Chapter 91

First Volume, Chapter 91: A Loving Father, a Filial Son

Watching Liu Hongyan depart, Qin Feng silently plotted his grand money-making scheme in his mind.

At that moment, Qin Xiaofu ran up, panting, his expression tense: "Young Master, Master has returned home."

Qin Feng lay sprawled across the StoneTable, his mind full of how to expand his business in Jingdu, and didn't respond.

Seeing Qin Feng distracted, Qin Xiaofu quickly added: "Master knows everything that happened today."

With such a commotion, it wouldn't take long for the entire Jingdu to know—Qin Tianhu learning of it was no surprise.

Qin Feng glanced at him, slapped his own abdomen: "See? I carry the Golden Belt. Only the Saint can deal with this Young Master. What's there to fear?"

Watching his Young Master's smug grin, Qin Xiaofu sneered.

Since the Young Master himself wasn't worried, Qin Xiaofu figured he didn't need to worry either—he stood by, diligently offering a string of pearl-and-jade-linked flattery that left Qin Feng thoroughly relaxed.

Boom!

At this critical deadline, a thunderous crash echoed.

Qin Feng jumped, shouting: "Qin Xiaofu, are you crazy?! I've told you a hundred times—come and go quietly! I'm not sick, but you're about to scare me into it!"

Qin Xiaofu, standing beside him, looked bewildered: "Young Master, I've been standing right here…"

Qin Feng turned to look at Qin Xiaofu, right beside him, and frowned—only Qin Xiaofu was always clumsy. Who else could it be?

Qin Feng slowly turned toward the Gate, then felt a chill race from head to toe. After a fraction of a second's hesitation, he bolted—straight for his bedroom.

Almost as soon as Qin Feng locked the door, pounding erupted outside, accompanied by Qin Tianhu's roar.

"You little brat, open this door! Today I'm breaking your legs!"

Qin Tianhu was a battle-hardened general, even now retired to the Second Line—his martial vigor undiminished. The door trembled as if about to shatter, making Qin Feng scream: "Help! He's killing me! In broad daylight, Qin Tianhu is committing murder!"

The more he screamed, the angrier Qin Tianhu became—like a tiger roaring: "You ungrateful wretch! How dare you call your father by name?! Even if you scream till your throat bursts, no one will save you!"

Boom—

With a deafening crash, the door nearly tore from its frame. Qin Feng shoved his whole body against it.

If his father burst in today, Qin Feng wouldn't see tomorrow's sun. In this turbulent Jingdu, to fall not to Qin Family rivals—but to his own father—would be too humiliating!

Qin Feng's frail frame couldn't withstand Qin Tianhu's wrath. He gritted his teeth and shouted: "Father! The Saint granted me the Golden Belt. In all of Shedynasty, only the Saint may punish me—even Imperial Relatives have no right! You're Minister of War—how can you break the law?!"

Crash!

Qin Tianhu kicked the door, shaking the whole house. Through the wood, he snarled: "Don't try that crap on me. If you truly wore the Golden Belt, I couldn't touch you—but look! Where's your Golden Belt?!"

At those words, Qin Feng instinctively reached for his waist.

Then he remembered—the Golden Belt and the Imperial Edict had been taken by Liu Hongyan and enshrined in the Ancestral Hall.

Qin Feng nearly wept. His attitude flipped 180 degrees—he pleaded desperately: "Father, the Hubei Party is constantly plotting against me. If you beat me now, it'll only make our kin grieve and our enemies rejoice. For Shedynasty, for Qin Family's lineage, for the coming war against the Di—please, have mercy!"

Fortunately, Qin Tianhu hadn't lost all reason. His words took effect. He stopped pounding the door but barked coldly:

"Is there anything you won't do? The Dragon-Tiger Gang answers to the Second Prince—you've dismantled them. Isn't that a direct declaration of war? And that's not all! In the Jingzhao Office, you humiliated Qi Cheng in public—he's the Father Official of Jingdu! Next time Qin Family stumbles, he'll pounce!"

"Do you want me to die sooner?!"

Qin Feng didn't dare slack off—he feared Qin Tianhu was feigning retreat to trick him into opening the door. He quickly replied: "From the moment you pushed for the Di war, Qin Family already clashed with the Second Prince. This veil was bound to tear. Some things can't be avoided—better to face them head-on, declare Qin Family's stance to all, and earn the Saint's trust."

"If Qin Family wavers—pro-war yet timid—we'll anger the Pro-Peace Faction and make the Saint distrust us. We'll be isolated, trapped!"

Though hot-tempered, Qin Tianhu wasn't unreasonable. He had to admit—Qin Feng's words hit the mark.

Hearing no movement outside, Qin Feng thought Qin Tianhu had left. He cracked the door open a sliver to observe—and saw Qin Tianhu sitting in the Cool Pavilion, frowning deeply.

Qin Xiaofu stood beside him, trembling, not daring to breathe, shooting Qin Feng desperate, pleading glances.

Qin Feng pretended not to see. He slammed the door shut, threw himself on the bed, and refused to touch this bad luck.

As time passed, about an incense stick later, Qin Tianhu still hadn't left. Qin Feng had no choice—he stepped out, gave Qin Xiaofu a signal.

Qin Xiaofu felt like he'd been pardoned, tears of gratitude welling up—he turned and fled without looking back.

Damn it! I told you to ask what's wrong with Master—why the hell did you run?!

Furious, Qin Feng cursed Qin Xiaofu for being disloyal. He forced himself to sit across from Qin Tianhu, forcing a smile, speaking softly: "Father, what's wrong? Did something happen in the Imperial Court?"

Qin Tianhu didn't want to speak to this disobedient son—but Qin Feng was now entangled in Court Intrigue. He couldn't be excluded. He replied coldly: "The Di war has changed."

Changed?!

Qin Feng's eyes flickered with subtle gravity: "At Ji Wang's birthday banquet, the Di war was settled. Has the Hubei Party sunk so low they dare obstruct its advance now?"

Qin Tianhu snorted: "The Hubei Party won't dare show its face again—but their retreat doesn't mean others will stand idle. The Left Faction's Officials are mostly Pro-Peace. Once someone leads, they'll all follow."

Qin Feng felt a creeping dread. He lowered his voice: "Is the one leading the opposition against the war… the Second Prince?"