Chapter 1 A New Day

The morning sun shone softly, accompanied by the chirping of birds outside the window.

Fleeting rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains, landing on Li Ziqing's face.

Chen Xiao was on his side, head resting on his palm, admiring Li Ziqing's artistic profile.

Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and Li Ziqing slowly opened her eyes, finding Chen Xiao watching her.

"Good morning, darling!"

Li Ziqing smiled sweetly, her face filled with happiness.

"Good morning!"

Chen Xiao affectionately pinched Li Ziqing's small nose.

Li Ziqing stretched beautifully, her eyes still drowsy, as if still savoring the sweet dream she had just woken from.

They didn't speak much, enjoying a moment of tranquility.

It was a quiet and beautiful, ordinary morning, and how wonderful it would be if every day could be like this!

Li Ziqing thought to herself.

But beauty is always fleeting, and before long, there was a knock on the door.

No one else lived in the old house except Chen Xiao and Li Ziqing, so Chen Xiao had to get up and answer the door himself.

Standing outside the door were naturally Song Anguo and his grandfather, Song Kaijiang.

Chen Xiao had already known this through his divine sense.

"What are you doing here? Disturbing my peaceful dream so early in the morning!"

Chen Xiao's tone wasn't exactly friendly.

Song Kaijiang's old face flushed red. He was a man of pride and was already reluctant to offer a formal apology, and now that he saw Chen Xiao's attitude, he felt even more embarrassed.

But fortunately, he had a grandson who wasn't so concerned with saving face.

"Hey, Brother Chen, long time no see. I heard you came to the imperial city, so I brought my grandfather over to see you!"

Song Anguo said with a grin.

Chen Xiao acted as if he had just realized that the old man was Song Anran's grandfather. But knowing better than to strike a smiling face, he didn't make things too difficult for the grandfather and grandson.

"So this is Elder Song. Please come in!"

Song Kaijiang's old face turned redder as he followed Song Anguo into the courtyard.

The three of them walked along a path paved with green bricks to the main hall in the front yard.

"Sit."

Chen Xiao invited them to sit down and went straight to the point, asking, "Elder Song, may I ask what brings you two to my humble abode?"

"Chen Xiao, let's not beat around the bush. My grandfather is here to offer Miss Li a formal apology!"

Song Anguo didn't mince words and looked around, "Isn't Miss Li here?"

"Oh? An apology..."

Chen Xiao smiled playfully. "Then where is the thorn? If you didn't come bearing a thorn, how can you offer a formal apology?"

"Uh, this..."

Song Anguo and Song Kaijiang were both stumped at the same time, and Song Kaijiang's old face turned even redder.

As red as a piece of iron heated in a furnace.

"Just kidding, don't mind me."

Chen Xiao's lips curled slightly. "Please wait a moment, I'll go get Ziqing."

Chen Xiao naturally knew what the grandfather and grandson were up to.

For Song Anran's sake, Chen Xiao didn't want to make things difficult for the two of them, but the matter still depended on Li Ziqing's wishes, since she was the main character!

After Chen Xiao left, he didn't return for more than half an hour.

Song Kaijiang wanted to leave in a huff several times, but Song Anguo stopped him every time.

"Hmph, this shameless junior is just toying with me!"

There weren't many people in the entire country who dared to leave him hanging for half an hour. Song Kaijiang's nose was about to be twisted in anger.

"Grandpa, we're at a disadvantage. Li Ziqing is deliberately trying to make things difficult for you. If you leave now, you'll fall into her trap… Besides, since we're here today, it's to apologize and resolve decades of grievances. If you can't even wait half an hour, it means we're not sincere!"

Song Anguo advised.

Song Kaijiang snorted coldly. He naturally understood the reasoning, but he just couldn't accept it.

However, Song Anguo had misunderstood Li Ziqing. She wasn't deliberately making them wait.

Li Ziqing was a woman, and when a woman has to meet people, it's usually more troublesome.

And the more important the person she was meeting, the more troublesome it was.

Washing up and putting on makeup takes quite a bit of time.

If they had to blame someone, they could only blame the grandfather and grandson for arriving so early.

After waiting for another ten minutes, Li Ziqing and Chen Xiao came to the hall together.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Chen Xiao said casually.

Li Ziqing's face was cold, and she didn't say anything at all.

"Hehe, no problem, no problem!"

Song Anguo said with an embarrassed smile and winked at his grandfather.

Song Kaijiang clenched his teeth. He had practiced the words of apology many times, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn't say them at all.

Li Ziqing looked at him coldly. It was true that she had a good relationship with Song Anran, but Song Kaijiang was one of the people who had forced her parents to their deaths.

She couldn't bring herself to be amiable with Song Kaijiang!

"Elder Song, didn't you come here to offer a formal apology? Now that I've brought the person you need to apologize to, why don't you do it!"

Chen Xiao broke the deadlock with a casual remark.

"Cough, cough..."

Song Kaijiang finally opened his mouth, "I, I, I..."

But as soon as he opened his mouth, he stalled again.

All three pairs of eyes were focused on Song Kaijiang.

Song Kaijiang sighed. "Miss Li, I'm here today to apologize for the crimes I committed in the past. I offer my apologies to the Li family. Although I wasn't the one who caused your father's tragic death in the mourning hall, I was greatly involved. Every time I think of this, I can't sleep at night!"

"What are you saying all this for?"

Li Ziqing finally spoke. "Do you think that if you hypocritically apologize to me, I can forgive you on behalf of my parents?"

Song Kaijiang was ashamed and speechless.

"Whether or not to forgive you is my parents' business. My task is to send you to see them!"

Li Ziqing said coldly.

Hearing this, Song Anguo was shocked.

Things were bad, things were bad, things were bad. He had underestimated the ruthlessness of the Zhuye Qing (Bamboo Leaf Green - a type of snake).

If he had known this would happen, he shouldn't have brought his grandfather here. Even if he had to come, he should have called Song Anran back first!

Just as Song Anguo was lost in thought, Song Kaijiang suddenly said in a deep voice, "That's right, Miss Li, you're right. There is no living under the same sky as the murderers of one's parents. I came here today to offer a formal apology, and I didn't plan to leave here alive. I'm willing to die as an apology, but I only ask that Miss Li can let go of the other members of the Li family. When will revenge end? Let the grievances of the previous generation end here!"

Song Anguo was stunned. That wasn't right, that wasn't right!

This was completely different from what he had discussed with his grandfather before. Grandpa, you got the wrong script, right?

No, no, Grandpa is using the scheme of inflicting pain on oneself to gain sympathy! The old ginger is still spicier…

Just as Song Anguo thought that Song Kaijiang was only using the scheme of inflicting pain on oneself to gain sympathy, Song Kaijiang suddenly took out a bright, gleaming sharp knife from his pocket.

It was at this moment that Song Anguo realized that his grandfather wasn't playing the scheme of inflicting pain on oneself to gain sympathy, his grandfather was playing for real…