C91 Old Master Spare My Life!

The teacup hit the Second Concubine hard, making her yelp in pain. This time, the pain was real, and tears welled up in her eyes. When she looked up again, she found herself staring down the barrel of a gun held by Mingyuan in the study. His cold gaze was fixed on her.

Terrified, her legs gave way, and she began to tremble. "Please, sir, have mercy! Please, sir, have mercy!"

"Get out of here now! If I see your foolish face again, I swear I'll shoot you," Mingyuan barked, his finger on the trigger, eyes blazing with anger.

The Second Concubine didn't dare utter another word. She turned and practically crawled away in her haste to escape.

With a loud bang, Mingyuan slammed the gun onto the table, his breath heavy and uneven, his eyes bloodshot with emotion. His heart ached for his daughter.

Just moments ago, his precious daughter had left with tear-filled eyes, and it broke his heart. He had seen her wipe away her tears.

Mingyuan's heart twisted with pain, and the Second Concubine's foolishness at such a critical moment only fueled his anger. He had genuinely considered pulling the trigger on her.

If it weren't for his deep respect for his mother, who had raised him single-handedly, he wouldn't have tolerated the Second Concubine's presence for so long.

Thinking of his daughter's sorrowful retreat, Mingyuan sighed deeply. "Erya, don't blame your father for being harsh. Your illness can only be cured by the Sixth Boy. I can't let anything happen to you. If anything were to happen, how could I face your mother in the afterlife?"

With a heavy sigh, Mingyuan stood by the window, unmoving for a long time.

Yuyu dashed out of the study, her hand poised as if to wipe away tears, never quite lowering. She was about to sprint upstairs to grab something from her room when a voice called out behind her, "Yuyu, your fake crying only fools Dad."

Yuyu stopped in her tracks. She turned her head to meet a pair of bright, star-like eyes. Instantly, she widened her own eyes, put her hands on her hips, and pointed at herself with a delicate finger. "Zijun, who am I to you? How dare you talk to your sister like that? You're getting too cheeky, kid. Watch out, or I'll spank you."

Yuyu glared fiercely at her younger brother, Zijun. Her mood was already sour, knowing she'd soon be sent off to endure the company of that big bully, Lingxiao. She was in no mood for nonsense, and anyone who crossed her was asking for trouble.

Her small hand shot up threateningly, her eyes flashing as they fixed on the space behind Zijun. A chill ran down his spine. The young boy's face turned a deep shade of red as he tried to maintain a serious expression. "Yuyu, you're a girl. How can you say such things without shame?"

"Ha, I'm your sister. What can't I say to a little brat like you?" Yuyu's hand rose even higher at his words. She grinned mischievously at Zijun. "Dad said naughty kids deserve a spanking. I think you're due for one. Come on, bring that behind over here and see how your sister handles you."

"You, you, Yuyu, you're shameless," Zijun stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment at his sister's audacity.

"Oh, I'm shameless? How so? You're just a nine-year-old kid, not even grown up yet, trying to act all mature in front of me." Yuyu advanced toward Zijun, hand raised, like a little tyrant ready to teach him a lesson.

Zijun immediately covered his backside with his hand, glaring at his audacious sister across the room. Furious, he turned and ran downstairs.

Yuvyuv laughed triumphantly, clapping her hands. Leaning on the railing, she called out with a teasing grin, "Hey, you little rascal, aren't you coming over to teach your big sister a lesson? I'm bored over here!"

Zijun, embarrassed and annoyed, initially ignored his wild sister upstairs. But hearing her taunting tone, the nine-year-old suddenly turned back, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Hey, sis, I heard from the staff you brought home a little wolf pup. If you're not around, I could help take care of it for you."

"What?" Yuvyuv eyed her brother on the stairs, his mischievous grin making her uneasy. Her heart sank. This little rascal had a knack for trouble, and if her Little White ended up in his hands, it would be a disaster.

Her smug expression dropped instantly as she glared at Zijun, warning, "You little brat, if you dare touch Little White, I'll really tan your hide."

Zijun was speechless. Never had he felt such a mix of shame and anger as he did now. His sister upstairs was a wild card, impossible to predict.

Fuming, Zijun turned away, refusing to engage with his crazy sister any longer. Watching her brother storm off, Yuvyuv's mood lifted. But the thought of soon being caught by that big devil, Huo Lingxiao, and facing his torment, made her head droop again.

Feeling dejected, she returned to her room, pondering ways to escape the clutches of that devil leader.

Later that evening, in the Ye family living room, the eldest sister, Nianci, approached their father, Mingyuan, with a request.

"Dad, on Sunday, I'd like to invite a friend over to our house. Is that okay?"

Nianci, dressed in a classic blue qipao embroidered with plum blossoms, gracefully carried a cup of ginseng tea over to Mingyuan. She asked softly, her voice gentle and poised.

It was just before 8 PM, not long after dinner.

The family had an early dinner, finishing around 7:30. Now, everyone was gathered in the living room, sipping tea, snacking on fruit, and chatting to pass the time.

Unexpectedly, Nianci, usually reserved and soft-spoken, raised her voice in front of everyone.

Yuvyuv was coming down the stairs, having been called to join for some fruit. She paused on the steps, having overheard her sister's words.

She stood still, waiting to hear what her sister would say next, though her hand gripped the banister tightly, her pale fingers turning red from the pressure.

“Oh, you want to invite a friend over? That sounds great,” Mingyuan said, momentarily surprised. He looked up at his eldest daughter, Nianci, with a gentle smile. “You’re a grown woman now, it’s good to make new friends. Is it a new colleague or one of your old classmates?”

Mingyuan thought about how much his eldest daughter resembled his late wife, with her gentle and graceful demeanor. She never raised her voice or argued. He worried that her gentle nature might lead to trouble when she married, fearing she might be taken advantage of by her in-laws.