As Hong Qingzhu listened to her father's grave words, her expression changed in an instant. The color drained from her tear-stained cheeks, leaving her face as pale as a sheet of paper.
She had been doted on by the Hong Family since childhood, growing up to believe they were the undisputed top family in Jintai Prefecture, their foundation unshakable and beyond compare.
And as the Patriarch's most beloved daughter, she was like the princess of Jintai Prefecture itself, living a life utterly free of worries, never knowing the meaning of hardship.
But her father's words today were like a sledgehammer, shattering her entire perception of the world. For the first time, she realized that the seemingly mighty Hong Family was actually teetering on the brink of disaster, shrouded in the shadow of an impending storm.
At the side, the Hong Family Grand Elder's fingers tightened slightly around his teacup. He sighed inwardly, feeling a deep resonance with the Patriarch's words.
