Li Qiao knew his younger brother’s nature, knew he flirted with women everywhere, and knew he was an idle wastrel who learned nothing useful.

But like Li Wenshi, he didn’t care about these things.

As long as he didn’t cause any major incidents!

Yet he never expected that he would now make a scene at the Gong Chancellor’s Manor.

And chase the heir around the entire courtyard!

Before Li Qiao could speak, Gong Chi beside him was first to speak, loudly reprimanding: “Stop this!”

His voice was very loud.

Full of intimidating authority!

But the three people in the courtyard didn’t hear at all.

They continued brawling!

Li Qiao’s face full of fury, he stomped his foot and leaped up, his body vaulting behind Li Cheng, grabbing the back collar of Li Cheng’s garment with one hand.

“Acheng, stop!”

Dragging him backward!

Li Cheng was like a powerless little chicken unable to resist. At this moment still maintaining the motion of swinging the stick, he turned his head to look and saw his elder brother standing behind him.

“Brother?”

“Stop this instant!”

The person Li Cheng feared most in this life was not his elder sister Li Wenshu, nor his father Li Wenshi, but his eldest brother Li Qiao.

His most vivid memory was from seven years ago. At that time, he led a gang of his young followers to the Ningguo General’s Manor to steal peaches. Originally intending for each person to steal just one and leave, they ended up stealing more and more, completely unable to stop, stealing all the peaches from the entire peach tree in the manor until not a single one remained. Only afterward did they learn that the peach trees in Ningguo General’s Manor were all bestowed by Hu Yi Prince! Moreover, every year most of the peaches produced had to be sent to the palace. But they were stolen by Li Cheng’s group, making it impossible to send peaches to the palace. Hu Yi Prince was furious and fined Ningguo General an entire year’s salary.

Later when the matter was investigated, it turned out Li Cheng was responsible!

Because Ningguo General was mindful that he was the heir of Pingyang Marquis Manor, he had no choice but to swallow this grievance and eat this bitter loss himself.

However, Ningguo General accidentally mentioned it when having a small talk with Li Qiao!

Li Qiao was furious. He directly dragged Li Cheng to Ningguo General’s Manor and made him personally plant one hundred peach trees in the rear courtyard of Ningguo General’s Manor to atone for his crime.

At first Li Cheng didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was just for show. Who would have known that Li Qiao directly took a whip and supervised him all day long—if he didn’t work, he got a lashing. At that time, Li Cheng was beaten terribly.

His body covered with wounds, yet he didn’t dare say a word. As a result, it took a full month before he finished planting those one hundred peach trees.

So from that time onward, no matter how stubborn he was, he didn’t dare provoke Li Qiao. After all, the pain of the whip on his body was something he never wanted to experience again, even if it killed him.

At this moment being shouted at by Li Qiao like this, his heart and liver trembled. His palm loosened and that wooden stick crashed to the ground.

“Clang!”

“What are you making a scene about here?”

“Brother, I…”

“Absolutely disgraceful!”

Li Cheng didn’t dare respond, only glared fiercely at Gong Shilin.

The young servant supported the exhausted Gong Shilin, asking: “Young Master, are you alright?”

Gong Shilin caught his breath for a moment and said: “I’m fine.”

Gong Chi strode over. Looking at the flowers, plants, and various pots and jars smashed to pieces in the courtyard, the fury in his heart erupted like a volcano.

Surging up violently.

He demanded: “What exactly is going on here?”

The young servant immediately reported, saying: “Marquis, it was Young Master Cheng who came on his own. He insisted that the young master break off the marriage arrangement with Miss Li. The young master refused, so Young Master Cheng attacked the young master. He almost…”

“Axiang!” Gong Shilin spoke up to stop him. He reprimanded, “Say no more.”

“But Young Master…”

“Too talkative.”

The young servant shut his mouth and said nothing more.

Gong Chi was surprised—this was about his son’s marriage arrangement with Li Wenshu?

So he turned to ask Li Cheng: “Acheng, was asking Shilin to break off the engagement your idea? Or your father’s idea?”

Li Cheng: “My own idea.”

Gong Chi’s complexion immediately darkened: “You’re no longer a child. How can you still be so inconsiderate? Wenshu and Shilin’s marriage was arranged between your father and me. However it turns out is for the elders to decide. How is it your place to interfere?”

Li Cheng swallowed.

Li Qiao meanwhile forcefully restrained the fury in his heart, asking Gong Shilin, “Shilin, are you injured?”

Gong Shilin rubbed his hand: “I’m fine! Actually this matter has nothing to do with Li Cheng. I offended him with my words.”

“No need for your kindness!” Li Cheng shouted.

Gong Shilin: “…”

Li Qiao pulled Li Cheng, “Still dare to talk back!” Then very apologetically said to Gong Chi, “Left Chancellor Gong, regarding the matter we were just discussing, let’s talk later. I’ll take Acheng back first. For this matter, I apologize on his behalf.”

“Mm.” Gong Chi nodded.

But clearly somewhat displeased.

Before leaving, Li Cheng extended his finger pointing at Gong Shilin: “You just wait!”

Don’t leave after school.

Li Qiao raised his hand and slapped him hard on the back of his head, cursing: “Bastard!”

Li Cheng rubbed his aching head and left dejectedly.

After leaving the Gong Manor, the two boarded the carriage.

Returning to the manor.

Li Qiao’s face was gloomy, the typical appearance before a storm.

He said: “Do you know what you were just doing?”

“I know!”

“You know? Knowing that, you still dare to act so recklessly? Usually making scenes at home is one thing, but now you’ve made a scene there. What kind of person is Left Chancellor Gong—don’t you know? Gong Shilin is his son. Offending him is offending Left Chancellor Gong. Do you know how serious the consequences are?”

Several “know”s bombarded Li Cheng in succession.

Li Cheng said: “Elder Brother, if you had told me earlier in your letter that the person Elder Sister was to marry was Gong Shilin, I definitely would have rushed back to High-Ding immediately to prevent it.”

“The matter is already settled!”

“But…”

“Enough! Don’t ‘but’ me anymore. Your scene just now made Left Chancellor Gong very uncomfortable. When we get home, see how I deal with you.”

“…”

After returning, it would definitely be a huge storm!

Li Cheng shrank back.

Just thinking of the whip lashes he endured on his body back then made his back run cold.

But he was unwilling to accept it, didn’t want to watch his elder sister marry that fellow Gong Shilin.

“Elder Brother, Elder Sister doesn’t like that punk Gong Shilin at all. After marrying into the Gong family, Elder Sister definitely won’t be happy.”

“This matter is not something you or I can control, nor is it something Wenshu and Shilin can control. In any case, you are not permitted to mention this matter in front of Father.”

“…”

“Also, did Father tell you about having you go to the City Department?”

“He did.”

“This official position was secured through Left Chancellor Gong’s help. It will be of great assistance for your future entry into officialdom. So, you’d better obediently go to the City Department and not cause any trouble.”

Li Cheng was dumbfounded!

When they told him to become an official, he already couldn’t accept it.

Now they’re telling him that this official position of his was secured through Left Chancellor Gong’s help.

So it turns out that fellow was setting him up. If he had known, he wouldn’t have come back!