Chapter Fourteen: You Will Regret This

Wasn’t it obvious? Doctor Ye was still bearing a grudge against him. The only reason he remained here was to exact revenge for the scheme that had once ensnared him. And now, his own life lay firmly in the hands of another. That Li Wuwei was clearly a diehard loyalist under Ye Cheng’s command. As long as Ye Cheng felt even the slightest dissatisfaction toward him, his path to recovery would be cut short in an instant.

“So be it. Doctor Ye, since you have come today, I will arrange for the servants to show you. Siyuan, take Doctor Ye to witness the enforcement of the family rules.”

A moment later, Old Master Qin summoned Qin Siyuan over, his expression betraying a certain helplessness as he instructed him to escort Ye Cheng to see Qin Baoguo’s punishment with his own eyes.

“Yes, Father.” Qin Siyuan accepted the order and led Ye Cheng out of the sickroom.

They had not walked far before Ye Cheng heard the mournful, wailing cries of someone in agony. Although Qin Siyuan and Qin Baoguo were not biological brothers, Qin Siyuan had always been upright and virtuous. So as soon as he heard the sound, he couldn’t help but worry for Qin Baoguo.

Striding quickly toward the courtyard, he pleaded with Ye Cheng, “Doctor Ye, I know my father wronged you in the past, and I know Baoguo was blind to greatness today. But I hope you can show mercy and spare him this once. I believe he will never dare act in such a way again.”

“Siyuan, I wonder if you’re truly naïve or only pretending to be. Can’t you tell that these pitiful cries are all an act?”

Facing the simple-hearted Qin Siyuan, Ye Cheng let out a cold laugh.

“An act?” Qin Siyuan halted, turning back to Ye Cheng in confusion.

“You’ll see for yourself soon enough. Your family’s patriarch is far more cunning than you realize. It’s a pity you don’t understand my intentions. I’m actually helping you, do you understand?”

“Helping me? Why?” Qin Siyuan was even more baffled.

“If you don’t kill Qin Baoguo today, one day he will kill you,” Ye Cheng replied flatly.

“Sir, I cannot believe that. My father has always treated me with the deepest kindness, and I’ve always regarded Baoguo as my own brother. Though there may be some friction between us, he would never harm me.”

Qin Siyuan refused to believe Ye Cheng’s warning, no matter what.

“Forget it, believe what you will. The howling certainly sounds convincing,” Ye Cheng quipped, gesturing toward the courtyard.

“Rest assured, Doctor Ye, the discipline of the Qin family is strict and unwavering. We’re here. Let’s go in. I can assure you that we—”

But as Qin Siyuan led Ye Cheng into the side courtyard, his words died in his throat.

There, in the side courtyard, Young Master Qin Baoguo was sitting with several servants, drinking wine and gnawing on a pig’s trotter. Not only was he eating and drinking merrily, but every now and then he would turn toward the main house and let out a theatrical wail.

“Oh, oh, it hurts so much! Father, spare me!”

“Well, Commander Qin, was I wrong?” Ye Cheng shrugged at Qin Siyuan with a playful smirk.

With that, Ye Cheng stepped forward, his gaze turning icy as he addressed the household servants.

“I don’t know if your master didn’t make himself clear, or if you simply choose to ignore his orders. The old master just sent me here to supervise, yet you’re already drinking?”

The head servant, seeing Ye Cheng stride into the side courtyard, felt a chill run down his spine; trouble was clearly brewing. He quickly set down his cup and dashed out toward the main house.

Soon, the head servant returned.

“Well? What did the old master say?” Qin Baoguo asked anxiously, shivering visibly. Seeing Ye Cheng had actually come here, he was clearly afraid.

“Brothers, beat him! Beat him within an inch of his life!” The head servant, not daring to look at Qin Baoguo, signaled the other servants.

“What are you doing? Let go of me! I am the eldest son of the Qin family! If you dare— Ow! Mother, it hurts!”

Before Qin Baoguo could finish, the servants had already pinned him to the ground, and a heavy stick came crashing down on his backside. Perhaps it was because the servants had just eaten and drunk their fill, but this blow made Qin Baoguo wail in genuine agony, a sound far more piercing than his previous cries, echoing throughout the Qin estate.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Qin Baoguo’s wailing filled the side courtyard, and in the sickroom of the main house, Old Master Qin’s heart pounded with anxiety. He murmured to himself,

“Son, forgive me. Today your father’s fate is in another’s hands. If you are truly beaten to death, do not blame me—your father simply wishes to survive.”

“If you die, don’t come looking for me. At most, I’ll burn you some extra paper offerings on the fifteenth of Qingming.”

“Once I regain my health, I’ll be sure to give you a new little brother.”

“Oh, and your elder brother is with you. I sent him to accompany you; surely he’ll protect you. You must hold on.”

As such thoughts ran through his mind, Old Master Qin’s emotions gradually settled. As the saying goes: even a venomous tiger does not eat its cubs—but such proverbs depend on the person. Old Master Qin was the sort who would sacrifice anyone for his own survival. Otherwise, he would not have falsely accused Ye Cheng at the Dragon Emperor’s behest, knowing full well Ye Cheng was blameless.

Yet Qin Baoguo was still his own flesh and blood; he would not give him up so lightly. That was why, when Ye Cheng insisted on witnessing the punishment, he arranged for the kind-hearted Qin Siyuan to accompany him, hoping he would help the family through this difficult choice.

As expected, things unfolded just as Old Master Qin had planned. After Qin Baoguo had received a truly punishing flogging in the side courtyard, Qin Siyuan could bear it no longer. Seeing Baoguo lying bruised and battered on the ground, his heart overflowed with sympathy. He immediately turned to Ye Cheng, knelt with a thud, and gripped Ye Cheng’s hands tightly, pleading,

“Doctor Ye, I beg you, please spare Baoguo this once. He is my brother—I cannot watch him die before my eyes.”

Looking into Qin Siyuan’s tear-filled eyes, Ye Cheng frowned slightly, bent down, and asked in a low voice,

“Kindness is a virtue, but kindness without discernment can bring disaster. Do you truly wish to spare him?”

“No matter what my brother has done, I would rather bear it myself. I only ask that Doctor Ye show mercy,” Qin Siyuan replied with unwavering resolve.

“Ah, you will regret this,” Ye Cheng sighed deeply. Without helping Qin Siyuan to his feet, he turned and left the back courtyard.