Chapter 1: The Heir Comes Home

Qiushan Town, the twenty-third year of the Qinghe era.

A carriage drew up before the Xue family’s vermilion-and-gold gate, where two stone lions stood guard as solemnly as if they had been there for a thousand years. A young man in white stepped down, graceful in bearing but with eyes as cold as ice. This was Xue Yifeng, sole rightful heir of the Xue family, home at last after ten years of exile on the frontier.

The servants on either side of the gate exchanged glances. No one dared to step forward and greet him. Rumors about this young master had spread all over town: at twelve, falsely accused of harming his own mother, he had been sent off to the border by the master of the house, his fate unknown. Who would have thought he’d come walking boldly back today?

“Where is Second Uncle?” Xue Yifeng asked, his voice without a trace of feeling.

The old steward answered, trembling, “The Se… the Second Master is in the main hall, discussing a marriage with the Third Young Miss.”

The corner of Yifeng’s mouth curled into a cold smile. A marriage. Ten years ago, it was a marriage that got his mother killed, nearly all the family’s wealth seized by his second uncle, and himself pushed toward death.

But heaven never closes every door. In ten years far from home, he hadn’t just survived. He had learned a great deal of skill and made friends with more than a few hidden masters.

He walked straight into the main hall without waiting to be announced.

In the great hall, the Second Master sat in the host’s seat, the seat that had once belonged to Yifeng’s father, laughing and chatting with an elegant lady. When someone barged in, the whole hall fell instantly silent.

“Who…?” The Second Master squinted, then leapt to his feet in alarm. “My… my eldest nephew?!”

“Second Uncle,” Yifeng said with a slight bow, polite and cold, “your nephew has returned. I was afraid you’d blame me if I didn’t come to pay my respects.”

Words that sounded so respectful sent a cold sweat down the Second Master’s spine.