Volume Two: Inherited Honors and Bloodied Silks Chapter 117: Ungrateful Betrayal

Yang Ning frowned. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying there was more to my grandfather’s death than meets the eye?”

Qiu Yi hurriedly replied, “That is not what I meant. This was something the Third Grand Master told me in private back when the General went off to war. He sought me out then because... because he wanted to help Qi Yu obtain a title of nobility. Qi Yu and Concubine Qiong were both present, and they personally promised to grant me a fief with two hundred households, as well as eight hundred mu of private farmland.”

“So our young master Qi Yu is quite generous after all.” Yang Ning gave a cold snort. “But what does this have to do with your secret collusion with Zhao Yuan and his people?”

Qiu Yi hesitated before answering, “It was around that time. One day, the Third Grand Master summoned me, and I met Zhao Yuan there. At that point, I did not yet know that he had become the steward of the old residence. The Third Grand Master knew about the changes there even earlier than I did.”

“What did he want with the Third Grand Master?”

“I do not know exactly what they discussed even now,” Qiu Yi replied. “But the Third Grand Master instructed me to conceal the fact that the old residence had changed its steward. He said it was wise to prepare for trouble before it arose. Qi Cheng and Zhao Yuan would both support Qi Yu, and with those two men in the old residence, control of its finances and authority would effectively be in their hands.”

Gu Qinghan knitted her brows. “So you concealed all this for the past three years?” She suddenly understood. “Were you also the one who dismissed the people from Jiangling when they came to the marquis’s residence to lodge their complaints?”

“Yes...” Qiu Yi lowered his head. “They came two or three times. Each time, I told them the matter would be resolved and sent them back to Jiangling. Once the old residence learned of it, they... they dealt with it there.”

“Qiu Yi, you have committed countless crimes. Do you realize how many people you have harmed?” Gu Qinghan was furious. “Over these past few years, the fief has repeatedly increased its taxes, and the people there have been full of resentment toward our marquisate. The good reputation accumulated over many years by the old marquis and the Great General has been ruined by your own hands. What else is there? Confess everything yourself.”

Qiu Yi lowered his head even further. “I truly do not know anything else.”

“You do not know?” Gu Qinghan said coldly. “Steward Qiu, I advise you to be honest. If we hand you over to the authorities, they will not be as gentle as we are.”

Yang Ning leisurely inserted one finger into his ear. “Do not tell me that the incident at Zhongling Estate had nothing to do with you.”

Qiu Yi’s body jolted.

Yang Ning continued, “I suspected it at the time. The assassin was so familiar with the layout of Zhongling Estate that he even knew exactly which room I was staying in. Someone on the inside must have given him that information. At first, I suspected Qi Yu, but he had never been to Zhongling Estate and had no authority to enter beforehand and inspect the grounds. Even then, I began to suspect that you, Steward Qiu, were responsible. As the steward of the marquisate, you visited the estate and made arrangements there before we went. Naturally, you knew the place extremely well. I simply could not understand why you would do such a thing, so I had no more than a suspicion.”

“My lord, it was... it was the Third Grand Master’s order.” Qiu Yi broke out in a cold sweat. Taking part in an attempt to assassinate the heir was a capital offense. He hastily defended himself, “The Third Grand Master was the one who found the assassins. At first, he merely told me to draw a map of the estate’s layout and give it to him. I... I did not know that he intended to send men to assassinate you. Otherwise... otherwise, I would never have obeyed him.”

“Then the old residence deliberately sent the tax silver to the Third Grand Master, making us believe it had never arrived and forcing us to go personally to Jiangling. That was your arrangement too, was it not?” Yang Ning asked. “Do not tell me that was also the Third Grand Master’s idea.”

Qiu Yi answered with a bitter expression, “It truly was the Third Grand Master’s arrangement. He said that as long as the marquisate fell into difficulty and ran out of money, it would have no choice but to rely on the tax silver from Jiangling. If the silver failed to arrive, Third Madam would certainly become anxious. I only needed... only needed to fan the flames from the side, and she would go to Jiangling herself. And... and she would never leave you behind. She would certainly take you with her.”

“You colluded from both sides, deliberately lured us there, and then laid a trap for us.” Yang Ning smiled. “You thought nothing could go wrong. If we died there, everything would proceed exactly as you wished. Even if we returned alive, you would have leverage over us. You could act as lawlessly as you pleased, and Third Madam and I would not dare interfere. Is that it?”

Qiu Yi lowered his head in shame. “That was... that was how the Third Grand Master arranged it.”

“You have pushed every matter onto the Third Grand Master, as though all the responsibility lies with him.” Gu Qinghan’s voice was cold. “But you have betrayed your benefactors and aided outsiders. Do you truly feel no guilt at all? Have I ever mistreated you during all these years? You lined your own pockets within the household and embezzled a considerable amount of money. You even purchased several residences outside. I knew perfectly well what you were doing, yet I never exposed you, solely because your father and you had served the marquisate for two generations. But you became insatiable. Your appetite grew larger and larger, until for the sake of your own selfish interests, you framed the heir and brought ruin upon the marquisate. I, Gu Qinghan, was truly blind in judging people. I placed my trust in a wretch like you.”

Qiu Yi’s voice trembled. “I was foolish. My lord, Third Madam, I beg you to show mercy and punish me lightly, for the sake of the many years my father and I have served the marquisate.”

“There is no need to worry about your punishment just yet.” Yang Ning gave him a half-smile. “We will see how you conduct yourself from this point onward.” Then he called out loudly, “Men! Take Steward Qiu away for now and keep him under close watch.”

Qi Feng entered from outside and dragged Qiu Yi away.

Seeing the gloom on Gu Qinghan’s face, Yang Ning consoled her, “Third Mother, do not dwell on it too much. We can deal with him properly later.”

“Ning’er, I simply never imagined that Qiu Yi would do such a thing.” Gu Qinghan gave a bitter smile. “The Third Grand Master is an elder of the clan, yet... yet he could bring himself to do this. If the old marquis and the Great General knew of it in the afterlife, how could they rest in peace?”

“Human hearts are difficult to fathom. The Third Grand Master...” Yang Ning was still speaking when he suddenly felt a spasm in his chest, followed by another pain like needles stabbing into him. The agony was unbearable, and he raised a hand to clutch his chest.

Seeing the pain between his brows, Gu Qinghan hurriedly rose and went to support him. “Ning’er, what... what is wrong? Do not frighten me.”

Yang Ning drew a deep breath and felt the pain ease slightly. He managed a strained smile. “Do not... do not worry. It is nothing serious.”

Yet he could feel that the spasms were coming from his dantian, and his heart filled with alarm. Could his dantian qi be acting up?

He thought of Lord Wood Spirit. After being injured by that old monster’s Withered Wood Palm, he had suffered two previous attacks, but there had been no recurrence for a long time. He had almost forgotten that he was still afflicted by the Withered Wood Palm. Now that the stabbing pain had suddenly erupted in his chest, he could not tell whether the injury from the Withered Wood Palm was flaring up or whether his dantian qi was the cause.

He could not help thinking of Tang Nuo. The woman had promised to reach the capital within half a month. Ten days or so had already passed. He could only hope that Tang Nuo would keep her word and arrive soon to help treat his injuries.

The pain came in waves and refused to stop. Cold sweat had already appeared on his forehead. Gu Qinghan was frantic with worry and was about to send for a physician when Yang Ning shook his head.

“Third Mother, there is no need to call a physician. I will be fine after resting for a while.”

He knew perfectly well that even Tang Nuo could not cure this kind of injury instantly, much less an ordinary physician.

Gu Qinghan helped Yang Ning to a side hall, where there was a soft couch. After he lay down, some time passed before the stabbing pain finally eased considerably.

“Ning’er, what is really going on?” Seeing the pain etched across his face, Gu Qinghan’s eyes reddened. “Are you hiding something from me? Did those people injure you the last time?”

She took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and face. It was one of her personal handkerchiefs, carrying a faint feminine fragrance.

Yang Ning did not want to worry her too much, so he said gently, “I may simply have been overexerting myself these past few days, leaving my energy out of balance. I am already much better.”

He changed the subject. “Third Mother, I drove Qi Yu and his mother out today without discussing it with you first. Will you blame me?”

“They wanted you dead. Merely driving them out was already lenient.” At the mention of Qi Yu and his mother, Gu Qinghan grew angry again. Then she added, “Ning’er, you did the right thing today. You were decisive and capable, more and more like the Great General.”

Yang Ning thought to himself that he had always acted that way, but he smiled and said, “Those who stay near vermilion become red, and those who stay near ink become black. By remaining at your side, Third Mother, I have learned some of your decisiveness.”

“You have also learned to quote old sayings.” Seeing that his complexion had improved, Gu Qinghan felt somewhat reassured and smiled tenderly. “Ning’er, how do you feel now? Is it serious?” She reached out and touched his forehead. Finding that he was not feverish, she relaxed a little more.

“I am truly fine,” Yang Ning said. “By the way, Third Mother, we have not yet gone to see Grandmother since returning. Shall we visit her first? We should tell her about what happened today.”

“You rest here. I will go see Grandmother.” Gu Qinghan rose. “This matter cannot be explained in a few words. I will tell her myself.”

She still looked worried. “Ning’er, are you really all right?”

“I really am.” Yang Ning smiled. “By the time you return, I will be up and lively again.”

Gu Qinghan smiled radiantly, her beauty bright and captivating. Only then did she turn and leave, her graceful figure swaying as she walked.

Lying on the soft couch, Yang Ning remained concerned about his condition. This attack was noticeably different from the previous ones. Not only was the stabbing pain more severe, but it also lasted considerably longer. Worse still, he could not determine whether it was caused by the Withered Wood Palm or by the qi in his dantian.

After traveling for days, he was genuinely somewhat exhausted. He had intended to close his eyes for a brief rest, but before he knew it, he had fallen into a deep sleep.

He had no idea how much time had passed when someone’s voice reached his ears. He opened his eyes and saw Qi Feng standing beside him. Sitting up, he discovered that night had fallen and lamps had been lit in the hall. Seeing the solemn expression on Qi Feng’s face, he could not help asking, “What happened? Has the sky fallen?”

Qi Feng wore a bitter expression. “My lord, it is almost the same as the sky falling. The young master and Concubine Qiong have returned, and they have brought the Third Grand Master with them.”

Yang Ning’s spirits lifted. He rose from the soft couch. “I was just about to look for him.”

“It is not only the Third Grand Master,” Qi Feng added. “The elders of the Qi clan have come as well—more than a dozen of them. Nearly every senior member of the Qi clan residing in the capital is here.”

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