"That's good." The beautiful woman gazed tenderly at Qin Chen, her eyes seemingly holding nothing but her son.
"Chen'er, tell Mother, why did you duel with the son of Marquis Weiqi? Was someone deliberately setting you up..."
Qin Yuechi frowned worriedly as she looked at Qin Chen.
"No, it was my own decision to duel him," Qin Chen replied, lowering his head.
But his gaze was icy.
The truth was, Wei Zhen had insulted him at the academy, calling him a bastard and his mother a whore. Enraged, he had challenged Wei Zhen to a duel.
Now, it seemed like a deliberate trap.
Because the moment Wei Zhen stepped onto the stage, he had struck with lethal intent.
If he told his mother the truth, given her temperament, she would undoubtedly seek revenge against the Weiqi household. But right now, her own situation was already difficult.
In her youth, Qin Yuechi had been known as the most beautiful woman in the Great Qi Kingdom, admired by countless noble sons in the capital. Suitors had flooded the Qin family with gifts, and even the current emperor, upon hearing of her beauty, had expressed interest in taking her as a consort.
Yet at that very moment, Qin Yuechi had suddenly left home, vanishing from public view for three years.
When she returned, she carried a newborn Qin Chen in her arms.
This scandal had shaken the entire capital.
To bear a child out of wedlock was considered a disgrace in the martial world of Tianwu Continent, a violation of womanly virtue. In some remote, barbaric regions, such women would even be drowned in pig cages.
At the time, the Qin family had been so furious they nearly beat Qin Yuechi to death. It was only due to the intervention of Qin Batian, the Martial King of Dingwu and Qin Chen's grandfather, that she and Qin Chen were allowed to stay—under the condition that they were recognized as part of the Qin bloodline.
But the entire household looked down on Qin Yuechi and Qin Chen, viewing them as stains on the family's honor.
Thus, life in the Qin residence had been harsh for Qin Yuechi.
Otherwise, Qin Chen wouldn't have lain unconscious for three days and nights without a single physician coming to check on him.
"Chen'er, even though you didn't awaken your bloodline this time, it doesn't matter. There will be other chances. Don't act impulsively and pick fights. Even if you never become a true warrior, it's alright. Mother will always protect you."
Qin Yuechi looked at her frail son on the bed and sighed softly, her nose stinging with unshed tears.
With his stubborn pride, if he couldn't overcome this setback, she feared he might do something reckless again.
"Didn't awaken his bloodline?"
Through the merged memories of this body, Qin Chen quickly grasped the situation.
The original owner of this body had possessed decent martial talent, earning admission to the Great Qi Kingdom's top academy, the Tianxing Academy, through outstanding results.
However, during several bloodline awakening ceremonies at the academy, he had failed to awaken his bloodline. Days earlier, the academy had conducted another awakening, and once again, Qin Chen had been unsuccessful.
In the land of Tianwu Continent, bloodline was everything. Without awakening one, true strength was unattainable.
The original Qin Chen had been devastated by this news. His sole ambition had been to grow stronger to improve his and his mother's standing in the household. Yet fate had played such a cruel joke on him.
Crushed by despair, he had wandered in a daze, lost in misery.
That was why Qin Yuechi assumed his duel with Wei Zhen had been spurred by his frustration over failing to awaken his bloodline.
"Mother, don't worry. A setback like this won't break me."
Qin Chen, sensing his mother's concern, softened his gaze and smiled gently.
He wasn't just comforting her.
To him, a former 8th-rank Bloodline Emperor, failing to awaken a bloodline was hardly an insurmountable obstacle.
His radiant smile warmed Qin Yuechi's heart, easing her worries. "In that case, Mother can rest easy."
Just as Qin Yuechi was about to say more—
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Someone was pounding on the door—no, kicking it.
Qin Yuechi hurried to open it.
A maid dressed in a silver-furred vest stepped inside.
"Young Mistress, why did it take you so long to open the door?" The maid spoke with blatant disrespect, despite using the title "Young Mistress."
"yānzhi, Chen'er has just woken up and is still weak. Keep your voice down so you don't disturb him," Qin Yuechi said softly.
Yānzhi glanced dismissively at Qin Chen on the bed, a mocking smirk curling her lips.
"So the young Master has woken up. How... fortunate."
Her tone dripped with sarcasm, her eyes cold as if Qin Chen owed her money.
This maid, Yānzhi, was one of the personal attendants of Madam Zhao, the wife of Qin Chen's eldest uncle.
The Qin family had a long history of military service, with generations of generals serving the Great Qi Kingdom on the battlefield, earning illustrious merits.
By the time of Qin Chen's grandfather, Qin Batian, the family's prestige had peaked. He was enfeoffed as the Martial King of Dingwu and granted his own estate.
Qin Batian's son—Qin Chen's eldest uncle, Qin Yuanhong—inherited the family's glory and was granted the title of Marquis of Anping by the king, becoming the head of the Dingwu Estate.
Thus, Qin Chen's aunt, Madam Zhao, became the estate's matriarch.
However, Madam Zhao had always loathed Qin Chen and Qin Yuechi, viewing them as stains on the Qin family's honor. She had schemed relentlessly to drive them out.
"What are you doing here?" Qin Chen glared coldly at Yānzhi.
"Young Master, don't flatter yourself. I'm not here for you."
Yānzhi gave him a strange look. The old Qin Chen would never have dared to speak to her like this. Had surviving death given him a spine?
"Young Mistress, my lady guessed you'd be here with the Young Master, and it seems she was right. You haven't forgotten your agreement with her, have you?"
Qin Yuechi trembled, a flash of humiliation crossing her face as she paled slightly.
She glanced at Qin Chen, tucking the silk quilt around him, and said gently, "Chen'er, Mother needs to step out for a moment. Rest well."
With that, she turned to leave.
Qin Chen, sharp-eyed, noticed her momentary hesitation. A sense of foreboding gripped him. "Mother, where are you going? I'll come with you."
Qin Yuechi paused, turning back to caress his face with a warm hand. She forced a smile. "Silly child, I'm just staying within the estate. Do you think someone would dare bully me here? You've just woken up—don't catch a chill. Rest well. I'll be back soon."
Qin Chen frowned. "No. Tell me, what agreement did you make with Madam Zhao?"
Qin Yuechi hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Beside her, Yānzhi scoffed impatiently. "What's the point of asking, half-dead as you are? Fine, I'll tell you. Your mother promised our lady to meet with Prince Rui today. His Highness is already waiting in the hall. She'd better not keep him waiting."
"What? Zhao Qirui?! Zhao Feng, you vile woman—how dare you force Mother to meet that lecherous old dog!"
Everyone in the capital knew Zhao Qirui was the most debauched prince in the Great Qi Kingdom, a man who spent his days in brothels, surrounded by concubines, singers, and dancers, drowning in debauchery. He was mockingly called the "Libertine Prince."
Zhao Qirui had long coveted Qin Yuechi's beauty, but she had repeatedly rejected his advances. Now, Zhao Feng had actually invited that old lecher into their home—this was beyond insulting.
Qin Chen's eyes burned with fury as he glared at Yānzhi. "And you—get out!"
"How dare you!"
Yānzhi trembled with rage, pointing a shaking finger at Qin Chen. But under his icy gaze, she didn't dare retort. Instead, she turned on Qin Yuechi. "Young Mistress, is this how you raise your son? And your arrangement with Prince Rui—you agreed to it yourself! Or do you intend to go back on your word now?"
"Mother agreed to this?"
Qin Chen stiffened, staring at his mother in disbelief.
How was that possible?
From his memories, his mother despised Zhao Qirui and had always been troubled by his pursuit.
Why would she agree to meet him?
He waited for her to deny it, but Qin Yuechi only trembled, remaining silent.
"Chen'er, you've just woken up. Rest and recover. Meeting him won't change anything," she finally said, her voice strained.
Qin Chen stared at her in shock. "Mother, why? You know what kind of man Zhao Qirui is! Meeting him is like throwing yourself to the wolves!"
"Why? Young Master, you have the gall to ask why?" Yānzhi sneered. "After you got into that duel and lay half-dead, your devoted mother knelt outside our lady's door all night, begging for a Revitalizing Pill to save you. Out of kindness, our lady agreed. And now you dare ask why? If I were you, I'd have dashed my brains out by now!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Qin Yuechi whirled at Yānzhi, her voice sharp. "Madam Zhao promised not to speak of this! How dare you spread it!"
Qin Chen's heart ached as he watched his mother's anger. Now he understood—she had agreed to meet Zhao Qirui to beg for the Revitalizing Pill to save him!
A mere second-grade pill, worth no more than a few thousand silver coins.
Yet for that single pill, his mother had sacrificed her dignity.
His chest tightened, tears welling in his eyes.
He struggled out of bed, gripping Qin Yuechi's arm. "Mother, stay here. Don't go to him. From now on, I swear I won't let you suffer anymore—and I won't let you near that lecherous old bastard Zhao Qirui!"
Qin Yuechi shuddered, her eyes glistening as she looked at Qin Chen.
His expression was cold as he glared at Yānzhi. "As for you—get out!"
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