Chapter 318: Holding Hands

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 Chapter 317: Private Property?

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  Chapter 84: Severing Ties

The Mo Yan family returned from their New Year shopping to find Old Mo, Hong Shi, and Mo Yongfu waiting for them in the alley, learning about the arrest of Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu.

"Zeyan, Uncle is begging you, begging you to save your two useless cousins. Uncle is kneeling to you!"

In the main hall, Old Mo's face was full of sorrow as he finished explaining the situation, then thumped to his knees in front of Mo Qingze.

"Uncle, what are you doing?" Mo Qingze was startled and rushed forward to help him up. "Please, get up. How could I let you kneel like this? Won't it shorten your nephew's life?"

Old Mo held onto Mo Qingze's arm tightly, shaking his head stubbornly. "Zeyan, if you don't agree, Uncle won't be able to get up."

Was Uncle forcing him?

Mo Qingze's expression darkened. With a thump, he also knelt down. "Uncle, I am just a commoner. I can only try to find out the cause and effect of the matter by going to the official government first."

Before Old Mo could speak, Hongshi became excited. "By the time you figure it out, your two cousins may have lost their lives! Shou'er said that as long as you bring out the secret of growing vegetables, they can come back."

"The secret of growing vegetables?" Mo Qingze was puzzled. "How our family grows vegetables is known to the whole village. Where does this secret come from?"

"How can there be none?" Hong Shi thought Mo Qingze was trying to deceive her. Thinking of her son suffering in prison, all her rationality was drowned out. "Are you resentful because my wife treated you harshly back then, so you refuse to save your cousins? Is it? Is it?"pop

Mo Qingze retreated repeatedly under her interrogation, trying to explain, but Hong Shi refused to listen, stubbornly believing that Mo Qingze harbored resentment towards her. Her words became increasingly harsh:

"You're just a heartless hypocrite. No wonder your own wife cheated on you and ran away with someone else. This is karma! If you don't save your cousins, you'll be struck by lightning, and your bastards won't have a good ending!"

"Enough!" Mo Yan couldn't bear it anymore. With a slap on the table, she stared at Hong Shi. "Get out of here now. My family doesn't welcome you!"

This loud reprimand shocked Hong Shi. When she came to her senses, she finally realized what she had said in her anger, her face pale with fear, too scared to even look at Old Mo, who was furious.

Old Mo gasped for breath, his eyes filled with unprecedented fierceness as he glared at Hong Shi. He shouldn't have let this madwoman come over.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Supporting Mo Yongfu's trembling hand, Old Mo stood up shakily, walked to Hong Shi, and slapped her several times. "You wicked woman, apologize to the children, quickly..."

"You don't have to pretend in front of me!" Mo Yan waved his hand, interrupting Old Mo's words. "It's your good sons who cheated people out of their money, and you who benefited from it. You have no relationship with my family, and we have no obligation to help you! If you think we're refusing to help out of resentment, then so be it! In any case, it's impossible for my father to use a nonexistent secret to save someone!"

After saying this, Mo Yan went over to help her father up and didn't look at the two troublemakers again!

Mo Yan's decisive words completely changed the expressions of Old Mo and his family.

Old Mo looked at Mo Qingze with the last bit of hope, but he saw him turn his head away, clearly unwilling to listen. He lowered his head in despair, and in his old eyes, hidden from everyone, was deep resentment.

Hong Shi wanted to continue causing trouble but was pulled back by Mo Yongfu. "Mother, please stop. Making a scene won't save Second and Third Brother."

In the end, the family of three from Old Mo left the Mo family reluctantly.

"Sister, I hate Grandma so much. Don't let her come into the house again."

With red eyes, Zhen'er opened the door and threw himself into his sister's arms, apparently having heard Mo Hongshi's words just now.

Mo Yan hugged him and smiled. "Okay, listen to Zhen'er. We won't let her take a step into our house again!"

Xin'er also ran over, holding her sister's arm tightly, seeking comfort.

Mo Yan put an arm around her shoulder and the three siblings hugged quietly, the faint warmth gradually dispelling the unpleasantness stirred up by Old Mo and his family.

Mo Qingze wanted to reprimand them for their lack of manners but couldn't bring himself to speak. He could only stand awkwardly aside, watching the three siblings bond.

After hugging for a while, Mo Yan sent them to their room to play and took out cups, pouring two cups of tea, handing one to his father, and taking a sip from the other.

"Dad, let's just distance ourselves from Second Grandpa's family from now on!"

This time, the two families had completely severed ties, and Mo Yan was completely fed up with them. Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu dared to scheme against them, while Hong Shi not only threw tantrums and shifted blame onto others but also never realized where her own faults lay!

Such people should not be associated with, let alone be close to.

As for Old Mo, who was good at disguising himself, he always hid behind others, enjoying the benefits brought by Hong Shi without any guilt. Such a person was even more despicable!

As for Wu Shi, she always remembered the care she had received, so if their family could separate from them, they could still maintain their relationship as relatives.

This time, Mo Qingze didn't speak up to reprimand her for her lack of manners. It seemed that he also felt that the estrangement between the two families was too great, and even if they were close, it would only be a pretense.

Mo Yan smiled and then recounted the schemes of Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu, feeling somewhat fortunate in the end. "Dad, if it weren't for Manager Xing's honesty, our family would be in big trouble this time!"

Without mentioning Yan Junyu, this transaction was conducted privately, and Yan Junyu even subtly hinted that the potion (Spirit Spring water) involved was significant, asking her not to disclose it to anyone, not even Lin Meng, who had followed them that day.

After hearing this, Mo Qingze's hand trembled, and the tea in the cup spilled out. He felt a moment of horror. "Luckily, luckily."

His anger towards Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu reached its peak, and even the guilt he had just refused to help them had disappeared without a trace...

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 684: Burdened with Unshakable Shackles, the Weighty Pain

Hu Yiyuan had been with Qin Jingcen for over ten years, so he understood him too well.

After being brothers for over ten years, it was evident that Qin Jingcen was more responsive to gentleness than to force.

He approached Qin Jingcen and spoke with a weakened voice, "Jingcen, let's talk things through. I rarely transform; it only happens under special circumstances."

He couldn't bear losing such a good friend like Qin Jingcen.

After all, if he wanted to get close to Qin Ruan, he couldn't avoid interacting with Qin Jingcen, her cousin.

Qin Jingcen didn't even look back and asked calmly, "What do you mean by 'special circumstances'?"

Hu Yiyuan hesitated for a moment before answering, "I can't say for sure."

In the past, he transformed due to the instability of his soul, but last night's transformation caught him off guard because of Qin Ruan.

He couldn't predict when the next transformation would occur.

Qin Jingcen turned around and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Hu Yiyuan. "If you want my forgiveness, it's simple. Help me with something."

Hu Yiyuan's eyes brightened at the prospect. "Tell me!"

Qin Jingcen said calmly, "Accompany me to visit my father at home."

Hu Yiyuan furrowed his brows and looked puzzled. "Why do you want me to meet your father?"

Qin Jingcen scrutinized him from head to toe, his eyes revealing a peculiar glint, as if a cunning fox were scheming something.

He said, "My father has been worried about my marriage recently and intends to arrange a marriage with the daughter of a certain energy company."

Understanding his father's intentions, Hu Yiyuan smiled mockingly. "I see! You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?"

Qin Jingcen remained composed and answered, "Yes."

"No problem, but my condition is not stable. Who knows when the next transformation will occur. So, why wait? Let's do it today," Hu Yiyuan said. To him, nothing was more important than Qin Ruan.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Jingcen nodded. "Okay."

...

After Qin Ruan hung up with Qin Jingcen, the housekeeper came up to call her.

It was time for lunch.

As she sat at the dining table having her meal, Qin Ruan called Hou Yunjiao to ask when he would be back.

The voice from the other end was a bit noisy.

Hou Yunjiao was probably in a crowded place.

But his cold and clear voice reached Qin Ruan's ears distinctly.

"It's not clear yet. It might be late in the evening at the earliest."

Stirring the remaining soup in her bowl with a spoon, she said, "I want to go back home. It's been a while since I last visited."

There was a brief silence on the other end, and Qin Ruan heard another unfamiliar male voice speaking.

After a while, Hou Yunjiao said, "Go ahead. Let Lin Hao accompany you."

"Understood," Qin Ruan responded, frowning slightly. "Where are you? It sounds so noisy."

Hou Yunjiao sighed softly, "It's a bit noisy, and it's giving me a headache."

He didn't answer the question directly.

Without asking further, Qin Ruan gave some instructions and then hung up the phone.

Lin Hao had another restless night, so Qin Ruan hesitated for a moment before instructing the housekeeper to call him.

...

Qin Family Mansion.

Qin Anguo hadn't gone out today and was at home watching a TV series.

After stepping down from company affairs, his days had become very leisurely.

Qin Jingcen brought the elegantly dressed Hu Yiyuan back home.

Dressed in a wine-red wraparound dress with big wavy curls cascading down, Hu Yiyuan exuded a feminine charm. The dress showcased his perfect figure, front and back, highlighting his excellent S-shaped body. The tight-fitting design of the dress accentuated his curves.

His alluring figure even made countless women envious.

Leading Hu Yiyuan by the hand, Qin Jingcen entered the house and saw the TV series playing on the screen.

"Dad, are you still watching Shadow Emperor's drama?" Qin Jingcen asked as he saw his father engrossed in the drama.

Qin Anguo, engrossed in the TV series, didn't even spare a glance at his eldest son.

It was a hotly broadcast war drama, starring the emperor of drama, Xiao Yunchen. The plot was gripping, and it carried significant meaning.

Qin Anguo's heart was racing with excitement, and he didn't even pay attention to his eldest son.

Ignoring his father's lack of response, Qin Jingcen guided Hu Yiyuan to stand beside him, blocking the TV screen.

Qin Anguo finally noticed the unfamiliar woman standing next to his eldest son, dressed in a way that couldn't be seen through.

"Who is this young lady?" Qin Anguo asked.

Hu Yiyuan lowered his gaze slightly and shyly said, "Uncle, hello. I'm Jingcen's girlfriend."

  His voice was pleasant to the ear, sweet and charming, without any pretense.

  Upon hearing this, Qin Anguo turned his gaze toward Qin Jingcen and scolded him, "You, too. You brought your girlfriend home without even giving a heads-up. I haven't prepared anything."

  Qin Jingcen's attitude wasn't particularly warm. He calmly responded, "Dad, it was a sudden whim. I wanted you to meet Ah Yan."

  "So, this young lady's name is A Yan."

  Hu Yiyuan nodded and pursed his lips, speaking gently, "Uncle, my name is Hu Yan. You can call me Ah Yan."

  Qin Anguo nodded repeatedly, no longer preoccupied with the popular TV show he had been watching.

  He gestured for them to sit, saying, "Good, good child, come and sit."

  "It's lively at home today."

  A pleasant and melodious voice interjected.

  Qin father and son, along with Hu Yiyuan, turned their heads simultaneously.

  Their faces were filled with shock as they looked at the person standing at the doorway, wrapped up tightly.

  "Ruan Ruan!"

  Qin Anguo rushed over with a quick step, his face radiant with an incomparably brilliant smile, resembling a blooming flower.

  Seeing his daughter's arrival, he no longer held any significance in the presence of his son and his future daughter-in-law.

  Qin Ruan smiled gently and affectionately, addressing her father, "Dad, how have you been recently?"

  Qin Anguo held onto her hand and seemed reluctant to let go, "I'm doing well."

  He looked behind Qin Ruan and only saw Lin Hao. His smile faded slightly, "You're the only one who came?"

  Qin Ruan's lips maintained a smile, "Yes, Third Young Master had something to attend to, so I came back to see you."

  Her words touched Qin Anguo's heart and made him feel warm.

  "Daughter is still the best. A daughter is like a personal little cotton jacket." He patted Qin Ruan's hand and said, "Come, let's go inside. Your elder brother has brought his girlfriend."

  "Oh?" Qin Ruan looked surprised and lifted her gaze to the woman standing beside Qin Jingcen.

  She had seen her before but didn't think much of it, assuming she was her brother's secretary.

  She never expected her to be his girlfriend.

  Qin Jingcen looked at his approaching father and younger sister, lowering his voice to say to Hu Yiyuan, "Why are you nervous?"

  "I, I'm afraid!"

  Hu Yiyuan lowered his head, his voice trembling, and he dared not even look at Qin Ruan.

  He was in a predicament.

  His ordinary and unremarkable face from before was his true protective layer.

  Now, if he were to encounter the Qin Ruan of his past memories, even if he turned into ashes, she would still recognize him.

  Hu Yiyuan held a hidden sense of anticipation. He hoped Qin Ruan would recognize him, but he also felt a certain unease.

  The heavy pain and shackles of the past might return along with the memories, causing Qin Ruan to once again be tormented by herself.

  Qin Ruan walked up to Qin Jingcen and Hu Yiyuan.

  She looked at the woman taller than her, unable to make out her exact features due to her lowered head.

  Qin Ruan playfully remarked, "Elder brother, your girlfriend seems a bit shy."

  Qin Jingcen held Hu Yiyuan's hand and affectionately said, "Ah Yan is a bit bashful."

  Qin Anguo instructed the servants to prepare tea and snacks. Then, he turned to see his children still standing and said disapprovingly, "Sit down, sit down. What are you all standing for?"

  As Hu Yiyuan took his seat, Qin Ruan finally got a clear look at his face.

  She said, "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

  Chapter 83: Chaos

On the twenty-second day of the twelfth month, around noon, when most families in Liuyang Village were preparing for lunch, a group of more than ten constables armed with long swords stormed into the village, causing a commotion.

The timid villagers quickly locked their doors and stayed indoors, while the bolder ones whispered and followed discreetly until the constables entered the old Mo residence and chained up Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu, revealing that the two brothers had committed a serious crime.

"No wonder we've been smelling the aroma of meat coming from their house every day lately. Turns out they've been squandering the money they cheated."

"And more than that. The other day, I saw them go to the city and bring back several carts of goods, rice, and flour, all packed in several sacks!"

"Tsk tsk, their old lady parades around every day in her silk clothes, boasting about how well her third son is doing, thinking he's really making something of himself. Who knew he'd come up with such a 'successful' scheme, haha~"

Many villagers crowded around the entrance of the old Mo residence, watching the struggling Mo Yongshou and the tearful Hong Shi, sharing gleeful gossip about what they had seen and heard in recent days.

These people had all fled from various places, and after more than two months, they had become familiar faces in the village. Combined with the fact that the Mo family didn't treat others well, there was no bond between neighbors. Seeing the Mo family in trouble now, they gathered to watch the spectacle, with no one stepping forward to console them.

"Master, the money was given to my son voluntarily by the shopkeeper. My son did nothing wrong. Please, spare him!" 

Hong Shi, now in tears, knelt on the cold ground, clutching desperately at the constable's clothes, begging for her son's release.

"Sir, even if my son has the guts, he wouldn't dare to cheat people. It must be a misunderstanding on your part!"

Old Mo desperately held onto Mo Yongshou's arm, preventing him from being taken away by the constables. His wrinkled face was full of panic and confusion.

"That's right, that's right, it's like this! The money was given to me by Shopkeeper Xing voluntarily, not something I cheated. I'm innocent! You can't arrest me! Let me go!"

Mo Yongshou's face turned pale as he struggled desperately, sweat dripping down his forehead like a stream.

He couldn't figure it out. He and Shopkeeper Xing had planned to set a trap together to force their cousin to reveal the secret of the vegetables. But now, his cousin's family was unscathed, and it was his own brothers who were being arrested!

"We're only responsible for arresting people. If you have any grievances, wait for the trial day and plead your case before the magistrate. Now, leave at once!"

The constable pushed Mo Hongshi aside and waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to take the prisoners away.

"No, you can't take my husband away! You can't take my husband away!"

At this moment, Niu Shi rushed out with a thick wooden stick, blocking the way. Her face was fierce.

As the eldest brother, Mo Yongfu also broke free from Hong Shi's grip and rushed over with an even longer wooden stick, preventing his two younger brothers from being taken away.

But they didn't realize that this obstruction only fueled the constable's anger.

The constable's face darkened instantly. He drew a long sword from his waist and slashed at the two wooden sticks, breaking them in half like tofu. The tremendous force knocked Mo Yongfu and Niu Shi to the ground.

Hong Shi's face turned pale with fear, but she didn't have time to be afraid. She hurriedly rushed over to pull Mo Yongfu, who was still resisting, and cried, "You can't stop them. Both of your brothers are in trouble. You can't get yourself involved."

Mo Yongfu trembled all over, looking at the constables with martial prowess, and collapsed to the ground in despair.

This blow also stunned Old Mo, Hong Shi, and Niu Shi. They watched as the broken wooden sticks lay on the ground, their eyes filled with fear, and instinctively backed away, unable to muster any resistance.

As Mo Yongshou, escorted by two constables, saw this, he calmed down. Looking at his parents and brothers who dared not resist anymore, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. He shouted to Old Mo:

"Dad, hurry up and find our cousin. Let him hand over the secret. As long as we have the secret, your son will be saved!"

Beside him, Mo Yonglu, who had been dull-witted, suddenly became smart and shouted to the still-unresponsive Old Mo, "Dad, hurry up. We must get the secret to save us——"

The cries of their sons finally woke Old Mo up from his stupor. He didn't understand why his sons would say such things, but in order to save his two sons, even if he hated it to death, he had to go and beg that nephew...

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 820: Going to Transport the Gold

Shu Yu burst into laughter. "Yes."

She walked towards the main hall, glanced at Meng Yunzheng standing nearby, and then looked at Lu Erbai and the others. "Mom, Dad, why did you come? I was planning to leave for the county."

Ruan Shi's eyes were red and teary. It was clear that she had cried tears of joy. She came over and held Shu Yu's hand. "Yunzheng came to tell us."

Meng Yunzheng said, "I've been paying attention to the news from the county office. Today, when it became so lively, I inquired a bit and found out that the Prefect magistrate had come. Later, I saw them heading towards Zhengdao Village, so I guessed that your matter had been resolved."

He thought that with the presence of the high-ranking officials, Ah Yu wouldn't be able to free up her time in the short term, so he went to find Lu Erbai first.

Upon hearing the news, the Lu family immediately dropped what they were doing. Ruan Shi and Da Ya stopped setting up their stall halfway.

At this moment, nothing was more important than whether Shu Yu would be acquitted.

After tidying up, they hurried over.

In fact, they had arrived a while ago, but at that time, there were many people outside the manor, and the high-ranking officials were still there. It wasn't convenient for them to appear, so they had to patiently wait at home.

However, they already knew the contents of the imperial edict.

But Meng Yunzheng actually knew about the imperial edict even before them because he had just received a letter from the capital this morning. The letter had detailed information about what had happened in the court. He had originally planned to come to Zhengdao Village today and deliver the letter to Shu Yu.

Since the Lu family had arrived, Shu Yu didn't need to rush to the county anymore.

When Lu Erbai and the others came, they had brought a lot of food. With such an important matter, it was only natural to celebrate.

Da Ya went to hang up the clothes, Grandma took Ruan Shi to the kitchen to work, and Lu Erbai prepared to sort things out. He took out the things that they didn't plan to bring along and would give them to Fang family or anyone else who needed them.

Shu Yu asked Da Hu if he wanted to go and see Xu Zhensheng. It just so happened that the Xu family had returned. Da Hu nodded eagerly. He had a lot to say to his good friend and needed to bid him farewell properly.

So, Zhao Xi took Da Hu and San Ya to the Xu family.

As for Shu Yu, she led the mule cart with Meng Yunzheng to the manor to bring back the gold and medicinal herbs that had been rewarded to her.

They encountered many people on the way, and everyone wanted to establish a relationship with Shu Yu. However, the change in her status made everyone feel uncomfortable, and since they weren't very familiar with her before, they didn't dare to approach her. They just greeted her from a distance.

A few brave individuals came forward to talk to her, but Shu Yu was busy and had no time for idle chat, especially since she didn't even know them. It was awkward and meaningless to engage in such conversations.

She simply climbed onto the cart with Meng Yunzheng and picked up the pace.

Finally, when they arrived at the estate, Shu Yu let out a sigh of relief.

Meng Yunzheng chuckled. "It's still alright now. Once you return to Jiangyuan County, you'll encounter even more enthusiastic people."

The thought of that scene made Shu Yu feel overwhelmed.

It seemed that as her status rose, there would be more socializing to do.

She shook her head and, together with Meng Yunzheng, moved the boxes onto the cart.

When Wang Changdong heard that they had encountered many villagers along the way, he immediately volunteered, "I'll clear the way for you on the journey back." There was quite a bit of gold in the cart, and they couldn't afford any accidents.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 683: Our Brotherly Bond Ends Here

Qin Shi Group, Chairman's Office.

The long-haired beauty leaning on the door frame of the lounge lazily asked, "Calling Qin Ruan?"

"Yes," Qin Jingcen replied without even looking up, his tone cold.

He picked up the documents on the table and casually flipped through them.

The person on the other end asked again, "Did she find anything?"

"She didn't find anything. Don't worry, your identity hasn't been exposed yet," Qin Jingcen's voice lowered, clearly in a bad mood.

"That's good!"

Hu Yiyuan smirked.

If Qin Ruan were here, she would find that the current Hu Yiyuan's facial features were far from ordinary.

He had a tall figure, and his long hair cascaded gracefully on his body like fine silk, reaching down to his waist.

His narrow eyes exuded a bewitching charm, captivating with their alluring glimmer.

The slight upward tilt at the corners of his eyes added to his captivating charm.

His sunny and mesmerizing aura made him breathtakingly beautiful.

This beauty had no trace of femininity; it was rather masculine.

Hearing Hu Yiyuan's sigh of relief, Qin Jingcen's mood worsened.

His lips tightened as he recalled the scene from last night.

Yesterday, due to a substantial business deal, he stayed late at the company. When he was about to leave, he received a call from Hu Yiyuan.

Hu Yiyuan said that he had something important to discuss and wanted to find a quiet place to talk.

Feeling exhausted from the day's work, Qin Jingcen refused to go out and asked Hu Yiyuan to come directly to the company.

After waiting for about half an hour, it wasn't Hu Yiyuan who arrived, but his cousin, Ah Yan.

She had alluring eyes and a flawlessly exquisite face that radiated a brilliant smile.

Her attire was somewhat neutral, probably due to hurrying, and her long hair was messily scattered, reaching down to her waist.

That long hair had been touched countless times by Qin Jingcen. He was even more accustomed to taking care of it than the person herself.

To talk about knowing Ah Yan, it was through Hu Yiyuan during their university days.

Ah Yan came to the campus to find her cousin.

The young girl was wearing Hu Yiyuan's clothes and sitting on the dormitory bed.

At that time, he thought Ah Yan was Hu Yiyuan's girlfriend.

It wasn't until she softly and tenderly told him that she was Hu Yiyuan's cousin that he realized the truth.

Speaking of this cousin Ah Yan, she always appeared mysteriously, and her behavior was quite peculiar at times.

Her long hair, which was dense even in hot weather, looked hot and uncomfortable.

Hu Yiyuan couldn't reach her sometimes, and Qin Jingcen learned that she couldn't comb her own hair. He took the initiative to help her, realizing that her mesmerizing eyes bore a striking resemblance to Hu Yiyuan's.

From then on, he got used to taking care of her hair whenever she appeared.

However, there was one strange thing.

Every time Ah Yan appeared, Hu Yiyuan's would disappear.

This situation persisted until they graduated from university, and Qin Jingcen still hadn't figured out what was going on.

After graduating from university, he and Hu Yiyan went their separate ways and didn't meet as frequently as they did in school.

Seeing Ah Yan in the company, Qin Jingcen's heart felt somewhat complicated.

This young girl remained unchanged, still so beautiful, exuding a wild allure that was hard to resist.

He thought about the many years since they last saw each other.

However, when Ah Yan spoke, Qin Jingcen was dumbfounded.

"Jingcen, I accidentally transformed in an emotionally charged state tonight. It seems like Qin Ruan discovered it. Can you help me find out?" Ah Yan spoke softly and tenderly, her crescent-shaped eyes shining beautifully.

Then Hu Yiyuan confessed everything...

Ah Yan and Yiyuan were the same person!

"Bang!"

The documents in Qin Jingcen's hand were slammed onto the table.

His beautifully gentle face turned cold, and he stared at Hu Yiyuan with a stern look. "How much have you been hiding from me?"

Hu Yiyuan let out a dry laugh. "This time, nothing more."

"You said the same last time!"

Qin Jingcen stood up and walked toward Hu Yiyuan, his imposing aura overwhelming, and his whole body exuding a gloomy atmosphere.

Hu Yiyuan noticed the bad situation and tried to slip into the lounge.

However, before he could take two steps, his long hair was grabbed from behind.

Hu Yiyuan exclaimed, "Ouch! Jingcen, let go! It hurts!"

Qin Jingcen held onto his hair and pulled him closer.

His cold voice came from behind, "Yiyuan, I've told you before, don't lie to me."

Hu Yiyuan was sweating, remembering the pain he suffered in the Qin family and how Su Shuang had beaten him. It even made his face pale.

"Is this a special case?" Qin Jingcen sneered.

He toyed with Hu Yiyuan's hair that he had become accustomed to managing and said sarcastically, "Cousin, Ah Yan? You have so many identities."

His voice didn't fluctuate much, but the dangerous aura enveloped them.

Hu Yiyuan's mind raced at a fast pace, trying to come up with a countermeasure.

Qin Jingcen didn't give him a chance and pushed him into the lounge, ready to settle the score.

"Bang!"

The door was closed from the inside, and Hu Yiyuan's pitiful cries echoed from inside the room.

"Qin Jingcen, you're going too far! I accidentally exposed my identity when I transformed last night in front of Qin Ruan. Now, you're even beating me up!" Hu Yiyuan's voice echoed from inside the room.

"Qin Jingcen, you are so heartless! I need comforting!"

Qin Jingcen coldly responded, "Indeed, I'm shocked by your deception and infuriated by your attempt to impersonate your cousin Ah Yan. I spent considerable effort last time to deceive Qin Ruan with your made-up story. Yiyuan, our brotherly bond ends here."

Hu Yiyuan was lying on the ground, disbelieving, as he looked up to see Qin Jingcen's cold and solemn face.

"You... Are you cutting ties with me?!"

Qin Jingcen's expression remained emotionless as he uttered a straightforward statement, "Whether it's Hu Yiyuan or your so-called cousin Ah Yan, both of you will disappear from my world."

His gaze was serious, his jaw tense, and his face was serious enough to send shivers down one's spine.

"Are you serious?" Hu Yiyuan was taken aback.

With a cold hum, Qin Jingcen took out a wooden hairpin from his pocket and walked behind Hu Yiyuan.

He lifted Hu Yiyuan's silky long hair and expertly combed it with his fingers.

"It's lunchtime now, and most of the company employees should be at the cafeteria. There may be a few people still working in their offices. If you go out like this, you'll become

a laughingstock."

Hu Yiyuan threatened, "Laugh at me? I'll eat them!"

Qin Jingcen didn't say anything. He skillfully

tidied up Hu Yiyuan's long hair, securing it with the wooden hairpin.

Even without seeing Hu Yiyuan's face, he could imagine his extraordinary appearance.

Qin Jingcen's deep eyes, like an ancient pool, stood behind Hu Yiyuan, looking at his somewhat slender figure. A playful smile appeared on his lips.

He pushed Hu Yiyuan's shoulder, his voice slightly cold, "Let's go."

Hu Yiyuan clenched his fists tightly, and his eyes flickered with a chilling light.

He still couldn't accept it, "Jingcen, is this necessary to make such a big fuss?"

With a sigh, Qin Jingcen touched his forehead. His voice was tinged with hurt and a touch of pampering. "I told you before, I hate being deceived."

"Fine, fine!"

Hu Yiyuan's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned around to see Qin Jingcen's sad and heavy expression.

"You, you must like Ah Yan, right?"

Qin Jingcen's emotionless gaze shifted to him, and a hint of mockery appeared on his face. "Liking her after not seeing her for so many years? That's ridiculous!"

"Oh..." Hu Yiyuan's disappointment showed on his face. "Then you just find me repulsive."

"Yes, I find you very repulsive," Qin Jingcen stated plainly.

Hu Yiyuan turned away, trying to hide his emotions. "Then you must be repulsed by me because of her."

"Hmm, very repulsed," Qin Jingcen's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

He turned and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window, leaning against it with one hand, exuding a spoiled and coquettish atmosphere, as if saying, "I'm hurt, I need comfort."

  Chapter 82: Punishment (Part 2)

Yan Junyu thought Mo Yan was shocked by his identity and couldn't help but feel proud. "That's right, I am the eldest grandson of the Wu'an Mansion. In the capital, I'm known as the 'Little Lord.'"

With the affirmative answer, Mo Yan wished she could smash the ink jade and ring in her hand onto his smug face.

If it weren't for the Wu'an Mansion back then, her father wouldn't have been framed and suffered. She didn't expect that the person she was trading with this time turned out to be the eldest grandson of the Wu'an Mansion. She didn't know whether to marvel at the irony or lament the depth of her enemies!

Seeing her expression turning unpleasant, Yan Junyu joked, "What, do our families have some grudge?"

"You have quite the imagination!" Mo Yan's eyes twitched, unable to resist glaring at him, but she didn't mention that matter.

Ultimately, that matter had nothing to do with him, and later he personally dealt with Bu Shiren and even had hundreds of taels sent as compensation. If she kept holding onto it, it would seem narrow-minded.

Moreover, with the trade between them now, the Wu'an Mansion was indeed a powerful backer. With this in mind, she couldn't afford to ruin the relationship.

Thinking of this, Mo Yan calmly accepted the reality that she had latched onto a big thigh, which was the Wu'an Mansion.

Yan Junyu didn't quite understand the meaning of her words, but he guessed it wasn't a compliment. He couldn't be bothered to argue with a girl and returned to his lazy demeanor. "I've agreed to your request. Now, should you tell me about your potions?"

Mo Yan nodded. Apart from the potion that could bestow intelligence on animals, she briefly explained the ability to stimulate the growth of all things, emphasizing its effectiveness in strengthening the body.

She was sure that this man valued the detoxifying and health benefits of the Spirit Spring water.

Sure enough, Yan Junyu listened very carefully. Without realizing it, he sat up straight, and when Mo Yan mentioned "prolonging life with long-term use," he exuded an excited and joyful aura.

This trade was a success for Mo Yan as she secured the support of a powerful ally, and Yan Junyu obtained what he desired, even better than he had imagined. It could be said that both parties were very satisfied!

"Oh, by the way, your uncle cheated me out of ten thousand taels. How do you think I should punish him?" Before leaving, Yan Junyu shook the evidence of Mo Yongshou's debt agreement, teasing Mo Yan.

Mo Yan was speechless about this person's perverse taste. "You're the creditor, so it's up to you how to punish him!"

"Hmph, if it weren't for the fact that your potions still have some use, I wouldn't bother asking you! Since you're ungrateful, consider those ten thousand taels as his thank-you gift to me!"

Yan Junyu never intended to force this girl into submission by using underhanded means. He knew Mo Yongshou wasn't a good person, which was why he had instructed Xiao Qiang to pretend to cooperate with Mo Yongshou's scheme. It was all to express his sincerity during this meeting. He didn't expect this girl to be ungrateful, which really angered him!

Mo Yan believed him and hesitated for a moment before asking, "If you report him, what will happen to Mo Yongshou?"

Seeing her reaction, Yan Junyu glanced at her arrogantly before saying, "According to the laws of Da Chu, those who cheat out over ten thousand taels can be sentenced to death. If they repay the amount, they will be sentenced to thirty strokes of the cane and exile of three thousand miles, never to return."

Mo Yan was greatly surprised. "That severe?"

Yan Junyu gave her a disdainful look without mentioning that if he had agreed to give Mo Yongshou only a thousand taels in the first place, and as long as the money was repaid, he would only receive thirty strokes of the cane and a ten-year prison sentence. He didn't know what she was thinking. He had generously given ten thousand taels. If he wanted a harsher punishment, he had a reason, but judging by the situation, this girl probably wouldn't go through with it!

Hmph, it's all for nothing!

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 Chapter 821: The Reason for Being Appointed as Village Chief

Shu Yu didn't refuse Wang Changdong's offer, so she walked ahead on the way back.

True to Wang Changdong's words, the people they encountered on the road no longer approached her for awkward conversations.

With some free time, Shu Yu remembered what Meng Yunzheng had said earlier about receiving a letter.

She immediately asked, "What did the letter say? Did it mention why the Emperor appointed me as the village Lord?"

At the mention of this, Meng Yunzheng's expression became slightly complicated. After a moment of silence, he said, "It's probably because of the relationship with the Master of Dongqing Temple."

"Related to my master?"

"Yes, but it's not just that. It's also related to various power struggles."

Shu Yu listened attentively.

In fact, the main reason was the division of power within the court. As Shu Yu had thought, the most widely used place for the heat packs was the border defense forces, where it was extremely cold.

The officials at the Ministry of War were overjoyed to have something cheap that could improve the living conditions of their soldiers.

Moreover, Shu Yu was just a woman and posed no threat to them. Naturally, they were happy to speak on her behalf. Once they started, the people around the Second and Third Princes began to consider the matter.

The Ministry of War was the group they wanted to win over. Now that a heat packs had garnered so much attention from them, they naturally couldn't help but support it. After all, she was just a woman. No matter how generous the rewards she received were, what did it matter?

As a result, the Emperor began to pay attention. Originally, he only wanted to acquit her and send her back to her hometown.

Later on, he paid even more attention and inquired about her detailed situation.

Well, the person who had presided over the trial of the Shu family in the beginning was the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was seemingly an official of the Emperor. He naturally spoke in favor of Shu Yu, and his words seemed unbiased, but in reality, he focused on removing any connection between her and the Shu family.

The Emperor was quite surprised by Shu Yu's background. He thought about how she could still create a beneficial heat packs under such harsh conditions and wanted to learn about her life in exile.

At this time, Yao Tianqin had just returned to the capital and started attending morning court sessions again.

He had just found out that his little brother's second daughter had accomplished such a big thing. He didn't want to miss the opportunity, so he immediately recounted Shu Yu's experiences in detail.

Of course, his emphasis was interesting. He expressed deep emotion over the Lu family's deep affection for her, mentioning how the entire family had traveled thousands of miles from Jiangyuan County to Linzhang Prefecture for her.

At first, the Emperor admired the Lu family's courage. But as he listened, he unexpectedly heard the name of the Master of Dongqing Temple.

So, the reason why the Lu family dared to go to the southwest without hesitation was that they had received guidance from the Master of Dongqing Temple?

The Emperor highly valued the Master of Dongqing Temple and knew better than anyone how difficult it was to obtain a word from her. Yet, the Master had given the Lu family such clear directions, allowing them to reunite as a family.

The Emperor believed that the Master wouldn't help the Lu family without reason.

Sure enough, this Shu Yu had developed the heat packs. Who knew what other things she might do in the future for the benefit of the country and the people?

The Emperor immediately decided to bestow a title upon her. If it weren't for fear of being too high-profile, he might have given her more than just the title of village lord.

After listening to the story, Shu Yu's reaction, "..."

Her master was truly a good person, really. She had misunderstood her before.

Seeing the expression of not knowing what to say on her face, Meng Yunzheng couldn't help but laugh. "This could be considered an unexpected joy."

Shu Yu replied, "Indeed, it's quite unexpected." Life is full of surprises everywhere.

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