He was murdered after his family was wiped out and left with no descendants; his whole family knelt

Chapter 145 Departure

Madam Qiao's icy expression softened slightly, but her brows remained furrowed.

"What are you doing back here? It's been over ten years since you came back to wish me a Happy New Year. What wind blew your whole family back today?"

These words were very unfriendly, and Qiao Qingshu couldn't help but frown upon hearing them.

Her grandmother was really not presentable and embarrassing.

Just as he was about to speak, Qiao Jiye chuckled disdainfully and said loudly,

“My surname is Qiao, and I am a legitimate descendant of the Qiao family. I can go back to the Qiao family whenever I want. Who can stop me?”

His tone was playful, but utterly provocative.

After decades of experience, Qiao Jiye is no longer the boy who was bullied by everyone.

He was young and arrogant at the time, and he didn't argue or make a scene with Old Madam Qiao.

If he had gone to the Qiao family patriarch and made a scene back then, he didn't believe that Miao Man, that wicked woman, could have forced him to leave!

The young boy had simple thoughts; he only wanted to prove himself and allow his birth mother, Ms. Xu, to live a normal life.

Only then did they abandon everything and leave for distant lands.

But now Qiao Jiye's son, Qiao Hesong, is of school age, and as a merchant, he cannot provide his son with any assistance.

That's when he thought of sending his son Qiao Hesong back to the capital, where there was a wealth of teachers and many famous educators.

Even in a family like the Qiao family, which wasn't considered a wealthy or powerful clan, the tutors they hired for their private school were all former top scholars from the previous dynasty.

Qiao Hesong was already intelligent, and the teachers in Yuzhou knew there was nothing more to teach him. Fearing that this would hinder Hesong's development, they suggested that Qiao Jiye send his son to a famous academy in the capital.

Qiao Jiye returned to the Qiao family this time hoping to use the family's resources to help her son find a good academy to study at so that he could pass the imperial examinations in the future.

Over the years, Madam Qiao had come to know that Qiao Jiye, her illegitimate son, had a very successful business in Yuzhou and was a prominent figure in the area.

She was very disdainful, thinking that no matter how capable Qiao Jiye was, he was just a nobody in a small place and could not compare to her son who was ennobled in the capital.

But upon seeing Qiao Jiye today, her eyes stung and turned red, her heart filled with countless resentments.

Is this still the same boy who was as thin as a bamboo pole?

How could Qiao Jiye, the humble young man who used to hunch over and even tremble when he saw Miao Man speaking to him, have now cultivated himself into such a dashing and confident man, exuding elegance and charm?

Then he thought about his son, whom he had painstakingly raised. He was quite handsome when he was young, but as he got older, he became increasingly sleazy and tasteless, with a vulgar temperament.

Old Madam Qiao snorted coldly, clearly displeased.

"You probably don't come here unless you have a reason, so just say what you need."

Qiao Jiye didn't mince words and went straight to the point.

“Send my son to study in the name of the Qiao family, and send him to Wanqing Academy.”

Madam Qiao chuckled and gave the young boy behind Qiao Jiye a disdainful look.

"Wanqing Academy? Qiao Jiye, you're dreaming! What kind of place is Wanqing Academy? It's a place where only the best of the best gather."

After scanning Qiao Hesong up and down, Old Madam Qiao made no attempt to hide her disdain.

"Even the Xiao family of the Duke's Mansion couldn't get their Yan-ge'er in, so what is yours! You actually dare to dream of getting into Wanqing Academy? Your whole family is just delusional."

Chang Yin, who was holding two children, frowned.

Although she had heard her husband talk about the viciousness and ruthlessness of the old lady of the Qiao family over the years, she had never experienced it firsthand. Therefore, when she stepped into the Qiao family's gate, she still held a sliver of hope, thinking that after so many years, the old lady of the Qiao family might feel guilty towards them.

Looking back now, I realize how incredibly naive I was.

Hearing Old Madam Qiao's sarcastic remarks about her son, Chang Yin was so angry that her clenched fists trembled.

She shielded the child behind her and defended herself.

"Madam, how can you say such things about my child? My son Hesong is a child prodigy praised by many teachers. If he had ordinary talent, we wouldn't have thought of sending him to Wanqing Academy."

"It was precisely because the child was exceptionally gifted and praised by many teachers that they recommended Hesong to study at Wanqing Academy in the capital!"

Old Madam Qiao squinted at the timid boy behind Madam Chang, then sized up Madam Chang before pursing her lips and saying mockingly,

“I know you. The Chang family of Yuzhou has been merchants for generations, but I also know that no male members of your family have ever been able to enter officialdom. With your Chang family’s mediocre bloodline and this lowly illegitimate son, what good seed can you possibly produce? It’s a huge joke.”

These words showed no respect for Qiao Jiye and even trampled on Qiao Jiye's wife's family.

The Qiao family looked grim. Suddenly, the little girl behind Chang rushed out.

He jumped in front of Old Madam Qiao, spat at her, and cursed.

"You old hag! No wonder you're bedridden. Your mouth is so wicked. I wish you sores on your head and pus oozing from your feet, and that you'll never be able to get up again!"

Before anyone could react, the little girl ran off quickly.

When Old Madam Qiao wiped her face and realized that the little girl had really spat on her, she was so angry that she pounded the bed and roared.

"Help! Help! Seize that brat!"

"Pfft!"

Someone couldn't help but laugh, and the whole room burst into laughter. Even Qiao Qingshu turned her face away and grinned from ear to ear.

Madam Qiao was so angry she felt like her lungs were about to explode. How dare this illegitimate son and his family mock her back then?

She then pointed at Qiao Jiye and angrily cursed him.

"How did you raise your child! She has no manners! If you don't bring her back and give her a good beating, then there's no point in talking about this today!"

Qiao Jiye smiled, clearly not caring at all.

He had considered all sorts of possibilities before he even set off. He knew that Old Lady Qiao would never help him, so he had also planned several other options.

Coming to the Qiao family was just a formality.

Knowing full well that the plan would not work, he still tried it without any hope for his son's future, so as not to leave any regrets.

Despite being rejected by Old Lady Qiao, Qiao Jiye showed no distress or pain, calmly smiling as she stared at her.

"Oh, yes."

Seeing that the family showed no sign of panic, Old Madam Qiao was so angry that she smashed the teacup on the bedside table to pieces.

After whispering a few words to Qiao Jiye, Madam Chang went out to look for her daughter, Qiao Mengran. Qiao Hesong and his mother went out together to look for their younger sister.

Qiao Qingshu stood aside, with absolutely no room to maneuver.

Finally, her grandmother got tired after smashing the whole set of cups.

While Old Madam Qiao was catching her breath, Qiao Qingshu finally spoke.

"Third Uncle, the Qiao family is indeed not capable of handling this matter. Please return home."

After saying that, he gestured for Qiao Jiye and his family to leave.