Chapter 125: Brother Qin Knows How to Play

Pan Pingping suddenly stood up and said in a deep voice, "Ye Qin, do you feel like you're the victim? Where were you when Wanqing was helpless? When Wanqing first entered the academy and everyone looked down on her, where were you then?"

"If that is your justification, then I am deeply disappointed. If a relationship cannot even withstand such trifles, and you use them as excuses, little brother, you should indeed be thankful that this didn't happen after you were married." Yekun struck back mercilessly. Is this not just loneliness and boredom?

Was my little brother lonely? Yet, he had always remained steadfast.

Women, heh…

They had been together since childhood, yet it couldn't compare to a moment of tenderness from another man. Tsk, tsk, tsk…

Ba Tai sighed softly and said apologetically, "Yekun, don't be too agitated. Wanqing is indeed at fault here. As a father, I also bear an inescapable responsibility. Since everyone is here today, Brother Ye, please accept my apologies." After saying this, Ba Tai stood up and bowed with his hands cupped, appearing very sincere.

Truth be told, Yekun would rather see them act arrogant than witness such an apology.

Is an apology enough for this matter?

"Ye Qin, I'm sorry. I have failed you," Ba Wanqing said in a low voice toward Ye Qin, her eyes filled with a plea for forgiveness.

But that was impossible.

Ye Qin suddenly chuckled, then bowed to his parents: "Father, Mother, I am going out for a walk."

Without waiting for Ye Ming or Dongmen Meng to speak, Ye Qin turned and left.

Yekun was about to chase after him to offer some guidance, but Ba Wanqing went first, so Yekun stayed behind. After all, it was better for the two of them to speak directly and clear things up.

Pan Pingping seemed to want to follow, but was stopped by his father.

"Ye Qin, wait!" Ba Wanqing called out from behind.

Ye Qin stopped abruptly without looking back: "Is there any point in this?"

Ba Wanqing slowly approached Ye Qin and walked up to him: "I know that what I've done has hurt you. I've also often wondered if I was truly in the wrong."

"Enough! What use is there in saying this now!" Ye Qin snapped. Taixi County was truly a wonderful place; once he left Taixi County, it seemed everything had changed.

"You have never spoken to me in this tone before," Ba Wanqing suddenly remarked.

This made Ye Qin laugh out loud: "Big brother and the others were right—you are not worthy of me!" With that, Ye Qin walked out of the Ye estate without looking back.

He had occasionally overheard his parents talking about how Ba Wanqing was not worthy of him, and Ye Qin had wanted to prove them wrong. But today, he realized that he had been the one who was wrong.

Dongmen Meng was still worried and asked Yekun to keep an eye on Ye Qin.

As Yekun passed by Ba Wanqing, he said in a low voice, "You will realize that the most foolish decision of your life was betraying my little brother!"

Ba Wanqing watched those two familiar figures walk away. At least for now, she didn't regret it; who could say what the future would hold?

***

"Brother Ye, I remember I have matters to attend to at home, so I shall take my leave," Ba Tai stood up and bowed, using it as an excuse to depart.

Ye Ming nodded and said indifferently, "I won't see you out."

Ba Tai said nothing more, and Pan Ming also offered a bow before leaving.

However, once the two families left the Ye estate, Pan Pingping could not help but say, "Why did we have to act so subserviently!"

Ba Tai looked up at the night sky of Ankang Prefecture: "The humiliation of today is traded for the power of tomorrow."

"Once Father enters the Imperial Capital, everything will naturally resolve itself," Ba Wanqing said gently from behind, her tone deep and thoughtful.

"Entering the Imperial Capital is only the beginning," Pan Ming muttered. The Imperial Capital was not a kind place, yet it was so alluring; it was truly contradictory.

Ba Wanqing did not return home with Ba Tai, but instead followed Pan Pingping back to the Pan estate, which was only a few streets away within the East City.

They were neighbors, after all, bound to see each other constantly.

On the other side, the two brothers left the residential area of the East City and arrived at the bustling East Market.

The entire East Market sat at the center of the East City, occupying a third of its total area, which showed just how vast it was.

In Ankang Prefecture, the East Market was the most prosperous area, and not far from it were the residences of the nobility, making it incredibly convenient.

The brothers had just entered the East Market district, but it would take a long time to reach the lively center.

Unless they planned to sleep outside tonight.

However, even at the fringes, one could feel the pulse of Ankang Prefecture.

Red lanterns were strung between the buildings, stretching all the way to the end; looking up, one saw a sea of red illuminating the entire street.

Each shop also had its own specific red lanterns, of all shapes and sizes—a custom born of the hope that one's business would flourish.

He had long heard that the Qingyuan Festival in Ankang Prefecture was quite lively, and now he could finally witness it himself.

"Drinking or looking for a fight? Your big brother will accompany you," Yekun joked, trying to cheer up his brother Qin.

One must know that even Brother Kun wouldn't go to such lengths to amuse his own wife, showing that his little brother meant more to him than his spouse.

"Let's go to a flower house."

"..."

Yekun was stunned. His little brother actually wanted to go to a flower house to drink and be entertained. Good heavens... this was truly self-destruction.

"Little brother, it's not that I want to nag, but going to a flower house because of Ba Wanqing, really..."

"Big brother, I have already passed my coming-of-age ceremony."

"Let's find a tavern to drink instead. We won't leave until we're drunk. How about that?"

"We're going to the flower house. If you aren't coming, brother, then forget it."

Looking at his brother's expression, Yekun feared that the moment he turned away, his brother would burst into tears.

Forget it, forget it. His little brother had suffered since he was a child, and now that he’d been cheated on, what was the harm in going to a flower house to drink?

As a man, one should at least witness such things.

Actually, Brother Kun himself was quite curious; a flower house seemed like a very interesting place.

"Little brother, wait. We don't have money. Let's go ask Mother for some first." Yekun imagined going back and saying, "Mother, we're going to a flower house, we're broke, give us some money."

Her expression would surely be quite something.

"Wouldn't that be even more exciting?"

"..."

It seemed his little brother had truly lost his mind.

But he had to let this madness out, otherwise, if he bottled it up inside, he would eventually go insane.

Yekun had once read a phrase in a book: "One has not truly been to Ankang if one has not entered the Ankang Tower."

It was clear that the flower houses of Ankang Prefecture were a unique local feature.

No wonder their father loved the flower houses so much, to the point that whenever Mother heard the words "flower house," she would fly into a rage and couldn't help but beat Father.

Father really was a glutton for punishment.

"Little brother, how about this one?" Yekun pointed to a small flower house nearby, where red lanterns glowed and several young women sat inside, smiling at them.

Why did Yekun feel like this scene was familiar?

"Big brother, do you see that flower pagoda?" Ye Qin pointed to a flower tower that stood ten zhang high.

Yekun felt a jolt in his heart. It seemed his brother Qin was going to vent his rage tonight; a flower pagoda like that clearly required a great deal of gold.

His little brother really knew how to play.