Hearing this voice, Alex Harper shuddered, the muscles on his back instantly tensing up. He slowly stood up, forcing a fawning smile onto his face. Behind him stood a young woman draped in black gauze, with almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks, her figure voluptuous and her looks full of allure. But the skin exposed on her neck and arms was frighteningly pale—not the creamy beauty of fair skin, but the pallor of the dead.

This woman was named Julia Shaw, originally the concubine of the adjutant Charles Harper. Three years ago, she was bestowed upon Alex Harper as his second wife. Three hundred years ago, the ancestors of Charles Harper and Alex Harper were both members of the imperial clan, but after centuries, their blood ties had long faded. However, Charles Harper took a fancy to the wealth of the Eastern Sea branch of the 皇甫 family and insisted on recognizing Alex Harper as his clan brother. The 皇甫 family likewise regarded him as their patron.

This Julia Shaw, in name the wife of Alex Harper, was in fact a supervisor sent by Charles Harper. Although Alex Harper was the second most important figure in the family, he feared her like a tiger. Not only did he not dare touch her, he also had to constantly curry favor with her.

“Master, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Julia Shaw let out a soft laugh, charming beyond compare, but deep in her gaze flashed a bone-deep contempt. This contempt was like a needle, piercing straight into Alex Harper’s pride.

Alex Harper secretly resented her, but dared not offend her. He hurriedly said, “It’s nothing serious. My father wants to have a nephew serve as a candidate for the position of Registrar. I’m trying to find a way to change his mind.”

“Shall I go and speak to the County Duke about it?”

Julia Shaw’s eyes sparkled, her smile blossoming with a hundred charms. Alex Harper’s heart was a little moved. Although every favor from Charles Harper came at a steep price, his words carried weight, and his father would surely listen. If this woman put in a word, perhaps his father would change his mind.

Thinking of this, he accompanied his words with a smile: “Then I’ll trouble Madam to help with this matter.”

“All right! I’ll go talk to him.”

Julia Shaw’s smile grew even more enchanting. “Master, yesterday Baibao Zhai delivered a few pieces of jewelry. I really like them. What do you think…”

“Buy them! Buy them!”

Alex Harper waved his hand. “No problem. As long as Madam likes them, I’ll buy them.”

“Thank you, Master. I’ll go take care of your business right away.”

With that, she twisted her waist and walked off with endless charm. Watching her back, Alex Harper couldn’t help but grit his teeth and curse inwardly: “Just a whore, and she dares to bargain with me!”

……

Jade Harper stormed across the courtyard, furious. Today, he’d been scolded by his father for no reason, leaving him both humiliated and enraged, with nowhere to vent his anger. He was going to find his wife—no, that wretch—and teach her a lesson for daring to slander him behind his back. She was getting out of hand.

Just as he passed through a moon gate, his own small courtyard lay ahead. At that moment—crack!—something struck his head, making his forehead throb with pain. Clutching his forehead, he looked around and saw a swallow-shaped kite with a broken string at his feet. It was this kite that had hit him. Whose kite was this?

At that moment, he suddenly heard the panting voices of children outside the courtyard. “Over here! Over here! I saw it fall down here.”

“Brother, are you sure?”

“I’m sure, it’s definitely here.”

It was a boy and a girl. At this moment, two little heads peeked out from beside the moon gate—it was Lily and Daisy. Lily recognized Jade, pointed at the kite, scratched the back of his head, and giggled, “Second Uncle, give us back our kite!”

“Whose children are you? Why are you so naughty!” Jade Harper’s face darkened, his tone full of displeasure.

A few servants nearby quietly reminded him, “Young Master, they’re the twin brother and sister.”

Jade Harper narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “You’re the children of that tribute scholar?”

Daisy immediately corrected him, “My father isn’t called tribute scholar. My father is William Harper, your elder brother.”

“Hmph! Elder brother? He’s not worthy.”

Jade Harper pointed at the kite. “You want it back, do you?”

Lily put his hands together and pleaded, “Please, Second Uncle, give us back our kite! We promise we won’t be naughty again.”

“Fine! I’ll give it to you.”

Jade Harper stomped on the kite, crushing it to pieces, cursing, “Little bastards! The grown-ups bully me, and now you little ones dare hit me with a kite? Here’s your damn kite!”

Lily was both shocked and furious. He rushed forward and hugged Jade Harper’s leg. “You big bully! You owe me a kite! You owe me a kite!”

Jade Harper shook his leg twice but couldn’t shake him off, so he grabbed him by the hair and slapped him hard across the face, making one side of Lily’s face swell up instantly. Daisy, seeing her brother being hit, rushed up from behind, bit down on Jade Harper’s other leg, and bit so hard that Jade Harper was in excruciating pain. At that moment, he was gripping Lily’s hand, and in a fit of viciousness, he twisted with all his strength and broke Lily’s right index finger.

Lily let out a miserable scream and burst into tears. The servants nearby, seeing things had gone too far, hurried forward to separate them. Jade Harper snorted and turned to enter his own courtyard.

Lily ran home crying, with Daisy following behind him, sobbing in fright.

Chapter Five: The Patriarch’s Hundredth Year