Qi Yi hung his head, looking lost and helpless.
Qi Zhenzhen did not offer him comfort because of this. After such an incident, her priority was to make Qi Yi truly understand his mistakes and how to handle similar situations in the future. If their father never had a legitimate son, the Changping Marquis Manor would inevitably fall to him. However, there were those who did not wish for him to benefit, meaning more schemes would arise. If he remained as arrogant as he was now, he wouldn't know how he died.
Furthermore, he would eventually enter officialdom, and to rise rapidly in the ranks, a calm mind was essential.
"Sister, I know I was wrong," Qi Yi raised his face, looking at Qi Zhenzhen with clear eyes. "I will always remember this and remain vigilant! I won't let myself or those around me fall into such a situation."
Qi Zhenzhen breathed a sigh of relief. Although Qi Yi was sensible, his life in the Changping Marquis Manor had been too smooth. His grandmother and father doted on him, and he was exceptionally talented, learning quickly and receiving much praise. His temperament was unstable, and he easily became arrogant due to these compliments. It was good to have backbone, but excessive pride was detrimental.
This incident happening at this juncture was not entirely a bad thing for Qi Yi; it served as a lesson to sharpen his wits.
"And what about those who plotted against you?" Qi Zhenzhen asked him. "Did you just let them go?"
Qi Yi shook his head. "No, I didn't."
After a pause, Qi Yi added, "I asked brothers Gu San and Gu Qi to procure some better medicine and gathered the people who plotted against me."
Qi Zhenzhen was stunned for a moment before realizing what Qi Yi meant.
Those young men were all proud and arrogant. If something were to happen between them, it would be a huge blow to them.
"Did you leave any evidence?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"Gu San and Gu Qi said that when they act, they naturally leave no trace that can be caught," Qi Yi replied. "Sister, do you think what I did was too cruel?"
"How could it be? These people harbored ill will towards you. If you are merciful to them, it is cruel to yourself. My nature has always been to hate evil as if it were a personal enemy. If you are good to me, I will be equally good to you. If you are not good to me, I will naturally return it tenfold." Qi Zhenzhen said nonchalantly.
Qi Yi was completely relieved. He hadn't mentioned how he dealt with those individuals at first, fearing he might startle Qi Zhenzhen.
"Did you tell Father about this?" Qi Zhenzhen asked him.
Qi Yi shook his head. "Not yet."
"There's no need to hide this; you need to let him know what you've been through. Also, he should prepare some people for you," Qi Zhenzhen said after some thought. "After all, you might encounter many more schemes in the future. With your father's people by your side, they can serve as witnesses for any future incidents. Of course, you need to maintain a proper distance in your interactions with them, as your father's people are loyal to him."
Qi Yi carefully considered Qi Zhenzhen's words, beginning to understand her meaning.
"Besides that, I also want to cultivate my own people," Qi Yi stated.
Qi Zhenzhen was very pleased with Qi Yi's realization. Having trustworthy individuals around was crucial for protecting oneself against schemes.
"Training loyal people is not a simple matter," Qi Zhenzhen said slowly. "You need to eat and live with them, share their hardships, and understand each of them, mastering their weaknesses."