TNIBFT -Chapter 208 For the Sake of His Son, He Can Only Sacrifice Himself

Xiao Xun’er wore a look of righteous resolve.

The people in the main hall looked awkward. Everyone present was Xiao Haoyang’s trusted circle, and these were the very people who, upon hearing that Great Zhou was about to attack, had fled overnight.

Xiao Xun’er’s words were, without a doubt, a slap in their faces.

Xiao Haoyang felt guilty, his gaze flickering slightly.

Xiao Tianyi, seeing his half-sister stealing the spotlight and even saying such foolish things, let out a cold, disdainful laugh.

The atmosphere turned tense and awkward.

Xiao Haoyang changed the subject. “Xun’er, how have you been during this time?”

“Your father has been very worried.”

“You’ve always been this willful since you were little.”

Xiao Xun’er wrapped her arms around Xiao Haoyang’s arm, tilting her head slightly as she leaned against his shoulder. “I’ve been quite well. Everything in the city is normal. I heard Great Zhou is about to attack, and quite a few citizens have even organized themselves to protect the city.”

Xiao Haoyang clearly didn’t want to continue this topic.

He shifted his arm slightly and looked at his daughter. “You’ve been staying at Ye Tian’s shop during this time?”

Xiao Xun’er froze.

A wave of alertness rose in her heart.

Xiao Haoyang smiled faintly and continued, “It’s nothing really. After all, you’re a young woman—staying alone in the city and lodging at Ye Tian’s shop is understandable. But while I was away, how did Ye Tian get connected with Gao Defu?”

“And yesterday, they even used the City Lord’s residence to host a welcoming banquet. When Ye Tian returned home, did he say anything?”

“Was there anything unusual?”

Xiao Xun’er frowned.

All the eyes in the hall were like wolves and tigers, staring at her, hoping to extract some information.

Looking at her father’s seemingly kind face—

Xiao Xun’er let go of his arm and lowered her head slightly. Her father had always been like this. In his eyes, everyone could be used as a pawn in the pursuit of fame.

In this time of chaos, after more than half a month apart, instead of caring about her, the first thing he did upon seeing her was to gather information.

He had never even sent anyone to look for her.

Her nails dug into her palm as a sense of sorrow spread through her heart.

She would never betray her father.

But betraying her friends was even more impossible!

“Xun’er?”

Xiao Haoyang’s voice turned cold, his eyes darkening.

Xiao Xun’er forced a slight smile and raised her head, her voice calm. “I don’t know anything.”

“All I know is that as the lord of a city, when disasters struck and the people needed you, when facing a powerful enemy—you were the first to flee. Panic spread among the people, the city was on the verge of collapse. Refugees gathered outside, citizens inside wanted to escape, and Great Zhou eyed us like a tiger watching its prey. It was Tao Lichun and Ye Tian who turned the tide.”

Her voice was clear and crisp, each word striking like a hammer.

The hall fell into complete silence.

Xiao Haoyang’s face turned ashen.

Xiao Xun’er’s gaze remained firm as she continued, “Even if you couldn’t do it yourself, you shouldn’t repay kindness with cruelty. The people in the city mock my father for being cowardly, for disregarding their lives. Only Ye Tian has ever treated me sincerely. Can’t you, for the sake of your daughter—”

Smack!

Xiao Haoyang’s hand struck Xiao Xun’er hard across the face.

She covered her cheek with one hand, her hair disheveled as she staggered back several steps.

Xiao Haoyang’s finger trembled as he pointed at her. “You unfilial child!”

“Unfilial!”

“Rebellious and disobedient—I have no such daughter…”

Xiao Haoyang was furious, his voice echoing through the hall.

The people in the hall looked at each other, not daring to intervene in the city lord’s family matters. Xiao Xun’er covered her face, lowered her head in silence, then turned and rushed out of the hall.

Xiao Haoyang watched his daughter’s retreating figure with a dark expression, then turned to the people in the hall and said:

“Tell me—what should we do now?”

…

After breakfast, there was nothing to do.

Ye Tian lay lazily on a rocking chair, swaying at ease. When he woke from a nap, he saw his son sitting at the shop entrance on a small stool, reading. The little fellow held a scroll in one hand but couldn’t sit still—glancing outside one moment, then back at the book the next.

That anxious look made it obvious—he was waiting for someone.

Ye Tian pursed his lips.

Back then, he had spent so much effort and time coaxing his eldest son.

But Meng Yuquan had only been here for a day, and the boy was already like this?

Jealousy surged in Ye Tian’s heart.

I’m his real father!

Ye Tian looked toward the door and immediately spotted a man on the street—wearing a golden crown and a black fox-fur coat. His skin was as fair as snow, his temperament as upright as pine and bamboo. Walking among the crowd, he seemed to shine like a spotlight was on him, radiating an aura of nobility that inspired awe, making people not dare to look directly at him.

Ye Tian stared without blinking, his heart pounding wildly.

He covered his chest with one hand, frowning as he wondered—after being single for over twenty years, was it not that he couldn’t find someone, but that his standards were just too high?

Did it have to be someone of this level to make his heart move?

Someone like this… must be what novels call a protagonist with a natural halo.

But in the original story, Meng Yuquan was just a minor character.

Ye Tian couldn’t figure it out.

Meanwhile, Qin Fengyi, with Nanfeng in tow, had already arrived at the hotpot restaurant.

Seeing that Meng Yuquan had really come, Ye Yunting jumped up excitedly from his chair. His big eyes sparkled as he hurried forward, cupping his hands in greeting.

“Greetings, Lord Meng!”

Qin Fengyi quickly stepped forward, bending slightly to help him up. “No need for formalities.”

Mother and son reunited, both wearing radiant smiles.

Qin Fengyi’s phoenix eyes swept over him. Noticing that Ye Yunting still held Strategies of the Warring States in one hand, she smiled in approval.

“Little Lord Ye truly is the most diligent child I’ve ever seen. This book is dry and tedious—when I read it as a child, I was often so sleepy that my tutor would smack my palms for dozing off.”

“Really?”

Receiving praise, Ye Yunting smiled. Thinking of Meng Yuquan as a mischievous child in the past, he felt their relationship grow closer.

Qin Fengyi smiled. “If Little Lord Ye enjoys reading, I have countless books at home. You’re welcome to read them anytime.”

“Really?”

Ye Yunting’s eyes lit up.

“Going to your house to read… isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Ye Tian suddenly appeared, stepping between Ye Yunting and Qin Fengyi. He rubbed his son’s head and looked at Qin Fengyi with a playful expression. “We’re from Great Liang, while Lord Meng is from Great Zhou. Do you think it’s appropriate to go to your home?”

“Isn’t it illegal to deceive a child?”

Seeing Ye Tian’s aggressive stance, Qin Fengyi lowered her head with a smile, then looked straight into his eyes, her gaze domineering.

“If I invited Little Lord Ye to Great Zhou, I’m afraid even your Emperor of Liang would agree.”

“You…”

Ye Tian was left speechless.

This damn man—what exactly was he trying to do?

No relation at all, yet he treated his son so well. And those expensive gifts too—selling a kidney wouldn’t be enough to repay them.

Watching Meng Yuquan take his son’s small hand and walk into the shop, Ye Tian gritted his teeth.

Forget it!

For his son’s safety, he would have to make a sacrifice.

Taking a few quick steps forward, Ye Tian caught up. Qin Fengyi turned her head in surprise, only to see Ye Tian walking straight toward her. The distance between them shrank to a single step—so close she could even smell the faint scent of soapberry from his clothes.

Thump!

Thump, thump!

Qin Fengyi’s heart began to race. She tilted her face up, looking at Ye Tian’s face so close to hers. Before she could react, her forehead bumped against his chin.

The rough stubble of his beard brushed against her skin, causing a slight sting.

Qin Fengyi squeezed her eyes shut from the pain. Before she could recover, her shoulders sank as a pair of strong hands pulled her into an embrace.

That unfamiliar yet strangely familiar feeling made her feel as if she had fallen into a dream.