Chapter 300

First Volume, Chapter 300: Barbarian Clan Crime

One thousand Longhu Army heavy cavalry surrounded the Tianji Camp on all sides.

At the same time, the Deputy General of the East Camp and the Main General of the West Camp each led one thousand heavy infantry, marching in perfect unison toward the Tianji Camp.

Qin Feng stood atop the Talou, watching the Wang Du Garrison, fully armed to the teeth, encircle the Tianji Camp, yet his expression remained utterly unchanged.

Because from the moment he gave the order to arrest them, this outcome was inevitable.

Below the Talou, Xie Yun'er, hearing the heavy, dense footsteps outside the walls, had already turned pale with shock and cried urgently: "Qin Feng, you've dug yourself a grave! Without official rank authority, you've ordered troops to arrest a court official in Jingdu—what's the difference between this and rebellion?"

"Go out and explain clearly to the Imperial Capital Garrison, turn yourself in at Dali Temple for punishment—perhaps you can still…"

As she spoke, Xie Yun'er fell silent, her eyes utterly filled with despair.

At this moment, no matter where Qin Feng went, he would inevitably be treated as a traitor and executed on the spot.

Qin Feng slowly descended the stairs from the Talou.

Ignoring Xie Yun'er's pleas, he looked at Sun Feng, who had been brought forward by Wu Wei, and said casually: "I'll ask you once: who ordered you to ambush the messenger at the Yizhan?"

Sun Feng glanced around.

Aside from the calm, unflappable Qin Feng, the area was filled with fierce-looking Tianji Camp Guards.

Sun Feng turned ashen, his whole body trembling violently, yet hearing the footsteps outside the camp, he gained confidence and sneered: "You Qin, wait to die!"

Qin Feng's eyes remained expressionless; he simply waved his hand toward Wu Wei.

Wu Wei understood instantly and growled: "Take Sun Feng to the Camp Prison. You've been itching to test your interrogation methods on enemy soldiers—now you've got your first subject!"

At these words, Sun Feng's face twisted in panic; he screamed hysterically: "I am a Ministry of Works Director, a From Seventh Rank court official! How dare you lay hands on me?! Qin, this Tianji Camp will be crushed by the Imperial Capital Garrison!"

Sun Feng was dragged away by the Tianji Camp Guards; his voice grew fainter until it vanished entirely.

Seeing Qin Feng had clearly lost his mind, willing to walk this path to the end.

Xie Yun'er knew she could not stop Qin Feng, so she turned and ran toward the Account Room, bursting through the door and shouting at Liu Hongyan, who was bent over reviewing accounts behind the Shushu: "Second Sister, go stop Qin Feng—he's gone mad!"

Liu Hongyan didn't even lift her head: "Whoever wants to go, go. I'm not going."

"Sun Feng deserves to die."

Xie Yun'er couldn't believe her ears; her eyes widened in stunned disbelief as she stared at Liu Hongyan.

Liu Hongyan was the most rational person in the Qin Family—before this, she would have dragged Qin Feng home by his ears. Why now, watching him commit a death penalty offense, did she stand by coldly?

And yet…

Even the Imperial Capital Garrison has arrived—why hasn't Qin's superior shown his face? Does he not care about Qin Feng's life?

Also!

Shen Qingci!

Jing Qianying!

Have they all fallen silent at this moment?

Clearly, it's not just Qin Feng who's mad—everyone in the Qin Family is mad.

Liu Hongyan turned a page of her ledger calmly and said coolly: "Though you and Feng'er are betrothed, as long as you haven't crossed the threshold, you're not yet a member of the Qin Family. Go home. Don't let the fire burn you."

Xie Yun'er frowned sharply and clenched her fists: "Second Sister, what do you mean? Am I Xie Yun'er, a coward who fears death?"

Hearing this, Liu Hongyan finally raised her head, a faint, profound smile curling at her lips: "Then let me make this clear, so you won't be confused. If Qin Feng had merely slapped Sun Feng, I'd have gone to scold that brat. But if he's going to kill him, I'll let him do it."

What did that mean? Xie Yun'er couldn't fathom it.

Seeing Xie Yun'er still didn't understand, Liu Hongyan simplified further: "If Feng'er commits a death penalty offense, we will unhesitatingly die with him—because we are family."

Xie Yun'er's eyes widened abruptly.

She finally understood why no one in the Qin Family tried to stop Qin Feng—when he made a decision, the Qin Family would stand with him without hesitation, even if that decision meant Nine Clans Extermination.

Is this what family means?!

Xie Yun'er let out a bitter smile.

At this moment, she realized why Qin Feng had always kept her at arm's length—despite their tangled ties, he had only ever entangled her.

In Qin Feng's heart, she would always be just a spoiled, temperamental noblewoman—not his future Young Madam.

Because…

Her heart was never aligned with his.

As Xie Yun'er's gaze grew distant, Liu Hongyan's voice spoke again—softly, tenderly: "Feng'er ignores you to protect you—to leave your Xie Family a way out."

Xie Yun'er bit her lip, smiling bitterly: "I've already pledged myself to Qin Feng—what way out remains?"

This remark lit a spark in Liu Hongyan's eyes; she lowered her head again, resuming her accounts with serene calm: "Since you say that, I'll tell you this: as a Qin Family Young Madam, you must remain unmoved by chaos, possessing the resolve to stand unshaken even as Taishan collapses before you."

"If you don't understand, think of your mother-in-law—our mother, Cheng Shi. How would she act in this situation?"

Cheng Shi…

Xie Yun'er didn't know.

But one thing she knew for certain: since the war ignited in Beixi County, Cheng Shi had sent not a single Military Dispatch to Jingdu—she had remained calmly in Beixi County.

Perhaps… Cheng Shi had absolute faith in Qin Feng, which allowed her such composure?

Xie Yun'er gave a wry laugh: "From the start, I doubted Qin Feng—I always thought one misstep would doom him. Because I doubted, I lacked faith—and so our paths never truly aligned."

"Second Sister… I still have to ask you: do you believe Qin Feng, even now, can still succeed and walk away unscathed?"

Liu Hongyan dipped her fingertip in her tongue, turned a page with effortless calm: "In the past, there might have been doubt. Now—I have none."

Xie Yun'er took a deep breath; her panic, despair, and shame vanished instantly. At this moment, she finally understood how to face—and adapt to—her coming "role."

Xie Yun'er turned silently and left, closing the door behind her. Seeing Qin Feng far off, arms crossed, chatting idly with Wu Wei, showing not a trace of tension, she smiled again—not a bitter smile, but a composed one.

Meanwhile, in the Qin Residence's main hall.

Xiao Xiangxiang bit her thin lips, deeply worried: "Young Mistress, Young Master…"

Xiao Xiangxiang was naturally timid; Shen Qingci didn't blame her, merely continued reading poetry, absently saying: "Don't bother. That brat dug his own hole—he can dig himself out."

Qin Xiaofu, standing to the side, let out a mischievous chuckle: "The young master never does anything without Preparation."