The Spirit Hall's inner palace!
Qian Daoliu, dressed in a long golden robe, exuded an imposing aura that made people afraid to look him in the eye.
"Inform Bibi Dong that I've come to pick up the two children, and tell her to prepare."
Qian Daoliu looked expressionlessly at the two guards.
After all, the inner palace was a private place, and Qian Daoliu was a man of principle who disliked barging in.
"Yes, sir!"
The guards immediately went back to report, and the message quickly spread.
Inside the dimly lit secret chamber, Bibi Dong, who was cultivating, suddenly opened her eyes.
Her expression was grim, and her hands clenched tightly.
"So Qian Daoliu really came after all?
This is troublesome."
Bibi Dong knew exactly why he was there.
The three-year agreement had expired, and Qian Daoliu had come to take Qian Renshang and Qian Renxue.
But now that Qian Renshang was gone, Bibi Dong's eyes showed a hint of panic.
"Qian Renshang..."
Thinking of this child, Bibi Dong sighed with a complicated expression.
She didn't know why she kept dreaming about him lately, hearing him call out "Mommy, Mommy."
In her dreams, she even responded, and was quite happy.
This made Bibi Dong feel absurd. How could she possibly have feelings for that child?
He was the child of that beast Qian Xunji, the heir to the Qian family bloodline!
Before he died, Qian Xunji said he would definitely regret treating that child this way, forcing him away.
But Bibi Dong disagreed. She couldn't possibly regret it.
That child had no resilience... It was his fault to begin with.
How could she, Bibi Dong, be wrong!
"You all forced me to do this!! I... I did nothing wrong."
Bibi Dong's eyes slowly hardened, and she abruptly stood up and left the room.
So what if Qian Daoliu came looking for her? Bibi Dong quickly found Qian Renxue.
What was Qian Renxue doing at that moment?
She was eating dried fruit in the corridor, enjoying herself immensely, but she spat the shells directly onto the ground.
"Sweep this up... and this too."
"This one too, ptooey..."
"Pfft, here."
The maids didn't dare say anything to Qian Renxue, they could only lower their heads and try their best to clean while being teased by her.
Seeing Qian Renxue's mischievous appearance, they couldn't help but think of a stubborn child.
Why was there such a big difference between the two siblings?
"Haha... so much fun."
Before, Qian Renxue usually bullied Qian Renshang, which was her greatest source of amusement.
But now that Qian Renshang was gone, she had nothing better to do than to tease these servants.
In her eyes, these servants were all "wooden blocks" who never got angry.
Just then, she sensed a familiar figure appear before her.
Qian Renxue immediately threw down her snacks and looked at the person with joy.
"Mom...you're here! Xiaoxue missed you so much!"
Bibi Dong glanced at Qian Renxue expressionlessly.
"Pack your things. You're leaving today, leaving this place." "
Leaving this place? Ah...why!
No, I don't want to leave here, I want to stay with Mom."
Qian Renxue started crying and making a fuss.
"Because this is an agreement, it's not something you can decide."
Bibi Dong looked at Qian Renxue with some impatience.
For some reason, she was annoyed by Qian Renxue's crying and making a fuss in front of her, finding it noisy and upsetting.
Qian Renxue could only go back to her room, quickly pack her things, and then follow Bibi Dong out, her eyes filled with sadness.
Qian Daoliu was already waiting there.
As soon as he saw Bibi Dong leading Qian Renxue, Qian Daoliu's face instantly lit up with a smile, and his whole demeanor softened.
"Haha... Xiaoxue, Grandpa's here to see you."
He stepped forward and picked Qian Renxue up in one swift motion.
"Grandpa?"
"Yes, I'm your grandpa, Qian Daoliu. I've come to take you home."
"Home?"
Qian Renxue had a vague memory of Qian Daoliu, and the bond of blood made her instantly feel more favorably towards him.
So, she quickly became friends with Qian Daoliu, and they seemed to be having a lot of fun.
Bibi Dong, however, felt only annoyed by this harmonious scene.
After playing for a while, Qian Daoliu suddenly sensed something was wrong and looked at Bibi Dong, asking,
"Bibi Dong... where's the other child?
Xiao Shang, why didn't you bring him along?"
There were only two children in total, and now that one was missing, it was quite obvious.
"He's gone."
Bibi Dong simply said expressionlessly.
"What?"
Qian Daoliu was dumbfounded, his old face filled with shock.
"The child is gone? Dead!! Bibi Dong... I..."
Qian Daoliu was furious, but Bibi Dong interrupted him.
"He's not dead, he's just not in the Spirit Hall anymore.
He left on his own."
"How is that possible?
He's only three years old... It's still winter, how could he leave alone?"
Qian Daoliu was still furious.
"And why did he leave... Bibi Dong, did you do something to the child?"
"I didn't do anything to him!"
Bibi Dong's eyes darted away as Qian Daoliu continued his questioning.
"Impossible... You must be targeting him.
You think he's a man and will inherit the Qian family's legacy, don't you?"
"That's right, I should have realized it long ago.
A woman with such a vicious heart... would definitely do this.
What a tragedy!"
"You'll regret this! Bibi Dong!!"
Qian Daoliu, his face flushed, frantically accused Bibi Dong.
Hearing the word "regret" seemed to touch a nerve.
The next moment... Bibi Dong's pretty face instantly contorted into a ferocious expression.
"Me, vicious?
Isn't this what your Qian family forced me to be like?
If it weren't for your good son... would I be like this now?"
"That child came from my womb.
I can do whatever I want to him. Is there a problem?
I didn't intend to kill him.
I've endured it for three years. Why couldn't I endure it all?!"
"Soliciting nonsense... You..."
Qian Daoliu was furious, but Bibi Dong was equally enraged.
The two argued incessantly!
Qian Daoliu wanted to send someone to find Qian Renshang, although he already knew the hope was slim.
How could Qian Renshang survive alone in the snowy winter?
Did this mean that Qian Renxue was the only heir left in the Qian family?
"Xiaoxue... let's go home."
Qian Daoliu barely suppressed his anger and tried to take Qian Renxue away, but Qian Renxue, who had just been getting along well with him, suddenly seemed to have her temper flared, her face full of resistance.
"No, I don't want to go with you... I want to stay with Mom.
And, I don't like you anymore!"
"Why? Xiaoxue, I'm your grandfather."
Qian Daoliu was completely stunned.
She was fine just a moment ago, how could Qian Renxue suddenly change her mind!
(End of Chapter)
Read 30+ chapters ahead at Patreon
patreon.com/TaroYamato
patreon.com/TaroYamato