In the Qiao Manor, the atmosphere was oppressively tense.

Minister Qiao sat with a dark expression drinking tea, listening as Madam Qiao scolded their second daughter.

“Second Daughter, have you lost your mind? A noble young lady from a great family actually running to the street and kneeling to beg others!”

Second Miss Qiao knelt before her parents. The humiliation she had just endured erupted in this moment: “Mother, today when this daughter entered the palace to see elder sister, I discovered she had become skin and bones. This daughter truly felt heartbroken for elder sister, which is why I acted this way…”

“You were too impulsive. You’ve completely lost face for the Qiao Manor and confirmed all those rumors and gossip!” Though Madam Qiao felt some sympathy hearing her daughter’s words, she was more angry than anything.

“Mother, others aren’t fools. Who doesn’t know that elder sister’s disfigurement is real? Otherwise, why would some households be stirring restlessly?”

Madam Qiao was startled: “Second Daughter, where did you hear such talk?”

When news of the Crown Princess’s disfigurement spread, it had indeed stirred thoughts in some people, but these matters would not be discussed with Second Daughter, a young girl.

Second Miss Qiao kept her head lowered and honestly admitted: “That day when this daughter came to find you, I inadvertently overheard you and Father discussing it.”

“You wretched girl!” Madam Qiao angrily slapped the table.

Second Miss Qiao raised her head, her face covered in tear tracks: “Mother, this daughter didn’t hesitate to kneel and beg others in front of everyone—it was all for elder sister’s sake! Only the Divine Physician can cure elder sister’s face, but you and Father have no way to move the Divine Physician. This daughter thought to throw away all dignity and try, and even if it failed, it would have been worth it…”

Madam Qiao was about to scold her again when Minister Qiao set down his teacup and sighed: “Enough. Though Second Daughter acted impulsively, it’s not without remedy. Spread word of the deep sisterly affection between Second Miss Qiao and the Crown Princess. At most, she’ll gain a reputation as an impulsive and straightforward young lady, and with time this will fade.”

“But in the future when Second Daughter discusses marriage, being impulsive is hardly a good reputation—”

Minister Qiao sneered coldly: “If Yuan Niang can restore her appearance and secure her position as Crown Princess, in the future who will care about such a small flaw? But if Yuan Niang cannot secure her position as Crown Princess, what use would Second Daughter’s good reputation be?”

Madam Qiao fell silent.

Minister Qiao looked at Second Miss Qiao: “Second Daughter, you may rise. Remember to never be so impulsive again in the future.”

Second Miss Qiao stood up and nodded through her tears: “This daughter remembers.”

“What that Miss Luo said—” Madam Qiao thought about what her daughter had extracted from Miss Luo, and felt it unreliable.

Minister Qiao smiled bitterly: “No matter how much truth there is in Miss Luo’s words, we must try. At present, we can only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.”

Minister Qiao wasn’t the only one wanting to treat a dead horse as if it were alive. However, people quickly discovered that finding medicine pills the Divine Physician had compounded in the past was far too difficult.

This wasn’t surprising—patients who needed the Divine Physician were nearly all with one foot in the grave. Who wouldn’t immediately consume any life-saving miraculous medicine?

People searched bitterly without results and could only once again sigh: Miss Luo truly had such good luck.

When the news reached Wei Qiang’s ears, Wei Qiang appeared before the Crown Princess with a dark expression.

The Crown Princess hadn’t seen Wei Qiang for some days. Hearing the palace maid report that the Crown Prince had come, waves inevitably stirred in her heart.

“Crown Princess, you truly have a wonderful younger sister!”

The waves in the Crown Princess’s heart instantly solidified into a pool of stagnant water. She lowered her eyes and curtsied slightly: “This consort doesn’t know what second sister did to make Your Highness so angry?”

After her second sister left that day, she had kept hoping for good news to arrive, but no message had been sent in.

“The Crown Princess doesn’t know? Then I’ll tell you.”

After hearing Wei Qiang finish speaking, the Crown Princess’s face turned pale: “Second sister actually did such a thing?”

Her second sister truly hadn’t disappointed her—only unfortunately, after making such a scene, she still hadn’t moved the Divine Physician.

The Crown Princess suddenly felt a wave of despair.

Would her face never recover?

Now the entire capital knew of her disfigurement. How much longer could Father Emperor tolerate this?

Seeing the Crown Princess’s face streaming with tears, Wei Qiang felt disgust while also giving birth to a few traces of pity. He said coldly: “Enough. In the future, remember to properly restrain your maternal family.”

Walking out of the Crown Princess’s bedchamber, Wei Qiang’s mood was not light.

The matter of the Crown Princess’s disfigurement had become the talk of the town, yet Father Emperor showed no reaction whatsoever.

What was this father emperor of his with his unfathomable thoughts truly thinking?

If he were Father Emperor’s own flesh and blood, Father Emperor would have long ago ordered the selection of a new Crown Princess, wouldn’t he?

Wei Qiang walked forward with a heavy heart when Dou Ren called out to him: “Your Highness, have you taken the wrong path?”

Wei Qiang’s steps halted. Coming back to his senses, he realized he had taken the path toward Yulanng Studio.

Yulanng Studio—that was where Chaohua resided.

Realizing this, Wei Qiang’s expression grew even more unpleasant.

For so many years, whenever his mood was troubled, he would go to Chaohua’s place to relax. But now, that place where he could find relaxation no longer existed.

He couldn’t help but look toward a certain direction.

That was outside the palace, in the direction of Qingxing Street.

Qingxing Street remained as lively as ever, especially when evening market time came—the flow of people was like woven cloth.

Luosai Huzi left the tavern at his usual time, heading to the school to pick up Xiao Qi after dismissal.

The sky hadn’t completely darkened yet. The evening glow dyed half the sky red, appearing both magnificent and solemn.

Whenever this time came, Luosai Huzi’s mood was joyful. Walking on the road to the school, he couldn’t help but hum a little tune.

He didn’t know those refined melodies—what he hummed was “Eighteen Caresses.”

As Luosai Huzi hummed, he felt both bitter: You still need to attend school after all. Someone like him who barely recognized a few characters—when wanting to express a joyful mood, could only hum “Eighteen Caresses.”

No choice—he really didn’t know anything else. What a loss from having no learning!

That foolish boy Xiao Qi had such good luck. Finding his real aunt meant not only food and lodging were provided, but he could also study literature and practice martial arts.

Decided—if the teacher mentioned Xiao Qi dozing off in class again today, he’d give that boy a beating first to calm his own sour mood.

Luosai Huzi stood outside the school waiting for quite a while. Watching students leave one by one, he still didn’t see any sign of Xiao Qi.

“Are you waiting for Xiao Qi?” Finally, a student stopped to ask.

Considering that Xiao Qi’s foundation was poor and he had the identity of being the nephew of the tavern’s cook, the private school they sent Xiao Qi to was run by a scholar. Most students who came to study were from ordinary families with slightly comfortable circumstances.

Because of this, Xiao Qi hadn’t encountered any disheartening matters like being looked down upon or isolated.

Luosai Huzi showed the student what he considered a friendly smile: “Yes, have you seen my Xiao Qi?”

The student couldn’t help but step back, thinking to himself that Xiao Qi’s uncle looked rather fierce when he smiled.

“Xiao Qi left long ago.”

“What? Xiao Qi left?” Luosai Huzi immediately withdrew his smile, looking even more fierce.

The student suppressed his timidity and said: “Xiao Qi had an upset stomach, so the teacher allowed him to leave school early.”

“How long ago did he leave early?”

The student thought for a moment: “It’s been more than half a double-hour.”

Luosai Huzi frowned, muttering under his breath: “That stinking brat, could he have run off somewhere to play?”

That didn’t seem right—playing outside with an upset stomach carried risks.

After thanking the student, Luosai Huzi hurriedly returned to the tavern.