Chapter 203 Old Stories

Hearing the commotion outside, Qi Rong and Qin Zhong walked out. Just as they reached the camp gate, they saw Lin Changning slapping his thigh and laughing on a tree.

Looking at the crowd gathered at the entrance, he was somewhat confused.

After a group of people bowed to them and made way, Qi Rong and Qin Zhong were able to see clearly what was happening outside the door.

The Duke of Qi, barely clothed, sat not far from their camp.

A sedan chair leaned against him at an angle, while five or six fat dogs lay on the Duke of Qi, licking and rubbing against him.

Qi Rong subconsciously looked at the happy boy in the tree, and Qin Zhong followed suit, nudging Qi Rong with his elbow: "Your subordinate is quite good, he even knows how to stand up for you, unlike that blockhead Lao Han, who only knows how to laugh like an idiot."

Qi Rong smiled and said, "Yes, Xiao Liu always has a lot of ideas."

Qin Zhong took some melon seeds from Lao Han's hand and shared some with Qi Rong: "That old man is very vengeful. You two have to be careful in the future. It's best to keep this matter covered up. After all, he is a duke with a title. Be careful not to leave any evidence."

Qi Rong replied, "I understand. Send two people to take him back."

Qin Zhong nodded and went to make the arrangements.

Qi Rong, holding a handful of melon seeds, waved to Lin Changning in the tree: "Come down, Xiao Liu."

Lin Changning had watched the commotion for a while, then leaped down from the tree and saw Qi Rong, his eyes crinkling with a smile: "Second Brother."

Qi Rong handed the melon seeds in his hand to Lin Changning: "These are from Lao Qin, have a taste."

Lin Changning sighed and took the melon seeds. The two walked side by side into the tent.

Lin Changning gesticulated wildly as he described to Qi Rong the terrible state of the Duke of Qi.

Qi Rong, a smile playing on his lips, fawned over Lin Changning. Just as they reached the door, he suddenly asked, "Sixth Brother, why do you dislike Duke Qi so much? Aren't you afraid of offending him? After all, he..."

Lin Changning interrupted Qi Rong: "He burned our grain and fodder, and he has repeatedly acted against the commander. If he acts against the commander, he acts against me. I was promoted by the commander, so naturally I am on his side. As for offending him, I am the commander's man, so what difference does it make whether I offend him or not?"

As he spoke, Lin Changning asked his own question: "It is said that even tigers do not eat their cubs. I really don't understand why the Duke of Qi has such a promising son who still harms you every day."

Qi Rong remained silent. Xiao Liu was right. As long as they were on his side, it didn't really matter whether he offended them or not.

Upon hearing Xiao Liu say that even tigers don't eat their cubs, Qi Rong, unusually, stopped smiling.

This matter is a source of pain for him.

Lin Changning seemed to realize that he had said the wrong thing, so he shut his mouth and stopped talking.

After a long silence, Qi Rong slowly said, "You should know that my mother is the younger sister of the Princess of Chu."

Lin Changning nodded; she was naturally aware of this matter.

Qi Rong sighed: "Originally, the person my mother was supposed to marry was not my father, but my eldest uncle. The two were childhood sweethearts, and the marriage was arranged long ago."

When my mother was sixteen, my eldest uncle and my grandfather died in battle. Originally, my mother was going to find another husband, but…

Qi Rong's gaze was somewhat unfocused: "Not long after, the late emperor ascended the throne. As a member of an old noble family, my aunt married the Prince of Chu. News came from the palace that the late emperor wanted to take concubines."

Since a suitable family couldn't be found for the time being, and my grandmother couldn't bear to see my mother enter the palace, she continued the marriage agreement between the two families, allowing my father to marry my mother.

Lin Changning raised an eyebrow. No wonder the current Duke of Qi, a son of a concubine, was able to marry a legitimate daughter. It must be said that old noble families valued social standing above all else.

Qi Rong seemed to recall some unpleasant memories: "After my father married my mother, they were a harmonious couple for a while. About three months after their marriage, my mother was diagnosed with pregnancy. At seven months, my mother was frightened, and I was born prematurely at seven months."

From that time on, my father suspected that I was not his biological child, and even secretly arranged for someone to perform a blood test to prove our paternity. When my mother found out about this, she became depressed and unhappy every day.

I was young then and didn't understand what was happening at home, until one day my parents had a huge fight, and the next day rumors spread throughout Kyoto that my mother was unfaithful.

A trace of grief and resentment flashed in Qi Rong's eyes: "On the third day, my mother delivered a letter written in blood to the palace gate, and dressed in her official robes, she smashed her head against the palace gate to prove her innocence."

Lin Changning pursed her lips. In this era, women are treated so harshly that rumors can take a vibrant life.

Qi Rong lowered his head: "After that day, my maternal grandfather held the family's imperial edict in the main hall, pleading to clear my mother's name. The late emperor punished my father with sixty strokes of the cane, deducted his salary for a year, and confined him for a year."

But after that day, I lost my mother. My maternal grandfather wanted to take me away, but my grandmother stopped him, took me into her home to raise me, and even petitioned to have me granted the title of heir apparent.

Three months after I was taken in by my grandmother, my father married my current wife. They brought her home in a small sedan chair, and everything was peaceful until my grandmother passed away.

Qi Rong raised his head, his handsome face filled with grief: "My face resembles my grandfather and eldest uncle. After my father saw me at my grandmother's funeral, he began to beat and scold me constantly."

When my maternal grandfather passed away, I went to attend his funeral to observe mourning. My aunt discovered that I was covered in bruises and, together with my uncle, reported the matter to the emperor, who then took me to Taiyuan…

Lin Changning didn't know what to say to comfort him, and Qi Rong remained silent for a long time as well.

After a while, Lin Changning suddenly thought of something and asked, "Second brother, the rumors spread throughout the capital in just one day. There must be someone behind this. Under normal circumstances, rumors wouldn't spread so quickly."

Qi Rong hadn't expected Lin Changning to be so perceptive, able to deduce things from just his words.

Qi Rong nodded: "Indeed, my maternal grandfather investigated the person behind it, and it was my father who released the information."

Lin Changning asked in bewilderment, "Why would your father resort to such despicable means? Is it simply because he suspects that your second brother is not his biological son?"

Qi Rong shook his head: "I'm not quite sure."

Lin Changning scratched his head: "There's another thing I don't understand. Why has your father been relentlessly trying to assassinate you for so many years? Was it just to give the title to your second brother?"

"That's not it. Before my grandmother died, she handed over the entire management of the Duke's mansion to me. I took 80% of the property, estates, and shops, and the remaining 20% ​​is in my father's hands. So if my father doesn't die, he won't get a single penny of my grandparents' property."

Lin Changning clicked his tongue twice in his heart. No wonder the Duke of Qi was so crazy looking for trouble with him. It turned out that the Duke's family property had been given to his second brother by his grandmother long ago, which made the Duke jealous. That's why he hired someone to assassinate his eldest son.

Qi Rong leaned back in his chair and sighed, "Many people in the capital know about these things, including the old prince. But with the pressure of filial piety, I have no choice but to keep a low profile. I know you're standing up for me, Xiao Liu, thank you."