The Prodigal Son

"That's me, young master!"

Qin Yu looked the old man up and down. "And who are you?"

The old man bowed slightly, "Xiao Baoju, the High Minister of Beiqi!"

High-ranking official?

That's equivalent to the Minister of Works in Da Ning, right?

Hmm, quite a big deal!

"You're a high-ranking official, right? That makes things easier!"

Qin Yu glanced at Xiao Baoju with a nonchalant air, then pointed at Xiao Hu and said, "This grandson really annoys me. I want to teach him a lesson. You don't have any objections, do you?"

Xiao Baoju frowned slightly, then smiled calmly: "My son, Xiao Hu, was very rude just now. I apologize to you on his behalf, Young Master. Please forgive him!"

As he spoke, Xiao Baoju actually bowed to Qin Yu in public and apologized.

This move immediately caused an uproar among the onlookers.

Who would have thought that the High Minister of Beiqi would disregard his reputation and publicly apologize to Qin Yu, this纨绔子弟 (playboy).

"father!"

Xiao Hu shouted in dissatisfaction, "Why should I apologize to him?"

My father is the High Minister of Beiqi!

How could he apologize to such a piece of trash in public?

Isn't this lowering our status and damaging the prestige of our nation?

Besides, Qin Fumeng is the public enemy of Bei Qi!

"Shut up!"

Xiao Baoju glared at him fiercely. "Young Master Qin is in a hurry to prepare for the Empress Dowager of Da Ning's birthday banquet. We're blocking his way, so we should apologize! Hurry up and apologize to Young Master Qin!"

Xiao Hu's face stiffened. Urged on by his father's cold gaze, he reluctantly cupped his hands to Qin Yu and said in a muffled voice, "I have offended you greatly, please forgive me!"

"I don't like these empty formalities!"

Qin Yu, pushing his luck, pointed at the precious horse beneath Xiao Hu, "I think your horse is quite good! Take it as an apology gift!"

Xiao Hu was furious and about to refuse, but Xiao Baoju preemptively answered, "No problem!"

what?

Qin Yu was both amused and exasperated.

Nima!

This still didn't succeed in causing trouble?

This……

This is making me feel like I'm completely useless!

Or how about we kill his son on the spot and see?

Hmm... never mind that!

It's one thing to cause trouble, but you can't let it spiral out of control!

Just as Qin Yu was feeling disappointed, Xiao Baoju forced Xiao Hu to dismount.

Faced with his father's domineering attitude, Xiao Hu had no choice but to obediently dismount, no matter how unwilling he was.

Afterwards, Xiao Baoju had someone bring Xiao Hu's precious horse to Qin Yu, and at the same time ordered the Northern Qi delegation to make way.

"That's more like it!"

Qin Yu smiled with satisfaction, handed the horse to his attendant, climbed back into the carriage, and muttered one last curse: "Coward!"

Watching Qin Yu and his group leave triumphantly, Xiao Hu clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with coldness.

"Get on the bus!"

Xiao Baoju gave a low reprimand and ordered his men to bring the unconscious man back into the carriage.

Inside the carriage sat a young man.

Xiao Hu, filled with resentment, got into the carriage. "Father, this is too much..."

What's the point of fighting against a dying man?

Xiao Baoju interrupted him, "Even if he kills you in the street, he'll only die! But if he uses this to provoke a war between Bei Qi and Ning, forcing the Ning Empress to reinstate Qin Fumeng, he might still have a chance to live..."

Qin Fumeng was a veteran of three dynasties in Ningguo, and the Qin family was full of loyal martyrs.

The fact that Empress Ningguo is now using Qin Fumeng's only grandson as a shield to protect her reputation is a good thing for Beiqi!

When Qin Fumeng was mentioned, a cold glint flashed in Xiao Baoju's eyes.

Qin Fumeng's reputation in Beiqi was probably even greater than his reputation in Ningguo.

In the past, during Emperor Xiaowu of Ningguo, Zhao Lie, on his third northern expedition, Qin Fumeng followed Zhao Lie to capture Wuguan in Beiqi and shot out one of the eyes of Emperor Murong Teng of Beiqi at the front line of Juzhou.

It is said that Qin Fumeng was given the name "Fumeng" by Zhao Lie for this reason.

Fu Meng is an elegant name for tiger.

It also implies the subjugation of fierce generals!

Today, the city of Yichi, located on the front line of the state, is built by Beiqi to ensure that the descendants of Beiqi remember this humiliation!

Shame is the mother of courage!

The reason why Beiqi is called Beiqi is not because they are in the north, but because they know that the land of Jiuzhou is occupied by Ningguo!

Their current territory is only half of the country!

Only by recovering the nine provinces can Beiqi be called Daqi!

Xiao Hu understood, but then asked worriedly, "But Your Majesty..."

"Shut up!"

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Baoju's eyes as he coldly warned his son, "There is no His Majesty, only the young master!"

Xiao Hu subconsciously shrank his neck, not daring to say anything more.

After calming his son down, Xiao Baoju solemnly instructed, "Our purpose here is to retrieve the fragments of the Nine Dragon Pendant and, incidentally, to probe the strength of Ning Kingdom. Let's avoid any unforeseen complications!"

Xiao Hu slightly opened his mouth and nodded reluctantly...

……

"Thirteenth Young Master, you shouldn't be so impulsive in the future. If that incident had blown up, it wouldn't have done you any good."

Inside the carriage, Luo Qingyi earnestly tried to persuade Qin Yu.

She knew that Qin Yu's parents, brothers, including his second uncle and cousin, had all died at the hands of the Northern Qi people.

It is entirely understandable that Qin Yu harbored resentment towards the people of Beiqi.

But if Xiao Baoju hadn't backed down just now, things would have been really difficult to handle.

"It's alright!"

Qin Yu scoffed, "Doesn't this just make everyone think I'm doomed?"

Ok?

Luo Qingyi looked at him questioningly.

Just for this?

What good would it do him to make everyone think he's dead?

It's been so long, even if the Qin family wanted to distinguish between friend and foe, they should have figured it out by now, right?

Qin Yu winked and smiled, but said nothing more.

Soon, they left the imperial city and arrived at the restaurant.

After he sent people over, the restaurant was cleaned spotless.

The women Qin Yu had redeemed from the brothel also settled down here.

When Qin Yu arrived, they were folding paper cranes of various sizes, as he had instructed them.

After briefly explaining some things to the manager, Lao Pang, Qin Yu led Luo Qingyi on a stroll around the third floor of the restaurant, looking around from time to time.

"Thirteenth Young Master, what are you looking at?"

Luo Qingyi asked, puzzled.

She always felt that Qin Yu was doing something big.

But she really couldn't think of anything significant Qin Yu could do.

"Keep it a secret!"

Qin Yu revealed a mysterious smile.

After searching for a while, Qin Yu found an excellent vantage point.

From here, the Qujiang River is clearly visible, and the surrounding mountains are breathtakingly clear.

This is it!

Qin Yu made a decisive decision and immediately instructed Lao Pang: "Hurry up and tear down these walls to connect these rooms..."

Old Pang had no idea what this ancestor wanted to do, so he could only agree.

After making arrangements at the restaurant, Qin Yu led his men back.

Not long after arriving home, Zhao Luan sent someone to summon Qin Yu to the palace.

Ok?

Qin Yu frowned slightly.

Could it be because of the Northern Qi delegation?

With his doubts in mind, Qin Yu followed the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial edict into the palace.

After a series of twists and turns, Qin Yu finally arrived at the Imperial Study.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Qin Yu saw that Zhao Luan's expression was not good, so he immediately bowed obediently.

Is this female demon up to no good?

Zhao Luan slightly raised her eyelids. "There are only four days left until the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. How are the preparations going?"

Oh, so that's what it was about!

Qin Yu felt relieved. "It's almost done, but the silver is indeed insufficient. Please, Your Majesty..."

"Don't mention money to me!"

Zhao Luan interrupted Qin Yu's spellcasting, "Don't say I didn't warn you. I've heard the Empress Dowager is very dissatisfied with your dismissive attitude. If she didn't think you were already dead, she would have already punished you!"

Ha ha!

Is the next thing to say something like, "Locking you up is for your own good"?

That female demon is still up to her old tricks!

Unfortunately, I won't give you that chance!

Qin Yu inwardly grumbled, but confidently said, "I have prepared a very special gift for the Empress Dowager, and I believe she will be delighted..."