Chapter 2

"Good," the beautiful woman looked at Qin Chen with a gentle expression, her eyes seemingly filled only with her son.

"Chen'er, tell Mother, why did you have a duel with the young master of the Wei family? Was it because someone deliberately framed you...?"

Qin Yuechi frowned as she looked at Qin Chen, her face showing concern.

"No, it was I who wanted to have a duel with him," Qin Chen said, lowering his head.

His gaze, however, was very cold.

The truth was that Wei Zhen had insulted him, calling him a bastard and his mother a low woman. In a fit of anger, he went up to the stage to duel him.

Now, it seemed this was a conspiracy against him.

Because as soon as Wei Zhen got on the stage, he used foul play.

If he told his mother the truth, given her character, she would certainly fight the Wei family to the death. But his mother's current situation was also very difficult.

When Qin Yuechi was young, she was known as the most beautiful woman in the Great Qi Kingdom, the object of admiration for countless princes and nobles in the capital. Matchmakers brought gifts and wore out the threshold, and even the current emperor had heard of Qin Yuechi's beauty and intended to take her as a concubine.

But at this time, Qin Yuechi suddenly left home, traveled the world, and disappeared from public view.

Three years later, Qin Yuechi returned, bringing the newly born Qin Chen back to the Qin family.

This event caused a sensation throughout the capital.

Unmarried and having a child was an extremely taboo and shameful matter in the entire Tianwu Continent, considered a violation of female virtue. In some remote and barbaric places, it could even result in being drowned in a pig cage.

At that time, the Qin family was so angry that they almost beat Qin Yuechi to death. It was the Martial King of Dingwu, Qin Bardtian, Qin Chen's grandfather, who overcame all objections and, in the name of the Qin family's bloodline, took in Qin Yuechi and Qin Chen.

But everyone in the Dingwu Mansion looked at Qin Yuechi and Qin Chen with cold eyes, considering Qin Yuechi a disgrace to the entire Qin family.

So, Qin Yuechi's life in the Qin family was very difficult.

Otherwise, Qin Chen wouldn't have been unconscious for three days and nights without any doctors coming to check on him.

"Chen'er, although you didn't awaken your bloodline this time, it's not a big deal. There will be other opportunities. Don't act impulsively and get into fights. Even if you can't become a strong person, it's not a problem; Mother will always protect you."

Qin Yuechi looked at the weak Qin Chen on the bed, sighed slightly, and felt a lump in her throat.

Chen'er's strong personality, if he couldn't resolve this heartache, would likely lead to more trouble in the future.

"Didn't awaken the bloodline?"

Qin Chen, through the memories of this body, instantly understood some of the situation.

It turned out that the original owner of this body had good martial talent and, with excellent grades, was admitted to the first academy of the Great Qi Kingdom, the Tianxing Academy.

However, in the several bloodline awakening ceremonies at the academy, he failed to awaken his bloodline. A few days ago, the academy conducted another bloodline awakening, and Qin Chen still did not awaken his bloodline.

In the Tianwu Continent, bloodline was supreme. Without awakening the bloodline, one could not become a true strong person.

The original owner of this body was deeply affected by this news. He wanted to become strong to change his and his mother's situation in the mansion, but he never expected that fate would play such a cruel joke on him.

Under the blow, he became depressed and listless, gloomy every day.

So, Qin Yuechi assumed that Qin Chen had a duel with Wei Zhen because he was upset about not awakening his bloodline.

"Mother, don't worry. This small setback won't defeat me."

Qin Chen felt Qin Yuechi's concern, his gaze softened, and he smiled slightly.

He wasn't comforting Qin Yuechi.

Not awakening the bloodline, for him, the former Eighth Rank Bloodline Emperor, was nothing.

Qin Chen's radiant smile warmed Qin Yuechi's heart, and she said with relief, "If so, Mother is relieved."

Qin Yuechi was about to say something more when suddenly—

Bang bang bang.

Someone was knocking on the door, and the sound was very loud, almost as if they were kicking it with their feet.

Qin Yuechi quickly opened the door.

A maid wearing a silver rat fur jacket entered the room.

"Miss, why did it take so long to open the door?" the maid said, dissatisfied, though she called her "Miss," she showed no respect.

"Yan Zhi, Chen'er just woke up, and his body is still weak. Speak softly and don't disturb Chen'er," Qin Yuechi said.

Yan Zhi, upon hearing this, glanced at Qin Chen on the bed, a mocking smile appearing on her lips.

"Ah, so Young Master Chen is awake. Congratulations."

Though she said "congratulations," there was no smile on her face, and her eyes were cold, as if Qin Chen owed her money.

This maid, Yan Zhi, was one of Lady Zhao's personal maids, Qin Chen's aunt.

The Qin family was a loyal and brave family, with generations of ancestors serving as generals and fighting for the Great Qi Kingdom, achieving remarkable military achievements.

By the time of Qin Chen's grandfather, Qin Bardtian, the family's prestige reached its peak. He was enfeoffed as the Martial King of Dingwu by the Great Qi Kingdom and established the Dingwu Mansion.

Qin Bardtian's son, Qin Yuanhong, Qin Chen's uncle, inherited the family's blessings and was enfeoffed as the Anping Marquis by the Great Qi Kingdom, taking charge of the Dingwu Mansion.

Thus, Qin Chen's aunt, Lady Zhao, became the current mistress of the Dingwu Mansion.

However, Lady Zhao had always been extremely hostile towards Qin Chen and Qin Yuechi, considering them a disgrace to the Dingwu Mansion and trying every means to drive them out.

"What are you doing here?" Qin Chen looked at Yan Zhi coldly.

"Young Master Chen, don't flatter yourself. I'm not here for you."

Yan Zhi looked at Qin Chen in surprise. The previous Qin Chen wouldn't dare speak to her like this. How did he become so bold after coming back to life?

"Miss, our lady guessed you would be with Young Master Chen, and she was right. You haven't forgotten your agreement with our lady, have you?"

Qin Yuechi's body trembled, a trace of humiliation crossing her eyes, and her face turned pale.

She looked at Qin Chen, covered him with a silk quilt, and stood up, saying softly, "Chen'er, Mother will be out for a while. Rest well."

With that, she turned to leave.

Qin Chen, with his keen eyes, naturally saw Qin Yuechi's momentary tremor and felt a sense of unease, frowning, "Mother, where are you going? I'll go with you."

Qin Yuechi paused, turned her head, and touched Qin Chen's face with her warm hand, smiling, "Silly child, Mother is still in the mansion. I won't go out. Do you think Mother will be bullied in the mansion? You just woke up, don't catch a cold. Rest well, Mother will be back soon."

Qin Chen frowned, "No, Mother, tell me what you agreed with Lady Zhao."

Qin Yuechi's face showed hesitation, unsure how to speak.

Beside her, Yan Zhi, impatient, said, "A half-dead person, why ask so many questions? I'll tell you directly. Your mother agreed to meet Prince Qi for our lady. Prince Qi is already in the living room, waiting for her."

"What, Zhao Qirui?! Zhao Feng, you bitch, how dare you force Mother to meet this lecher!"

Everyone in the capital knew that Zhao Qirui was the most dissolute prince of the Great Qi Kingdom, often frequenting brothels, with a harem of concubines and a house full of singing and dancing girls, living a life of debauchery, mockingly called the "Rogue Prince."

Zhao Qirui had long lusted after Mother's beauty, but she had always refused him. Who knew that Zhao Feng would invite this old lecher to the house, which was an outrageous act.

Qin Chen glared at Yan Zhi, his eyes shooting cold light, and said angrily, "And you, you wench, get out of here."

"What did you say?"

Yan Zhi trembled with anger, pointing at Qin Chen, but was intimidated by his gaze and didn't dare to speak, instead turning to Qin Yuechi, "Miss, is this how you teach your son? And the matter with Prince Qi, you agreed to it, didn't you? Are you going to go back on your word?"

"Mother agreed?"

Qin Chen was shocked and looked at his mother.

How could this be?

In his memory, Mother detested Zhao Qirui and was troubled by his pursuit.

How could she agree to meet him?

He wanted to hear a negative answer from Mother, but saw Qin Yuechi's body tremble, and she remained silent.

"Chen'er, you just woke up. Rest first. Don't hurt yourself. Mother is just meeting him, nothing will happen."

Finally, Qin Yuechi said with difficulty.

Qin Chen looked at Qin Yuechi in disbelief, anxious, "Mother, why? You know what Zhao Qirui is like. Going out to meet him is like a sheep entering a tiger's mouth."

"Why? Young Master Chen, do you still have the nerve to ask why?" Yan Zhi looked at Qin Chen with a mocking expression, "You had a private fight and were unconscious, almost dead. It was your good mother who knelt outside our lady's door all night, begging for the Reviving Spirit Pill. Lady Zhao, being kind, agreed to Miss's request. You still have the nerve to ask why? If I were you, I would have already killed myself here."

"Shut up."

Qin Yuechi glared at Yan Zhi, angry, "Lady Zhao promised me not to reveal this matter. How dare you speak recklessly!"

Qin Chen, seeing his mother's anger, felt a pain in his heart. He finally understood that Mother had agreed to meet Zhao Feng to save him with the Reviving Spirit Pill!

Reviving Spirit Pill.

Just a second-grade pill, worth only a few thousand silver coins.

But Mother had given up her dignity for this Reviving Spirit Pill.

Qin Chen's heart trembled, tears welling up in his eyes.

He got out of bed, grabbed Qin Yuechi, who was about to leave, and said through gritted teeth, "Mother, let's stay here. No one will go to meet him. Rest assured, from today on, I won't let you suffer anymore, and I won't let you meet that lecherous old bastard Zhao Qirui!"

Qin Yuechi's body trembled, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears as she looked at Qin Chen.

Qin Chen's expression was cold, and he glared at Yan Zhi, his eyes like sharp knives, and said coldly, "As for you, get out of here now!"