Chapter 53 Lin Wen Comes to Break Engagement with Qin Jiao

Chapter 53: Lin Wen Arrives to Break Off the Engagement with Qin Jiao

Winter days seemed to fly by quickly. Before they knew it, the stars hid in the clouds, and Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan returned to the Qin residence.

Steward Wen came to Mùshān Residence to deliver a message that Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan were waiting for Qin Jiao in the flower hall, and that he should go quickly to pay his respects.

Cong Shuang wanted to follow along, but Qin Jiao held her back. He whispered a few words to her, then said to Steward Wen, "Let's go."

Flower Hall of the Qin residence.

"Madam, your earrings are beautiful!" the household's concubine, Yin Tongjun, was smiling as she complimented Yu Shuhan's earrings.

"Are they?" Yu Shuhan's lips curled faintly, her expression a faint, elusive smile.

"Yes, they are! Were they custom-made at Tongjia Mansion? How lovely. I might go take a look tomorrow myself."

Yu Shuhan gave a faint smile and didn't respond to Concubine Yin's words.

Yu Shuhan was about forty, with a delicate and graceful face. Thanks to her excellent skincare, she seemed to be about the same age as the thirty-something Concubine Yin beside her.

At her side stood her children, Qin Ji and Qin Han. At the head of the flower hall sat Qin Yuanshan. Qin Yuanshan was only in his forties, but he carried himself with authority, his brows furrowed and eyes glaring, exuding a stern and imposing demeanor.

"Why is elder brother standing outside and not going in?"

Qin Jiao had been standing outside the flower hall listening to them talk when a soft, youthful voice suddenly spoke in his ear.

Qin Jiao turned to look—it was the third young master of the Qin residence, Qin Chaole.

Counting the deceased Xiao Ning Shi, Qin Yuanshan had three wives and concubines, who together bore him four children. The young man before him now, Qin Chaole, was the youngest child in the household, born of Concubine Yin.

Concubine Yin was charming and alluring, with a delicate and tender demeanor. Qin Chaole took after her—extremely handsome, gentle, and frail, even his speech soft and quiet.

Qin Jiao also resembled his mother in appearance, but in comparison, Qin Jiao had more defined features, with eyes as deep as stars, and a less delicate appearance than Qin Chaole.

"Qin Jiao, come in."

Qin Yuanshan's voice came from inside the flower hall. Qin Jiao nodded at Qin Chaole and walked into the hall.

The moment Qin Jiao entered, the previously lively hall fell silent. Qin Chaole followed him in, paid his respects to Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan, then went to stand by his mother, Concubine Yin.

Qin Jiao stood in the center of the flower hall and bowed respectfully to Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan.

"It seems Nanzhou is indeed a nourishing place. The eldest young master looks much better than before."

Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan both remained silent, so Concubine Yin broke the awkward silence with a smile.

Qin Jiao didn't hold back. He replied, "Concubine, you must be mistaken. Where do I look better? I'm already lucky I didn't die in Nanzhou."

"Bang—"

Yu Shuhan slammed her teacup heavily onto the table. Concubine Yin hadn't expected Qin Jiao to respond like that, putting her in an awkward position. She let out an awkward laugh: "The eldest young master really knows how to joke…"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Qin Jiao still showed Concubine Yin no respect.

This time, Concubine Yin dared not respond. She stole a glance at Yu Shuhan, only to see her with a deeply furrowed brow, clearly about to blow up.

Qin Yuanshan glared at him angrily. "Qin Jiao, have you lost all sense of propriety! Everything you say is laced with sarcasm. What exactly are you trying to say?"

Qin Jiao stood straight-backed. "Father, what are you so angry about?"

His gaze fixed steadily on Yu Shuhan. "Three years ago, you sent me to Nanzhou soon after my mother passed away. Now, can I not even ask a single question?"

Qin Jiao remembered that before they sent him to Nanzhou, they had said it was for a short period of rest and recovery, and that they would bring him back to the capital afterward. They had even sent a dozen maids, servants, and a steward with him. But before long, those maids and servants quietly returned to the capital, taking all the money and valuables with them.

Later, Yu Shuhan sent him a letter that went something like: "Qin Jiao, you are the eldest legitimate son of the Vice Minister of Rites. The Qin family's future rests on you. Heaven is about to give a man a great mission; it must first harden his will and exhaust his body. Therefore, you will stay in Nanzhou to hone yourself."

A letter as thin as an autumn leaf, a string of high-sounding words—and then he was left to rot in Nanzhou, abandoned for three years.

Qin Jiao had thought he was just abandoned in Nanzhou. But the two black-clad assassins who had tried to kill him changed everything.

Qin Yuanshan was visibly angered. "You've become quite bold, haven't you? Daring to question your parents!"

He slammed the table. "We sent you there to recover from illness, not to die! And besides, now you're back!"

"Yes, I'm back." Qin Jiao gave a cold smile. "I bet someone's pretty disappointed that I returned alive."

Qin Yuanshan's face changed. "How dare you make such insinuations! Bring the punishment rod! Today I'll beat this unfilial brat to death!"

"Master, no!"

Steward Wen rushed to stop him. Concubine Yin and Qin Chaole also made a show of restraining him. Qin Ji looked away, while Qin Han looked at Qin Jiao with concern.

"Is it wrong just to speak the truth?"

Qin Jiao stood in the center of the flower hall, his eyes clear and unyielding as he faced Qin Yuanshan's fury.

"I'll beat you to death—"

"Master, calm down, calm down!"

The flower hall fell into chaos. Qin Ji joined in, using his tall frame to block their father. "Father, calm down. Mother hasn't finished speaking yet!"

Qin Ji held back the enraged Qin Yuanshan, who glared fiercely at Qin Jiao, kicked over a stool in anger, and then sat back down beside Yu Shuhan.

Concubine Yin quickly poured tea for Qin Yuanshan to calm him. Meanwhile, Yu Shuhan looked at Qin Jiao with a detached gaze: "Hate me all you want, the three years have already passed."

Qin Jiao stared with a cold expression at Yu Shuhan, about to retort, but Qin Yuanshan spoke first:

"Instead of causing a fuss here, why don't you think about what happens once the Lin family calls off the engagement!"

Call off the engagement?

Qin Jiao's expression stiffened. So that was it—Lin Wen had summoned him back specifically to break off the engagement.

But this engagement wasn't something that could be ended so easily: "I won't agree to call it off!"

"They can't call it off."

Qin Jiao and Yu Shuhan's voices rang out simultaneously.

Qin Jiao cast a suspicious glance at Yu Shuhan, but she ignored him and turned to Qin Yuanshan.

"Master, we cannot break off this engagement."

Earlier that day, when they went to the Lin residence to celebrate the birthday, Lin Wen had mentioned the matter of breaking off the engagement. Qin Yuanshan had been about to agree on the spot, but Yu Shuhan stopped him.

At the time, there were too many people around, so Yu Shuhan hadn't had a chance to explain to Qin Yuanshan why they couldn't break off the engagement. Now, with Qin Jiao present, she found it difficult to speak freely.

"Why can't we break it off? Lin Wen is now the Grand Chancellor. How could he possibly still accept him as a son-in-law?" Qin Yuanshan was red-faced with anger

Yu Shuhan thought for a moment and was about to pull Qin Yuanshan aside to speak when a servant suddenly ran in with a beaming face:

"Master, Mistress! His Excellency the Prime Minister has arrived at our residence."

Lin Wen is here?

Today is the Lin family matriarch's birthday. Why would Lin Wen come to the Qin residence when he should be hosting guests at his own home?

"Quickly invite Prime Minister Lin in!"

Before they could fully register their surprise, Qin Yuanshan straightened his robe and hurried out of the main hall, with Yu Shuhan quickly following.

Qin Jiao did not want to go out to greet Lin Wen. Since Lin Wen was about to break off their engagement, why should he be so eager and attentive to him?

Soon, Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan, along with others, ushered in a tall, upright figure into the main hall.

Qin Jiao looked up. In the three years they'd been apart, Lin Wen had grown much more composed; his figure was well-proportioned, his back straight, wearing a deep blue robe with diamond patterns woven in gold, his elegant bearing like a gleaming jewel.

"Prime Minister, please have a seat. Your residence must be very busy today, what brings you to our place?"

Qin Yuanshan offered Lin Wen the seat of honor, but Lin Wen didn't sit; instead, he stared fixedly at Qin Jiao.

Qin Jiao met his gaze without flinching.

Lin Wen had an incomparably handsome face, with narrow, fox-like eyes that felt deeply imposing when staring at someone.

"Qin Jiao, why are you just standing there? Come and pay your respects!" Yu Shuhan glared at Qin Jiao.

"No need," Lin Wen said, his voice, like a forest breeze and mountain spring, was pleasing to the ear. "I have come today to talk about calling off the engagement with your esteemed household."

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