FID – Chapter 920

Chapter 920: Why Are the Flowers So Red?

“Little White Lotus, didn’t we agree to face difficulties together?” Liu Zhiqiu asked numbly, wiping his face.

“Brother Zhiqiu, you get beaten by the heavens all the time, so your skin’s tough and your flesh thick. This time… this time, you just take it first,” Little White Lotus mumbled, shrinking her head.

Liu Zhiqiu was so angry he leaned back in frustration.

Grandma Liu sneered coldly, pointing the cooking spoon she’d brought from the kitchen. “You’re really something. You made mistakes yourself, yet you want Muqiu to share your blame? Today, if I don’t make you obedient, you won’t know why the flowers are so red!”

“Grandma, grandpa, dad, mom… how about you put down your weapons first and we talk this out?” Liu Zhiqiu tried to reason.

Du Juan rolled up her sleeves and laughed fiercely, “Husband, hit him!”

“……”

The room echoed with pounding sounds, cries of pain, and pleas for mercy all mixed together.

The wind howled mournfully, and the waters of Yi were cold. 

The hero leaves, alas and will not return.

Liu Yusheng, along with Feng Qingbai, Xue Qinglian, the Empress Dowager, and General Qin Xiao, all sat at the door of the side room holding Badou and Hongdou, listening to the sounds coming from inside, sighing with mixed feelings.

“Badou, Hongdou, never lie to your elders from now on. Your little uncle is a perfect example. Look at how miserable he is now,” Liu Yusheng warned seriously.

The two little beans stared wide-eyed, chattering nonstop, waving their little hands excitedly with a sort of mischievous glee.

The Empress Dowager slowly glanced over and said casually, “You all knew about Zhiqiu’s mischief from the start, didn’t you?”

Liu Yusheng stiffened, giving a bitter, awkward smile.

“If you know but don’t report, you’re just as guilty. After those wild women deal with Zhiqiu, it’ll be your turn.”

For some reason, Liu Yusheng heard a faint hint of the same hidden glee from the Empress Dowager’s calm tone—like the mischievous delight Badou and Hongdou were showing.

Once her grandparents really turned their attention to them, things would be very bad. It was better to just admit fault now and try to get leniency.

No way—listening to the endless wails and screams coming from the room, Liu Yusheng shivered. She couldn’t let it come to that; it would be too embarrassing.

She reached out and pinched the man beside her, signaling him to quickly figure something out.

“This is easy,” Feng Qingbai said, lifting Badou, who was curled up in his arms. “Let grandpa and grandma take Badou and Hongdou home immediately. That would instantly cool their anger.”

Badou curled up, tears streaming down, looking pitifully wronged as he wobbled in the man’s hands.

The Empress Dowager immediately felt a tug at her heart and blurted out, “No! Badou and Hongdou are still nursing. What will they eat if they go back? They can’t be taken away!”

“Then what should we do? Aside from that, what other way is there to appease Grandpa and Grandma’s anger? After all, Shengsheng and I are the younger generation. We can’t possibly confront our elders head-on.”

The Empress Dowager scoffed at Feng Qingbai’s reasoning. Not confront the elders? Then who was it that constantly opposed her before?

And now, he was suggesting sending Badou and Hongdou back to Xinghua Village. Wasn’t that clearly meant to provoke her?

The Empress Dowager was thoroughly annoyed.

Watching her fume, Qin Xiao, standing nearby, remained expressionless. He simply turned to Feng Qingbai and said, “Last time at the southeastern border, Your Highness and I dueled without a clear outcome. I only edged out half a move because you were already injured. I’ve always regretted not having a fair fight. Now that we’re all idle, why don’t we have another match to settle things once and for all?”

Everyone around reacted differently to his words.

The Empress Dowager didn’t show it on her face, but her eyes lit up faintly. 

Qin Xiao was planning to beat up Feng Qingbai, and he deserved a lesson.

As for Xue Qinglian, he was quite looking forward to it. Where there was oppression, there was resistance. He couldn’t resist Feng Qingbai himself, so watching him get beaten up would be plenty satisfying.

The only one without a trace of joy on her face was Liu Yusheng.

When it came to the southeastern border incident, Feng Qingbai had kept everything from her. Only now, upon hearing Qin Xiao’s words, did she learn that he had actually fought him—and had already been injured before the fight! 

She had always suspected the situation over there must have been dangerous, but she never imagined it was this perilous!

Feng Qingbai rubbed his forehead and looked at the grand, imposing General Qin Xiao. This was clearly a roundabout way of tattling, seeking justice on behalf of the Empress Dowager.

The general was known for his depth and strategic thinking, always operating on a grand scale. Yet here he was, resorting to such petty tricks. Didn’t he find it beneath him?

“Your Highness, please.”

“Young men tend to be hot-blooded and competitive. But at your age, General, one should be cultivating their character and setting an example. Rather than sparring with me, why not dedicate some time to a more meaningful pursuit? When Badou and Hongdou turn three and begin their martial education, there would be no better teacher than you.”

“That’s true. In that case, we’ll be counting on the General to take this seriously. When the children turn three, I shall personally bring them to formally become your disciples,” added the Empress Dowager.

Watching the Empress Dowager switch sides so easily after just a few words from Feng Qingbai, a flash of helplessness crossed Qin Xiao’s eyes.

Feng Qingbai was always skilled at striking where it hurt the most—one shot, right on target. 

With the Dowager’s deep affection for the two little ones, even if he and she joined forces, they would still be no match for Feng Qingbai.

Aman, you’re holding us back…

Seeing that there was no good show to watch anymore, Xue Qinglian stood up, patted the dust off his butt, and prepared to leave.

“Xue Qinglian, where are you going?” Liu Yusheng asked.

Xue Qinglian rolled his eyes, then pointed with his chin toward the side room where the noise had gradually died down. “Obviously to escape with my life. If I don’t leave now, do you think I want to end up like Zhiqiu?”

That bastard Feng Qingbai had dumped the entire blame for this incident on him. If he didn’t run now, once the Liu family elders came out, would he still be able to leave in one piece?

The accusing look in the man’s eyes made Liu Yusheng shrink back in embarrassment. Save yourself first before saving others. She couldn’t help Xue Qinglian.

She was scared too.

Yesterday, when Little White Lotus told the elders the truth, the fact that Grandpa and Grandma had managed to hold back for an entire night before taking action was already beyond her expectations. Now, she wouldn’t dare go anywhere near them and risk getting caught in the crossfire.

As for her Second Brother and Xue Qinglian… she truly couldn’t help them.

……

When the Liu family elders finally left the side room, all their anger had dissipated. Meanwhile, Liu Zhiqiu, who had mostly recovered from his injuries the day before, was now truly bedridden and unable to move, needing constant care.

Over the next two days, the elders were in high spirits, thoroughly exploring all the scenery around the manor. The younger generation bent over backwards to please them, hoping to keep them happy and help them forget the whole incident as soon as possible.

Two days later, they prepared to return home. The elders discussed heading straight from the country manor to the dock to take a boat back to Yunzhou. That way they could avoid the hassle of entering the city gates again. They had been out for more than two months this time. It was about time to return.

Before departure, Liu Yusheng still went to the elders’ guest room to admit her mistake.

To her surprise, Liu Muqiu was also there, with the same intention—to apologize and plead for leniency.

“Grandpa, Grandma, Father, Mother, Second Uncle, Second Aunt…” she began sheepishly, but before she could finish, Grandma Liu waved her hand and interrupted, motioning for them to come over and sit beside them.

“Alright, we already know what you two are going to say. What’s done is done. Someone has already been scolded and beaten. What else is there to do? Let’s just put it behind us.”