freenovelworld Chapter 471 He is like you, just as stubborn, just as proud.
Chapter 471 He is like you, just as stubborn, just as proud.
The night was as dark as ink, yet the General's Mansion was deathly silent, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Duan Qingye returned from the palace, looking cold and exhausted.
He did not return to his main courtyard, but went straight to Xiao Zhou's courtyard.
Madam Zhou had already received the news and was now sitting in the hall, her face showing just the right amount of panic and grievance, her eyes slightly red.
Upon seeing Duan Qingye enter, she quickly stood up, her voice trembling with tears: "Master, you're finally back, I..."
"There's no need to act anymore." Duan Qingye's voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable indifference as he interrupted her.
He sat down in the main seat with an air of authority, his gaze sweeping across Xiao Zhou's face like an icy blade.
Madam Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and she almost lost control of the sorrow on her face. Forcing herself to remain calm, she said, "My lord, I don't know what you're talking about. I just heard about what happened in the manor today, and I was very worried..."
"Worried?" Duan Qingye sneered. "Are you worried about things being exposed, or are you worried about your good son?"
Xiao Zhou's face turned pale instantly. She knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down her face.
"My lord, I am innocent! Everything I did was for the Duan family, and for you!"
Duan Qingye looked at her, his eyes unmoved: "For me? Or for your own selfish reasons?"
Madam Zhou knelt on the ground, her shoulders trembling slightly: "Master, is Yunzhou... is he alright?"
Duan Qingye picked up the tea served by the servant, blew away the foam, and said calmly, "Exile to the frontier to temper one's character. This kind of temperament needs to be properly tempered."
"What?" Madam Zhou looked up abruptly, her face full of disbelief. "The frontier? That's a harsh and cold place. Yunzhou has been pampered since he was a child. How could he possibly endure it!"
Duan Qingye put down his teacup with a soft thud that sounded particularly jarring in the quiet night.
"Can't stand it? If the enemy attacks and he leads the troops into battle, he won't even have the ability to kill them. Do you expect the enemy to show mercy just because he is my son?"
"If you can't even endure this little bit of hardship, how will you achieve great things in the future?"
Little Zhou looked desperately at Duan Yunfan, who stood silently to the side, her eyes pleading: "Yunfan, please beg your father, your elder brother..."
Duan Yunfan lowered his eyes slightly and shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Xiao Zhou's heart sank completely; she knew there was no way to salvage the situation.
Duan Qingye looked at Xiao Zhou, who was lying on the ground crying, and a hint of weariness flashed in his eyes.
"Considering that you have borne me two sons and a daughter, I will not pursue your other faults. Starting tomorrow, you can move to the estate outside the city to live out your days in peace."
"No! Master!" Madam Zhou lunged forward, trying to grab Duan Qingye's leg, but he dodged her. "I won't go to the estate! I won't go anywhere!"
Duan Yunfan finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse: "Father, Mother..."
"You also want to plead for her?" Duan Qingye turned his gaze to Duan Yunfan, his expression scrutinizing.
Duan Yunfan met his father's gaze, but ultimately lowered his head and said nothing more.
Just then, hurried footsteps and cries came from outside the door. Duan Shumin rushed in with disheveled hair and pushed aside the maid who was blocking her way.
"Father! Are you going to treat us like this because of a bastard?" Duan Shumin asked sharply, her eyes red.
Duan Qingye frowned and said sternly, "How dare you! Those are your brothers too!"
"Pah!" Duan Shumin spat. "Only the ones my mother gave birth to are my brothers! What is that Gu Junze anyway!"
"Slap!" A crisp slap sounded.
Duan Qingye slapped her with all his might, and Duan Shumin's cheek instantly swelled up and turned red...
She covered her face, staring at her father in disbelief, and only then did she truly feel fear.
Duan Qingye looked at her, his eyes filled with undisguised disappointment: "Your marriage has been rejected by the Emperor; he does not agree to you becoming the Empress."
"Later I will select a suitable daughter from the collateral branches of the Duan family to enter the palace. As for you, your father will find you another good marriage."
"Father, you only have me as your daughter!" Duan Shumin screamed, unable to accept this fact.
"With your arrogant, domineering, jealous, and vicious nature, how can you be worthy of being the empress?" Duan Qingye sneered, his tone full of sarcasm.
Duan Shumin completely broke down. She pointed at Duan Qingye, then at Xiao Zhoushi, and cried out incoherently, "You sacrificed my happiness to protect that good-for-nothing Duan Yunzhou! You heartless father!"
"It's all your fault!" She turned to Xiao Zhou and shrieked, "It's all your fault, you useless mother! You had to go and provoke that bastard! Now look what's happened, my elder brother has been exiled, and I have no hope left! It's all your fault!"
"Enough!" Duan Qingye could no longer contain himself, veins bulging on his forehead. "Guards! Take the young lady away and lock her in the courtyard. No one is to let her out without my order!"
Several strong old women immediately stepped forward, trying to pull Duan Shumin away.
"Father!" Duan Yunfan wanted to plead for mercy.
Duan Qingye suddenly looked at him, his eyes sharp as knives: "Yunfan, remember this! Those who aspire to great things cannot be bound by the bonds of love and affection. If you want to be the future head of the Duan family, you must learn to be ruthless and to make choices! Do you understand what happened today?"
Duan Yunfan met his father's gaze, his Adam's apple bobbing, but ultimately he said nothing.
He watched helplessly as the servants took away the crying and struggling Duan Shumin and the distraught Xiao Zhoushi respectively.
"Duan Yunfan! You ungrateful wretch! You're cold-blooded and heartless!" Duan Shumin's curses echoed from afar, piercing Duan Yunfan's eardrums.
"The Duan family are all emotionless monsters..."
Duan Yunfan's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile, but his eyes held a deep, unfathomable calm.
Once the courtyard had completely quieted down, Duan Qingye wearily waved his hand, signaling the servants to leave.
He did not return to his room, but walked alone slowly into the depths of the ancestral hall, where a memorial tablet was enshrined—Princess Anyang.
In the dim candlelight, Duan Qingye stared at the cold memorial tablet, his eyes filled with complex emotions that no outsider had ever seen.
“Anyang,” he said softly, his voice trembling slightly, “I really miss you.”
"Back then, I was wrong. I was wrong not to keep you by my side no matter what, and I was wrong to let you suffer so much."
"My mistake was being too ambitious... which caused me to miss out on you..."
"Today, our son is gone. He was just like you, stubborn and proud."
"I've set him free, Anyang. Perhaps this is the best way to deal with him and with you."
The night wind blew, the candlelight flickered, illuminating his lonely figure and his endless regret and longing.