Volume One, Chapter Twelve: Not Allowing Her to Stay in the Qin Family

Qin Zhan handed her a bottle of water. Seeing her pale, suffering face and her eyes red from crying, he reached out and gently patted her back.

As Li Qiuning took the water, a sudden dizziness swept over her, and she found herself caught in the arms of the man beside her. Instinctively, she gripped his arm tightly.

Bang!

The deafening crash made her scalp tingle with fear. Turning her head, she saw that the car they had just been sitting in had been struck by another vehicle that seemed to come out of nowhere, leaving it a mangled wreck.

Luckily, they had both gotten out of the car moments before; otherwise, there would surely have been casualties. The scene was far too deliberate to be called an accident.

The shock left her breathless. Anxiously, she looked around. “Ninth Master, someone has set us up,” she said with certainty.

Qin Zhan’s bodyguards quickly surrounded them.

He stared at the burning car, his voice low and grim. “If you hadn’t felt sick and wanted to get out, we’d still be in there. Then we’d be the ones in trouble now.”

Li Qiuning’s heart pounded with lingering fear. Her mind was in a whirl. “Who did this?”

The Ninth Master was a force unto himself in the capital—his power and status were unassailable—yet there were always those desperate enough to seek their own doom, forever plotting harm.

She couldn’t help but think of Shang Lu and the others. The perpetrator wasn’t a fool; they wouldn’t dig their own graves so openly. It was too obvious.

Secretary Zhang soon returned with the answer. “Ninth Master, it was someone from the Qin family.”

Li Qiuning had suspected as much. Only the Qin family would be so emboldened by Qin Zhan’s tolerance, forever testing his limits, convinced that he wouldn’t dare retaliate.

The path to power had been paved in blood for Qin Zhan. Before his death, the old patriarch had forced him to swear that no more Qin family members would die by his hands, which had allowed those remaining to breathe easier.

Now, Qin Zhan might be called merciful, but that didn’t mean others could attempt to take his life.

Soon, a second car arrived.

This was not the first such incident; they knew how to handle it.

Qin Zhan’s face was like frost as he led Li Qiuning home.

The Qin estate was built against the mountains, sprawling over an immense area. It was said that back in 1949, the Qin family had voluntarily given up three-quarters of their land to preserve their legacy.

The ancestral home was grand and imposing, reminiscent of the mansions of ancient noble families, more splendid than any courtyard seen on television.

The stone lions at the entrance stood majestic and lifelike, their gaze stern. The plaque above the gate was black, exuding an oppressive presence.

For many years, countless noble families had lived in the shadow of the Qin household.

Upon entering, she hadn’t expected to be so “warmly welcomed” by the Qin family.

“Ninth Master, this woman cannot stay in the Qin house. If you insist, you’ll have to step over my dead body,” declared an elderly man.

“That’s right, Ninth Master. Her reputation is ruined—she is disloyal, immoral, unfilial, and has repeatedly tried to harm you. None of us will accept such a scourge in our home!”

“She carries a bastard in her womb—how can she remain in our house? That is not your child, Ninth Master, not of Qin blood. She cannot stay!”

The Qin family stood united in the courtyard, blocking the way, their eyes fixed with hostility on the woman beside the Ninth Master, determined not to let her pass.

Li Qiuning hid behind Qin Zhan, lips pressed together in silence. She knew she was unwelcome, but she hadn’t imagined they would reject her so thoroughly.

In her previous life, she had fled the Qin family of her own accord, and these people had been all but invisible. Now, perhaps because she’d refused the Shang family marriage and stayed by the Ninth Master’s side, they feared some looming change.

“Ninth Master, I—” she began.

But Qin Zhan cut her off, his cold gaze bearing down on them. “You have objections?”

The ringleader was the old patriarch’s younger brother. During that bloody purge, he’d wisely backed down and retired to the North Wing, claiming to mind his own business, though it was only a façade.

Under Qin Zhan’s murderous gaze, the old man trembled but stubbornly retorted, “It’s not just me—everyone in the Qin family objects!”

Qin Zhan sneered. “Qin family, or are you just dogs of the Qin family?”

“If you have complaints, get out.”

As the sole master of the house, his word was law. The bodyguards closed in, ready to act.

The old steward brought out the family register—a silent threat that anyone who continued to protest would be erased from the family’s lineage, losing what they cared about most.

Such decisive measures made those who had stirred up trouble fall instantly silent.

The old man gnashed his teeth, glaring with hatred. “Qin Zhan, you go too far!”

“Did you arrange the accident?” Qin Zhan asked, a faint smile playing at his lips as he looked at the old man.

Suddenly alert, the old man shook his head and tried to flee.

The bodyguards seized him and dragged him out to a waiting car.

In full view of everyone, another vehicle accelerated to 180 kilometers per hour and crashed into the car with a thunderous bang. Faces went white with terror.

The old man was so frightened he nearly suffered a heart attack.

The bodyguards expertly carried him to an ambulance.

Qin Zhan took Li Qiuning by the hand and strode openly through the crowd. His voice was icy. “I promised the old patriarch not to kill anyone in the Qin family. But there are fates worse than death, and I know every one of them.”

The crowd parted silently, not daring to utter another word.

Once they left the main courtyard, the third son of the Qin family fumed. “The damned Ninth, he really thinks he’s king of the world!”

The others remained silent—or rather, did not dare to speak.

Among them, a woman of little presence stood gazing after the Ninth Master, unable to look away.

“Susu, stop staring. I don’t know why Uncle would treat such a loose woman so well. She’s been ruined by others and still dreams of staying beside him,” Qin Keli murmured bitterly, glaring with hatred at the triumphant woman. She and Li Qiuning had long been sworn enemies.

Cheng Xinsu smiled gently. “You shouldn’t speak of her like that. There must be some misunderstanding.”

“Hmph. Who cares about her? I wish someone would finish her off,” Qin Keli retorted, never missing a chance to bully her.

Cheng Xinsu’s serene expression betrayed no ulterior motive. “Ninth Master is protecting her so closely now—could the child be his?”

“She wishes! Our uncle never touches women, and besides, he wasn’t even in the capital that night.”

Qin Keli snorted coldly. She was determined to find a way to drive this shameless woman out. Living together with her was simply disgusting.

Cheng Xinsu laughed softly. “But what about before that night? Ninth Master brought her home several times.”

Qin Keli’s face darkened. She realized something the others didn’t: everyone in the Qin family knew that Qin Zhan could never have an heir.

If he did, their hopes would be dashed. Though rumors of the Ninth Master’s sterility were widespread, no one had ever confirmed them.

Cheng Xinsu’s words were quiet, but every Qin family member heard them, and their eyes flickered, already calculating their next moves.

Li Qiuning moved with the Ninth Master into the Full Spring Court.

It was a secluded courtyard, perfect for quiet recuperation and for ensuring the safety of her pregnancy.

Her room was tidied daily, and no one disturbed her belongings.

Qin Zhan appeared at her door. “Come here.”