Lingzhu sighed and slumped dejectedly into the pearwood chair. He understood now; this was probably the fate that awaited him.
As Lanqin emerged from Lingzhu's study, Sihua quickly helped her up, saying, "A servant just came to deliver a message that the master's third brother requests an audience."
Lanqin then went to see Qiufu, a rare meeting between the siblings. Lanqin remembered the time Lingzhu brought Qiufu to the Prince's mansion to see her, asking her to arrange for Qiufu to stay in the capital. She had refused that time, and later Qiufu was sent to Xiangyang.
The siblings met in a small garden at the Ling residence.
Qiu Fu looked taller than before, with a beard, and appeared much more composed. Lan Qin remembered that when she first transmigrated, the Qiu brothers, Qiu Gui and Qiu Fu, often followed behind Yang Shi. At that time, her impression of Qiu Gui and Qiu Fu was vague; the two brothers seemed to be Yang Shi's henchmen who bullied An Jia Shi. Later, when Lan Qin entered the palace for the imperial concubine selection, she rarely saw them anymore. Several years passed, and when they met again, Qiu Gui had become an idle and dissolute playboy, while Qiu Fu had largely inherited Ling Zhu's genes, resembling him in appearance, character, and even learning. Standing before Lan Qin now, he truly bore a striking resemblance to his father, Ling Zhu. Lan Qin's elder brother, however, resembled An Jia Shi more than Qiu Fu, who was more like Ling Zhu.
“Third Sister hasn’t changed at all!” Qiu Fu said, looking at Lan Qin. They hadn’t seen each other for almost six or seven years. Back when Lan Qin and Fourth Master were almost trapped on Wudang Mountain, Ling Feng went to Xiangyang to find Qiu Fu and Du Zhiqian from Xiangzhou. The siblings didn’t meet then, but Lan Qin remembered that she owed Qiu Fu a favor.
“Fourth brother has changed. I heard his wife and children have come back with him. Why didn’t you call them over to meet him? As his aunt, I should give the children a little gift,” Lanqin said.
When Qiu Fu heard Lan Qin say this, he knew that she was grateful for the favor she had done for him several years ago. In fact, he had helped Fourth Master that time, and even if she didn't remember it, it was fine.
"Thank you, Third Sister. I'll have Fu Rou take the child to kowtow to my stepmother later. I heard she's been unwell these past few days, so I haven't gone to bother her," Qiu Fu said humbly.
Lanqin smiled slightly and gestured for Qiufu to sit down with her. The two siblings then sat down idly.
"Father has already told me about seeking wealth and status. It's a miracle you're even alive; you're still in the Jingzhao Yin prison. To beat someone to death in the street is utterly lawless. Your mother must have been crying to you about it for days. What should be done?" Lanqin asked.
The man seeking wealth said, "Heaven's sins can be avoided, but self-inflicted sins are inescapable!"
Lanqin was slightly taken aback. Looking at Qiu Fu's resolute face and his unwavering tone, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
“He is your sibling!” Lanqin said.
“Although he is my biological brother, he has caused my father and mother worry every single day. He is over thirty years old, yet he is ignorant and incompetent. Such a brother is better off without!” Qiu Fu said decisively.
Lanqin hadn't expected Qiu Fu to have this attitude, and became suspicious of his sudden return with his wife and children. So she asked, "If you didn't come back for his sake, then what was it for?"
"I came back this time to take my mother to live with me. Anyway, I can't count on Qiu Gui," Qiu Fu said. "Fu Rou and the children haven't come back either."
Lanqin, however, felt that Qiufu wasn't telling the truth. She suspected that his return might be for another reason. But he wouldn't say, and Lanqin couldn't guess for the time being.
Because of Qiu Gui's attitude of seeking wealth, and seeing that things had come to this point, and that Ling Zhu was willing to see her again, Yang knew she couldn't save Qiu Gui. Qiu Gui's legal wife had already taken the child back to her parents' home, and several concubines and maids came to Yang's place to make a scene, creating chaos. Finally, Yang severely reprimanded them, saying: those who hadn't borne children could leave on their own; she wouldn't force them to stay. Those who had borne children should stay quietly in their rooms, carefully protecting their children; if they came to her again to make a scene, she would tie them up. Only then did they obediently return to their respective rooms.
Lanqin couldn't stay in the manor for long. After speaking with Lingzhu and Qiufu separately, she returned home first. Although she didn't intend to resist him to the death, she still needed to use the Fourth Prince's status to exile him.
Lanqin had already instructed Qiufu to first go to the family of the person who was beaten to death, apologize to them, beg for their forgiveness, compensate them for their losses, and arrange the deceased's funeral—in short, do everything possible. If they would not sue, Qiufu's chances of survival would be greatly increased; if they could not forgive him, he should not harbor resentment.
After returning to the manor, Lanqin pondered how to tell the Fourth Master about this matter. She naturally knew that if she insisted on saving Qiugui, the Fourth Master could certainly save him, but Lanqin felt that someone like Qiugui could not be let off lightly any longer; being able to save his life would be the greatest favor to him.
After the Fourth Master returned, Lanqin sent Sihua to invite him to the South Courtyard, saying she had something she wanted to discuss with him. Lanqin also ordered the kitchen to prepare a delicious meal as soon as possible, and then quietly waited for the Fourth Master to arrive.
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