Chapter 22: My Lord, Your Servant Shall Pay with His Life—Let Wangcai Crush Your Testicles to Pieces

Seeing the brocade-clad man leave with the burly, ghost-backed man, Ye Xun frowned slightly and turned to head back into the manor.

Cao An cast a glare at Zheng Qian. Without a word, he followed Ye Xun inside. Zheng Qian watched them, slowly rising to his feet, head hanging low and spirits crushed, before trailing behind.

Suddenly, Ye Xun turned back, kicked Zheng Qian, and sent him sprawling out of the manor gate. Staring down at him, he said coldly, "Get out! These fifty taels settle the debt of friendship between you and Cao An. From this day on, you are forbidden from appearing before the Prince of Qin’s manor. I do not harbor those who refuse to obey!"

With that, Ye Xun walked into the manor without looking back. Zheng Qian slumped on the ground, staring blankly at Ye Xun’s departing back.

What... what was happening!?

Listening to Ye Xun’s words, Cao An slowly closed the manor gates, shutting Zheng Qian out. By now, he was utterly disappointed in Zheng Qian and had no desire to waste another word on him.

"Cao An, don't close the door! Cao An, please... plead with the Prince for me, Cao An..."

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong! Your Highness, please give me one more chance..."

Zheng Qian knelt before the manor, wailing in agony.

*Bang!*

The gates slammed shut, leaving him with nothing but the cold, unyielding wood.

As Ye Xun walked back toward the front hall, the sounds of Zheng Qian’s despair, pleading, and regret remained clearly audible. Though Ye Xun appeared indifferent, his heart was not at peace. "Zheng Qian, you bastard, if you dare to run, I’ll have Wangcai bite off your balls."

That earlier speech was merely a grand-sounding excuse. If he didn't need Zheng Qian to serve him, he wouldn't care if the man died on the street.

Fifty taels... the fellow wasn't even worth fifty taels! His treatment of Zheng Qian was nothing more than a lesson.

Cao An, walking beside Ye Xun, looked apologetic. "Your Highness, it is my fault. If not for me, we wouldn't have wasted seventy taels on Zheng Qian."

Ye Xun had once paid thirty taels to buy Ling'er, which was already an exorbitant price, and it had pained him deeply at the time. Yet now, this gambler cousin of his had managed to swindle the Prince’s manor out of seventy taels of silver. And how could this degenerate gambler compare to Ling'er? Ling'er could manage the household, cook, was gentle and virtuous, well-read, and could even warm the bed. Zheng Qian, aside from his gambling, was utterly useless.

Ye Xun waved his hand nonchalantly and mused, "It is fine. I am merely teaching him a lesson. If he can persist until tonight without leaving, I will take him in."

"Ah!?" Cao An stopped in his tracks, startled. "Your Highness, you... you still intend to take him in?" In his heart, this gambler cousin was beyond redemption. He feared that Zheng Qian would eventually cause a massive disaster. After all, a gambler’s mentality cannot be viewed through the eyes of an ordinary person.

He was also deeply shocked by Ye Xun’s attitude. In the past, if anyone had swindled him, he would have had them chopped up and fed to the dogs. Yet today, Ye Xun remained calm throughout and even paid fifty taels to buy Zheng Qian’s life. It was truly hard to believe.

Ye Xun said faintly, "He shouldn't gamble again for a short while. We are in urgent need of manpower, and I do not trust outsiders. Though Zheng Qian is a gambler, after the lesson of these past few days, I expect he will behave for a while."

Hearing this, Cao An nodded. "Yes, I shall follow your instructions, Your Highness." Truth be told, he had been terrified by Zheng Qian’s schemes.

Back inside the manor, the three of them and Wangcai began a new round of work.

Meanwhile, Zheng Qian knelt in desperation before the Prince of Qin’s manor, swearing that even if he were to die, he would die at these gates. He believed that no one else in this world would spend fifty taels to pay off his debts. What he owed Ye Xun was also a chance to turn over a new leaf. He swore to make something of himself and achieve greatness so that others would look up to him. If he left today, he would spend the rest of his life with his head bowed, looked down upon by everyone.

...

Night fell, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. In the front hall of the Prince of Qin’s manor, Ye Xun had Ling'er set an extra pair of chopsticks.

Cao An walked toward the gate, feeling anxious and conflicted. He feared that Zheng Qian might have already left, losing his last chance. He also feared that Zheng Qian might still be there, causing trouble for Ye Xun. For the first time, Cao An truly understood the meaning of being caught between a rock and a hard place. *Cousin, oh cousin, I hope you do not disappoint the Prince again...*

A moment later, the manor gates creaked open.

Zheng Qian’s face was pale and his lips were cracked. He slowly lifted his head to see Cao An looking down at him with a dark, cold gaze. He opened his mouth in excitement, but before he could speak, he closed it again, not daring to utter a sound. He felt he had no face left to meet Cao An, and even less to meet Ye Xun.

Seeing his state, Cao An shook his head helplessly and said in a low voice, "Come in. The Prince wants to see you."

"Ah!?" Zheng Qian paused, then his heart filled with joy. He scrambled to stand up, but having knelt for so long, he stumbled and fell forward. Cao An jumped down the steps and caught him.

Zheng Qian looked at him, his emotions a complex mixture of self-reproach, regret, and gratitude. "Cousin, I..." He wanted to admit his faults, apologize, and declare his resolve, but he found the words difficult to speak. He knew his words were as light as a feather now.

Cao An said calmly, "You don't need to say anything. From now on... take care of yourself."

"Yes," Zheng Qian nodded hurriedly, hope rekindling in his eyes.

Before long, Cao An brought Zheng Qian to the front hall. Seeing Ye Xun, Zheng Qian’s eyes darted away, but he steeled himself and walked forward to kneel on the floor.

"Your Highness, this seventy taels is what I owe you. From now on, I will repay you with my life."

As the words fell, Zheng Qian looked up at Ye Xun with a firm, resolute expression.

Ye Xun nodded slightly. "Good. Sit down. From now on, we are a family. Those who are sincere to me will have fine wine and food. But if you betray me..."

Zheng Qian quickly replied firmly, "Today is the first time, and it will be the last."

Ye Xun picked up his chopsticks. "Sit, all of you, and eat."

He knew that saying more would be useless, and any further protestations of loyalty from Zheng Qian would be meaningless. But he had heard the sincerity in Zheng Qian’s declaration—he meant it from the heart.

Soon, Ling'er, Cao An, and Zheng Qian sat around the table. Ling'er was filled with admiration for Ye Xun. She had been puzzled earlier when Ye Xun asked her to set an extra place, but now she understood it was for Zheng Qian. She was truly curious how Ye Xun had guessed that Zheng Qian wouldn't leave.

After the meal, Ling'er cleared the table. Ye Xun took out five types of soap and placed them on the desk to the side. Cao An and Zheng Qian sat directly across from him.