"You little bastard, how dare you raise your voice at me!"
Yanzhi's face flushed with rage, her body trembling as the insult "little bastard" slipped from her lips.
In the Qin household, many servants and maids whispered the term behind Qin Chen's back, but none dared use it to his face. After all, Qin Yuechi was the daughter of Duke Dingwu, the eldest lady of the Qin family.
But in her fury, Yanzhi threw caution to the wind. Pointing at Qin Chen, she sneered, "Calling you Dust少爷? You really think you're some kind of lord? Pfft!"
Qin Yuechi's face paled, her expression steely as she glared at Yanzhi. "What did you call Chen'er? Know your place—you're just a maid!"
"Oh, the great lady's putting on airs now?" Yanzhi shot back, smirking with brazen confidence. "Don't get ahead of yourself, my lady. The madam foresaw your defiance and made preparations. Guards, take the lady to the parlor. We mustn't keep the madam and her honored guest waiting."
Bang!
No sooner had she spoken than the door was kicked open. Two burly Qin family guards strode in, quickly approaching Qin Yuechi.
"My lady, come with us," one said, his head held high, a glint of greed flickering in his eyes as he reached for her.
Qin Yuechi's natural beauty was breathtaking, her allure undimmed by years of hardship. Her refined elegance only grew more captivating, stirring the desires of every man in the Qin household. Who wouldn't covet a chance to get close?
Surely no one would notice if we took a little advantage.
"I'd like to see who dares touch my mother!" Qin Chen snapped, grabbing a sword from the wall.
Clang!
The blade slid free from its sheath.
Stepping protectively in front of Qin Yuechi, Qin Chen held the sword at an angle, his eyes blazing with icy resolve. His gaze pierced the guards like a sharpened blade.
An inexplicable aura radiated from him.
The guards froze, a chill running through them as if death itself had locked onto them. Goosebumps prickled their skin, their breaths catching, their hands hesitating.
What's happening?
Exchanging glances, the guards were baffled. Qin Chen's appearance and aura hadn't changed, yet they felt an inexplicable dread.
As if defying him would unleash a nightmare.
They couldn't help but look to Yanzhi.
"You useless fools! Scared by Qin Chen?" Yanzhi fumed. "Have you forgotten who runs this house? Take the lady to the parlor, or do you think you can bear the madam's wrath?"
The guards' faces burned with shame. We?, intimidated by Qin Chen? Though he was a young master, his status was lower than that of a common steward. Timid by nature, he wouldn't even kill a chicken. If word got out that he had cowed them, how could they show their faces in the Qin household?
One guard stepped forward, sneering. "Dust少爷, mind yourself. We're acting on Lady Zhao's orders to escort the lady to the parlor. If you interfere, don't blame us for being discourteous."
But Qin Chen didn't budge, his sword steady before him, his voice cold and deliberate. "If you value your lives, try touching my mother."
His words seemed to echo from the depths of the underworld, halting the guards once more.
Turning to Yanzhi, Qin Chen's tone grew sharp. "And you, hiding behind your master's skirts, acting high and mighty. How dare you disrespect my mother? Believe me, I'll have you exiled three thousand miles, condemned to a brothel, never to rise again."
Yanzhi's face stiffened.
If this escalated, Lady Zhao might escape unscathed, but servants and guards like them would face dire consequences.
"Oh? Who's exiling whom?" a shrill voice cut through the tension, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.
A group of servants in brocade robes entered, lining up on either side. From their midst emerged a middle-aged woman in ornate palace attire, exuding elegance and authority.
She wore a gold-embroidered cloud robe, a coral jade hairpin adorned with red agate, and four or five gemstone rings on her slender fingers. Draped in wealth, she radiated opulence.
Beside her was a sleazy-looking, portly man dressed in lavish finery. His eyes locked onto Qin Yuechi the moment he entered, leering with barely concealed lust, practically drooling.
"Madam!" Yanzhi's arrogance vanished at the sight of the woman. Her face paled, and she bowed low, fear flickering in her eyes.
This was Lady Zhao Feng, the matriarch of the Qin household.
Her companion was the notorious libertine of Great Qi, Prince Qi, Zhao Qirui.
Lady Zhao glanced coldly at Yanzhi, snorting. "Can't even handle a simple task? Is this what I taught you?"
Yanzhi dropped to her knees, her face ashen. "This servant is incompetent. Please punish me, Madam."
"Stand aside. You're an embarrassment," Lady Zhao snapped.
"Yes, Madam." Yanzhi scurried to the side, trembling, her eyes shooting venomous glances at Qin Chen. Hmph, little brat. The madam's here now—let's see how arrogant you are.
Lady Zhao's gaze settled on Qin Chen, sword in hand. "Well, well. My nephew's been unconscious for a few days, and suddenly he's grown bold. Threatening lives, exiling my people three thousand miles to serve as courtesans? My, what ambition. One might mistake you for the Qin family's eldest heir."