TNIBFT -Chapter 93 Should This Kinship Still Be Acknowledged?

“Think about it—you’re only putting up the money for the storefront. I’ll take care of everything else.”

“The Young Lady definitely doesn’t have the time to handle things personally.”

Ye Tian glanced up at Xiao Xun’er, whose face was flushed red with anger, then continued in a low voice, “If you’re not willing to join, I’m sure plenty of people in Sifang City would sell everything they own just to get in on such a profitable opportunity. It’s only because I admire you, Young Lady, that I’m offering it to you.” Ye Tian looked as if his heart ached with sincerity.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Xun’er reluctantly pulled out two banknotes from her sleeve and threw them to Ye Tian.

Her monthly allowance was only twenty taels—this meant she had just handed over an entire year’s worth of spending money in one go.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll send someone to collect the contract.”

She spoke coldly and left without looking back.

Ye Tian watched her tall, graceful figure as she walked away, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips. The first “fleece” had been successfully plucked, and now the hotpot restaurant had a powerful backer—killing two birds with one stone.

With these two hundred taels, there was still a lot to be done.

…

Inside the City Lord’s Mansion.

Early in the morning, Shen Jie was brought by Jiang Huichun to the mansion to check on Xiao Haoyang’s health.

This was Shen Jie’s second time entering the City Lord’s Mansion.

The place was adorned with carved railings and painted beams, exuding authority at every turn. The once overbearing guards of the city now stood here like obedient watchdogs, quietly keeping watch. As Shen Jie looked at the blooming scenery and the maids hurrying about with lowered heads, a burning desire rose in his heart.

All of this would soon belong to him.

“Did you remember what I told you?” Jiang Huichun turned his head and asked.

Xiao Haoyang ruled over the region with an unpredictable temper—no one could ever quite read him. Shen Jie, however, was naturally stubborn and upright. Jiang Huichun worried that the boy might talk back to the City Lord. After all, Shen Jie had been neglected for over a decade—it was only natural for him to harbor resentment. But Xiao Haoyang was no ordinary father.

He was first the City Lord, and only then a father.

“I remember, Divine Physician Jiang. Don’t worry—I won’t act rashly, if only for you and Yunxi,” Shen Jie assured in a low voice.

Jiang Huichun nodded in satisfaction.

A good child who knew gratitude.

Looking at the grand hall ahead, he quickened his pace. “Keep up!”

The guards standing on both sides lowered their heads upon seeing Jiang Huichun, and none dared to stop them.

As the imposing hall drew closer, Shen Jie’s blood began to surge, as if supreme power was beckoning him.

Xiao Haoyang—his biological father. How should he make him see him in a new light?

How could he make him feel guilt?

Stepping onto the stairs, Shen Jie looked at the vermilion gates within arm’s reach. His whole body trembled.

Once he pushed open this door, no one would ever dare to look down on him again!

His eyes narrowed, his heart brimming with urgency.

“Divine Physician Jiang, please wait. The City Lord is currently handling important matters.” Just as Shen Jie was lost in his thoughts, an armored soldier stepped forward and raised a hand to block Jiang Huichun’s path.

Shen Jie frowned slightly, his gaze turning cold as he looked at the bearded, dark-skinned man before him.

He took note of him—an obstacle on his path to acknowledging his kin.

There would be plenty of chances to deal with him in the future.

Jiang Huichun smiled. “No matter. I’ll wait in the side room. Once the City Lord is finished, you can inform me.”

The burly man nodded.

Sensing the cold stare from behind Jiang Huichun, the man’s sharp eyes—like those of a leopard—locked onto Shen Jie. That gaze startled Shen Jie, leaving him momentarily frozen, as if he had been targeted by a fierce beast.

“Who is he? I’ve never seen him before,” the man asked, pointing at Shen Jie.

Shen Jie stammered, unable to respond.

During this period, he had been taken away and tortured by Xiao Tianyi, leaving him with a deep-seated fear of those from the City Lord’s Mansion. Even ordinary guards could abuse him—let alone a general clad in armor.

“Oh, he’s my apprentice. I brought him along to broaden his horizons,” Jiang Huichun replied naturally with a smile.

The man narrowed his eyes, staring at Shen Jie, his voice booming like thunder: “There have been many spies from Great Zhou in the city recently. Divine Physician Jiang, you should be more careful. If anything troublesome comes up, just let me know—I’ll bring men over.”

“Many thanks!”

Jiang Huichun nodded slightly and led Shen Jie toward the side room.

An enemy spy?

Shen Jie didn’t care at all. He could barely survive himself—how could he have the mind to worry about others?

Standing inside the side hall, Shen Jie felt restless, unable to sit still. From time to time, he stood up and looked out the window.

At this moment, time seemed especially torturous.

“Wait a little longer,” Jiang Huichun said soothingly. “A boy who hasn’t seen his father for over a decade would naturally be very emotional. It’s understandable.”

Shen Jie felt a bit embarrassed and was just about to sit down—

“I really am the City Lord’s son! City Lord, my mother is Xia Chun, the one who served you eighteen years ago!”

“My mother wouldn’t lie to me! She told me to come find you!”

“City Lord! City Lord!”

The shrill, desperate cries made Shen Jie’s entire body turn cold. He immediately turned and rushed to the window. On the steps at the entrance of the main hall, a young boy was kneeling in the snow. He wore tattered clothes, his body thin and frail, his hair disheveled so that his face couldn’t be seen clearly.

Acknowledging kin?

How could it be such a coincidence?

Just how many illegitimate children did Xiao Haoyang have?

Shen Jie was completely stunned.

He had once imagined that upon meeting Xiao Haoyang, he would rise to the top in a single step, living a life of wealth and glory from then on. But now, looking at the boy kneeling in the snow, his whole body turned icy cold.

There was another possibility—this person was a fake.

He must be fake!

Shen Jie comforted himself. Behind him, Jiang Huichun also stood up and looked out the window.

“In recent years, it seems people have learned that City Lord Xiao is searching for his child. Quite a few have come to claim kinship—some just trying to freeload. In the end, most of them were executed. So the City Lord hates it most when people pretend to be his son. Their endings are always miserable.”

“Drag him away!”

The armored general who had just stopped Jiang Huichun from entering earlier waved his hand. Immediately, soldiers stepped forward to drag the boy away.

“Don’t even know your own worth, yet you dare come to the City Lord’s residence to claim kinship?”

“A foot-washing maid’s son, illiterate, and who knows whose bastard he is—and he dares pretend to be the City Lord’s son?”

“Drag him away and cut out his tongue!”

The armored general gave the cold order. Terrified, the boy collapsed to the ground and begged for mercy.

“I really am the City Lord’s son! I have proof! This is my mother’s handkerchief—City Lord, please take a look! Just take a look…”

“Spare me! I won’t acknowledge this kinship anymore…”

“I won’t—!”

His cries grew fainter and fainter as he was dragged away.

Shen Jie’s mind went blank.

Acknowledging kin?

Should he still do it?

He didn’t have any proof at all—would the City Lord believe him?

With nothing but empty words, would Xiao Haoyang acknowledge him?

Only at this moment did Shen Jie finally wake up. All along, he had dreamed of relying on Xiao Haoyang to rise in a single step. But what kind of man was Xiao Haoyang? Ruthless and cold-blooded—someone who could even kill his own brothers. How much humanity or genuine affection could such a person possibly have?

“Divine Physician Jiang, the City Lord requests your presence!”

The armored general’s voice rang out, pulling Shen Jie back to reality. Looking at the snow blanketing the ground and rooftops, he felt a chill seep through his entire body.

Jiang Huichun glanced at Shen Jie, pausing as if to give him a few instructions. But the armored general urged again,

“The City Lord’s headache has flared up again. Please hurry, Divine Physician Jiang.”

Shen Jie followed behind Jiang Huichun.

Moments later—

Creak…

With a heavy sound, the massive vermilion gates were pulled open from the inside…