Chapter 5

Qingyuan looked at the two mercilessly. Qingyuan took out his whip. Before he could beat the two of them, a hand stopped Qingyuan. Qingyuan was shocked to see Lanying stop him.

"What are you doing? Why did you stop me?" Qingyuan asked annoyed. "You don't have to get your hands dirty with the blood of these two killers. Someone will do it for you." said Lanying with a wink.

Qingyuan frowned in confusion. It didn't take long, Li Muyuan came with Haoran following him. Qingyuan finally understood. 'Uncle must have sent a decree to that old fox if he comes.' thought Qingyuan.

"This servant pays his respects to Lord Zhang and the 9th prince." said Muyuan trying to calm down. While saying Lord Zhang, Qingyuan could feel the anger from Muyuan.

Qingyuan didn't care. The rumors started again. "He must have come to cover the sins of his beloved son." "I feel very sorry for the legal wife's children who have never been loved." "At least from now on, Lord Zhang as well as younger sister and younger brother won't have to return to the home of those hypocrites and murderers."

Muyuan was furious but he had no reason to punish the citizens. Moreover, he would not dare to face the 4th prince and 9th prince.

"These two servants will be locked up in prison and will be tried according to the law. Hope the 9th prince doesn't have to worry." Muyuan explained.

"This prince is not worried about this but I think Lord Zhang will. After all this servant of yours has gone too far. I think the ministry of law would be fair in this, wouldn't it?" said the 9th prince mocking Muyuan. "Of course, the 9th prince has nothing to worry about." Muyuan explained.

"You're just an outcast, you..." the servant's words were cut off as Qingyuan lashed the maid's body. The servant's screams sounded sad. "Shut your filthy mouth!" said Qingyuan looking at the servant without mercy.

"I don't believe you. I'd better ..." Qingyuan's words were cut off because the 9th prince pulled Qingyuan away. "What are you doing?" Qingyuan asked annoyed. They were quite far from the scene.

"His Majesty the Emperor must have had his reasons for having Li Muyuan take care of this case so it's best if we don't interfere." obviously 9th prince relaxed. "I don't know, if you call your father by his title like us." Qingyuan said confused.

"I just felt like it so I did." said the 9th prince casually. Qingyuan smiled. "Our Ying er is all grown up now." said Qingyuan stroking the 9th prince's head.

"I'm a big boy, stop treating me like a child!" said the 9th prince annoyed. "Young master, madam Li asks you to return to the Li mansion." said a servant from the Li Mansion. "Your Highness, this servant has business so go first." Qingyuan said before leaving to follow the servant.

The 9th prince had a bad feeling about Qingyuan's departure. 'I hope he's okay.' thought the 9th prince, Lanying was worried.

---Mansion Li---

@family hall

Qingyuan was on his knees staring at his angry mother. "You think you can do whatever you want. You can even punish servants as you please." Liqiu said angrily. Qingyuan smiled sadly at his mother in disappointment.

"You can still smile? You're not human!" Liqiu said angrily. Qingyuan laughed sadly. Liqiu slapped at Qingyuan's cheeks but Qingyuan laughed even harder.

Liqiu backed away furiously. "Mother, you want to say I'm cruel right? Your ignorance almost killed A Qing and A Hua but you still say I'm cruel?" said Qingyuan laughing sadly.

"The two servants gave health tonics to A Qing and A Hua but you accused them of poisoning A Qing and A Hua. You still want to justify what you did!" Liqiu said furiously.

"Whatever we say you won't listen. One day when we really die, you'll say it's the right thing to do because we sinned." Qingyuan said with empty eyes.

"You insolent!" Liqiu said angrily. "Mother, I've died once. I won't die a second time because hearing your words finally dragged me to my death!" Qingyuan said angrily.

Disappointment turned into anger. Thinking of how he was killed in his past life and the deaths of A Qing and A Hua made him unable to forgive his mother for dragging them all into the afterlife. Qingyuan remembers before his death, his mother visited him and cursed him viciously for taking revenge for A Qing and A Hua. His mother said she was disappointed to have a son of a murderer and slanderer who even dared to harm his own family.

That was the reason he separated himself from his mother once he was able to go back in time to change everything. "Servant, bring my whip!" Liqiu said angrily.

As soon as the servant carrying Liqiu's whip came. Liqiu took the whip and lashed Qingyuan's back 100 times. "You will be kneeling here for 7 days and 7 nights before you can return." Liqiu said leaving angrily.

Qingyuan made no sound at all despite being whipped. 'I will not forgive you, mother. Until the day I die. If only in this life, you were kind to A Qing and A Hua. I can forget the past and forgive you but even in this life. You are blinded by love and torture them. I'd rather die than let them suffer.' Qingyuan thought angrily.

---Zhang Family Mansion---

@family hall

Zhang Hua was like a broken record and kept walking to and fro. "Miss, you go to rest. You need to take care of your health." Bingwen said worriedly.

"But brother still hasn't come home until now. I don't know what mother did to brother. You don't know but my mother can be very cruel with punishment." said Zhang Hua worriedly.

"Don't worry, I've already informed the 9th prince of the situation. I'm sure he can help Young Master." Bingwen said soothingly. Finally Zhang Hua complied and returned to her room to rest.

---Mansion Li---

@family hall

Qingyuan had been here for a day and a night. Even last night, Jianyu had come to torture him by lowering his collar and slicing Qingyuan's shoulders knowing he was caught. Jianyu only dared to slice with a wound that wasn't deep but was bleeding enough.

Not satisfied Jianyu doused Qingyuan with cold water after adjusting Qingyuan's clothes. Qingyuan didn't make a sound so Jianyu got bored and left.

After the elder brother left, Xiuying came with the maid and pricked Qingyuan's ten fingers with a needle. Qingyuan looked at Xiuying coldly. Xiuying was scared and left immediately.

Muyuan came with Liqiu as well as Hong Qiu, Jianyu and Xiuying. "You know your mistake now?" Liqiu asked angrily. Qingyuan looked at Liqiu with hatred.

"I, Zhang Qingyuan have really been treated like trash by my own family. This family, I don't need it." said Qingyuan standing firmly. "Li Muyuan and Zhang Liqiu, I Zhang Qingyuan cut ties with you guys today!" Qingyuan said coldly.

Every word was flat and cold enough to give everyone goosebumps. "You brat! You think ..." Liqiu's words were cut off.

"If you don't like it then you can take this to court. I'll be there!" Qingyuan said before exiting the Li Mansion. "Look, your good boy!" Muyuan said leaving angrily.

Hong Qiu, Jianyu and Xiuying looked happy while Liqiu was furious. "The court? You think I dare not!" Liqiu said angrily.

---Outside of Li's Mansion---

Everyone passing by was shocked to see Qingyuan come out with a disheveled appearance. As they recalled, Lord Zhang came in fine condition why did he come out pale and holding his stomach.

Qingyuan tried to walk normally but she lost a lot of blood and the wound opened again. Before Qingyuan fainted, he heard his name being called out in panic. "A Yuan!" shouted the man.

It turned out to be the 4th prince who shouted Qingyuan's name. The 9th prince managed to restrain Qingyuan's body from touching the ground. Everyone who passed by looked at Qingyuan worriedly but didn't dare to approach.

The three of them immediately returned to the Zhang Family Mansion.

---Zhang Family Mansion---

@Qingyuan room

The Royal Physician had expelled the 4th prince and the 9th prince out. Qingyuan's condition is very serious for the stomach wound plus the whip wound not to mention the wound on the shoulder although it is not deep but if not treated it will become infected.

His situation was made worse by the pricked wound on Qingyuan's finger which although it didn't look like a fatal wound but dried blood was still there to be cleaned plus Qingyuan had a high fever right now. The royal physician was even confused that Qingyuan could be family from the Li Mansion under these circumstances.

The Li family was so cruel that even their son was tortured like this let alone anyone else. There are no good people in the family. The royal physician will save Qingyuan no matter what.

@outside Qingyuan's room

"What about brother?" asked the newly arrived Crown Prince Feng Ge. "The royal physician is still helping Qingyuan." obviously 4th prince.

"His mother is so cruel!" said Crown Prince Feng Ge angrily. "Report, there is a court coming. What to do?" Bingwen asked. "I go." said Crown Prince Feng Ge angrily.

"Brother, I hope you calm down. I'm leaving, you better stay here." said the 4th prince smiling sweetly before leaving. Both Feng Ge and Lanying gulped their saliva. Everyone always said that the 4th prince was gentle and kind.

They weren't wrong but when it came to Qingyuan's interests he could kill you even with his bare hands.

@waiting hall

"Where is Lord Zhang?" said the bailiff indignantly. "Brother is sick, can't see the guests. I'm leaving." said Zhang Hua.

"You really ..." the bailiff's words trailed off. "You'd better not carry on with that!" said the 4th prince. "This servant pays homage to Your Highness the 4th prince," said the court clerk in fear.

"Take me and Zhang Hua over there." 4th prince's orders. "Very well, Your Highness the 4th prince." said the bailiff.

---Court---

Liqiu stood there. Zhang Hua entered and asked the 4th prince not to come in.

"Where is Lord Zhang?" said the court judge angry at the bailiff but the officer just kept his mouth shut for fear of being punished by the 4th prince.

"My brother, can't come. I as a younger sister represent my brother." Zhang Hua said calmly. "Why? He's afraid to come now?" said Liqiu looking at Zhang Hua angrily.

Zhang Hua stared back angrily. "I don't care, drag the villain here!" said the court judge. Zhang Hua was furious that his brother was said to be a criminal.

"Since when did Lord Zhang become a villain?!" said the 4th prince came in. His firm voice gave everyone goosebumps. "Since he dared to be ignorant and disobedient to his parents. Even now he dares not to attend even though he is fine at home." said the court judge confidently.

"I asked how do you know he's okay?" asked the 4th prince. "He's back in his own mansion of course he's fine." said the court judge.

"So you think this prince is lying." said the 4th prince angrily. "I'm just running errands so please don't interfere with the prince." said the court judge.

"You can bring Lord Zhang here but otherwise Lord Zhang cannot be saved. The first thing I will do is kill your entire clan as well as the entire Li family." the 4th prince said making silence.

"He's the one who said he took the matter to court. If he's sick, there's no way he can get out and get home safely!" Liqiu said annoyed.

"Are you right to say you're his mother? Now his life may be on the line but you still won't stop. What do you want? You'll stop when he dies in front of you right? You're so cruel." said the 4th prince angrily.

The atmosphere became silent for a moment.

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