Chapter 25: Eighteen Levels of Hell

Chapter 25: Eighteen Levels of Hell

Meeting those eyes that awaited punishment, Chang Suining said, "Go and freshen up. This mistake is not your fault."

Xie'er was stunned for a moment before suddenly bursting into tears.

Even though the young lady had lost her memory, she still cared about her!

Thus, she sobbed as she bowed, "This servant thanks the young lady for your forgiveness... sniff sniff!"

As she rose to leave, she still looked back at Chang Suining with tearful eyes.

Chang Suining felt a twinge of guilt under her gaze: "...She still needs to reply to Zhou Ding. Suddenly changing people might raise his suspicions."

Whether Xie'er was truly innocent would become clear after this incident.

She would not wrong the loyal, but neither could those who betrayed be easily forgiven.

"Suining is now... very clear-headed and alert," Chang Kuo said with both relief and heartache. "That's good."

...

At the same moment, in Anyi Lane, there were many young members of the Cui clan standing in front of the Cui residence.

Since the Cui clan entered the Capital City, their various branches had taken over the entire Anyi Lane, making them prominent and unmatched within the city.

The place where everyone gathered now was the residence of Cui Ju, known as Lord Cui, the current head of the Cui clan, and his three generations.

Amidst the waiting crowd, the sound of hooves gradually approached from outside the lane.

Soon, the riders came into view, led by Cui Jing.

"Eldest brother has returned," one of the young members greeted with a bow. "We are here to welcome you."

Cui Jing nodded and dismounted his horse.

Today, he led the army into the city wearing armor and carrying a sword, which made a faint clinking sound against his horse's saddle when he dismounted, contrasting sharply with the scholars in long robes around him.

Cui Jing's gaze swept over the crowd without lingering, then he stepped onto the stone steps.

The steward who had come forward to greet him raised his hand to stop him and reminded, "Young Master—"

Cui Jing swiftly unbuckled his sword and handed it to a nearby attendant, instructing, "Yuanxiang, follow me into the mansion. The rest of you wait here."

"Yes!"

The elite guards immediately lined up on either side, their movements disciplined and imposing.

The group of Cui clan members exchanged glances, each with a different expression, and soon followed Cui Jing into the mansion.

Although the Cui clan's roots were not in the Capital City, their residence here displayed their deep heritage.

High walls enclosed the compound, with numerous gates leading to different scenes. Ahead lay blue-tiled roofs, and to the side stood tall pavilions.

Cui Jing passed through several gates and arrived at the main hall.

Inside the hall, a middle-aged man in indigo robes stood with his back to the entrance.

Cui Jing approached and bowed to the figure, "Father."

The figure remained motionless for a long time, and Cui Jing did not straighten up or speak.

Under the silent tension, the Cui clan members exchanged uneasy glances, all feeling the atmosphere grow tense.

After a while, the figure finally turned around, revealing a stern face. His already displeased expression darkened further upon seeing the young man's armor.

His voice, filled with suppressed anger and sarcasm, rang out: "You still remember to call me father, still remember you bear the name Cui—"

"In the past two years, the clan sent multiple letters urging you to return to the capital. Did you forget that you have Cui blood running in your veins when you ignored them!"

"Who gave you permission to enter the Cui residence in armor and disheveled appearance!"

"A body reeking of filth and blood, tarnishing our family's reputation!"

"As the eldest grandson of the Cui clan, how can you set an example for the younger generation with such reckless behavior!"

Cui Jing listened silently, his dark, thick eyelashes casting shadows beneath his eyelids, showing no change in expression.

This was his biological father, also the current patriarch of the Cui clan, Cui Yan.

Seeing his silence and the complex expressions of the clan members, Cui Yan felt humiliated and grew even angrier, suddenly waving his sleeve, "Absolutely disgraceful!"

"Guards—" his voice cold as ice, "take this disobedient son to the ancestral hall to reflect and seek forgiveness from our ancestors."

"...What is this nonsense?" a graceful woman with attendants walked in, trying to persuade, "Eldest son has returned victorious after two years. Why send him to kneel in the ancestral hall?"

Hearing her voice, Cui Jing did not look up.

Cui Yan ignored the woman's words, staring at Cui Jing with an even colder voice: "Are you going to defy your father?"

Cui Jing raised his hand and left the hall.

The woman tried to call him back, "Eldest son..."

Cui Yan's face darkened: "Do not interfere!"

He then coldly ordered the servants, "Why aren't you guiding him? If there's no guide, he probably wouldn't even know how to get to the ancestral hall!"

Old servant: "..."

Lord Cui understands sarcasm well.

Without a bit of dark intelligence, one wouldn't understand it.

The old servant responded "Yes" and followed along.

After a moment, Cui Yan also left with a flick of his sleeves.

The woman followed, lightly frowning: "Why must you do this again, Lord?"

"Can't you see that this disobedient son has become even more arrogant now? When he saw you come here, he didn’t even call you mother... It's simply... simply..."

Seeing him so angry he could barely speak, his wife, Lady Lu, sighed: "Whether he calls you mother or not isn't that important... Just don't get so upset, Lord."

She continued to softly console him all the way.

Ahead, a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old young man in fine robes had just returned from outside. Seeing the Xuan Ce Army at the gate, he let out a soft "hiss" and kept his distance. Entering the courtyard, he curiously asked a servant: "...Is it my elder brother who’s back?"

"The Young Master is correct; it's the Eldest Young Master who has returned."

"Where is he?" the young Cui Lang asked hurriedly.

"At this moment... he should be in the ancestral hall." The servant's voice lowered slightly.

Cui Lang exclaimed, "He went straight for the main event... I haven’t even had time to go see the spectacle!"

Saying this, he hit the head of a nearby servant boy hard with his folding fan: "I told you to drive faster!"

The servant boy held his head, feeling wronged but not daring to argue back.

"If you want to see the spectacle, just go to the ancestral hall," a girl approached, her age similar to the young man's, and their features remarkably alike.

This was Cui Lang's twin sister, Cui Tang.

"Go to the ancestral hall?" Cui Lang clicked his tongue, shivering as if cold: "I don’t have the courage for that."

Then he asked Cui Tang: "How about Father? Is he still healthy?"

"What nonsense are you talking! You knew your elder brother would return within these two days, yet you still dared to go out and play around. Today, the cousins welcomed your elder brother, and you were the only one missing," Cui Tang scolded him while urging, "Mother sent someone to look for you. Come quickly."

As they walked and talked, they arrived at Cui Yan's residence and entered.

"Mother, where is Father?"

Entering the hall, Cui Lang saw only Lady Lu drinking tea and leaned over to ask quietly.

"In the study, he's still furious," Lady Lu said, glaring at him and chiding, "I need to ask you where you went. On the day your elder brother returned, you couldn’t even be found... If this gets out, how will the clan speculate about our relationship with your elder brother? Won’t we just give them reason to talk?"

Cui Lang shrugged and sighed: "If we’re not on good terms, then we’re not. We weren’t that close to begin with."

"You always mess around, but you should consider me too. I am a stepmother in the Cui family, and many eyes are watching. Have you thought about my position?"

"I’ll be more careful next time," Cui Lang said with a grin, changing the subject, and then leaned forward to ask, "Mother, why don’t you tell me about the scene when Father met Elder Brother today?"

Lady Lu blew on her tea and glanced at him: "Have you heard of the eighteen levels of hell?"

Cui Lang nodded.

Lady Lu clicked her tongue: "It’s no different."