In the early morning, faint light spread, and the chirping of birds came from outside the window.
Speckled sunlight pierced through the curtains, falling onto Li Ziqing's face.
Chen Xiao was leaning to the side, his head propped 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 looking at her.
"Good morning, husband!"
Li Ziqing smiled sweetly, her face full of happiness.
"Good morning!"
Chen Xiao dotingly pinched Li Ziqing's small nose.
Li Ziqing stretched beautifully, her eyes still hazy, as if savoring a pleasant dream from before waking.
The two did not exchange many words, enjoying the moment of tranquility.
It was a peaceful, beautiful, and ordinary morning, but if every day could be like this, how happy would that be! Li Ziqing thought so.
However, beauty was always fleeting. Before long, a knock came from the door.
Besides Chen Xiao and Li Ziqing, no one else lived in the old house, so Chen Xiao had to get up personally to open the door.
Standing outside the door were, naturally, the grandfather and grandson duo, Song Anguo and Song Kaijiang.
Chen Xiao had already known through his divine sense.
"What are you doing here? In the early morning, disturbing my dreams!"
Chen Xiao's tone was far from friendly.
Song Kaijiang's old face flushed. He was a man of pride and was already resistant to coming to apologize with thorns on his back. Seeing Chen Xiao's attitude now, he felt even more embarrassed.
Fortunately, he had a grandson who was less concerned about face.
"Heh heh, Brother Chen, long time no see. I heard you came to the Imperial City, so I brought my grandfather to see you!"
Song Anguo said with a cheeky grin.
Chen Xiao acted as if he had just realized the old man was Song Anran's grandfather. However, since they were smiling, he didn't make things difficult for the grandfather and grandson.
"So this is Elder Song. Please come in!"
Song Kaijiang's old face turned red as he followed Song Anguo into the courtyard.
The three walked through a path paved with bluestone and arrived at the main hall of the front courtyard.
"Sit down."
Chen Xiao invited them to sit and, getting straight to the point, asked, "Elder Song, may I ask the purpose of your visit to my humble abode?"
"Chen Xiao, let's not beat around the bush. My grandfather is here to apologize to Miss Li with thorns on his back!"
Song Anguo did not beat around the bush, his eyes scanning around. "Isn't Miss Li here?"
"Oh? Apologize with thorns on your back..."
Chen Xiao smiled playfully. "Then where are the thorns? Without bringing them, how can you speak of apologizing with thorns on your back?"
"Uh, this..."
Song Anguo and Song Kaijiang were both stunned. Song Kaijiang's old face turned even redder.
It was as red as heated iron.
"Just kidding, please don't mind."
Chen Xiao's lips curved slightly. "Please wait a moment, I'll go call Ziqing."
Chen Xiao knew exactly what this grandfather and grandson were up to.
For Song Anran's sake, Chen Xiao did not want to make things difficult for them, but the matter still depended on Li Ziqing's wishes, as she was the protagonist!
Chen Xiao left and did not return for over half an hour.
Song Kaijiang wanted to leave in a huff multiple times, but Song Anguo stopped him.
"Hmph, this shameless junior is purely toying with this old man!"
There were few people in the entire country who dared to keep him waiting for half an hour. Song Kaijiang was so angry his nose was about to fall off.
"Grandfather, the situation is beyond our control. Li Ziqing is deliberately making things difficult for you. If you leave now, you will fall into her trap... Moreover, since we are here today to apologize and resolve decades of grievances, if you can't even wait for half an hour, it shows we have no sincerity!"
Song Anguo persuaded him.
Song Kaijiang snorted coldly. He naturally understood this, but he found it hard to accept.
However, Song Anguo had misunderstood Li Ziqing. Li Ziqing was not deliberately making them wait.
Li Ziqing was a woman, and when a woman wants to see someone, it usually takes a lot of effort.
And the more important the person, the more effort it takes.
Washing up and dressing up would take quite some time.
If anyone was to blame, it could only be the grandfather and grandson for coming so early.
After waiting for another ten minutes, Li Ziqing and Chen Xiao arrived at the hall together.
"You two, thank you for waiting!"
Chen Xiao said indifferently.
Li Ziqing, however, had a cold and detached expression and did not speak at all.
"Hehe, it's nothing, nothing!"
Song Anguo said with a forced smile, repeatedly giving his grandfather meaningful glances.
Song Kaijiang gritted his teeth. He had rehearsed the apology words many times, but when they reached his lips, he couldn't utter them.
Li Ziqing looked at him coldly. It was true that she had no issues with Song Anran, but Song Kaijiang was also one of those who had forced her parents to their deaths.
She could not be cordial with Song Kaijiang!
"Elder Song, weren't you here to apologize with thorns on your back? Now that I've brought the person, why don't you apologize!"
Chen Xiao lightly broke the deadlock.
"Cough cough..."
Song Kaijiang finally opened his mouth. "This old man, this old man, this old man..."
But as soon as he spoke, he got stuck again.
The eyes of the three people converged on Song Kaijiang.
Song Kaijiang sighed, "Alas! Miss Li, this old man has come to offer his apologies for the crimes committed in the past and to compensate the Li family. Although the tragic death of your father in the mourning hall was not done by this old man, it is greatly related to me. Every time I think of it, I cannot sleep at night!"
"Why are you saying these things?"
Li Ziqing finally spoke, "Do you think that by offering me a hypocritical apology, I can forgive you on behalf of my parents?"
Song Kaijiang was covered in sweat and had no words to say.
"Whether to forgive you is a matter for my parents. My task is to send you to meet my parents!"
Li Ziqing said coldly.
Hearing this, Song Anguo was startled.
It's bad, it's bad, it's bad. I still underestimated the ruthlessness of the Green Bamboo Viper.
If I had known, I shouldn't have brought my grandfather. Even if I had to come, I 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 are right. The hatred for parents is irreconcilable. This old man came today to apologize with thorns on his back and did not intend to leave here alive. This old man is willing to atone with his death, but only asks Miss Li to spare the other members of the Li family. When will the cycle of revenge end? Let the grievances of the previous generation end here!"
Song Anguo was bewildered. This was not right, this was not right!
This was completely different from what he and his grandfather had discussed before. Grandfather, did you get the wrong script?
No, no, grandfather is playing the trick of a bitter scheme. Old ginger is still spicier...
Just as Song Anguo thought Song Kaijiang was just playing a bitter scheme, Song Kaijiang suddenly took out a shining sharp knife from his embrace.
Only then did Song Anguo realize that his grandfather was not playing a bitter scheme; his grandfather was serious...