After two days of Gong Dafu's return, Dad Gong received a notification from the Court of Judicial Review that he could return to his post. It was revealed that the bribery incident was a false accusation made by someone else.
Meanwhile, the Gong family also learned that the little tyrant from the Wang family, who had broken Xiao Nan's leg, had his own legs broken in a fight over jealousy in the brothel. He got his just desserts.
The Gong family speculated that this was Qin Chuyuan, the Fifth Young Master of the Qin family, seeking revenge on their behalf.
As a result, their perception of Qin Chuyuan underwent a complete transformation.
Since the royal decree, the wedding between the Qin and Gong families continued as planned, causing quite a stir in the Qin family.
Such events were not unprecedented in Daye, but they had only occurred in the previous dynasties. Now it was happening in the Qin family, drawing them into a whirlwind of public opinion.
"Ah Yuan, you are the grandson I value the most. In the future, you will be the one to take over this vast Qin family," Minister Qin said from the seat of honor.
Upon hearing the head of the family explicitly stating the successor to the next family head, everyone present from the Qin family had their own thoughts.
Some felt jealous and unwilling, such as the legitimate descendants from the main and second branches of the Qin family.
Why would they pass over the eldest son and the second son to let a descendant from the third branch inherit the position of family head?
There were also those who felt relieved, like the illegitimate descendants.
Among all the legitimate children in the Qin family, they were more inclined towards Qin Chuyuan becoming the future head of the family.
Although Qin Chuyuan was indifferent by nature, he did not suppress his half-siblings and was not willing to resort to dirty tricks behind their backs.
"The facts have also proven that you have always been outstanding and have not disappointed me or the elders with their expectations," Minister Qin continued.
"But now, you are willing to defy the wishes of the elders and insist on marrying that girl from the Gong family. Your current actions have greatly disappointed us."
"Father," Third Madam Qin wanted to speak up in support of Qin Chuyuan, but she was stopped by a stern look from Minister Qin.
"Ayuan, I will ask you one last time. Will you still marry that girl from the Gong family, even if it means losing your eligibility to inherit the position of family head?"
"Yes."
Upon hearing Qin Chuyuan's response, the legitimate descendants from the main and second branches of the Qin family were overjoyed. They thought he was a fool. There were plenty of women in the world, and he was fixating on this one.
"Ayuan, don't be stubborn. That girl from the Gong family might not even be alive anymore. Don't ruin your own life. Quickly apologize to your father," Third Madam Qin anxiously pleaded.
"Father, Grandfather, Mother. I will marry the girl from the Gong family, and I will not give up my claim to the position of family head."
"You? How dare you! Do you really think we're dead?" Minister Qin exclaimed angrily and threw his teacup at Qin Chuyuan's head.
When Third Madam Qin saw her son's head bleeding from the impact, she screamed, "Ayuan!" and quickly got up to attend to him, intending to wipe away the blood.
"Sit down!" Minister Qin shouted with a booming voice.
Third Madam Qin returned to her seat, her eyes filled with anguish as she watched over Qin Chuyuan.
No one else from the Qin family dared to make a sound in the presence of Minister Qin.
"Xin Zhang, what do you think?" Minister Qin asked his third son.
Qin Xin Zhang, also known as Qin Chuyuan's father, looked at his only legitimate son.
In the past, he had always followed the path planned by the elders for the sake of the family's interests, never considering what he truly wanted.
Now that he finally had something he wanted to fight for, he went against the family's wishes, but he didn't think it would have much impact.
He had heard some things about the girl from the Gong family. Although she came from a humble background, her character and talent were outstanding among noble women. If she could come back alive and be trained, given time, she could certainly fulfill the role of the Qin family's main wife.
Even if she died, marrying her would not cause much loss to the Qin family.
"Father, I respect Chuyuan's wishes."
"You? You and your son have a good relationship."
"From today onwards, the three of you will withdraw from the qualifications to inherit the position of family head."
Prince Liu's residence.
Due to Lin Yueru's orders, the only heir of the Wang family was crippled by someone's design, causing the head of the Wang family to hold a grudge against the sixth prince.
The sixth prince was furious and went to Lin Yueru's residence.
Lin Yueru was completely unguarded when the sixth prince slapped her across the face, instantly swelling half of her face.
"You wench, who gave you the initiative to make the Wang family take action against the Gong family?"
"Your Highness, it was just a minor official who got beaten."
"Just a minor official? Let me ask you, what was the result?"
"I..."
"Don't think I don't know your little schemes. You're a fool, daring to harm others without using your brain, using anyone you can get your hands on."
"In the future, anyone who dares to use the resources of the Sixth Prince's residence privately will never set foot outside the Wang residence again. Hmph."
Lin Yueru watched the departing sixth prince, unwilling to swallow her anger.
"Summon someone."
"Your Highness."
"Send someone to the Lin family..."
"Understood."
Time flew by, and today was the day of Qin's fifth son's marriage.
Rumors were spreading throughout the capital. It was said that the bride Qin's fifth son was going to marry was on an official mission in an area heavily affected by an epidemic, and it was highly likely that she had died.
"This fifth son of the Qin family is truly infatuated."
"Yes, even though the person might be dead, he still wants to marry her."
"Who knows, maybe she's still alive? Nothing is absolute."
"You're naive. What kind of epidemic is that? When it gets serious, it can 'slaughter' a city. It's been almost two months now, and the entire county might be on the verge of annihilation."
"Oh, is it that serious?"
"It certainly is. Unfortunately, the young ladies from prominent families confined to their homes are infatuated with him."
Meanwhile, at the Gong family, people were constantly coming to congratulate them from outside, with the help of the Gong and Li families' relatives.
Inside the house, Madam Gong and Li, Grandmother Gong, were anxiously pacing even before dawn.
"How is it? Has Zichen returned?" Madam Gong and Grandmother Li asked Dad Gong, who had just come in from outside.
"Not yet. A letter was sent from the military camp a few days ago, so we should have received it by now, and he should have returned."
"Could something have happened to Zichen?" Madam Gong asked.
"Don't worry for now. I'll send someone on a horse to the military camp to find out," he replied.
"Yes, yes, please go quickly," she urged.
And even until the Qin family completed the marriage arrangements and hosted a banquet that evening, there was still no news of Li Zichen.
It wasn't until the following day that the person sent to the military camp returned.
"Uncle Gong, I found out what happened. I heard that the Li brothers were accused by the general of delaying military intelligence and were transferred to the vanguard camp as assault soldiers. They have already joined the hundred thousand troops and headed to the Xu Mountain Border Pass. They have been on the road for several days."
"What?!"
"Zichen is just a scholar without any martial skills. Going to become an assault soldier, isn't he just waiting to die?"
