A long whip tore through the air, bringing with it a sharp whistling wind.
Crack!
Qi Chuyao’s body shuddered violently. She let out a scream and clutched her backside as she retreated.
The fawning smile on her face didn’t even have time to fade before it was twisted into a grimace by the strike. She howled in pain.
“Ah! Mother! Don’t hit me!”
She shouted as she dodged, but the long whip seemed to have eyes of its own, chasing after her.
“What’s wrong with me not wanting to marry him?!”
Qin Junyue stood in place, her expression stiffening and her lip twitching.
She watched the scene unfold in the courtyard—Mother Qi, whip in hand, was aggressively chasing Qi Chuyao.
Qi Chuyao scurried away with her head in her hands, darting left and right. H
er skirt was shredded by tree branches and her hair was a mess. She looked exactly like a puppy being chased all over the yard.
“Sending a maid to deliver the Auspicious Card and dragging Junyue out of the city for hunting! You’re neglecting your duties!”
Mother Qi’s whip fell once more, striking the blue bricks at Qi Chuyao’s feet with a crisp snap.
Qi Chuyao jumped in fright and lunged forward a few more steps.
“You’re a martial artist who hasn’t even Entered the Ranks yet, and you dare wander about so recklessly!”
“Neither skilled in letters nor in martial arts… How did I give birth to something like you!”
Qin Junyue silently took a step back, hiding herself behind a corridor pillar. Those words were quite awkward even for her to hear.
Qi Chuyao’s martial talent truly couldn’t compare to hers. The Qin Family had served in the military for generations, and she had practiced martial arts since childhood.
Not only had she Entered the Ranks early, but she was also far ahead of her peers. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so highly regarded by both the Qi and Song Families.
As for Qi Chuyao? Despite practicing for so many years, she hadn’t even touched the threshold of the Fourth Rank.
However, one couldn’t entirely blame Qi Chuyao. Although she had plenty of training resources, how could Entering the Ranks be easy?
In the entire Great Qian, there were not many martial artists who had Entered the Ranks.
Qi Chuyao clearly thought the same.
Clutching her throbbing backside, she wailed as she ran, “Mother! Do you think everyone is like Junyue? Entering the Ranks isn’t that easy!”
“Had you Entered the Ranks when you were my age?!”
Mother Qi suddenly stopped in her tracks, her eyebrows arching. The long whip trailed on the ground.
She nodded, her beautiful eyes widening as she stared at Qi Chuyao.
Seeing that her mother had finally stopped, Qi Chuyao pressed her advantage. She stiffened her neck and shouted, “I’m not fit to be your daughter? Is a blind man fit to be your son, then?!”
Qin Junyue’s heart jumped. Her face remained calm, but her hand behind the pillar tightened into a fist.
Mother Qi’s grip loosened, and she slowly retracted the whip, hanging it at her waist. She stared at Qi Chuyao, remaining silent for a long time.
The lanterns in the courtyard swayed gently in the evening breeze. Light and shadow shifted across her face, making it impossible to read her expression or know what she was thinking.
“Is it such a grievance for you to marry Ning’er?” she finally asked.
Qi Chuyao rubbed the sore spot where she had been hit. Seeing her mother had stopped, her courage grew.
She straightened up and spoke as if a floodgate had opened, the words pouring out of her:
“Am I even your biological daughter? Why do you insist I marry a blind man?”
“You treat him better than you do me—I can’t even tell who your real child is!”
“Even if our families have a generational friendship, you can’t force me to marry someone I don’t like! Wouldn’t anyone be better than him?”
She clenched her fists, a stubborn look on her face as she stared directly at her mother, hoping she would rescind the order.
Mother Qi fell silent for a moment. She looked at her daughter and let out a long, weary sigh.
“I am not one to separate lovers,” she said. “Are you having an affair with another man?”
Qi Chuyao froze.
“If you are, just say it,” Mother Qi said, looking at her. “I can fulfill your wishes.”
Her tone actually carried a hint of regret.
Qi Chuyao’s lip twitched. “What do you think?!” she snapped. “You’re so strict, which man could I possibly have an affair with?”
Behind the corridor pillar, Qin Junyue nodded silently.
That was true. Although Qi Chuyao was lazy, aimless, and lacked both literary and martial skill, the Qi Family’s discipline was very strict. Naturally, there would be no secret affair.
Hearing this, Mother Qi suddenly laughed and gently stroked her whip. The smile was meaningful, making Qi Chuyao’s heart tremble.
‘Damn it! It really was a test!’
“Sigh.” Mother Qi’s smile faded as she sighed. “One day, you will realize that the marriage I arranged for you will be the Qi Family’s protective talisman.”
She looked at Qi Chuyao with a complicated gaze. “Perhaps in the future, it will also be your guarantee for a comfortable life. It’s just that you don’t understand it yet.”
Qi Chuyao gave a soft snort, her face full of defiance.
A protective talisman? A guarantee? A comfortable life?
She didn’t believe a word of it. What kind of guarantee could a blind man like Song Ning give her?
The only things that could serve as a protective talisman were power, status, and martial cultivation.
She could earn those herself.
Qi Chuyao felt that if she became a high-ranking official or achieved great things in the future, she would be the one providing Song Ning with a comfortable life.
At that time, everyone would have to depend on her. After all, she was the eldest young lady of the Qi Family. She was the daughter of Great Qian’s Minister of War.
The young girl’s ambition was higher than the heavens, as she fantasized about one day reaching the peak of Great Qian.
She felt she was born noble and that her future peak was predestined.
Qin Junyue stepped out from behind the pillar and bowed to Mother Qi, who was preparing to leave.
Mother Qi gave her a smiling glance, patted her shoulder, and turned to disappear into the night.
Qin Junyue straightened up, watching the receding figure before looking at Qi Chuyao, who was still rubbing her backside.
Protective talisman, guarantee, the future… Qi Chuyao hadn’t listened to a single word.
She was currently grinning at Qin Junyue, showing her white teeth, her hair still a mess from the chase.
But Qin Junyue had listened. She stroked her chin, wondering, ‘Exactly which “future” was Mother Qi talking about?’
……
The next morning.
Song Ning woke up very early.
The sky outside the window was just beginning to brighten, and birds were chirping on the branches.
He lay in bed, listening to the faint sounds in the distance. He had to go to the Qi Family to deliver the Reply Card today, so he couldn’t be negligent.
He sat up and felt around to put on his inner robes. Just as he finished tying the belt, there was a soft knock at the door.
“Gongzi, are you awake?” It was Xia Ling’s voice.
“Come in.”
The door was pushed open, and light footsteps entered the room. Xia Ling was dressed in a pink skirt, carrying hot water and a basin.
Xia Shuang followed behind her, as she always did, holding a sword in her arms.
After he finished washing up, Xia Ling began to help him into his new clothes.
Her fingers were very skillful as she adjusted his collar and tied his waist belt. Then she moved behind him and began to comb his hair.
“Gongzi,” Xia Ling said, her voice crisp. “When we go to deliver the Reply Card today, do you think Qi Chuyao will be at home? She wouldn’t just leave it to a maid again, would she?”
She paused and then added, “What if her attitude is bad?”
Song Ning sat upright, feeling his hair being combed stroke by stroke. He gave a faint smile.
“She won’t,” he said. “She will definitely be home this time.”