That afternoon, Wen Qingye arrived at the Wen Family’s estate.
Lush bamboo cast long shadows in the tranquil, ethereal atmosphere. The corridor was long and winding.
Wen Qingye had lived here for over a decade. He couldn’t help but pause as he walked, taking in every familiar brick and tile.
The lady of the Liu Clan was doing needlework under a palm tree. Her face first lit up with joy upon seeing Wen Qingye, but then it stiffened. "You’re back," she said. "Let ask you, what is this whole business with the Eighth Prince?"
"That’s purely a Zixu matter. I don’t even know the Eighth Prince," Wen Qingye said.
The lady of the Liu Clan said disbelievingly, "You don’t know him? If you don’t know him, why would he risk offending the Jia Family for you?"
Wen Qingye didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’So things only get more convoluted when you try to explain them.’
"Mother, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly," Wen Qingye said with a smile.
The lady of the Liu Clan nodded. As if a thought occurred to her, her eyes crinkled with a smile. "Mm, I’m quite fond of that child, Xiaoyun. She’s so well-behaved and sensible."
Just as Wen Qingye was about to speak, a commotion ca from the doorway, causing him to frown.
Wen Xu and Wen Gui walked in with several others. They were all Elders of the Wen Family. Wen Xu glanced at Wen Qingye, then lifted his head and asked, "You’re back?"
Wen Qingye gave a faint nod but didn’t rise or speak. Beside him, the lady of the Liu Clan looked anxiously at Wen Xu and hurriedly stood up.
Seeing Wen Qingye remain seated, Wen Gui couldn’t help but challenge him. "Qingye, this is hardly appropriate. Have you no basic manners? We are your elders, are we not?"
"It’s alright, I understand." Wen Xu held out a hand to stop Wen Gui, then looked at Wen Qingye with a smile. "I know I was biased in the past and hurt your feelings."
"Qingye, hurry and stand up," the lady of the Liu Clan said, tugging at Wen Qingye’s arm.
Wen Qingye stood up and waved his hand dismissively, a laugh on his lips. "Alright, alright, let’s drop the act. It’s pointless. Ever since I left the Wen Family, our relationship hasn’t really ant much, has it?"
Wen Qingye’s words cut straight to the heart of the matter, and the expressions of the Wen Family mbers changed at once.
"Wen Qingye, you!" Wen Gui flew into a rage upon hearing his words.
Wen Xu’s brow furrowed as well, but his expression quickly smoothed over. He smiled. "I know you harbor a great deal of resentnt, my boy, but blood is thicker than water."
Wen Qingye nodded. "And that is why the Yao Clan and Wen Tongyu are still alive."
Wen Gui sneered, "You? You want to kill Tongyu? How dare you!"
Suddenly, Wen Gui’s vision blurred. The sound of rushing wind filled his ears, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.
SLAP!
The crisp sound echoed through the courtyard. Wen Gui staggered back, clutching his face, as the other Wen Family mbers stared at Wen Qingye in astonishnt.
"You talk too much," Wen Qingye said nonchalantly, as if he had just done sothing utterly insignificant.
"Wen Qingye, you!" Wen Gui could never have imagined being slapped by Wen Qingye in front of everyone. ’What a disgrace!’
"I’ll kill you!"
Wen Gui’s eyes were red with fury, and he took a step forward.
"Wait." Wen Xu’s expression darkened as he held Wen Gui back. "Uncle Gui, what are you doing? At the end of the day, Qingye is still my son, is he not?"
Held back by Wen Xu, Wen Gui froze, confused by the angry look on Wen Xu’s face.
Wen Xu was actually defending Wen Qingye. Though furious and confused, Wen Gui was cowed by Wen Xu’s authority. He took a small step back, but his eyes remained locked on Wen Qingye.
Wen Qingye sneered inwardly. ’This is all an act for my benefit.’ He saw through Wen Xu’s intentions as if they were reflected in a clear mirror.
Wen Qingye said bluntly, "Let be clear. I have nothing to do with the Eighth Prince. You can stop wasting your efforts on ."
"Nothing to do with him?" Wen Xu was taken aback. He hurriedly asked, "Then the Eighth Prince..."
"I said I don’t. So what if he’s the Eighth Prince?" Wen Qingye’s tone grew colder.
An Elder behind Wen Xu couldn’t help but snap, "Do you have any idea who the Eighth Prince is? Do you realize what you’re doing? All it would take is one word from him..."
"I am no longer a mber of the Wen Family. What I do has nothing to do with you, does it?" Wen Qingye said, his expression unchanged.
Hearing this, Wen Xu roared, "Wen Qingye, how dare you say sothing so utterly defiant?"
Wen Qingye gave a cold laugh. "Who was it that sent to the Zhang Family? Who was it that ignored whether I lived or died? I’d like to ask, who?"
His words were forceful and resonant, and he t the gazes of everyone present without flinching.
"Good, very good. Lady of the Liu Clan, you’ve taught him well." Upon hearing Wen Qingye’s words, Wen Xu’s face fell. He shot a look at the lady of the Liu Clan, angrily flung his sleeves, and stord away.
The remaining Elders exchanged glances, then hurried after Wen Xu.
In the blink of an eye, only the lady of the Liu Clan and Wen Qingye remained in the courtyard.
"Qingye, you..." The lady of the Liu Clan sighed. "He is your father, after all. You shouldn’t make things so tense between you."
Although she said this, in her heart, she completely understood Wen Qingye. How could she not know of the hardships he had suffered?
Wen Qingye clasped his hands behind his back and said nothing. Inwardly, he shook his head. ’They’re just a bunch of petty people blinded by self-interest. Why should I care about them?’
...
As soon as they were outside, Wen Gui couldn’t help but ask, "Xu’er, why did you stop back there?"
"Uncle Gui, do you really think you’re a match for that brat?" Wen Xu couldn’t help but sigh.
"This..." Wen Gui recalled Wen Qingye’s swift movent and muttered, "How could Wen Qingye’s strength have progressed by such leaps and bounds?"
Wen Gui’s strength was at the Sixth Level of Refining Essence. Didn’t that an Wen Qingye’s strength had already surpassed the Sixth Level of Refining Essence? And it seed it wasn’t just by a little bit, either.
Wen Xu gave a bitter smile. "I don’t know either. Perhaps he’s a late-blooming genius. I’m starting to regret my decisions now. With his current aptitude, if he were to assist Tongyu in the future, our Wen Family would be destined for greatness."
The other Wen Family mbers around them fell silent, their hearts filled with regret.
Wen Gui gritted his teeth. This whole affair had been his idea. If it was now considered a mistake, wouldn’t the fault be his? At this thought, he quickly added, "In my opinion, that boy is far too ambitious. If he had stayed in the Wen Family, he might have beco a hindrance to Tongyu. It’s better that he left."
"You have a point. With his current aptitude and that temper he just displayed, he truly cannot be allowed to stay," Wen Xu said, nodding with narrowed eyes.
Wen Gui frowned. "Does that an there’s no one who can handle this Wen Qingye now?"
"We wait," Wen Xu said slowly. "When Tongyu returns, he can certainly take that brat down a peg. When the ti cos, I’ll have him apologize to you personally, Uncle Gui."
Wen Gui nodded, deeply satisfied. A knowing smile touched the corners of his lips, as if everything was already within his grasp.
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