SBCEJM -Chapter 173 All Childhood Warmth Was a Trap! Li Qingfeng’s Life Shackled by “Kindness Debt”

【Host, although the second aunt is greedy, she is not fundamentally a bad person.】

Feng Zexuan almost thought she had misheard.

【What? System, are you joking? This is basically bloodsucking and you’re saying she’s not evil?】

Many officials in the court were also stunned.

Just moments ago it was said that the second aunt had drained Li Qingfeng dry—now she’s suddenly “not a bad person”?

【Host, she is simply short-sighted and uneducated. She doesn’t understand moderation.】

【In her eyes, since Li Qingfeng became an official, he should repay her for raising him.】

【To her, that is only natural.】

Feng Zexuan frowned.

【Then what about her son’s gambling debts? She just ignores that?】

【She tried to handle it, but couldn’t.】

【Her eldest son was spoiled since childhood. She has no control over him.】

【So she clings tightly to Li Qingfeng as her cash cow.】

A few officials coughed awkwardly.

Some lowered their heads and studied their boots.

Xiao Heng let out a soft sigh.

He had seen too many such cases.

Poor families, holding onto a bit of kindness for a lifetime of demands.

Some even thought Li Qingfeng was too soft-hearted.

If it were them, they would have…

Just as everyone thought this story was wrapping up—

【Actually… the real villain is his second uncle.】

The system suddenly dropped this line.

Feng Zexuan froze.

【Second uncle?】

【Yes. The second aunt is just a front.】

【The one truly scheming against Li Qingfeng is his second uncle.】

The ministers in court all tensed.

Another twist?

This case… was digging deeper and deeper.

Li Qingfeng’s body trembled violently.

His second uncle?

The same man who always gently advised his wife?

The same man who patted his shoulder and said, “Good child, Uncle didn’t misjudge you”?

Impossible!

【Why did the second uncle let Li Qingfeng come to their house and eat for free every day when he was young?】

【Because he already saw that the boy was talented.】

【At seven years old, even the private school teacher in the county said he was exceptionally gifted and would become someone great in the future.】

【The second uncle heard this—and that very night, he and the second aunt conspired. “This boy will definitely become an official. We must invest in him early.”】

Boom.

It felt like a thunderclap in Li Qingfeng’s mind.

He remembered it.

That summer night, he had returned from school full of excitement, telling everyone about his teacher’s praise.

His parents were happy for him and said they would save more money for his education.

But his uncle’s gaze…

It was not the warmth of an elder toward a child.

It was—

like a wolf locking onto prey.

That memory, buried for over ten years, suddenly became razor-clear, stabbing straight into his heart.

Xiao Juechen narrowed his eyes, fingers tapping lightly on the throne armrest.

This kind of person was the most detestable of all.

【Host, he planned even the way he showed kindness!】

【If you can’t spend money, you use soft tactics like “free meals”!】

【Be kind to the nephew—but not too kind!】

【Make him feel warmth, but also guilt!】

【That way, when asking for repayment, he’ll do it willingly—and feel indebted!】

Li Qingfeng froze completely.

So that’s it!

That’s how it was!

Every time his aunt served him food, his uncle would “casually” sigh.

“Ah, our little Bao is going to go hungry today…”

He would feel both gratitude and guilt.

Even meals lost their taste.

When his aunt made him new clothes, his uncle would say:

“That fabric means your aunt has to buy less rice again…”

He would immediately want to take the clothes off!

But he was just a child.

His emotions came quickly—and faded quickly…

The next day, he would forget the pain and happily return again.

Chancellor Chu Heng inhaled sharply.

What a long-term trap!

The Minister of Works trembled.

This level of scheming…

Unbelievable…

Feng Zexuan was furious.

【System, this second uncle is too cruel!】

【He was calculating a seven-year-old child!】

【Host, it gets worse.】

【When Li Qingfeng passed the imperial exam and became a successful graduate, his uncle made him kneel in front of everyone and acknowledge his aunt’s “raising kindness.”】

【That kneel became a shackle, locking him for life.】

Li Qingfeng’s memory flashed back.

That was the most glorious day of his life.

He had passed the imperial examination.

Returned home in glory.

The whole village came to congratulate him.

His uncle, eyes red, spoke with a choked voice:

“Qingfeng… your success today is also thanks to your aunt!”

“If she hadn’t fed you when you were hungry, how could you have studied?”

The villagers echoed:

“Exactly! What good fortune!”

“The aunt treated him better than her own son!”

He, young and overwhelmed with pride and emotion, knelt down immediately.

He bowed and swore he would never forget their kindness.

His uncle smiled.

Patted his shoulder:

“Good child, I knew you were righteous!”

That smile…

Now he understood—it was the smile of a man who had succeeded in his scheme.

The court fell silent.

Kneeling to repay kindness?

This official was far too honest.

【After that, the second aunt played the role of demanding money.】

【The second uncle stayed behind the scenes, pretending to be the good guy while brainwashing Li Qingfeng.】

【He even coached her in advance: when to cry, when to mention kindness, when to talk about dying soon.】

【Then he would comfort Li Qingfeng: “Your aunt is just like that, be patient with her.”】

【Perfect coordination. Seamless manipulation.】

Feng Zexuan was stunned.

【They’re professional actors!】

The system continued:

【He understood Li Qingfeng perfectly.】

【Soft-hearted. Loyal. Image-conscious.】

【So whenever the aunt caused trouble, he would step in as the “good cop.”】

【Li Qingfeng would always say: “Uncle, I won’t argue with Aunt.”】

【And the uncle would pat his shoulder: “Good child, I knew I was right about you.”】

【Then he’d turn around and say to the aunt: “Keep going. He won’t refuse.”】

The entire court felt cold.

This man…

He had dissected human nature to the bone.

One extracting.

One comforting.

One playing red face.

One playing white face.

Perfect coordination.

Even Crown Prince Xiao Mingxuan was stunned.

“This… can be done?”

Princess Xiao Mingyue gritted her teeth.

“This man is inhuman!”

Li Qingfeng closed his eyes.

Now he finally understood.

All those childhood “warmth”…

All those years of gratitude…

Were nothing but carefully designed traps.

Every sigh.

Every “casual” reminder.

Every act of sacrifice.

All calculated.

He had lived in a trap for over ten years…

And even thanked the hunters.

Even dragged his wife and daughter into it.

His fists tightened.

His eyes reddened.

Feng Zexuan asked:

【System, aren’t they afraid of exposure?】

【Host, they calculated that Li Qingfeng wouldn’t dare to turn against them.】

【If exposed, outsiders would only call him ungrateful.】

【They were waiting for him to support them for life.】

【And…】

The system paused.

【Because Li Qingfeng is so filial to the second aunt’s family, outsiders even think she is his real mother.】

【While his biological mother toils in the countryside… the aunt lives comfortably in the capital.】

【That… is the most brutal cut of all.】