Liang Wenyue was terrified by Ye Qiu’s aura, suddenly realising he’d accidentally revealed Ye Qiu’s secret.
He was done for!
Liang Wenyue panicked, fearing Ye Qiu would kill him.
Yet, Ye Qiu laughed.
“Not bad, you actually know my background,” Ye Qiu said with a smile, “How did you find out?”
Liang Wenyue forced himself to stay calm and said, “I have my ways.”
Ye Qiu said, “Few people in this world know my background. With your means, you couldn’t possibly find out. Ye Dabao, did you tell him?”
“Yes, I told Brother Liang,” Ye Dabao admitted, only to be slapped across the face.
Smack!
Ye Qiu’s slap landed hard on Ye Dabao’s face, scolding, “Loose lips, you deserve this!”
Ye Dabao roared, “Ye Qiu, don’t go too far.”
Smack!
Another slap from Ye Qiu hit Ye Dabao’s face, “Since you know my identity, you should call me cousin. Addressing me by name, disrespecting your elder, you deserve this!”
Ye Dabao pointed at Ye Qiu, “You—”
Smack!
Ye Qiu slapped him again, saying, “We’re family, yet you teamed up with an outsider to kidnap your sister-in-law and try to kill me, disregarding blood ties, unworthy of humanity, you deserve this!”
Slapped repeatedly, Ye Dabao was furious.
“Ye Qiu, you’re nothing but a bastard, not even part of our Ye family…”
Smack!
This slap from Ye Qiu knocked out two of Ye Dabao’s front teeth.
“If I’m a bastard, what are you?”
Smack, smack, smack!
Ye Qiu delivered a few more slaps.
By the final slap, Ye Dabao’s face was swollen like a pig’s head, blood trickling from his mouth.
This was Ye Qiu showing mercy.
Otherwise, one move could’ve killed Ye Dabao.
Ye Qiu said, “Ye Dabao, you’ve been with the Ye family for years. You should know who the Ye family’s enemies are.”
“You dared to tell others my background, have you lost your mind?”
“Once my identity is exposed, whether it’s the elite families in the capital or the Forbidden City, they’ll come after the Ye family. Don’t you understand such a simple truth?”
“You idiot!”
Ye Dabao hated being called an idiot. At those words, he roared like an enraged lion, eyes red, shouting hysterically at Ye Qiu, “Bastard, who’re you calling an idiot?”
“Let me tell you, I want to kill you for the Ye family.”
“Back then, if your father, Ye Wushuang, hadn’t made enemies everywhere, would our Ye family have so many troubles?”
“All these years, Grandfather, my father, and Third Uncle, which one hasn’t been cautious and diligent?”
“As you said, if outsiders know you’re Ye Wushuang’s son, the Ye family will face ruin. Grandfather still wants you to return to the family, I think he’s gone senile.”
“Ye Qiu, you’re a ticking time bomb.”
“For the Ye family, I must eliminate you. I can’t let the Ye family be destroyed because of you!”
Ye Qiu sneered, “Ye Dabao, stop pretending. You’re not killing me for the Ye family, but for yourself.”
“You’re worried that if I return to the Ye family, I’ll inherit everything, leaving you with nothing.”
“You’re also scared that if I bring trouble to the Ye family and it falls, you’ll lose your lavish lifestyle, going from a high-and-mighty prince to a stray dog.”
Ye Dabao’s face changed.
Ye Qiu’s words struck like a hammer to his heart.
Yes, Ye Dabao was mainly worried about losing everything.
“And since you know my identity’s exposure would bring trouble to the Ye family, why tell him?”
Ye Qiu pointed at Liang Wenyue.
Ye Dabao said, “Brother Liang isn’t an outsider, he’s my brother.”
“Bullshit brother! You’re not blood-related, what kind of brother is he? A fair-weather friend, more like,” Ye Qiu said. “Don’t forget, over twenty years ago, when they ambushed my father, the Liang family was involved.”
“So what?” Ye Dabao said, “Brother Liang promised me he won’t reveal your background.”
Ye Qiu laughed in anger, “You don’t accept being called an idiot, yet look at you. Over centuries, how many tales of brothers betraying brothers or sons turning on fathers?”
“And he’s not even your real brother.”
“Between elite families, there’s no friendship, only interests.”
“I guarantee, once Liang Wenyue returns to the capital, my identity will be exposed to the world.”
“Liang Wenyue, am I wrong?”
Liang Wenyue shook his head like a rattle, “Ye Qiu, no way, I promised Dabao, I won’t tell anyone your background.”
“And back then, when your father was ambushed, our Liang family was involved, but these years, my grandfather has always regretted it.”
“My grandfather said your father was a peerless genius, a dragon among men, and his death was a pity.”
“My grandfather taught me to build good relations with the Ye family, to help each other.”
“Ye Qiu, rest assured, I’ll never reveal your background, I can swear.”
“No need for oaths,” Ye Qiu said expressionlessly. “In this world, only the dead keep secrets forever.”
“You’re going to kill me?” Liang Wenyue panicked completely, “Ye Qiu, don’t kill me.”
“Trust me, I absolutely won’t reveal your background.”
“I can swear to heaven, if I do, may I die horribly.”
“I said, I only trust the dead,” Ye Qiu suddenly moved, grabbing Liang Wenyue’s throat and lifting him.
“Don’t kill me, Ye Qiu, I beg you…”
As Liang Wenyue pleaded, a foul stench came from his crotch.
He’d wet himself.
Ye Qiu looked disdainful, “Now I finally understand why, after chasing Qingcheng for years, you couldn’t win her.”
“You may be the Liang family’s young master, but you’re just a coward.”
“Someone like you doesn’t deserve Qingcheng.”
Liang Wenyue said, “Ye Qiu, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have targeted you. Just spare me, and I won’t compete for Cao Qingcheng anymore. Dabao, my good brother, please beg Ye Qiu for me.”
Ye Dabao shouted, “Ye Qiu, you can’t kill Brother Liang.”
“If Brother Liang dies in Jiangzhou, the Liang family won’t let you off.”
“You can’t handle the Liang family’s retaliation.”
Liang Wenyue also said, “Ye Qiu, my grandfather once held great power, my father now wields significant authority and is set to rise higher. If you kill me, you won’t escape.”
“Ye Qiu, let me go, I don’t want to die.”
“As long as you spare me, I’ll be your dog, I beg you…”
Ye Qiu ignored Liang Wenyue’s pleas, smiling at Ye Dabao, “You think I dare kill him?”
“Ye Qiu, don’t be reckless—”
Before Ye Dabao could finish, a crisp “crack” sounded as Ye Qiu crushed Liang Wenyue’s throat.
