When Qin Zhan and Qin Long walked out of the room, both wore bitter expressions.
“Big Brother, what should we do about this?” Qin Long asked anxiously.
Qin Zhan frowned. “What else can we do? The old man has already spoken. Do you think we can oppose him?”
Qin Long forced a smile. “But will the Ye Family even agree to this?”
“That’s no longer up to them,” Qin Zhan replied coldly. “If they agree, that’s best. If not, then there will no longer be a Ye Family in Lingfeng City.”
“But didn’t Father say not to use force?” Qin Long asked doubtfully.
“That depends on whether they know what’s good for them,” Qin Zhan said, then turned and strode toward the storage room.
An hour later, the brothers led a group of Qin clansmen, dragging several chests of betrothal gifts, and marched out of the Qin Family estate, heading straight for the Ye Family.
Onlookers on the streets were quickly stirred.
“What is the Qin Family trying to do?”
“They’re heading toward the Ye Family’s direction. Could it be they’re going to cause trouble?”
“That doesn’t seem right. Who brings several chests when looking for trouble? This looks more like a gift procession.”
“A gift? Impossible! Didn’t the rumors say the Qin Family’s old patriarch broke through to the Innate Realm? Shouldn’t it be the Ye Family sending gifts to the Qin Family, not the other way around?”
…
The procession caused heated discussions among the townsfolk along the way.
In the rear courtyard of the Ye Family, a clansman rushed in frantically. “Patriarch, it’s bad! The Qin Family is bringing several chests to our estate. We don’t know what they intend.”
Ye Long frowned deeply. His instincts told him this visit could not mean anything good. “Notify the others. We’ll meet them at the gates to see what the Qin Family wants.”
The laws of the Great Wei Empire forbade martial artists from fighting within city walls, and killing within the city was even more strictly prohibited. What happened in secret was another matter, but openly, very few dared break such rules.
Thus, though Ye Long suspected ill intent, he wasn’t overly worried. The Qin Family wouldn’t dare attack them openly.
By the time the Qin Family’s procession arrived at the Ye estate, Ye Long was already waiting at the gate with his clansmen.
“Patriarch Qin, what business brings you to the Ye Family?” Ye Long asked as he looked at Qin Zhan.
“Hahaha! Brother Ye, don’t misunderstand. We come with no ill will. In fact, we bring good news and an important matter to discuss,” Qin Zhan said cheerfully, ignoring Ye Long’s cold tone.
“Good news?” Ye Long’s brows furrowed. What possible good news could come from the Qin Family?
“Brother Ye, this isn’t the place to talk. Won’t you invite us inside?” Qin Zhan gestured around meaningfully.
“Very well. This isn’t the right place for such matters. Please, come in.” Ye Long thought for a moment, then nodded.
He led the Qin Family group into the main hall.
“Brother Qin, now you may explain what brings you here,” Ye Long said once everyone was seated.
“Hahaha, no need to rush. It’s a joyous matter,” Qin Zhan said with a smile after sipping his tea. “My father wishes to take your younger sister, Ye Suxin, as his concubine, thereby forming an alliance between our two families. What does Brother Ye think of this?”
“What?”
The Ye Family members were shaken. Never in their dreams had they imagined the Qin Family came to propose marriage—for their old patriarch! Qin Xiao was over eighty years old, while Ye Suxin was only in her thirties.
“I refuse! Qin Zhan, your father is over eighty years old, while my sister is just past thirty. And you dare come here with such a proposal?” Ye Bao, the third master of the Ye Family, glared angrily at Qin Zhan. His eyes burned with fury.
“Patriarch Qin, are you serious, or is this some kind of joke?” Ye Long asked coldly. Though he resented his sister for bearing a child out of wedlock and shaming the family, he still loved her. How could he let her marry an old man as a concubine?
“I’m not joking. My father has broken through to the Innate Realm. His lifespan has increased by sixty years—longer than yours or mine. For your sister to marry him as a concubine is her blessing,” Qin Zhan replied indifferently.
The Ye clansmen clenched their fists, wanting to argue, but their words faltered. With Qin Xiao now an Innate Realm martial artist, Ye Suxin marrying him would indeed be considered a great honor. In Lingfeng City, and even in a commandery city, such figures stood at the peak.
Such a person could take even an unmarried noble lady as a concubine without issue. What was one woman who already had a child?
“Brother Ye, consider it carefully. A marriage alliance between our families would bring countless benefits and no harm. Together, we could prosper and make Lingfeng City flourish,” Qin Zhan said with apparent sincerity. Lingfeng City was a small city of only a few hundred thousand people, with limited resources. For the Qin Family to grow stronger, they either had to seize resources or expand the city’s prosperity.
But if the Ye Family rejected this goodwill, then the Qin Family would show no mercy.
The Ye clansmen fell silent. They understood his words clearly. If they agreed, they would prosper together. If they refused, they would either be forced out of Lingfeng City—or destroyed.
“Brother Ye, you can discuss among yourselves. Tell us your decision tomorrow,” Qin Zhan said, seeing that they were hesitant. He left with the Qin Family, leaving behind several chests of gifts.
After they departed, the Ye Family hall fell into silence. Everyone was lost in thought, pondering Qin Zhan’s final words.
“What do you all think?” Ye Long finally broke the silence, looking at his clansmen.
“Patriarch, I believe the Qin Family has come with sincerity. Forming an alliance with them would only benefit us and bring no harm. I think the Ye Family should agree,” said Ye Nantian, the second elder. In his view, marrying Ye Suxin to Qin Xiao and forming a marriage alliance was a good thing.
“Rubbish! Why don’t you marry your own daughter to that old bastard Qin Xiao?” Ye Bao roared, nearly ready to attack him.
“If Qin Xiao had chosen my daughter, I would gladly marry her to him,” Ye Nantian said calmly, glancing at the furious Ye Bao with indifference. He had no intention of lowering himself to argue with a hot-headed brute.
“You—!” Ye Bao choked on his words, too angry to continue.
“I also agree with Second Brother. I support forming an alliance with the Qin Family,” said Ye Nanchang, the first elder. He was of the same generation as Qin Xiao and held great status in the Ye Family.
“Second Uncle, you…” Ye Bao turned to Ye Nanchang, wanting to protest, but the words caught in his throat.