Cheng Jing had no intention of wasting words with Qi Tianxiang. He warned him coldly, "You'll know what the Young Master wants to do if you just obediently come with me. If you don't want to get hurt again, you'd better not resist."
"Fine, I'll go with you!" Qi Tianxiang didn't struggle, because he wasn't intimidated in the slightest!
During his hospital stay, he had figured it out. His son Qi Huan's series of outrageous actions were nothing more than venting his anger over not being loved.
It was nothing more than resenting the fact that his attitude towards Qi Yue and Qi Yu had always been better than towards him!
Just like his mother back then, whether it was targeting Bai Ruxue or suppressing him, it was all just to get his attention and affection!
Although Qi Tianxiang indeed disliked Qi Huan's mother, and also disliked this son Qi Huan, as long as bowing his head meant he could return to his previous good days, it wasn't out of the question!
...
An hour later.
"Young Master, they have been brought here." Cheng Jing got out of the car and signaled the bodyguards beside him to shove Qi Tianxiang and Qi Yu over to the outside of the pavilion.
While waiting for Qi Tianxiang to arrive, exhaustion had washed over Jiang Youli.
She leaned gently against a pillar of the pavilion, her eyes slightly closed as she rested.
A gentle breeze brushed through her hair, bringing a trace of coolness.
Beside her, Qi Huan, afraid she might catch a cold, took the warm blanket covering his own legs and draped it over Jiang Youli.
Hearing Cheng Jing's voice, Jiang Youli slowly opened her eyes, let out a lazy yawn, and looked toward the direction of the sound.
When she saw the scene before her clearly, a contemptuous smile curled the corners of her lips, and she said, "I didn't expect the illegitimate daughter, Qi Yu, to be here too. Perfect, we can deal with the father and daughter together and save ourselves some trouble."
After speaking, she stood up and placed the blanket back onto Qi Huan's legs. "Huanhuan, go ahead and do what you need to do. I'll just watch from here and won't interfere."
Qi Huan replied softly, "Okay."
Seeing her brother Qi Yue kneeling at Qi Huan's feet, Qi Yu's eyes widened. Her face was filled with disbelief as she cried out, "Brother, you... how could you kneel before that cripple Qi Huan!"
However, before she could finish, Qi Yue whipped his head around, his eyes filled with terror, and shouted in a low, suppressed voice, "Xiao Yu, if you don't want to die, shut your mouth right now!"
Qi Yu immediately felt a surge of grievance, but faced with her brother's stern gaze, she obediently shut her mouth.
At this moment, she began to look around uneasily, noticing that the area was exceptionally remote, without a single soul in sight.
An inexplicable fear gradually welled up in her heart. Could it be that this hateful cripple Qi Huan really intended to murder them to silence them?
At this thought, Qi Yu couldn't help but tremble all over.
She nervously tugged at her father Qi Tianxiang's sleeve, looking up at him in an attempt to find a trace of security:
"Dad..."
Qi Tianxiang gently patted the back of Qi Yu's hand and comforted her warmly, "Don't be afraid. Dad is here. I won't let Qi Huan hurt you anymore."
In the next instant, he turned his head to glare at Qi Huan and said sternly, "Qi Huan, if you wanted to punish your own younger brother to vent your anger, you should have done enough by now. What exactly do you want by calling me here again!"
Faced with Qi Tianxiang's accusations, Qi Huan remained exceptionally calm. He spoke faintly, "Are you angry?"
Qi Tianxiang was furious, his eyes widening as he roared, "Shouldn't I be angry? You rebellious son, to actually have your subordinates beat your own father—such an unfilial and rebellious act!"
Qi Huan smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, making it utterly chilling.
"Qi Tianxiang, the one who should be angry is me. I was deceived by you for three years... No, to be exact, twenty-one years."
The three years of deception were merely the time since the fake brother, Qi Yue, had been brought into the family.
But in fact, from the moment his real younger brother was heartlessly sent away, this scam had already begun and had continued to this day.
Hearing this, Qi Tianxiang frowned. "What exactly do you mean?"
Qi Huan pointed at Qi Yue kneeling at his feet. "He isn't my brother at all, is he?"
Qi Tianxiang froze, but quickly maintained his composure and said, "How many times do I have to tell you? He is your real brother!"
Qi Huan stared fixedly at the middle-aged man in front of him and said, "Oh? Is that so? But Qi Yue has already admitted that he isn't my real brother."
Qi Tianxiang's face instantly turned as pale as paper. Feeling guilty but pretending to be self-righteous, he retorted, "Don't try to trick me!"
Qi Huan continued, "Trick you? Qi Yue has already honestly confessed everything he knows. Now it's your turn."
Qi Tianxiang stiffened his neck and roared, "Enough! Can you stop letting your imagination run wild!"
Qi Huan ignored him and continued to press, "Who exactly did you sell my brother to? And where was he sold?"
Qi Tianxiang gritted his teeth and said, "I told you he is your real brother! Why do you stubbornly refuse to believe it? You're being unreasonable!"
Qi Huan's gaze was bone-chillingly cold. "It doesn't matter. I will make you talk."
After speaking, he looked at Jiang Youli and asked softly, "Little Li'er, may I borrow your silver needles?"
Seeing the suppressed hatred in Qi Huan's eyes, Jiang Youli felt a slight ache in her heart and nodded, "You may."
With that, she opened her medicine box, laying out row after row of silver needles of various sizes.
"See which ones you like and take them yourself."
Qi Huan just took one glance and picked up the black needle pouch containing the largest silver needles, then ordered Cheng Jing, "Do it."
Seeing this, Qi Tianxiang thought Qi Huan was ordering Cheng Jing to deal with him, and he shouted loudly, "Qi Huan, I am your father!"
Cheng Jing, however, walked past him to the stone table, picked up the black needle pouch, and walked over to Qi Yue, who was kneeling on the ground.
Qi Yue raised his head in terror and said, "Young Master Qi, I've already confessed everything I was supposed to..."
Qi Huan said indifferently, "But isn't your father still refusing to confess honestly?"
Qi Yue froze, then hurriedly looked at his father, Qi Tianxiang. "Dad, tell him quickly!"
Qi Tianxiang clenched his fists, his expression highly conflicted.
How could he dare admit that he had sold Qi Huan's real brother! If he said it, he would truly be finished!
While he was hesitating, two bodyguards had already yanked Qi Yue's hands up.
"Dad! Do you really want your son to die here!" Qi Yue urged in panic.
Qi Tianxiang still wore a troubled expression and didn't speak.
Seeing that Cheng Jing was about to pierce the needles into his fingernails, Qi Yue trembled all over. "No, don't... Dad, save me... Ah!"
A miserable scream rang out in the pavilion. The pain of the needles piercing into his fingernails left Qi Yue almost unable to breathe.
Terrified, Qi Yu covered her eyes, completely too afraid to look at the scene before her.
"Dad, save me..."
Qi Yue had already suffered severe injuries as retaliation for releasing venomous insects and snakes at the engagement banquet; how could he possibly withstand a new round of torture now?
Cheng Jing had only pierced three fingers, and Qi Yue could no longer hold on, passing out from the pain.
Seeing his son Qi Yue already on the verge of death on the ground, Qi Tianxiang, who had witnessed the entire process, spoke with a trembling voice: "Yue'er..."
"Qi Tianxiang, are you still refusing to tell me who you sold my biological brother to?" Qi Huan demanded once more. "If you don't speak up, your daughter will be next."
Panic-stricken, Qi Yu tugged desperately at Qi Tianxiang's sleeve and pleaded, "Dad, I don't want to be stabbed by these needles! Just tell her, hurry up and tell her exactly who you sold her brother to..."
