Chapter 338: Killing One’s Own Child

Chapter 338: Slaying One’s Own Son

The Qin Residence.

Grand Tutor Qin gazed at his son, the younger Qin, who was in the prime of his life, accomplished in both civil and martial arts, and filled with boundless ambition. Tears streamed down his face, his sobs unrestrained.

“Yuanqing.”

The younger Qin, bewildered, asked, “Father, have you encountered some difficulty?”

“Please tell me. I’ll move heaven and earth to fix it.”

Ever since he personally killed Xie Erlang years ago, the younger Qin had developed unshakable confidence.

If gods block him, kill them. If buddhas stand in his way, cut them down.

“Yuanqing, you…”

“You have to die.” Grand Tutor Qin’s voice choked with grief and despair, but he forced the words out nonetheless.

The younger Qin wondered if he’d misheard.

“Yuanqing, for the sake of the Qin family, you must die.” The Grand Tutor repeated.

The younger Qin staggered back, almost falling.

“The Emperor’s *command*?”

Grand Tutor nodded with difficulty.

“Why?!” The younger Qin spoke each word slowly, his voice laced with anguish and fury. “The Qin family has been unwaveringly loyal to His Majesty. Whatever His Majesty commands, the Qin family has never refused.”

“Why?!”

At this moment, every word the younger Qin uttered dripped with blood and tears.

“Yuanqing, His Majesty did not elaborate.”

“After urgently summoning me to the palace, he said bluntly that you must die.”

“Yuanqing, I’m helpless. I dared not plead for you.”

“Father, I must go to the palace.” The younger Qin knocked the chair aside and spoke urgently.

“If I’ve done wrong, I am willing to kneel and beg forgiveness. If His Majesty faces an impossible problem, I am willing to resolve it for him.”

“Even if I must die, I’ll die knowing why.”

Grand Tutor said, “It won’t change anything.”

“The Emperor’s decree is absolute. Once spoken, there is no room for reconsideration.”

“If you refuse to die, the Emperor’s *shadow guards* will see you dead.”

“By then, the Qin family, having disobeyed the Emperor, will also suffer.”

The younger Qin gave a hollow laugh. “Father’s already decided, haven’t you?”

"Father, have you ever for a moment considered standing up for me?"

"Yuanqing, watch your tongue!" Grand Tutor Qin looked terrified.

The Emperor's imperial spies must be lurking in the darkness—every word spoken today would reach His Majesty's ears word for word.

Qin Yuanqing's laughter died. "Very well. I'll go to my death."

"Please grant me a little more time, Father. I wish to say goodbye to Mother and my wife."

"Born into the Qin family, raised by the Qin family—it's only fitting to sacrifice for the Qin family."

When the Emperor orders your death, you have no choice but to die.

Grand Tutor Qin wiped the tears from his face. "Go."

"I'll be right here," said the father.

The bitterness deepened in Qin Yuanqing's heart.

Wait for him?

Wait to see him off to execution?

Once again, Qin Yuanqing couldn't help envying Xie Erlang, whom he had killed with his own hands.

If it were the Duke of Xinguo, he would have gone to the mat for Xie Erlang.

His own father had abandoned him without hesitation.

To be expected.

Expected.

The Qin family had always been ruthless and callous.

The Qin family had climbed to where they are not through righteousness, but through ruthlessness.

So why should he envy Xie Erlang?

He had no right—no right to feel that way.

"Very well. In half an hour, I'll come to meet my fate."

Grand Tutor Qin waited for a long time, but Qin Yuanqing never showed. When he sent someone to search, he discovered that the son who had vowed to die willingly for the Qin family had fled.

"Find him!"

Panic seized him.

How could the clever and brave Yuanqing make such a stupid mistake?

The Qin family was brutal, and the one seated upon the throne was hard as stone.

Fleeing would only make the Emperor furious and bring down worse punishment on the Qin family.

Besides, there was no escaping.

Not a chance.

He now only hoped to find Yuanqing before His Majesty flew into a rage and personally send Yuanqing to his death.

But, the Qin family's influence was no match for the Emperor.

Midnight.

Qin Yuanqing, gasping for breath, was thrown into Grand Tutor Qin's study like a dead dog.

Arrows pierced his eyes, blood bubbling out.

The visitor, clad in black, had a face expressionless, voice flat.

"Grand Tutor Qin, an imperial edict."

Grand Tutor Qin barely had time to grieve his son’s death before collapsing to his knees.

The black-clad man said coldly, "I overestimated the Qin family’s loyalty."

"If Qin Yuanqing dares to defy My decree and flee, would the rest of the Qin family dare to resent Me? Would they dare to plot rebellion in the future?"

Grand Tutor Qin hastily replied, "This old man would never dare."

Ignoring him, the black-clad man continued, "Out of respect for our bond, I shall give the Qin family a final chance."

"Cut off Qin Yuanqing’s head and hang it from the flagpole at the marketplace."

"Redeem yourselves through service."

"So it is ordered."

"This humble servant obeys." Grand Tutor Qin’s heart was heavy.

For the first time, he questioned whether his decision to swear undying loyalty all those years ago had been right.

He had indeed raised the Qin family to great power.

The old and new nobility of the capital, officials high and low—all bowed to the Qin family.

But the sovereign the Qin family served was neither benevolent nor enlightened, but a heartless tyrant.

At the smallest offense, the Qin family had to pay the price for that displeasure.

"Grand Tutor Qin, do it." The black-clad man retreated to the doorway, holding out the long blade at his waist.

Grand Tutor Qin took the blade, lurching toward Qin Yuanqing.

His hands trembled, raising the blade to Yuanqing’s neck again and again, only to pull back each time.

In the end, it was Qin Yuanqing who suddenly lunged forward, the blade slicing across his neck, blood gushing out.

With a clang, the long blade fell from Grand Tutor Qin’s grip.

"My son..." Grand Tutor Qin collapsed to his knees, clutching the lifeless Qin Yuanqing, weeping uncontrollably, his voice choked with grief.

Yuanqing, in your next life, do not be reborn into the Qin family.

Do not be reborn into the Qin family.

Faced with such a gruesome and bloody scene, the black-clad man remained unmoved, calmly and indifferently reminding, "His Majesty's decree is to behead Qin Yuanqing and display his head on the market square's flagpole."

Indeed, the knife only hurts when it cuts your own flesh.

Grand Tutor Qin took a deep breath, tears blurring his vision as he raised the blade and swung it toward Qin Yuanqing's bleeding neck.

Yuanqing had already died.

His death must serve a purpose.

After the head was severed, the study floor pooled with bright red blood.

The black-clad man produced another imperial edict. "This is the posthumous honors His Majesty bestows upon Qin Yuanqing."

Such a manner of death could never be publicly known.

After all, His Majesty still had some reservations about the Qin family, fearing to completely alienate them, and thus arranged an honorable death for Qin Yuanqing.

"Additionally, the appointments for the Second and Fourth Young Masters of the Qin family will come through in a few days."

"Moreover, as the Yongning Marquis's estate is about to fall, the Grand Tutor may find another match for the Fifth Miss of your household."

Grand Tutor Qin kowtowed in thanks. "I thank His Majesty for his boundless grace."

Daybreak came.

The severed head hanging at the market square was discovered.

Qin Yuanqing, the Second-Rank Literary Official Guanglu Dafu with limitless potential, was dead.

Decapitated.

His death was horrifically brutal.

The news quickly reached Changning Palace.

Empress Dowager Xie set down the scripture in her hand and smiled to herself.

How wonderful.

Second Brother had been avenged.

When Qin Yuanqing brutalized and murdered Second Brother, he should've seen this coming.

Yet, how would Lu Mingchao weather the coming storm?

In Wanxing County.

Lu Mingchao stood frozen for a moment.

That ruthless, calculating, and supremely arrogant Qin Yuanqing had died without making waves.

She's dead?