Xia Manor's Conspiracy

Ji Province City.

A ragged beggar limped to a stop outside the Xia Manor gate, his face smeared with blood and grime.

"Where did this stinking beggar come from? Scram!"

The gatekeeper covered his nose and waved his cudgel in disgust.

"I am Yan Lingyun of the Yan Family of Qingcheng!" The beggar suddenly raised his head, his hoarse voice laced with viciousness. "I want to see my sister, Yan Qingqing!"

"Hahaha."

The two gatekeepers at the entrance froze for a moment before bursting into raucous laughter.

The other sneered, "If you're the Yan Family's First Young Master, then I'm the Yan Family Patriarch."

"Who in Ji Province City doesn't know that our young master is deeply enamored of Miss Qingqing? A stinking beggar like you actually dares to fancy yourself worthy of Miss Qingqing."

"Scram as far away as you can, or I'll beat you to death."

"You..."

Yan Lingyun glared furiously, but he had suffered severe injuries, and the qi in his body was completely exhausted.

On any ordinary day, he could have crushed these two snobbish gatekeepers to death with a single finger.

"I..."

"What's going on?"

Just as Yan Lingyun was about to say more, a woman in white dressed as a maid stopped as she passed through the gate.

"Oh, Miss Haitang, are you heading out?" The gatekeepers immediately changed their expressions when they saw her. One of them pointed at Yan Lingyun ingratiatingly. "It's nothing, really. A stinking beggar is loitering at the gate and refusing to leave. We're just about to drive him away."

""Haitang! It's me!"

Yan Lingyun suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Haitang's skirt hem with his filthy hand.

"Impudent..."

"Let go..."

The gatekeepers shouted angrily and raised their fists, preparing to teach the beggar before them a lesson.

"Stop."

Haitang heard them and spoke up to halt them.

She approached the beggar slowly, her expression puzzled. Yan Lingyun hurriedly parted the tangled hair hanging over his forehead, revealing a handsome face that remained striking despite the filth covering it.

"Ah!" Haitang cried out involuntarily when she saw his face clearly. "Young Master Lingyun, what happened to you?"

"Sniff... Take me to see my sister, quickly."

After Haitang recognized him, the bitterness he had endured along the way brought tears spilling from his eyes.

"Yes, Young Master Lingyun."

As she spoke, Haitang hurried forward and carefully helped Yan Lingyun up, slowly leading him into Xia Manor.

"Young Master Lingyun, this lowly one was blind and failed to recognize you. I beg Young Master Lingyun to be magnanimous and spare this dog's life."

Just as one of Yan Lingyun's feet crossed the Xia Manor gate, the two gatekeepers, who had been scared stiff, finally came to their senses.

They scrambled and crawled to Yan Lingyun's side, dropping to their knees and frantically kowtowing as they begged for mercy.

Yan Lingyun snorted coldly, his eyes icy. "Weren't you just trying to be my father?"

"What? You're courting death! I'll report this to my young lady!" Haitang snorted coldly and helped Yan Lingyun into Xia Manor.

At those words, the two gatekeepers' legs went weak, and they collapsed helplessly to the ground.

"Clatter..."

After hearing Yan Lingyun's account, the celadon teacup slipped from Yan Qingqing's fingers and shattered on the bluestone floor.

"Wei... Qing..."

The two words were squeezed through her clenched teeth, carrying bone-deep hatred.

Her slender fingers slowly tightened, her nails digging deeply into the redwood desk. In an instant, they gouged out a deep pit in its surface.

As she clenched her fist, the redwood in her grasp instantly crumbled into powder and drifted through the air.

"Sis, Wei Qing and the others have already left Qingcheng for the Imperial City. We..."

"Hmph. Their actions are no different from moths flying into the flames, seeking their own deaths." The corners of Yan Qingqing's lips curled into a cold smile. She then issued an icy command: "Haitang, go and invite Xia Shaogong here at once. I have something important to discuss with him."

"Yes, Young Lady."

Haitang acknowledged her and was just about to turn away when a sudden voice interrupted her.

"Qingqing, I just heard from the servants that my worthy brother Lingyun has arrived."

At those words, the ferocity on Yan Qingqing's face vanished like morning mist, replaced by a gentle and delicate demeanor.

Just then, Xia Shaoyuan stepped into the room.

Tears quickly gathered in Yan Qingqing's eyes. Her voice carried a hint of grievance and sorrow. "Brother Shaoyuan, you have to seek justice for me."

"What happened?" Xia Shaoyuan gently wiped the tears from the corner of Yan Qingqing's eyes. With a sinister expression, he said, "Who upset my beauty? Tell me, and I'll have him flayed alive."

"Who else could it be but those mad dogs from the Heavenly Realm Division? They actually wiped out my entire Yan Family."

"Now, the entire Yan Family consists of only Lingyun and me, struggling to survive in this world. Brother Shaoyuan, you must avenge this blood feud for my Yan Family."

As she spoke, her slender body trembled slightly. She staggered several steps before throwing herself toward Xia Shaoyuan as if she were about to collapse.

"The Heavenly Realm Division? They're outrageously bold!" Xia Shaoyuan caught Yan Qingqing steadily. A strange glint flashed through his eyes. "Do you know why they resorted to such ruthless measures?"

Yan Qingqing explained, "The Heavenly Realm Division said that my Yan Family colluded with the evil Ghost Corpse Sect, but how could that be possible?"

"My Yan Family has always honestly managed its affairs. How could we have any connection with that evil sect? The Heavenly Realm Division must have framed my Yan Family."

"Brother Shaoyuan, you'll help me, won't you?"

After saying that, Yan Qingqing pouted her little mouth and gazed at Xia Shaoyuan with tender affection.

"Don't worry. What happens to you happens to me. It's only the Heavenly Realm Division. Others may fear them, but my Xia Family certainly does not."

"Wait here for a moment. I'll go ask Father right now, and then we'll immediately set out for Qingcheng."

At those words, Yan Qingqing's eyes lit up. She then added, "Yun'er said they've already returned to the capital."

"The capital." Xia Shaoyuan's fingertip lingered at Yan Qingqing's lips as he let out a cold laugh. "So long as they're still within Great Zhou, they won't escape my grasp."

"Mm."

"Someone, take Young Master Yun to wash up."

"Yes."

The steward who had come with him accepted the order and went to make the arrangements.

After Xia Shaoyuan comforted Yan Qingqing for a while and learned Wei Qing's name, he turned and headed toward the main residence of Xia Manor.

Inside the study.

"Father, that's what happened."

Xia Shaoyuan truthfully reported the matter concerning the Yan Family to his father, Xia Wentian.

Xia Wentian raised his eyes. An indescribable heaviness showed between his brows as he slowly asked, "What do you intend to do?"

A ruthless glint flashed through Xia Shaoyuan's eyes. "Even if there's only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, that Garrison Commander named Wei Qing must be eliminated. Otherwise, our entire Xia Family will be doomed beyond redemption."

As he spoke, he drew a swift finger across his throat.

After pondering briefly, Xia Wentian pressed a red button beside the desk.

In the blink of an eye,

a black-clad death warrior with a grim face appeared soundlessly inside the room.

"You will lead the Shadow Squad and accompany Young Master to the Imperial City. During the journey, obey Young Master's orders in all matters."

"As you command, Master."

With that, the black-clad man rose and stood behind Xia Shaoyuan.

"Go. If you encounter anything you cannot resolve, go directly to your aunt. She will help you."

"Yes, Father."

Throughout the entire Xia Family, the most powerful person was not the Old Master Xia, but Consort Xia, who resided deep within the imperial palace...