"Qin Hongbo, you have three days to transfer all your shares to Qin Luoli!"

Ignoring the crowd's shock, the Old Madam declared forcefully, "And as for Qin Hao, for harming his own kin with despicable means, from this day forward, he is expelled from the Qin Family and struck from the family records!"

To harm a kinsman is to be expelled from the family records!

This was a rule of the Qin Family!

The moment she spoke, everyone shuddered.

The Old Madam had issued the command herself!

"No!" Chen Xinlan suddenly threw her arms around Qin Hao, crying, "Old Madam, you can't do this! My son is innocent!"

"Innocent?" the Old Madam scoffed. "To raise a child without teaching is the mother's fault. As a mother, for you to have raised such a vile creature is to bring nothing but shame to the Qin Family!

"Leave. From this moment on, you have no relationship with the Qin Family."

The Old Madam closed her eyes, her face etched with pain and exhaustion.

"Old Madam!" Qin Hongbo dropped to his knees, pleading, "For a son to be without instruction is the father's fault. I am willing to surrender all my shares, if only you... will retract your decision!"

His son was to be expelled from the family records and his wife sent back to her maiden family. For a father and a husband like Qin Hongbo, this was the ultimate humiliation.

"You fool!"

The Old Madam suddenly struck Qin Hongbo on the head with her cane. The blow was so forceful that it split his skin, and blood began to gush out.

Yet, Qin Hongbo clenched his jaw and did not flinch.

"I beg the Old Madam to spare Hao'er this once and not expel him from the Qin Family." Qin Hongbo kowtowed repeatedly to the Old Madam, his forehead growing bloody from the impacts.

"Hongbo, do you still not understand?" The Old Madam gave a bitter smile. "I am protecting your family of three. Qin Hao tried to assassinate Lin Mu. With Lin Mu's current status, do you really think your son has any chance of survival?"

Qin Hongbo froze.

His face turned deathly pale.

That's right.

Lin Mu was now the revered Divine Doctor, the Miao King, Master Lin, and the chairman of a major corporation. Half the powerful figures in River City knelt before him, yet his son had actually tried to kill him.

If outsiders learned of this, Qin Hao would die without a proper burial, and Lin Mu wouldn't even have to lift a finger.

At this realization, it was as if all strength had been ripped from Qin Hongbo's body. He collapsed onto the ground, his lips trembling as tears streamed down his face.

"Thank you, Old Madam!"

Qin Hongbo kowtowed to the Old Madam, then turned to Lin Mu and kowtowed again in repentance. "Lin Mu, my son has done wrong, and as his father, I share the responsibility. I kowtow to you in apology!"

Lin Mu stepped aside.

Although he had no good feelings toward Qin Hongbo, he was still Luo Li's elder, after all.

Lin Mu said indifferently, "You may go. I promise to spare Qin Hao's life."

"Thank you, thank you."

Qin Hongbo helped his wife and son to their feet, an extremely bitter smile on his face.

I've struggled for half my life, only to be brought down by a junior in the end.

He gave the Qin Family Old Residence one last, desolate look, then kowtowed three times to the Old Madam. "Old Madam, Hongbo has disappointed you. Please forgive your grandson for his lack of filial piety. I can no longer be by your side to serve you. I hope you take good care of yourself."

Looking at Qin Luoli, Qin Hongbo said, "I'll have my lawyer deliver the shares. From now on, the Qin Family depends on you. Also, you've found a good husband. Much better than me."

With a bitter smile, Qin Hongbo left the Qin Family with Chen Xinlan and Qin Hao.

His figure was forlorn, his steps unsteady.

Before leaving, however, Chen Xinlan glanced back at Lin Mu and Qin Luoli, a flash of venom in her eyes.

Lin Mu, Qin Luoli... you two wretches! Just you wait!

Watching Qin Hongbo's family of three depart, the remaining Qin Family members sighed to themselves. No one could have imagined things would come to this.

But truth be told, Qin Hao got what he deserved, and Chen Xinlan had brought this humiliation upon herself. There was no one else to blame.

Thinking this, they all felt a mixture of lingering fear and relief. Thankfully, they hadn't moved against Lin Mu or pushed Qin Luoli too far; otherwise, they might have been the ones leaving today.

"I'm tired. Help me back inside."

After Qin Hongbo's family was far away, the Old Madam sighed deeply and turned to leave, her body trembling. "Lin Mu, Luo Li, come to my room in a little while."

Qin Luoli quickly agreed and hurried to support the Old Madam as she walked through the main gate.

"Master, should we...?" Li Xiaotian glanced at the retreating figures of the three and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Lin Mu shook his head. "Forget it. They're just insignificant nobodies."

He turned to follow the Old Madam, but his next words drifted back to the crowd.

"We should at least give the Old Madam that much respect."

Everyone exchanged glances, seeing a flicker of fear in each other's eyes.

Could it be that Lin Mu had originally intended to...?

At that thought, their fear of Lin Mu deepened once more.

Once the Old Madam was gone, the others also departed in a hurry. Tonight's events had been a rollercoaster, terrifying to the extreme.

Qin Yan glanced at the old residence, sighed, and left silently.

"Qin Ming, let's go."

Qin Hongshu walked over, patted Qin Ming on the shoulder, and sighed. "I don't care what you had in mind for this visit, but it's best not to make a move against Lin Mu. More importantly, don't even think about getting any ideas about the Qin Corporation."

The meaning was clear. From this day forward, the Qin Corporation belonged to Qin Luoli, and no one should dare to covet it. Provoking Lin Mu might not be a death sentence, but provoking Qin Luoli would have unimaginable consequences.

"Dad, what are you talking about?" Qin Ming chuckled. "I'll just stay for a few days to spend time with you and Mom before I leave."

"Mm, that's good, that's good."

Before he left, Qin Ming glanced at the old residence, his eyes glinting with some unknown thought.

"Luo Li, you can go out first. I have something to say to Lin Mu."

Leaning against her bed, the Old Madam looked exhausted, her face having grown even paler.

"Great-grandma..." Qin Luoli's eyes began to redden at the sight.

"You silly girl," the Old Madam said with a chuckle, patting Qin Luoli's hand. "I'm not dead yet, so what are you crying for?"

"Great-grandma, don't say such things." Qin Luoli held the Old Madam's hand, feeling a pang of guilt.

Lin Mu spoke up. "Luo Li, go on outside. I'll talk with the Old Madam."

After a glance at Lin Mu, Qin Luoli nodded silently, left the room, and closed the door behind her.

"Lin Mu, you don't blame me for being partial to Hongbo's family, do you?" the Old Madam asked, her expression serious.

Lin Mu knew the Old Madam had expelled Qin Hongbo's family only to prevent him from taking matters into his own hands and killing them.

Lin Mu said, "Old Madam, what are you saying? We are all family. I only wanted to take back what was mine."

"It's good that you think that way." The Old Madam sighed heavily. "I'm tired. You may go now."

"Old Madam, please rest well."

After tucking the Old Madam in, Lin Mu turned to leave.

"Young Lin Mu."

"Hm?"

The Old Madam's faint voice called out to him. "Take good care of Luo Li. I can rest easy, leaving her in your care."

Lin Mu paused for a moment, then smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Great-grandma. As long as I'm here, no one will dare harm a single hair on her head!"

To him, Qin Luoli... stood above the Great Dao itself.

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