Volume One, Chapter Eight: The Scoundrel Father Breaks Down!

Qin Sheng was completely stunned by the blow. He had never expected that his in-law would slap him across the face in public.

From the corner of his eye, Qin Sheng noticed the neighbors and bystanders watching. A sense of foreboding crept into his heart, and he hastily said, “Brother Sun, let’s discuss this matter inside.”

Sun Jing raised his voice, “What is there to discuss? I am here today to break off the engagement.”

Qin Sheng’s heart sank.

The Marquis of Changping’s household was already in decline; not a single member held an official post. The marquisate was a hollow title, empty in all but name. In contrast, Sun Jing was a powerful Minister of the Treasury, holding real authority and managing the emperor’s coffers. The difference between their families was like earth and sky.

It was precisely this gap that made the Qin family desperate for a marriage alliance to boost their influence and status.

Qin Sheng put on a fawning expression and hurriedly tried to appease him, “Brother Sun, the two children are already betrothed. Why break off the engagement so abruptly?”

“If I don’t break it off, am I to watch your son favor a concubine over his wife?”

Sun Jing’s eyes were icy as he rebuked, “As the Marquis of Changping, your lawful wife just died, and before her funeral rites are complete, you take her maid as your new wife. It’s inhuman.”

“Now, before my daughter has even entered your household, Qin Youde has already gotten a prostitute pregnant and insists on marrying her into the family.”

“Truly, like father, like son.”

“What a fine family tradition the Qins have.”

With biting sarcasm, Sun Jing declared, “From this day forward, the marriage arrangement between our families is null and void. My daughter will marry anyone but your son.”

Qin Sheng hastily replied, “There’s a misunderstanding, brother-in-law. This is all a misunderstanding.”

“Enough!” Sun Jing bellowed, then boarded his carriage and left without looking back.

Qin Sheng’s expression shifted repeatedly as he watched the departing carriage. Now that the engagement was off, the Qins had lost their chance for advancement.

“He may look unremarkable, but Qin Sheng truly favors concubines and spurns his wife. Was his wife’s death in childbirth truly an accident, or was it his doing? Why else would he marry her maid?”

“Well, our marquis seems to have found true love! He doesn’t care for noble ladies, but prefers a maid.”

“With such a household, the Marquis of Changping’s line won’t last long.”

The neighbors whispered among themselves in small groups, clearly relishing the spectacle.

Qin Sheng grew even more enraged.

He wanted nothing more than to shout, but with the marriage gone and the family’s prospects dashed, all he could do was grit his teeth and slink back home.

Madam Wu hurried over, her eyes filled with anticipation. She asked eagerly, “Husband, did Minister Sun come to arrange for the wedding to be held early?”

Qin Sheng replied furiously, “Sun Jing broke off the engagement.”

“That’s impossible. Absolutely impossible.” Madam Wu was aghast. “The families are already betrothed! If the Sun family breaks it off, who will marry their daughter? Wait, no—”

Suddenly, she screamed, “Could it be that Sun Jing found out about Shen Meng?”

“Yes!” Qin Sheng ground out between clenched teeth.

Madam Wu immediately thought of Qin Bao. Only if he had leaked the news could it have spread so quickly.

She feigned ignorance, “No outsider knew about Shen Meng. How did it suddenly come out?”

Qin Sheng slammed his palm on the table, furious. “It was that wretch, Qin Bao. He left only moments earlier and Sun Jing came to break off the engagement—it could only have been him.”

“That wretch can’t live well himself and insists on dragging the Qin family down with him.”

“Despicable! If I’d known, I would have strangled him at birth.”

The loss of a minister as a father-in-law and the missed chance for meteoric rise made Qin Sheng only more furious.

The most pressing matter was to restore the engagement with the Sun family.

Let Qin Youde go and beg forgiveness, promise to handle Shen Meng’s situation, make the most effusive apologies, and finally spread word that Sun’s daughter and Qin Youde had already grown close. Under public pressure, even if Sun Jing was dissatisfied, for the sake of his daughter’s reputation, he would have to accept the new son-in-law.

Once there were children, Sun Jing would inevitably look after Qin Youde and support the Qin family for the sake of his grandchild.

Having thought it through, Qin Sheng ordered, “Send for Qin Youde, bring him back at once.”

The steward went to find him. Madam Wu, still unwilling to give up, asked, “Husband, is there any hope of salvaging this?”

“The chances are slim,” Qin Sheng sighed. “We can only send Youde to beg forgiveness and pray for Sun Jing’s pardon.”

Madam Wu was utterly desolate, tears glistening in her eyes. “I have a clear conscience toward Bao’er. Especially since this marriage benefits both our family and yours. Why must he ruin everything?”

“That wretch deserves to die!” Qin Sheng’s anger surged. “If I don’t get rid of him, I’ll never be free of this hatred.”

Madam Wu egged him on, “Even blood ties mean nothing at this point.”

Qin Sheng gritted his teeth. “If he really cared for me, he wouldn’t have done something so heartless. If I don’t kill him, I’ll have failed our ancestors.”

Wu felt she had strengthened Qin Sheng’s resolve and said no more.

Soon, the steward hurried back in a panic. “Master, something terrible has happened: Second Young Master has been arrested.”

Qin Sheng was shocked. “Who took him?”

The steward replied, “Second Young Master ran into Eldest Young Master and Princess Changle at the entrance of Yunhua Pavilion. They say Eldest Young Master and the princess are close. Second Young Master insulted him, and also the princess, so Her Highness sent him to the Prefect of the Capital for punishment.”

Qin Sheng was dumbfounded.

He had just been planning to send Youde to the Sun family to beg forgiveness, and now he’d been sent to the authorities instead.

Madam Wu panicked, “Husband, Youde is just a child—he won’t survive prison! Please, find a way to save him. I’ll prepare gifts, and you go plead with the Prefect.”

“It’s useless.” Qin Sheng’s gaze was deep. “Princess Changle is greatly favored by His Majesty. The Prefect would never dare offend her.”

Madam Wu said, “Then go to the princess’s residence and beg her for mercy.”

Qin Sheng shook his head. “The princess punished Youde because of that wretch Qin Bao. Besides, even if we went, we might not even see her. That’s not a path to take unless all else fails.”

Madam Wu was at the end of her rope, tears rolling down her cheeks. “What are we supposed to do?”

Qin Sheng’s face was grim. There was only one person they could turn to—Qin Bao.

If Qin Bao pleaded on their behalf, the princess would surely relent.

He didn’t know how Qin Bao had gotten close to the princess, but he knew that having Qin Bao intervene was the simplest solution.

Qin Sheng drew a deep breath and said in a low voice, “No matter what, I am still his father. Youde is his brother. I will go to him and ask him to speak to the princess.”

Madam Wu’s eyes lit with hope, but she worried, “What if Bao’er refuses?”

Qin Sheng was confident. “My request is already a great favor to him. What more does he want?”

“Surely he doesn’t expect me to kneel and apologize? That is out of the question.”

“If he refuses, I’ll summon the Qin clan, convene the ancestral hall, and expel him from the family.”

Madam Wu’s hope reignited, and she said gently, “Husband, you’re truly resourceful.”

Qin Sheng turned to the steward, “Find out where Qin Bao is staying.”

The steward nodded and hurried off.

This time, the search took longer—nearly an hour passed before they located Qin Bao’s whereabouts.

The steward returned to the Qin residence and reported quickly, “Master, I’ve found Eldest Young Master. He is staying at Jade Overlook Garden in the west of the city.”

“He’s at Jade Overlook Garden?” Qin Sheng frowned. “That was the residence of Deputy Minister Zeng Ruohong. After he was executed for his crimes, the estate was confiscated by the court. How did that wretch end up there?”

The steward shook his head. “I don’t know. I only heard that Eldest Young Master and Princess Changle went to the palace, and after they left, he took up residence at Jade Overlook Garden.”

Qin Sheng was puzzled. “Could it be that this wretch has climbed into the princess’s bed?”

The steward was silent, thinking to himself that if Eldest Young Master had managed that, he’d be set for life.

Madam Wu was beside herself with jealousy. Her own son hadn’t won the princess’s favor, but that bastard Qin Bao had managed to worm his way into the good graces of the most powerful princess.

It must be because the emperor doted on his daughter and allowed Qin Bao to live in the Jade Overlook Garden.

Madam Wu was deeply unsettled, but she said, “Husband, if Bao’er and Princess Changle are on good terms, you should be pleased. With their connection, it will be easy for Bao’er to ask the princess to release Youde. Then, we can ask the princess to help resume the engagement with the Sun family. Once Bao’er has the princess’s favor, and Youde marries into the Suns, the Qin family can rise again. You would be the great restorer of our house.”

Qin Sheng was delighted and praised her, “You are right. This is our opportunity for revival.”

“But what if Bao’er refuses?” Wu worried again.

Qin Sheng snorted, “A father’s order is law. I’ve already lowered myself to ask him. That’s already giving him face.”

He immediately instructed the steward, “Prepare the carriage. I am going to Jade Overlook Garden.”

The steward bowed and withdrew.

Qin Sheng had Madam Wu send someone to the Prefect’s office to ensure Qin Youde was not mistreated, then he took the carriage straight to Jade Overlook Garden.

Upon arrival, Qin Sheng strode in without announcing himself. When the gatekeeper tried to stop him, Qin Sheng shouted, “I am Qin Bao’s father. How dare you block me?”

The gatekeeper had no choice but to let him pass.

Entering the main hall, Qin Sheng saw Qin Bao calmly drinking tea. With his hands clasped behind his back, Qin Sheng spoke loftily, “Bao’er, your brother has been sent to the Prefect’s office. Go and get him out at once.”

Qin Bao looked up at Qin Sheng, his eyes cold.

“Get out.”