full of sorrow.

“It was your father who took back your surname.”

“But though we took back your surname, having watched you grow up, a name can never sever the bond between us.”

Li Hongfang stepped forward, looking at Lin Qian with pity.

“Madam is right. A surname is just a name; I never took it to heart.”

In that instant, the Sun family members present looked as if they had swallowed something bitter, their faces darkening.

They were from the Prince of Western Conquest’s household, proud of their Sun name.

Yet Lin Qian showed no regard for the Sun surname—wasn’t this a slap in their faces?

Li Hongfang’s face shifted between pale and flushed, but she patiently said, “Qian, I specially instructed the kitchen to prepare your favorite white jade silver ear soup. It’s rare for you to come home; have some.”

Lin Qian glanced at her with some curiosity.

The so-called white jade silver ear soup was a dessert, but it wasn’t his favorite. What he loved most was braised pork hock. Born of a military family, he believed eating meat gave strength; desserts were never for him.

“Mother, white jade silver ear soup is Feng’er’s favorite. Sun… Lin Qian hasn’t eaten sweets since childhood,” Sun Feiyan reminded.

Li Hongfang smiled wryly. “I’m getting old and have forgotten Qian’s tastes!”

At ninety years old, the grandmother still remembered well. Li Hongfang was only fifty—whether she remembered was secondary; she simply didn’t care.

“Since Madam invites me, I shall obey.”

Lin Qian bowed.

This woman who had once been his mother was surely no kind soul—three years without a glance his way, now bringing him out and preparing a meal.

As the saying goes, when the truth is uncovered, the dagger is revealed. He wanted to see just what Li Hongfang’s true intentions were.

Eventually, the people at the table shifted to make room, squeezing in an extra chair.

Lin Qian said nothing, picking up his chopsticks and beginning to eat.

When he was nearly done, Li Hongfang raised her wine cup.

Seeing this, Lin Qian knew the serious talk was about to begin.

“I’m very pleased that Qian has come out today.”

“Let us toast to Qian.”

With that, Li Hongfang drained her cup.

Others followed suit, drinking in unison.

“As for another matter, Feng’er has grown up and is of marriageable age.”

Sun Feng’s eyes brightened with surprise, glancing toward Ye Qingyan.

Princess Anning was a beauty, and had a betrothal with the Prince of Western Conquest’s household. The future heir would surely inherit the Western Conquest estate, so apart from Ye Qingyan, no other woman could be his princess.

Lin Qian continued eating quietly, having already guessed Li Hongfang’s true intent. After all, he had been the heir of the Prince of Western Conquest’s household.

His relationship with Ye Qingyan was known throughout the capital. If she suddenly did not marry him, but married Sun Feng instead, it would surely invite scandal and criticism.

For the great houses of Western Conquest and Northern Defense, this would be unacceptable.

Yet Lin Qian said nothing, calmly eating the meal. He wanted to see just how many schemes Li Hongfang still harbored.

“The emperor has decreed the marriage between the Western Conquest and Northern Defense houses. The prince leads troops outside, and Feng’er has yet to inherit the throne. We women need someone to petition the emperor on this matter.”

Li Hongfang’s gaze zeroed in on Lin Qian.

“Qian, you are the most suitable person in the Western Conquest household!”

Lin Qian looked up at Li Hongfang.

He smiled, a bitter, ironic smile.

Li Hongfang wore the mask of a caring mother concerned for his fate, but in truth, her heart was cruel and treacherous.

As his former mother, she knew about his relationship with Ye Qingyan—and yet still acted this way.

This was no choice; it was an attempt to force him to give up the woman he loved.