"boom--"
Yi Hongyan's broad palm slapped the table heavily, causing the teacup on the table to jingle. Yiyi was led out of the back room by Ye Changshan and listened to Yi Hongyan scolding Yingping outside.
"Three hundred thousand taels! You are so capable! Not only can you steal money! You can also make money! Three hundred thousand taels! You are more than your adoptive father has ever earned in his life!"
Yingping stood aside aggrievedly, not daring to look at Yi Hongyan at all, and muttered in a low voice——
"First, this is gold, not silver. Second, this is called 'borrowing', not 'stealing'. Third, I do earn quite a lot..."
Yi Hongyan was curious when he saw Yingping saying something in a low voice, and asked: "What did you say? Louder!"
Yingping was startled when his adoptive father realized that he was mumbling, but then he felt relieved when he saw that he didn't seem to hear what he said clearly.
"Father, I...I...don't I just want to earn some money for your retirement? Look, you have been working hard with me and Yiyi for most of your life...after I go up the mountain, You can also enjoy the blessing..."
"Hmph, you are filial!"
Although he knew this was Yingping's nonsense, Yi Hongyan felt quite comfortable hearing these words.
"Besides...besides..."
"Besides what? Say it quickly! If you dare to think and do it, why don't you dare to say it?"
"Besides, I also want to save some money to get a wife..."
Yingping's voice was very loud at first, and then became quieter and quieter, so that Yi Hongyan couldn't believe what he heard.
"What? Are you still thinking about asking for a wife?" Yi Hongyan laughed angrily. This adopted son is really dumbfounding. He secretly took three hundred taels of gold to gamble, actually in order to ask for a wife in the future?
"Hey...hehe..."
When Yingping saw his adoptive father laughing, he started laughing too.
"You don't need to worry about getting a wife. Someone will worry about you in the future!" Yi Hongyan said with a half-smile. But then, he suddenly stopped smiling, his voice became serious, and said: "You have already done such a greedy and unethical thing before you go up the mountain. If others know about it, it will be an insult to the humble family and Mr. , as your adoptive father, how can I be worthy of Mr. Wen...how can I be worthy of...your mother in heaven?"
As soon as he heard that his adoptive father had moved the "Mother in Heaven" out, Yingping immediately felt something bad. Now he was really scared. Although his adoptive father was often angry in the past, he would only scold him a few times. He had never lost his temper like he did today. Even though he lost his temper just now, Yingping still didn't feel scared until his adoptive father sacrificed his 'mother'.
"Father...I, I know I was wrong..."
Yingping's eyes were red, and his expression showed a little fear.
"It's the father's fault if a son doesn't teach me. Although I am not your biological father, the lady entrusted you to me, so I must be worthy of the oath I made back then and the lady's entrustment!" Yi Hongyan thought of herself that day by the lake. Kneeling in front of the young lady's body and making the oath, I felt a surge of emotion in my heart. He continued: "I vowed to take good care of you and protect you, and I also vowed to educate you. Today you did such a disgraceful thing, and I can no longer condone you!"
Listening to his adoptive father talk about what happened back then, Yingping had mixed feelings for a moment. What he did seemed to have really hurt his adoptive father's heart. When he was about to say something, he heard Yi Hongyan say -
"Hand out!"
"What? What are you going to do, foster father?"
Yingping suddenly had some fear, a fear from the bottom of his heart. He had never seen his adoptive father so serious and serious. In his impression, his adoptive father was always a person who made loud noises but little rain. Even if he made a mistake, he would always be 'stern'. 'I warned myself, and I would be done with my earnest education the next day, but this...this...is I going to punish myself?
"Father..." Yingping begged softly, looking at Yi Hongyan pitifully.
Seeing that Yingping's eyes seemed to be filled with tears, Yi Hongyan was in a daze for a moment. At this moment, Yingping's eyes were very similar to the young lady's, as if he saw the young lady looking at him and begging him bitterly. Yingping's eyes are most like his mother's. When Yi Hongyan held the infant Yingping in his arms and took a closer look, he had discovered that Yingping was usually very naughty. How could he be like a young lady? But at this moment, Yingping looked at himself like this, as if that kind and lovely, weak and strong woman really appeared in front of him, making it difficult for people to distinguish.
After a period of trance, Yi Hongyan let out a long sigh. He slowly closed his eyes, seeming to be thinking and struggling...
When Yingping saw this, he calmed down a little, thinking that his adoptive father would love him after all. But within a short moment, Yi Hongyan’s voice was heard again——
"Hand out!"
Yi Hongyan seemed to have made up his mind, gritting his teeth and spit out these words. Yingping thought he had escaped, but when he heard these words, he looked at his adoptive father in disbelief.
"quick!"
Yingping was so frightened by this scolding that he did not dare to disobey and stretched out his hand cautiously.
Yi Hongyan took out a bamboo stick from somewhere and held Yingping's wrist with his other hand. Yingping instinctively wanted to break free, but he could not break away from his adoptive father's strong hand.
"You made such a mistake today, I will punish you on behalf of your mother!"
There was a sound of 'Pa-', and before Yingping could react, a pain that penetrated his heart came from the palm of his hand. It turns out that being beaten hurts so much! In the past, fighting with others, falling from a tree, or stumbling while running have never been so painful.
"ah--"
When Yingping reacted, he made a sound like a killing pig.
Before the pain in Yingping's palm disappeared, the second bamboo strip was struck down hard.
'Pah - pah - pah -'
There were several crisp sounds of bamboo sticks, accompanied by Yingping's constant screams.
Outside the door, Yiyi heard Yingping screaming and couldn't help hugging Ye Changshan. Seeing this, Ye Changshan leaned Yiyi on him and covered Yiyi's ears with one hand to prevent her from hearing the scream.
Then, Ye Changshan felt the corner of his clothes being pulled. He looked down and saw Yiyi looking at Ye Changshan as if pleading. Ye Changshan understood what she meant and turned to look at Qin Jingqing standing aside.
Qin Jingqing felt powerless at this time. Listening to Yi Hongyan teaching Yingping a lesson, he himself felt as if he was being punished corporally, and his ears were filled with pain.
Sensing Ye Changshan's gaze, Qin Jingqing turned to look at him. After such a brief exchange of glances, Qin Jingqing seemed to have made some great determination as he stepped forward and pushed the door open.
When Yi Hongyan heard someone coming in, he stopped and saw Qin Jingqing standing at the door.
"Mr. Yi, I am also responsible for this matter. If...if...if you want to continue to punish Yingping...I...I will take his place..."
After saying that, without waiting for Yi Hongyan to react, Qin Jingqing took the bamboo stick from his hand and struck it hard on his own hand.
Yi Hongyan was shocked. Although he was very angry at Qin Jingqing's 'accomplice' behavior this time, he was an outsider after all, and he had many helpers these days, so it was hard to blame him. Now seeing him punishing himself unequivocally, it didn't seem like he was acting, and his strength was no less than his own, so half of his anger was gone, so he hurriedly stopped him.
"Master Qin, why are you doing this? You can't do it."
"Dad, please don't be angry. Brother knows he was wrong."
Seeing the door open, Yiyi hurriedly ran in to plead for mercy.
Yi Hongyan looked at Yingping again at this time, and saw that the adopted son's eyes were red, his face was full of tears, and his hand seemed to be frozen in the air and he had forgotten to take it back. He felt an inexplicable feeling of heartache again.
Yi Hongyan let out a long sigh, and then said seriously: "For Mr. Qin's sake, let's stop here today. I hope you won't do it again."
Seeing that his adoptive father finally let him go, Yingping nodded quickly, gently took his hand back, looked at his red and slightly swollen palm, and blew gently.
Yiyi obediently took out the ointment from the drawer and applied it on Yingping thoughtfully. Obviously, when Yingping fell or got injured, Yiyi would help take care of it.
Seeing this scene, Yi Hongyan no longer scolded Yingping easily. He thought for a moment and then pulled Qin Jingqing into the outer room.
Qin Jingqing was pulled out in confusion, and looked at Yi Hongyan carefully, only to see Yi Hongyan take out a piece of paper from his arms. He took a closer look, wasn't it the three hundred thousand taels of silver notes?
Seeing Qin Jingqing looking at him in confusion, Yi Hongyan said bluntly——
"Master Qin, I have a favor to ask of you."
"Mr. Yi, just say it's okay."
"Please accept this banknote."
"How can this be done? It's impossible! This can't be done..."
Yi Hongyan thrust the silver note into Qin Jingqing's hand, seemingly not allowing any resistance, and said: "Master Qin, listen to me, you must accept this money, even if you are doing me, Yi Hongyan, a favor."
Seeing that Yi Hongyan didn't seem to be being polite, Qin Jingqing was startled.
"Master Qin, please remember this. No matter who asks about it... just say it was the money you won at the gambling house... Master Qin... do you understand?"
Qin Jingqing also understood the key, and could only nod his head like a chicken pecking at rice, and kept saying: "I understand, I understand!"
"One more thing..."
"Mr. Yi, please tell me."
Yi Hongyan looked at Qin Jingqing and hesitated for a moment, as if he couldn't bear it, but after a moment, he still made up his mind and said it -
"Master Qin, you have taken good care of the four of us these days, and I am deeply grateful."
"Where where..."
"Just from now on, don't let anyone know that you know us...and don't come to me in the future..."
"What!? Mr. Yi, what are you..."
"I have no choice but to do this. I hope...Young Master will understand."
After saying that, Yi Hongyan bowed deeply to Qin Jingqing.
For many years, Yi Hongyan's wish was very simple, that is, for Ying to grow up in peace and live a simple life, nothing more. Since the news came from the people in the palace, his mood has become much more complicated and he has become more thoughtful. After all, Yingping's current status has become special. The two killers along the way were just the beginning. The real danger was in Chang'an City, in the deep Tai Chi Palace, and in the Wei Kingdom that was eyeing him in the east! Therefore, he did not want to leave any clues or hidden dangers, and he would cut off any factors that were detrimental to Yingping, so he came up with this strategy.
Seeing Qin Jingqing's slightly disappointed look, Yi Hongyan felt a little guilty. After getting along with Qin Jingqing these days, I have found that although Mr. Qin talks a lot, he is generally a reliable and responsible person. Maybe... maybe Yingping can use him in the future?
Thinking of this, Yi Hongyan said in a comforting tone——
"Young master Qin, there is no need to be sad. There is a long time to come. If we are destined to meet one day, we will naturally meet again!"
With 300,000 taels of silver in hand, Qin Jingqing felt doubly disappointed. Seeing Yi Hongyan being so solemn and determined, Qin Jingqing knew that there was no further discussion on the matter. Then, he nodded solemnly and walked straight out of the inn without saying goodbye to Yingping and Ye Changshan.
Qin Jingqing left with such determination and reluctance. Looking at his retreating figure, Yi Hongyan let out a long sigh and held his forehead helplessly.
