Quarrel on day 1 (part-2)

"Hmm?"

The expression on his face was one of visible irritation, as if someone had just dared interrupt a sacred ritual. The servant crumpled backward in a daze, books scattering across the stone floor.

Qin Wei reached down and picked up one of the fallen ledgers. It was thick, easily the size of a brick. He flipped through the pages casually.

"Just look at this," he said aloud, showing it to the guy. "Two to three hundred pages in this one alone. You said there were twenty-two of these? That's over six thousand pages."

He looked up, meeting Li Shimin's increasingly sour gaze.

"Even if half the pages were empty, that's still three thousand pages. Ten to twenty entries per page... let's say fifteen on average. That's forty-five thousand entries for one person to process overnight. What did you expect him to be, Tong Tai Sheng?"

Li Shimin blinked, not recognizing the reference, but clearly catching the tone of mockery.

The smirk on his face twisted into a scowl. Without a word, he kicked the injured servant aside with a dismissive shove and began walking toward Qin Wei with slow, deliberate steps.

Roulan tensed, instinctively gripping the tray tighter.

"And who the hell are you supposed to be?" Li Shimin sneered, now face to face with Qin Wei. "A fuc*ing matrilocal husband dares poke into our clan's business? What, think your Qin Clan name means anything here? This isn't Yongzhou, this is Beiling."

His voice dropped, venomous as he continued. "Everyone knows your reputation, Qin Wei. A useless playboy who spends more time chasing skirts than wielding a sword. What now? Feeling invigorated after f*cking my cousin last night?"

Qin Wei's jaw tightened. His fists clenched again, a spark of heat flashing in his eyes. But before he could move, Roulan stepped forward quickly, sliding the tray between them.

"Young master Qin is here to serve tea to Old Master Li," she said, her tone composed but urgent. "I urge you to exercise restraint."

Li Shimin glanced at the tray and then let out a snort of laughter.

"So you're here to serve tea?" He stepped back with mock courtesy, gesturing exaggeratedly. "Well then… too bad my father isn't in. Since I'm the next in hierarchy…" he leaned in, eyes narrowing with provocation, "…perhaps you should serve me instead?"

Qin Wei's stare grew colder.

As Li Shimin turned his back with arrogant ease, he called over his shoulder, "Roulan, hand the tray to him. You stay outside."

Roulan hesitated. Her hands clenched slightly around the tray, her eyes flicking uncertainly between the two men.

After a moment's pause, she obeyed, her movements reluctant. She passed the tray to Qin Wei and then looked up at him, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

"My job is to protect you," she murmured. "So… you don't have to worry about getting physically abused. And whatever happens here, the Patriarch will be informed for sure."

Qin Wei blinked in mild surprise. A small smile tugged at his lips. "We got off on the wrong foot," he said, adjusting the tray in his hands. "But I must admit, you're far more sensible than your young miss."

Roulan's eyes widened slightly. A faint pink rose to her cheeks. "I'm only doing my duty," she said quickly, turning her gaze aside.

Qin Wei said nothing more. He simply nodded once, then stepped past her and into the room.

Inside, Li Shimin sat lazily on a wooden chair, legs crossed, arms resting on the carved armrests like he owned the world. His gaze didn't even lift.

Qin Wei approached the low table, set the tray down, and began to pour the tea with practiced grace. The soft clink of porcelain was the only sound in the room.

Taking a deep breath, he then picked up the teacup, gently set it on a saucer, and extended it toward Shimin with both hands.

"Brother-in-law, please enjoy the tea," he said, bowing slightly, his voice neutral but tight.

Li Shimin finally glanced his way, and sneered.

"What is this?" he said mockingly. "Do I look like a beggar to you? That's not how you serve tea to your elders."

He leaned forward, peering at the cup as if it personally offended him.

"It's too full. I might spill it. Don't you know the etiquette?" He narrowed his eyes, his smile wicked. "Or maybe your mother never taught you how to serve tea to in-laws?"

Then, with deliberate cruelty, he added, "Oh wait. I forgot that you didn't have a mother. Sorry."

And that did it.

Qin Wei's hand stiffened mid-air. For a moment, there was only silence, a deadly pause as the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Qin Wei closed his eyes. He took in a long breath.

And then…

Splash.

The scalding tea hit Li Shimin square across the face. "Argh…" The man screamed, recoiling as the hot liquid burned his skin. The cup fell with a sharp clatter, rolling off the table.

Li Shimin stumbled back, clutching his cheek. His furious eyes locked onto Qin Wei, disbelief painted across his features.

"Y-you…!"

But Qin Wei cut him off with a cold snort, straightening his back.

"Apologies," he said, turning on his heel. "You were right. The tea was too full. It spilled."

Without another word, he strode toward the door, the edge of his robe sweeping behind him.

Outside, Roulan had been waiting anxiously. When the doors opened and Qin Wei emerged, empty-handed, she blinked in shock.

He didn't… he didn't actually...

Seeing the slight smirk on his face, she felt her heart skip a beat, and not in a pleasant way.

As Qin Wei stepped out of the room, Li Shimin's furious voice echoed behind him like a crack of thunder.

"You basta*d!"

Roulan's eyes widened as Shimin lunged forward, his fist raised, aiming a heavy punch straight at Qin Wei's back.

Before she could react, something unexpected happened.

Without even turning around, Qin Wei shifted slightly, his foot sweeping back in a calculated arc. With flawless precision, he caught Li Shimin's leg mid-charge, halting the strike as if it were nothing more than a gust of wind.

There was a beat of stunned silence.

Then, in a smooth, effortless motion, Qin Wei swung his attacker to the side. Li Shimin flew through the air, landing with a painful thud on the hard stone ground. "Ugh…" A groan escaped his lips, sharp and high with pain.

"Kill him!" he howled, holding his side as he lay sprawled. "What are you fools waiting for? Kill him!"

Two servants rushed to his side while others charged at Qin Wei with aggression in their eyes.