“No, I’m tired. I’m going back to my room.” Chi Can’s face was wooden with indifference.

“Stop right there!” The Eldest Princess Changrong pushed away the handsome man who had been massaging her legs. Her long crimson skirt swept across the ground as she came before Chi Can.

“Speak up—from whom did you obtain Master Qiao’s painting? Don’t think that just because they’re both Master Qiao’s works, I wouldn’t notice the difference.”

Chi Can simply look at the Eldest Princess Changrong.

His mother, ever since his father’s death, when she looked at him, her gaze always held more criticism than maternal love.

Chi Can suddenly felt somewhat disheartened. His exquisite eyes curved upward as he smiled cheerfully: “Since Mother has discovered it, your son won’t hide it anymore. The painting in your collection was damaged by me, so I obtained another one. Oh, and that actually isn’t Master Qiao’s work—it’s a forgery I had someone paint casually.”

He wore a nonchalant smile on his face and stepped forward. After walking several paces, he stopped and turned back: “So Mother didn’t recognize it after all. It shows that some things are far less important than one imagines!”

After Chi Can’s figure was blocked by the magnolia tree, the Eldest Princess Changrong withdrew her gaze and walked toward the study.

Everyone in the princess’s residence knew that no one except the young master was allowed to enter the Eldest Princess’s study. Female official Dongyu clapped her hands: “Gentlemen, you may return now.”

The handsome men who had been sitting or kneeling in the garden stood up and were led away properly by female official Dongyu.

The vast garden instantly became empty and devoid of human presence.

Qiao Zhao entered Qingsong Hall in the Li residence. Old Madam Deng sat down in the grand chair, her face darkening as she shouted: “Wretched child, kneel before me!”

Before Qiao Zhao could react, Lady He wrapped her arms around her and cried to Old Madam Deng: “Old Madam, Zhaozhao has been missing for so many days—who knows how much she’s suffered! The spring ground is cold; she can’t withstand kneeling—”

The veins at Old Madam Deng’s temples throbbed. Facing this obtuse daughter-in-law, she finally couldn’t help but rage: “Third Girl’s troublemaking nature was all spoiled by you! Now you still have the face to cry before me! Third Girl—”

Before the old lady could finish speaking, Qiao Zhao had already pushed Lady He away and knelt.

Her kneeling posture was upright. Though kneeling, she showed no trace of humility. Raising her face with a smile, she said: “Grandmother’s teaching is correct. It’s all because the granddaughter was willful that such great trouble was brought to the family. These days, her granddaughter wandered destitute outside, always thinking she would never see you and Mother again. Grandmother is kind to the younger generation—making you sad would be this granddaughter’s lack of filial piety…”

Old Madam Deng raised her eyebrows in surprise. Looking at the little granddaughter kneeling on the ground, she suddenly felt less vexed.

She remained silent for a moment before speaking: “Third Girl has suffered this great ordeal and has become more sensible. Lady He, don’t be inferior to even a child!”

“This daughter-in-law just feels sorry for Zhaozhao.” Lady He said sheepishly, looking at her daughter kneeling on the ground with joy, then began to feel sorry for her kneeling on the cold floor.

“Tell me then—what is the identity of that elderly gentleman who brought you here today?”

Lady He couldn’t help but look toward Old Madam Deng.

She had thought the old madam would most want to ask how Zhaozhao had gone missing and what her experiences had been these past days. She hadn’t expected the old madam to ask this first.

But Qiao Zhao secretly nodded in approval.

The old madam was a perceptive person. How she had gone missing and what her experiences were—these were established facts. But the identity of the person who brought her back would affect her future circumstances.

Qiao Zhao replied concisely: “That Gentleman Zhenhe is surnamed Li. He is the divine physician personally bestowed with that title by His Majesty’s own words years ago.”

“What? You mean that Li Divine Physician, who is exempt from kneeling before all officials, whom His Majesty personally praised as ‘divine physician reborn’?”

She had no impression of the name Gentleman Zhenhe, but when it came to Divine Physician Li, that was truly thunderous fame.

One could say that among people in their circle in the capital, no one was unaware of Divine Physician Li’s deeds. He was the immortal being who had pulled the Empress Dowager back from death’s door with a single needle!

“That person was truly that Divine Physician Li?” Old Madam Deng could hardly remain composed and couldn’t help asking again.

Qiao Zhao replied calmly: “He should not need to deceive his granddaughter.”

“Quite right.” Old Madam Deng nodded, only then inquiring in detail about Qiao Zhao’s abduction.

Qiao Zhao naturally omitted her encounter with Chi Can and the other two, substituting Divine Physician Li instead.

Her speech was clear, her pace gentle and measured, her voice as sweet and melodious as fragrant honey. As she related her experiences of recent days in this manner, everyone in the room listened with particular absorption.

After she finished, it was quiet for quite a while before Old Madam Deng came to her senses. She picked up her teacup and took a sip, concealing her embarrassment.

She had been listening with the mindset of hearing a storybook tale—she must be getting too old!

“Ahem.” Old Madam Deng coughed twice.

At this moment, the senior maid Qing Jun, dressed in a rose-red vest, stood at the doorway and reported: “Old Madam, someone has come from the East Residence, requesting that you bring Third Miss over.”

Lady He’s face immediately turned deathly pale. She didn’t dare make a sound and looked pleadingly at Old Madam Deng.

The Li clan was populous, but few descendants served as officials at court. Those remaining in the capital happened to be two families of blood brothers.

The Grand Old Master’s family lived in the East Residence. The Grand Old Master had already retired, and his wife was surnamed Jiang—a member of the imperial clan with the title of Village Lady. Their eldest son, Li Guangyan, currently serves as Vice Minister of Justice.

The Second Old Master had died young, leaving behind two sons whom Old Madam Deng had raised with her own hands. Both sons were excellent scholars who had successively passed the imperial examinations. When the eldest son Li Guangwen achieved the rank of Third Place Scholar, the entire family moved to the capital and, with the Grand Old Master’s help, settled in the West Residence.

Since they were blood brothers from the same clan, and the West Residence had relied on the East Residence’s support all these years, it was clear that Lady Jiang wielded considerable influence over the West Residence.

Unfortunately, Lady Jiang was also someone who placed utmost importance on reputation and propriety.

Just thinking about this made Lady He’s legs go weak. She secretly thought that if the old woman from the East Residence tried to punish her daughter, she would risk everything to fight her!

Under Lady He’s intensely pleading gaze, Old Madam Deng maintained a calm expression, raised her eyelids, and extended her hand to senior maid Qing Jun: “Help me to the East Residence.”

Watching Old Madam Deng being supported by the senior maid as she walked out unhurriedly, while her precious daughter remained kneeling on the ground, Lady He became greatly anxious and called out: “Old Madam—”

Old Madam Deng turned back, pursed her lips, and without even looking at Qiao Zhao kneeling on the ground, said indifferently: “Third Girl has a weak constitution. After I punished her with kneeling, didn’t she faint? Lady He, why don’t you quickly take this wretched child away? Are you leaving her here as a decorative ornament for the eyes?”

“Ah?” Lady He was stunned for a moment, then reacted with great joy: “Yes, yes, this daughter-in-law will take Zhaozhao back to her room right away!”

The East and West Residences were separated by only one alley. Old Madam Deng quickly arrived and was soon invited inside.

As soon as Old Madam Jiang saw Old Madam Deng enter, she frowned: “Where is Third Girl? Sister-in-law, why didn’t you bring her along?”

Old Madam Deng wore a grim expression and said bitterly, “That wretched child is useless. I had only punished her with an hour of kneeling when she couldn’t endure it and fainted. I had originally intended to bring that wretched child to apologize to the Village Lady, but now I can only come myself. Sigh, Village Lady, please don’t take offense.”